You may be seeing your chiropractor in Jacksonville because of back pain following a car accident. Before beginning chiropractic treatment, they will need to determine the nature of the misalignment. When the bones of a joint are displaced from their proper alignment, it’s called a subluxation. Your doctor at Amazing Spine Care in Jacksonville can take x-rays of your spine and also perform a manual examination.
What is a subluxation?
For a medical specialist, a joint dislocation is simply a dislocation. For a chiropractor, a dislocation or subluxation means something different. When a dislocation occurs in the spine, the nervous system is disrupted.
The spine is a stack of vertebrae, like a child’s tower of blocks. Between them are discs that act as shock absorbers. These discs form joints that can become misaligned. Correcting this misalignment is the primary goal of chiropractic treatment.
When one vertebra is misaligned, ligaments and tendons can either weaken or tighten. Nerves become pinched. Muscles tighten to protect the spine. The result can be normal movement in one area of the spine and a complete lack of movement in another. Both situations are serious problems.
What causes this?
When the vertebrae of the spine are misaligned, it triggers a chain reaction throughout the body. Muscles begin to spasm, weaken, and/or lose tone. When a spinal nerve is compressed, the part of the body it serves becomes painful. Discs can herniate, rupture, or degenerate. Soft tissue can be damaged.
Bone spurs or various growths can connect abnormal joints in the spine. Scar tissue and a deteriorating spine can lead to dysfunction in other parts of the body. All of this can result from back pain caused by a car accident.
How is this displacement treated?
Your Jacksonville chiropractor will adjust the subluxation area manually or with a device. Strengthening exercises may be prescribed to maintain the muscles in the area. Diet and adequate sleep are also essential for a healthy spine. If you’ve been in an accident, call Amazing Spine Care at (904) 320-0808 for assistance.
