What is a Subluxation and what does it do to me?

Subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation Complex) is an event that occurs when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) becomes misaligned.  That misalignment can pinch and irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the vertebrae in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interferes with the signals/message traveling over those nerves.

How do subluxations affect your health?  Your spinal nerves are an extension of your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).  Your nervous system controls and harmonizes EVERY function of your body by sending signals from your brain to the various parts of your body via spinal nerves. If these signals or messages are interfered with (see below), parts of your body will not receive the proper messages, and therefore, your body will not be able to function at 100%.

Representation of the spine with vertebral subluxation (misalignment).  The diagram below shows how pressure on a spinal nerve can affect  the nerve, the disc, and the vertebra. 

It is the job of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate and correct subluxations. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations (misalignments) in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be experts at correcting subluxations.