Chiropratic and Chiropractors

What does a chiropractor do?

Chiropractors can treat and even potentially help prevent a wide varieties of conditions related to the neuro-musculo-skeletal system, which include but is not limited to:

• • Low back pain, sciatica
    
  • Headaches, migrains
    
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder/elbow/ wrist pains
  • Hip/ knee/ ankle/ foot pains… and the list goes on!

So a chiropractor addresses conditions related to the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. But what does that actually mean?

Let’s break this word down to understand it better:

• • Neuro: for the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves…)
  • Musculo: for the tissues ( muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments…)
  • Skeletal: for all the joints in the body (spine, hips, shoulders, knees…)

So a chiropractor can assess, diagnose, treat, and help prevent conditions that are related to the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. This means chiropractors have a global approach of the human body and of its health.

How is this possible?

The nervous system is in constant communication with the rest of the body, including all the joints and tissues its made of. Chiropractors act on these joints and tissues to help restore optimal function and support the nervous system.

It is important to point out that symptoms/ pains perceived by patients do not necessarily correlate with where the cause of those symptoms actually is. For example, pain felt in the hip could actually come from a dysfunction in the low back. Again this is only one example among many other possibilities.

Chiropractors can treat and even potentially help prevent a wide varieties of conditions related to the neuro-musculo-

skeletal system, which include but is not limited to:

• • Low back pain
  • Hip pain
  • Headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Knee pain
  • Foot/ ankle pain

  • … and the list goes on!

The most common approach used by chiropractors to address some of these complaints is called a chiropractic adjustment.

An adjustment is performed when a joint is restricted and no longer has access to its full rang of motion. This does not mean that the joint is “out of place”. It simply means it is not able to use the whole range of motion that would normally be available to it. This can affect the nervous system, especially if the restrictions or fixations are located in the spine.

Chiropractors perform adjustments to clear out any fixations or restrictions in any joints of the body, most commonly in the spine, to help restore optimal function and support the nervous system. 

Dr. Margot Monmousseau

Doctor of Chiropractic

Palmer College of Chiropractic West (U.S.A.)