Chiropractic is a complete system of healthcare focused on restoring, preserving, and optimizing health by natural hands-on care.
A health system that helps people live healthier, fuller lives. While typically thought of as "bone doctors", chiropractors actually focus on the nervous system and painlessly, manually adjust the vertebral column in order to effect the nervous system.
Chiropractic focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the functions of the nervous system and general health. It emphasizes manual therapy including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.
Chiropractic is based on the premise that a vertebral subluxation or spinal joint dysfunction can interfere with the nervous system and result in many different conditions of diminished health. It also examines the relationship between structure and function and its impact on neurological mechanisms.
Chiropractors are licensed professionals who are trained to diagnose and appropriately care for or refer patients for the care they require.
A chiropractor can develop and carry out a comprehensive treatment and management plan that can include spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, prescription of exercises, and health and lifestyle counseling.
Chiropractic was founded in 1895 by D. D. Palmer in the USA, and is practiced in more than 100 countries.
Where conventional or “allopathic” medicine focuses on curing illness through surgery, pharmaceuticals, and radiation, the goal of chiropractic is to optimize health with a non-invasive approach that does not use drugs or surgery. Chiropractic’s primary avenue of care is manipulation of the spine and the framework of the body.
The word "chiropractic" comes from the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (action), and simply means "done by hand."
Chiropractic patients often visit their chiropractor periodically in order simply to relieve irritations – to get “adjusted.” Individuals also seek chiropractic care for back pain, headaches, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, as well as non-musculoskeletal conditions including allergies, asthma, and digestive disorders.
