Health Plus Chiropractic

• What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing  organism.  These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body.
The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain.  The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots.  If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body.  Doctors call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.  Vertebral, meaning the bones of the spine.  Subluxation, meaning less than a total dislocation. Complex, meaning consisting of more than one part.Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and the philosophy of all things natural.

• What Do Chiropractors Do?

Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function beings with a case history.  This gives the doctor a background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health.
After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopaedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed.  X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal column.  These examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.
The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended.  Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.
Since the word “doctor” comes from the Latin word meaning teacher, regardless of your doctor’s unique clinical approach, he or she has a strong commitment to patient education.

• What Is An Adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, “locked up”, or not moving properly.  This adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion.   The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function and improved health.
There are many ways to adjust the spine.  Usually the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly-accurate thrust.  Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.
After years of training and clinical experience, each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of adjusting approaches.

• Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

In the words of the New Zealand Government’s inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe”.
Chiropractic has an excellent safety record.  It is the conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. A thorough case history and examination help reveal areas of the spine that be causing nervous system malfunction.  This information will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient.
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective.

• Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?

Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Later, learning to walk, ride a bicycle, and other childhood activities can cause spinal problems.  While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child’s spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off  as “growing pains” can often  be traced to the spine.  Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complains seen later in adults.
Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child’s  spine.  Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.

• Does Chiropractic hurt?

Chiropractic adjustments are usually painless, but patients may experience a little discomfort during the adjustment, which lasts only seconds.  It is possible however, that the first few times a joint is adjusted, you may feel a little sore after.  This is due to the fact that the joints are being moved for the first time in several years.  Similar to going to the gym for the first time, you realise you have muscles in places you didn’t even know you had.  As the body becomes used to the joints moving properly, the adjustments become easier and much more enjoyable.

• Can I take my baby to see a chiropractor?

A: Yes, certainly and very safely too. Chiropractic for babies is different from adult treatment and tailor-made to suit the needs of babies. Examination of the spine is as gentle as checking a ripe tomato, but many other aspects are also taken into consideration, for instance birth history and growth and development.

• Isn’t chiropractic too rough for a baby?

A: It is true that some people are puzzled by the thought of a baby having adjustments, but treatment techniques involve gentle fingertip pressure and no popping sound is produced which can be heard with some adult techniques.

• Which infantile conditions respond to chiropractic care?

A: Babies don’t say: “My back hurts” or “I have a headache”, although some studies suggest that sometimes they suffer similarly to adults. Signs of baby having pain may be: irritability/ colic, unsettled, feeding problems, sleeping problems, flatness of the head, delayed developmental milestones i.e. rolling over, crawling etc.