Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system.
Chiropractic care is a holistic and natural approach to treating health by focusing on the connection between the spine and nervous system. The spinal column protects and carries nerves from the brain to every part of the body. The spinal column is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, and these bones can get misaligned, pinch nerves and interfere with nerve functions. Chiropractic treatments restore the alignment of the spine and joints, which allows the body to heal itself.
On this page you will find information about the anatomy and physiology of the spine and nervous system. You will also learn about the underlying cause of common back, neck, hip and joint pain. Finally, you will understand how chiropractic therapy can treat these conditions.
Understanding Chiropractic
What Could Go Wrong!
The spine is made up of 33 individual bones, called vertebrae, which are stacked one on top of the other. Each vertebra has a round body, a vertebral arch surrounding an opening, and various bony protrusions. When the bones are stacked, there is a cartilage pad, or disk, between each pair which connects, protects, and cushions the joints between the bodies. The vertebral arches line up and form a bony canal which houses and protects the spinal cord, the bundle of nervous tissue which connects all parts of the body and the brain. Paired nerves branch off the spinal cord and exit the vertebral column through spaces formed where pairs of vertebrae meet. Additionally, there are many muscles, ligaments, and tendons which hold the structures in place and control movement. If you would like more details, the Mayfield Clinic has a very good page here: http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-AnatSpine.htm
