What is a Subluxation?

First, the simple explanation...

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 from 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 your pet?  Your pets nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of  your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over nerves,  parts of the 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 the 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.

Now, the detailed explanation...

Subluxations are really a  combination of changes going on at the same time. These changes occur  both in the spine and throughout the body. For this reason chiropractors  often refer to vertebral subluxations as the "Vertebral Subluxation  Complex", or "VSC" for short.

In the VSC, various things are  happening inside your pets body simultaneously. These various changes,  known as "components," are all part of the vertebral subluxation  complex. Chiropractors commonly recognize five categories of components  present in the VSC. These five are:

The Osseous (bone) Component is where the vertebrae are either out of position, not moving properly,  or are undergoing physical changes such as degeneration. This component  is sometimes known as kinesiopathology.

The Nerve Component is  the malfunctioning of the nerve. Research has shown that only a small  amount of pressure on spinal nerves can have a profound impact on the  function of the nerves. This component is scientifically known as  neuropathology.

The Muscle Component is also involved. Since the muscles help hold the vertebrae in place,  and since nerves control the muscles themselves, muscles are an integral  part of any VSC. In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the  VSC. This component is known as myopathology.

The Soft Tissue Component is  when you have misaligned vertebrae and pressure on nerves resulting in  changes in the surrounding soft tissues. This means the tendons,  ligaments, blood supply, and other tissues undergo changes. These  changes can occur at the point of the VSC or far away at some end point  of the affected nerves. This component is also known as histopathology.

The Chemical Component is when all these components of the VSC are acting on your body, and  therefore causing some degree of chemical changes. These chemical  changes can be slight or massive depending on what parts of your body  are affected by your subluxations. This component is often known as  biochemical abnormalities.

Now, the more detailed explanation...

PATHOPHYSILOGY OF A SUBLUXATION (Nerve pressure, acute or chronic; due to a disc, bone spur, or misalignment)

There are two stages by which  the spinal cord and/or spinal nerve is damaged following trauma.  Initially there is primary tissue damage from: 1. direct mechanical  disruption, followed by secondary damage via 2. biochemical and vascular  events.

When cellular membrane  integrity is disrupted, a complex cascade of biochemical reactions is  initiated, including the release of excitototoxic amino acids, free  radicals, free fatty acids, oxygen free radicals, and vasoactive agents.  These membrane changes result in intracellular calcium, potassium, and  sodium ion changes affecting the injured nerve.

When there is a decrease in  blood flow to the nerve due to direct mechanical compression from the  subluxated vertebra, bone spur, or disc material, it causes vasospasm  and hemorrhage which leads to nerve ischemia. Ischemia results in  cytotoxic edema, axonal degeneration, demyelization, abnormal impulse  transmission, conduction block and cell death.
 

"The  chiropractic approach to better health is to detect and reduce nervous  system dysfunction...and we all feel this way, because Chiropractic  works!"