How Chiropractic Works

Stress on the body can cause the vertebrae of the spine to become misaligned and lose their proper motion. Often the misaligned vertebrae irritate nerves that pass through the spine and affect the organs and tissues that those nerves supply. This improper function and nerve irritation is called a subluxation.

There are two serious consequences of a subluxation. Firstly, when a vertebra is subluxated the nerve irritation causes the surrounding soft tissues to become tight and irritated. This obstructs proper circulation to the area so the tissues no longer receive proper nutrition. If this problem persists, over time the spine will degenerate leading to sometimes irreversible damage. The constriction may also impede nerve signals to organs and tissues distant from the spine that those nerves supply. Remember, your nervous system controls every cell of your body. If your nervous system is not working properly you cannot be healthy. Secondly, the misalignment and lack of mobility of the spinal joints that is associated with a subluxation reduces the movement of the lubricating fluids surrounding the joints that are contained by the joint capsule. This prevents the nutrients that are carried in this fluid from getting to the joint tissues. This also may lead to premature degeneration.

Chiropractic adjustments restore proper mobility and function to the vertebrae, removing nerve irritation and allows proper circulation of the joint fluids. This allows the soft tissues to relax and the blood and nerve flow is restored. Now the body is able to repair the damage that has occurred.