What
is a Subluxation?
What
is a Subluxation and what does it do to me?
First, the simple explanation.
In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation)
is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move
out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves.
Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of
the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves
then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the
signals traveling over those nerves.
How
does this affect you? Your nervous system controls and coordinates
all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals
traveling over nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper
nerve messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their
innate abilities. In other words, some part of your body will
not be working properly.
It
is the responsibility of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate
subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This is done through
a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to
correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors
are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be
the experts at correcting subluxations.
Now, the detailed explanation.
Subluxations are really a combination of changes
going on at the same time. These changes occur both in your spine
and throughout your body. For this reason chiropractors often
refer to vertebral subluxations as the "Vertebral
Subluxation Complex", or "VSC"
for short.
In
the VSC, various things are happening inside
your body simultaneously. These various changes, known as "components,"
are all part of the vertebral subluxation complex. Chiropractors
commonly recognize five categories of components present in the
VSC. These five are:
The
osseous (bone) component is where the vertebrae are
either out of position, not moving properly, or are undergoing
physical changes such as degeneration. This component is sometimes
known as kinesiopathology.
The
Nerve Component is the malfunctioning of the nerve.
Research has shown that only a small amount of pressure on spinal
nerves can have a profound impact on the function of the nerves.
This component is scientifically known as neuropathology.
The
Muscle Component is also involved. Since the muscles
help hold the vertebrae in place, and since nerves control the
muscles themselves, muscles are an integral part of any VSC.
In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the VSC.
This component is known as myopathology.
The Soft Tissue Component is when you
have misaligned vertebrae and pressure on nerves resulting in
changes in the surrounding soft tissues.
This means the tendons, ligaments, blood supply, and other tissues
undergo changes. These changes can occur at the point of the VSC
or far away at some end point of the affected nerves. This component
is also known as histopathology.
The
Chemical Component is when all these components of
the VSC are acting on your body, and therefore
causing some degree of chemical changes. These chemical changes
can be slight or massive depending on what parts of your body
are affected by your subluxations. This component is often known
as biochemical abnormalities.
Chiropractors
have known about the dangers of subluxations for over one hundred
years. Today, more scientific evidence is showing the dangers
of subluxations and the health benefits of correcting them. To
be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning
free of interference from subluxations. Our goal is to allow your
body to return itself to the highest level of health possible
by correcting VSC. Chiropractors are the ONLY health professionals
trained in the detection, location, and correction of the VSC.
