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| What is Chiropractic? The art, science and philosophy of chiropractic emphasize the nervous system's interaction with the whole body. Rather than focusing on treating symptoms, we take a holistic approach to wellness that utilizes therapeutic techniques and lifestyle changes to correct neuromusculoskeletal disorders and promote the body's natural healing ability. At Harmony Healing Arts Center we provide state-of-the-art techniques and tools to help you achieve true balance between structure and function. These new innovations in the science of chiropractic allow us to achieve great success while permitting us to use gentle, low-force adjustments. With these techniques we can safely care for everyone from the newborn to the elderly. Let's take a closer look at some of the unique aspects of chiropractic that have helped make it one of the largest drugless healing systems in the world. |
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| The History of Chiropractic Before there was a chiropractic profession, there was a question in the mind of the founder of chiropractic, D. D. Palmer. "I desired to know," Palmer would say, "why one person was ailing and his associate, eating at the same table, working in the same shop, at the same bench, was not." Palmer concluded that people get sick when something interferes with their nervous system, primarily when this interference occurs where their spinal nerves exit their vertebrae (through an area called the intervertebral foramen, a tunnel formed between two vertebrae). Palmer called this interference a subluxation, and, as the history of chiropractic now shows, the term stuck. Chiropractic is deeply rooted in this philosophy, as well as that of Palmer's son B. J. Palmer. This outlook is based on the simple premise that healthy people have healthy spines and nervous systems. Chiropractors understand that subluxations are linked to a weakened nervous system, which can lead to a weakened immune system and can prevent the body from functioning properly and staving off illness. Because of the intimate relationship between the spine and the function of the nervous system, chiropractic has historically been successful helping patients with a multitude of health conditions. Because of this belief in the body's healing potential, chiropractors have a holistic approach to health and wellness. So, while the philosophy keeps the profession distinct, practitioners often work in multidisciplinary settings, joining medical doctors, massage therapists, nutritionists, and other complementary health-care providers to meet the goal of improving people's health. |
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| The Subluxation If you are a long-time chiropractic patient you've probably heard the term "subluxation." Your past chiropractor may have also used the terms "vertebral subluxation complex", "spinal joint dysfunction" or "fixation". If you are new to chiropractic care, these terms may be new to your vocabulary. Generally speaking, these terms are interchangeable. However, subluxation has specific qualities to chiropractors and is a word with historical significance. By definition, subluxation describes a spinal joint (a joint between two vertebrae) or peripheral joint (a joint other than the vertebral joints, like one in your foot or wrist) that is relatively immobile (has restricted motion) or abnormally positioned. An analogy may be as follows: If you have a steering wheel that is stiff and that does not turn all the way, it is "subluxated" and can lead to an accident. The wheel needs to be oiled so that it is loose and moves to its full capacity, helping you to steer properly. Subluxations can cause local pain and may interfere with or impede the function of the nervous system, joints and muscles. This may decrease the body's ability to heal and function optimally. There are generally five components of subluxation, which fall under the broader heading of the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC). These components generally occur sequentially in the following order: |
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| 1. Abnormal joint mechanics Your chiropractor will use his or her hands to assess the movement of your spine or peripheral joints. When a joint is not moving well relative to the joint above or below it, it is said to have abnormal joint mechanics. This may result from trauma, like a fall, or from chronic mistreatment, like poor posture. If you have abnormal mechanics, you may notice a lack of mobility, such as difficulty moving your head to check your rearview mirror. If not cared for, this can lead to abnormal nerve function. Your chiropractor will use adjustments to restore the restricted motion. |
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| 2. Abnormal nerve function Whenever a subluxation does not heal properly there will be a pinched or irritated spinal nerve. That's because the spinal facet joint is located adjacent to the spinal nerve roots, and sprained spinal joints irritate the roots either by direct pressure (only about 10% to 15% of the time) or by irritation with inflammatory chemicals (85% to 90% of the time). In addition, when the joint is sprained or subluxated the tiny nerve endings in the joint's cartilage may become damaged. If this happens, it can alter the messages nerves send to the brain and affect the brain's ability to control the spinal muscles. |
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| 3. Abnormal muscle function Whenever there are pinched or irritated spinal nerves there will usually be muscle problems. Pinched (impinged) nerves will cause muscle weakness, whereas irritated nerves may cause muscle strain or spasm. This can lead to muscle inflammation and eventually scar tissue formation or "gristle" in the muscle. To patients, this feels like tight or rope-like muscles, which are tender to touch. In addition, patients may notice that their muscles burn and tire easily. Left unchecked, this inflammation can spread throughout the spine. |
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| 4. Abnormal function of soft tissues around the spine Inflammation that occurs in muscles and joints can cause further complications by spreading to all areas around the spine. With long-term swelling of structures, such as ligaments, disks and other soft tissues, calcium and fibrous materials are laid down. With repeated episodes of subluxation, the spine accumulates an increasingly larger number of abnormal sites. In fact, some MRI studies have shown areas of soft-tissue fibrosis and calcification up to one inch thick around the spine. At the same time, long-term swelling can increase due to improper vascular supply and drainage. From here, full-blown spinal disease is the likely outcome. |
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| 5. Disease at the spinal level and of the whole body At this stage, irreversible disease or pathology can occur. This may manifest in the spinal area as bony spurs on the vertebrae, decreased disk height and roughened joint surfaces. Known as osteoarthritis or "subluxation degeneration", it can occur at any age, but is increasingly common as people get older. In addition, it can lead to disease or pathology away from the spine, in all body tissues, organs and systems. |
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| The Chiropractic Adjustment Throughout history, virtually every civilization has used spinal manipulation in the treatment of health conditions. Even today there are many professions around the world today that use spinal manipulation in the treatment of patients. But chiropractic is the only profession in which manipulation, known as an "adjustment", serves as the main focus of care and education. So what is an adjustment? The adjustment or force introduced by the chiropractor is very simple, yet requires skill and accuracy. Anyone can move bones. Everyone knows someone who can "crack his neck." Unfortunately, that takes no great skill. The skill and training required to locate subluxation and to know when and where to make an adjustment make the chiropractor unique. There are many different ways to adjust the joints of the body. Some involve specific, high-velocity and controlled forceful thrusts by hand. Others involve using instruments to gently "tap" on areas that are misaligned or restricted, and others rely solely on gentle sustained pressure to creat very gentle mobilization. At HHAC we specialize in using gentle methods that work with the body to restore health to the structural and nervous systems of the body. |
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| Preventive/Maintenance Care At Harmony Healing Arts Center, we don't just treat biomechanical and neuromusckuloskeletal disorders, but also help prevent them. The latter is commonly referred to as either preventive or maintenance care. Dentists have done the best job in promoting the concept of prevention. We know the importance of brushing and flossing daily, yet also realize that we need to have our teeth checked professionally 1-2 times per year. It’s the same with other healthy lifestyle habits, like eating well and exercising regularly, yet we still have our eyes, heart, lungs, blood, and other vital systems checked by a doctor periodically. Because of the stresses of everyday life, and the vital importance of your nervous system, having a regular program of spinal care is of the utmost importance for anyone interested in being their best. In the US, the definition of "Preventive/Maintenance care" is determined by the "Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters" is as follows: "Any management plan that seeks to prevent disease, prolong life, promote health and enhance the quality of life. A specific regimen is designed to provide for the patient's well-being or for maintaining the optimum state of health." While the guidelines give a definition for this type of care, the unique condition of each patient will determine just how often a patient may need to be seen to accomplish the desired outcomes. For the majority of patients, a once a month checkup is sufficient but for others, more frequent visits may be required. |
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Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation |
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