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 of the top 2 neck bones Atlas or Axis (vertebrae) move out of position and put pressure on, or irritate the brain stem. The brain stem is a lot like the fuse box in your house it controls and coordinates everything in the body. Every nerve in the body must meet and travel throught the brain stem. Where the brain stem ends the spinal cord begins; the spinal cord is simply a bunch of phone cables going back and forth telling the body what to do. Everything is controlled and coordinated out of the brain stem.

How does this affect you?  If you have a misalignment of Atlas or Axis putting pressure on your brain stem it does two things. First is it prevent the brain from properly communicating with your body. Second is mechanically this alters your center of gravity. Thats right when your head goes off center your spine MUST compensate; so it creates abnormal curvatures within the spine or what we call spinal distortions.

Your brain stem controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over these 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 Upper Cervical Doctor of Chiropractic to locate the subluxation, and reduce or correct it. This is done through a series of Upper Cervical Corrections specifically designed to correct the Upper Cervical misalignment or subluxation. Upper Cervical Chiropractors undergo extensive training in addition to all those years of Chiropractic school to become experts at correcting subluxation.


 

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 nerves can have a profound impact on the function of the nervous system. 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 subluxation for over one hundred years. Today, more scientific evidence is showing the dangers of subluxation and the health benefits of correcting them. To be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxation. Our goal is to allow your body to return itself to the highest level of health possible by correcting VSC.  Upper Cervical Chiropractors undergo extensive training in addition to all those years of Chiropractic school to become experts at correcting subluxation.