You may go to the chiropractor for an exam or x-ray and hear them mention something about subluxations. But what is a subluxation? A spinal subluxation is an incomplete or partial dislocation of the spinal bones. This means that one or more vertebrae in your spine have become misaligned or have moved out of place.
This may not seem difficult to understand, but some of the symptoms and causes of subluxations can be a bit more difficult to wrap your head around. So, let’s take a look at how subluxations affect the body and what it means to have them:
Effects of a subluxation:
When most people think of spinal issues, they automatically think of neck pain, back pain, and maybe headaches. But when the spine and the nerves are involved, you can often feel the effects in many different areas of the body. This is because your central nervous system controls every cell, tissue, organ and system in your body.
When a vertebrae has shifted out of place (this is a subluxation), it can can impinge on an adjacent nerve, causing distorted nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of your body. This communication interference can cause the body to malfunction or not work quite up to par.
This improper communication can manifest itself in symptoms like pain, reduced range of motion, the improper functioning of organs and systems, and more. However, you can have a subluxation without knowing it, as it can take time for symptoms to appear.
What causes them?
A subluxation is a stress response. When the body is introduced to a certain physical, emotional, or chemical stress, the muscles respond by going into spasm. This tension causes the spinal bones to lock up, and the joints lose their proper motion. As a result, these bones can then end up in an improper position that impinges on adjacent nerves.
Some of the causes of subluxations include:
- Physical: slips, falls, repetitive motions, accidents, improper lifting, bad posture, improper sleeping
- Chemical: drugs, alcohol, pollution, poor diet
- Emotional: stress, anger, fear, grief, and other negative emotions that stress the body and damage the immune system
How is it fixed?
Spinal subluxations can occasionally clear up on their own, but when they don’t, chiropractic treatment should be sought out. A series of chiropractic adjustments can change the position and motion of the spinal bones so that they no longer impinge on adjacent nerves. These adjustments involve applying a specific and precise force in the right direction, at the right time to allow the misplaced vertebrae to move back into their proper position. This can be done by hand, with pelvic blocks, or an arthrostim device which gently re-educates the joints in a crackless fashion while it adjusts the bones into their proper place. All are very soothing and feel great.
After a series of chiropractic adjustments, the body will get used to holding the spine, muscles, ligaments and tissues in this proper position and the stress on adjacent nerves will be alleviated. This allows the body to heal itself and return to optimal function.
If you want to avoid the symptoms and repercussions of subluxations, you should see a chiropractor regularly. Doing so can help you identify and correct subluxations before symptoms arise. Schedule a consultation with an experienced chiropractor at Parkside Health and Wellness Center today to find out if you have subluxations, and how you can prevent and correct them.