Rosenthal Chiropractic
About Chiropractic
THE CHIROPRACTIC INFORMATION HIGHWAY» About The Spinal Column The Spinal ColumnChiropractors are often called "back doctors." Actually, they have nothing to do with the back itself! They work on the spinal column -- one of the most important and complex components of the human nervous system.The Nervous System The human body is a remarkable thing. At any given moment, it performs hundreds of thousands of individual functions -- circulating and purifying blood, turning fuel into energy, maintaining proper internal temperature, taking in oxygen, and all the other operations which keep us alive and healthy. Guided by the knowledge our bodies are born with -- our Innate Intelligence -- every cell and organ sends and receives messages to and from the brain. In fact, the brain acts like a central communication depot, processing millions of messages every second. These messages, relayed as electrical impulses, are sent out over nerves the way phone calls travel along telephone wires. A thick braid formed by billions of these nerves is attached to the brain and extends down from the base of the skull. This is the spinal cord. Smaller braids branch off from the cord. These braids divide again and again into tiny nerve fibers and fill the entire body, going to each cell, organ and tissue. Every human being has an estimated 15 billion nerve cells. All send and receive messages as nerve impulses through the spinal cord.  Protecting the Spinal CordIt's clear that the brain and spinal cord are critical to the survival and health of the individual. Protecting them is absolutely vital. That's why the brain is encased in a "shell" of solid bone -- the skull. But what about the spinal cord? How does the body protect it? Obviously, a solid shell wouldn't work. We wouldn't be able to bend, and the individual nerves wouldn't be able to branch out to other parts of the body. The answer is the spinal column. The spinal column is an elaborate "tunnel" of small, interlocking bones slightly curved in the shape of the letter "S." It's flexible enough to allow the body to twist and bend, but sturdy enough to protect the spinal cord. The Vertebral Column The human spine The spinal column is made up of three sections of vertebrae: the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.  The cervical spine is what most people call their neck. There are seven vertebrae here, labeled C1 through C7. The first, C-1, is also known as the Atlas. The second, C-2, is sometimes called the Axis.The thoracic spine is located in the middle of the back, and is made up of 12 vertebrae. Just below is the lumbar spine with its 5 vertebrae. At the end of the spinal column are two sets of fused vertebrae, called the sacrum and the coccyx, or tailbone. The vertebrae are separated and cushioned by thin pads of tough, resilient fiber known as inter-vertebral discs. There is a small opening between each vertebra. Through this opening, nerves branch off and travel to different parts of the body. When the vertebrae are in their proper positions, the nerves pass through without a problem. Impulses race along the nerve fibers to and from the brain relaying information and instructions without interference. When a vertebra is jarred out of its proper alignment, however, the messages are distorted. The body can no longer function at 100% of its capacity. That's where chiropractic comes in. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm
Who needs chiropractic?For a long time, many people thought chiropractors only helped patients with bad backs. What they didn't realize was that the nerves traveling down the spinal column go to every organ and cell in the entire body.For back pain only?  When a spinal bone (vertebra) is out of alignment, it can interfere with the normal flow of life energy through nearby nerves. If the affected nerve happens to be carrying a message to the liver, the function of the liver can be altered. If the nerve is taking instructions from the brain to the heart, that organ's function may be upset.The fact is, the health of every part of the body depends on the proper flow of nerve energy. If that normal flow is interrupted or interfered with, the result is dis-ease. Some part of the body will not be able to function at peak performance. Chiropractors locate misalignments in the vertebrae, called subluxations. They use spinal adjustments to correct these subluxations. When the bones are allowed to go back to their proper positions, the nerve energy can resume its normal flow. Only then can the body continue its natural effort to maintain optimum health. Helping the Body Help Itself When the flow of nerve energy is restored, the body is often able to heal itself. Hundreds of thousands of patients report that chiropractic helped "cure" them of headaches, sinus problems, high blood pressure, ear infections, leg pain, arthritis, and many other illnesses. Many had been suffering for years with their condition Some had tried medication or even surgery, but nothing seemed to help. That's because medication and surgery can't restore the normal functioning of a part of the body. Only the body's wisdom itself can do that. When these people went to a chiropractor, the actual cause of the problem -- the nerve interference -- was corrected. Their bodies were able to work properly and regain their healthy balance. Today, people come to chiropractors with a variety of health problems. Many leave feeling better than they have in years! No Cures?  