ChiropracticChiropractic The Future of Healthcare The Future of Healthcare

Nicole K. AndradeNicole K. Andrade

B.A. Biology, Hartwick College B.A. Biology, Hartwick College 19961996

7th Trimester Student7th Trimester Student

New York Chiropractic CollegeNew York Chiropractic College

““The doctor of the future will give The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” - and prevention of disease.” - Thomas A. EdisonThomas A. Edison

CHIROPRACTICCHIROPRACTIC

Is a natural, drug free form of Is a natural, drug free form of healthcare healthcare

Chiropractic doctors find and correct Chiropractic doctors find and correct nervous system interferencenervous system interference

NS interference is a major obstacle to NS interference is a major obstacle to the body’s natural homeostatic the body’s natural homeostatic mechanismsmechanisms

Homeostatic BalanceHomeostatic Balance

The body has the The body has the innate ability to innate ability to adapt to its adapt to its environment environment appropriately and appropriately and function optimally function optimally

Mechanical Chemical

Psychological

Imbalance or “Dis-ease”Imbalance or “Dis-ease”

The body is The body is overwhelmed by overwhelmed by some external some external stress that it cannot stress that it cannot adapt to efficientlyadapt to efficiently

Leads to imbalance, Leads to imbalance, “dis-ease” and “dis-ease” and “subluxation”“subluxation”

Cycle will Cycle will propagatepropagate

MechanicalChemical

Psychological

Important Definitions in Important Definitions in ChiropracticChiropractic

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System The SubluxationThe Subluxation The AdjustmentThe Adjustment

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System

““The nervous system controls and The nervous system controls and coordinates every cell, tissue and coordinates every cell, tissue and organ in the body.” -organ in the body.” - Gray’s Gray’s AnatomyAnatomy

Center of thought, memory, Center of thought, memory, learning, attention and learning, attention and consciousnessconsciousness

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System

Controls:Controls:– muscle tension and contractionmuscle tension and contraction– blood vessel diameterblood vessel diameter– organ and glandular functionorgan and glandular function– spatial/proprioceptive relationships spatial/proprioceptive relationships

with environmentwith environment– pain, touch, temperature and vibrationpain, touch, temperature and vibration– hearing, taste and smellhearing, taste and smell

End Organ Nerve SupplyEnd Organ Nerve Supply All organs and All organs and

glands in the body glands in the body are controlled by are controlled by the Nervous Systemthe Nervous System

It makes sense that It makes sense that if the NS is sending if the NS is sending or receiving mixed or receiving mixed signals, then signals, then normal function is normal function is lostlost

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System

Disturbances in the nervous system Disturbances in the nervous system may cause or aggravate disease may cause or aggravate disease processes in various parts or processes in various parts or functions of the bodyfunctions of the body

Disturbances of the nervous system Disturbances of the nervous system may be caused by derangements of may be caused by derangements of the musculoskeletal system the musculoskeletal system

Manifest as “subluxations”Manifest as “subluxations”

SUBLUXATIONSSUBLUXATIONS

Minor deviations from normal joint Minor deviations from normal joint alignment and/or joint mechanics alignment and/or joint mechanics of the spinal vertebrae or other of the spinal vertebrae or other skeletal bonesskeletal bones

Lead to abnormal biomechanical Lead to abnormal biomechanical and biochemical stress on the and biochemical stress on the bodybody

Can disrupt the nervous systemCan disrupt the nervous system

SUBLUXATIONSSUBLUXATIONS

Caused by any stress that the Caused by any stress that the body’s innate ability for healing body’s innate ability for healing cannot compensate forcannot compensate for– Mechanical/Structural StressMechanical/Structural Stress– Chemical StressChemical Stress– Psychological/Emotional StressPsychological/Emotional Stress

Imbalance or “Dis-ease”Imbalance or “Dis-ease”

MechanicalChemical

Psychological

SUBLUXATIONSSUBLUXATIONS

If left uncorrected subluxations If left uncorrected subluxations lead to:lead to:– KinesiopathologyKinesiopathology– NeuropathologyNeuropathology– HistopathologyHistopathology– MyopathologyMyopathology– and eventually Pathophysiologyand eventually Pathophysiology

SUBLUXATIONSSUBLUXATIONS

Pain is the last thing to appear and Pain is the last thing to appear and the first thing to resolvethe first thing to resolve

Subluxations can be asymtomatic Subluxations can be asymtomatic or can cause acute pain and/or end or can cause acute pain and/or end organ dysfunction due to nervous organ dysfunction due to nervous system interferencesystem interference

THE ADJUSTMENTTHE ADJUSTMENT

A specific manual thrust delivered by A specific manual thrust delivered by the chiropractor which restores normal the chiropractor which restores normal bony alignment and motion bony alignment and motion

Results in normalization of the Results in normalization of the surrounding tissues, nerves and end surrounding tissues, nerves and end organsorgans

Normalization leads to increased tissue Normalization leads to increased tissue and organ resistance to and organ resistance to aforementioned stressesaforementioned stresses

THE ADJUSTMENTTHE ADJUSTMENT

Type of adjustment varies with Type of adjustment varies with patient patient – InfantInfant– PediatricPediatric– AthleteAthlete– ElderlyElderly

THE ADJUSTMENTTHE ADJUSTMENT

Type of adjustment varies with Type of adjustment varies with conditioncondition– SpasmSpasm– Acute vs. Chronic Disc HerniationAcute vs. Chronic Disc Herniation– OsteoporosisOsteoporosis– MetastasisMetastasis– Vascular DisordersVascular Disorders

THE ADJUSTMENTTHE ADJUSTMENT

The type of adjustment varies with The type of adjustment varies with techniquetechnique– DiversifiedDiversified– Flexion/DistractionFlexion/Distraction– ThompsonThompson– ActivatorActivator– LoganLogan– etc.etc.

