The word “Chiropractic” was derived from the Greek word cheir meaning “hand” and the Latin word practic which literally translates to “done by,” hence its exact translation means “Done or Practice by Hand.” Invented and discovered by Dr. D.D. Palmer in 1895, Chiropractic is a branch of the health care sciences and is the third largest primary health care profession in the western world after conventional medicine and dentistry. At present, there are some 60,000 Doctors of Chiropractic in the world.
SCA Definition of Chiropractic (Adapted by the SCA from the Association of Chiropractic Colleges) Chiropractic is a primary health care discipline, which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.
The basic concept of chiropractic relates to the fact that the nervous system controls all organs, tissues and cells of the body. When vital nerve communication pathways are interfered with, as can occur with a variety of structural and / or functional problems in the spine, pain, and ill health can be the result. Research both within and outside the chiropractic profession now provides support for this concept.
The Chiropractic profession is often poorly misunderstood. Chiropractic is founded on the scientific premise that the brain and nervous system can deliver its impulses and messages for the proper function of the body’s tissues, organs, and systems.
What is a Subluxation?
The Chiropractic Definition of a Subluxation, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC), involves the dysfunction of certain regions of the spine and its muscles and nerves associated with that region. As defined by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, “A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.” In other words, a VSC occurs when certain joints in the spine lose proper motion. This then creates a cascading effect of inflammation of the nerves exiting that region which can create not only pain within that region or other regions in the body but also improper communication within the body. This can negatively influence associated muscles, tissues and organs. Our body’s ability to self-regulate, function, and heal are all regulated by our nervous system and any disruption to our nerves due to these dysfunctions in the spine can negatively affect our health.
Certain everyday occurrences such as slips or falls or even chronic repetitive movements and postures in the workplace or home can cause the joints in the spine to lose their proper motion, position, and integrity.
Just like any other mode of healthcare, Chiropractic involves regular checkups to identify any Subluxations in the spine.
Doctors of Chiropractic are the only doctors trained to detect and correct subluxations through safe, gentle and specific adjustments.
Every day approximately over 2 million chiropractic adjustments are delivered to patients. Chiropractic adjustments are safer, more effective with less negative side effects and are less costly than more invasive means such as any pain medication, muscle relaxers, or back/neck surgeries. Folks who receive regular chiropractic care are among the healthiest in the world, enjoying less medication, hospitalizations, and medical doctor visits.
What is an Adjustment?
The key to Chiropractic care is the spinal adjustment. The adjustment is the specific method Doctors of Chiropractic corrects Vertebral Subluxation Complexes of the spine. At Herald Square Chiropractic and Sport, we specifically use the Gonstead System of Chiropractic adjustment.
An adjustment involves the Doctor of Chiropractic to apply a gentle pressure to a specific joint in the spine that was found to be restricted in motion with discomfort and tenderness during the examination. The adjustment “frees” that restricted motion while it also relieves any pain that a patient may be suffering.
People often think that an adjustment is solely “moving” bone or even “cracking” a person’s back. An adjustment actually “retrains” the surrounding postural muscles surrounding the vertebrae to become more flexible and to move and function normally, thereby allowing the vertebrae in the joint to move properly. These deep, “intrinsic” muscles cannot be consciously controlled, but rather help create proper tone and posture in our spine. Retraining these muscles through the adjustment restores proper motion within the joint of the spine and helps remove any inflammation that can negatively influence exiting nerves from the spine.
The “cracking” sound often found during an adjustment is the release of gas or air trapped in the joint. All joints have air pressure and often times during an adjustment, which air pressure is released. With some adjustments, you may not necessarily hear that sound, however, it does not mean that an adjustment was not performed. What a chiropractor looks for after an adjustment is if that particular joint is able to move better with less inflammation and tenderness.
Adjustments are safe, gentle and use the most minimal force. Most patients who receive an adjustment feel an immediate “relief” of their discomfort. Sometimes a mild “soreness” may occur after an adjustment similar to a deep stretch after a workout. This occurs especially if certain joints and surrounding musculature have been dysfunctional for a long period of time. Typically that soreness lasts within one day.
What are Musculoskeletal/Fascial Conditions?
Surrounding all muscle tissue and organs in our bodies is a connective tissue called “fascia.” These fascial/myofascial layers help connect different muscle regions to one another and hold them intact. Sometimes due to chronic, repetitive movements or past injuries, these fascial layers can “adhere” together to quickly repair any myofascial damages similar to scar tissue. These scar tissue “adhesions” in the myofascial layer can restrict movement in both the muscles and its associated joint that can also cause chronic pain. Additionally, recent studies have shown that these fascial adhesions also contain “nociceptors,” or nerves that specifically activate and transmit signals of pain to the brain.
Tendinitis versus Tendinopathy
Often times, certain muscular conditions are often classified as a tendinitis, which is an inflammation due to a recent damage to a muscle or tendon. However, a long-standing pain most likely would not be classified as a tendinitis, rather a tendinosis or tendinopathy. Tendinosis is an older, chronic muscular injury that had healed poorly or incorrectly possibly due to poor muscle or motor control and function with associated poor vascular or blood flow supply. Conditions typical with tendinosis or tendinopathy are Tennis Elbow, Shin Splints, de Quervain’sTenosynovosis (Mommy’s Thumb), Golfer’s Elbow, Frozen Shoulder, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendinosis, just to name a few.
