Spinal subluxation is a term commonly used by Chiropractors to describe an abnormally functioning spinal joint that may have adverse effects on the health of the nervous system. To summarize, a subluxation often involves...

• Abnormal movement of a joint that can result in restricted, painful or unstable motion.
• Changes in the type or number of signals passing through a spinal nerve.
• Changes in muscle tension, strength and endurance.
• Changes to the local circulation due to altered joint movement or inflammation.
• Degenerative changes to surrounding connective tissue (tendons & ligaments) and bone.

In the absence of pain, a person may not be aware that there is any problem with their spine. Long-term subluxation degeneration can occur without pain and the effects on spinal or nervous system health may therefore go unnoticed, or may be ignored. Degenerative changes and postural abnormalities of the spine can be seen clearly on plain film x-rays.

A subluxation can affect nervous system health by altering the interaction between different senses (e.g. hearing, vision & spinal joint position sense) and the information passing from spinal muscles and joints to specific areas of the nervous system that control vital organs and the immune system. It can therefore have an effect on local nerve circuits, or nerve circuits located higher up in the nervous system such as the brain, brainstem and cerebellum.

A subluxation can be corrected when a chiropractor performs an 'adjustment', which is a gentle and specific thrust applied to the spine in order to restore normal joint function. An adjustment can be performed on people of all ages including new born babies and the elderly, provided they are first examined by a qualified chiropractor. While chiropractors are well trained to recognize more serious health problems that require other forms of treatment, chiropractic care is far safer than drugs or surgery for the management of many spinal and nervous system problems.

A chiropractic adjustment aims to enhance the potential of the spine to promote a healthy and balanced nervous system.