What chiropractic is
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession founded in the United States in 1895 by Dr D.D. Palmer. The word comes from the Greek cheir (hand) and praxis (done with): literally, treatment by hand.
It works with and on the nervous system — the brain and the nerves that run from it to the whole body. The underlying idea is that the body has its own capacity to find and hold its balance, and that the chiropractor's job is to remove what gets in the way.
How it works
The chiropractor uses manual adjustments on the spine to create more movement between the vertebrae. Every nerve leaving the spine supplies skin, muscle and organs: when there is interference on that nerve, it can become irritated and produce the symptoms you feel.
The adjustment restores movement to the joint, reduces irritation of the nerve and lets the system go back to working as it should. No drugs are involved: medication covers the symptom, the adjustment works on what produces it.
What it treats
Chiropractic deals with problems related to the spine and the joints. These are the ones we see most often:
- Neck pain and arm pain
- Migraine, headaches, tinnitus
- Dizziness, nausea, sinusitis
- Whiplash
- Jaw problems (TMJ)
- Shoulder and arm pain
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel, De Quervain's syndrome
- Tingling in arms and hands
- Low back pain
- Lumbar sciatica
- Disc herniation
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Hip, knee and ankle pain
- Tingling in legs and feet
- Posture
- Check-ups and prevention
Who it is for
Everyone: newborns, children, teenagers, adults, older people. And dogs, cats and horses too, through ChiroVet. What changes is the force, the touch and the timing, not the principle.
Your first visit
It starts with two things: the case history and the physical examination. The history builds a complete picture of your health. The examination covers posture and joint mobility, orthopaedic and neurological testing, and a reading of any imaging you already have.
The first visit already includes treatment. You will not leave with a quote and an appointment for next time.
The path of care
Acute phase
Treatment begins immediately. Visits are more frequent, at a rhythm set by the severity of the condition. This is the phase people arrive in with acute or chronic pain, and the one that asks for the most consistency. Exercises to do at home may be given.
Rehabilitation phase
Visits become systematic and improvements start to be measured. This phase is decisive, because damage to muscle and tissue often remains after the initial symptoms have gone. We work together on the exercises needed to build better posture. Stopping here is the most common way to relapse.
Maintenance
More spaced but regular checks, once spinal function has been restored. It protects the progress made and prevents future problems — much like having your teeth cleaned at the dentist.
See the three phases in detail
Chiropractic in Italy
Two laws recognise the profession. Law 244 of 24 December 2007, article 2 paragraph 355, established a register of doctors of chiropractic at the Ministry of Health, open to those holding a master's degree in chiropractic or an equivalent qualification, and granted the title of doctor of chiropractic as a primary healthcare professional.
The Lorenzin law of 31 January 2018 (L. 3/2018, art. 7) established chiropractic among the recognised healthcare professions.
The Italian training pathway is still being defined: chiropractic cannot be studied in Italy, which is why chiropractors practising here qualified abroad. You can verify Dr Errico's registration on chiropratica.it.