THE ADJUSTMENTTHE ADJUSTMENT

Although many different Although many different techniques are used they all have techniques are used they all have a common goal: To restore a common goal: To restore normal motion and normalize the normal motion and normalize the nervous system to allow the body nervous system to allow the body to function optimallyto function optimally

STAGES OF CARESTAGES OF CARE

Relief Care GoalsRelief Care Goals

NaturalNatural pain management pain management– Acute (recent) Acute (recent) – Chronic (long standing)Chronic (long standing)

Stop further damageStop further damage

Corrective/Rehabilitative Care Corrective/Rehabilitative Care GoalsGoals

Restore range of motionRestore range of motion Remain pain freeRemain pain free Continued healing and return to Continued healing and return to

normal functionnormal function

Maintenance/Wellness Care Maintenance/Wellness Care GoalsGoals

Improve strength and performanceImprove strength and performance Efficient adaptation to stressEfficient adaptation to stress Improved organ system function Improved organ system function Increased patient responsibility for Increased patient responsibility for

balance, exercise and nutrition balance, exercise and nutrition leads to wellness and healthleads to wellness and health

Optimal functionOptimal function, not just the , not just the absence of symptoms or disease!absence of symptoms or disease!

Literature supports Literature supports efficacy of Chiropractic efficacy of Chiropractic for: for:

Low Back PainLow Back Pain Herniated DiscsHerniated Discs ““Whiplash”Whiplash” HeadacheHeadache ““Sciatica” and Sciatica” and

other nerve other nerve entrapment entrapment syndromessyndromes

““Frozen Shoulder”Frozen Shoulder” Carpal Tunnel Carpal Tunnel

SyndromeSyndrome TMJ DisordersTMJ Disorders Sports Injuries Sports Injuries

and Performanceand Performance

Some conditions commonly Some conditions commonly influenced in Chiropractic influenced in Chiropractic patients:patients:

PediatricsPediatrics– Otitis MediaOtitis Media– ColicColic– EnuresisEnuresis– ADDADD– Asthma, ScoliosisAsthma, Scoliosis

ObstetricsObstetrics– Pregnancy discomfortPregnancy discomfort– Breech presentationsBreech presentations

AdultAdult– Sexual DysfunctionSexual Dysfunction– Hormonal ImbalanceHormonal Imbalance– HypertensionHypertension– CognitionCognition– DiabetesDiabetes– Immune Function Immune Function

(AIDS, Cancer)(AIDS, Cancer)

Other points of Other points of consideration:consideration:

Chiropractors Chiropractors areare Portal of Entry Portal of Entry PhysiciansPhysicians

Primary Care in Many StatesPrimary Care in Many States ExtensiveExtensive History and Physical History and Physical

ExaminationExamination

Co-Treatment and ReferralCo-Treatment and Referral

When given the chance, When given the chance, conservative Chiropractic care can conservative Chiropractic care can often prevent surgical and often prevent surgical and pharmacological interventionpharmacological intervention

Co-treatment and referral is Co-treatment and referral is warranted in cases which do not warranted in cases which do not show objective improvement, or show objective improvement, or are out of scope of practiceare out of scope of practice

Not Adjustments Only!Not Adjustments Only!

In many offices:In many offices:– Postural AnalysisPostural Analysis– Physiotherapy ModalitiesPhysiotherapy Modalities– Exercise and Nutrition CounselingExercise and Nutrition Counseling

Home instructionHome instruction– Home ExercisesHome Exercises– Ergonomic ChangesErgonomic Changes– Activity ModificationActivity Modification

Chiropractic EducationChiropractic Education

5 years or 3 1/3 continuous5 years or 3 1/3 continuous Comparable pre-requisites to AllopathicComparable pre-requisites to Allopathic State and National Licensing State and National Licensing

ExaminationsExaminations Additional Diplomates and CertificationsAdditional Diplomates and Certifications There are many similarities to There are many similarities to

Allopathic Medical training, but Allopathic Medical training, but differences are VERY importantdifferences are VERY important

Chiropractic EducationChiropractic Education

Compiled as an Compiled as an average from 22 average from 22 medical schools medical schools and 11 and 11 chiropractic chiropractic collegescolleges

Additional Additional classes and classes and clinic times vary clinic times vary according to according to schoolschool

Stay Healthy!Stay Healthy!

Thank you.Thank you.