Chiropractic is a healthcare specialty that has been practiced since the late 19th century. Today, it is estimated that doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) — or chiropractors — treat more than 30 million Americans annually, who turn to chiropractic services to get and stay healthy and pain free. The word “chiropractic” combines the Greek words for “treatment” and “by hand,” since the field is based on the natural restorative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The foundation of chiropractic care is the focus on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is most often employed to treat neuro-musculoskeletal dysfunction, including — but not limited to — back pain, neck pain, sciatica, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Chiropractors are licensed to practice in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in many nations around the world. To become licensed, students are required to undergo rigorous education in the healing sciences at institutions accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. In Pennsylvania, license renewal is mandatory every two years, requiring completion of at least 24 hours of board-approved continuing education.

An increasing body of research and reviews demonstrates that the services provided by qualified chiropractors are both safe and effective. The evidence strongly supports the natural, whole-body and cost-effective approach of chiropractic for a range of conditions.

Chiropractic care includes the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. It is believed that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. A chiropractor’s goal is to improve and restore function and stability to the spinal structure, which is accomplished by realigning the vertebrae using spinal manipulation and adjustment. This treatment releases tension in the spine and allows muscles to relax, resulting in relief from pain associated with the misalignment, such as back pain, neck pain and headaches.

Chiropractic treatment also affects the nervous system. Consisting of the brain, nerves and spinal cord, the nervous system controls every muscle, organ and cell in the body. The brain receives and stores an astonishing amount of information that needs a passage to get in and out. The spinal cord consists of bundles of nerves that provide a pathway for this information to travel. The spine both houses and protects the spinal cord. Through manipulation and adjustment, chiropractic treatment can decrease painful compression on a nerve, eliminating spasms and breaking up soft tissue. This promotes enhanced movement, balance and nerve function, as well as improved posture.

Nerve dysfunction can result from any number of factors, including falls, accidents, stress, tension or overuse. These events can alter our “wiring,” creating pain or discomfort in our bodies. Chiropractors are trained to locate the source of the pain — which may be far from the actual location of the dysfunction — and correct or adjust the affected joints, setting up the body to heal on its own. Chiropractic success results by addressing the source of the problem, not merely masking the symptoms.

After a thorough examination and a review of your health history, your chiropractor will recommend a specific treatment program. If yours is a chiropractic case, this will include specific spinal adjustments. Adjustments refer to hundreds of ways of using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore spinal bones to a more normal position. When spinal function is improved, nervous system function and health can improve as well. After years of training, chiropractors become expert in using just the right amount of force in the right direction. This may require a quick movement, or in other instances a slow and constant pressure.

Chiropractors recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other healthcare practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.