Why Choose Chiropractic
McRee Chiropractic
1820 South Cooper
Arlington, Texas
ph: 817-773-6010
Peter McRee, D.C., Chiropractor
Many people ask the question "How does Chiropractic work?", or "Why do I get adjusted all over when I go to see my chiropractor?" . Well, the simple answer is, your Chiropractor is interested in the spine and associated whole body symptoms. This newsletter will, hopefully, help explain the Chiropractic Philosophy and our main reasons for adjusting the entire spine.
We all know that life begins at conception when two potential life forming structures meet. Once these two primitive structures co-join, they undergo many cellular divisions to form the human embryo. The first structure to form is the brain which orchestrates the rest of the processes. The next to be formed is the notochord and neural tube which soon become the spinal chord and the spine, the body's link to the brain.
As the body develops, other structures become the arms, hands, legs, feet and other organs; each connected to a level of the spinal chord. From these first beginnings, we are destined to be monitored, controlled and under the influence of the brain, spinal chord and nervous system.
For example, the tissue which makes up the lungs and diaphragm start out as the fourth and fifth gill slits within the neck region. They migrate downward to their positions in the chest cavity pulling the muscle and nerves with them as they proceed. This, however, is only part of the story. To assist the lungs in the respiration process, we also rely on the muscles of the chest. These muscles pull the wall of the chest upward and outward to allow adequate volume for the lungs to expand. The associated muscle and ribs develop form the spinal chord at the chest level during the forming stages. This means that the process of breathing is a concerted, brain-monitored, effort from multiple levels of the spine.
For this reason, chiropractors not only treat the neck of the patient having difficulty breathing, but also the thoracic regions. By doing this, we remove the pressure on the nerve which may be irritating the nerve root.
Where does this pressure come from? Local causes of pressure may be caused by the tightening of muscles of a strained neck or spine. The back muscles may be affected by a strain to the muscles of the arm. Any type of swelling of a bruise or strain may exert pressure on a nerve. Some researchers now tell us that, pressure can be greater if the patient has high blood pressure. So the causes are many.
Pressure on the nerve roots causes a reduction in the speed axonal flow. This is the process by which the nerve itself is fed. If this pressure is too great it can completely stop this axonal flow and the nerve withers and dies.
Now you may be wondering how much pressure does it take to slow down axonal flow. Research studies have shown that as little as 30-50 mm mercury (about the weight of a quarter) can slow the flow as much as fifty percent.
As the nutrition to the nerve slows, the nerve becomes malnourished. As the nerve itself begins to suffer, the structure which it supplies will also feel the effects and atrophy. Any structure which is not used will become smaller and non-functional. An example, have you ever seen someone who had a cast on an arm and noticed the arm after the cast was removed? It is thinner and weaker than the un-casted arm. The muscles in the casted arm became atrophied (wasted) from lack of use. In much the same way, the nerve to the brain or end organ will deteriorates if an under-nourished nerve is left untreated.
We as chiropractors are trained to look for the differences in the spine and the vertebrae, and to adjust the spine to free up any restrictions in the flow of nutrition to the nerve.
With all of this being said, it only makes sense to have regular
Chiropractic treatments, ensuring your nerves are being maintained
at their peak performance. These treatments not only help the body
function better (our purpose), but to make you -the patient- feel
better (your concern).
"And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8.28
