What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic has been a healthcare profession since 1895. The profession is holistic and recognizes the individual’s needs through counseling about understanding health behavior, principles of wellness, consumer health information
and literacy, advocating for health in the community, clinical preventive services, physical activity, nutrition for prevention and health promotion, weight management, injury prevention, tobacco and substance use, stress management
and stress related conditions, and worksite wellness.
Chiropractic is primarily known for using a hands-on method to increase joint range of motion in one joint segment by identification of a joint segment that is limited in its range of motion. Chiropractic is one of the oldest and
most widely used forms of manual medicine. Manipulation precedes the Chiropractic profession by thousands of years and is used by other professions (Osteopathy, Physical Medicine, and Physical Therapy), but Chiropractic has done
more than any other profession to promote its use in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders and conditions. Procedures are usually applied to a single joint level and for specific joint motion loss. The purpose of these
procedures is to restore normal articular relationship and function, restore neurological integrity, and influence physiological processes. Various forms of manipulation effect different aspects of joint function.
The emphasis is not on forcing a particular anatomical movement of a joint, but on restoring normal joint mechanics. The effects of manipulation can include a combination of mechanical, soft tissue, neurological, and psychological
affects. Manipulative treatment is directed at movement restriction of joints or motion segments of the spinal column. Learn more about
Chiropractic Fundamentals on our blog.
Benefits of Chiropractic
Portland Chiropractic Group (PCG) does not guarantee the benefits of Chiropractic care, but rather strives to achieve these goals with Chiropractic care. Portland Chiropractic Group continually monitors for progress, regression, and non-responsiveness to care. Bodily pain and aberrant function are a multi-factorial problem that requires a multi-factorial treatment plan, which is why PCG created the All Encompassing treatment plan for those not only desiring short term relief, but also long term relief from their problem. Most patients benefit in some way, but a minority do not progress as expected, or are not a candidate for chiropractic care. There are moments when individuals must be referred to another specialist or facility with the right expertise to solve their problem.
• increased range of motion, if clinically indicated [1]
• increased neuromotor control [2] [3] [4]
• decreased abnormal loads on the spine [5] [6]
• decreased abnormal patterns of muscle contraction [7] [8]
• decreased strain on passive tissues [6]
• decreased headache, if clinically indicated [9]
• decreased blood pressure associated with cervicogenic headache [10]
• decreased inflammation [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
• decreased joint pain associated with rest [17]
• decreased joint pain associated with movement [17]
• decreased numbness and tingling associated with cervical and or lumbar radiculopathy [18] [19]
