Given that Chiropractic is the
fastest-growing health care profession,
it is important that you understand
what Chiropractic is and what
it can do for you. Chiropractic
is a form of natural health care
that focuses on treating a patient
without using drugs or medicines.
Chiropractic not only focuses
on the treatment of an injury or
pain, but also on the wellness
approach of patient healthcare
in order to prevent future injury/pain.
Fact: The nervous system is the
primary control mechanism of the
body. The nervous system is comprised
of the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves. The nervous system regulates
all bodily functions, both voluntary
and involuntary, by communicating
the necessary messages, via the
nerves, between the brain and virtually
every cell, tissue and organ of
the body. The
health of the spinal column and
its relationship with the nerves
that flow through it is the focus
of the Chiropractic discipline. In
order to understand fully what
this entails you need to understand
a little about how the spinal column
works.
The spine has two basic functions:
1) to allow freedom of movement
and 2) to house and protect the
spinal cord. The spinal cord
is the pathway for almost all nerve
impulses transmitted to and from
the brain. The spinal cord is protected
within 24 moveable bones called
the vertebrae as well as the lowest
bones, the sacrum and the coccyx,
and together this makes up the
spinal column. The spinal column
is divided into four regions of
the vertebrae: The Cervical, Thoracic,
Lumbar, and Sacral regions.
To help you understand the terminology
a simplified explanation of the
bones in the spinal column follows:
The
Atlas: is
the first bone in you neck
and is freely movable.
The Atlas supports the
base of the skull and every
nerve in your body passes
thru the Atlas at the brainstem
and for this reason alone
deserves a separate mention
even though it is part
of the Cervical Vertebrae.
The Cervical
Vertebrae: consists
of the first
seven bones,
including the
Atlas, which
make up your
neck. Individual
vertebrae are
referred to as
C1-C7.
The
Thoracic
Vertebrae: make
up the
middle
back
and are
the next
12 bones
of the
spinal
column.
This
is the
longest
portion
of your
back.
Individual
vertebrae
are referred
to as
T1-T12.
The Lumbar
Vertebrae: is
commonly referred to
as your lower back
and consists of five
large vertebrae known
as L1-L5.
The Sacral
Region: is
commonly referred to
as your tailbone and
is made up of the sacrum
and the coccyx. As
a child the sacrum
consists of five individual
bones and the coccyx
is made up three to
five bones. In
the adult, the sacral
bones and the coccyx
bones fuse so that
each of these two bones
are solid individual
bones |
Each vertebra has two bony projections
called facets, which form a hinge
with the facets of the adjoining
vertebrae. A thin disc,
made up of cartilage on the outside
with a soft gelatin-like material
on the inside, lies between each
vertebra providing a cushion for
your spinal vertebrae. This combination
of vertebrae and disc provides
flexibility in the spine. Ligaments,
tendons, and muscles surround and
attach to the spine giving it its
strength.
Since the Nervous System affects
such a large percentage of the
body, Chiropractors may treat individuals
with:
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Neck pain
- Low back pain
- Sciatica
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal Disk Conditions
- Carpal Tunnel
- Tendonitis
- Sprains
- Strains
- TMJ
Chiropractors are not limited to
the above list, they also aid in
Digestive Disorders, Allergies, Asthma,
Sinus trouble, Dizziness and more. Since
the nervous system supplies nerves
to so many organs and tissues, many
body systems may be affected. Chiropractors
must be aware of how the many systems
are integrated and affected by an
injury/damage to the spinal system.
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