Get Healthy

Most people have heard of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. To many it is a confusion trying to figure out what they each do and who to turn to when needing help? This new series on GIRL.com.au aims to shed some light about the health care types available with an analysis of particular health care types each month.

Beginning with a look this month at CHIROPRACTIC.

Chiropractic is defined as "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 disease".

This might be clarified by saying that Chiropractors see the Nervous System as the primary focus of the body's health, and a disruption to that nervous system will lead to degradation of the well being of the body. Disease is a term used to describe an imbalance in the body that leads to less than optimum functioning. In other words, imagine a hose with water flowing through it (representing the nervous energy flowing through the spine). If a part of the hose is blocked off, little or no water will flow through the hose. Chiropractors work to get rid of these 'blockages', thus freeing up the spine and nervous flow.

Chiropractic diagnosis involves a series of tests which include, but are not limited to the following:

X - Rays: which are used to assess the underlying bone structure.

Patient History and Records of Previous Trauma and/or Treatment.

Neurological Tests: such as reflex tests etc. For example, tapping your knee with a small rubber hammer to determine a reflex response.

Pathological Tests: to assess any underlying problems with other body systems e.g. Low Blood Sugar levels.

Chiropractic Tests which could include Range of Motion testing. For example, if you can turn your head further to one side, or are both sides even?

Treatment aims to restore normal function to affected areas by use of "Adjustments". Adjustments involve contact with the hand (or in some cases other devices) in movements which are described as "high velocity, low amplitude" thrusts. Put simply, these adjustments are a short, very quick thrust of the hands which has the intent of providing a specific joint of the spinal column with exactly enough motion force to move back into its proper alignment with the rest of the spine.

Chiropractors have had success with a wide ranging number of cases including back pain, sciatica, headaches, asthma and several other conditions which would otherwise be seen as unrelated to the spine.

Now for the all-time famous question: Why is there a crack heard when you go to a chiropractor?? Well, the answer is simple. The crack is simply a gas bubble bursting, giving off a popping noise!!!!!

So, overall, why should you go to a chiropractor? To help your body get healthy and stay healthy!!!!!!

Written by Peter Spinda, http://www.gethealthy.com.au

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