Chiropractic care for life
There is common awareness of the long term need for dental care, but not for your spine and nervous system. The primary function of our spine is to protect the nervous system (which is irreplaceable), provide a framework for the arms and legs to attach, and by doing so allow for upright movement, a skill essentially unique to humans. Less well known is the vital input movement in your spine makes to stimulate your brain and contribute to your body functioning in a more balanced, less stressed state. So although we can replace our teeth, your spine and nervous system which have far more important functions, remains a much neglected part of your body. We hope to change this.
WHAT IS AN ADJUSTMENT?
The classical form of adjusting, as we use in the Lounge, is the quick application of a shallow thrust. The speed means the adjustment is not forceful, even though with the joint popping you might think otherwise.
The adjustment creates a physical change at the joint, freeing up adhesion caused by the joint not moving correctly. Along with the specific direction of force applied, it’s intended to correct that part of joint movement which is lacking.
More importantly, the adjustment speed creates a neurological impulse which informs the brain of change. This stimulation allows the brain to receive information from all over the body better, to then respond to the environment more effectively, and in doing so strengthen and stabilise your spine, joints, muscle and soft tissue. This is a learning process.
Exciting new research confirms what 120 years of chiropractic has observed. Adjustments improve the capacity of the brain to better react to other parts of your body, and as a consequence coordinate all your body functions much better allowing you to heal. We’re not just talking pain relief, but how your body functions, your quality of life. talking organ function here, not just pain relief.
As long as you have joints that are not moving as well as they can - subluxated in chiropractic terms - then the potential exists that your brain is doing a poor job of keeping you healthy.
FREQUENCY OF CARE
Dentist have trained us to get a check-up every 6 months, oddly enough there is no researched reason as to why. It just seems to work well. Perhaps similarly, the most common recommendation for long term chiropractic is monthly, however this started in the beginning of the 20th century. Our lives now by comparison are far more stressful, often with less exercise, diets that are typically less than ideal, issues with quality sleep and significantly more toxic challenges in the environment. it is likely not frequent enough.
Our goal for each of our patients is to find a frequency that means when you come in for a visit, the adjustments are minimal, and we are not having to rescue from a problem each time.
As a result of this, and from our own experience, once you have reached a level of stability for maintenance care, we recommend finding a frequency that works best for you, somewhere between weekly and monthly.
The factors affecting this will be your age, how many problem areas you have/had, your overall level of health, and of course the amount of daily stresses you encounter on an ongoing basis. This means your need for care may also fluctuate, however most patients at this level of care are well tuned to their own body, and recognise the need for a chiropractic tune up outside of their regular schedule.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Some of the research done into chiropractic care shows the following:
specific changes with your immune cells occur(1), indicating a strengthened response potential against infection
you’ll save money(2) by not being so sick. Large insurance companies in the US studied the cost difference between those using and not utilising chiropractic care. The savings were dramatic.
avoid unnecessary surgery; comparison studies(3) indicate you will be at least as healthy with chiropractic care, than the equivalent surgery for the same problem. And avoid the significant risks with surgery at the same time.
enhanced balance and coordination(4); vitally important since 90% of the sensory input into your brain is concerned with keeping you upright.
in the USA many professional sportspeople and teams utilise chiropractic and have shown that their injury rates are much lower
We’ve also seen in patients under long term care NO progression of arthritic changes, and even improvement of arthritis. Other new research is suggesting that chiropractic care may play a long term role in maintaining the physical health of your brain(5).
YOUR ONE CHANCE AT LIFE
Far too many people realise too late in life the value of good health. Our philosophy in the Lounge is to present the most important information to help you achieve it. We are obviously bias towards the benefit of chiropractic, however we speak from our combined experience of nearly 30 years of being adjusted ourselves. We check our loved ones as we recommend care to you.
We would much rather enjoy not getting sick, and enjoying a long & high quality of life, than forever thinking near the end; could it have been better if I had done something differently?
Chiropractic is beneficial for everyone, there are almost no exceptions. The techniques vary if a baby is being checked, an adolescent or a healthy adult, to a fragile & stiff older person. However we all have the same anatomy and physiology, and therefore the same needs to stay healthy. The absence of symptoms is not what it means to be healthy. With our various examination tests we have the potential to identify weaknesses before they turn into illnesses. Chiropractic is then for the entire family, and quite simply for life.
REFERENCES
J.M.Allen. Chiro J Aust 1993 (Dec);23(4): 132-135
T.W. Mead, FRCP, British Med. Rsch Council, 1990
Prof.F.Splendori, Chiropractic Therapeutic Effectiveness-Social Importance. Incidence on Absence from Work and Hospitalization. Italy
Holt, Kelly R et al, “Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” JMPT
Chiropractic Adjustments Improve Brain Function International Research And Philosophy Symposium Sherman Chiropractic College.