What is a “Structural shift?”

While no one is structurally perfect, there is a normal range. In the same manner, we can understand what a fever is because we know what the normal temperature is. We know what constitutes high blood pressure because we are aware of the normal range. There are established “normals” almost everywhere we look, including the gauges and warning indicators on the dashboard of your car… letting you know when things are abnormal.

If your car was out of alignment you may expect to see abnormal wear and tear on the tires and problems steering. You could simply change the tires each time they continue to wear out at an accelerated rate, or you could find someone who specializes in correcting the alignment.

In a similar way, if there is a Structural Shift in the spine, it can lead to a variety of secondary conditions, or symptoms throughout the body. If the head and neck shift out of position, it can force the rest of the spine out of alignment. When the spine shifts, it can cause mechanical irritation of the spinal cord and nerves as they exit the spine. This can not only cause shooting pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness - it can also lead to a myriad of secondary conditions like migraines and fatigue.

Rather than focusing on symptom management, chiropractors who focus on NeuroStructural Correction aim to identify structural abnormalities and create a plan of care specific to the patient to restore the structural integrity of the spine.