Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism controlled by the brain, spinal cord and nerves of the body. The nervous system is protected by the spinal vertebrae. When these vertebrae become misaligned or lose normal motion, malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body result.
Chiropractic is a form of natural health care that focuses on treating a patient without the use of drugs or medicines. Doctors of Chiropractic are primary health care providers and are recognized by governmental health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Workers’ Compensation programs and more. Every year, more than 30 million Americans see chiropractors as part of the regular health care programs. With over 84,000 licensed chiropractors nationwide and more than 10,000 students currently enrolled in chiropractic school, it is the fastest growing health care profession.
Chiropractors frequently treat individuals with problems such as headaches, joint pain, neck pain, low back pain and sciatica. Chiropractors also treat patients with osteoarthritis, spinal disk conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, and strains. However, the scope of conditions that chiropractors manage or provide care for is not limited to the common pains and problems listed above. Chiropractors also have the training to treat a variety of conditions such as allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, and other disorders as new research is developed.
Subluxation is defined as “a partial dislocation” or misalignment of the vertebrae. Chiropractors understand that this misalignment, whether functional, structural, or pathological, can lead to many health problems. In many cases, it can lead to problems with the way organ systems function and an overall deterioration of health.
It is important to identify subluxations so that they may be treated early on. Subluxations can escalate and cause nerve interference. When this happens, the changes are referred to as “degeneration”.
Phase 1
In the first stage of degeneration, your spine has lost its normal balance. This means the normal curvature of your spine has been lost, which can put stress on your joints, discs, nerves and cause stress to your posture. Symptoms include slight discomfort, decrease in energy and even loss in height.
Phase 2
In the second stage, your posture change will be much worse due to narrowing of the discs and bone spurs. Symptoms include body aches, pain, fatigue and a decreased ability to deal with stress. Chiropractic care can make a significant improvement at this stage.
Phase 3
The third stage of degeneration shows a lot more imbalance to your posture, as well as increased nerve damage, permanent scar tissue, and advanced bone deformities. Symptoms include a significant loss of energy and possible physical weakness. At this stage, chiropractic care can still reverse some of the damage being done.
Phase 4
In the final stage of degeneration you will notice a limited range of motion and posture imbalances. At this point, nerve damage is advanced and scar tissue will form while bones begin to fuse together. Symptoms include severe pain and a loss of energy. Though the damage is considered irreversible, chiropractic care can still help bring relief to some symptoms.
During pregnancy, the ligaments of the body loosen in preparation for the birthing process and a new center of gravity develops with the mother’s expanding belly. This can result in spinal and pelvis misalignments (Chiropractic subluxations) which can inhibit nerve flow to the uterus and developing fetus, cause pain, or pull on the ligaments which attach to the uterus causing intrauterine constraint. Some sources cite intrauterine constraint as a key factor in preventing optimal positioning of the fetus, which can lead to painful or difficult labor, or inhibit fetus from turning head down.
Chiropractic care has been demonstrated to reduce labor times, decrease the likelihood of having a cesarean section, relieve intrauterine constraint when caused by Chiropractic subluxation, and decrease pain and discomfort during pregnancy. One of the major techniques to facilitate an optimal pregnancy and a healthy birth is the Webster Technique, which Dr. Palmer is certified in.
If you have any questions or concerns with regard to prenatal Chiropractic, please give us a call. Dr. Palmer would be happy to speak with you.
The birthing process can be a traumatic experience for an infant with the best, natural birth. This is especially the case with cesarean sections or difficult births. As a result, the child can be left with misaligned bones in their spine, pelvis, or head. Left untreated, these can cause suboptimal neurological functioning which can manifest in a wide variety of conditions such as:
It is common to see dramatic improvements in these and other conditions very quickly with very gentle interventions.
Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) is a light touch diagnostic and treatment method which allows the skilled practitioner to treat joints, fascia, and connective tissues in nervous system, the dural membranes. The cranial sacral system is comprised of these tissues and the fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, cerebral spinal fluid. The movement dynamics of this system are vital to optimal physiological function for the human body. Cranial Sacral Therapy optimizes these dynamics by removing restrictions, realigning malpositioned structures, and regulating the cranial sacral system.
Dr. Palmer utilizes CST in conjunction with Chiropractic care. As they are both techniques which seek to optimize the nervous system, they synergize fantastically together. Frequently, utilization of these techniques together allows patients to achieve results which they may not be able to achieve with these techniques used in an isolated fashion.
Dr. Palmer utilizes CST in conjunction with Chiropractic care. As they are both techniques which seek to optimize the nervous system, they synergize fantastically together. Frequently, utilization of these techniques together allows patients to achieve results which they may not be able to achieve with these techniques used in an isolated fashion.
Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic care is a technique branch of Chiropractic which was developed by John F. Grostic, DC. Upper Cervical Chiropractic utilizes specialized analysis of very precise x-rays which provides detailed information as to how the upper cervical region is misaligned. Subsequently, a very gentle adjustment can be rendered at the precise angle indicated by the analysis to resolve any misalignments in the area and promote optimal neurological function for the whole person. Because of the precision of the analysis and adjustment, conditions including but not limited to neck pain or headache can be resolved, even if other therapeutic intervention has failed.
The upper cervical region is vital for optimal neurological and biomechanical function of the body. Misalignments in this region can affect cerebral spinal fluid flow, normal nerve flow through the spinal cord, affect biomechanical placement of the head upon the rest of the body, and affect muscle tone of the neck and back. As such, Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic can be utilized to treat a wide variety of conditions, not just those of the head and neck.
Dr. Palmer utilizes the Grostic Technique, which is an Upper Cervical Specific technique.
The upper cervical region is vital for optimal neurological and biomechanical function of the body. Misalignments in this region can affect cerebral spinal fluid flow, normal nerve flow through the spinal cord, affect biomechanical placement of the head upon the rest of the body, and affect muscle tone of the neck and back. As such, Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic can be utilized to treat a wide variety of conditions, not just those of the head and neck.
Dr. Palmer utilizes the Grostic Technique, which is an Upper Cervical Specific technique.