What is a Subluxation?
In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out between each of the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.
How does this affect you? Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over 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 Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations.
“All the drugs in the world cannot adjust a subluxated vertebrae” – B.J. Palmer
Consequences of Ignoring Subluxation
Ignoring a Subluxation results in a progressively worsening conditions as spine health deteriorates through 3 stages of decay.
Stage 1 – Spine loses some of its natural curvature and the joints, discs, and nerves experience some stress that causes them to age at an accelerated rate.
Stage 2 – Discs are thinner, the spinal cord has narrowed, and bone spurs have formed.
Stage 3 – Patients experience a change in posture, nerve damage, more serious disc problems, and deformation of the bones.
Final Stage – Spinal degeneration is irreversible and our main goal is keeping patients as comfortable as possible.