The Spine
Before understanding the concept of chiropractic, one must have a basic understanding of the spinal anatomy. The spinal cord is housed and protected by the spine, made up of 24 moveable vertebrae. Each vertebra has the general shape of a person’s ring. The rings are stacked one on top of another forming a vertical tunnel.

The brain controls the whole body via the spinal cord. Every function under the neck is controlled by the spinal cord including muscle function, breathing, your heart, digestion, sense of touch, immune function, are just a few things controlled by the spinal cord. That's why it's important to keep your spine healthy.

Subluxations
The delicate spinal cord is suspended from the brain and extends down through the tunnel formed by the vertebrae. Smaller nerves lead from the spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae. These openings are called foramen. The nerves emerge in pairs, one to the right and one to the left. There are thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves. Each nerve controls a specific are of the body.

When the spinal column is in proper alignment, the nerves pass unimpeded through the foramen. These vertebrae can become misaligned; causing what is called a subluxation. A subluxation can be caused by several things in life: accidents, poor posture, repetitive movements, sports injuries, or poor work ergonomics. When a subluxation occurs, it puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves coming out of it. When there is pressure on these nerves it causes pain to that area, and possibly muscle spasm and inflammation.

Pressure on these nerves can also cut off the pressure to vital organs inside the body.

Chiropractic Adjustments
Sometimes misaligned vertebrae correct themselves. But most subluxations need outside assistance for correction, in the form of a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment helps to restore normal function to these subluxated vertebrae by realigning the vertebrae. An adjustment restores normal nerve supply to all areas of the body. When the nerve supply is restored, healing time, pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms decrease. Function, strength and stability are also restored to the spine.