If you’re watching this video, you’re probably curious about chiropractic care
and how it can help you and your family.
So let’s explore what chiropractic is all about, and how it works.
A chiropractor is a health care professional who specialises
in the health and function of the spine and nervous system.
Because of this focus on the spine, many people think chiropractors
can only help with problems such as back pain, neck pain and headaches.
And it is true that chiropractors can often help with these things
but there is so much more to chiropractic than just pain.
Chiropractic care is really about total health and wellbeing.
It’s about helping people to feel great, and get the most out of life
by functioning at their optimal potential.
The spine is there to protect the spinal cord,
which is part of the central nervous system.
The spine is like a set of armour made up of segments,
so that it can bend and move naturally with the body.
A spinal segment consists of two vertebrae
and the joints that connect them.
There is a disc in-between each vertebra that acts as a cushion.
Underneath that armour, a whole lot is happening.
Messages travel from around the body, up the spinal cord and into the brain.
The brain processes those messages and sends replies back
down the spinal cord to tell the body how to respond.
The central nervous system is one big information highway,
and it carries vital messages to every part of your body.
Sometimes, the wear and tear of everyday life can impact the spine
and cause spinal segments to move in a way that is different to normal,
in a dysfunctional way.
That wear and tear can happen gradually, such as from bad posture,
or it can happen suddenly, which is common with sports injuries.
Because of the close relationship between the spine
and the nervous system, everyday strains can actually impact
the flow of information and communication
between the brain and the body.
Messages may not be delivered to the brain, or they may be inaccurate.
When that miscommunication occurs due to abnormal movements of the spine,
chiropractors call this a ‘vertebral subluxation’,
or a "chiropractic subluxation".
You might hear it again from your chiropractor,
so now you’ll know what it means.
By making fast, gentle adjustments to the spine,
chiropractors restore its natural movement.
If the central nervous system is like the ‘engine’ of your body,
a chiropractor acts like a mechanic, tuning the spine
and central nervous system so that the body can run like a race car.
Just keep in mind that as you are adjusted, you may hear a popping sound
that can seem a bit strange.
In fact it’s completely harmless, it’s just the release of gas
from between spinal segments, and it's no more significant
than any other release of gas from the body.
So, are you ready to supercharge your engine?