Definition of Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a form of medicine in which spinal manipulation is employed as the primary means of treating disease. The term chiropractic is derived from the Greek words cheir, meaning "hand," and praktikos, meaning "effective." Practitioners of this drugless therapy hold that the nervous system integrates all of the body's functions, including its defenses against disease, and that when the nervous system is impaired in any way -as by pressure on a nerve- it cannot perform properly, resulting in aches, pains, reduced disease resistance, and other disorders.

The core of the nervous system is the spinal cord, which runs inside the 24 movable vertebrae of the backbone. Between these vertebrae are small openings through which nerves branch out to every part of the body. Chiropractors contend that even a slight subluxation, or displacement, of the vertebrae can cause mechanical interference with the spinal cord and nerves. Chiropractic treatment, therefore, is frequently aimed at eliminating such interference by adjusting the misplaced vertebrae, after which, practitioners maintain, the body itself can remedy the ailment. Although most adjustments are made in or near the spine, where misalignments and dislocations are more likely to occur, treatment may extend to the pelvis or any area where manipulation of bones, muscles, and other tissues will remove the perceived nerve interference.

Chiropractors claim notable success in treating many disorders, including lumbago, slipped disk, arthritis, hay fever, and high blood pressure. Leading practitioners contend that, contrary to popular belief, reliable chiropractors do not claim to cure diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or blood disorders, nor do they perform surgery or intrude into areas outside their province of training, such as drug prescription.