Vertebral Subluxation Complex is when one or more of the bones of your
spine (vertebrae) move out of normal position and create pressure on the
spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are between each of the bones in your spine
and this pressure or irritation can cause the nerves to malfunction. As well,
this pressure can interfere with the signals traveling along these nerves.
How does this affect me?
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 messages and will not function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some parts of your body will not be working properly. It is the responsibility of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations and to correct them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxation in your spine.
Back Pain
Back pain, especially low back pain, is a fairly common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. The lower back carries most the weight of the torso, making it the most frequently injured area of the spine.
When you look at the anatomy of the spine there are structures that can be the source of low back pain:
- Vertebrae are bones that protect the spinal cord. They can be forced or
locked out of their proper positions.(misaligned)
- Ligaments and muscles are supportive tissues that can be stretched,
torn, or weakened.
- Discs are shock absorbers than can bulge, rupture, or wear down.
- Nerves can get streched, pinched, or irritated.
Chiropractic treatments for low back pain utilize methods to correct or
improve the cause or source of the pain.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck and is also refered to as a neck sprain or neck strain.
Whiplash is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion.
Whiplash is a disorder that commonly occurs as the result of an automobile accident and may include injury to intervertebral joints, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots. Whiplash symptoms such as neck pain may be present directly after the injury or may be delayed for several days. In addition to neck pain, other symptoms may include neck stiffness, injuries to the muscles and ligaments (myofascial injuries), headache, dizziness, abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling (paresthesias), or shoulder or back pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a fairly common condition that occurs when there is too much pressure on a nerve in the wrist. There is usually aching, numbness or tingling in the thumb, some of the fingers and sometimes part of the hand.
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects about 1 in 100 people at some point in
their life. Men and women of any age can develop it, but it is most common
in women in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
The carpal tunnel is a channel in the palm side of the wrist (see diagram,
right). The bones of the wrist are arranged in a semi-circle, and a tough ligament (the carpal ligament) forms a roof over them, creating a passage-
way (the carpal tunnel). Running through the carpal tunnel are the tendons that we use to bend the fingers and wrist, and the median nerve. This is one of two nerves that allow feeling in the hand. The median nerve also controls some of the muscles that move the thumb. |
