What is a Subluxation?

A subluxation is when spinal bones lose their normal position and cause interference or compression of the nerves that control the body’s system of cells, tissues, muscles, and organs. This can be a result of stress, trauma or chemical imbalances.

More specifically this is referred to as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) and is made up of five components:

• Abnormal spinal mechanics (Spinal Kinesiopathology)
  A joint is not moving well relative to the joint above or below it. This may result from trauma, like a fall, or from chronic mistreatment, like poor posture.

• Abnormal nerve function (Neuropathophysiology)
  This refers to pinched or irritated spinal nerves. Untreated this can impair the function of the tissues, organs and systems controlled by these nerves.

• Abnormal muscle function (Myopathology)
  Whenever there are pinched or irritated spinal nerves there will usually be muscle problems. This can lead to muscle inflammation and eventually scar tissue formation.

• Abnormal function of soft tissues around the spine (Histopathology)
  Discs, ligaments and other soft tissues can malfunction too. Inflammation of the tissues, decreased blood flow, swelling, edema can all cause permanent damage to the spinal discs and other soft tissues of the spine.

• Disease at the spinal level and of the whole body (Pathophysiology)
  At this stage, irreversible disease or pathology can occur. This may manifest in the spinal area as bony spurs on the vertebrae, decreased disk height and roughened joint surfaces.

• Questions
  If you have any questions about subluxation or the problems it causes, please speak with your chiropractor.

Source
Chiroweb: Information posted on Chiroweb under What is Chiropractic? Back Talk Systems. Magazette.