How Does Chiropractic Work?

Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

Doctors of Chiropractic help millions of patients each year feel better, improve their posture, and reduce the need for surgery, pain medications, and other drugs. When a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, such as Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, applies the chiropractic adjustment to spinal vertebral segments, the adjustment (aka mobilization, manipulation) moves the spinal bones in a way that releases tension between segments and restores nerve flow to nerves passing between the spinal segments. Sometimes the adjustment makes a noise (like a cracking sound); other times, there is no audible sound accompanying the movement. Regardless, patients experience a sense of relief following the adjustment, as there is less spinal stiffness and increased nerve flow.

In addition to improving the position of spinal segments and increasing blood flow to segmental spinal nerves, the chiropractic adjustment helps relax taut ligaments and muscles connected to the vertebral bones. This relaxation of hypertonic connective tissues provides enhanced circulation to starved back bones and their segmental nerves arising from the spinal cord. Improvements in blood flow remove waste byproducts of inflammation and tissue damage, resolving swelling and nerve irritation. In effect, chiropractic spinal mobilization procedures reduce pressure on pinched nerves in these ways.

Spinal nerves carry sensory and motor information from the spine to specific body areas. Segmentally arranged, nerves arise on the left and right side of the spine through their IVFs, carrying sensory and motor information to and from the organs, tissues, and muscles they innervate. The sensory portion of the nerve delivers sensations back to the brain via the spinal cord, alerting us to pain, position, temperature, and touch at specific areas. The motor part of the spinal nerve likewise transmits signals to the target organs, tissues, and muscles to elicit a response to the sensation received. For instance, when one’s finger touches a burning hot object, the sensory portion of the nerve sends a message back to the brain, and the brain sends a motor message to the finger to move away. Quick, accurate responses protect each of us and are the byproduct of a functioning nervous system. Chiropractic helps protect this flowing system by keeping pressure and inflammation off nerves.

Most Doctors of Chiropractic also help patients achieve better health naturally in other vital ways. DCs provide much-needed nutrition education to their patients so they can ensure their patients are eating well and getting the nutrients their bodies need to help them grow and stay healthy. DCs may recommend specific nutrient supplementation or dietary regimens to fill gaps in a patient’s diet. Using locally grown foods and readily available supplements from local stores, patients recognize the benefit of a good nutrition plan. DCs also suggest exercises to help patients improve balance and posture, taking pressure off their spines naturally. Many patients find the easy-to-follow exercises we provide very helpful and crucial to long-lasting improvements. Importantly, chiropractors discuss habits of daily living with their patients, such as sleep quantity and quality, stress, and ways to mitigate stress.

At Acupractic Natural Healing, the chiropractic and acupuncture clinics of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, we strive to help each patient achieve better health through gentle, effective spinal adjustments. Call today to see how natural chiropractic care can help you. (919) 929-1400, or visit us 24 hours a day to schedule online at acudocnc.com.