What is Chiropractic? The Science of Locating, Analyzing, and Correcting Vertebral Subluxation

When people think of chiropractic, they often picture spinal adjustments. But what exactly does that mean? At its core, chiropractic care is the location, analysis, and correction of vertebral subluxations—misalignments in the spine that disrupt the nervous system’s ability to function properly. These subluxations interfere with the body’s natural healing processes, leading to pain, dysfunction, and poor overall health.

Let’s dive deeper into what chiropractic care truly is, how it works, and how it differs from other health modalities that, while beneficial, are not the same as a chiropractic adjustment.

What is Vertebral Subluxation?

A vertebral subluxation occurs when one or more vertebrae in the spine become misaligned or lose their normal motion. This misalignment can put pressure on the surrounding nerves, which disrupts the flow of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Since the nervous system controls all functions in the body, a subluxation can lead to a wide range of health problems—not just back pain.

The goal of chiropractic care is to locate these subluxations, analyze the extent of the problem, and then correct them through precise spinal adjustments. This process restores proper nerve flow, allowing the body to function at its optimal level and heal itself naturally.

The Chiropractic Process: Location, Analysis, and Correction

1. Location

The first step in chiropractic care is the location of vertebral subluxations. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to find subluxations, including physical examinations, motion tests, palpation (feeling the spine with their hands), and in some cases, X-rays. These tools help the chiropractor determine which vertebrae are misaligned and how that misalignment is affecting the nervous system.

2. Analysis

Once a subluxation is located, the next step is analyzing its severity and the impact it's having on the body. This includes looking at how the subluxation is affecting the nervous system, muscles, and overall body function. Chiropractors will also consider the patient’s posture, range of motion, and specific health concerns during this phase. Each subluxation is unique, and understanding its exact nature is critical for effective treatment.

3. Correction

Finally, the chiropractor focuses on correcting the subluxation through specific, targeted spinal adjustments. These adjustments are gentle, precise, and designed to restore the spine’s normal alignment and motion. By correcting subluxations, chiropractic care helps remove interference in the nervous system, allowing the body to heal itself naturally and maintain a higher state of health.

Chiropractic Adjustment vs. Other Modalities

While chiropractic care centers around spinal adjustments, it’s important to distinguish these from other therapies that some chiropractors may offer. While these additional modalities can complement chiropractic adjustments, they serve a different purpose and should not be confused with the core focus of chiropractic care: correcting vertebral subluxations.

Let’s explore a few common modalities that some chiropractors may integrate into their practice:

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy focuses on muscle relaxation and improving circulation. While it can ease muscle tension and reduce stress, it does not correct vertebral subluxations. Massage is a great complement to chiropractic care as it prepares the muscles around the spine to better receive adjustments, but its primary goal is to treat the soft tissues rather than the spinal structure or nervous system.

Dry Needling

Dry needling involves inserting fine needles into trigger points (knots in muscles) to relieve pain and improve mobility. This technique helps release muscle tension and promote healing, but like massage, it focuses on muscles and fascia, not on correcting subluxations or improving nerve function.

Cupping

Cupping is a traditional therapy that uses suction cups to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation in specific areas of the body. While it can improve circulation and help with muscular issues, it is not aimed at addressing spinal misalignments or nerve interference.

Hijama

Hijama, or wet cupping, is a form of cupping therapy that involves drawing out small amounts of blood to remove toxins from the body. Like other soft tissue therapies, hijama can assist with muscle recovery and detoxification but is not a chiropractic adjustment and does not address spinal subluxations.

Stretching and Mobility Exercises

Many chiropractors recommend or incorporate stretching and mobility exercises to help patients improve flexibility and maintain spinal health. These exercises help keep muscles and joints moving properly but are not a substitute for spinal adjustments. Stretching can enhance the benefits of chiropractic care by promoting better posture and movement, but it does not correct subluxations directly.

Heat and Ice Therapy

Heat and ice therapies are commonly used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. These methods are helpful for short-term pain management and recovery but are not intended to correct spinal misalignments or improve nervous system function.

Why Chiropractic Adjustments Stand Apart

While these other modalities can be beneficial and complement chiropractic care, they are not the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments focus specifically on restoring spinal alignment and improving nerve function, which sets chiropractic care apart from therapies that only address soft tissue or temporary pain relief.

The goal of chiropractic care is not just to alleviate pain, but to correct the underlying cause of dysfunction—the vertebral subluxation—so that the body can heal itself naturally and maintain optimal health.

Chiropractic Care: A Holistic, Natural Approach to Health

Chiropractic care is unique because it focuses on the nervous system, the body’s master control system. By correcting vertebral subluxations, chiropractic helps restore communication between the brain and the body, allowing for improved function, reduced pain, and enhanced overall well-being. While other therapies may provide temporary relief or support muscle recovery, chiropractic adjustments target the root cause of many health issues—spinal misalignments that interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself.

If you’re looking for a natural, holistic approach to health that focuses on correcting vertebral subluxations and improving nervous system function, chiropractic care may be the solution you need. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how chiropractic adjustments can help you live a healthier, more balanced life.