Dr.Bob,DC's Journal: What Is Chiropractic?

[ excellent information on what Chiropractic is and how Chiropractors help. From http://www.healthybeginningschiropractic.com/about/what-is-chiropractic/ You will have to visit that page to see the informational pictures mentioned below.]
[ feel free to contact me for more information, take care! [e-mail] ]

The first chiropractic adjustment

Chiropractic was born in 1895 when D.D. Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard. Harvey was a deaf janitor that remembered hurting his back and shortly after the incident, had lost his sense of hearing. D.D. analyzed his spine and found a vertebrae was out of alignment. He then contacted the vertebrae and gently repositioned it back in placed. After doing this procedure on several occasions, Harvey's hearing progressively returned... and so the art, science, and philosophy of chiropractic was born.

How does one become a Doctor of Chiropractic?

In order to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, one must first complete an undergraduate degree at a university. Once completed, one must apply to a chiropractic college or university and fulfill the entrance requirements which typically consist of having pre-requisite university courses, a university determined GPA, letters of reference and an entrance essay. After being accepted into the Doctor of Chiropractic program, one must complete 4-5 years of study (depending on university). Throughout his/her studies, the student is immersed in anatomy, physiology, pathology, skeletal radiology, neurology, nutrition, physical therapy, and diagnosis. Furthermore, the students spend their entire 4 years of education perfecting the art of finding and reducing vertebral subluxations through specific adjustments. Finally, depending on the country of practice, one must successfully complete 3 to 4 standardized country wide tests known as the board exams to obtain a license to practice chiropractic. Thus, chiropractors are the only health care professionals specialized in performing adjustments.

What does a chiropractor do?

In order to understand what a chiropractor does, we need to understand a little about how the human body functions. All human function and performance is controlled by chemicals in our bodies. These chemicals are produced by little chemical factories called glands; furthermore, when these glands are producing the right amount of chemicals, at the right time, and the right place, our body can function to the best of its ability. These glands are controlled by our brain and spinal cord which are called the nervous system. Therefore, the glands can only function properly when 100% of the signals from the nervous system reach them. Since the nervous system is so important, it is protected by bone; specifically, the brain is shrouded by the skull and the spinal cord is wrapped by the 24 moveable vertebra. The picture on the right displays an x-ray side view of the neck and one can appreciate the arc like configuration. This is known as the arc of life because it provides the best chance of having an optimal functioning nervous system. In addition, it can also give your spine the greatest longevity as degeneration from abnormal stress is little to non-existent. This also holds true in the upper and lower back. Thus, when all these bones are in alignment, the nervous system communicates with the whole body and keeps the body functioning the way it was designed to operate. However, these moveable bones that protect our nervous system can displace and misalign with the rest of the bones and irritate the spinal cord and nerves. This is called a Vertebral Subluxation.

Vertebral Subluxations decrease the amount of signals that can reach the body by causing an irritation to the spinal cord and nerves. The picture on the right shows a spinal nerve beginning to shrink in size because irritation is preventing proper nutrition from reaching it. What do you think is happening to the organ at the end of the nerve? All structures that were once receiving 100% of the signal like the heart, lungs, glands, muscles etc, are now receiving from 1% to 99% of the signal (depending on the amount of irritation). Now the body cannot function properly and is forced to adapt to a less than ideal condition. This can be as subtle as a little less energy in everyday life or as severe as being diagnosed by your medical doctor with a condition like hypertension, diabetes, cancer etc (the possibilities are endless). The misaligned vertebrae also cause faulty movement which adds unnecessary stress to the discs between the vertebrae and this leads to a greater rate of degeneration. If this condition is left uncorrected long enough, it can result in disc degeneration and arthritis. In addition, as the disc narrows, the holes between the vertebrae shrink in size, which further predisposes the individual to irritated nerves. On the left, phase 1 degeneration is shown. The arc in the neck is lost and the neck is angled slightly forward. People in this phase typically will have no pain but will have increase degeneration and nerve interference. Fortunately, a Vertebral Subluxation caught in this phase can be corrected. What happens if this is left uncorrected...? If this is missed, the condition progresses into phase 2.

Phase 2 of degeneration has some of the same characteristics of the previous phase, including a loss of normal curvature and position, as well as an alteration in segmental motion. In addition, spines with phase 2 Vertebral Subluxation degeneration many times show a reduction in the patient's range of motion in that area, such as being able to turn their head further to one side compared to the other. X-rays of phase two begin to show calcium changes or buildup at certain levels of the spine. These changes are sometimes called by many names including spurs and arthritis. Disc spaces between the affected vertebrae are noticeably narrower and may appear to be flattening out. Although most people with phase 2 Vertebral Subluxation degeneration may not exhibit any pain, some may start to feel stiff or achy or have other associated symptoms. Chiropractic reconstructive care for patients in phase 2 ranges from 1.5 years to 2.5 years. Again, what happens if you let this go uncorrected? If phase two Vertebral Subluxation degeneration is left uncorrected, it advances to the next phase.

Phase 3 subluxation degeneration is caused by Vertebral Subluxations that have been present for many years. This phase has all of the attributes of the previous phases, only worse. The curvatures are abnormal, the disc spaces are vastly decreased and changed. Calcium changes on the spine are also abundant in this phase. Normally, people in phase 3 have a restricted range of motion and probably exhibit symptoms of some kind. In phase 3 the vertebrae show obvious changes and mutations in shape. Projections made of calcium, sometimes referred to as "spurs or lipping", can be readily seen on x-ray. These arthritic changes can put choking pressures on the spinal cord and nerves. Chiropractic reconstructive care for patients in phase three ranges from 2.5 years to 3.5 years. This does not mean that at the end of this time that any or all of the calcium changes will be gone. In many instances, the body adapts to the presence of the calcium and positive changes can only be measured from a functional standpoint. As before, if phase 3 Vertebral Subluxation degeneration is left unchecked, it slowly advances onward into the next phase.

Phase four Vertebral Subluxation degeneration is seen with subluxations that have been raging on uncorrected throughout a person's lifetime. Phase four is a grave condition that will negatively affect the patient's longevity and quality of life. The massive amount of neurological damage caused by years of subluxation that have lead to phase 4 are probably taking a serious toll on this person's health status. X-rays in phase 4 show serious severe structural changes. Vertebrae exhibit massive arthritic changes, disc spaces appear blurred, and the bones themselves appear fused. In this scenario the patient will have a severe restriction of range of motion in addition to probably a number of other health issues. Reconstruction may not be possible in phase 4, but care can be directed to some reduction in Vertebral Subluxations with the goal of improvement in the quality of life remaining. Patients in phase 4 subluxation degeneration have a serious situation both structurally and neurologically, but they are certainly not beyond hope. Many patients in phase four report significant improvements in symptoms, conditions, mobility and quality of life after receiving chiropractic care.

Chiropractors are the ONLY trained health care professionals that can detect and bring about the correction of Vertebral Subluxations by gently repositioning the bones back in place. These are called Adjustments. Adjustments reduce the amount of irritation on the nerves and then allow them to function as close to 100% as possible which in turn allows the organs to function as close to 100% as possible. Consequently, the chemicals in the body can regain balance, and the body can begin the healing process and return to a state of health. This is how the miracles of chiropractic can occur! This also why we begin checking children as early as possible; it provides them the best chance at an optimal health and development. Furthermore, everyone has a better chance at being healthy and experiencing life at its fullest when all there nerve channels are wide open. Schedule an appointment today and have your life changed by the power of chiropractic!