by Dr. Melissa Stangl, Gonstead, Stangl and Arkowski Chiropractics
How Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Work? Many things occur simultaneously that provide us with the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment. Here are four known effects that begin to explain how chiropractic works.
1. Spinal manipulation removes nerve interference. Your nervous system is the control center of your body, coordinating each and every action and function. Nerves do not function well under pressure. The subluxation can put pressure on or irritate a nerve and cause inflammation. These will interfere with proper nerve communication. Reducing the subluxation with an adjustment can relieve nerve irritation and improve coordination and function.
2. Spinal manipulation provides nerve-to-muscle education. When a joint becomes subluxated, it forgets its normal motion and needs to be retrained. During a chiropractic adjustment, the joint goes through its full range of motion and the brain records and stores that nerve signal. When the body has gone through the motion enough times, it remembers it and makes functional corrections that provide pain relief and improve joint function.
3. Spinal manipulation provides nourishment. Structures within the joint often have limited indirect blood supply. These structures are nourished through movement. If a joint gets locked down for a period of time, it doesn’t receive adequate nutrition. The motion that occurs during an adjustment provides fresh nutrients to all parts of the joint, increasing joint longevity and improving joint function.
4. Spinal manipulation stimulates endorphin release. An endorphin is a substance in the body that blocks pain. The endorphin release that results from an adjustment creates a near instant but temporary chemical relief that can allow prolonged relaxation of local tissues and tight muscles interfering with nerves and causing pain.
With these and many other benefits of the chiropractic adjustment it’s obvious why 20 million Americans seek chiropractic treatment each year and 9 out of 10 chiropractic users feel their treatment is effective; chiropractic works!