Chiropractic Care for Animals- how does it really work?
While more people are choosing chiropractic care for themselves these days, it is most commonly for treatment of back, neck, or even jaw pain. I still get the questioning looks when I discuss its value for more internal conditions. This modality can be very effective in treating conditions as far ranging as diarrhea or inappropriate urination in cats. It can even improve the function of the immune system and improve liver or kidney function. See, this is where I lose people…
Lets start with an explanation of what we are really doing with a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic medicine is based on the theory of the subluxation or the subluxation complex. In conventional medicine, the term subluxation is often used to mean a joint or opposing bones that are physically out of place. This is not necessarily the case in chiropractic medicine. In chiropractic fields, subluxation is used to mean a joint which may not be physically misaligned, but has a decreased range of motion on palpation. This is often caused by a slight change in the positioning where the joint surfaces meet. What this is, and what a chiropractor is actually feeling when they choose to adjust an area is a decrease in movement between two vertebrae in the back. A normal joint should have a bit of “give” when palpated while a subluxated or “stuck” joint has decreased or no motion. The goal then is simply to restore movement to these joints.
Generally speaking then, the more functioning joints, the better range of motion. Did you know that an owl has 14 cervical vertebrae? This is twice the number of people dogs or giraffes, and, this is what gives owls such great range of motion in their necks. They can actually turn their heads 270 degrees in either direction; but I digress.
When there is a joint in the group that is not moving, it puts strain and stress on the joints above and below, as these neighboring joints are then forced to compensate in the body’s effort for range of motion. Picture the childs’ toy wooden snake that you can hold by the tail and the body moves back and forth with all of those little joints. The idea is that each joint moves only a small amount, but you put this range of motion together and your back and neck can really twist.
Alright, so now you can buy how a subluxation can be of detriment to your back, and can even surmise that this additional strain on the other joints can cause some local pain and dysfunction. These sorts of changes are termed kinesiopathological. Now lets look at some of the other effects a subluxated joint can have. Neuropathological changes involve changes in the nerves and the cerebral spinal fluid and are caused by direct or indirect pressure on the nerve roots as they exit the vertebrae or on the spinal cord as it runs through the affected area. Similar effects can be seen in the vessels which are traveling between the vertebrae. Connective tissue pathology involves changes in everything from the synovial fluid in the joint which consolidates or sludges, to the cartilage which shrinks and begins to calcify and develop adhesions. You should now be getting a sense that the structures around these intervertebral joints depend greatly on movement for their health and well being.
This brings us to the distant effects of a subluxation. Along with all of the other structures coming out through the spaces in and between the vertebrae are nerves which affect the distant organs. Some of these nerves are responsible for nourishing and moving distant muscles in the body. Myopathological changes or effects on the muscles lead to muscle weakness and lactic acid build up due to atrophy from disuse. There are also sympathetic and paracympathetic nerves exiting between the vertebrae. Let us look at the vagus nerve for a minute. It is vulnerable between the skull and the first cervical vertebrae and it’s nerve fibers travel to the peripheral blood vessels and abdominal organs. The theory that follows is that irritation to this nerve at the level of the spine can alter transmissions along the nerve fibers leading to increased or decreased sympathetic tone to the sturctures innervated by those fibers. See, clear as mud.. Put another way, when the nerves are pinched or irritated by a subluxation, they will not work correctly and thus not send the right signals to the organs that they are in charge of. Long term changes in these nerves can lead to organs or muscles not functioning up to their full potential. Remember that all bodily functions are controlled by nerves and these nerves all exit between the vertebrae in order to communicate with the central nervous system. Thus, correcting subluxations and improving nerve function can directly affect organs, skin, joints, and glands. It can affect blood flow and hormone levels as well. Only about 10% of nerves register pain, the rest are keeping the body functioning to its maximum potential. So chiropractic can really do more than just help your back feel better.
That said, I still tend to use spinal manipulation, chiropractic care, as a first line of treatment for its spinal benefits; Pain relief, improved mobility and strength. I do not forget, however, that there can be many other benefits that can be seen from a manipulation and will often add an adjustment into a treatment regime as it is ongoing. I am routinely amazed at what a difference it makes to a wide variety of patients. Discretion is always needed in picking cases where manipulation is appropriate as some animals and some conditions should not be adjusted.
Unfortunately, studies on the effects of manipulation in animals are few and far between. We have to rely primarily on the human literature and extrapolate. That said, I do believe that chiropractic care can and does benefit a great number of animals. I see it happen every day.
John Smith…
I found your acupuncture post Saturday while searching for how does acupuncture work. You really made some great points on your post Does Water Therapy Really Work For Weight Loss? ” Alternative Medicine Zone. Thanks for sharing that info….
Thanks Dr. Lord for making me feel better…I gave you a shout out on my blog http://tapintoleinie.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/feeling-good/
Can’t wait to see you again in another couple weeks!
Leinie
The Weight Mastery Guide by Dr. Todd Ovokaitys | How To Burn Fat…
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Pretty interesting article and health care tips. I wanna learn Chiropractic Care when I graduate my grooming class.