Chiropractic: 5 Components of Vertebral Subluxation

Vertebral subluxation can arise due to three primary reasons: physical, emotional and chemical stresses that we encounter in our day-to-day activities. Chiropractors often counsel patients taking these factors into consideration based on health concepts such as nutrition, exercise, changes in lifestyle, and stress management in order to preserve and restore the overall health.

1. Physical: neglected injury, repeated motions, chronic poor postures, ergonomically unfriendly seating at the office, prolonged slouching before computer, lifting heavy objects, not warming up and stretching sufficiently before and after workouts and sports, automobile accidents, and even while playing with children.

2. Chemical: may range from poor dietary habits and lifestyles, lack of nutritional intake, frequent eating of processed food and colas, snacking on unhealthy short eats, overeating of calorie-laden food, alcohol addiction, drug abuse, and accumulation of chemical toxins in the food, polluted air, electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones and contamination of drinking water.

3. Emotional: Stress has become the password of this age-a gift of the mechanized world-excessive competition, unattainable high goals and too many options are some of the stressors. Actually speaking, stress is the wear and tear our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings.

The Five Components of Vertebral Subluxation:

Subluxation complex may start with local pain and interfere with or impede the function of the nervous system, integrate with the joints and muscles resulting in the optimal function of the body.

A professionally trained Chiropractor can conduct an accurate detection, evaluation and correction of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Adjusting the spine or the band-aid approach is one method of treating vertebral subluxation.

Vertebral Subluxation Complex is broken down into five components based on the effect it has on the body.

1. Kinesiopathology or spinal pathomechanics: This condition affects the normal position of vertebral alignment / asymmetry, resulting in irregular motion. This creates mechanical stress and joint sprain or vertebral decay.

2. Myopathology: Pathological changes occurring in the spinal muscles result in hyper tonicity, muscle spasm, fibrosis, muscle weakness, arrested development of the tissues and long term inappropriate functioning of the spine.

3. Neuropathology or Neuropathophysiology: Irritation or injury to spinal nerve roots through choking, compression, stretch or chemical irritation from improperly positioned spinal structures inflicting chronic pain. It damages nerve at the traumatized site as well as peripherally disturbing the transmission of data from the brain to the body.

4. Histopathology: Inflammation, edema and swelling of tissue, usually local to the traumatized area. Pathological changes which occur to the spinal tissues such as abnormal bony growths on the vertebral bodies and joints, fibrosis and adhesions of spinal muscles and ligaments, as well as dehydration and degeneration or bulging of spinal discs.

5. Pathophysiology or Pathology: From the chiropractic viewpoint the pathoanatomical trauma due to the previous four components results in deteriorating spinal function or "abnormal orthopedic functional programs" mediated by gravitational stress (adaptation) and by the adaptation needs of the nervous system.

Clinically, subluxation is similar to dental cavities; in both cases a significant amount of damage is done before the pain arises. Seek periodic spinal checkups by a professional chiropractor to assess for subluxation.

Conclusion:

Subluxation can be compared to a steering wheel that is stiff and that does not turn to its full capacity, it is "subluxated" and can lead to an accident. A good chiropractor will treat not only the symptoms but also the root cause for the vertebral subluxation. Apart from the treatment, with his/her advice you can make changes to your lifestyle so that future instances of vertebral subluxation can be avoided and save yourself from a lot of pain.