What Is Chiropractic? Nixa, MO

Chiropractic care is one of the western world’s three major healing professions (the other two are allopathic medicine (MD) and osteopathy (DO).  But many people do not understand what a chiropractor does and how this approach affects their health.
 

What Makes Chiropractic Unique and Special?

Chiropractors are trained to understand the body’s structure and to diagnose and correct the biomechanical causes of disease, not just the symptoms.  These include: 

• Misalignments

 A mechanical disruption in the vertebrae of the spine.  Chiropractors called these subluxations of the spine.  The vertebrae move out of their proper position and can cause pressure on the nerves that exit through the spaces between the vertebrae.  This causes pain, limits or impedes motion, dirupts the nervous system, and can cause muscle weakness. 
 

• Spinal Derangements

This is a mechanical disruption in the spine and may be due to disc herniation, sometimes called a bulging disc.  This causes pain and limits motion. Spinal discs may protrude between the vertebrae or even into the spinal canal due to injury or deterioation.
 

• Fixations

A joint may become stuck in one or more planes of motion, impeding movement, decreasing nutrition to the join and contributing to degeneration.
 

How Is the Chiropractic Approach to Healing?

1. A properly functioning nervous system is essential for the body to maintain health and prevent disease.
    

2. Spinal nerves innervate the entire body.  They are the body’s communication system.  Pinched or irritated spinal nerves due to vertebral misalignments, subluxations or other structural impairments alter or impede normal nerve impulses.  This causes pain and miscommunication between the muscles and organs of the body and the brain.  This miscommunication can cause or allowdisease conditions in the body.
    

3. Vertebral misalignments or subluxations impede the body’s natural movement, limiting range of motion and flexibility.
    

4. Chiropractic adjustments restore vertebrae to their proper position, restoring natural movement and removing the cause of the nerve irritation.  This relieves pain and allows normal impulses and communication to resume, restoring the body’s natural healing abilities to function properly.
    

5. Regular chiropractic care helps maintain and even improve range of motion and flexibility.  It keeps the nervous system functioning at its best and the immune system strong and vibrant.
    

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

The word “Chiropractic” come from two Greek words, cheir and praxis, which mean “done by hand”.  Chiropractors use their hands, or hand-held precision adjusting instruments—to manipulate misaligned vertebrae back into their proper positions.  Chiropractors call these manipulations “adjustments”, as they are adjusting the vertebrae’s position. When the vertebra are in proper position, the pressure is relieved from the associated nerves that exit the space between the vertebrae.  This relieves the pain and allows the nerve impulses to flow normally, allowing the body’s own healing mechanism to take over.
 

Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?

When given properly by a licensed chiropractor, chiropractic treatments are very safe and effective.  There are special circumstances in which some chiropractic adjustments or treatments may be contraindicated.  A licensed chiropractor will carefully consider these circumstances and may advise different treatment options for individuals in these situations.
 

Do Chiropractors Do More than Just Adjust?

Yes, chiropractors are trained in a variety of natural therapies that can help the body to heal.  These may include trigger-point therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, meridian therapy, acupressure, acupuncture, spinal decompression, among others.  
 

Some chiropractors may also prescribe specific orthotics, exercises, herbal supplements, and nutrition to speed healing.
 

Will My Problem be Resolved After One Visit?

Although many patients get relief after only one visit, it normally takes a series of adjustments to keep the vertebrae in their proper position.
 

This is because the ligaments and muscles that support the vertebral positioning have adapted to the misalignment as their “new normal” and will initially return the vertebrae to that position.  As a patient comes in for continuing adjustments, or realignments, the muscles and ligaments progressively conform to the proper position and hold the vertebrae in their proper place.
 

How Many Visits to the Chiriopractor Will I Need?

This depends on many factors, including:

• How severe your condition is

• How long this problem has been deteriorating before you began care.

• How quickly your ligaments and muscles respond to care

• What activities you may be involved in (work, lifting children, sports) that may slow your improvement

• What other therapies the chiropractor is using to help speed your recovery

• Whether you are following your doctor’s instructions for at home care 
   

If your condition is very severe, you may need to come in daily at first.  Many conditions will need to be adjusted two to three times a week initially.  As your condition progresses, your treatments can be spaced out accordingly.  
 

After your condition is resolved, you may desire to receive care on a regular basis to keep your body functioning at its best and to prevent future problems.  How often depends on your lifestyle and the stresses it presents on your body.  Some patients find being adjusted once a month keeps them in top form while others find every other week or even weekly works best for them.  
 

How Could I Benefit From Chiropractic Care?

The best way to answer that question is to consult with a chiropractor.  Whether you are seeking relief from pain or numbness, or looking to improve your range of motion, flexibility or overall health, chiropractic care may be of great benefit for you!  
 

At Nixa Chiropractor Plus, Dr. Hunter Greenwood DC ND combines advanced diagnostic testing with proven chiropractic techniques to help you find relief and wellness.  He has helped housands of patients resolve their heath conditions and find healing in his over 40 years of practice.  Call 417-725-6655 today or visit his office at 1361 W. Mount Vernon Street in Nixa, MO to see how Dr. Greenwood can help you.

 Isn’t it time YOU felt good again?