One of the most common questions that Dr. Nathen Horst gets from first-time patients is how does chiropractic care work? Given all of the confusion and misinformation that is out there about chiropractic care, Dr. Horst believes it is vital for patients to understand the science behind chiropractic care so that they can be active participants in their own journey to wellness.

The science of chiropractic starts with the concept of nervous system interference, which can lead to illness. What is nervous system interference, what causes it, and how can chiropractic help you overcome it? Read further, as Dr. Horst explains how and why chiropractic care can help heal your body and maintain good health.

What Is Nervous System Interference?

The first thing to understand is that the nervous system serves as the major pathway for every single thing your body does. Electrical nerve impulses travel back and forth from the brain (the master controller of the body) along the central nervous system, which is housed inside the spinal cord, and then out along the peripheral nervous system to the various parts of the body to allow them to function.

The peripheral nervous system is responsible for voluntary movement, such as standing, sitting or walking, and autonomic activities, such as breathing and digesting food. Under ideal conditions, this flow of nerve impulses back and forth along the central nervous system is not impeded, so the body works at peak performance.

What Causes Nervous System Interference?

If the nerves become fully or partially blocked as they lead out from the spinal cord, this can interfere with proper signaling to and from the brain, causing nervous system interference. This can happen when one or more vertebrae of the spine shifts out of alignment. This can then place pressure, or pinch the nerves, at the point where they lead out from the spinal cord through the individual vertebrae. These shifts of the vertebrae are known as vertebral subluxations.

These subluxations can be caused by physical trauma or emotional stress, as well as by a poor diet or exposure to toxins. Physical trauma, such as an auto, sports, or work injury, is relatively easy to diagnose.

Emotional stress can cause you to tighten up your back, shoulders, neck, or jaw, which can also shift your vertebrae out of alignment.

Your diet can affect your vertebrae if you are not getting the proper nutrients to strengthen your muscles and ligaments that are needed to help hold your spine in the proper position.

Finally, environmental toxins can place strain on the body, sending improper signals to the brain. Two good examples of this would be air pollution or second-hand smoke because they can affect breathing.

Correcting Nervous System Interference

The obvious solution to nervous system interference is to find a way to release the pressure on the nerves. Dr. Horst does this by performing what is known as a spinal adjustment. This opens up the space between each of the vertebrae to gently put them back into proper alignment, thereby releasing the pressure on the nerves leading out from the spinal cord. He can do this either with his hands or with a special adjusting instrument.

Once Dr. Horst has your vertebrae back in proper alignment, he strongly recommends maintenance adjustments to keep them that way. In addition, he can help you with nutritional counseling and exercises to help strengthen your core to keep your spine in alignment. Once you understand the root cause of your pain, it is easy to know what to do to help overcome it. This is why Dr. Horst believes that a little patient education can go a long way to getting patients on the path to wellness.