what to expect at the chiropractor

What is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is the life source that controls every aspect of our body. It controls our ability to interact with the outside environment by taking in all forms of senses and interpreting them. It also controls our internal environment in order to help us know when to eat or use the restroom or even events that we can’t control such as digesting food and keeping our heart beating. All of this makes the nervous system the most important system in the whole body.

How Chiropractic Aids the Nervous System’s Function

Chiropractors are specifically trained to detect any nervous system disruptions that are present within the body. The spine actually encases the spinal cord and nerves come out at every single level of the spine. Misalignments in the spine can alter how the nervous system functions in many ways. It can alter how a sensation is perceived, how then the sensation is processed, and can alter the body response to be different leading to dysfunction and miscommunication in the body. Affecting all areas of the body including muscles, organs, and the ability to respond. The main goal of chiropractic is to relieve any stress on the nervous system in order to process information better and have a higher overall function level in the body. 

Why Kids Can Benefit From Chiropractic

The leading cause of this dysfunction in the nervous system is stress. When looking at kiddos there are three forms of stress that affect their body which include physical, emotional, and chemical. Physical stress is the most commonly thought of when looking at kids. Normal kids as they grow and develop are running around and falling down 20 times a day, which affects their spine and nervous system. Another physical stress that is not often thought about is birth trauma. The process can be beautiful and natural but can be a lot for a little baby’s body. Up to 60-120 pounds of traction is applied to the baby’s neck and spine during a natural vaginal birth with a doctor assisting head out.  This causes trauma in the spine and in turn the nervous system. Emotional stress includes any family, school, or relationship issues. Kids may not be able to know exactly what is going on but can get worked up and put their bodies into a stressed and sympathetic mode. Lastly, chemical stress is anything that kids eat or put on their bodies that the body in turn has to process. 

The Impact Chiropractic Way

At Impact Chiropractic we are a corrective care facility. The goal is to get to the root of the problem and work to restore the proper function of the body’s nervous system. Our doctors have created a 5 step corrective program that helps give our patients the best care possible.

Step 1: the cervical neck traction which helps to restore the curvature in the neck

Step 2: the proprioceptive wobble discs that help to hydrate the spine and prepare you for the adjustment

Step 3: the most important step is the adjustment. Each of our 5 adjusting rooms is equipped with a computer that allows the doctors to see the patient’s X-rays and give them an adjustment specific to them.

Step 4: the arthostim is a tool that aids in the manual adjustments that the doctors give

Step 5: the 5th and final step is the vibration plate which helps to hold in the adjustment for a longer time

Make a new patient appointment today to get started and prioritize the health of your nervous system.

A chiropractic adjustment, also known as a manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation, is a common therapeutic treatment for neck, upper to mid-back, and lower back pain.  A chiropractic adjustment refers to a chiropractor applying a controlled thrust to the vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally. The objective of this chiropractic treatment is to reduce the subluxation while increasing range of motion, reducing nerve irritability and improving function. A chiropractic adjustment typically involves a high velocity, low amplitude thrust to a misaligned vertebra and can include an accompanying, audible release of gas (joint cavitation) that is caused by the release of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide which releases joint pressure. It should be known that joint cavitation (the sound) does not determine the success of an adjustment as the goal of the adjustment is to realign the vertebra not necessarily to release nitrogen and other gases from the joint.Chiropractors adapt treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each patient. The most frequently used chiropractic technique, spinal manipulation, is the traditional high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust. The manipulation can result in an audible “pop,” as chiropractors use their hands to apply a controlled sudden force to a joint while the body is positioned in a specific way. A more gentle approach is called a spinal mobilization which is a low force technique. Some conditions such as pathology, the patient’s size, comfort, preference or presence of osteoporosis can require this more gentle technique.

The most common reaction of a chiropractic adjustment is aching or soreness in the spinal joints or muscles. If aching or soreness occurs, it is usually within the first few hours post-treatment and does not last longer than 24 hours after the adjustment. Application of an ice pack in addition to drinking lots of water post adjustment often reduces the symptoms relatively quickly.

Seeing a chiropractor regularly maintains alignment in the vertebra and therefore keeps the nervous system in an overall healthy state. Make an appointment with our team at Impact Chiropractic to help get your spine and nervous system functioning at its best!