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What is a Subluxation, and What Does It Do To Me?

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.


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 be unable to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some parts of your body will not be working correctly. A Doctor of Chiropractic is responsible for locating subluxations and reducing or correcting them. Reducing subluxations is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments designed to correct your spine's vertebral subluxations. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be experts at correcting subluxations.

Now, the Detailed Explaination

subluxations explained

Subluxations are 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.

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In the VSC, various things are happening inside your body simultaneously. These 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:

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  • The osseous (bone) component is where the vertebrae are either out of position, not moving correctly, or undergoing physical changes such as degeneration. This component is sometimes known as kinesiopathology.

  • The Nerve Component is the malfunctioning of the nerve. Research has shown that only a tiny amount of pressure on spinal nerves can profoundly impact the nerves' function. This component is scientifically known as neuropathology.

  • 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.

  • 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 VSC components act on your body, 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 a biochemical abnormality.

Chiropractors have known about the dangers of subluxations for over one hundred years. Today, more scientific evidence shows the dangers of subluxations and the health benefits of correcting them. To be truly healthy, your nervous system must function free of interference from subluxations. Our goal is to allow your body to return to the highest level of health possible by correcting VSC. Chiropractors are the ONLY health professionals trained in detecting, locating, and correcting the VSC.

For more information and to schedule an appointment, call Dr. Brian Ferris at 516-520-1605 or email us at info@drbrianferris.info.

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