What Is Chiropractic

"Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of things natural; a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column by hand only, for the correction of the cause of disease." - B.J. Palmer (developer of Chiropractic)

Chiropractic is based on timeless principles of nature and “nature knows best”! Let’s start with the FACTS (Principles):
Fact 1: Your nervous system controls and co-ordinates the function of every single cell, tissue and organ and system in your body.
Fact 2: Your spine is the ‘gateway’ of your nervous system. It houses, protects and transmits the nerves from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body.

If you injure a joint in your spine that results in nerve interference, your normal body function will be compromised and your health will deteriorate. This joint problem causing nerve interference is called a subluxation. (Safety pin diagram)

Put quite simply: A healthy spine = a healthy nervous system = a healthy body. A subluxated joint (joint problem causing nerve interference) can cause all manner of health problems because the vital nerve links between your brain and body are disrupted. Organs and tissues begin to break down because they are not being activated correctly by the nervous system and ill-health (sickness and diseases) results.

A principled Chiropractor will thoroughly examine your spine and nervous system for subluxations, and correct them with a specific adjustment using their hands. This empowers your body with the best opportunity to heal and function optimally.

Subluxation

Simply put: A subluxation is a joint problem causing nerve interference. The primary function of a joint is to move so if is moving correctly, it is functioning correctly. Injury, through trauma or repetitive stress, can cause a bone to move beyond normal. Your body then reacts to protect the joint with swelling and muscle tightness, it restricts the movement to prevent further injury. This lack of movement results in joint dysfunction and if this joint is a spinal joint, it will likely cause nerve interference.

We know that the body will restrict an injured joint (the joint will not be functioning well) which means the joint won’t heal well unless it is given specific adjustments to restore normal movement. This is why so many people still have subluxations resulting from a childhood or teenage injury and is why it is so important for parents to have their children’s spines checked as they are growing up so they don’t develop chronic subluxations and subsequent health conditions in their adult life.

The most common cause of a subluxation is trauma (birth, learning to walk, falls, sporting injuries, repetitive movements, etc).

Adjustment (Correction)

When a joint becomes subluxated (injury resulting in nerve interference), one bone moves away from its normal position relative to the adjacent bone and the body restricts the movement of that joint.

To correct the subluxation in the most effective manner therefore requires a specific adjustment of the bone to return it toward its normal position and state of function. Because we are adjusting the bone towards normal, it is the safest and most effective way to influence the subluxated/injured joint. The adjustment is a quick, small sustained thrust with the intent of correcting, not manipulating the subluxation that often results in a clicking/popping sound (like a poping of the knuckles) as the joint moves toward normal.

Analogy: if you were to break your arm, the best chance you have of healing in the quickest and most effective manor is if the doctor sets the two broken ends as close to normal as possible in a very direct/specific way.

Damage to the bone and surrounding tissue would occur if the bones were randomly moved about… the same principles apply to the correction of a subluxation. Twisting a bone/joint one way then the other or cracking it from one side then the other may improve the movement (temporarily giving some relief) but can be quite destructive to an injured/subluxated joint (resulting in further protection/restriction from the body).

Remember that in order for a joint to function well and heal, it needs to be moving correctly and not causing any nerve interference. So several adjustments may be required to correct the subluxation, nevertheless each adjustment must be specifically directed at returning the bone toward its normal position and state of function for the best outcome. This is the aim with each Gonstead Adjustment giving rise to its unique and very specific approach.

Another very important characteristic of The Gonstead System is knowing when to stop adjusting. Once the nerve interference is removed, the body is in the best state to heal and this healing process should not be interfered with by any more adjusting. That’s why a principled Gonstead Chiropractor will examine each patient on each visit (each visit – not every 12 visits, not every 6 visits but every visit) to determine if there is nerve interference, if there is nerve interference that patient needs an adjustment, if there isn’t then that patient should not be adjusted.

Find out about the very thorough Gonstead System of Examination utilized to accurately find the subluxation and determine its precise direction of misalignment/malposition (see The Gonstead System)

"There is a vast difference between an adjustment and a manipulation." - C. S. Gonstead

"Find the subluxation, accept it where you find it, fix it, and leave it alone." - C. S. Gonstead