No matter if it’s your first or thirtieth appointment, 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 means, what the common symptoms and causes 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 correctly, 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 cause unbalance in the body.
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 continual back or neck pain, this may be caused by a spinal subluxation. The patient may experience pain that starts in the upper back and moves up through the neck. The pain level can range from mild to sharp, intense 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. As a result, this can lead to tension headaches that occur out of nowhere.
- Reduced Range of Motion: Subluxations can also cause a patient to experience muscle stiffness and reduced range of motion. Patients may find it challenging to perform daily tasks as a result of this restrictive movement. Indeed, this prevents people from doing what they love to do.
Additionally, subluxations may cause joint inflammation, muscle tenderness, numbness, and burning sensations.
What Are the Common Causes of Subluxations?
A misalignment can occur 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 source of your health conditions.
Trauma
One of the most common causes of subluxations is trauma. This can be caused by various 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 purse 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 daily basis.
Toxins
Within your body, there are both natural and artificial chemicals. The goal is to maintain balance with these chemicals. However, this can be difficult due to the constant exposure to air pollution, chemicals used in the home (i.e. for cleaning, beauty, crafts, etc.), and processed foods. This imbalance within the body can cause the muscles to contract and contribute towards having a subluxation.
Stress
Stress is a major concern 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 cause a subluxation.
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 spine subluxation is the cause. Luckily, chiropractors can perform safe and gentle 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. If you’re looking for the best chiropractors in Plano, TX, contact Keystone Chiropractic today to book your next appointment! We would love to help you gain victory over your health!
