If you’ve ever gone to the chiropractor for back or neck pain, you may have been told that you had a spinal subluxation. But what is a spinal subluxation? Is there a way to tell if you’ve had one without a chiropractic evaluation?

 

In this article, we will provide an overview of subluxations and demonstrate how chiropractic care can both treat this issue and prevent it from ever occurring again in the future!

 

 

What is a Spinal Subluxation?

In broad terms, a subluxation refers to a problem with a joint. More often than not, it’s helpful to think of a subluxation as a “partial dislocation.” This issue can occur in most of the joints of the body but is frequently seen in the spine.

 

What Issues Can Spine Subluxations Cause?

When a vertebra is out of place, there are many different symptoms that can develop. Patients may, on occasion, not feel any symptoms when they have a subluxation. However, more commonly, patients will experience any or all of the following:

 

  • Pain,
  • Tingling,
  • Numbness,
  • Weakness. 

 

Naturally, there are many other symptoms a person may experience as a result of a spinal subluxation, but the above list provides a basic overview of what should be expected with this condition.

 

Why Do Spinal Subluxations Occur?

Answering “why” something happens can often be difficult. There are so many things that can cause a medical condition to develop, it’s very hard to nail down one, distinct cause for a given diagnosis.

 

That being said, we have a good idea of some things that may put a person at higher risk for spinal subluxations:

 

  • Poor Posture. People who sit at a desk all day long, every day put their spines in a risky position for an extended period of time. When someone is hunched over and forcing their spine to maintain a detrimental posture, they risk developing a spinal subluxation.
  • Weakness. Sometimes, weak muscles can contribute to the development of spinal subluxations. The muscles within our bodies are meant to keep us stable and pain-free. By neglecting to train these muscles, we risk experiencing all sorts of different musculoskeletal problems.
  • Trauma. Those who have been involved in car accidents or have undergone other traumatic events may have developed a spinal subluxation.

 

If you dive further into the research, you’ll find many other potential causes of spinal subluxations. However, the three listed above tend to be the most common reasons why a person will develop this condition.

 

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Spinal Subluxations?

First and foremost, you need to be diagnosed with a vertebral subluxation by a professional before any treatment can begin. As is the case with any condition, your chiropractor will assess your vertebral health by checking your spinal alignment, and she may even perform a few x-rays in order to get a better picture of your joints.

 

After your chiropractor has determined that you do, indeed, have a spinal subluxation, she will outline a plan of care designed to treat this issue. This may involve soft tissue massage, exercise, and/or joint manipulations.

 

Depending on the severity of your condition, your subluxation may be resolved within 1-2 visits. In other cases, it may take a few weeks in order for you to heal completely.

 

At Last Chiropractic is the premier chiropractor in Lithia, FL. We’ve helped countless people deal with their spinal subluxations so that they can return to living a fulfilling, pain-free life. If you think you may have sustained a spinal subluxation, or if you’re suffering from any other issue, book your appointment today. We’d be happy to help you get back to your best self.