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"The
Doctor of the future will give no medicines, but will interest his patients in the care of the Human Frame, in diet, and in
the cause and prevention of disease"
attributed to Thomas Edison
"The science of chiropractic deals with the relationship between the
articulations of the skeleton and the nervous system, and the role of this relationship in the restoration and maintenance
of health."
One of Dr. Palmer's patients, a minister, is credited with attaching the name "Chiropractic" to the art
and science of manipulation. He took the Greek words for "hand" (cheiros) and "done by" (pracktos) and put them together to
spell Chiropractic, meaning "done by the hand."
There isn't a profession out there that is more misunderstood than
Chiropractic. In fact, most people, when asked, think a Chiropractor is a "back doctor". While this is true in part, there's
considerably more to this profession than that. We'll guide you through a detailed explanation of every component of this
rapidly expanding art and science, once you begin treatment.
Chiropractic is a form of natural health care that focuses on treating a patient
without the use of drugs or medicines.
When all of your body's inter-related systems, including your musculoskeletal,
nervous and vascular systems are in balance and functioning properly, your body possesses a remarkable knack for healing itself.
This state is called homeostasis.
Accidents, sports injuries, stress, and over-exertion, can cause your spine to
fall out of its natural alignment. When this happens, your nervous system ceases to function properly. This could lead to
back and neck pain, headaches, and other kinds of problems, seemingly unrelated to spinal misalignment.
This intricate physiological and biochemical interrelationship among the various
body systems is what chiropractors dedicate themselves to exploring and treating. Many types of pain and disease can be linked
to problems with your spinal cord, musculoskeletal, vascular and neurological systems. When one or more of these systems is
compromised, your body fails to function normally and resistance to disease and further injury is compromised. Chiropractic
also explores and addresses the areas of nutrition, exercise, as well as healthy environmental and emotional relationships.
It is this "mind-body" connection that forms the tenet of the principles under which chiropractors practice their healing
art.
A doctor of chiropractic
is a primary care provider whose purpose, as a practitioner of the healing arts, is to help meet the health needs of individual
patients and of the public, giving particular attention to the structural and neurological aspects of the body.
The application of science in chiropractic concerns itself
with the relationship between structure, primarily the spine, and function, primarily coordinated by the nervous system of
the human body, as that relationship may affect the restoration and preservation of health.
Further, this application of science in chiropractic focuses
on the inherent ability of the body to heal without the use of drugs or surgery.
As a gatekeeper for direct access to the health delivery
system, the doctor of chiropractic's responsibilities as a primary care provider include wellness promotion, health assessment,
diagnosis and the chiropractic management of the patient's health care needs. When indicated, the doctor of chiropractic consults
with, co-manages, or refers to other health care providers.
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