Chiropractor Yakima and West Valley WA

What is Chiropractic in General?

Chiropractic is a profession within the health care field that deals with the neuro-musculoskeletal system of the human body. A doctor of chiropractic will diagnose, treat and prevent injuries and disorders of the nerves, muscles and bones. While a chiropractor will diagnose and treat these resultant injuries and disorders, the main objective of the chiropractor is the removal of nerve interference allowing the body to heal itself without invasive procedures and/or drugs. As would be the case with any other field of care, our patients at Yakima West Valley Chiropractic Centres receive a thorough consultation including history and examination of their major complaint. After considering possible causes of the patients’ condition a diagnosis is established and a treatment plan is created. Should a patient require treatment outside the scope of chiropractic care they are referred to the appropriate medical specialist in our area. As the science of chiropractic has evolved so have the techniques used within its practice. Common treatment methods have grown to include nutritional counseling, orthotics, lifestyle modification / exercise programs and physical rehabilitation programs. While these adjunctive treatments are certainly beneficial, spinal and joint manipulation remains the primary and most effective mode of treatment by our clinic. Statistics reflect that nearly 95% of patients that seek chiropractic care in Yakima do so as a result of musculoskeletal pain such as:

• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Back pain
• Extremity pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Strain/sprain injuries

Conditions caused by spinal dysfunction accounts for the remaining 5% of chiropractic patients. These conditions are those manifesting through the nervous system, such as:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Colic
• Constipation and other digestive dysfunctions, etc …

Chiropractic care is not a guaranteed miracle treatment. However, it is not uncommon for patients to report an improvement in the conditions listed above after receiving chiropractic treatment. The majority of people in Yakima understand that chiropractic treatment is beneficial for back and neck pain, headaches and sprain/strain injuries. However, very few people including those in the medical community, truly understand the affect adjustments have on the central nervous system. In particular, the affect adjustments have on the autonomic nervous system and its sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Chiropractic – Scientifically Explained

If you are looking for a scientific explanation of how chiropractor works this paragraph is for you. A concise scientific explanation of chiropractic is that adjustments directly affect musculoskeletal structures, by reducing pain and increasing joint motion. Musculoskeletal structures include ligaments, muscles, joints, joint capsules and surrounding myofascial tissues. Aside from this direct benefit, the autonomic nervous system is indirectly effected by the down regulation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight system), and promotion of the para-sympathetic nervous system (rest and repair system). This is done through the effects the chiropractic adjustments have on the joint capsules, and the body’s proprioception mechanism (sense of where one is space) through the mechanoreceptors (provide information regarding mechanical changes within the body) in the joints and periarticular tissues (tissue surrounding the joint). That’s a lot to take in, but it is the explanation as to why some chiropractic patients report improvement in organic function, not only musculoskeletal benefits. To reiterate, this is not a claim that chiropractic adjustments treat systemic pathology, but does suggest that some who have systemic symptoms may see results from chiropractic care even without the presence of pain.

Health Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Those that have been dealing with chronic pain or have been injured are not the only individuals who should seek chiropractic care in Yakima. The benefits of chiropractic care can be realized for many people with any variety of health conditions. Even those relatively “healthy” individuals with few, if any, health conditions can see the benefits of chiropractic maintenance care. The impact of life’s daily grind adds up stressing the human body in far greater ways than you might realize. Regular chiropractic adjustments can restore and maintain balance within, allowing the innately intelligent human body to heal itself, leaving you better prepared to live life to its fullest. Regardless of one’s walk in life, anyone can benefit greatly from regular chiropractic care. Routine chiropractic treatments will help maintain the body at the high level of activity life calls for, allowing the body to self-heal through proper alignment. Your spinal column serves as a conduit through which the human brain sends messages through and out to the body’s nervous system. It is simple to see how protecting the integrity of this important structure, through regular visits to Yakima West Valley Chiropractic Centres is vital to the body’s optimal function and overall health.