When you hear a term like subluxation from your medical doctors or chiropractor, what comes to mind? People today want a say in how they are being treated for health issues and rightfully so. Knowing terminology can be very important in that it can help us to have a better understanding so that we can a voice in our treatment.
The definition of Subluxation can be confusing because chiropractic and medical may define it somewhat differently. This can sometimes give rise to concerns by people who may not understand the use of the term. The question is, what is the correct definition as it applies to chiropractic?
Chiropractic care most often uses the WHO (World Health Organization) definition. The medical community defines it from a medical dictionary in most cases. Some non-chiropractic specialists in spine health will change the meaning just enough to make it confusing when trying to instruct on the problem that you may be facing.
In chiropractic, we define subluxation as a misalignment of one of the vertebra of the spine. This means that one of the bones in the back is not in correct alignment which leads to pain. It can also cause stress on the muscles of the back. The misalignment can cause other problems besides just pain, such as numbness or feeling a tingling sensation as if the area is asleep.
The medical definition of subluxation can be a bit different and is typically based on the attending physician’s specialty. For example, an orthopedic specialist may define a subluxation as a joint or motion segment where an alteration in movement or normal function has occurred, even though contact between joint surfaces remain intact. In this type of situation, they refer other issues such as nerve pain to another specialist.
Subluxation for both chiropractic and medical modalities have commonalities:
- The loss of normal motion or position of individual spinal bones can result in health issues.
- Spinal misalignments can have a neurological aspect.
- Organs and tissues controlled and regulated by affected nerves can be affected.
Chiropractic is the science of locating vertebral subluxations and the art of reducing them, permitting the body to function more normally and to self-heal. By understanding where the subluxation is located, the Chiropractor can determine the most conducive place to begin treatment. Treatment in most cases involves manipulation to assist the bone back into its normal position.
This in turn assist in relieving pain and stress on the muscles surrounding the area. The chiropractor helps to create a plan of care with your special needs in mind to help through the healing process.
Chiropractic care should be a part of your health care. One thing to note is that you should always keep both parties informed as to the treatment that you are receiving when seeing both a chiropractor and a physician so that they can work together to help you.
Want more info on how Lane Chiropractic can help you address chronic pain from issues such as subluxation? Simply give us a call, contact us via the website, or come in today.
