Why everybody needs to have a chiropractor

Most people don’t have a clue what chiropractic is and what a chiropractor does. I usually hear things along the lines of ‘some sort of massage’, or ‘something with ‘cracking bones’.

Let’s start with the basics to help you understand how chiropractic works. You will probably agree with me that the most important part of your body is your brain. It controls literally everything – every organ, every tissue, and every single cell in your body. Your spinal cord is the main pathway that connects your brain to the nerves in the rest of your body, and it is located inside your spine. Important nerves pass from the spinal cord between the spinal bones and travel to other parts of your body, including all your organs.

Things in your everyday life (poor posture, accidents or falls, prolonged sitting, stress) can influence your spine and cause what chiropractors call ‘subluxations’. Subluxations are joints in your spine that don’t function the way they should and interfere with the signals your nervous system sends between your brain and the rest of your body.

Because of their influence on the nervous system, subluxations affect the normal regeneration and healing processes in your body. If they aren’t addressed, they could lead to spinal degeneration, pain and other health problems. A chiropractor adjusts subluxations in your spine with specific and gentle techniques so that your nervous system can work without interference and your body can heal itself. This has nothing to do with cracking bones, although you can hear a popping sound during a spinal adjustment. This sound comes from a bubble that forms in the joint.

Chiropractic can help people with various problems, the most well known ones being back pain, neck pain and headaches. Chiropractors don’t ‘treat’ or ‘cure’ your symptoms and pain though – we focus on improving spinal and nervous system function so that your body can do the healing. As a result your pain will often improve or disappear.

Even if you don’t have any pain it’s important to get checked by a chiropractor regularly, the same way you go to your dentist for check-ups. Subluxations can be building up without you knowing about it. Pain and symptoms are usually late signs that your body hasn’t been functioning properly for a long time, and can be prevented. Don’t wait until problems show up! It is easier to stay well than it is to get well.

Do you think chiropractic is something for you, and are you looking for a chiropractor in Amsterdam? Click here to make an appointment.