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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.
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