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Ventura Chiropractic &
Massage
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Ventura Chiropractic &
Massage
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Chiropractic The word "chiropractic" is derived from the Greek words "cheir" and "praktkos" meaning "done by hand". Like the word pharmaceutical, it is used both as an adjective (e.g. chiropractic profession) and as a noun (e.g. as in the definition above). Contents: What is Chiropractic? The practice and procedures which may be employed by Doctors of Chiropractic are based on the academic and clinical training received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges and include, but are not limited to, the use of current diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Such procedures specifically include the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the human body, particularly of the spinal column. Included is the treatment of intersegmental aberrations for alleviation of related functional disorders. Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and, as such, does not include pharmaceuticals or incisive surgery. Due regard shall be given to the fact that state laws, as well as the nation’s antitrust laws, may allow Doctors of Chiropractic to utilize ancillary health care procedures commonly referred to as being in the common domain.
What is a Doctor of Chiropractic? (DC) Chiropractors are expert providers of spinal and other therapeutic manipulation/adjustments. They also utilize a variety of manual, mechanical and electrical therapeutic modalities. Chiropractors also provide patient evaluation and instructions regarding disease prevention and health promotion through proper nutrition, exercise and lifestyle modification among others. (The preceding 6 paragraphs are taken directly from the web site of the American Chiropractic Association www.amerchiro.org )
History & Evolution of Chiropractic Dr. Palmer’s first chiropractic patient was Harvey Lillard. Mr. Lillard suffered from an acquired deafness which had occurred following trauma to the upper back, and that Dr. Palmer felt was attributable to vertebral subluxation in Lillard’s upper thoracic spine. Dr. Palmer’s treatment of this lesion by manual adjustment (now often called manipulation) of the involved spinal segment resulted in the restoration (or marked improvement) of Mr. Lillard’s hearing. Palmer School of Chiropractic was founded in 1897 in Davenport, Iowa. By 1998 there were 65,000 chiropractors practicing in the US. In 1999 there were 31 chiropractic colleges worldwide. The Vertebral Subluxation The question of whether a subluxation is primarily a lesion of position or of motion is easily answered and explained to the public or to healthcare professionals as follows: the inherent functional capacity of vertebrae is such that they are able to flex, extend, laterally bend, and rotate in relation to the vertebrae above and below them. Therefore, a vertebra has no single place, nor spatial relationship with its adjacent vertebrae, to which it can be returned through spinal adjustment or any other means. It has an infinite number of possible positions/spatial relationships between itself and the adjacent segment. Additionally, the functional state of a vertebral motor unit (two adjacent vertebrae and their contiguous and functionally associated tissues) includes free movement between the two segments. In a state of free, adaptive movement, each vertebra would have the ability to find a dynamic balance and functional relationship to its neighbor. This balance has historically been inappropriately referred to, and confused with "alignment". If it is believed that spinal dysfunction is due primarily to bones of the spine being "out of place", and needing to be aligned, then patients find themselves in the predicament of having only one remedy for their condition; alignment of the spine by a DC or other spinal manipulator. If, on the other hand, it is understood that the central functional loss of spinal dysfunction is that of mobility, then, patients can, with their doctor’s assistance, consider the likely causes and restore mobility through spinal adjustment, elimination of offending foods, flexibility exercises, increased physical activity, nutritional supplementation, dealing with emotional issues, etc... As evidence grew that the tissues (connective, muscle, nerve, lymph, vascular) of the vertebral motor unit were all involved in the lesion, the term "subluxation complex" was added to the lexicon of the chiropractic profession to denote the broader understanding of the anatomical and physiologic scope of the lesion. With improved understanding of the lesion itself, greater attention began to be directed toward the causes of subluxations. Historically, subluxations were treated primarily as the result of physical displacement of vertebrae. It is now understood that the causes of subluxations include, but are not limited to, physical trauma, food allergies and intolerances, physical inactivity, environmental toxicity, emotional stress, nutrient insufficiencies, and disease or imbalance in specific organs.
Effects of the Vertebral Subluxation Recommended reading: How to Select a Chiropractor for Yourself and Your Family Personal referral is the best way to select a doctor of chiropractic (or any professional for that matter). Try these steps:
Questions that have come up historically have to do with when is x-ray necessary, and how often should a chiropractic patient be treated. Keep these in mind. A great doctor of chiropractic is incredibly valuable to an individual who wants to feel great, and who wants to live a healthy life. Take the time to find a great chiropractor! (July 3, 2025)
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