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Gentle, Precise Chiropractic Adjustments to Help Heal the VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION COMPLEX
Children love to get adjustments and grow up healthier with them. Key Benefits Of Adjustments
For a more complete list of benefits click here Read What Our Chiropractic Practice Members Have to Say CapabilitiesDr. Johnson has been in active practice for over 21 years and has advanced certification in:
How does this affect you? 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. It is the responsibility of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct 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.
Subluxations are really a combination of changes going on at the same time. These changes occur both in your spine and throughout your body. For this reason chiropractors often refer to vertebral subluxations as the "Vertebral Subluxation Complex", or "VSC" for short. In the VSC, various things are happening inside your body simultaneously. These various changes, known as "components," are all part of the vertebral subluxation complex. Chiropractors commonly recognize five categories of components present in the VSC. These five are:
The Nerve Component 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. This component is scientifically known as neuropathology. Check out This Interactive Nerve System Chart!
The Soft Tissue Component 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 VSC or far away at some end point of the affected nerves. This component is also known as histopathology. The Chemical Component is when all these components of the VSC 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. This component is often known as biochemical abnormalities. Chiropractors have known about the dangers of subluxations for over one hundred years. Today, more scientific evidence is showing the dangers of subluxations and the health benefits of correcting them. 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 VSC. Chiropractors are the ONLY health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the VSC. Read Another Article on the Vertebral Subluxation Complex?
Understanding the ongoing process of subluxation, and the effect time plays on the subluxated spine.
This is a representation of one
type of subluxation. A subluxation, as defined by the Association of
Chiropractic Colleges is: "A subluxation is a complex
of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that
compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general
health." When a subluxation occurs it causes nerve interference in
some portion of the body affected by those nerves. The subluxation causes
changes to the structure as well as the nerves. These changes get progressively
worse as time is allowed to work on the subluxated area of the spine. These
changes take the form of ongoing degeneration known as "subluxation
degeneration". By understanding the type and amount of changes, it is possible
to reasonably estimate the time subluxations have been present in a spine.
Having this information is useful in understanding the time and effort needed
for correction.
This is a side x-ray view of the
neck. As with all the pictures you will see on this page, the patient is
looking to the right of the screen, so you are viewing the right side of their
neck. We will call this picture a "near normal" spine. Compare this spine with
the ones you will see below on this page. Notice the normal forward curve of
the neck. This curve helps absorb shock. Notice how each of the disc spaces
between C2 (second bone in neck) and C7 are thick and even, this again is
normal. Also notice how the front portions (right on the x-ray) of each of the
vertebrae (called the 'body' of the vertebrae) are fairly square with clear and
well defined borders. This type of arrangement is normal in the neck. Normal
vertebrae in other parts of the spine also have similar characteristics to what
we see here. When subluxations occur and are left uncorrected, ongoing
relentless changes occur that result in damage to the structure and function of
the spine along with nerve damage and the resulting problems caused from
improper nerve supply.
Phase One Subluxation
Degeneration is seen in subluxations that have been present for up to twenty
years. This phase is characterized with a loss or change in the normal curve in
the spine. On this example you can see that the normal forward (lordotic) curve
is lost. This spine even has developed a reverse curve in the neck. The disc
spaces have also begun to exhibit a slight change in shape. One good point is
that the bodies of each of the vertebrae (the square part in front) still
exhibits clean clear borders. Segmental motion may be abnormal but overall
motion is probably not affected. Chiropractic reconstructive care for a phase
one can take from 6 to 18 months. More than 80% of people with Phase One
Subluxation Degeneration have no pain. Therefore, if left uncorrected, phase
one continues to progress with time until it eventually reaches the next phase.
Phase two subluxation
degeneration is normally seen in subluxations that have been present between 20
and 40 years. This phase has some of the same characteristics of the previous
phase including a loss of normal curvature and position as well as an alteration
in segmental motion. In addition, spines with Phase Two Subluxation
Degeneration many times show a reduction in the patient's range of motion in
that area. X-rays of a phase two begin to show calcium changes or buildup at
certain levels of the spine. These changes are sometimes called by many names
including spurs and arthritis. Disc spaces between the affected vertebrae are
noticeably narrower and may appear to be flattening out. Although most people
with Phase Two Subluxation Degeneration may not exhibit any symptoms, some may
start to feel stiff or achy. Chiropractic reconstructive care for patients in
phase two ranges from 1.5 years to 2.5 years. Again, if Phase Two Subluxation
Degeneration is left uncorrected it slowly advances to the next phase.
Phase Three Subluxation
Degeneration is caused by subluxations that have been continuing on for between
40 and 65 years. This phase has all of the attributes of the previous phases,
only worse. The curvatures are abnormal, the disc spaces are vastly decreased
and changed. Calcium changes on the spine are abundant in this phase.
Normally, people in phase three have a restricted range of motion and probably
exhibit symptoms of some kind. In phase three the vertebrae show obvious
changes and mutations in shape. Projections made of calcium, sometimes referred
to as "spurs or lipping", can be readily seen on x-ray. Chiropractic
reconstructive care for patients in phase three ranges from 2.5 years to 3.5
years. This does not mean that at the end of this time that any or all of the
calcium changes will be gone. In many instances the body adapts to the presence
of the calcium and positive changes can only be measured from a functional
standpoint. As before, if Phase Three Subluxation Degeneration is left
unchecked it slowly advances onward into the next phase.
Phase four subluxation
degeneration is seen with subluxations that have been raging on uncorrected or
altered for over sixty five years. Phase four is a grave condition that will
negatively affect the patients longevity and quality of life. The massive
amount of neurological damage caused by years of subluxation that have lead to
phase four are probably taking a serious toll on this person's health status.
X-rays in phase four show serious severe structural changes. Vertebrae exhibit
massive calcium changes, disc spaces appear blurred, and the bones themselves
appear fused. In this scenario the patient will have a severe restriction of
range of motion in addition to probably a number of other health issues.
Reconstruction may not be possible in phase four, but care can be directed to
some reduction in subluxation with the goal of improvement in the quality of
life remaining. Patients in Phase Four Subluxation Degeneration have a serious
situation both structurally and neurologically, but they are certainly not
beyond hope. Many patients in phase four report significant improvements in
symptoms, conditions, mobility and quality of life.
It should be noted that the above are common guidelines and not hard rules. Every person is dynamic and different. People degenerate at different rates and heal at different rates. The further along your spine may be with subluxation degeneration the more strenuous and time consuming your road to improvement will be. For this reason we always stress early care to stop and prevent the advancement of subluxation degeneration. Of course, if you're not under chiropractic care, the best time to start is NOW! Read a very interesting article on What is a Subluxation?
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What
is a Subluxation and what does it do to me? First, the simple explanation.
In simplest
terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) 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.
The osseous
(bone) component is where the vertebrae are either out of position, not
moving properly, or are undergoing physical changes such as degeneration. This
component is sometimes known as kinesiopathology.
The Muscle
Component 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 VSC. In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected
by the VSC. This component is known as myopathology.
Subluxation
Near
Normal
Phase
One Subluxation Degeneration 
Phase
Two Subluxation Degeneration 
Phase
Three Subluxation Degeneration 
Phase
Four Subluxation Degeneration