Instead of treating your symptoms, your chiropractor is primarily interested in detecting, reducing, and preventing the Vertebral Subluxation Complex

A subluxation, or more precisely, the vertebral subluxation complex, describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal position and motion from stress, trauma, or chemical imbalances.

The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.

Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The vertebral subluxation complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal position and motion.

Automobile accidents, improper lifting, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the vertebral subluxation complex.

Spinal subluxations poster. The spinal nerves from the anterior of the spine. Views of cervical, thoracic and lumbar subluxations. Description of the components of the vertebral subluxation complex.

Components of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex
Traditionally there have been 5 components that form the chiropractic subluxation. The vertebral subluxation complex is differentiated by the fifth component, general systemic disturbances secondary to the spinal misalignment (vertebral subluxation).
1. Spinal Kinesiopathology - spinal pathomechanics, including alignment and motion irregularities.
2. Neuropathophysiology/Neuropathology - compressed or facilitated nerve tissue.
3. Myopathology - muscle spasm, muscle weakness/ atrophy.
4. Histopathology - inflammation, edema and swelling of tissue, usually local to the traumatized area.
5. Pathophysiology/Pathology - pathophysiologic and pathoanatomical changes due to the previous four components usually seen locally as degeneration, fibrous tissue and/or erosion local and peripherally as a loss of global homeostasis.

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