Chiropractic care prides itself on taking a holistic approach to wellness. A licensed chiropractor will make small, unobtrusive adjustments to the patient’s spine, correcting posture and subluxation. In this way, it may appear that the spine is the primary focus of the chiropractic field. In reality, however, it’s what’s connected to the spine that affects your overall health and well-being.
The nervous system is one of the ten major systems that control bodily operations. It is responsible for carrying information from the brain to the rest of the body in the form of electrical signals or “nerve impulses.” It controls movement, thoughts and speech, involuntary actions such as breathing and digestion, and even your most basic five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight.
The nervous system is divided into two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord runs the length of your spine, encased and protected within the vertebrae. The peripheral nervous system is composed of nerves that run from the spinal cord to the rest of your body.
Essentially, the human brain can send commands through the spinal cord to any part of the body. This process is completed via a series of neurons, or specialized nerve cells. Neurons are responsible for receiving sensory information, translating it into electrical signals, and passing it back and forth from the brain to the body. In this way, your body can quickly respond to external stimuli. Let’s say, for example, that you touch a hot stove. The neurons will process this information, convert it to electrical impulses, and deliver it to the brain. The brain interprets this information as “pain” and then sends its own set of electrical impulses, instructing the body to remove your hand from the stove.
While it affects your entire body, the nervous system is highly centralized. The central nervous system acts as the information highway for all nerve responses and subsequent bodily functions. If this highway is blocked or jammed in any way, the information may be misinterpreted or simply not reach its destination at all.
This is where the chiropractor comes in. They are responsible for keeping your spine in alignment to prevent aches, pains, and pinched nerves. If you’re looking for a chiropractor to call home, we would love to have you here at Wirth Chiropractic! Our offices are located in Greenville, NC. Stop by or give us a call to make an appointment today!
