Traditional Chiropractor vs. Corrective Chiropractor
There are a few main principles that you must address when looking to improve your health. First and foremost is to determine the cause of any specific secondary condition or symptom you are having. Because of the incredible complexity of the human body, this is often a very difficult or even impossible task. As a structurally focused chiropractor, my primary concern is the structure of a patient’s spine. Using structural radiographs I am able to determine the need for corrective chiropractic care and often whether or not the presenting problem is due to a problem that a chiropractor can correct or treat.
The nervous system, or the master system, is responsible for controlling and coordinating ALL of the functions of the human body. It does this by sending messages to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is of course protected by the spine which is a wonder of engineering. The spine is a series of bones connected by multiple movable joints. Every chiropractor is intensely trained on being able to recognize and adjust every vertebra if it becomes positioned out of place and is not moving properly.
When these joints are shifted out of place they can become inflamed and irritate the nearby nerve exiting the spinal canal through that vertebrae. This is why there are so many different secondary conditions that can be improved when correcting spinal shifts. The chiropractor is essentially restoring proper motion to that joint and allowing the vertebrae to move smoothly which reduces the inflammatory response or soft tissue irritation in that area. Think of it this way; if you have an electrical wire system for any electronic device, you want to make sure that the wires sending and receiving information are not frayed, pulled away from their connection, pinch or cut. Any damage to the wires from pulling, compression, friction excess heat or many other forces can cause problems to how the device works.
Your Body Is Not All Different In This Way.
If the wires (nerves) are being pulled (straight neck), compressed (disc bulge), or frayed or irritated (inflammation from spinal shift) they can cause problems with how your body works (improper organ function). Fortunately, you are designed with a “checks and balance” system; PAIN. It may suck but the pain is a great informer of damage. Electronic devices don’t really have an easy way for you to know exactly where the problem is. Pain, on the other hand, is often a very easy way to pinpoint the problem.
Sadly, our society in Greenville, NC and the rest of the country have been trained to look at pain as an inconvenience and something to be rid of. This is why pills are often used. Chiropractors have a better way.
There Are Two Main Types Of Chiropractors.
Traditional Chiropractor
A traditional chiropractor is going to focus on the single segment of the spine and body, checking for improper motion and movement. Using chiropractic adjustments to help alleviate that improper motion and nerve irritation, which is one of the most common causes of neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica and other painful secondary symptoms. This type of chiropractor will often use other therapies and treatments like, STIM, Ultrasound, Heat, cryotherapy, and roller tables, which are primarily used to help reduce pain.
Corrective Chiropractor
A corrective chiropractor is going to be focused primarily on the structure of your spine. Just like with your blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature we all have an ideal or average that is agreed upon for what is best for the body to optimally function at. The structure of your spine is the same. Looking from the front your spine should be straight. All chiropractors and medical doctors understand this. Looking from the side it should have three curves; forward in the neck, backward in the mid-back and forward in the low back. Unfortunately for whatever reason, the medical community has yet to understand, despite their own research showing, that the loss of or normal curves in the spine is indicative of a deviation from normal. This deviation can cause symptoms like neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica and other painful symptoms. This is why, instead of treating based only on symptoms, a structurally focused chiropractic will treat with the goal of making measurable changes in the structure of the spine.
This can only be determined if structural radiographs are taken before AND after to measure the improvement. It is common for traditional chiropractors to take x-rays of the area of complaint, but only a structurally focused chiropractor will take a full series of each section of the spine (neck, mid-back, low back) to determine any shift away from the ideal structure of the spine.
Ultimately both a traditional chiropractor and a structural corrective chiropractor are treating the patient with safe and effective adjustments. The difference is that some patients prefer to have complete foundational chiropractic care instead of the minimum necessary to get them out of pain. Call Corrective Chiropractic in Greenville, NC today and set up a free consultation to discuss if Structurally Focused Chiropractic is right for you.
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