What is Chiropractic
Journey To Wellness
The roots of Chiropractic can be traced all the way back to ancient times with the Chinese and Greeks. In 1890s, D.D. Palmer then founded the Chiropractic profession in the U.S. and later started Palmer School of Chiropractic which has continued to be one of the most prominent Chiropractic colleges today.
Chiropractic has since been well-established globally including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Asian countries like Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia.
CHIROPRACTIC HISTORY
Chiropractic Focus
Chiropractic is a health care profession that specializes in the spine and nervous system. It focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, e.g. spinal misalignment and nerve-function interference.
Such disorders (the cause) usually lead to symptoms (the effect) that include headaches, neck/back pain, joint and limb pain, muscle tension, low immunity, fatigue, poor digestion, etc. By addressing the cause, Chiropractic can be effective for the relief and prevention of most symptomatic health issues. In most cases, it can enhance the healing process tremendously.
Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) is connected to; and controls/coordinates every system (respiratory, immune, digestive, cardiovascular, hormonal etc.), organ and cell in the body. This is done with the brain transmitting and receiving messages to and from all parts of the body via the spinal cord and nerves.
The spine is the structural foundation of the body and it also protects the spinal cord and nerves branching out from the cord. It is crucial that the spine stays in optimal alignment so there’s no irritation and stress on the spinal cord, nerves and surrounding tissues due to displaced or misaligned spinal bones.
Severe spine and spinal cord injury can cause a person to become paralyzed; and the area of paralysis depends on which part of the spinal cord/nerves are affected. Likewise, harmful stress on the spine and nerves can cause parts of the body system/function linked to the stressed nerves to degrade.
*Dr. Chung Ha Suh of the University of Colorado showed that even a small pressure (about the weight of a dime) on a nerve can reduce the function of the nerve by 60 percent and that the nerve will start to degenerate if the pressure is sustained for three hours.
Chiropractic restores optimal alignment and mobility in the spine (or joints), allowing the spinal cord and nerves to function without interference. It alleviates pain and muscle tightness so inflamed tissues can heal naturally. With a healthy spine and nervous system, the body will have a higher chance of functioning at its best (according to individual optimal performance).
Chiropractic is natural, drug-free and non-invasive.
3 Important Functions Of The Spine:
1. FOUNDATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE BODY
The spine is the foundational structure of the body. An optimally aligned spine is straight when viewed from the front and back and has subtle “S” curves when viewed from the side of the body. It is structurally strongest at its optimal alignment.
A healthy spine supports flexible and dynamic body movements. The durability of the spine will be challenged if the spine loses the optimal alignment due to spinal bone misalignments.
2. SHOCK ABSORBERS
The intervertebral discs together with the “S” curves of the spine (side view) absorb impact, thus preventing injuries to the body and shock to the brain when we walk, run and jump (and other non-fatal traumas).
Misaligned spinal bones will lead to the loss of ideal “S” curves which will compromise the optimal structure of the spine causing the spine to be weakened and prone to diseases or injuries.
3. SPINAL CORD PROTECTOR
The spine holds and protects the spinal cord running within and the nerves branching out. The spinal cord is the only link from the brain to the rest of the body, for the transmission of nerve impulses to operate the whole body. If there is damage to the spine, it can potentially damage the spinal cord and nerves. If the damage to the spinal cord is too severe, the body will not be able to function normally even if the brain is working normally.
These are also the major reasons why so many health problems could be related to issues of the spine. Chiropractic aims to restore and maintain optimal spinal alignment, so the important functions of the spine can be sustained. With an optimally aligned spine, the potential to stay healthy with lesser dis-ease is greater.