Chiropractic

What is Chiropractic ?

Chiropractic is a complementary therapy that manipulates the spine in order to address many bodily disorders, and not just back pain. Established in the late 1800's by Daniel Palmer the term chiropractic is derived from the Greek words for hand and practical.

Palmer discovered that he was able to cure a patient's deafness by manual manipulation of the spine. This led Palmer to conclude that many of our ailments arise from difficulties with our spines that cause a knock on effect on the function of our nervous system. Problems with the spine may manifest themselves in a whole host of medical conditions that may not be apparent to the untrained observer. For example, chiropractic can be used to treat asthma, catarrh, migraine, and constipation amongst other complaints. Chiropractic is applied to patients by manipulation and is noninvasive nor does it involve the use of drugs. Sometimes X-rays may be used to assess the extent of the problem with, or damage to, the spine.

What is Involved in a Chiropractic Session ?

The first visit to the chiropractor will involve a detailed investigation of the history of the client with particular emphasis on previous injuries to, or problems with, the back or spine. A full chiropractic examination of the spine including an assessment of posture will be conducted. If the chiropractor feels that it is appropriate clients may be referred to another health professional. No reputable chiropractor will begin a course of treatment unless he / she is confident that the treatment will be beneficial for the client.

Generally the client may remain fully dressed during a consultation although it is advisable to wear light clothing for ease of manipulation and for observation purposes for the chiropractic practitioner. The aim of the chiropractor is to put to rights irregular skeletal or neural patters. This is achieved by administering appropriate and specific manual force. The nature and frequency of adjustments and manipulations will depend upon the condition being treated and the tolerance levels of the client. Chiropractic treatments will involve manual, instrument and table-assisted adjustments as appropriate.

The number of treatments that will be required will depend upon how long the condition has existed, the length of time the structural problem has existed (this can predated the manifestation of symptoms by a considerable period), and the responsiveness of the client.

Vertebral Subluxation

A vertebral subluxation is a phrase used in chiropractic circles for a range of symptoms caused by a misalignment or an irregular portion of the spinal column. Such a subluxation can be caused by physical trauma, chemical imbalance or psychological issues. A vertebral subluxation can occur when there is a misalignment of a vertebra that may be causing a misfiring of nervous system message signals. This can cause a very wide range of symptoms and difficulties for sufferers.

Chiropractic Care in Ireland

The Chiropractic Association of Ireland (CAI) provides the regulatory backdrop for Irish chiropractors. The CAI is actively lobbying the Irish Government for official recognition and inclusion in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act.