Vertebral Subluxation

After discovering a website created by Sam Homola, a well-known critic of the chiropractic industry, I found that there is a difference between orthopaedic subluxation and the more-controversial vertebral subluxation complex. For the purposes of this research question, I will be focusing on the former.

Orthopaedic subluxation is strictly the displacement of the bones from their normal position. It most often results from an injury which causes adjoining bones to misalign with each other, and is less severe than a complete dislocation. I have had some experience with this before, as an injury with my hip flexor in 2013 was attributed to subluxation of my lumbar spine.

The article from World of Health further helped me to understand the biomechanics of joints and possible sources of subluxation. Basically, the bones of a healthy joint are held together by fibrous ligaments and surrounded by an articular capsule. Both structures permit movement within the normal range for the joint. However, stretching or tearing of the ligaments or capsule can force a joint out of alignment and produce subluxation or dislocation.

A second article titled "Dislocations and Subluxations" from the same database confirmed this information. Furthermore, it stated that some congenital risk factors (those present at birth) can increase the likelihood that an individual will experience a subluxation. Other causes include disc degeneration, unnatural curvatures, spondylolysis (arthritis of the spine), and structural abnormalities from disease.

As for the vertebral subluxation complex theory, it revolves around the idea that a subluxation of the spine can be the proponent of organic disease by interfering with nerve supply to organs. Very little evidence supports this theory, and it will be addressed in a later subquestion regarding field controversies.

#anatomy #exercisescience #isearch #physiology #sportsmedicine