Chiropractic Adjustments

History

The Chiropractic profession began at the end of the 19th century. However, pain relief from spinal manipulation has been used for thousands of years. Ancient texts and illustrations provide evidence of spinal manipulative therapy in various cultures including Egypt, China, Tibet, and Babylonia. Even Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," produced many texts on manipulation therapy, and is quoted as saying "Look to the spine as the cause of disease."

A modern renaissance of manipulative therapy occurred in the late 19th century in North America with the emergence of Chiropractic and other forms of manual therapy. Today, Chiropractic is a highly organized system of diagnosis and treatment used by 70,000 doctors in the U.S. and 88 countries around the world.

Fixations and Subluxations

Vertebrae and other bones that are not in alignment are called subluxations.

Vertebrae that are in alignment but stuck in place are called fixations. Subluxations and fixations cause pain and restrict the way one moves. When left uncorrected, they can cause herniated discs, muscle weakness, and joint degeneration.

Moreover, because of their close proximity to spinal nerves, vertebral subluxations can impede normal transmission across nerves, and adversely affect organs, glands, and cellular function throughout the body.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Doctors of Chiropractic use a highly precise form of manual therapy known as "Adjustments". These rapid thrust maneuvers are designed to restore joint motion between vertebrae and other articulations in the body. The relief provided by Chiropractic Adjustments is typically instantaneous because their is a quick stretch of muscle that occurs which has a relaxing affect, and endorphins are released. Perhaps the most commonly used description of this sense of well-being is that "It feels like a weight has been lifted".