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Chiropractic
Care and Back Pain:
An Overview of Diagnostic Principles and Treatment |
What
Chiropractors Really Do.
You have been seeing a chiropractor for years, but it
still seems difficult to explain chiropractic care,
what you experience when treated, and why it works.
For people who have never been to a chiropractor, the
picture is even murkier. You hear about friends who
go to the chiropractor to have their back 'cracked'
or 'popped' and wonder how that could help your back
pain. You hear stories of 'once you've been to a chiropractor,
you just have to keep going back' or, that the treatment
might hurt or even be harmful.
It
is possible to help the long-time patient understand
their chiropractic experience and to give the prospective
patient more than prejudices to evaluate chiropractic.
There is a scientific and logical basis for chiropractic
without denying that it is a complex art and science
with aspects that are not yet fully understood or appreciated.
With an understanding of what really happens during
a visit to a chiropractor, you can see how chiropractic
fits in with other spinal specialties to provide an
integrated approach to treating back pain.
To
do this, it is helpful to build a mental picture of
how a chiropractor looks at the spine. You probably
remember the picture of the spine in biology class,
or perhaps a spinal x-ray you discussed with your internist,
or the plastic model of the spine in the chiropractor's
office. The 'living spine' and how it functions in the
body will help you to better understand chiropractic
and what the chiropractic experience is all about.
Understanding
the Spine as a Dynamic Structure.
Let's review the basic construction of the spine. The
spine is made up of a stacked set of bones called the
vertebra. Ligaments bind the vertebra together, muscles
attach to the bony extensions of the vertebra, and a
complex system of blood vessels nourishes the spine.
Between each vertebra are cartilage pads called discs,
which act as shock absorbers and distributors for the
demands we put on the spine. The spine forms the protective
housing for the spinal cord, which begins at the brain
stem (back of the skull) and extends like a 'hot' wire
down the length of the spine. Ultimately, the spinal
cord sends out nerve branches that send and receive
signals from every cell in the body.
The
spine is a living and active structure, even when the
body appears to be absolutely still. Nerves fire signals
to and from the brain. Ligaments actively help the brain
monitor where we are in space. Muscles work to stabilize
the body in a field of gravity. Although this activity
can slow down during sleep or rest, it never stops.
The
chiropractor sees the spine as a series of motor units;
each called a spinal joint complex. Each joint complex
is composed of sets of two bony vertebra, the disc between,
and the ligaments, muscles, tendons, fascia, blood vessels,
and nerves.
It
is important to emphasize that the spinal joint complex
is an intricate and powerful link between the brain
and the whole body. Chiropractors view the spinal joint
complex as its central diagnostic and treatment area.
Part 1: Chiropractic
Care
Part 2: Chiropractic
Diagnosis
Part 3: Understanding
Chiropractic
Part 4: Chiropractic
Spinal Adjustment
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