The word 'chiropractic' literally means 'done by the hand' or 'manipulation'. Spinal manipulation was practised by Hippocrates in the 5th Century BC. Chiropractic as we know it today was developed in 1895 by a Canadian, Daniel D Palmer. The chiropractic belief is based on his findings that 95% of all health problems could be prevented or treated using spinal adjustment, and 5% by adjustments of other joints. It is proposed that misaligned vertebrae, or subluxations, caused interference and interrupted the proper flow of information from the spine to an internal organ. As a result, the human body would experience disharmony which would result in loss of health.
Chiropractic therapy is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. If there is a misalignment the result is pain and or discomfort with disrupted information pathways. Once this misalignment is fixed, the body will heal itself within reason.
It is generally accepted that chiropractors can help sore backs but it is only about 20% of what chiropractic can do for a patient. There is a multitude of other conditions that chiropractors relieve. These include: asthma; muscle, joint and postural problems; gastrointestinal disorders; fatigue; vision problems; tinnitus; vertigo; sinus problems; allergies; croup; skin conditions; kidney conditions; irritable bowel; menstrual problems among others.
Occasionally patients will need to be in a state of undress for treatment. Treatments are usually carried out on a chiropractic bed specially designed for this purpose.
The length of each visit and the frequency of re-visits is dependent on the Chiropractor and the problem or issue that is being treated.
After taking a case history the spine is examined to see if there are any injuries, accidents or areas of tension that may be causing irritation to the spinal nerve roots. By reducing or eliminating this irritation, the body will operate more efficiently and more comfortably. Occasionally a Chiropractor may refer a patient for x-rays, Massage or Physiotherapy if this is considered to be necessary. Manipulation of the spine, when performed by a chiropractor, is frequently referred to as an adjustment. Chiropractors assess, diagnose and treat people with movement problems and strive to restore function. They assess injuries and work with the patient to help restore as normal of function as possible.
Chiropractics don't just fix what is broken, they also work with people to ensure that they lead a healthy and active lifestyle. They give advise on nutritional and lifestyle changes to help make sure that people can live their lives to the fullest.
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Craniosacral Therapy, also called CST, was originally put together by reputable medical pioneer John E. Upledger. An Osteopathic Physician, Upledger conducted the majority of his research and scientific research at Michigan State University, in which he was working as a biomechanics instructor. In 1970, while helping with a surgery concerning the neck, Upledger noticed a stroking motion in what he later identified as the craniosacral system. Soon after enquiring of colleagues and discovering they were unclear on what he discovered, he started to be curious and launched a search to uncover what may have prompted the movement he noticed.
As if we haven't shared enough right! Well, we're not quite done. Here's some additional evidence to support the need to change. And I quote…"The backpack load effect on schoolchildren posture should be more carefully evaluated in the future. As we already stated in the past following our previous work, we continue today not to understand why we should have laws that protect workers who carry heavy loads even for a few minutes per day, while we do not look at our children; moreover now, that a recent paper has shown that back pain in youngsters is correlated with back pain in adulthood."
Could you repeat that? Did you say backpack use can alter my child's spine? According to researchers, "Our results suggest that a 12 kg load, fairly common in this population (carried at least once a week), seems to push the postural system to its physiological limits." 12 kg is 26 lbs and 26 pounds is a lot of weight for a child to carry. Did you get that? Backpack use only one time per week can change your child's posture, and not for the better!
Yes, the Waylon Jennings song is a about preventing your child from becoming a cowboy. That's fine, but the title sounds real nice when you sing it and with any luck I've got your attention. If that's the case, GREAT because what I'm about to share could save your child's spine. Let's start with some spine basics. The spine has a normal shape - straight when viewed from the front and curved when viewed from the side. During adolescence your child's spine is still growing and does so according to the stress and loads placed upon it.
Like other forms of alternative medicine, chiropractic also had its share of controversies amid the resistance from the mainstream medicine. Although currently licensed and well established in Australia, United States, and Canada, chiropractic has fought against mainstream medicine throughout the most part of its existence. The American Medical Association rejected chiropractic until 1987 calling the practice as an "unscientific cult" stressing that chiropractors' idea on subluxation is not based on science.
