I am lucky enough to be a second generation chiropractor, as my dad and two uncles are chiropractors. It has been a lot of fun to watch the profession progress over the last 30 plus years. From the very beginning of chiropractic we have known it works, all you have to look at to see this is the results we get. The question that has been asked many times is “why”? In the last 15 to 20 we have begun to find the answer to the why. The answer comes in the form of research on the nervous system. Through this research we have developed a beautiful picture of why chiropractic helps us get out of pain.
When I ask some one what they think of when the think of a chiropractor the answer is usually the same. “Bone doc’s”, “bone crunchers” and many other fun names. In all reality this is fairly far from the truth. “Doctors of the nervous system” would be a more accurate representation of what it is chiropractors are. How is this you ask? Well to answer that question I will need to dive a little deep into some neurology, but I promise to bring it back around for every one.
When a part of the body becomes stuck such as your neck, or back, or even your elbow it creates a chain of events that leads to pain. This “joint fixation” or area that is stuck, will decrease the rate of firing of the joint mechanoreceptor in turn decreasing the rate of firing of the large diameter 1A fibers of the nerve. This decrease of the rate of firing decreases the inhibition of C fibers, or the pain fibers of the nerve which will increase activity of these C fibers. This process leads to an increase in pain.
As a chiropractor I daily work on INCREASING the frequency of firing of the joint mechanoreceptors, increasing firing of the 1A fibers, which inhibits transmission to the C fibers all leading to a decrease in pain! Clear as mud right?
OK lets bring it out of Neurology 101 and back to the pain you have in your neck. Many times that pain is due to the joints not works properly which irritates the pain nerves. As a chiropractor I work on getting the joints of the neck working right which takes the irritation away from the nerves.
Now you know the reason that chiropractic is so powerful is because it works on the nervous system.
You must be logged in to post a comment.