What is Chiropractic?
“Chiropractic” comes from the Greek word “Chiropraktikos” which means “skillfully done by hand”. Doctors who practice chiropractic are known as chiropractors, chiropractic physicians, or doctor’s of chiropractic. Chiropractors are a licensed health care profession that diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions and the affects of those conditions on the body’s nervous system and health overall. Chiropractic is licensed in all 50 states as well as in Canada, Europe, South America, Australia, and other countries. It is also accepted by a majority of insurance plans, the federal government, and Medicare. Chiropractors typically treat health problems naturally with adjustments (manipulation), nutrition, exercise, and rehabilitation. They also may use other methods of alternative medicine such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy depending on their area of specialization.
Chiropractic is a non-invasive health care discipline that focuses on treatment and preventative care for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system and joints. Chiropractic is a natural method of health care with the proven ability to relieve back pain, increase vitality, and promote well-being. It is the largest drugless and non-surgical health care profession in the United States.
Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of things natural. It is a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column, (often by hand) for the correction of the cause of disease. Chiropractic has been research and validated by the federal government for decades. Chiropractic is safe and effective and has helped millions of people to restore their bodies to a greater level of health and wholeness. The chiropractic profession, with over 60,000 doctors, comprises the second largest health care field in the United States. The education process for a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) is much like that of medical doctors (M.D.), dentists (D.D.S.) and osteopaths (D.O.). The Doctor of Chiropractic must earn his degree after 4 years of undergraduate studies followed by 5 years of Chiropractic education at an accredited university. There is also a 2-year clinical internship required for the degree.
Chiropractic was founded in 1895. It is based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls the function of every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body. The brain and the spinal cord are protected by bones, the skull, and vertebra. When the vertebra lose their normal position or move improperly, they can irritate the nervous system. The irritation can effect the nerves which supply the tissues and organs causing a lack of function. This lack of function is called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Chiropractors locate and correct the areas of the spine not functioning properly. The correction is done through a procedure called an adjustment. The word adjustment describes a specific movement that is directed with careful pressure. This pressure allows the vertebra to return to a more normal position and movement. Doctors of Chiropractic go through a four year graduate program after completing medical school prerequisites. The training teaches Chiropractors how to use just
Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism, controlled by the brain, spinal cord and nerves of the body. The vertebra, which protect the brain and nervous system, when misaligned or “subluxated”, cause malfunction of the body and organs throughout the body.
