Why Do I Need Chiropractic?
Many of us know that chiropractors are those "back crackers" out there that you can go to if you are suffering a bout of low back pain. And every chiropractor has heard the line, "once you start going to the chiropractor you HAVE to go the rest of your life". Let's look at this from a different perspective. Most of us go to the dentist twice a year, and get annual check-ups at our primary care doctor's office as we should. It only seems logical then, to get regular check-ups at your chiropractor's office as well. The spine is so vitally important you owe it to yourself to have it checked out by someone who knows the ins and outs of the spine and the rest of the musculoskeletal system.
The vertebral column protects your spinal cord and also allows passage of the nerves that extend from it to every part of your body. Without it you could easily become paralyzed or worse, even from the slightest injury. Imagine the force it takes when you see football injuries that lead to paralysis. It would have to have been such a traumatic injury that the force compromised the integrity of the spine so that it affected the spinal cord. It gives you more appreciation for the protection that it supplies the rest of us in our day to day lives. The vertebral column is just that; a column that consists of 33 bony vertebrae that articulate with each other. As stated, it functions to protect the spinal cord, as well to provide attachment for muscles and ligaments that keep us standing upright.
Chiropractors Reduce Pain and Prevent it's Return
So you've seen the chiropractor for a few weeks now and your pain is gone. Why would you continue to go back? Or maybe you don't even have pain. Why would you go see the chiropractor? Well the answer is actually fairly simple. Just like with many medical conditions, pain may not even be present even when something is wrong. Many times you may not even know you have cancer until a specialist finds it. The same can be said of vertebral subluxations. In layman's terms a vertebral subluxation is when a portion of your spine is not moving properly (also known as hypomobility). Chiropractors are trained to detect and correct these areas of hypomobility through the use of adjustments, whether it be using their hands or a specialized machine. Pain tends to be one of the last symptoms to show up, and the first to go away. That is why chiropractors continue to want to see you even after the pain is gone. The problem may not be fully resolved yet.
I like to use an analogy in this situation by comparing the body to a car. When you keep up on all of your maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations etc, you can keep your car running for hundreds of thousands of miles. However, if you start neglecting that maintenance, things begin to break down or seize up. A prime example is an old classic car. If you leave it just sitting outside in the elements and don't start it regularly and take care of it, it will become rusty and the parts may start to seize up because they have not been moving for a long time. The same can be said of the human body. We all have a motor (heart), drive train (legs), frame (musculoskeletal system), and wheels/tires (feet and shoes), etc. The best example, and the area chiropractors are mostly associated with, is the spine. This complex system is composed of 24 moving vertebrae and 9 fused vertebrae, ligaments, muscles, and shock absorbing discs, and all together form a column that helps holds you upright and protects your central nervous system. Now, if one of those vertebrae stops moving properly, it has a systemic affect on the surrounding vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments which have to pick up the slack of the spot that isn't moving. And, just like with the car, if something is not moving it may begin to break down and seize up. This is where arthritis begins to set in, and this is where chiropractors can be of vital importance. We detect these areas that are not moving properly and help free them up so it does not reach the break down stage.
Unfortunately we as humans lead very active lifestyles and, because of technology, we spend a lot of time in positions that are not good for the body while sitting at a computer or in the car, etc. This leads to improper mechanics and therefore leads to problem areas in the spine. Personally I had never been to a chiropractor until in my early 20's when deciding what direction I wanted to go in healthcare. Now that I have learned all about the human body and its function, as well as how chiropractic works, I make sure to receive regular adjustments so I don't end up like the broken down and seized up Chevy on the side of the on Route 66. Don't you owe that to yourself as well? The good news is it won't cost you an arm and a leg to receive your regular check-ups. Depending on where you live and other factors including insurance, you can get all of your annual adjustments in for the year, for less than it may cost you for one of your dental visits. A good rule of thumb for the pain free patient would be at least 1 visit every three months to remove any subluxations that have shown up. Of course you may have to come more often depending on what you have going on. But that is a great starting point. Be sure to discuss your options with your chiropractor. To learn more about chiropractic and various treatment options visit http://www.dunhamdc.com
Nathan J. Dunham, DC
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert
