What is chiropractic?

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who specializes in the health and function of the spine and nervous system. People often think that a chiropractor can only help with back, neck, and headache pain. However, chiropractic care is about overall health and well-being. It can help people feel good about their bodies, reach their full potential, and live their best lives.

Central nervous system

The spinal cord, which runs through the spine and protects it, is part of the central nervous system (CNS). The spine is made up of segments so that it can function and move. Each segment on the spine consists of two vertebrae, which are connected by small joints and an intervertebral disc, which acts mainly as a shock absorber for the forces acting on the spine.

The spinal cord needs reliable protection from the bony mass of the spine because it connects and conducts an infinite amount of information in and out of our body. Information from outside and from the periphery of the body travels to the brain, where it is all processed. The brain then sends answers and instructions back to the spinal cord, from where the information is redistributed throughout the body. The body then knows how to react and what actions to perform.

The central nervous system is like one big information highway, carrying important information to all parts of our body. Our daily lives affect the spine and can cause its individual segments to move incorrectly. Wear and tear on the spine can occur gradually, for example, due to incorrect posture or poor movement habits, or suddenly, which is more common, for example, in sports injuries.

Body work

When a chiropractor performs a quick and gentle spinal adjustment, we can sometimes hear a crunching sound, which is actually completely harmless - it is simply the release of air from the individual intervertebral spaces of the spine.

Due to the close relationship between the spine and the nervous system, everyday stress and strain can negatively affect the flow of information and communication between the body and the brain. The information that our brain is supposed to receive may not be accurate, or may not even reach the brain at all.

When this miscommunication occurs due to abnormal movement of the spine, chiropractors call it a vertebral subluxation (chiropractic subluxation). A chiropractor’s gentle adjustment of the spine restores its natural movement and helps the spinal cord function properly. If we think of the central nervous system as the engine of our body, the chiropractor is something like a mechanic who checks, corrects, or simply tunes the work of the spine and the overall CNS, helping our body function optimally.