Facts about Subluxation and Nerve Pressure! What is a Subluxation and what does it do to me? First, the simple explanation. In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebra) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate the spinal nerves. The spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves. How does this effect you? Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over the nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some or part of your body will not be functioning properly. This may manifest as: Pain, headaches, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, incoordination, stiffness, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, acid reflux, asthma, PMS, arthritis, etc... and many other health problems. It is the responsibilty of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations. Chiropractors have known about the dangers of subluxations for over 100 years. Today, more scientific evidence (look at the chiro studies web page) is showing the dangers of subluxations and the health benefits of correcting them. To be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations. Our goal is to allow your body to return itself to the highest level of health possibe by correcting the vertebral subluxations. Chiropractors are the ONLY health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation.        Read the following carefully, so you can get a better idea of how this effects you!!! Gray’s Anatomy Textbook tells us that the purpose of the brain and nervous system is to control and coordinate the function of every cell, tissue and  organ of the body.   A pressure of only 10mm Hg (weight of a dime) produced a significant nerve compression block. Thus, reducing the function of the nerve to 60% of its initial value in 15 minutes, and to 50% of its initial value in 30 minutes. After such a small compressive force was removed, nearly complete recovery occurs in 15-30 minutes. With higher levels of pressure, incomplete recovery after many hours was seen. Sharpless, SK: Susceptibility of spinal Roots to Compression Block. NINCDS Monograph 15, DHEW Publication (NIH) 76-998, 1975, p. 155-161   Nerve root compression can and does exist without pain. Hause, M: Pain and the Nerve Root.. Spine 1993; 18(14): 2053   Subluxations Damage Nerves · An experiment involving the production of an upper neck subluxation in laboratory animals showed a progression of nerve damage. · The nerve damage progressed from a reversible state to permanent damage and atrophy of the nerve itself after 6 months.   Subluxations Damage Organs · An experiment involving the production of a mid-back (T-6) subluxation in laboratory animals demonstrated organ damage. ·        The liver showed a condition known as “cloudy swelling” which obliterated a functional component of the liver.   When spinal bones are out of alignment it causes nerve pressure. You may or may not feel the nerve pressure. Only 10mm Hg (weight of a dime) is enough pressure to decrease the function of the nerve by 40% to 50% within 15 to 30 minutes. If this pressure remains on the nerve for up to 6 months it can cause permanent damage to the nerve. This, in turn, causes organ damage. ---   Who do you know that may have subluxations? Do they know how harmful subluxations are to their health? Refer others for the “health of it.” It’s better to catch it early before irreversible damage is done.