But chiropractic didn't cure them. In fact, it's important to understand that chiropractors don't treat illness. They locate and correct subluxations in order to help restore the normal flow of life energy throughout the body. After the interference is eliminated, the body's own healing power takes over.Just as dis-ease is caused by interference in the normal flow of energy, health depends on having a normal flow of energy. Who needs chiropractic? Think of it this way: Who needs a normal flow of life energy in their body? People who have headaches or back pain or any other kind of illness need chiropractic. So do people who have liver problems or arthritis. So do people who feel great! In other words, everyone needs to make sure their bodies are free from subluxations and able to function at peak performance. That's why we ALL need regular chiropractic visits. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm The Vertebral SubluxationOur bodies want to be healthy. They naturally strive to maintain the highest level of health they can. Sometimes, however, obstacles are put in their way. The result is dis-ease. The role of chiropractic is to correct one of the major sources of those obstacles: the vertebral subluxation.Misalignments Instructions from our brain are sent to all parts of the body as electrical impulses. These impulses travel along the spinal cord, which subdivides into individual nerve fibers throughout the body. The spinal cord is protected by a "tunnel" of small, interlocking bones called the spinal column. The individual bones are called vertebrae. Nerves branch off from the spinal cord through small openings between the vertebrae. When each vertebra is in its proper position, the nerve fiber passes through without a problem. Nerve impulses can flow freely, racing to and from the brain at incredible speeds. Although the spinal column is a sturdy structure, individual vertebrae can become misplaced. When that happens, it's called a vertebral subluxation. One of the most common causes of vertebral subluxation is automobile accidents. Yet, many everyday activities can result in subluxations as well. Picking up heavy objects, taking part in sports, and even sitting for prolonged periods at a desk can all put stress on the vertebrae. Other causes can arise from emotional and chemincal stresses. Dis-ease When spinal bones are not in their proper place, the openings between them can narrow. The vertebrae can impinge on the nerves branching out from these spaces. This is commonly, though inaccurately, known as a "pinched nerve." This interferes with the normal flow of energy along the nerve fibers. Messages traveling along the nerves will be distorted. If the full, normal energy flow cannot pass to and from the brain, some part of the body will be adversely affected. We do not understand the human body well enough to predict exactly what effect a subluxation will have. The nervous system is far too complex for that. But we do know that any change in the flow of nerve energy has to result in an abnormal change in body function. Sometimes, the fact that there is nerve interference becomes obvious. We experience pain, soreness, irregularity, weakness, digestive disturbances or other health imbalances. These are symptoms of the body's dis-ease. They are NOT problems in themselves. They are outward alarms that a part of the human system isn't working right. Ignoring these symptoms, or silencing them with pills, doesn't do anything to help the real problem. Unless we get to the root of the problem -- the nerve interference -- the affected organ will continue to function improperly and its health will decline. The Silent Killer Unfortunately, there are many cells and organs in the body that do not send out any alarms to alert us that they are not functioning at 100% capacity. Because of vertebral subluxations, they will not be receiving a normal flow of energy. The instructions from the body's Innate Intelligence will not be getting through properly. If a subluxation continues undetected, the organ may suffer great damage, yet we won't even be aware of it! Because subluxations can destroy a person's health without any visible signs, they are often called "the silent killer." If you wait until your body sends out pain or other clear signals, it may too late. You need to stop subluxations before they have a chance to do major damage and before they become difficult to correct. You -- and your entire family -- need to visit a chiropractor regularly to make sure you can all lead a healthy, subluxation-free life. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm Chiropractic for ChildrenParents will do just about anything to protect their child's health. They serve nutritionally balanced meals, encourage daily exercise, and insist on regular dental and eye examinations. Yet many neglect the most important part of the child's health care program: regular spinal checkups.Subluxation on Delivery Misalignments in spinal bones which interfere with the normal flow of nerve energy are known as subluxations. Many people still associate them with major trauma. They think the spine can be affected only after lifting heavy objects or being in an automobile accident. They don't realize that the daily activities of young children can easily result in subluxations. In fact, many babies receive their first subluxations during pregnancyBabies and children get subluxations, too and the birthing process. Modern medical procedures such as the Cesarean section, the use of forceps, and induced deliveries put unnatural strains on the infant's delicate body. Frequently, doctors still hold the baby upside down from the feet. Throughout the ordeal, the tiny spine is twisted, tugged and stretched. The frequent result: subluxations. People who understand the importance of spinal checkups and care bring their children into the chiropractor's office when they are tiny infants. Kids Will Be Kids Of course, the strain on the spine doesn't stop in the delivery room. Children are, by nature, active and energetic. They run, jump, tumble and fall. Since their bodies are extremely flexible and resilient, they