So how do I do all of this?  If you’ll excuse me for giving a “Chiropractic 101” type of a short lesson, here is a pretty simple and straightforward explanation:

An adult spine is composed of 24 bones called vertebrae.  Each vertebra has a hole in its center from top to bottom, and the vertebrae are stacked one on top of another.  Like a column of doughnuts, they form a tunnel for the spinal cord.

The vertebrae are held in place by an arrangement of ligaments (connective tissue).  A system of muscles attached to the vertebrae can rotate the spine and bend it forward, and sideways, allowing for a great range of spinal movement while at the same time the vertebrae protect the delicate spinal cord and nerves.

The spinal cord – slightly thicker than a pencil – is suspended from the brain and extends downward through the tunnel formed by the vertebrae.  The somewhat smaller major nerve trunks lead from the spinal cord through channels formed by notches in adjacent vertebrae.  These notches are called foramen. 

When these notches are correctly aligned, the nerves leading through them can function properly.  If the notches become even slightly misaligned, the channel becomes distorted and the major nerve trucks passing through the channel can become stretched, impinged, entrapped, compressed, pinched or otherwise irritated.

And guess what?  Regardless of the cause, these types of irritations of the nerve truck can affect and alter the proper function, sensitivity or conductivity of the nerve and thereby create dysfunction and lowered resistance to infection and disease in the areas or systems of the body served directly or indirectly by that nerve complex.

You see, when the natural flow of nerve impulses to parts of the body become blocked or are interfered with, serious and debilitating illness and health disorder can result. Chiropractic care removes this interference and restores normal nerve flow with gentle spinal adjustments.