WHAT IS A SUBLUXATION?
Often described in practice as a partial dislocation, a subluxation is when the vertebrae move slightly out of alignment causing pressure or irritation to the nerves. The spine loses normal motion and/or position and can have an affect on the nerves involved and vertebrae around the subluxated area. As the vertebrae are not functioning properly this can cause wear and tear on the discs and associated ligaments, muscles and other spinal tissue. This nerve interference results in the body operating at a reduced rate. Pain, inflammation and tenderness often follow. Once the nervous system has been impaired via a subluxation, the overall health and wellbeing of the person is at reduced.
Chiropractors locate Subluxations which cause interference to the nervous system. They then correct the interference through specific gentle adjustments to the spine which relieves the pressure to the nerves therefore assisting in correction and improving the health of the nerves.
What Causes Subluxations?
Subluxations are caused through varying ways. They can be responses to physical, emotional, chemical or genetic factors.
Physical
Birth process, slips, falls, car accident, poor sleeping habits, repetitive motions, sports injuries, bad postural habits etc.
Emotional
Stressful conditions such as family problems, divorce, death in family, work stresses, life problems and not being able to manage stressful situations.
Chemical
External pollutants in the environment, smoking, drugs, car fumes, alcohol, poor diet.
Genetics
Many health problems can run in families.
Muscle weakness or imbalance from stress, obesity or lack of exercise are all contributing factors to Subluxations
What are the Symptoms Associated With Subluxations?
Most people actually wait until they have a symptom such as pain until they seek chiropractic help. They can have a range of symptoms including:
- Inflammation & swelling
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Low energy
- Tenderness
- Reduction or loss of mobility
- Muscle spasms
- Tingling sensations
- Loss of sensation
- Weakness, dizziness
- Stiffness
- Loss of control over muscles or organs.
- Poor overall state of health
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Colic
- Asthma
- Depression
- Poor weight control
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Arm and leg pain
- And the list goes on….
It must also be noted, that people who are not experiencing any symptoms are not necessarily ‘subluxation free’. It is common for pain to be the last symptom to occur and the first symptom to disappear. Just like tooth decay, we may not be aware that we have it until it has been decaying for months or possibly years before we feel a ‘toothache’.
Functional disorders (fixations) of the spine in children. Lewit K. Manuelle Therapie, J.A. Barth, Leipzig, 1973. Chap.2.7. Pp.50-54.
Functional disorders are considered to be the first manifestations of spinal or vertebrogenic disease, with first symptoms appearing at a young age. In a total of 57 children’s migraine cases, 48 had excellent results after manipulative therapy. Functional disorders in children may manifest themselves as sleep disorders, loss of appetite, psychic problems or dysmenorrhea and may not exist as spinal pain.
Studies of healthy children revealed pelvic subluxations in 40% of all school children, cervical fixation in 15.8%. After manipulative treatments, the problems rarely recurred.
