"Science of applied neurophysiologyic diagnosis based on the theory that health and disease are life processes related to the function of the nervous system; irritation of the nervous system by mechanical, chemical or psychic factors is the cause of disease; restoration of health and maintenance of health depend on normal function of the nervous system. Diagnosis is the identification of these noxious irritants and treatment is their removal by the most conservative method."

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.

The conditions which doctors of chiropractic address are as varied and as vast as the nervous system itself. All chiropractors use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient's condition and arrive at a course of treatment. Doctors of chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis and x-ray examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine.

The examination of the spine to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other health care procedures. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones which begin at the base of your skull and end in the center of your hips. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings. The nerves leave the spine and form a complicated network which influences every living tissue in your body.

Accidents, falls, stress, tension, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in a displacements or derangements of the spinal column, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. These irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic teaches that reducing or eliminating this irritation to spinal nerves can cause your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably.

Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, Doctors of chiropractic do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated. In fact, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals now work as partners in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices.

Extracted from www.chiroweb.com

What do Chiropractors do?

Chiropractors diagnose and treat neuro-muscular skeletal disorders such as spinal problems and sporting injuries.

Chiropractors may perform the following tasks:

• treat patients by adjusting the spinal column to manipulate joints and soft tissues
• assess disorders by discussion, observation and examination of patients, and by using diagnostic equipment such as x-rays, spinal analysis and elecromyography
• reduce physical interference to the nervous system, which may cause pain, impairment of normal function or lowered resistance to disease
• prescribes treatment to be followed including preventative and corrective exercise and diet
• refer patients to other health professionals as appropriate

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Further information can be found at:

What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic is the health maintenance of the spinal column, discs, related nerves and bone geometry without drugs or surgery.
The DC or Doctor of Chiropractic spends a minimum of six years studying the nervous, muscle, and skeletal system interactions, to optimize these systems for each individual patient's unique situation.

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