What is Chiropractic? Approximately 80-90% of the US population will suffer from back or neck pain at some time in their lives. People who are overweight, smoke, lift heavy objects, or who have had a previous back pain are even more likely to experience back pain. Chiropractic is the health care profession that focuses on the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic physicians use a drug free, hands-on approach to treat problems in the back, neck, arms, legs, hands, and feet, as well as many types of headaches. A Healthy Spine A healthy spine is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. People who suffer from back or neck pain, particularly if it is long-term, are generally less healthy. Back pain is costly, not only because of the cost of care, but also in terms of lost time from work, and because of the emotional stress associated with living with pain. Chiropractors assess patients using standard examinations as well as laboratory and diagnostic tools such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans, to determine the cause of the problem and whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate. The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called a “chiropractic adjustment.”   The purpose of manipulation is to restore mobility to joints that have become hypomobile - or restricted in their movement – as a result of a acute or chronic tissue injury. Chiropractors may perform a spinal manipulation by hand while you lay on a special adjusting table, such as the one pictured below, or they may use specially designed tools. For more information about chiropractic go to the American Chiropractic Association website: http://www.acatoday.org/