Whether it’s your first appointment or fiftieth, you have likely heard your local chiropractor mention the term subluxation. For those not in the chiropractic field, this term may sound unusual. If you would like to know what subluxation is, what the symptoms are, and how chiropractors can help, keep reading.
What Is a Subluxation?
Subluxation is a chiropractic term that refers to a joint that does not work properly, such as being restrictive or misaligned. A common subluxation is the vertebrae of the spine, or just a spinal subluxation. When a vertebrae is misaligned, this puts pressure on the nerve roots within the spine and can reduce the function of nerve signals between the body and brain. Chiropractors often find that spinal subluxations are the root source of several health conditions from back pain to stress. However, people can also suffer from other types of subluxations in their feet, ribs, shoulders, wrists, and other areas of the body. If a patient’s subluxations are not treated, this can lead to unbalance within the body that depends on that vertebrae working properly.
What Are the Common Symptoms?
There are numerous symptoms that may indicate that you have a spinal subluxation. While every patient is different, these are the most common symptoms of subluxations.
- Back or Neck Pain: If a patient has ongoing back or neck pain, this may be due to a spinal subluxation. The patient will experience pain that starts in the spine and moves up through the neck. The pain level can range from mild to sharp, excruciating pain.
- Headaches: Headaches can also be an indicator of a subluxation. These headaches may occur from pressure that builds up due to an untreated misalignment. This pressure continues to build upward until it reaches the patient’s base of their head. In turn, this can cause tension headaches that occur out of nowhere.
- Reduce Mobility: Subluxations can also cause a patient to experience muscle stiffness and reduced mobility. Patients may find it challenging to perform daily tasks due to this restrictive movement. This can keep people from doing what they love to do.
In addition to these common symptoms, subluxations may also cause joint inflammation, muscle tenderness, numbness, and burning sensations.
What Are the Common Causes of Subluxations?
A misalignment can happen to anyone at any time. The causes of subluxations will vary, but there are three main causes that chiropractors often notice. As always, it’s recommended that you visit a licensed chiropractor to determine the root source of your health conditions.
Trauma
One of the most common causes of subluxations is trauma. This can be caused from a variety of injuries, such as falls, car accidents, or sports injuries. Aside from major injuries, micro-traumas that happen in everyday life can also lead to spinal misalignments. Certain daily habits can lead to these micro-trauma injuries. This includes sleeping on your stomach, wearing a bag on only one side of your body, looking down at your computer or phone for several hours a day, and wearing high heels on a regular basis.
Toxins
Within your body, there are both natural and artificial chemicals. The key is to maintain balance, but this can be challenging due to constant exposure to air pollution, chemicals used in the home (i.e. for cleaning, beauty, and crafts), and processed foods. This imbalance within the body can cause the muscles to contract and contribute towards having a subluxation.
Stress
It’s no surprise that stress is a major issue among children and adults. When a person experiences frequent stress, this can lead to tension in the body, including the back, neck, and shoulders. As those muscles become tight due to stress, they can lead to a subluxation too. Who knew stress could contribute to a spine misalignment?
How Can a Chiropractor Help Treat Subluxations?
If you think your symptoms may be caused by a subluxation, it’s recommended that you contact your local chiropractor. This holistic expert has the training and experience required to identify the source of your health conditions. Indeed, there is a good chance that a spinal subluxation is the cause. Luckily, chiropractors can perform safe, gentle, and effective adjustments designed to treat these subluxations. Overtime, this treatment will properly align your spine, so that you no longer have excess pressure being placed on your joints. Contact West Michigan Chiropractor today to book your appointment! We would love to become your go-to Portage chiropractors!