You have over 200 bones in your body. Where separate bones come together, they form a joint where movement occurs. The joints in your spine are close to very sensitive and important structures like your spinal cord and nerve roots. When the vertebrae in your spine misalign and get “stuck”, they can irritate the nerves. This process is called a SUBLUXATION.
A subluxation is the misalignment of one or more vertebrae of the spine, resulting in abnormal biomechanics (movement) and nerve root interference. This causes accelerated wear and tear, or degenerative changes (arthritis), at that level and alters the communication between the brain and the tissue innervated by that level.
Your nerves are very important because they transmit all the information from the brain to EVERY TISSUE, ORGAN, AND GLAND IN THE ENTIRE BODY. This connection is needed in order for your body to work properly, similar to how you need electricity to run things in your house. When your spine goes out of alignment, it’s similar to a breaker going off in your house and losing power. These distorted communications between your brain and your body can cause all kinds of health problems beyond just headaches and backaches.
If symptoms are present, they can include: Neck and back pain, headaches, stiffness, tight muscles, knots, limited range of motion, dizziness, vertigo, pain, tingling, and/or numbness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet.
So how do you get a subluxation? There are 3 main causes.
• Physical causes: Slips, falls, accidents (new and old), repetitive motions, improper lifting, and bad posture.
• Emotional causes: Stress and mental exhaustion can also overload the nervous system and create subluxations.
• Chemical causes: Alcohol, drugs, pollution, and poor diets can be factors.
ANYONE CAN GET A SUBLUXATION, including newborns and children.
You can have subluxations and not even know it. Like cavities, heart disease, and cancer, subluxations can be present WEEKS, MONTHS, OR YEARS BEFORE SHOWING ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS. A thorough examination can show the location and severity of any subluxations you may have.
Going unchecked, it can lead to more chronic and permanent changes in your spine, like arthritis (bone spurs), degenerative disc disease and nerve damage. That’s why it’s important to get your spine checked by your chiropractor regularly.