What is Chiropractic?

(2 minute read)

With social media and the internet, I’m sure you’ve heard something about chiropractic by now, whether that is good or bad. You can probably find information online telling you to avoid chiropractic like the plague, too. 

This post will hopefully give you a brief look inside the history of chiropractic and explain how chiropractic works to help many people get out of pain and into better function.

History:
Chiropractic was developed in the 1800s by a magnetic healer named David D. Palmer, or D.D. for short. He was a bit…. Out there. But that is a different story for a different time. 

D.D.’s son, B.J., took chiropractic and developed it into the profession we know and love today. B.J. did many cadaver studies to trace nerve roots from the spinal cord to organs and tissues in the body and theorized that a misplaced, or subluxated, vertebra caused pressure on the nerves exiting the spinal cord creating disease in the area of the body innervated by that nerve.

For years, chiropractors treated all kinds of ailments in the body through this principle until the American Medical Association planned to contain and eliminate chiropractic. This is another (long) story for another time…

Research:
So chiropractic “persevered” but still has some growing to do when it comes to research. Every year we advance more and more, and one researcher of note, Dr. Haavik, is doing great work to “prove” the legitimacy of chiropractic (as if it hasn’t proven itself yet…). The issue is that research requires funding and many chiropractors work alone or in small groups and we tend to spend most money continuing to serve patients through marketing and growing our private practices.
Some of Dr. Haavik’s research explains the basic function of adjustments: your brain is connected to the rest of your body through the spinal cord which is housed in the vertebral column. Your brain sends and receives information to/from your body to regulate all functions and processes in the body. When a segment of the spine moves improperly or not at all the information the brain sends/receives can be altered and abnormal function is the result, which can manifest in pain, disease, anxiety, etc.  Chiropractic reintroduces motion into “stuck” segments of the spine so that they not only move appropriately but the brain can effectively control processes and functions of the body.

How my office is different:
In addition to that, my office works to improve the structure of the spine. Your spine should have 3 curves when you look from the side: two forward and one backward. These curves allow you to run, jump, and do all the things we need to do in our life while protecting the spinal cord. When those curves are reduced, you not only have tension on the spinal cord and tissues that surround it, but you also will create wear and tear on the joints of the spinal column which leads to degeneration of the joints (arthritis). We provide structural spinal correction through neuromuscular reeducation therapies and adjustments. The adjustments are gentle, high speed motions so that we can effectively introduce motion into the joint with as little force as possible. After every adjustment, you finish your appointment with 10 minutes on a vibration platform getting even more proprioceptive input into the body. 

Chiropractic is vital to a healthy body because it removes interference to the nervous system and allows for improved function and reduced symptoms, such as pain.

Be sure to have your spine checked ASAP to see where you stand in your health. Use the contact tab to request information and set up your new patient appointment time.

Yours in Health,
​Dr. Tiffany Jones

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