Chiropractors work with the spine, not necessarily because it's the source of neck and back pain, but because it houses and protects the spinal cord and nervous system. Every vital life sustaining process depends on the integrity of this communication network between the brain and the body.

There are several common ailments which initially make people aware that there is a problem with their spine and/or nervous system. Learn more about these conditions and how they can be better managed and prevented with appropriate chiropractic care. Additional conditions are described in the health glossary.

Your spine is designed to house and protect your spinal cord, which along with your brain comprises your central nervous system. All the nerves and nerve cells outside your central nervous system make up your peripheral nervous system. Its task is to relay information from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body and from your body to your brain and spinal cord. The maintenance of this system - through chiropractic - is an essential component of maintaining health and wellness.

The peripheral nervous system plays an important role in maintaining and controlling the body’s biological functions and systems. Everything from body temperature to digestion to agility depends on proper input from the peripheral nervous system. This system maintains and restores your energy. It directs blood to your digestive tract and makes sure you actively digest food. It maintains your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. It also controls salavation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, micturition (the discharge of urine), and erection.

Peripheral nerves comprise all of the nerves beyond the spinal cord. The peripheral nerves are not protected by bone, leaving them exposed to mechanical injury or interference through pressure or irritation. All peripheral nerves leave the spinal cord through small openings in individual spinal vertebra called foramen. These nerve roots are exposed and susceptible to interference or neuropathy (changes in the pathology of the nerves) from the vertebrae themselves as well as the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues.

When spinal health is compromised because of misalignments of the spinal vertebrae or damage to the surrounding tissue, the body does not function as efficiently and optimally as it should, and overall health suffers.

Chiropractors correct these misalignments by gently adjusting the position of the vertebrae of the spine, reducing or eliminating neuropathy (changes in the pathology of the nerves) thus allowing your body to function optimally.