Neuromusculoskeletal Optimization
Chiropractic is a form of neuromusculoskeletal care that repairs and re-optimizes the nervous system that helps to relieve tension, inflammation, pain and restore body health. Like any piece of machinery that requires regular maintenance to operate correctly without issues, so too is the body an exquisite machine that needs regular maintenance. Treatment restores and maintains optimal function to the nervous system, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints.
Neuromusculoskeletal Care
Central Nervous System – CNS
- The Central Nervous System or CNS is the body’s computer.
- It processes functions in the body and mind.
- It s made up of the brain and spinal cord.
- It helps process external information through sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.
- The CNS interprets sensory information that goes through the spinal cord to the brain, and the body responds accordingly.
- It controls voluntary movements like walking, talking, exercising.
- It controls involuntary movements like blinking, breathing, digestion.
- It allows thoughts, emotions, and perceptions to be created and expressed.
When the Central Nervous System works correctly, the body is coordinated, all senses send and receive information effectively, and cognition/thinking is clear.
Peripheral Nervous System – PNS
- The Peripheral Nervous System or PNS transmits signals from the outside to the Central Nervous System.
- The PNS is comprised of all the nerve bundles that run throughout the body.
- The PNS is responsible for transmitting information back and forth from the CNS to the rest of the body by electrical impulses and current.
When the PNS is functioning correctly, and there is thorough nerve circulation throughout the body, there are no issues like numbness, weakness, pain, and digestion is in top form.
Enteric Nervous System – ENS
- The Enteric Nervous System or ENS is a branch of the peripheral nervous system that signals the digestive system.
- It comprises nerves that stretch across the entire gastrointestinal tract.
- It allows the nervous system to communicate with the digestive tract and regulate activity.
- It can stop the digestive process when the body is under stress or strain, i.e., fight or flight response.
- Chronic stress can create dysfunction in the digestive system.
- Inflammation and stress can cause the enteric system to disrupt and cause digestive problems.
Pain Relief
Body pain can be an indication of an imbalance in the nervous system. Misalignment from work, home activities, trauma, injury, or posture problems, a subluxation/misalignment can turn into discomfort that leads to pain and neuromusculoskeletal system issues. Pain in the neuromusculoskeletal system can result from spinal misalignment and a shifting skeletal structure. The joints and misaligned bones compress the surrounding nerves and tissue, causing inflammation that results in pain symptoms. This causes the muscular system to compensate for the lack of stability support from the skeletal structure causing awkward body posturing. A chiropractor realigns the spinal structure, removing the compression/pressure from the nerves, tissues, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Body Composition
Chiropractic Medicine
The nervous system is highly responsive to chiropractic care because of chiropractic’s focus on the spine, which restores and rejuvenates. Chiropractic medicine and a properly aligned spine:
- Reduces and eliminates pain.
- Reduces and eliminates headaches and migraines.
- Improves balance and coordination.
- Improves digestive function.
- Improves quality of sleep.
- Increases energy.
- Increases flexibility and mobility.
- Enhances cognition and clear thinking.
References
Goudman, Lisa et al. “The Link Between Spinal Cord Stimulation and the Parasympathetic Nervous System in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.” Neuromodulation: journal of the International Neuromodulation Society vol. 25,1 (2022): 128-136. doi:10.1111/ner.13400
Gyer, Giles et al. “Spinal manipulation therapy: Is it all about the brain? A current review of the neurophysiological effects of manipulation.” Journal of integrative medicine vol. 17,5 (2019): 328-337. doi:10.1016/j.joim.2019.05.004
Millet, Guillaume Y et al. “The role of the nervous system in neuromuscular fatigue induced by ultra-endurance exercise.” Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme vol. 43,11 (2018): 1151-1157. doi:10.1139/apnm-2018-0161
Stoll, T et al. “Physiotherapie bei lumbaler Diskushernie” [Physiotherapy in lumbar disc herniation ]. Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique vol. 58,8 (2001): 487-92. doi:10.1024/0040-5930.58.8.487
