Our moms always told us not to crack our knuckles because it would cause arthritis. Well, that was just a creative way of them not having to hear the kids cracking their knuckles all the time. In fact, the opposite is actually true as far as joint health is concerned. A healthy joint should have movement in it. Lack of movement in a joint can lead to scar tissue and calcium build up which can cause osteoarthritis. Our spine is made up of many vertebrae which help protect our spinal cord. We have 7 vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine), 12 vertebrae in the upper back (thoracic spine), and 5 vertebrae in the low back (lumbar spine) . The joints that connect these vertebrae (facet/zygapophysial joints) are what allow our spine to move and twist. Sometimes, through injury, repetitive movement, bad posture, or general daily activities, a vertebrae can become stuck out of the normal position (known as a subluxation). Most of the time, this causes no pain or symptoms. However, it can cause a pinched nerve, muscle tightness, scar tissue, calcification, and can put pressure on the intervertebral disc. Therefore, by helping to correct the positioning of the vertebrae, it can help reduce the symptoms by addressing the problem...
Welcome to a chiropractic manipulation. You may also have heard it called a chiropractic adjustment or "crack". After finding the "subluxations" in your spine, a chiropractor then uses a gentle hands-on approach to help reposition the vertebrae and take pressure off of the surrounding nerves and soft tissue. Yes, it does make a "cracking" noise, but that is just gas bubbles being released from the normal fluid that allows your joints to move. Someone with arthritis in the spine usually doesn't get that "cracking" sound because the fluid and mobility in the joint has been lost. Keeping the joints healthy and mobile is very important to keeping your entire spine and you healthy!
BTW, feel free to continue to use the cracking the knuckles story with your kids, but just as cracking your knuckles is safe, so is chiropractic care for you and your kids!!
Here is a good link to let you get a good visual of the anatomy and function of the spine...http://images.chiromatrixbase.com/3d_spine_simulator/nerve_chart/index.htm.
As always, I love to read comments, so please feel free to leave a comment, question, topic for another discussion, chiropractic experience, or just to say hello!
Happy Weekend!
Live well.
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2 comments:
since we do not live by you how do we find a GOOD chiropractor that is trustworthy? What do we look for in one?
Finding a good chiropractor is like finding any other doctor, dentist, or a professional in any industry. It can be a hard process because you want to find someone you trust and makes you feel comfortable. There are obviously the different ways to search through the internet, phonebook, mailings, and other marketing strategies. However, I think the best way to find a good chiropractor or any other professional for that matter is through someone else you trust. Word of mouth is a great search engine!! Just start asking friends, family, neighbors, etc. in the area and find out where they go. If you trust their opinions, you will usually be happy with their referrals. Then when you go for your first office visit, as with anything else, you will know in the first visit if you have a good connection with the chiropractor. If you don't feel comfortable, then try someone else. Don't feel like you need to stay with that doc. There are lots of different office and treatment styles, so don't give up, just find who is best for you!
I am biased to acupuncture, but I really do think that acupuncture and nutrition along with chiropractic treatment allow us to treat the person and not just the symptom. So I would try to find a chiropractor that does acupuncture as well. You can do this simply by calling the office and asking.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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