often will show nothing more than a bruise or scrape after life's minor accidents. But that's on the outside. On the inside, the body has been jarred with considerable force. The small bones forming the spinal column -- which protects the central nervous system's spinal cord -- can be forced out of their proper positions. Some will return to the correct position on their own, guided by the child's own Innate Intelligence. Others will remain "stuck" in incorrect positions. Childhood Dis-ease Subluxations in children can cause dis-ease in the body, just as they do in adults. When the nerve flow is interrupted, some part of the body will send or receive distorted messages to or from the brain. With such interference, the body cannot function at 100% of its potential. It cannot reach its optimum level of health. Every member of the family needs chiropractic. If parents are lucky, their child's body will provide visible physical signs that something is wrong inside. Symptoms such as fever, stomach ache, sore throat, bed wetting, poor posture, hyperactivity, and frequent colds or flu may be evidence of subluxations. (Unfortunately, some people forget that symptoms are warning signals. They think the symptoms are the real problems and treat them without going to the possible root cause -- the subluxations.) Parents aren't always so fortunate, however, for sometimes there are no outward signs signaling the presence of internal physical changes. In fact, unless children receive regular chiropractic check-ups, no one may know subluxations exist until the damage is so serious it cannot be hidden any longer. Obviously, we all want what's best for our children. We want them to be happy and intelligent and popular. Most of all, we want them to be healthy. That means making chiropractic checkups a regular part of their health care routine. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm Pain and SymptomsWe all know there's no cure for the common cold. But, if you go to any drugstore, you'll see shelf after shelf of "cold remedies." There are medicines for head pain, chest congestion, runny noses, stuffy noses, itchy eyes, sneezing, and body aches -- for all the discomforts associated with the cold.Curing the Common Cold? Do these drugs cure the common cold? No. The best they can do is temporarily stop the symptoms while the body works to regain its health. Yet, you'll often hear people rave about a particular drug. "It really knocked that cold right out of me," they'll exclaim. "I was sick as a dog and I took two of those pills and felt better the next day. Unfortunately, these people are confusing their symptoms with the actual dis-ease taking place in their bodies. They think that because the symptom is gone, the dis-ease is gone. They think that good health is merely the absence of symptoms. Actually, a vital part of good health is the presence of a normal flow of energy through the body -- and that depends on eliminating any interference caused by subluxations. Warning Signals We need to realize that symptoms are the body's way of announcing that there is a problem. When everything in the body is functioning normally, we don't have headaches or stomach problems or back pains. If the smoke detector alarm in your home went off in the middle of the night, would you rush over and disconnect it? Once the noise was gone, would you go back to sleep again as if nothing had happened? Of course not. That's because you know that the alarm is NOT the problem. It's just a warning that a problem exists. The same is true for symptoms. Your body will often send out a warning signal -- a symptom -- to tell you that a problem exists. If you take a couple of pills to cover up the symptom, it's like disconnecting the alarm. You haven't solved the problem you've just silenced the alarm. That's why chiropractors don't attempt to mask or treat symptoms. Instead, they listen to the alarm and work to find the cause of dis-ease. The Real Danger Unfortunately, our bodies can't always warn us that there's a problem. Nerve interference can cause dis-ease without any outward sign. Chiropractors often see people who appear perfectly healthy. Yet, an examination will show that they have serious, long-term subluxations. Outside, everything seems fine. Inside, the interference is doing its damage. We can't ignore symptoms when they show up, but we can't afford to wait for them to show up before we see a chiropractor. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm The Chiropractic AdjustmentThe key to chiropractic care is the spinal adjustment. This is the way doctors of chiropractic correct subluxations.The Goal of the Adjustment The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct the spinal subluxations detected during the examination. To do that, the doctor applies pressure to the bone and "unlocks" it from its improper position. The bone will then be free to align itself correctly. Many people think that the chiropractor forces a vertebra back into its "proper" place. But only the individual's own Innate Intelligence knows for sure what the proper place for each bone is. The role of the chiropractor is to free up the vertebrae. Then, the body can do its job and put them back in the correct position. Unfortunately, the muscles connected to subluxated vertebrae get used to their positions and have a tendency to pull the bone back out of place. It may take several adjustments before the adjustment "holds," and the bone settles into its proper alignment. Adjusting Techniques If you ask 100 patients to describe their adjustments, you may get 100 different answers! That's because there are many adjusting techniques for the chiropractor to choose from. Some doctors have their patients sit up for certain adjustments. Others tell them to lie down. Some use elaborate tables with moveable head or