People of all ages, from infants to adults can benefit from ongoing chiropractic care. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy.

What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations.

The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "somewhat or slight" (sub) and "to dislocate" (luxate). So the term ‘vertebral subluxation’ literally means a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine.

When a subluxation occurs, a chiropractor can correct the misaligned or abnormally functioning bones and allow it to return to its proper position, movement and function. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is physical or mechanical force applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both. Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas that sounds like a "crack." The sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually relieving.

There are actually five components that contribute to the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC).

1. Bone Component
-where the vertebra is either out of position, not moving properly, or undergoing degeneration. This frequently leads to a narrowing of the spaces between the bones through which the nerves pass; often resulting in irritation or impingement of the nerve itself.
2. Nervous Component
-is the disruption of the normal transmission of information along the nerve fibers, causing the messages traveling along the nerves to become distorted. The result is that all of the tissues that are fed by those nerves receive distorted signals from the brain and, consequently, are not able to function normally. Over time, this may lead to a whole host of conditions, such as ulcers, constipation and other organ system dysfunction. Abnormal postural reflexes at the subluxated level in the spine contribute to the abnormal function and movement at that level.
3. Muscular Component
-since nerves control the muscles that help hold the vertebrae in place, muscles have to be considered to be an integral part of the vertebral subluxation complex. In fact, muscles both affect, and are affected by the VSC. A subluxation can irritate spinal joint, the irritated joint can send signals to the spinal cord to trigger a protective muscle spasm, the spasmed muscle pulls the attached vertebrae further out of place, which then further irritates joints and the nerve and you have a vicious cycle. It is no wonder that very few subluxations just go away by themselves.
4. Soft Tissue Component
-the VSC will also affect the surrounding spinal joints, tendons, ligaments, blood supply, and other tissues as the misaligned vertebrae tug and squeeze the connective tissue with tremendous force. Over time, the soft tissues can become stretched out or scarred, leaving the spine with either a permanent instability or restriction.
5. Chemical Component
-is the change in the chemistry of the body due to the VSC. Most often, the chemical changes, such as the release of a class of chemicals called "kinins," are pro-inflammatory; meaning that they increase inflammation in the affected area.