What is a Subluxation?

There are 2 definitions applied to the term “Subluxation”.

1. Philosophical: Sub-lux-ation

Sub – Less than or below

Lux – ancient Greek for ‘Light or Life’. Light & Life were interchangeable words

‘ation – means a ‘state of’

Therefore the full definition is “Less then the full expression of Life”

• Chiropractic : A vertebra (spinal segment) or group of vertebrae that loses its proper alignment & motion creating pressure on, or interfering with the spinal nerves as they exit from between each of the bones in your spine.

This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes interference to the signals (mental impulses) travelling over those nerves from the brain to the cells of your body.

How does this affect you? 

Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals travelling 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.

There are 5 components of the Subluxation Complex.

This is now supported in the best scientific medical journals in the world.  Just like blood pressure, they are "normal" and "ideal" values.  When your spine is out of normal range and misaligned, we term this "subluxation"

Ligaments, which hold vertebrae together, shorten around the misalignment and adapt to the abnormal shape of the spine (i.e. abnormal posture).

Muscles, which move bones, spasm in an attempt to prevent further misalignment of the bones (i.e. abnormal posture).

Discs, the cartilage pad between vertebrae, begin to degenerate and thin because of abnormal stresses and strains.  

When a misalignment is present for a long period of time, the vertebrae undergo degenerative changes due to the abnormal stress and strains of a prolonged abnormal posture.

At Central Chiropractic we address each component of this process with a comprehensive, corrective care approach.

In addition to the traditional orthopaedic, neurologic, and chiropractic exams, a patient's X-rays are analysed for proper alignment and curvature and are compared to the published normal values of the Harrison Normal Spinal model.

The degree to which your spine deviates from this model generally determines frequency, intensity & duration of initial care. Specific factors include:

• Your age,
• Phase of spinal degeneration (how long the problem has been present, which is determined by the presence bone spurs (osteoarthritis)
• How disciplined you are at maintaining your Schedule of chiropractic adjustments. 
• Your general health and lifestyle activities. 

Since people respond differently and compliance is an unknown variable at the start of treatment, the time it takes to correct the spine varies.

The minimum time frame for most people is three months. We observe that healing tends to go in 3-month cycles.

Along the way we regularly perform progress-exams and comparative-exams (with or without post x-rays).

At this time, and if you are happy with your results, we can progress and maintain your correction by way of maintenance adjustments or continue corrective care procedures if warranted.... the choice is always up to the you!