Adjustments and Manipulation
Manual adjustment (aka manipulation of a joint) is the most common form of treatment unique to chiropractors. It's a very effective procedure for pain relief. Many patients report relief within minute in certain cases. Adjustments are performed manually, by the doctor, to the spinal joints and other joints in the body, that have become stiff, arthritic, or misaligned. The objective of this procedure is to gradually stretch stiff joints, restore normal joint mobility, improve postural alignment, relieve spasm, and remove nerve pressure. Reduced joint motion and abnormal alignment often cause irritation and pressure to nerves adjacent to the joint, which can cause pain and other symptoms of ill-health.
This condition of joint stiffness and misalignment is called a joint subluxation. When it occurs in a spinal joint, it is known as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex, because of the wide variety of possible symptoms related to the close proximity of the spinal joints to the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. Chiropractic adjustments are the treatment of choice for correcting joint subluxation.
Common causes of joint subluxations include joint trauma, injury, arthritis, disc degeneration, poor posture, repetitive motions, stress, and lack of exercise. Subluxations may occur suddenly, as with an injury, or they may develop over time, as in the case of arthritis and disc degeneration. As you might expect, the amount of time that a subluxation exists is generally directly proportional to the amount of time it takes to correct the misalignment.
Using an analogy, if the wire to a light bulb is faulty or disconnected, the light bulb may flicker or not turn on. The wire would represent the nerve and the light bulb would represent the muscle. Sciatica is a classic example of nerve pressure. Leg pain, as well as weakness, numbness and tingling, can shoot down the leg due to pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back. A pinched nerve in the neck can commonly cause problems in the arm because that's where those nerves travel. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is another example of a nerve being pinched, occurring in the wrist.
In order for the joints, muscles, tissues, organs, and systems in our bodies to work at 100% full capacity, all of the nerves that connect to those areas must reach those body parts without pressure or irritation being placed upon them anywhere along their path. Only then, can our bodies ‘work’ or ‘function’ at 100%. The nervous systems controls nearly all of the miraculous workings of our bodies.
Overall, when you keep all of the joints in your body, especially the the spinal joints, moving properly and in good alignment with regular chiropractic care, you are using a proven, safe and effective method to keep the whole body functioning at its highest level of efficiency and health.
And, that is one of the most important elements in living a long, healthy, and vibrant life!
To schedule an appointment, call 410.721.5050. Our staff is ready to assist you.