Whole Body Healing

Definition

Manipulation is the adjustment of bones to increase mobility and correct alignment.  Naturopathic manipulation focuses on both soft tissue and bone alignment.  Muscles pull bones out of alignment.  If the soft tissues are not addressed the bones will be pulled out again.  Through correcting both soft tissues and bones naturopathic manipulation helps maintain adjustment.

Indications for Manipulation

• Back pain
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Nerve pain, numbness, and tingling
• Bone subluxation
• Spinal joint dysfunction
• Wrist joint subluxation
• Ankle bone subluxation
• Frozen shoulder

Benefits of Manipulation

• Decreases aches and pains
• Speeds up healing after injury
• Increases range-of-motion
• Increases relaxation
• Relieves headaches

Whether preformed by a naturopathic physician or chiropractor, manipulation is a valuable enhancement to health and well-being. 

Brief History of Manipulation

Writings from China and Greece written in 2700 B.C. and 1500 B.C. mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain. Hippocrates (460-357 BC), the Greek physician, also published texts detailing the importance of manipulation.

In the United States, the practice of spinal manipulation began gaining momentum in the late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was well read in the medical journals of his time and had great knowledge of the developments that were occurring throughout the world regarding anatomy and physiology. 

Naturopathic doctors have become pioneers in the field of non-invasive medicine and use manipulation to care for a variety of ailments.