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Adjustments
The adjustment is a safe, natural, noninvasive procedure
used by the chiropractor to restore and improve health. Learning
the art of adjusting is a skill that requires years of study
and practice. Chiropractic
doctors are the only health care professionals trained
to deliver the chiropractic adjustment. Spinal adjustments
by any other individual or health care professional have been
shown to be dangerous and less effective.
What Is A Spinal Adjustment?
In basic terms, the spinal adjustment or spinal manipulation
refers to the process in which the doctor of chiropractic
skillfully applies controlled force into one or more "subluxated"
vertebrae of the spine. The adjustment is also frequently
used in the pelvic region to normalize the sacroiliac joints.
The adjustment is usually delivered using the hands or through
the use of a specialized mechanical tool.
When Should Spinal Adjustments Be
Given?
Spinal adjustments are applied to certain vertebrae of the
spine which are no longer in their proper position or where
functioning has become impaired. Vertebrae which lose their
normal position or proper motion are commonly termed vertebral
subluxations. The chiropractor uses a number of unique tests
and procedures to determine which, if any, vertebrae are subluxated.
If subluxations are found, immediate correction is generally
indicated. Since like cavities subluxations are not always
painful during the initial stages, even those who are not
experiencing back or neck discomfort should receive periodic
spinal checkups.
What Do Spinal Adjustments Do?
Adjusting helps correct vertebral subluxations. Correcting
subluxations reduces pain and inflammation, reduces muscle
spasm and tension, normalizes spinal biomechanics and more
importantly, can remove nerve irritation and interference
which can improve overall health and wellness of the individual.
Chiropractic adjustments are the only way to eliminate vertebral
subluxations and only the chiropractor is trained to detect
subluxations and deliver the chiropractic spinal adjustment
to correct subluxations.
The Non-Spinal Adjustment
 In
addition to adjusting the spine and pelvis, almost every other
joint of the body can be adjusted by the chiropractor. This
includes the joints of the hands and feet, wrists and ankles,
elbows and knees, shoulders and hips, ribs and the jaw. In
fact, some chiropractors are even trained in techniques to
adjust the joints (sutures) of the skull.
Like the joints of the spine, joints in the extremities can
also become misaligned and fixated. Chiropractic adjustive
techniques can restore and enhance extremity joint functioning
that can increase the life of the joint and keep wear and
tear to a minimum. This is of special interest to athletes
who generally demand optimal joint performance from highly
stressed joints. Adjusting provides an immediate increase
in joint range of motion and also supplies the joint with
nutrients, as motion is the only way to bring nutrients into
the joint cartilage and flush wastes products out.
FYI
Did your mother ever warn you that "cracking" your
knuckles would give you arthritis? If she did, we're sorry
to say that she was wrong! Research has actually shown that
individuals who habitually "crack" their knuckles
over their lifetime actually lower the incidence of arthritis
in their knuckles compared with those who do not. Researchers
believe the knuckle "cracking" increases joint nutrition
and maintains joint motion, both of which are essential for
a healthy joint.
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