Chiropractic

Chiropractic is the largest drugless healing profession in the world, caring for millions of patients by relieving spinal restrictions and stimulating the nervous system. Here is an introduction to Chiropractic and its role in health and wellness.

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health system that emphasizes treating the spine and the nervous system as a means to achieve health and wellness. Chiropractic emphasizes the innate ability of the body to heal itself unless the body is overwhelmed with organic disease, infection and other conditions outside the scope of conservative care. Chiropractic means “treatment by hand” which has always been its healing approach. Central to all Chiropractic practice is the manipulation, or adjusting, of the spine and other joints of the body. Chiropractors are a primary portal of entry doctors trained to diagnose and refer to specialists as necessary. You do not need a referral to consult a Chiropractor.

What Is The Chiropractic Philosophy Of Health?

Chiropractic principles tell us that health is a dynamic relationship between our physical structure (our dynamic musculoskeletal system), our chemistry ( all the body’s chemical and nutritional processes) and our psychological-emotional-social state, influenced by our inherited genetic makeup. From its beginnings over 100 years ago Chiropractic has emphasized evaluating and treating the nervous system to summon our innate abilities to maintain balance and health.

What Is The Chiropractic Adjustment, Or Manipulation?

The purpose of Chiropractic Manipulation is to return motion to a fixated or restricted joint, and to stimulate the nervous system to encourage balance and appropriate responses to signals it receives from the body. There are many types of Chiropractic manipulation and Portland chiropractor Dr. Arn Strasser utilizes a wide range of procedures. In its history, Chiropractors felt they were putting bones back in place in the spine and releasing nerve pressure that stopped the proper flow of energy to the body’s organs. Modern Chiropractic has embraced a more sophisticated, scientific approach that emphasizes returning motion to the spine and theorizing an effect on the nervous system and the body’s balance of health resulting from the specific Chiropractic adjustment.

Is Chiropractic Manipulation And Adjustment Safe?

The safety of Chiropractic has been established over its history. Extremely low malpractice rates are a good indication of the safety of Chiropractic procedures. Regarding the association between chiropractic neck manipulation and stroke, a definitive 2008 Canadian study concluded:
“VBA (vertebrobasilar artery stroke) is a very rare event in the population. The increased risks of VBA stroke associated with chiropractic and PCP (primary care physicians) is likely due to patients with headache and neck pain from VBA dissection seeking care before their stroke. We found no evidence of excess risk of VBA stroke associated with chiropractic care compared to primary care”.
( European Spine Journal, April 2008: 176-183).