When the spinal bones lose their normal position and
motion from stress, trauma, or chemical imbalances, the
results are called a subluxation, or more specifically the
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). There are five
components that occur together much like the notes of a
musical cord.
Spinal Kinesiopathology
Kinesio is the latin word for motion. This part
deals with the loss of motion and the inability to turn and
bend. This is the precursor to all the other
components.
Histopathology
Once the joint function has decreased, surrounding
tissues become damaged and the body begins to try to
repair itself by increasing temperature and lymphatic supply
causing swelling and inflammation. This is often the
case with vertebral discs as they get undue pressure and
often bulge, tear, herniate, and eventually
degenerate.
Myopathology
As the process continues, in order to protect the damaged
joint, the muscles supporting the spine often go into spasm,
weaken, or atrophy. This causes more damage and scar
tissue forms as it heals. Over time, the muscles and the spine
adapt to the problem and assume a new position which is
stable, but not as effective as before. This component
often is where the biggest battle comes in reducing VSC's as
the muscles need to be re-educated.
Neuropathophysiology
Altered spinal function resulting in vertebral
subluxation can rub, pinch, irritate, or even choke the
delicate nerves and tissues around the bone. The tiny
hole in which the nerve exits does not have a great deal of
space to compromise. When there is added pressure, a
disruption is signals coming to and from can occur.
This is much like putting pressure on a garden hose, the
water comes out, just not as freely as it should.
Pathophysiology
Over time, joints need to find a way to stabilize
themselves, the body accomplishes this by growing new bone
to offset weakened tissue. If this continues and is
neglected long enough, this once mobile joint between two
bones can fuse and become one. This might be stable,
but imagine the nerve and the small space it has to exit
this area now. This process is not a normal part of
aging. Wolff's law states that bone remodels
in response to the mechanical stresses it experiences so as
to produce an anatomical structure best able to resist the
applied stress. This mechanical stress can be
anywhere from an acute injury like whiplash or a chronic,
long forming issue like poor posture.
The purpose of a
spinal adjustment is to return normal joint function.
In most cases, a treatment care plan is established to work
much like orthodontics (braces). Repeated adjustments
allow the body to adapt and to re-educate itself to the
proper location and function.
That Noise?
Often during a spinal adjustment, a crack or popping
sound is formed. This noise is often mistaken for bone
rubbing on bone, but is actually a gas releasing from the
joint capsule. This gas is formed as a byproduct of
metabolism or your body's mechanism of burning
fuel. In a normal functioning joint, this gas is
allowed to escape naturally.
