What Is Chiropractic?

This seems like a very simple question. Unfortunately, even many chiropractic patients have no strong idea what chiropractic is and North Americans who have never been to a chiropractor are certainly misinformed as to the make up of the profession.

My name is Dr. Bryan Brodeur. I have been a chiropractor since 1997 and I run a very successful clinic in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. A key feature in my success is my ability to explain thoroughly what my profession is about and what our focus in treating spinal problems is. I believe that both chiropractic therapy and home exercise systems are key to desirable changes in you spinal hygiene.

So, take a seat and spend the next five minutes with me. I promise you an impactful learning experience and a more profound understanding of your body.

The human spine thrives on proper mechanics. Each spinal bone and the cartilaginous discs in between rely heavily on properly positioned as well as fully moving spinal segments. Try to imagine a high rise with one of the central floors positioned about a hundred feet to the left, and you have an idea on the importance of integrity to the spine. The bones which make up the spinal column are called vertebrae, and the cartilaginous (made of cartilage) structures between each vertebra are called the discs. There are also smaller cartilaginous structures at the back of each inter-vertebral joint called facets; they are smaller, but they are just as important as the discs in the front. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?

Well, problems can start very easily. The spine is the centre of your body, as you well know, and balancing the feats that our bodies are put through can be very hard for it. When you hold you’re arm out as far to the side as possible and put a ten pound weight in that arm, it’s the facet and disc structures of the neck and shoulder area that take the brunt of that load. When you perform a task, any task, repeatedly and regularly, your whittle away at the integrity of the cartilage between your bones and you stretch, tear, and scar the muscles and other tissues which guide your spinal structures.

All of these, unfortunately, lead to improper motion patterns within your spine. Improper motion patterns, fixations, and immobile segments within the spine are referred to as subluxated regions by chiropractors. Spinal degeneration and decay are the well known product of these ‘vertebral subluxations.’ A vertebral subluxation is not a tumour or a disease; it is a behaviour pattern of certain vertebral regions. Evidence of these improperly functioning regions can be seen on x-rays by you chiropractor and are referred to as degenerative regions. If you have ever reviewed your x-rays with a physician and been told that you have arthritis, a chiropractor may see the arthritis in your spine as a result of aberrant function in the region.

What a chiropractor will do is to discover which regions of your spine are functioning improperly and restore proper function to that area. Proper function does not last long. This is why many people say, ‘once you go to a chiropractor, you just keep having to go back.’ Once a person accomplishes any physical goal, focus and determination and ritual are required to maintain that goal. Only this physical goal is not maintaining a six-pack for an abdomen. This goal is about maintaining the structures which house and support your nervous system.

The arthritis known as degenerative arthritis is the type whose causes are addressed by chiropractors. This degenerative arthritic process is also behind degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and other conditions of spinal decay. Constant, repetitive focus can reverse this process.

Most chiropractic patients receive pain relief within a few weeks and visible positive changes on x-rays can take a year or more of regular therapy. While this second goal can seem a long, expensive battle, it is well worth the time and money. In terms of health care dollars, you are saving significantly on prescription drugs, time off work, and the need for surgery if the condition continues unchecked.

What is great about reducing these chronic detrimental patterns on top of relief from suffering is that other chronic symptoms commonly associated with ‘old age’ are also being beaten. Improper neural function, like the sort associated with herniated disc type symptoms and  ‘sciatica’ are an example of this. Restoring proper function to the spine can reduce these symptoms.

The nervous system is very subtle in its changes, and having full spinal hygiene can restore an aching body to a youthful lifestyle. New energy, new mobility and strength are the first signs of new life in my patients. I cannot tell you how incredible this is for long time back pain sufferers.

But on top of chiropractic therapy, I firmly believe in the necessity of a ritual to strengthen, decompress, and stabilize your spine. These simple steps by themselves have the power to end the pain and suffering associated with low back pain. I have a downloadable home ritual that every individual who is serious about combating his or her back pain needs to read, memorize, and commit to. It’s available at www.vitalityhouse.com and each work through of this system is a powerful pain source of pain reduction and improved spinal hygiene.

I hope I have answered you questions on chiropractic and it’s focus in treating patients. I hope that you have a better understanding, but if you have any more questions, do not hesitate to contact me at any time at drbrodeur@vitalityhouse.com and I will take the time to answer every one of your questions on back pain, chiropractic, and developing a home ritual for back pain.

Dr Bryan Brodeur is a Chiropractor in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. He is a regular speaker in health talks throughout Alberta and the director of www.vitalityhouse.com, a web-based source of info on home rituals for back pain.