The Subluxation?

A classmate of mine wanted me to define a "subluxation" for him. I did a little research and found a few explaination to clear up the term that is thrown around by many chiropractors. I tend to agree with explaination #1. It's an alteration of normal functioning joints. I tend not to believe that these cannot be found on x-ray. However, plain film is a very useful tool to the chiropractor for many conditions. Rather it is the training of our hands and understanding of human anatomy that allows us to find abnormal joint motion. I hope this helps!

The following are pulled from a couple chiropractic websites. I tend to agree with explaination #1.

Explaination #1
Q: What is a Subluxation?
A: In Orthopedic terms, a "luxation" is the same as a dislocation, and so, orthopedically speaking, a sub-luxation is a "below" a dislocation, where the two sides of a joint, or articulation have not fully lost contact. Chiropractic uses a subtler definition of Subluxation: a Chiropractic Subluxation is a partial loss of proper joint articulation, with corresponding alterations in range of motion, alteration of normal biomechanics, and local tissue changes such as soreness, stiffness, and swelling.
Q: How can Chiropractic help these so called "subluxations"?
A: Chiropractic employs a High Velocity, Low Amplitude impulse, called an "Adjustment" to normalize proper joint mechanics. While many Chiropractors talk about "Alignment", what we are really talking about is function. Joints can become "fixated", where they do not have full range of motion. When we adjust 'fixated' joints, they are allowed to regain their normal biomechanical, histological, and neurologic function. Since the vertebrae encase the spinal cord and provide means for spinal nerves to reach out to all areas of the body, to whatever degree the improper biomechanical alignment of the vertebrae may irritate the nervous system, restoring proper function of these vertebral segments can serve to decrease neurogenic discomfort.

Explaination #2
What are vertebral subluxations?
A vertebral subluxation is the result of spinal bones with improper motion or position affecting nerve communications between your brain and your body.
sub = less than | luxation = dislocation
A vertebral subluxation is a stress response. Muscles go into spasm. Spinal bones lock up. And adjacent nerves are choked or chafed. This interferes with the control and regulation of your body. This garbles communications between the brain and parts of your body.



Distorted nerve communications can be an underlying cause of many health problems beyond just headaches and back pain. For example. Interfere with nerve impulses going to or from your stomach: stomach problems.
Your nervous system controls every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body. These nerve impulses travel through your spine. So having a spine free of vertebral subluxation is essential for optimal health.
Only a chiropractic examination can detect vertebral subluxations. And only chiropractic adjustments can reduce their effect to your nervous system, naturally.
Find out if you have vertebral subluxations before they become more serious and more difficult to correct.