About a year ago, my students performed at a natural therapies fair at Bioparc. It was a wonderful performance, and the audience joined in too.
Afterwards, we explored the different stands. At one labelled “chiropractic”, we were offered a quick spinal check. One of my students told me she already knew the practitioners and felt that her health had improved since she began attending sessions.
I believe we all experience discomfort in one form or another. I am thinking not only of back pain, but also of colds, insomnia, allergies, hernias and other conditions through which, to me, the body seems to speak. I see them as an invitation to listen more closely to ourselves and consider whether something deeper lies behind how we feel.
I decided to begin sessions, and from the outset I felt a general sense of well-being. My pain, mainly in my upper back, eased, and I also felt an immediate mental clarity. I began to notice positive changes in my state of mind, a more rounded sense of well-being and a wonderful feeling of energy.
I must admit I had been a little apprehensive about chiropractic, as we often are when something is unfamiliar. Once I tried it, I discovered how good it made me feel. I felt it helped me maintain—and even increase—the flexibility I already had, bringing a greater sense of harmony to my dancing.
With that experience in mind, I asked the chiropractors some questions that mattered to me. I wanted to share the positive experience I had had with anyone interested in caring for their health and feeling more at ease in their body, and to present it as an option they might explore if it felt right for them.
interview with romain riberou
how would you briefly define chiropractic?
As chiropractors, we focus on the spine and nervous system. The nerves that carry information throughout the body emerge from the spine. When the nervous system functions well, the body functions well. But when vertebrae are subluxated—“locked”, or with some loss of mobility—the spine may hurt and, more importantly, a nerve may be compressed and fail to transmit information correctly. That is where problems begin. I emphasise the nervous system because chiropractic is about more than relieving back pain. We want a nervous system free from subluxations, because we believe these interferences affect our health.
when did chiropractic begin, and who were its pioneers?
Chiropractic began in the United States in 1895. Its founder, D. D. Palmer, noticed a vertebra out of its normal position while examining the back of a deaf man. He made a precise adjustment to restore its position, and the man regained his hearing. Palmer went on to investigate the relationship between the spine, nervous system, bodily function and health, and to teach what is now known as chiropractic. Some 120 years later, there are two schools in Spain: one in Barcelona and one in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid.
why might dancers seek chiropractic adjustments, and what benefits could they offer?
Before talking specifically about dancers, we can begin with the role of chiropractic for people in general.
We should see a chiropractor to make sure our skeletal system is functioning at its best. With a flexible spine and vertebrae that move well, we can move without discomfort or restriction and maintain a healthy nervous system.
The same applies to dancers. Subluxations in the spine and hips can prevent movements from being fluid and consistent.
Not all chiropractors do this, but at our centre we also adjust the joints in the arms and legs, so that the whole body is balanced and properly adjusted.
Dance requires strength, flexibility and stamina. Chiropractic can help restore and maintain those qualities, improve performance and prevent injuries.
belly dance engages muscles and strengthens joints throughout the body. apart from regular adjustments, what advice would you give dancers?
To help prevent subluxations, we usually advise our patients to pay attention to the following:
Their mindset.
Getting enough rest.
Eating well and staying hydrated.
Looking after their posture and choosing activities that work both sides of the body fairly evenly, such as cycling, swimming, rowing or running—or walking for those who cannot do more.
Warming up properly before any exercise and stretching afterwards.
can you adjust parts of your own body?
A spinal adjustment is a very precise movement that requires many hours of training and a thorough knowledge of anatomy. That is why you should not attempt it yourself. You also need to be sure the person performing the adjustment is properly qualified, rather than putting yourself at risk with an unsafe practitioner.
Chiropractors study for six years to master this practice. If the chiropractor you see has not helped you improve, you should seek out another practitioner until you find the right one.