Chiropractic champions the idea of a holistic approach to health and illness, recognizing the body's inherent ability to heal itself during times of physical injury, mental/emotional or environmental stress. Through painless adjustments of the spine and joints, chiropractors can influence the nervous system and natural defense mechanisms in order to alleviate pain and improve general health. The reason that the proper alignment of the spinal column is essential is because the spinal column acts as a "switchboard" for the nervous system. When there is nerve interference caused by misalignments in the spine, known as subluxations, pain can occur and body's defenses can be diminished. By removing subluxations, normal nerve function can be restored. Both infants children and adults can benefit from ongoing chiropractic care. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy.
What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations.