Chiropractic is based on the fact that the body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. For example, if you cut yourself your body has the inborn capacity to heal.
When any demand is put on your body, your nervous system interprets and coordinates an appropriate response to adapt to the demand.
Regardless of what the demand might be (to heal an infection or injury, adapt to stress, digest food) the body always depends on the nervous system interpreting and coordinate the response.
Out of position or locked up joints in the spine can lead to interference to the nervous system – and since the brain controls and coordinates all functions in the body through the nervous system, spinal dysfunction can have wide-ranging negative effects on your health.
Dr
Seth Sharpless at the University of Colorado demonstrated that the weight of a 5-cent piece on a nerve can decrease that nerve impulse by as much as 60%. Imagine how unhealthy your body would be with various organs, tissues or glands functioning at only 40%!
- (Reference: Sharpless SK: “Susceptibility of spinal roots to compression block.” The Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy. NINCDS monograph 15, DHEW publication (NIH) 76-998:155,1975).
A chiropractic adjustment is a very specific force applied to a joint that is fixated (‘locked up’) to restore normal motion and spinal function. A better functioning spine means less interference to the nervous system, hence improved bodily function.