In the eighty odd years of its development, Chiropractic science has grown to major stature in the.field of the healing arts and has reached millions of people. With the rate of growth steadily increasing, the Chiropractic profession has found a continuing need to acquaint new patients with thenature of Chiropractic care. This publication has been prepared to serve that purpose.

The Doctor of Chiropractic works both directly and indirectly with the nervous system. Every function of the body is under the control of this system. Every organ, tissue and cell is controlled by nerve impulses traveling from the brain to all parts of the body. Nerves make possible all movement. Nerves transmit all sensations to the brain. Nerves make possible all sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. Nerves maintain balance and keep the body temperature at 37.0 degrees. Nerves make it possible to swallow. Nerves make the bowels move. Nerves control the liver, lungs, spleen, pancreas, gall bladder and kidneys. In fact, the nervous system is the Master System which controls all other systems of the body including: the glandular, reproductive, digestive, eliminative, respiratory and circulatory.

Every science of healing has what is known as an avenue of approach. For example, in the field of medicine, a hypodermic needle injects drugs through the skin, a pill is swallowed and goes into the stomach. They are the avenues through which the drugs gain access to the body.

In the field of Chiropractic, the avenue of approach is the spine. The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, the “switchboard” of the nervous system through which nerve fibres pass from the brain to different parts of the body. For every effect there must have been a cause. If a person is ill, then the condition of pain, regardless of the name applied to it, is an effect for which there must have been a cause. The nerves leave the spinal cord through openings between movable spinal bones called vertebrae. When, through injury or posture problems, vertebrae become misaligned they interfere with the normal function of these nerves. This misalignment and fixation causes pain and malfunction of the nervous system and is called a “vertebral subluxation complex”. The vertebral subluxation complex then becomes the cause of pain.

The objective of Chiropractic care is to determine, through an exacting and thorough examination, the precise degree of spinal misalignment and fixation producing this subluxation complex.

Proper “adjustments” are given to remove and “unlock” these subluxation complexes and thus remove the cause of pain and malfunction. Chiropractic Care will add life to your years and years to your life.

Click here to view misallignment chart

What is Chiropratic?

Back pain, neck pain and headaches are just a few of the painful and distressing conditions that affect most of us at some time. Chiropractic and massage therapy, used in combination, form a powerful healing approach that addresses your pain on many levels. Whether your pain is the result of traumatic injury, overuse or stress, chiropractic 2nd massage combined can greatly speed your return to a pain-free, productive life.

Chiropractic Care for your Pain

Both long-term muscle tension and sudden impacts, such as a fall or car accident, can pull and hold your joints out of normal alignment. These misalignments, called subluxations, can disrupt nerve transmissions, especially in the spine which houses nerves affecting the entire body. The result is pain or other symptoms, such as numbness or tingling, both at the site of the misalignment and frequently at related sites elsewhere in the body.

Your chiropractor uses manipulations to return your joint to its normal position and restore joint mobility. Often, this restores balance within your body, allowing a return to optimal, pain-free health or other symptoms, such as numbness or tingling, or other symptoms, such as numbness or tingling, both at the site of the misalignment and frequently at related sites elsewhere in the body.

Your chiropractor uses manipulations to return your joint to its normal position and restore joint mobility. Often, this restores balance within your body, allowing a return to optimal, pain-free health

 

Long hours sitting in a car plus the weight I have to carry on my belt have sent me to a chiropractor for pain relief for years. Since combining massage with the chiropractic, I’ve shifted more to a regular maintenance routine with both. I stay pain free a lot longer,and if I do have pain it’s from ‘twisting something” instead of the same old chronic problems.

Doug, Police Officer

Soft tissue components of your pain

Joint subluxations, troublesome enough on their own, are almost always accompanied by tension or injury in your soft tissue: muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia (connective tissue that permeates muscles and forms protective sheets throughout your body).

Soft tissue pain can actually spread because it causes protective muscle tightening in surrounding areas. Over time, tight, inflamed muscles and fascia (together called myofascia) suffer poor circulation and can develop glue-like myofascial adhesions which prevent muscles from lengthening completely. Painful trigger points can also develop, often referring pain or tingling to other areas in the body. In extreme cases, tight muscles can compress nerves just as painfully as a subluxation.

Why soft tissue is important

Addressing soft tissue problems is an important complement to chiropractic care. This is because muscles move joints, while ligaments and fascia support them. If a subluxation is adjusted without addressing related soft tissue problems, you may still experience pain. In addition, your tight muscles and shortened fascia can pull your joint out of alignment again.

