Palmer College of Chiropractic

Clinics

Chiropractic Information

Preventive health care involves many factors -- proper nutrition, sufficient rest, regular exercise, a positive mental attitude, good posture and more. One key ingredient is a healthy neuromuscular structure. Your spine plays an especially critical role. The spinal column houses the spinal cord and from it nerves go out to all parts of the body. Chiropractic addresses itself to all the health care factors but gives special emphasis to care of the spine and the nervous system.

This health information will highlight the importance of effective spinal care and explain how a chiropractor can help. Chiropractic care is a good way for you to Take Charge of Your Health.

Your health care team

You and your family will have various health care needs over the years, including dental and medical care, eye examinations and spinal care. Each aspect is addressed, perhaps with some regularity, by a respective health care professional -- your medical doctor, dentist, optometrist, chiropractor and so forth. In that regard, your chiropractor, like the other professionals, may refer you to another member of the team (or to still another specialist) if a health condition is outside his or her scope of expertise.

Whom do chiropractors care for? 

Chiropractors care for patients from a cross-section of society -- all ages and occupations. Although most of those cared for fall between 18 and 50 years of age, chiropractors have reported good success with both infants and the elderly as well. Skilled and unskilled laborers comprise the biggest percentage of occupations represented. Interestingly, the advent of computer terminals and other factors in the modern office has meant many musculoskeletal problems in the white collar workforce.

What do chiropractors care for?

The two conditions most commonly cared for by chiropractors are joint dysfunctions, which chiropractors refer to as "subluxations," and headaches. Some of the other conditions often seen are muscular strains or tears, degenerative joint disease, peripheral neuritis or neuralgia, tendinitis, high or low blood pressure, sprain or dislocation of joints, allergies, scoliosis and bursitis. Other conditions sometimes seen include osteoporosis, nutritional disorders, carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome and TMJ syndrome, to name a few.

Is chiropractic effective?

Evidence of effectiveness includes controlled scientific studies as well as clinical experience. With regard to the care of low back pain, the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research published a guideline in 1994 that recommended spinal adjustments. Other pro-chiropractic reports have appeared in Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and elsewhere.

What is a subluxation?  

	The term subluxation refers to a change in the position and/or motion of the spine and/or joints of the body, meaning that the spine or joints do not move in the normal way. When the spine is subluxated, the nerves in that area may behave abnormally. Nerves that send signals to the brain for muscle movement and pain sensation can be affected, changing what your brain perceives about the body and altering signals that the brain sends back. On the other hand, nerves that send signals to organs and tissues may be affected, with effects on those organs and tissues. The intent of a spinal adjustment is to restore normal motion, function and nerve impulse flow.	Non-subluxated
		Subluxated

What the studies show

While the benefits of spinal adjusting to remove misalignment or "subluxations" have been confirmed by many studies, as indicated above, the practice itself can be traced back into ancient history at least as far as Hippocrates, often called "the father of medicine." D.D. Palmer performed the first true chiropractic adjustment of modern times in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa, not far from the site of the school he founded, Palmer College of Chiropractic. Palmer College is among the leading educators of chiropractic professionals.

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