Chiropractic Medicine

What is Chiropractic Medicine?

According to Alaska State law the practice of chiropractic

•  Addresses ramifications of health and disease with a special emphasis on biomechanical analysis, interpretation, and treatment of the structural and functional integrity of skeletal joint structures, and the physiological efficiency of the nervous system as these matters relate to subluxation complex; and
• Involves the diagnosis, analysis, or formulation of a chiropractic diagnostic impression regarding the chiropractic conditions of the patient to determine the appropriate method of chiropractic treatment.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning. Although practitioners may use a variety of treatment approaches, they primarily perform adjustments (manipulations) to the spine or other parts of the body with the goal of correcting alignment problems, alleviating pain, improving function, and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

What is an Adjustment?

A “chiropractic adjustment” means the application of a precisely controlled force applied by hand or by mechanical device to a specific focal point of the anatomy for the express purpose of creating a desired angular movement in skeletal joint structures in order to eliminate or decrease interference with neural transmission and correct or attempt to correct subluxation complex; “chiropractic adjustment” utilizes, as appropriate, short lever force, high-velocity force, short amplitude force, or specific line-of-correction force to achieve the desired angular movement, as well as low force neuro-muscular, neuro-vascular, neuro-cranial, or neuro-lymphatic reflex technique procedures.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, a chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of chiropractic adjustment, also known as spinal manipulation, is to correct structural alignment and improve your body’s physical function.

What is the Purpose of a Chiropractic Adjustment?

The object of a chiropractic adjustment is to reduce the subluxation(s) or misalignment(s), with the goals of increasing range of motion, reducing nerve irritability, and improving overall nervous system function.

Who Can We Help?

Chiropractic medicine can help with the following conditions:

In addition to all of these conditions, chiropractic medicine has been shown to improve pregnancy and nursing issues, improve athletic performance, and enable more restful sleep.