What Is a Subluxation? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
If you’ve been reading about chiropractic care and its treatments you might have crossed the term subluxation. In most cases, chiropractic patients listen to this word after their initial diagnosis and when chiropractors are going through the spinal adjustments and manipulations. But, hearing this word so many times during your treatment plan might leave you asking – what is a subluxation?
What Is a Subluxation of the Spine?
A subluxation, also known as a vertebral subluxation complex, is a disorder of the spine where the alignment and physiological functions of the spine are altered, moving them from their normal position and placing excessive pressure and inflammation on the spinal nerves. Instead of the joint surface completely losing contact, a subluxation is considered to be a “partial dislocation.” In some cases, these spinal misalignments can be quite painful, depending on the reason why they form. If left untreated a subluxation can trigger a degenerative process in the surrounding areas, and it might become more difficult to reverse it as the body progressively adjusts itself to the misaligned or partially dislocated shape.
In the chiropractic world, a subluxation is the most important reason to check your intervertebral joint motion and your musculoskeletal system. One could say a chiropractors’ entire world revolves around finding and realigning subluxations to improve and promote wellness.
Although a subluxation can occur for a number of reasons, the most common include:
- Car accidents
- Poor posture
- Sitting for long hours
- Improper lifting
- Alcohol or drug use
- Emotional stress
- Chemical imbalances
The above factors can cause the spine’s vertebrae to move from their proper position and cause a range of health problems.
Types of Subluxation Chiropractors Look At
Some chiropractors like to separate subluxation by the level of dislocation present between the joints. In this case, some types of subluxation include a V-shape widening, moderate subluxation, advanced subluxation, and finally ending up in a dislocation.
However, a subluxation can occur in one of three types, including:
- Anterior Subluxation (forward) – This type is the most common, it is localized and purely ligamentous, the bone is not involved.
- Posterior Subluxation (backward) – This type of subluxation is very rare, and it is often the result of an injury or trauma.
- Inferior (downward) – This type of dislocation is also rare, and it entails the joint being displaced downward.
The Five Components of Vertebral Subluxation Complex
A subluxation, or partial dislocation, interferes or distorts the normal nervous system functionality. Chiropractic adjustments performed by a licensed chiropractor can help with vertebral subluxation treatment by realigning the affected vertebrae and restoring proper function to the nervous system. There are five components that combine to create a spinal vertebral subluxation complex, also known as VSC. These five include:
- The Osseous Component – This is where the vertebrae are either slightly out of position, not moving correctly, or are undergoing degeneration. This component is sometimes known as kinesiopathology.
- The Nerve Component – This is the malfunctioning nerve. This condition is caused by improper spinal function that blocks, pulls or irritates delicate nerve tissue, causing symptoms in various parts of the body depending on the nerve affected.
- The Muscle Component – When the muscles supporting the spine tighten, weaken, go into spasms or suffers from atrophy, it results in change of muscle tone. This condition requires repeated spinal adjustments.
- The Soft Tissue Component – This occurs 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. This component is also known as histopathology.
- The Chemical Component – This occurs when all of these components of the VSC are acting on your body, and therefore causing some degree of chemical changes. These changes can be slight or massive depending on what parts of the body are affected by your subluxations. This component is often known as biochemical abnormalities.
When the vertebral subluxation complex is present, a variety of issues can occur to the spine, to its related soft tissues, and to the organs and tissues controlled by the affected nerves. It’s extremely important to have a chiropractor examine your spine thoroughly before determining if further treatment for spine strain is required.
Chiropractor Viewpoint on Subluxation Causes
Subluxations can occur at any age and can be attributed to various causes. However, subluxation causes can either be physical or emotional, the latter referring to chemical or emotional stressors. Understanding the subluxation cause can help chiropractors steer the treatment plan to target the source of the problem and not just the symptoms.
Some of the most common subluxation causes include:
Traumas
The most common cause of subluxations, and sudden trauma injuries include car accidents, slip and falls, and so on. However, subluxations can also occur after childbirth, for both the child and the mother. Another physical cause of subluxation can be attributed to sleeping in a bad position, poor office ergonomics, and walking with poor posture. All of these impacts can nudge the vertebrae out of alignment leading to a subluxation.
Toxins
While physical traumas are easy to spot, toxins on the other hand? Not so much. Our bodies are a conglomerate of chemicals, and to stay healthy, our bodies must remain chemically balanced. When we ingest more toxic chemicals whether through the environment, food, or our drinks, we are at risk of impacting this balance. When these chemicals start fluctuating, our muscles can contract, changing the fiber length in the muscles, thus causing a subluxation.
Emotions
It might seem impossible for your emotional state to change your body. However, when you are experiencing stress, or you are going through any emotional distress, your body is thrown off-balance. Lower back tension and neck tightness can begin to change as a result, and the pulling from tight muscles can draw some of your vertebrae out of alignment. Not to mention, stress also alters your chemical balance by raising cortisol levels, which brings us back to the toxins cause for subluxations.
What Are Some Subluxation Symptoms?
Unlike a dislocation, subluxations cannot be seen and their symptoms often gradually worsen. Symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the subluxation and the location of the joints affected. Some patients might feel these symptoms immediately after the appearance of the subluxation, usually when it is caused by sudden trauma.
Some common symptoms of subluxations include:
- Chronic pain around the affected joint
- Swelling around the affected joint
- Limited mobility of the affected joint
- A sensation of the joint being unstable, wanting to give-out, or numbness
Possible Causes of Shoulder Subluxation
Shoulder subluxation is a condition in which the humeral head partially dislocates from the glenoid fossa of the scapula. This can result in pain, weakness, and limited mobility in the shoulder joint. Understanding the causes of shoulder subluxation is important for prevention and effective treatment.
One of the most common causes of shoulder subluxation is trauma. A sudden force or impact to the shoulder, such as a fall or sports injury, can cause the humeral head to partially dislocate from the glenoid fossa. Athletes who participate in contact sports or those who engage in activities with a high risk of falls, such as rock climbing or skiing, may be particularly susceptible to shoulder subluxation.
Repetitive motion can also contribute to shoulder subluxation. Certain jobs or activities that involve overhead arm movements, such as painting or working on an assembly line, can lead to shoulder subluxation over time. This is because these movements place strain on the shoulder joint, making it more vulnerable to injury.
Some people may be more prone to shoulder subluxation due to anatomical abnormalities. For example, a shallow glenoid fossa or a small humeral head can make the shoulder joint less stable and more likely to subluxate. Additionally, individuals with ligament laxity or weak muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint may be more susceptible to subluxation.
Chiropractic Adjustments for Subluxation Treatment
As subluxations can evolve, early treatment is vital to ensure the joint remains in the proper position. The best way to treat subluxations is through chiropractic care. The primary goal of chiropractic care is to maintain an aligned body; localizing, analyzing, and adjusting subluxations is critical to keep an aligned body.
Some common at-home subluxation treatments include resting the affected joint, icing the area, and elevating it to reduce swelling. However, these will only help with some of the symptoms, but they will not correct or treat the subluxation itself.
The one and most effective subluxation treatment is a chiropractic adjustment.
In essence, chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation is a manual technique performed by a licensed chiropractor to treat subluxations. Through a physical examination, a chiropractor can analyze and locate spinal subluxations. Then, by using precise and manual techniques, chiropractors can realign the vertebrae on the spine to make sure they are placed back in their proper position.
If you believe you are suffering from subluxations and are experiencing joint subluxation pain, limited joint mobility, or joint swelling, then contact one of our chiropractic centers today.
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