Ballard Chiropractic Clinic

The Body is self-healing

The Body is self-regulating

The central nervous system controls and regulates

all functions of the body

Subluxations can cause back pain, headaches, and pain or health problems in other parts of the body. Subluxations interfere with the normal nerve communication between the brain and a particular area of the body. This interference can affect the body's ability to function properly, although symptoms may not always surface right away. The chiropractor's job is to restore the body's natural capacity to heal itself ~ the body's inborn "innate intelligence" ~ which is the best doctor in the whole world. Doctors of chiropractic feel that while drugs and surgery have their place*, they are greatly overused in our society.

*It is important to note that doctors of chiropractic do not utilize drugs or surgery in their practice. However, there are times when they will recommend that the patient consult another practitioner if these or other methods of treatment are indicated.

Why is the spine so important?
Your spine is designed to support your weight and protect your spinal cord. The spinal cord is the vital link that connects your brain to the rest of your body. The spinal cord travels through your spine, which is made up of 24 separate, moving vertebrae. When these vertebrae become malpositioned, they can put pressure on the spinal cord and irritate the nervous system. Since the nervous system connects to every cell in your body, a problem in your spine can cause a problem with any tissue or organ in your body. This is why Chiropractors try to locate and correct these areas of spinal dysfunction.

How can chiropractic help me?
Injury, stress or chronic pain most often are the reasons people seek chiropractic care. Because chiropractic treats the underlying causes of these problems rather than just relieving the symptoms, your body's natural healing processes work for you.
With a program of regular spinal maintenance, many patients recover a degree of health and vigor greater than they enjoyed before the problem occurred.

What does a chiropractor do?
The chiropractor checks your spine to see if you have any misalignments. Your spine is meant to be in line. When you have a misalignment (termed a subluxation) the spinal bones (termed a vertebrae) create havoc with the nervous system. The havoc and interference on the nerve system disturbs the mental impulses flowing from brain to body and body back to brain. The brain then can no longer keep the body healthy due to this interference - lack of vitality, decreased immune system, arthritis, symptoms and disease result.

If I have subluxations (misalignments) what then?
If you have subluxations, it is very important that you have them corrected. The chiropractor will gently adjust your vertebrae back into alignment. This restores the flow of health in your body and your body begins to heal.

	Normally, your vertebrae are in a straight line which allows pain free motion in your spine. This also allows the tisues (muscles and ligaments) which surround the spine to work correctly.
	This misalignment is a subluxation. Which causes abnormal stress on pain sensitive joints in the spine. It also causes unnatural stress in the muscles, ligaments, and nerves around the spine.
	Notice the irritated nerve on the left. Subluxation causes decreased nerve flow which may cause pain, general fatigue, or even disease! Along with nerves being effected, many muscles are attached throughout the spine that can become spastic and knotted up causing pain and discomfort.

      Subluxations rob you of health and create disease.
      The adjustment restores health and promotes life.
      The adjustments are painless.

Does chiropractic hurt?
Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. With some methods, a small percentage of patients may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds.

What kind of education and training do doctors of chiropractic have?
Chiropractors receive an education that emphasizes neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies, practice, diagnosis and applications); and extensive clinical training.