Subluxations
Scoliosis
Spinal Decay
Children
Cervical Region
Thoracic Region
Lumbar Region
Sacrum
Coccyx
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Click on a spinal region to learn more about it.
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Subluxations
If spinal bones get "stuck" and don't move right, they can irritate or chafe delicate
nerves. If a joint moves too much, spinal bones can press against adjacent nerve tissue.
This can interfere with the vital nerve impulses transmitted over your nervous system that
helps keep your brain in touch with your body. The result is a "Vertebral Subluxation
Complex" or simply a subluxation.
More than just bones and nerves are involved. Muscles can become too tight or
too weak. Discs, ligaments, and other connective tissue can become inflamed. Bone spurs
and arthritic degeneration can set in. However, the most important aspect of a subluxation
is its effect on your nervous system. Distorted communications between your brain and your
body can cause all kinds of health problems beyond just headaches and backaches.
There are three basic causes of Subluxations: 1. Physical causes like slips and falls,
accidents, repetitive motions and improper lifting. 2. Emotional causes like stress, fear and
anger. 3. Chemical causes like alcohol, drugs, pollution and poor diet.
Subluxation can show up without any warning signs. Only a thorough examination can
show the location and severity of subluxation. Subluxations can sometimes clear up on their
own, but today's hectic lifestyles are a constant source of Subluxations. Only your chiropractic
professional can diagnose and treat subluxations.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways bending of the spine which can cause abnormal posture and,
finally, deformity. If allowed to advance, it care interfere with the lungs, heart, and
many other vital organs. Severe cases may even require surgery.
Scoliosis usually affects girls between the ages of 8 and 18, although
some boys are affected. It is a myth that a lack of calcium of carrying heavy book bags can cause
scoliosis. In the beginning, when it is easiest to correct, there are rarely
symptoms. Back and leg pains and often overlooked as merely "growing pains."
The primary course of care is a program of specific chiropractic adjustments.
These can improve the function and structure of the spine. Posture can improve.
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Spinal DecayIt can start with some type of uncorrected trauma to the
spine. A slip or fall. A car accident. The first "phase" of spinal decay is revealed in as a loss
of proper spinal curve or a reduced ability to turn and bend. Other areas of the spine often
compensate, starting a chain reaction of health problems.
Left uncorrected, the body responds by depositing calcium onto the affected joint
surfaces, ligaments, and connective tissues. This second phase of decay is a result of the body's
attempt to stabilize and "splint" the malfunctioning spinal joint. Obvious symptoms are often
absent.
In the third phase of spinal decay, the integrity of the spine has become permanently
compromised. The associated neurological damage can contribute to some of the chronic health
problems seen in the elderly. Years have passed since the original event that set the decay
in motion, yet it was preventable.
Spinal decay is not a normal part of aging even though many of the elderly show some
signs of decay. Chiropractic care can help even the more advanced cases, even though results
will vary from patient to patient.
Chiropractic for Kids
Many things are important for healthy prenatal care, but consider the trauma of the birthing process.
Pulling, forcing, and twisting a baby from the birth canal are still too common. Cesarean section,
forceps, suction extraction or eager hands can do unseen damage. Even "natural" birthing methods
can cause subluxations. With the vital neurological signals compromised, your
child's health is impaired from his or her first breath. Spinal subluxations
can hamper your child's ability to ward off infection. Subluxations have been
shown in children that have chronic earaches, lack of appetite, allergic reactions and other difficulties.
In older children, subluxations may show as "growing pains", chronic
headaches, and the beginnings of Scoliosis, mostly in young girls.
We all have high hopes for our children. Above all we want them to be happy, health, and to
reach their fullest potential. This effort can be supported by correct spinal care and alignment.
Adjustments can reduce subluxations and improve spinal structure and function.
Muscles can strengthen. Posture can improve. It is our responsibility to choose wisely for our children's
future.
Cervical Region
The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull. Seven vertebrae make up the cervical spine with eight pairs of cervical nerves. The individual cervical vertebrae are abbreviated C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7. The cervical nerves are also abbreviated; C1 through C8. The purpose of the cervical spine is to contain and protect the spinal cord, support the skull, and enable diverse head movement (e.g., rotate side to side, bend forward and backward). Injury or mild trauma to the cervical spine can cause a serious or life-threatening medical emergency (e.g. spinal cord injury or SCI, fracture). Pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling are symptoms that may develop when one or more spinal nerves are injured, irritated, or stretched. The cervical nerves control many bodily functions and sensory activities.
C1: Head and neck
C2: Head and neck
C3: Diaphragm
C4: Upper body muscles (e.g. Deltoids, Biceps)
C5: Wrist extensors
C6: Wrist extensors
C7: Triceps
C8: Hands
Thoracic Region
The Thoracic Spine, commonly referred to as your middle back, consists of 12 vertebrae, (T1 - T12). This is the longest portion of your back. Each of these vertebrae has a pair of ribs attached to them. The nerves that exit out between these vertebrae go to muscles and other surface tissues as well as internal organs.
Some of the surface areas these nerves go to include parts of the arms from the elbows down, the hands, and fingers. Also the muscles of the middle back, the chest muscles, and muscles of the rib cage are supplied by nerves that exit out from this area of the spine.
Pain or numbness and other musculoskeletal problems may be just some of the possible results from subluxations affecting these areas and tissues.
The internal organs supplied by nerves from the thoracic spine include much of the body parts supplied by the sympathetic nervous system. This portion of the nervous system innervates many of the organs in the chest and abdomen including, the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, gallbladder, liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, and small intestines. Subluxations affecting these organs can lead to a large list of functional and systemic problems including, asthma, certain heart problems, bronchitis, blood pressure problems, ulcers, allergies, kidney trouble, and digestive problems, to name only a few. Most subluxations affecting these areas go undetected for a long time before a health problem is ever noticed.
Lumbar RegionThe lumbar spine - or low back - is the third major region of the spine. Most people have five bones or vertebrae in the lumbar spine, although it is not unusual to have six. Each vertebra is stacked on top of the other and between each vertebra is a gel-like cushion called a disc (intervertebral disc). The discs help to absorb pressure, distribute stress, and keep the vertebrae from grinding against each other.
Although the entire spine is involved in everyday activities of rest and movement, the low back can be vulnerable to many pain-provoking disorders. Simple sprains and strains from overexertion, a herniated disc from a slip and fall, degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis from normal aging, and other disorders can cause low back pain.
The SacrumThe sacrum is the triangular bone just below the lumbar vertebrae. The sacrum has five segments fused together into one large bone. In the months before birth, these vertebrae grow together into one bone that forms the base of the spine and the center of the pelvis.
This triangular bone fits between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body.
Nerves that leave the spine in this area help control the bowels and bladder and provide sensation to the crotch area. The two dimples in most everyone's back are where the sacrum joints the hipbones (sacroiliac joint).
The point where the lower back joins the sacral region (the L5-S1 joint) can develop pain due to injury. This area receives a great deal of stress and twisting during activities, such as sports or sitting for long periods.
CoccyxThe coccyx, commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the human vertebral column. It consists of three to five (usually four) fused vertebrae. It is attached to the sacrum in a joint which permits limited movement between them. The term coccyx comes originally from the Greek language and means "cuckoo," referring to the shape of a cuckoo's beak.
A coccyx injury results in pain and discomfort in the tailbone area. These injuries may result in a bruise, dislocation, or fracture (break) of the coccyx. Although they may be slow to heal, the majority of coccyx injuries can be managed with cautious treatment.
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