What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the profession that does not use drugs or surgery to treat mostly musculoskeletal ailments, especially those of the spine, with the idea that it will help overall health through optimizing nervous system function. Chiropractors achieve this goal of optimizing nervous system function by their signature gesture, otherwise known as the spinal adjustment. By helping the spinal bones assume proper position and movement the spinal nerves will not be impeded upon, providing optimal nerve function. This phenomenon of the spinal bones not being in the proper position and lacking proper movement putting pressure on the spinal nerves is called subluxation. The main technique to improve health by chiropractors is the spinal adjustment, however they often implement exercise and lifestyle modification. Chiropractors have many similarities to primary care physicians but are specialist doctors for the spine and nervous system. Chiropractors go through a similar educational process as medical doctors with the emphasis on spinal adjustments rather than pharmacology.