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Subluxation
and Spinal Injuries Explained:
The brain
stem and spinal cord are the primary pathways for nerve impulses to
and from the brain. Messages back and forth through these nerves control
the health and function of virtually every other cell, tissue, organ,
and system of the body. Because of the way your spine is designed,
improper motion or position of spinal bones can irritate or choke
delicate nerves interfering with the function of the tissues they
control. Chiropractors call this subluxation.
 Nerve
tissue is so important it is protected by bone. The brain is encased
by the skull, and the spinal cord is covered by 24 moving bones of
the spinal column. Many everyday things can cause these bones to lose
their normal motion or position. This sets off a chain reaction affecting
the spinal bones, nerves, muscles, soft tissues, and results in degenerative
changes throughout the body.
Chiropractortors refer to this as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Besides describing how the spine can affect your overall health, the
Vertebral Subluxation Complex explains why it takes time to restore
optimum health.
 The
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) is the underlying cause
of many health problems and is recognized by its five component parts.
You can find out more information on specific injuries in our Sports
Injuries and Golf Injuries sections.
SPINAL KINESIOPATHOLOGY (Abnormal motion or position
of spinal bones.)
The bones of the spine are designed to move, while at the same time
protecting the spinal cord and nerve roots. But, sometimes they become
"stuck," don't move enough, or they move too much. This can be caused
by physical trauma (repetitive motion, car accidents, slips, falls,
etc.), emotional stress (worry, negative thoughts, fear, etc.), or
chemical imbalances (alcohol, drugs, toxins, pollution, etc.). When
spinal joints are fixated ("stuck") and not moving enough, they force
other joints to move too much. These problems can distort normal spinal
curves and compromise proper function. In some cases, problems in
one area of the spine can cause compensation reactions in other areas!
Chiropractortors can detect this aspect of the Vertebral Subluxation
Complex by analyzing your posture, taking diagnostic X-rays, measuring
your ability to turn and bend, plus other tests. Spinal Kinesiopathology
can set in motion the other four components.
NEUROPATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Abnormal nervous system function)
Because of the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function
can rub, pinch, irritate, or choke the delicate tissues of the spinal
cord and nerve roots. While commonly associated with spinal problems,
the pinched nerve (compressive lesion) is actually quite rare. Researchers
suggest that only 10% to 15% of spinal-related problems are caused
by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue! Sometimes, this problem
can result in numbness, burning, or a "pins and needles" feeling.
More frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitative lesion) by improperly
functioning spinal structures. This is caused when nerve tissue is
stretched, twisted, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal bones. Nervous
system impairment can affect the tissues, organs, and systems of the
body, increasing the susceptibility of disease and ill health. Muscles
that support the spine are affected too.
MYOPATHOLOGY (Abnormal muscle function)
When muscle function is impaired from too much or too little nerve
supply, muscles that support the spine respond in different ways.
When nerve impulses are diminished, muscles supporting the spine can
weaken and atrophy. When muscles are over stimulated from nerve irritation,
supporting muscles can become tight and go into spasm. In either extreme,
fibrotic scar tissue can form in these muscles, changing their elasticity.
This damage to the supporting muscles of the spine is why repeated
adjustments are often necessary and adjustments don't seem to "hold."
It also explains why long-standing spinal problems are so difficult
and time-consuming to correct. Without proper rehabilitation, many
patients experience a relapse of their original health complaint.
HISTOPATHOLOGY (Abnormal soft tissue function)
When there is spinal joint malfunction, the discs, ligaments, and
other connective tissues are affected, too. While technically you
can't have a "slipped" disc, the soft pulpy discs that separate each
spinal vertebra can tear, bulge, herniate, and degenerate. Ligaments
and other connective tissues in the area of the malfunctioning spinal
joint are often involved. Inflammation and swelling accompany the
accumulation of blood and lymph, causing a rise in temperature. Unlike
many other tissues of the body, these discs and ligaments have a poor
blood supply. This makes the healing of soft tissues a very slow and
time-consuming process. In fact, proper healing often requires continued
care even after the relief of obvious symptoms.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Abnormal function of the spine and
body.)
When there is malfunction or trauma to a joint, one of the ways the
body responds is by stabilizing the area by growing new bone! Over
time, calcium deposits can build up, eventually recognizable as bone
spurs and other abnormal bony growths. This arthritic "splinting"
of adjacent bones is an attempt to stabilize the malfunctioning joint.
If ignored or neglected long enough, the body can turn a once mobile
joint into a solid block of calcium. Throughout the body, degenerative
changes can be seen in other organs and systems. Many health conditions
not normally considered related to "back problems", can often be traced
back to nervous system impairment by the spine. While often seen in
the aged, this degenerative condition is not part of the normal aging
process. This type of spinal decay is the result of spinal problems
which have been ignored or neglected for many years.
THE VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION COMPLEX
More and more researchers have confirmed the far-reaching effects
of abnormal spinal function. Every day we're learning more about the
implications of these five component parts. Because of the intricacies
of the nervous system, more research is being conducted in the areas
of immune system response, aging, hormonal involvement, and even genetic
consequences. Clearly, the Vertebral Subluxation Complex may be one
of the most common, yet overlooked sources of health problems.
(above article provided by BackTalkSystems,
Inc. and is copyrighted)
To find out more, please see our Frequently Asked
Questions area and our Common Conditions
area.
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