Groves Family Chiropractic
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What is a subluxation?

    A subluxation is a term in the medical world that means "small dislocation" or "minor misalignment".  In the chiropractic realm, we use the word subluxation or "vertebral subluxation complex" to describe a bone that is out of alignment that also affects the nervous system in some way.  Not only will a subluxated bone cause changes that lead to arthritis, but it also causes overstretching of the muscles and ligaments that attach to the bone.  If a misaligned bone is left untreated for a certain period of time, the body inevitably suffers.

How does the body suffer?

    Here are the 5 major physical changes that accompany a vertebral subluxation.  Acute indicates he initial changes while chronic is a long-standing untreated injury.

Kinesiopathy

    Acute - Injury that causes a joint to be overstretched (strain/sprain) with possible tearing or rupture.
    Chronic - Injury that has become less mobile (stuck) with decreased joint spacing, scar tissue formation, and improper function.

Neuropathology

    Acute - Increased sensation of a nerve causing increased pain and reflex signals.  Also increased blood flow to that region causing swelling and more pain.
    Chronic - Nerve and blood deprivation to the injured area with decreased ability to sense joint position and increased sensitivity to pain.

Myopathology

    Acute - Muscle stretch with increased nerve firing.  This leads to muscle splinting to protect the area.  (This can be felt as a "knot" in the muscle).  Blood supply becomes trapped and muscles lose nourishment.  The joint is held in misalignment.
    Chronic - Muscle splinting over time causes atrophy and lost stretching ability.

Histopathology

    Acute - Torn tissues become swollen and inflamed.  The tissues may continue to be overstretched due to swelling.  The immune system is used to heal injured tissues.
    Chronic - Immune system begins laying down fibrous scar tissue in a disorganized fashion that is weak and injury-prone.  Calcium deposits begin forming in the region.

Pathophysiology

    Acute - Signs and symptoms of disease
    Chronic - Signs and symptoms of disease

Put simply, the changes that occur are
  1. loss of motion
  2. poor nerve communication and blood flow
  3. muscular injury
  4. cellular and tissue changes
  5. disease
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