Given that Chiropractics
is the fastest-growing health
care profession, it is important
that you understand what
Chiropractics is and what
it can do for you. Chiropractics
is a form of natural health
care that focuses on treating
a patient without using drugs
or medicines. Chiropractics
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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