What is Chiropractic Care and Why it Matters as a Part of Functional Medicine?

As functional medicine practitioners, our job is to have as many tools in our toolbox as possible and to know which is appropriate to use and when. One tool we use at The Healing Center is chiropractic care.

A chiropractic adjustment is a manual therapy technique we often think of as treating pain. Chiropractic is amazing at getting rid of neck pain and headaches, pain and stiffness in your jaw, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, as well as pain in the hips, pelvis, knees, and ankles. But it is much more than just that. When you are adjusted it resets the nervous system so your brain can properly see what is happening throughout the body and recalibrate function as needed.

Research shows adjustments positively affect immune function, blood pressure, and stress responses, actually, all things your nervous system regulates are impacted by an adjustment. You are an intricately self-regulated system and to heal we don’t want interference at the level of the nervous system. Pain is just the last resort to tell you to pay attention…much like the oil light in your car. Stiffness and tightness are the first indicators of dysfunction at the level of the spine which affects the nervous system input and output and eventually leads to issues in the gut, thyroid, pancreas, etc.

Misalignments or restrictions in the spine, called subluxations, can interfere with the normal function of the nervous system and surrounding tissues. Chiropractic adjustments aim to correct these misalignments or restrictions, thereby reducing nerve irritation and restoring proper joint function. This can alleviate pain, improve range of motion, and enhance overall health.

Chiropractic manipulation also affects neurological function by optimizing spinal alignment and reducing nerve interference (it’s much more complicated but this is an easy way to think of it). Some studies suggest that spinal manipulation can influence sensory processing, pain perception, and muscle coordination by modulating neural pathways and neurophysiological processes.

Chiropractic care is an effective, drug-free, and surgery-free method of treating a variety of conditions. Some reasons people may choose to see a chiropractor include healing after a fall or an accident in which they experienced whiplash or an injury that happens when sudden force or movement strains your neck or spine. Others choose chiropractic as a treatment for frequent headaches, or to seek relief from pain in the lower back, neck, or other joints. In addition to pain and injury, adjustments play a crucial role in managing autoimmunity and internal disorders that we routinely see at The Healing Center because a self-regulated body just heals better!

Ideal adjustment frequencies to keep your spine and nervous system working optimally are once a month, we also recommend stretching and yoga/pilates to keep the body in balance. Whether you see us or someone else, be sure to stay adjusted to stay healthy!