Veterbral Subluxation Complex and Chiropractic Care

A veterbral subluxation is a condition where a vertebra has moved slightly from its normal position in your spine and is no longer in its proper place in connection with one or both vertebra on either side of it.

Once this happens, gradual deterioration of spinal muscles, ligaments, discs and joint encompassing the vertebra will begin.   After a time, you will experience pain, inflammation, tenderness, muscle spasms, rigidity and tension.

Vertebral subluxations can potentially hinder nerve functioning because spinal nerve roots are irritated or compressed.

Subluxation Complex

Chiropractors have discovered through research and study that there are five components to the condition known as "subluxation complex".   To assist in understanding the following medical terms, it may be helpful to know the meaning of the word "pathology".   Pathology refers to the science or study of the origin, nature and course of diseases; conditions and processes of disease or deviation from healthy normal condition.

• Kinesiopathology: Normal vertebra positioning and motion in relation to adjacent vertebra is lost;
  
• Myopathology: Changes in the spinal musculature such as muscle rigidity, tension and spasm;
  
• Neuropathology: Spinal nerve irritation or injury by compression, stretch or chemical irritation from adjoining spinal structures;
  
• Histopathology: May include abnormal bony growths, fibrosis and adherence of spinal muscles and ligament or dehydration and degeneration of spinal discs;
  
• Pathophysiology: Biochemical changes within the spinal region.

Each element of the subluxation complex must be treated for proper healing and rehabilitation.

Causes of Subluxation Complex

There are three categories in which subluxations may occur:

• Physical causes: Acute trauma, repetitive motions, poor posture, inadequate ergonomic office settings, weak or imbalanced spinal musculature all fall within this class;
  
• Chemical causes: Poor nutrition, drug use, alcohol abuse and chemical toxins ingested and breathed in constitute some of the causes in this grouping;
  
• Emotion causes: Stress, anxiety, depression, relationships.

Symptoms of Subluxation Complex

Some of the symptoms indicative of a subluxation complex are:

• Back pain
• Back tenderness
• Back stiffness
• Decreased spinal mobility
• Headaches
• Vertigo
• Scoliosis
  
• Spinal muscle spasm
• Spinal muscle weakness
• Spinal muscle tightness
• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Lack of energy
• General feeling of ill health
• Slow tissue healing

Treatments for Subluxations

Chiropractors are knowledgeable about techniques to correct vertebral subluxations.    Most often a spinal adjustment is made to the misaligned vertebra.   The spinal adjustment can be performed with the chiropractor's hands or a hand-held instrument.

It may take multiple chiropractic treatments for the vertebral subluxation to be fixed as tissues need time to adjust to the realignment of the vertebra.

Chiropractors are the only health care providers equipped with the expertise to detect subluxations and successfully treat the condition.   A subluxation may not exhibit any signs or symptoms in the early stages but, eventually, the deterioration caused by this condition will cause pain.    Unfortunately, by that time, substantial damage may have occurred.

Regular chiropractic checkups will greatly reduce the possibility of a subluxation remaining undetected and affecting your overall health and well-being.