Chiropractic Insider: 10 Things You Need to Know
By Dr. Molly Casey
There is so much information out on the internet and in life in general about everything. When we’re exposed to new opportunities and experiences, especially with regard to health, I like to go straight to the experts for the most up-to-date and truthful information instead of sifting through all sorts of stories. First, I access the facts, then I look for others who’ve walked the path. Let’s begin our journey.
Ten Things Most Don’t Know About Chiropractic
As a chiropractor, I’m covering 10 things to know about chiropractic -- regardless of whether you’ve been adjusted before or not, and whether or not you’re a veteran of the practice and lifelong patient!
Your body has an innate intelligence and chiropractic supports it - I so love this truth. Your body is a self-healing mechanism. Your body knows what to do, when to do it, and how. Humor me: do you have to think about keeping your heart beating every single moment? Or making your lungs inflate and deflate? Or what about getting those cells that repair and restore damaged tissue to the areas that need them? No, of course not. There is an intelligence within your body that, if it is able to function without interference, is able to heal from the stresses and strains, injuries, and sickness that you encounter in life.
The doctor doesn’t do the healing - That’s right. You read it right. I don’t do the healing. Chiropractic adjustments and lifestyle support your body’s innate intelligence by clearing interference within the communication system. Your body does the healing, the doctor simply removes the interference and provides the body a clear opportunity to do the work.
It boosts your overall health, including your immune system - The better your communication is between your brain and body, the healthier you are in every area of life. Your brain and body communicate through your nervous system. By ensuring the spine (which houses and protects your central nervous system) is moving optimally, chiropractic is providing the body the best possible opportunity to communicate clearly and without interference, thus improving your overall health. There are studies that show folks who receive regular chiropractic adjustments get sick less than those who don’t.
It’s not about pain - Pain is the last symptom to show itself and the first to go away. Only about 10 percent of the nervous system transmits pain, so using pain as an indicator that one’s spine is moving well and the nervous system is functioning optimally isn’t such a wise idea, in my professional opinion. Does pain often go away when folks start getting chiropractic adjustments? Yes. Is that the reason we adjust our patients? No, that is just a great side effect.
Top athletes use it for better performance and lifestyle - Top professional athletes utilize chiropractic care regularly for increased performance. Well-known figures such as Lance Armstrong, Jerry Rice, Dana Torres, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Venus Williams, Barry Bonds and Michael Jordan have all used chiropractic to improve their athletic performance, lifestyle, and decrease injury timeout.
Kids, including infants, get adjusted too - If they have a spine -- and all humans do -- they can get adjusted. Remember, it’s ultimately about proper communication system functioning through spinal health. It makes so much sense to keep the spine healthy from birth than to try to repair, then maintain, after many years in. So get the kids checked.
Your health is your choice - You don’t need to do anything in life. This is exactly what I say when folks ask, “Do I need to get adjusted for the rest of my life?” At the same time, I remind them that the body is a machine and machines require upkeep. At what point do they decide to simply stop caring for their car and expect it to run forever the way they want? It’s not logical. So do you have to get adjusted forever more? No. Do I think that it’s wise to make chiropractic a part of your regular health routine? Absolutely.
It stimulates proper bone production - Yes, it’s true. Your body is constantly in a process of laying down and re-absorbing bone. Ideally you want that to be at an equal rate. Often, because of poor diet, little exercise, and poor health habits, that’s not the case and folks struggle with osteopenia or osteoporosis. While adjustments are not a substitute for other health activities like good nutrition and movement, regular chiropractic care does support proper bone production.
Movement is life; adjustments restore movement - Chiropractic adjustments restore motion to spinal joints. When things are stagnant, they decay and ultimately die. With restoration of spinal movement, joint health and proper communication flow is supported.
Adjustments don’t hurt - Although sometimes there may be a popping noise that is associated with the adjustment, most folks agree adjustments don’t hurt. Chiropractors can use a variety of techniques and tools to assist the gentleness of the adjustment depending on the patient and the situation; for example, babies aren’t adjusted the same as adults.
You’ve now accessed 10 things about chiropractic from a chiropractor. Straight from the source. If you have any further questions, stop in at The Joint Chiropractic and let our chiropractors help you help yourself!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.