George M Hardas and Associates - Spinal Care Specialist Sydney

Chiropractic defined

An example of this is the very first Chiropractic adjustment of the modern era.

The date, September 18, 1895. On this day (3) Harvey Lillard walked into D.D. Palmer's office (who was Chiropractic's founder). Harvey Lillard was deaf. This was a result of an injury he had suffered 17 years earlier, hearing a 'snap' noise in his neck. He then stated he noticed immediately a bump, pointing to an area of his neck. Harvey Lillard had been to many doctors without success, telling him he was born with that bump on his neck.

D.D. Palmer asked Harvey Lillard if he would mind if he examined this bump. In D.D.'s mind he saw that if the production of the bump meant the losing of the man's hearing, the reduction of the bump should restore it. He asked Harvey Lillard to work on him. D.D. Palmer began thrusting on this bump. On the third consecutive day, Harvey Lillard jumped up and exclaimed, "I can hear!, I can hear, Doc!". He was actually hearing the rumble of the horse drawn trolley cars gliding over the cobble stones four storeys below. From the back of the neck of Harvey Lillard, dates the beginning of the evolution of the art, science, and philosophy of Chiropractic.

Chiropractic is an art, it is a science, and has its philosophy that adjusting 'subluxations' of the spinal column and pelvis corrects 'dis-ease'.

A 'subluxation' is when a vertebrae of the spinal column or pelvic bones have moved slightly out of alignment/mis-alignment, to a lesser degree than a dislocation or a 'luxation' causing abnormal function, 'dis-ease' not disease'.

This 'subluxation' irritates the vertebral / pelvic joints, also irritating spinal nerves that enter and exit from the spinal cord interfering also with their normal function, also (2) activating pain fibres (nociceptors).

It is the irritation of these spinal nerves and the activation of pain fibres that causes 'dis-ease', when you the patient feels symptoms it becomes a 'disease', for example back pain, sciatica, stomach pains, headaches, sinusitis, and (1) so on.

A 'subluxation' is what we as Chiropractors correct, returning your spinal column and pelvis and spinal nerves to normal (1) function.

Furthermore, a 'subluxation' can occur anywhere within the three hundred articulations of the body also irritating associated nerves. For example joint misalignment and nerve irritation can occur in the knees, feet, shoulders, hands and so on.

Biomechanical manifestations, where the joints in the spine may not move correctly, an example is not being able to move your neck normally.
Pathophysiological manifestations, where there may be inflammation, and tissue damage, an example is a disc herniation, where there is localized swelling, causing acute pain, and when healed it heals with scar tissue.
Clinical manifestations, where there may be weakness in the area being affected, an example being unable to lift your arm, or a limb reflex which is weak.
Radiological manifestations, where degenerative changes may be evident. An example is osteoarthritis.

In summary subluxations of the spine / pelvis and the approximate 300 articulations of the body can only be corrected by a Chiropractic adjustment by a qualified Chiropractor.