What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession or discipline that diagnoses, treats and prevents the mechanical disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Chiropractic care is capable of improving general health based on the theories that these mechanical disorders affect general health through the nervous system that exits from the spinal cord housed in the spine column.
What is an adjustment?
Chiropractic manipulation therapy (CMT), also called adjustment, is the manipulative technique involving hands-on manipulation of the spine or other joints, with hands (manual manipulation), and/or via special tables (such as drop tables, flexion-extension tables), and/or by using some devices (like activator), etc.
Who are chiropractors?
Chiropractic professionals are doctors of chiropractic, DC’s, or chiropractors. Although it has many similar attributes of primary care physicians (PCPs) for general health, a chiropractor is usually considered as a medical specialist like a dentist or ophthalmologist. The education that a chiropractor receives is very similar to that of a medical doctor (MD). Both DC’s and MD’s receive a Bachelor’s degree followed by 3-4 years of specialized medical training including internships and rotations. Both receive extensive training in the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, histology, pathology, microbiology, radiology and neurology, etc. The two professions begin to differ in regards to treatment protocols. Medical doctors focus on learning about medications and surgery while chiropractors learn to treat with their hands using adjustments, acupuncture and soft tissue mobilizations.
How is posture related to DJD? Posture is the body position in which you hold your body weight against gravity while standing, sitting, lying down or moving. Good posture gives you a balanced position where body weight is distributed evenly on joints, with the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments, so that your body is able to function optimally. Poor posture puts excess stress on the joints, increases wear and tear to the joints so that degeneration occurs quicker.
How can I achieve good posture?
Postural training can help delay onset of symptoms related to DJD. For instance, good standing posture presents when a vertical line can be drawn passing through the ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. In this position the joints are placed under the least amount of stress because the body weight is evenly distributed. Good sitting posture occurs when the head is positioned directly over the neck, rather than jutting forward.
How can young people benefit from posture training?
Good posture early in life ensures the healthy development of your body and prevents DJD later. Poor posture can be corrected before any joint damage is done. Posture training will benefit young people greatly by teaching them good habits they can maintain for their lifetime.
