Dr Nick Laurie of City Chiropractic became a Chiropractor because he genuinely wants to help people. We caught up with Nick to chat about Vitalism, spinal adjustments and the benefits of chiropractic care.
The philosophy of City Chiropractic is linked to the concept of Vitalism. What is at the core of this idea?
The core concept of Vitalism is that the human body has an internal ability to flourish and function at its best. Your body has self-healing properties. I’m sure that you could think of an example of this like the healing of a cut or recovery from a cold. If we can remove any interference to this natural ability then you will flourish. Every cell, tissue and body part is designed to function at 100%. Our goal is to enable people do everything with “ease.”
Can you explain the relationship between spinal biomechanics and nervous system interference?
The bones of the spine, the vertebrae, are designed to protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves, much like a suit of Armour. If the vertebrae are not functioning, or moving, as they should, this leads to an alteration of the message being sent between the brain and the body. The body then plugs the gaps much like auto-correct on your phone. If we have the spine moving well with no interference to the spinal nerves, then the message gets through quickly and accurately. Optimal spinal function leads to optimal function in general.
You often refer to the three Ts: Trauma, Toxins and Thoughts as being the three primary forces that are hindering us from being at our best. Is there any of these forces that you see as being particularly prominent in society today?
The most prominent “T” is definitely the trauma related to posture. Hours in front of a computer or phone are having a major effect on spinal function. Your head drifts forward loading up the discs and causes interference to the nerves trying to transmit vital information between the brain and the body.
We are also seeing effects of the 3rd T, thoughts or stress. In these trying times there are a lot of people who are struggling mentally. This turns on the stress response and all of your flexor muscles fire. Think about how you lean forward when you are stressed. We are seeing many people who can’t pinpoint a physical cause for their neck or back pain and we find that it has been due to being unable to dial down or switch off the stress response.
Tell us about the primary adjusting techniques you use (Diversified, Gonstead, Thompson and Activator Methods) and how you judge which is most appropriate for your client?
There are many Chiropractic techniques used to suit all different types of people and different generations. In a newborn baby we use very light low force techniques with the pressure being similar to that when you press on your eyelid. Another low force technique that we use is with an instrument called an activator. It delivers a fast impulse that feels like a light click. This is used on kids or fragile patients.
Diversified and Gonstead are traditional Chiropractic techniques where sometimes an audible click is heard when the fluid in the joint is disturbed by the manual adjustment. These are painless and satisfying where a change in function is noticeable right away.
Thompson technique uses a special drop table offering an alternative when manual adjustments may be difficult to perform. Technique is specifically tailored to the patient. There is something to suit all ages and body types.
If having a spinal adjustment is similar to “tuning” a piano, how often would you recommend your clients get adjusted?
There are 3 phases to a Chiropractic care plan:
- This is where we stabilise the presenting condition with a goal to move better and feel better. This requires an intensive care plan where we would see you 2 or 3 times per week-much like training at the gym.
- Once this has been achieved we move to the correction phase where spinal curves improve and the disc space enlarges. We are able to measure the change and visits at this point are weekly.
- The 3rd phase is the vitality phase where you come in so that you can function at your best. Some people choose to have their spine checked on a weekly basis but the frequency of care is determined by how much you are subjecting your body to. The furthest apart the visits are before we see decline is monthly.
Personally I get checked once or twice a week. Spinal adjustments are made within the normal range of movement and to areas of the spine that have lost normal function, and for this reason cannot be over done.
You’ve said that you firmly believe in a natural approach to health care, and see this natural approach as the reason you haven’t had a day off work due to illness in 12 years. Pretty incredible! As well as regular chiropractic care, what other routines form a part of your natural approach to your personal health?
There are 4 pillars to a healthy lifestyle: Move well, Eat clean, think great thoughts and breathe.
I start each day with 10 diaphragmatic breathes, an affirmation (which I used to think was pretty corny until I saw how it shaped my day), a green smoothie and a plan to move in some way.
You have a passion for running and have run 25 marathons. What are some of the main benefits of regular chiropractic care for runners?
A body in balance will move easily. Regular Chiropractic care keeps the “wheels aligned” and enables you to push your limits. Studies have shown that a Chiropractic adjustment can also improve strength. If you have an aligned spine and a balanced body you can do things easily- it’s a simple as that.
