Straight chiropractic is not intended to be a treatment for symptoms or disease. It is intended to remove major interference to the body's many innate potentials. The potential for physical, mental and social well-being, including spirituality, creativity and self awareness are other examples of innate potential.
Chiropractic science teaches that the health of the spine is essential to the health of the body.
The design of the spine is quite splendid, incorporating flexibility, strength and resilience in its critical role of protecting the spinal cord and nerves. It is susceptible to the stress and strain of everyday life and from time to time may require professional attention. Extending from the skull to the pelvis and formed of 24 vertebrae and 122 joints, the human spine is an engineering marvel. Along with 300 muscles and 375 ligaments, the spine supports the head, trunk, upper limbs and itself, while transferring the weight of the body to the lower limbs. The spine also houses and protects the spinal cord and the 31 pairs of spinal nerves which branch from the spinal cord and travel through openings between the vertebrae, called intervertebral foramen, to the rest of the body.