So What is Chiropractic Care Really All About?
You probably already know that when your back is hurting, your spine has something to do with it. But did you know that disruption to your spine can trigger a whole host of other problems? That’s because the bones of your spine shield delicate nerves that send signals throughout your body — even to your organs. When your spine is out of alignment, whether a result of arthritis, sports, work, a fall, or even sitting at a computer, it simply can’t cushion those nerves properly. Resulting pressure on your nerves distorts critical messages they’re trying to send. Chiropractors call those neurological disruptions “subluxations.”
The results of subluxations open the door to everything from pain to poorly functioning organs.
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to healing that focuses on restoring and maintaining the integrity of your nervous system. Instead of relying on drugs that treat symptoms, but not necessarily the underlying causes, chiropractic doctors provide specific adjustments that gently return your spine to proper alignment. As part of your treatment plan, chiropractors often also make use of complimentary therapies, such as massage, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, heat and ice, and rehabilitative exercises. Their goal is to relieve pressure on nerves and return your body to a state in which you feel better than before.
The Science Behind Chiropractic Healing
Chiropractic care is not hocus-pocus. It has a rich history based on scientific principles established long ago.
Indeed, both chiropractic doctors and medical care practitioners agree that much of the body is controlled by nerve impulses sent to and from the brain along the spinal cord. That spinal cord is protected by the bones of your spine, called the vertebrae. In a healthy state the vertebrae are separated by jelly-like cushioning material called a disc. Nerves exit between each of these vertebrae, which are made to be mobile so that your body can bend and twist. But when those bones lose their normal motion, they can irritate the nervous system, disrupting the function of the cells that the nerves control. The chiropractic term for this is called subluxation. (Read more chiropractic terms in Parkland Chiropractic’s glossary.)
Given those facts, it’s not surprising that chiropractors frequently treat people who have found little or inadequate relief through medications or surgery. Of course, chiropractors don’t dismiss the value of traditional medical approaches in various circumstances. But they believe that in many situations, the first and best line of defense for an ailing body is a holistic approach in which the body can heal and regulate itself with noninvasive measures.
Millions of people agree. In fact, the contributions of chiropractors, who have been helping people for more than a century, extend even to major sporting events. Chiropractors have, for example, been an official presence in the care and treatment of American athletes at the Olympic Games for more than a quarter-century.
Chiropractors Undergo Extensive Education and Training
Like medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic must undergo intense education and training, and they must be licensed before they can practice in their professions. The typical applicant to a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, physiology and related lab work. But while medical students continue their education with a focus on pharmacology, the emphasis for chiropractic students is on nutrition and natural alternatives to drugs, including manipulative therapy. Their specialized training provides them the skills to offer relief for a wide variety of treatable conditions, even in pregnant women and very young children.
Dr. Neil Scharf, who has practiced his profession in South Florida since 1999, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York, a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, Georgia, and a license of Physiotherapy training from the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois.
When All is Said and Done
Chiropractors respect the intricacies of the human body and its amazing ability to heal itself given the right opportunity and circumstances. They’re trained to gently guide that process without drugs or surgical intervention. At Parkland Chiropractic, patients are treated as partners in their care from the moment they walk through the door and throughout their relationship with Dr. Scharf and his staff. It’s all part of the overall chiropractic philosophy of holistic care, where the premium is on achieving wellness — and keeping it — in the natural way your body always intended.
You can learn more about chiropractic care and how Parkland Chiropractic can help you on our FAQ page and throughout our site. Or simply call us at 954-227-0088. We’re here to help.
[Home] [About Chiropractic] [Our Services] [About Us] [FAQ] [Links]