Massage for healthy soft tissue

Massage therapists use a variety of techniques to address soft tissue problems. Gentle kneading and stretching lengthens contracted muscles and fascia. Techniques such as sustained pressure, ice massage and stretching can release trigger points. Painful sprains and strains, as well as myofascial adhesions, can be addressed directly with massage techniques that improve circulation and stimulate healthy separation and realignment of injured fibres.
In general, massage increases circulation. This reduces painful swelling and inflammation, and promotes healing by removing waste products and bringing nutrients to your tissues. Like a sponge absorbing water, both fascia and muscles begin to soften and lengthen.

Maintain everyday good health

Both massage and chiropractic offer preventive care to support your ongoing good health and well-being. A timely visit to your chiropractor can reestablish normal alignment and mobility before secondary soft tissue problems develop.

Regular massage can release chronically contracted muscles and fascia, improving the balance among muscle groups and promoting healthful circulation. Your body will be more resilient in the face of daily stresses, less prone to injury and subluxation

Supporting your home care

To the extent that both chiropractic and massage therapy help resolve your pain and improve mobility, you may find it easier to stretch and exercise. This can help you maintain and even improve the flexibility, strength and balance needed to prevent tension, injury and new subluxations.

Massage is also a powerful tool for helping you to become aware of areas of chronic tension or postural problems, and to understand how these affect your body mechanics. You cm then take preventive measures on your own before pain develops.

 

My stress level is high . . . and caring for my patients and running a business. Chiropractic has increased my energy and helped immensely with my chronic shoulder and neck pain. Then with massage l’ve discovered how it feels to relax! Now I notice when I‘m tensing and can consciously slow down. Our goal is mainly chiropractic, followed by a relaxing massage.

Stanley, Veterinarian

Massage supports Chiropractic

You can benefit in a number of ways by adding massage therapy to your chiropractic care program. Recovery is normally faster and more complete when you address multiple components of your pain. Chiropractic treatment often proceeds more easily, with less discomfort, when soft tissue has been relaxed with massage. You may be less anxious and more ready to receive chiropractic adjustment after a relaxing massage..Adjustments frequently last longer when muscle tension is released that might otherwise pull your joints out of alignment again.
Chiropractic supports massage
If you are seeking massage therapy for pain but find your pain Persists, recurs or even worsens after your massage, chiropractic could help in these ways: . If your pain involves a subluxation, chiropractic adjustment may give immediate relief as your joint is restored to alignment and mobility. You may find that surrounding soft tissue heals quickly once it is no longer subjected to the stress of misaligned joints. The joint movement in chiropractic adjustments can sometimes relax deep layers of soft tissue that can be difficult to reach with massage. . Your chiropractor can use x-rays and manual diagnostic techniques to evaluate other possible causes for your pain and can make appropriate referrals if necessary.

Chiropractic supports massage

If you are seeking massage therapy for pain but find your pain Persists, recurs or even worsens after your massage, chiropractic could help in these ways: . If your pain involves a subluxation, chiropractic adjustment may give immediate relief as your joint is restored to alignment and mobility. You may find that surrounding soft tissue heals quickly once it is no longer subjected to the stress of misaligned joints. The joint movement in chiropractic adjustments can sometimes relax deep layers of soft tissue that can be difficult to reach with massage. . Your chiropractor can use x-rays and manual diagnostic techniques to evaluate other possible causes for your pain and can make appropriate referrals if necessary.

 

My massage therapist and chiropractor have given me my life back! Systemic lupus and flbromyalgia left me barely able to walk or even wash my own back Now 1 swim a mile each day ’ and have greatly reduced my medication. Massage and chiropractic are both useful, but for me have been much more powerful together.

Cynthia, High School Teacher, Grandmother

Which should I do first?

Chiropractors and massage therapists generally agree that your adjustment and massage should be scheduled as closely together as possible. Consult your chiropractor to determine his or her preferred order. Whatever the order, the two therapies will build on each other over time to resolve problems, and support your general good health.
Total well being is the goal

Chiropractic are compatible holistic therapies that share the goal of your total well-being, not simply an absence of illness. Both offer natural, hands-on, drug-free techniques. They can be used as preventive as well as restorative therapies. Both work to resolve the cause of your pain rather than treat isolated symptoms. Used in combination, they can help you maintain your optimum health and enjoy life to the fullest.