The term “chiropractic” combines the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy—especially adjustment of the spine—is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is based on the notion that the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects health.
It is a complete system of healthcare that is based on the premise that the body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism, with an innate (inborn) desire to remain healthy. Every cell, tissue and organ of your body is controlled by your nervous system, and the nervous system is protected by the bones of the skull and vertebrae. If the nervous system is impaired due to a poorly functioning spine or cranium, malfunction of the cells, tissues and organs throughout the body may result.
A chiropractic adjustment is delivered to a joint with the aim of restoring proper function, to allow proper signaling to occur between the body and the brain, via the nervous system. The movement in our joints provides the brain with constant feedback (proprioception) so that we can continually adapt against gravity and other forces. When this proprioceptive system fails, we can suffer from minor issues such as tightness in the muscles, through to major issues such as severe disc injury, and these can occur with simple movements (such as tying your shoe laces).
