In the simplest of terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation or "Pinched Nerve") is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves. Good health depends, in part, on the normal alignment of the body's parts, and this subluxation or misalignment can be a major factor in illness.

How does this affect you? Proper alignment of the spine is critically importance because of its central role in nervous system's function. Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper nerve messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some part of your body will not be working properly.

Chiropractic treatment often consists of locating subluxations, and reducing or correcting them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations. Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can relieve pain and structural disorders in the joints and muscles and ease lower back pain, as well as other ailments.

Chiropractors often refer to vertebral subluxations as the "Vertebral Subluxation Complex", or "subluxation" for short due to a combination of changes going on at the same time. These various changes, known as "components," are all part of the vertebral subluxation complex. Chiropractors commonly recognize five categories of components present in the subluxation.

The Osseous Component (Kinesiopathology) is where the vertebrae are either out of position, not moving properly, or are undergoing physical changes such as degeneration.

The Nerve Component (Neuropathology) is the malfunctioning of the nerve. Research has shown that only a small amount of pressure on spinal nerves can have a profound impact on the function of the nerves.

The Muscle Component (Myopathology) is also involved. Since the muscles help hold the vertebrae in place, and since nerves control the muscles themselves, muscles are an integral part of any subluxation. In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the subluxation.

The Soft Tissue Component (Histopahology) is 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. These changes can occur at the point of the subluxation or far away at some end point of the affected nerves.

The Chemical Component (Biochemical Abnormalities) is when all these components of the subluxation are acting on your body, and therefore causing some degree of chemical changes. These chemical changes can be slight or massive depending on what parts of your body are affected by your subluxations.

To be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations. Our goal is to allow your body to return itself to the highest level of health possible by correcting subluxations.