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April 2005
Underneath is the main part of the newsletter that was sent out, excluding special offers or items that were being promoted during that month. To access any previous newsletters, please click here, or if you want to sign up for our free newsletter, please click here.
In this issue:
One reality that cannot be ignored, as we grow older and more mature, is that we tend to have either minor aches and pains, or real problems with our skeletal systems, especially in the lower back. The use of conventional medicine, such as anti-inflammatory and pain medication, may be necessary and may help, but may not always be the best option.
We are committed to make people aware of alternative ways of coping with problems, to give you, the master of your body, the right to choose which therapy you find the most advantageous.
Today we wish to bring chiropractic therapy to the table, and have a look at how this holistic approach can assist the body to heal itself.
In the article below, Dr. Rob Donkin writes of Dr. Palmer, the father of chiropractic adjustment. We find it interesting to note that when Dr. Palmer treated the spine of a deaf client - Harvey Lillard, seventeen years of deafness was cured. We do not tout that chiropractic therapy will cure all deafness or is a panacea to correct all ills, yet we hold the opinion that this form of therapy is an important segment of primary health care, and should be considered as treatment when planning your personal health care.
To clarify one point - many people think that when visiting a chiropractor, the chiropractor will always stretch you diagonally across the treatment bed and “crack” your spine - not so - it all depends on what method the particular chiropractor uses.
To place this in perspective, herewith a short abbreviated list of different techniques used by chiropractors:
- Gonstead Technique
- Detailed analysis of the spinal X-rays is used to determine the adjustments required.
- Activator
- This uses a small tool, delivering a light and measured force, to correct misalignments.
- Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique
- This uses a non-force, subtle, yet precise pressure applied by hand to remove blocked nerve energy, balance sensory signals and eliminate physiological interference.
- Cox Fexion-Distraction
- This involves traction and or stretching of the spine to correct lower back pain.
- Applied Kinesiology
- Light massage is used on various reflexes. Acupressure points are also sometimes used.
- Thompson Terminal Point
- This is a full-spine technique using a special “drop” table.
- Palmer Toggle Recoil Technique
- This is a speed and precision adjustment and elbows are used to give sudden pressure.
- Sacro-Occipital Technique
- Padded blocks are placed under the pelvic area to fix muscle tension in the pelvic area, which reflects in neck problems.
- Logan Basic Technique
- Gentle sustained pressure is used on the base of the spine to correct the sacrum and the rest of the spine.
- Nimmo Technique
- Simple pressure is used to release localized muscle spasms.
Although we listed some of the techniques above, your chiropractor, after consultation and examination, may decide to use one or more of the various techniques to help correct a specific problem.
And now the overview from Dr. Donkin:
The chiropractic profession was founded in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa, U.S.A. by D. D. Palmer. Chiropractors are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMS) and their influence on the rest of the body. From humble beginnings in 1895 to today, the profession has grown to be the third largest health profession in the world with more than 70,000 chiropractors around the globe.
The foundation of chiropractic is the adjustment. An adjustment is a specific type of joint manipulation using controlled force, leverage, direction, amplitude and velocity. An adjustment can be applied to most joints of the body and may be accompanied by a “pop” sound, known as a cavitation. The purpose of the adjustment is to restore normal joint function, to influence the nervous system and help the body return to homeostasis (homeostasis can be defined as physiologic stability).
Chiropractic encompasses art, philosophy and science. “Art” is seen as the skill, expertise and intuition needed to accurately identify areas of dysfunction in the NMS system. Chiropractors are trained to diagnose as a medical doctor would and these skills are used in conjunction with chiropractic specific tests, specifically for nerves, muscles and joints. “Art” is also seen as the skill and finesse needed to treat an area of dysfunction using adjustments and to treat each person individually. The adjustment may be combined with pressure points and other soft tissue techniques. This “art” is taught through a six-year master’s degree in South Africa.
Chiropractic philosophy involves the theories of how the body functions. For example, Chiropractors believe that the body has the ability to heal itself. Therefore Chiropractic intervention will assist this process by removing dysfunction and allowing the body to function optimally. The chiropractic approach is also holistic which means that the body is examined and treated as a whole rather than one area being focused on exclusively. A holistic approach also includes addressing diet, lifestyle and other factors when treating a problem area.
Science is essential for the chiropractic profession. Scientific research tests the validity of the chiropractic theories and also to test the effectiveness of the chiropractic techniques used. There is a wealth of research demonstrating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of chiropractic treatment. The research is extensive especially in the area of low back pain. Recent multidisciplinary research in this area was released on www.bmj.com (British Medical Journal website), which shows that chiropractors have an effective approach, which is also the most cost effective for low back pain.
Looking for a chiropractor in your area? Contact your local chiropractic association or visit www.chiropractic.co.za for South African chiropractors or www.amerchiro.org for the American Chiropractic Association.
Other articles of interest 
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You are as young as your faith, as old as your fear and as long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer,
courage, grandeur, and power - from the earth, from man and from the Infinite - so long will you stay
Ageless. |
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