Time For An Adjustment?

Defining Key Element of Chiropractic Care

It is, by general definition, “a control for regulating.” It has been defined as “an adaptation to a particular condition.” In a medical terminology it has been described as “repositioning misaligned vertebrae and other joints.” Among its synonyms are “modification,” “alteration” and “adaptation.”

We’re talking, of course, about the word “adjustment,” which in the field of chiropractic care is the centerpiece of the treatment offered there. However, it is not the only kind of treatment in multidisciplinary specialties like those provided by Oakland Spine & Physical Therapy, which also includes the complementary discipline of physical therapy.

That’s why many chiropractors talk about treatments instead of adjustments, perhaps to avoid confusion among a population which, for generations, has been indoctrinated with traditional medical terminology. In most hospitals the word “adjustment” would more likely be used in a patient’s billing.

Chiropractors may also use the term “mechanical treatments,” which may sound impersonal, but they are essentially talking about adjustments and, by extension, treatments.  You may also see the terms manual, spinal or chiropractic manipulation. Manipulation, generally speaking, is not always a positive thing, but it is the heart of chiropractic care, and truly positive when it comes to relieving back and neck pain.  

“Mechanical treatments like chiropractic care, physical therapy and others stimulate the body to initiate the repair process while recovering the original condition prior to the cause of the pain,” is the mantra of Dr. Brad Butler, Oakland Spine’s Chief of Staff, “and not just the effects of the condition.”

Remember that we are talking about a drug-free, nonsurgical path toward relieving pain that can become debilitating and eventually lead to surgery and a daily diet of pain medication. Adjustments are holistic and a natural healing approach, just as the body and its immune system tend to adjust toward self-healing under optimal conditions. Unfortunately, few of us live under such conditions and our ills and ailments are often self-inflicted by our unhealthy diets, lifestyles and reliance on quick-fix over-the-counter drugs.

Chiropractic care and its mechanical treatments are defined thusly by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges:

….a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, doctors of chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.

—Call us today at (201) 651-9100 for an appointment at Oakland Spine & Physical Therapy…