When people usually think of going to the chiropractor, they think of getting "their back cracked". However, getting adjusted isn't just for your spine, it is for your whole body. (It's also really about your nervous system but that is a conversation we will have another day). Getting other joints adjusted like your shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, etc can also be beneficial, especially if you have ever injured these joints. Adjustments can help break up scar tissues and keep the joint mobile. Movement in a joint prevents the build up of scar tissue as well as keeps the tissues of the supple and healthy.
The point of this blog though isn't to talk about getting your extremities adjusted though, it's to talk about chiropractic care for your organs. Say what?! Your organs are already impacted by the chiropractic adjustments to your spine, thanks to your spinal cord being housed by your spine and the nerves traveling from your spinal cord out to every muscle, gland, and organ in your body. Interference in the communication between your brain and body via your spinal cord can lead to your body playing the game "Telephone" and aberrant messages being sent between your brain and the nerve's destination. This will ultimately lead to dysfunction occurring in the end organ. (Oops looks like we are going to talk about your nervous system after all - I just can't help it :) ).
So getting your spine adjusted already is impacting organ function, but we can affect change in your organs by working on them directly through something called Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT). This technique is a part of the overall method of adjusting that I do, called Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT).
From the official SOTO-USA website, they describe CMRT as: "...a method of treating the spine or vertebral visceral syndromes associated with viscerosomatic or somatovisceral reflexes, dysafferentation at the spinal joint complex,and visceral mimicry type somatic relationships."
Whew that's a lot of fancy words, my friends! Let's break it down. Most of the way that your body communicates is through reflexes - information being sent as a result of an event. Primarily, we adjust the spine because of the importance of spinal reflexes and their role in dis-ease and tension in the body. However, sometimes the primary place of dis-ease and tension is in the organ. It's like a chicken and egg scenario. Sometimes the cause is at the level of the spine and sometimes the cause is the organ. This is where CMRT comes in.
When doing a chiropractic assessment of a client, there are certain indicators I look for, and if present, it tells me that CMRT will be beneficial. For example, if you deal with gallbladder issues, there is an adjusting protocol for that. If you deal with terrible periods, there is an adjusting protocol for that. Struggling with lung function or disease? There is an adjusting protocol for that.
Generally, I start clients out with spinal adjusting only. After an initial round of care, if there continues to be deeper dysfunction, then we add in CMRT and possibly a referral to another practitioner, like a functional medicine practitioner, naturopath, acupuncturist, etc. The beauty of CMRT is that it honors the layers of healing that our bodies need as well as allows me to really tailor your care to meet your unique needs.
I hope this was informational and helpful, and if it is still clear as mud, ask me at your next appointment and we can discuss it more in depth!
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