According to the American Chiropractic Association and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges the definition of a subluxation is:
“A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity, and may influence organ system function and general health.”
What does this mean? Vertebra in your spine can become misaligned or misplaced, where their joints do not move as fluidly as they should. Two vertebra become stuck or restricted together. This is what chiropractors call a subluxation. Subluxation means incomplete or partial dislocation.
Why is this important?
The spine has 24 vertebra from our head to our pelvis. Each individual vertebrae needs to move independently of the one above and below it. Due to many different things, your spine can develop subluxations. Subluxations can happen at two or more levels. Subluxations can irritate and/or put pressure on the nerve that exits at that spinal level.
Nerves are very sensitive structures in our body. When there is pressure on them, they can cause problems in the body. Every nerve that comes out from your spine goes to three things: an area of your skin, a muscle group and an organ system. When a subluxation is present in your spine, you can experience different things, such as numbness and/or tingling, they can affect your muscles causing muscle weakness, muscle contractions or muscle spasms and they can even cause a decrease in organ function. Subluxations can cause any combination of these things and of various degrees. The last thing to show up in a subluxation is pain. However, you will experience pain only in the most acute or extreme situation. This is why pain is a very poor indicator for health. Ninety percent of the time you will have a decrease in function BEFORE you experience any pain. This decrease in function can look like headaches, fatigue, sleeping difficulty, sinus or allergy issues, digestion problems, breathing problems, a weakened immune system or frequently getting sick, numbness/tingling, chronic tightness in your neck, shoulders, mid back or low back, just to name a few.
Why should you care?
As long as subluxations are present in your spine, your body will be operating at a decreased level of function and does NOT have the ability to heal itself. In the presence of subluxations, your brain cannot communicate efficiently to that specific part of your body. Without proper communication from your brain, your body simply cannot and will not heal. Subluxations can contribute to many symptoms and health problems. Chiropractors are trained to seek out, locate and correct subluxations by delivering a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is very specific and corrects the subluxation by putting motion back into that spinal level. This motion releases the pressure on the nerve and restores proper brain body communication. Proper brain body communication is essential for you to be health and at your best.
Life depends on you being at your best. Chiropractic can help you function better to get more out of your life. Your spine is the gateway to your overall health and how well you function. If you have never been checked by a chiropractor before, give me a call to come in and simply get checked. It will take 30 minutes of your time to get educated about your spine. I will do this at my expense. To schedule your free screening, call 630-548-0700.
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Dr. Keith Giaquinto 