What is Chiropractic?
What is a vertebral subluxation?
What causes Subluxations?
Do I have a Vertebral Subluxation?
What is an Adjustment?
Do I have a pinched nerve?
Do I have a Slipped Disc?

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a clinical science based on the fact that the body can heal itself. Your mind controls the many millions of cells that make up your body.  Your mind knows exactly what your body needs, when it needs it and how to make it. Information from your mind passes through your brain down the spinal cord and out along the nerves to the cells of your body.  By expressing this information, your nervous system controls, co-ordinates and gives life to all the cells and structures of the body. If your nervous system becomes irritated by misalignments (SUBLUXATIONS), particularly those of the spine, pelvis or skull, this flow is impeded.  This creates havoc with the accurate transmission and reception of the nerve messages between the brain and body.  It can have ramifications into almost any cell, tissue, organ, limb or system in the body. One of the worst parts about the SUBLUXATION is that in its early stage it does not really hurt that much.  This means that it tends to be ignored.  In fact most of the major problems that we see in our patients started off as simply as little ones that would have been easy to correct had they been attended to immediately.

What is a vertebral subluxation?

A vertebral subluxation occurs in the spine when two or more spinal bones lose motion and become ‘stuck’ ie. don’t move enough or move too much causing the opening between the vertebrae through which nerves travel to narrow, causing the nerve within those spaces to be impinged resulting in the interferences with nerve messages between the brain and body.

What causes Subluxations?

Subluxations can be caused by:

1. Physical Trauma – the birth process, learning to walk, repetitive motions, car accidents, slips, falls, poor posture habits.
2. Emotional Stress – stress, family conflict, grief, worry, fear.
3. Chemical Imbalances – alcohol, drugs, medications, food additives, caffeine etc.

Do I have a Vertebral Subluxation?

Subluxations can cause many symptoms and conditions and often do, but it is also common that they cause no obvious symptoms.  Therefore, the only way you know if you have one is to get your spine checked by a Chiropractor.

What is an Adjustment?

An adjustment is a very specific force in a precise direction, applied to the spine in the area that is fixated or stuck.  This adds movement to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion.  Regardless of the adjusting technique, Chiropractic care is tailored to each patient’s age, condition and spinal problem.

Do I have a pinched nerve?

While commonly associated with the spine, a pinched nerve is actually rare.  Researchers suggest that only 10-15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue.  More frequently, nerves are irritated. ie. Nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by loss of spinal curvature or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.

Do I have a Slipped Disc?

Discs cannot infact slip!  Trauma or injury to the spine can however cause them to tear, bulge, herniated or rupture. Chiropractic care is recommended for people with disc injuries.