Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession in South Africa, which is regulated according to the Allied Health Professions Act, 1982(Act 63 of 1982). The profession specialises in the diagnosis, management and prevention of mechanical disorders of joints, particularly those of the spine, and their effects on the nervous system.
How does Chiropractic work?
The spine is made up of 24 moveable bones, called vertebrae that are held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments. A pair of spinal nerves exits between each vertebra and forms a complex network, which ultimately supplies and influences every organ and tissue in the body. Any mechanical 'jamming' of the vertebrae, may negatively influence the exiting nerve and manifest in pain locally or in the area that the nerve supplies. It is the Chiropractor's task to evaluate and treat such conditions, thereby reducing the irritation of the involved nerve, which ultimately will reduce the presenting symptoms. Chiropractors support the treatment they offer with individual counselling and advice about the patient's lifestyle, work exercise and nutrition, in order to help manage the condition and prevent a recurrence.
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