What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a healing art that is based on the scientific knowledge that the human body is a self-healing organism; that in each and everyone of us, there is an in-born, innate intelligence that know how to self regulate and how to heal itself; that these vital functions are controlled by the brain and spinal cord, or what is considered your nervous system.

The brain is totally protected by the skull. The brain is the only organ that is truly encased by a boney structure. The brain exits out of a hole at the base of the skull called the foramen magnum where the brain stem is, and connects to the spinal cord, which is then protected by the spine. As the spinal cord travels down through the spine, there are spinal nerves that exit each individual vertebra. The vertebrae are the bones in the spinal column. There are seven cervical vertebra (neck), twelve thoracic vertebra (mid back), and five lumbar vertebra (low back). These spinal nerves exit through little holes on the sides of these bones, and travel throughout every organ, every tissue throughout our body. This is how the brain is connected to every muscle. It is these nerves that serve as the pathways of information that provide critical information between the brain and the body. You could think of your brain and nervous system as a fiber optic pathway, or even the internet highway in which at any given moment you have thousands of messages that are traveling back and forth between the brain and the body. This goes on all the time without even thinking about it. Your nervous system (or Master Control System) is guiding and governing everything that is going on in your body.

The skull is a solid boney mass that protects the brain; however the 24 individual bones that make up the spinal column are moveable. Sometimes these individual bones can come slightly out of alignment (known as a subluxation) and cause an irritation to these spinal nerves. As a result of this irritation to the nerves, the information or energy that is traveling on these pathways between the brain and the body cannot get through as efficiently or as effectively. As a result, you will not function at your optimum.

Chiropractic is the science of locating these misalignments or subluxations, and applying a very specific, very gentle force to these subluxations. This is known as an adjustment. By helping restore a more normal alignment to the spine, we will increase your range of motion, increase your function, and help to optimize your true in-born innate potential.

What do Chiropractors actually do?

At Inner Balance Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach to medicine, and treat each person as an individual. We take the time with each person to try to find out exactly what is causing their dis-ease.

After reviewing your past medical history, we do a thorough chiropractic examination and determine whether or not you are a candidate for chiropractic care. Once we determine you are a candidate, we develop a course of action that includes chiropractic adjustments and often lifestyle changes to optimize the benefits of your care.

What is an adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is the specific art of locating the misalignments (or subluxation) in the spine, and applying a very gentle force to the area in a precise direction. By applying these adjustments to the spine, we increase the range of motion, and over time we help to bring the bones back into a more normal position and proper alignment. By bringing the spine back into proper alignment, we improve the function of your nervous system, which will help to optimize and improve your overall health.

In a lot of ways you can think of Chiropractors as auto body mechanics. What happens if your car is out of alignment? The car will steer funny, the tires will wear out faster, and the car will not function at its optimum. Exactly the same is true with the human body. When the spine is out of alignment, you will not have the range of motion, your joints will wear out faster, and this will have a whole number of negative side effects. From having various aches and pains (low back pain, headaches, etc.) to being more tired, less energy, to not being able to handle life's various stressors. In the long run, it will negatively affect the overall health and quality of your life, and all of the relationships in your life.

By delivering an adjustment we increase your function, decreasing the stress and help you to optimize your true in-born, innate potential.

Is each patient adjusted the same way?

Each patient at Inner Balance Chiropractic is treated as a unique individual. We take the time to do a complete history, a thorough examination and develop an individual course of care although some adjustments may appear the same, for instance say the neck. Each individual will have seven cervical vertebra (7 bones), but each bone can misalign in several different directions. As a result, what may appear to be the same adjustment is really much more specific to each individual subluxation because we will make the adjustment according to a specific direction and specific line of correction and varying degrees of force.

Are all Chiropractors the same?

One thing at Inner Balance Chiropractic that separates us from all the rest is that we truly pride ourselves on giving each and every one of our patients the ultimate chiropractic experience each visit.

We take the time to get to know our patients and not treat them like an HMO type of health care system. In other chiropractic offices patients are rushed through; a very quick adjustment is delivered and out the door they go. If the body is not in a relaxed state of being and the muscular component is not addressed in the subluxation, then in a very short period of time after the adjustment, the muscles will pull the bones right back out of alignment. At Inner Balance Chiropractic we use hydrotherapy which is heated jets of water that pulse and massage over the body. This helps to bring the body into a deeper state of relaxation. We also take the time to stretch and massage the body. As a result of this preparation, the body is now in a deeper state of relaxation and there is more ease in the body. As a direct result when we deliver an adjustment, the benefits are longer lasting and of much higher quality.

Can I adjust myself? What's wrong with adjusting myself?

Chiropractic is a very specific science in which we analyze each and every individual. We locate the exact spots on each spine that we adjust. We determine the level and location of each misalignment. We also determine the specific direction of the misalignment. It is virtually impossible to adjust one's self using the specific correct line of direction and force that a chiropractor uses.

What does happen to people over time who adjust themselves is that it makes that area more unstable. Over time, it becomes easier to do, (hypermobile or ligament laxity) and as a result, the bones above and below become more stiff and stuck (hypomobile). As a direct result of this, these bones and joints will decay faster and will be subject to more problems.

It is possible to adjust a person in countless ways and positions, but in a typical visit we will adjust a person in only five or six places. We are extremely specific and only want to adjust someone where there is misalignment or subluxation. If a certain area of the spine is moving well, we will leave that area alone. We do not want to create ligament laxity. We only want to focus on the ones that are not moving well or hypomobile. Just like the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Is Chiropractic safe?

Study after study has proven the efficacy of chiropractic care. Millions of Americans choose this form of health care. It has been proven to be the #1 treatment for back pain. Chiropractic care is a holistic, natural approach to better health to improve your health and optimize function. Chiropractic care has proven to be safe and effective. It is a conservative approach to health without the use of addictive drugs (painkillers), steroids (cortisone), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which have proven to have harmful side effects, or surgeries and various dangerous invasive procedures

How long will it take?

At Inner Balance Chiropractic we offer three types of care. There is the initial phase of care, which is also known as crisis care. Some patients seek chiropractic care only when their pain becomes so unbearable they come in. During this phase of care the patients need to be seen more frequently to get the best results in the shortest period of time. We want to reduce the pain and suffering as quickly as possible. Once we get them out of pain and out of the crisis, the patient decides if they want to close their case or continue with the care necessary to fully heal the soft tissue.

When you continue with your care, visits are less frequent and this can be described the restructuring phase of care. This is where we are helping to stabilize the spine and nervous system, improving the biomechanics and increasing the range of motion. We also help to retrain the supporting muscle groups and strengthen the overall body through various kinds of stretching and strengthening exercises.
Typically when you continue with care is when you begin to understand the true benefits of taking a holistic approach to your own health. You begin to feel better about yourself and your loved ones. The quality of your life improves, your pain disappears, you notice having more energy, being able to breathe better, and you handle your life stressors more efficiently and effectively. You are sick less frequently and for a shorter duration of time. What's interesting here is when patients do continue with care, their visits are reduced and the time between their adjustments are increased. When patients stop their care after their initial phase, whether it is six months or a year later, they typically have a relapse and are right back in crisis care where they have to come in more frequently, costing them even more money.

The third phase of care is known as wellness care. This is where patients have made a leap in consciousness. You now have a much better connection with your body. You are in an optimal state of being. You realize how important chiropractic care is; how your health affects everything you do and everyone you know. You realize how chiropractic care keeps you in a state of optimal well being and helps you to be the loving person, the responsive spouse, the understanding friend or the dependable employee.

Invest in your health. Enjoy the benefits! You are worth it!