foot rests while others use stationary tables. A chiropractor may use a certain technique on one visit and a totally different one the next. Chiropractic colleges teach their students many adjusting techniques. They realize each doctor and patient is different. In fact, each subluxation is different and may require a separate approach. Even the size, weight, and muscle structure of the doctor and patient must be taken into consideration when choosing a technique. Chiropractors select the technique which will most effectively correct subluxations with a minimum of force. The "art" of adjusting requires skill and training rather than brute strength. That's why even slightly built doctors can perform excellent adjustments on all patients regardless of their size. Will it Hurt? Because most adjusting techniques emphasize using minimal force and gentle pressure, few patients feel any discomfort during the adjustment. Many, however, will hear popping sounds. But there's no need for concern. There's nothing breaking. The noises you hear are just tiny pockets of gas releasing with a pop, which is completely normal. With or without noises, your adjustment should be completely pain free. Some patients, particularly if they are tense, involuntarily stiffen and resist the adjustment. At these times, they may feel slight discomfort until they learn to relax. Once you get used to the noises -- if there are any -- you may associate them with "good" adjustments. However, be aware that in time, these noises may lessen or disappear completely. When this happens, it doesn't mean the adjustment has stopped "working." It only means that normal flexibility is returning to the affected vertebrae. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm After the AdjustmentAs a new chiropractic patient, you may be concerned about how you'll feel after your spinal adjustment. "What will happen when I'm adjusted? Will I feel better right away? Will it hurt afterwards?"These are all normal questions. But, each patient is a complex and unique individual. It's impossible to predict exactly how any one body will react. However, it may be reassuring to learn how other people feel. Feeling Great Most patients feel some affect of the adjustment immediately. It may be the first time in years that normal nerve energy has been able to reach some areas of the body without interference. Many people say that they feel more limber and relaxed. Some describe the effect as a surge of energy and vitality. Still others report an almost immediate decrease in the symptoms they've been experiencing. Headaches may suddenly disappear and people who had trouble walking into the office because of back pain may -- literally -- dance out the door. At this point, they usually have to be reminded that chiropractic didn't "cure" or "treat" their headaches or backaches. The chiropractor located and corrected the subluxations that had made it difficult for the body to take care of itself. Patients who receive immediate relief also have to be reminded that severe subluxations may have existed for a long time. Several adjustments may be needed before the vertebrae can be restored to correct alignment. The temporary disappearance of a symptom doesn't mean that optimum health has been achieved. Minor Discomforts Although many of the changes taking place feel great, there are some which may cause minor discomfort or concern. For instance, some people report slight soreness in the area of the subluxation. This is not uncommon. After all, the muscles around the area have been "trained" to pull in certain directions. Now, they are being asked to pull in a different direction. Some soreness may be expected, although it is normally quite mild and usually temporary. Another effect is a light-headed feeling. Many patients actually enjoy this temporary "high," but others find it disconcerting. It, too, is normal. Because of subluxations, there may be parts of the body which haven't received normal nerve flow for years. Suddenly, the impulses are rushing to these cells, sending and receiving new messages from the brain, filling the patient with a burst of energy that can literally leave him or her dizzy. The feeling -- generally lasting just a few minutes -- should be recognized as physical evidence of the body's healing power at work. The release of this healing power can also stimulate nerves which have long since been "anesthetized" by lack of normal energy flow. When these nerves are reactivated after an adjustment, they may actually be more sensitive than before. This phenomena -- known as "retracing" -- is part of the healing process and should decrease as the healing continues. The Changes Within Some patients say they don't really feel any different after their adjustments. Still, they realize that many changes are indeed occurring within the body -- even if there are no outward signs. When your normal flow of life energy is restored -- when your Innate Intelligence can once again communicate with all parts of your body without interference -- the affects are significant. You don't need to feel light-headed to know that your body is healthier without subluxations. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm As You Continue Your CareAs you continue your chiropractic care and your spine and nervous system continue to release deep-seated stresses as part of your healing process, you may begin to notice.Better balance, smoother movement, and as a result, more energy. Increased awareness of your spine, its movements, areas of tightness and/or restrictions. Areas may become painful as changes are made.
Your doctor of chiropractic welcomes you to discuss your experiences as you begin to live a subluxation-free life. This information was taken from http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/consumer/index.htm |
