What is health, really? A conversation from the chiropractic table

Every week in practice I hear questions that get me thinking. Sometimes they’re simple, “how many sessions will I need?” Or “can you help with my shoulder”. But every so often a patient asks something that can make us all think deeper.

Just the other day, as I finished an adjustment, a patient looked at me and asked: “So, what actually is health? How do we even define it?” 

That’s not the kind of question you answer in 30 seconds before the next appointment! But it’s the kind of question that reminds me why I do what I do. 

Because here’s the truth, when you’re a Chiropractor, you don’t just see back’s and neck’s or even those shoulder’s. You see people. You see the mum desperate for sleep because her baby only naps when she’s upright. You see the builder who thinks he has to “just put up with it” because pain has been part of his life for decades. You see the retiree who wants to play golf with his grandkids, not sit out on the sidelines.

And when you spend your days helping people, you realise something: health means different things to different people.

For one patient, health is no longer getting migraines. 

For another, it’s being able to walk the dog again without worrying about their hip.

For me personally, it’s about being mobile and strong enough to do things I love to do. Rock climbing, cycling and about anything outdoors!

Here’s the thing: health isn’t just the absence of illness. It’s not simply about ticking “normal” boxes on a blood test or having no obvious symptoms. To me health is about how well your body is working and adapting to life.

Think of it like this: our bodies are designed to be incredible self healing, self regulating organisms. Every second, your nervous system is coordinating millions of messages. Healing cuts, fighting off germs, digesting food, keeping your heart beating, and so much more. All without you even thinking about it. Thats amazing, isn’t it?

Behind the scenes, this is what runs through my mind with every adjustment I give. When I check someone’s spine, I am not just thinking about joints and muscles… I am thinking about the nervous system, the way the body heals itself, the potential for someone to feel better, move better, BE better. 

Thats why chiropractic excites me. Because when the body’s communication system is working at its best, everything else improves. From your energy to your sleep, your movement to your mood.

So when a patient asks me, “what is health?” I often turn it back on them:

What does health look like for you?

What would it mean in your life to be “truly healthy”?

Is your body able to do the things you love?

When that storm comes, are you able to face it head on?

The answer is always different.

Once you know your definition, caring for your health becomes a lot more purposeful. And whether it’s through Chiropractic, better nutrition, exercise, or better sleep, you’ll have a clearer idea of why you’re doing it. And why us Chiropractors help you do it.

At the end of the day, health isn’t a finish line you cross. It’s a journey, every little choice you make, from the food you eat to the adjustments you receive, moves you closer to (or further from) that definition.

So I leave you with the same question my patient asked me:

What does health mean to you?