Charleston chiropractor, chiropractor in Charleston, SC

Chiropractors place great emphasis on the spine because of its critical role in the nervous system.

Nerves branching throughout the body pass from the spinal cord to other parts of the body through openings between the bones of the spine. These bones, or vertebrae, are separated by spongy disks of cartilage which cushion spinal joints. If a vertebra is slightly out of alignment or functions improperly, nerve roots originating in the spine may become irritated and cause pain. This condition is known as subluxation.

It is also common for the disks between the spine to become slipped or herniated. If the spine is strained, one of the jelly-like disks may bulge out on one side, possibly pressing on an emerging nerve.

Often, pain will be experienced in an area seemingly unrelated to the spine. Sciatica, for example, is characterized by pain from the foot up to the buttock. However, the condition often arises due to irritation of the sciatic nerve at its origin near the base of the spine. Even common headaches can be caused by the aggravation of the spinal nerves!