How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works because you are a self healing, self regulating organism controlled by your nervous system. Millions of instructions flow from your brain, down the spinal cord and out to every organ and tissue. Signals sent back to the brain confirm if your body is working right. Improper motion or position of the moving bones of the spine, called a subluxation, can interfere with this vital exchange by irritating nerves and compromising the function of affected organs and tissue. Specific spinal adjustment can help improve mind/body communications. Heal often returns with improved nervous system control of the body.
Do I Have A Slipped Disc?
Between each pair of spinal bones is a disc. Its fibrous outer ring holds in a jelly-like material. This soft center serves as a “ball bearing” for joint movement. Because of the way it attaches to the spinal bone above and below it, a disc can’t actually “slip.” However, a disc can bulge. It can tear. It can herniate. It can thin. It can dry out. And it can collapse. But it can’t slip.
Do I Have A Pinched Nerve?
A pinched nerve is rare. It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone irritates, stretches, rubs or chafes a nerve. These subluxations distort the nerve message sent between the brain ad the body. This can produce unhealthy alterations to the organs and tissues connected by the affected nerves.
How Do You Get Subluxations?
There are three basic causes of subluxations. Physical causes could include slips and falls, accidents, bad posture, back packs, repetitive motions, improper lifting, and even birth truama (delivery, forceps, suction). This cause is easy to understand and demonstrate. The other two causes are more difficult to explain. Emotions such a grief, angaer, and fear can cause subluxations. This is technically called a Psycho-Somatic reflex and is more commonly noted in Depok Choprah’s discussions of Psycho-Neuro-Immunology. Chemical causes could include alcohol, drugs, pollution, and poor diet. This is technically called a Viscero-Somatic Reflex. Needless to say these stressors can cause spinal subluxations which can be corrected by Chiropractic.
How Do I Know If I Have A Subluxation?
You can have subluxations and not even know it. Like the early stage of tooth decay or cancer, subluxations can be present before warning signs appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of subluxations you may have.
Can Subluxations Clear Up On Their Own?
Sometimes. Today’s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When subluxations don’t resolve, you need to see a chiropractic doctor.
What Is An Adjustment?
There are probably over 250 Chiropractic techniques, each defines how to find and how to correct the subluxation. Although confusing to the patient, it is why there are seemingly so many types of Chiropractors. Typically, chiropractic adjustments usually involve a gentle quick thrust that helps add motion to spinal joints that aren’t moving right. Some methods use the doctor’s hands, an instrument, a special table or the force of gravity. There are many ways to adjust the spine.
Can I Adjust Myself?
No. Some people may make their joints “pop” and think they’ve made an adjustment. Wrong! Damage can occur by “self manipulating” a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and require the skill of a professionally trained doctor of chiropractic to administer.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Yes. A New Zealand government study found that adjustments are “remarkably safe.” By avoiding drugs and risky surgery, chiropractic care enjoys an excellent track record. A thorough exam can identify the rare person for whom chiropractic care might be unsuitable. Compare the statistics. Adjustments are about 100 times safer than taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Can Patients With Osteoporosis Get Chiropractic Care?
Of course. Regardless of your age, size or condition, chiropractic care can be helpful. The specific needs of each patient are considered. There are very low force chiropractic approaches that we use. Also in most every case the patient will feel taller after the adjustment. This means there is less back spasm after a treatment. This would REDUCE the incidence of fracture, NOT increase it. In any case if, yours is not a chiropractic case, we’ll refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Will Adjustments Make My Spine Too Loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.
What Makes The Sound During The Adjustment?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It’s much like removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but it isn’t a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment.
Are All Patients Adjusted The Same Way?
No. Dr. Burton uses numerous techniques which he calls a Layered Tissue Technique to address the spine, joints, muscle, ligament, and fascia. If we are only taking about the spine, there are 24 movable bones in the spine, each of which can move in seven different directions, we see a variety of spinal patterns. Each patient’s care is custom-tailored for his or her age, condition and health goals.
Why Do Newborns Get Adjustments?
Even today’s “natural” childbirth methods can affect an infant’s spine. Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Pediatric adjustments are gentle. Knowing exactly where to adjust, the doctor applies no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato.
Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?
Yes. Rest assured that Dr. Burton will avoid the surgically modified areas of you spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. It is not uncommon that your symptoms may be unrelated to surgical area. These areas may be the focus of your chiropractic care.
Why Does It Seem That Medical Practitioners And Chiropractic Doctors Do Not Get Along?
That’s changing. Years of prejudice and bias are giving way to research showing the benefits of chiropractic care. Attitudes are slow to change. However, as the public demands alternatives to drugs and surgery, more and more medical practitioners are referring their patients to our office.