Chiropractic is a hands on therapy aimed at correcting the SOURCE of musculoskeletal problems, not just the SYMPTOMS. The word "Chiropractic" is taken from Greek, meaning, "Done by Hand".

A branch of the health sciences, Chiropractic´s primary focus is on the body's neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves-muscles-bones).

Your nervous system can be thought of as the communication line between your brain and your body, in other words, the way that you brain is able to both control your body, and at the same time recognize what´s happening with your body at any given time. Your brain is connected directly to your spinal cord, and your spinal cord gives off nerves, which branch out to the remainder of your body. These nerves carry the signals that allow your body to function. Your spine itself is made up of a series of bones (vertebrae) all stacked on top of one another, acting as a protective casing for your spinal cord, running from the base of your skull down to your tail bone.

Traditionally, Chiropractors were solely concerned with the proper alignment of these vertebrae. They believed that many common ailments such as back pain, neck pain, or headaches, were solely caused by a misalignment ("subluxations") of these vertebrae. The belief was that a misalignment actually pinched a nerve as it branched off the spinal cord, creating a disruption in the communication, and thereby leading to pain and dysfunction. Chiropractors were trained to use a variety of diagnostic methods to examine and treat the alignment and structure of your spine, thereby correcting these misalignments.

Through continual research and education, it is now known that there are many other factors at play when dealing with pain and dysfunction. Although the alignment and structure of spinal joints is still very important, the proper functioning of the surrounding soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia) is known to be of equal importance. Chiropractors are now trained to effectively examine, diagnose, and treat not only spinal misalignments, but also problems with the soft tissues; rarely does one exist without the other! For this reason, you'll now find Chiropractors trained to effectively use many of the same soft tissue treatment methods previously specific to physiotherapists. Examples of such include Ultrasound, Interferential therapy, Stretching, Muscular Re-education, Laser Therapy, Active Release Therapy. This is in addition to a full understanding of the principles of Chiropractic and the importance of maintaining a healthy skeletal structure.

At OC3 we don't beleive in a cookie cutter approach.  To effectively and accurately diagnose and treat a muscular or skeletal problem, an individual approach is needed, one encompassing both passive (in office) and active (home based exercise) therapy.