A Clear Nervous System
Above all things, Dr Jennifer considers the health of the nervous system paramount. Having been exposed to chiropractic literally since the day she was born, Dr Jennifer feels incredibly blessed that her life’s journey has been entwined with such a remarkable profession. For many years she has witnessed the impact that this style of healthcare has had on countless families. Chiropractic offers a distinct, drug-free approach to health that promotes natural function and potential. Chiropractor doctors adjust subluxations (joint and nerve dysfunction) in order to free the body’s innate intelligence of interference, and to restore and maximise health.1 CHIROPRACTIC TODAYThe perception of chiropractic has shifted dramatically over the last few decades. The shift in awareness has been due to the advanced educational standards of chiropractors today, the expanding body of research supporting the efficacy and safety of chiropractic, and the high public demand for chiropractic care. BIRTH CAN BE A SPRAIN IN THE NECK!Trauma from the birth process remains an under-publicised and therefore significantly under-treated problem, and parents often query why a newborn baby should be checked by a chiropractor at all. Dr Jennifer encourages parents to investigate birth trauma. She also recommends that babies should have their spine and nervous system assessed as soon as possible after birth to determine if a newborn is experiencing nerve distress. Spine and nerve distress can arise from constraint or abnormal positioning in the uterus, from the journey through the birth canal, or during the delivery process itself2 which may effect a newborns digestion and their capacity to breast feed and sleep well.3 Chiropractic adjustments for adults differ significantly from those performed on newborns. Infant adjustments are very gentle, and typically a baby will be soothed by these techniques. An incredible 65% of neurological development (development of the brain and nervous system) occurs in a child’s first year of life. It is therefore imperative to ensure that infants have every opportunity to maximise their nerve function during this critical period.4 CHIROPRACTIC AND CHILDREN
Even children who have no obvious symptoms may be experiencing nerve dysfunction. Just as a tooth cavity may have no symptoms, the same principle applies for a vertebral subluxation. One study5 examined a group of apparently healthy children and found that:
A child may not be sick, but their spine may be developing with vertebral subluxations. Left unresolved, these subluxations can place stress on the communication systems of the body, in particular the nervous and immune systems.6 Regular chiropractic checkups may help to protect children against illness or allergies. Chiropractic adjustments help to optimise an individual’s genetic capacity for health and happiness.7
The following extracts are taken from the Chiropractor's Association (Australia) website (www.chiropractors.asn.au). For information regarding other Allied Health Professions please see Wellness-Oriented Practitioners. CHIROPRACTIC Chiropractic is a health care discipline based on the scientific premise that the body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "done by hand". The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine, and pelvis) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the intricate communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If these nervous system pathways are impaired, malfunction of the tissue and organ function throughout the body can result. Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutrition and exercise, wellness* and healthy lifestyle modifications. *The CAA uses the following definition of wellness: How Does Chiropractic Work? Chiropractic is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system. Chiropractic works by helping to restore your own inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissue, and organs of your body are designed to function well and resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help reduce interferences to your natural state of being healthy. A common interference to the nervous system is the twenty four moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses. Chiropractors aim to improve nervous system function primarily through chiropractic adjustments (with particular attention to the spine, skull and pelvis), to help remove any interference that may be impairing normal health. OTHER PAGES IN THIS SECTION:
1. Association of Chiropractic Colleges – Position Paper No 1 JMPT 1996;19:634-7 2. i. Fallon J DC. Chiropractic and Pregnancy. New York: New Rochelle; 1998.103-120 3. i.Gotlib AC, Beingessner M. Annotated bibliography of the biomedical literature pertaining to chiropractic pediatrics and manipulation in relation to the treatment of health conditions. J Can Chiropr Assoc 1995;39:154 - 71. 4. Noebels J. Introduction to structure-function relationships in the developing brain. In: Kellaway P, Noebels J, editors. Problems and concepts in developmental neurophysiology. Baltimore Johns Hopkins Univ Press; 1989. p. 151 - 60.1947 5. Anderson -Peacock E,S., 1996. Chiropractic adjustment for children. Can Chiropractor 1(2), 21-26 6. Association of Chiropractic Colleges - Position Paper No 1 JMPT 1996;19:634-7 7. Campbell. Kent C. Pero. et al. Surrogate Indication of DNA Repair in Serum After Long Term Chiropractic Intervention - A Retrospective Study. JVSR. 2005:1-5
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