I Want to be Your PCP . . . For Your Spine and Joints

The word chiropractic comes from two words, “chiro” means hands and “practic” is from the same root word as our modern word “to practice.”  So, in short, a chiropractor primarily uses his or her hands as their main treatment “instruments.”

While your primary care physician’s chief focus is on your biochemistry, your chiropractic physician’s primary focus is on your biomechanics, that is, your frame and movement.

Chiropractors work on your spine and joints.  Because the spine is made up of 24 separate bones with very intricate joints, it gets most of the attention in a chiropractic office.  Furthermore, the spinal column contains your spinal cord, which keeps your brain in constant contact with the rest of your body.  When the spinal joints fail to work properly, it can create a long list of problems.  The chiropractor also diagnoses and treats problems with the feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, ribs, elbows, wrists, and fingers.

The chiropractor can detect deficiencies in the position and function of the spine and joints and make corrections to these movement patterns through a series of “adjustments.”

Some spine and joint problems require other interventions.  Your chiropractor will know exactly who to refer you to for the help you need, just as your primary care physician may refer you to a dermatologist for a suspicious-looking mold on your skin.

Think of the chiropractor as a PCP for your spine and joints!