The Chiropractic Adjustment – How it Works

The most current research on how Chiropractic actually works reveals some interesting things.  There is new information on how results are achieved with the adjustment, and I will do my best to explain as simply and plainly as I can for you.

Chiropractic had been thrust into a medical model historically, which means the Outside/In model was the point of comparison.  In medicine, germs and/or a malady cause disease, and the course of action is then to provide treatment to eradicate the problem.  Chiropractic has tried to fit itself into this model for more than 100 years, and thusly used the bone pinching a nerve analogy as an attempt to fit into the medical model.

Chiropractic is really about Functional Neurology, and the reason results are achieved is because the Adjustment actually directly modifies brain and nervous system function.  This is an Inside/Out model.  Recent research has shown that it is the nervous system which controls Wellbeing, by sensing the internal environment of the body and then accommodating the entire body to its “best survival response”  or striving for homeostasis.

“If the nervous system overloads, it responds to the best of its ability; however, continued overloading will cause an unbalanced neurological pattern to develop. This unbalanced or abnormal pattern (neurological interference or neurological subluxation) has consequences.

The body’s systems respond to the abnormal neurological messages and will malfunction until such a time when signs or symptoms show up indicating that something is wrong.  Medical response is to render treatment to remove the signs and symptoms. The modern chiropractic approach is to focus on restoring normal neurological function.” 

This is how the Adjustment works!!  We manipulate/adjust the spine or a joint which in turn restores proper alignment and normalizes neurological activity.

(Paraphrased from an article that appeared in Chiropractic Economics, by Richard Barwell, DC)

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