Nathan Browne, D.C.

What is chiropractic?

The term” chiropractic,” when referring to natural healthcare, is about as broad as the word “medicine” when referring to illness.
     There are many different techniques that fall under the chiropractic umbrella, some mainstream and some practiced by only a few in the profession. A chiropractor’s main focus is the relationship between anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of the nervous system and their interconnection within our bodies.
     A chiropractor generally focuses on the spine and any misalignments it may have from top to bottom. The vertebral misalignments are termed “subluxations” by the chiro community, and they can be responsible for a variety of issues that affect the major systems of the body.
     The grown spine consists of 33 individual vertebrae, and their main function, aside from mobility, is protection of the spinal cord. These vertebrae are sandwiched by gelatinous discs on both the top and bottom and act not only as shock absorbers to the spine, but more importantly, they provide space for the nerves of the spinal cord to exit. 
     These nerves that exit the spinal cord run to specific organs and systems throughout the body and thus work together to keep your body’s larger systems running smoothly. When one of the body’s 33 vertebral segments moves out of alignment the corresponding nerve gets aggravated and is commonly referred to as a “pinched nerve.”
     A pinched nerve or vertebral misalignment can start off irritating the body’s musculoskeletal system and cause back pain. A misalignment that lingers without correction can compromise the proper function of its corresponding organ and/ or system. A misalignment or subluxation that is not addressed can also lead to advanced degeneration and then compensation.
     The body has an inherent ability to quasi-correct itself in an effort to reduce the pain on its own. These quasi corrections eventually turn into compensations if not addressed, and these compensations can sometimes aggravate the problem area more than the original misalignment. This process is very cyclical in nature, and for this reason it is highly recommended that you get your spine checked for misalignments at least once a month.
     Truck driving is one of the most common occupations seen in a chiropractic office due to the nature of the job. Prolonged sitting and inactivity, heavy lifting and loading, coupled with poor eating choices and tight sleeping conditions, add up to a painful sum.
     My purpose here and in future columns will be to educate you on a variety of health-oriented topics to encourage everyone to address their issues, as minimal as they may seem, in order to prevent a long-term, destructive course. Driver HEALTH magazine is dedicated to educating its readers on how to get the most out of themselves in an effort to improve overall quality of life.
     Nathan Browne is a Doctor of Chiropractic serving Atlanta, GA and the region.