Your Health Chiropractic care – is it for you?
Dr. Angela Thomas, chiropractic physician, clinic owner, and Royal Neighbors member, shares with us a brief introduction to chiropractic care and its benefits.
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a safe, natural health care profession that focuses on disorders involving the nervous and musculoskeletal system. Many people believe that chiropractors only treat low back and neck pain. But because we deal with the nervous system, which controls every cell in the body, we can have a far greater impact on the entire body than just pain relief.
How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractors relieve nervous system interference through a hands-on adjustment to the spine. Chiropractors adjust subluxations (joints which are slightly misaligned). When the vertebrae are out of alignment, pressure is placed on the nerves that exit the openings between the segments. It only takes a dime worth of weight or pressure to adversely affect nerve function. Not only does the vertebra itself put pressure on the nerve, but the surrounding muscle and other tissues also can become irritated and swollen to place even more stress on the nerves. The chiropractic adjustment gently moves the vertebra back into place, relieving the pressure to the nerves without drugs, surgery, or side effects. Once the vertebral segment is back in place, the joint can move freely in its normal range of motion, and more importantly, proper nerve function is restored. Once the nervous system interference is removed, the body can begin to heal itself.
What can cause a subluxation?
A number of normal daily activities can bring about a subluxation. A fall or trauma, lifting a heavy object, stress, yard work, chasing after the kids, and even doing laundry can all be the culprit. Now, this doesn’t mean that your chiropractor will give you a note to get you out of taking out the trash from now on! But we will instruct you on how to properly lift objects and give you exercises to do at home that will strengthen your core stability muscles so that when you do take out the trash you won't keep re-injuring yourself! And of course, we will keep your spine in proper alignment so that you will be better able to handle these daily stressors without discomfort or injury.
Does an adjustment hurt?
No. Most people find it very comfortable and pleasant. After your first adjustment, you may have some slight soreness. This is due to the fact that the muscles that have held your spine in this subluxated position are not used to the vertebrae being back in the normal place. As with starting a new exercise program, some mild discomfort is possible. Many chiropractors also use massage, electric muscle stimulation, inter-segmental traction tables, and other therapies to relieve pain symptoms of their patients.
 Why do chiropractors make you keep coming back frequently?
Ah, my favorite question! The bottom line here is that chiropractors have to work on your body’s timeframe for healing, not ours. We would love it if we could “fix” every patient with one adjustment. Unfortunately your body’s physiology just doesn’t work that way. One person may only need one or two adjustments to keep the subluxation from returning, and then just come in every few months to stay healthy. However, another patient may need many more adjustments to get the muscles re-educated and to get that vertebral segment used to being in its proper position. Each case is unique. Chiropractors are especially good at listening to their patients, understanding their situations, and resolving the underlying cause of the problem successfully.
Do chiropractors work with medical doctors?
Absolutely! We value what other health care professionals can do for their patients. We all want to help our patients live healthier, happier, pain-free lives. I think in the past, there has been a poor understanding as to what chiropractic is and what it can do for people. It is the job of chiropractors today to not only educate their patients, but other health professionals as to what exactly we do, and how we can all work together in our patients’ best interest. Removing nerve interference with gentle hands-on adjustments and allowing the body to heal itself is what we are all about. |
Dr. Thomas continued her education with the help of a Royal Neighbors
non-traditional scholarship she received in 2000. |