The 5 W's of Chiropractic: Who, What, When, Where, & Why

Written by Mavi Warren, Chiropractic Assistant
            Edited by Monica McCann, Office Manager

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Who is a Chiropractor?

​Dr Matt is, of course!  (But, you probably wanted a more general definition.)
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A Chiropractor is a healthcare professional that cares for a patient's nervous system. Chiropractors have a doctorate degree and must complete a four-year chiropractic program (in addition to undergraduate prerequisite studies) including a clinical internship.  The course load is roughly equivalent in hours and credits to the training required for an M.D.  The focus of chiropractic education is on the function of the body and nervous system.

​Most people believe chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal system.  Your musculoskeletal system includes your bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and connective tissues  Of course, a chiropractor is absolutely working on these parts of your body, but the primary reason for this is to improve your nervous system. The side benefit of this nervous system improvement is that pain is reduced and daily function is restored to your optimal levels. Your chiropractor may also recommend daily stretches and exercise that will help maintain the health of your body. We here at McCann Family Chiropractic care for the whole person not just the bones!

Meet Dr. Matt

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What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

​A chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic treatment where a chiropractor uses their hands or special instruments to adjust joints in your body. It is designed to remove subluxation.  What is that, you ask!?
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A subluxation is essentially a movement deficiency.  The 24 moveable bones that make up your spine need to be able to move to allow the nerves to function appropriately.  When those bones get stuck, a subluxation has occurred.  A chiropractic adjustment restores normal motion.  This in turn reduces swelling and inflammation. An adjustment can help reduce pain, correct your body’s alignment, and improve physical function. 

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When should you see a Chiropractor?

​We find that most people come to our office for the first time when experiencing pain of some sort.  Most people stay because they find so much more than pain relief when they are here!  We teach that subluxation is stored stress in the spine.  We are all under various forms of stress everyday  Physical, mental, and emotional stress can take its toll on our minds and bodies.  

​When you stop to consider gravity, you will realize we are being pushed or pulled towards the earth all day, every day. This makes most people a good candidate to get checked for proper nervous system health.  Just like you schedule regular preventative dental check-ups, we’d love to see you for your regular spinal check-up.  Of course, if you have experienced an accident or injury (or are experiencing pain!), we definitely would love to see if we can help you as well. 

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Where do I go for Chiropractic Care?

We hope you will choose to come see us!  You can check out our office at www.mfcwellness.com.  We are located in Marysville, WA and have been serving the community for 17 years.  If you aren’t local to our area, we find that word of mouth is a great referral system, (just ask your Avon lady)! You can ask your healthcare provider or family and friends if they have a trusted chiropractic office they would recommend. 

CAll us today!

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Why is Chiropractic Care good for you?

​A family wellness chiropractor is the only health care professional in the world trained to identify and treat spinal subluxations in children and adults. One of the impacts of these misalignments of the spine is interference with the transmission of information along vital nerve pathways. The central nervous system is the communication network of the whole body, delivering messages through the spinal cord to and from the brain. When the network is pinched off, stretched thin, or overloaded, the important messages to the other body systems don’t get through.

Chiropractic care can eliminate the root cause of pain, improve mobility & balance, improve mood & energy levels, and help you get a better night’s sleep.  For more information, see the benefits of chiropractic care on our website, https://www.mfcwellness.com/wellness.html.