Can an Adjustment Cause a Subluxation?

By definition, a chiropractic adjustment can never cause a subluxation. This is adhering to the strict application and sense of the word.

A Chiropractor can cause a subluxation if he or she is not providing an adjustment.

Before I continue, let me define what a vertebral subluxation is first. A vertebral subluxation, or subluxation for short, is a misaligned spinal bone that is putting added pressure on the nerve system. This pressure disrupts nerve function overall. If the nerve system is functioning at a subpar level, health expression can falter.

What is an adjustment?

An adjustment is a specific force applied to the spine. This specific force assists the body in correcting the misalignment and nerve system pressure. If the Chiropractor is providing an adjustment, he or she should not cause a subluxation but should reduce or correct the subluxation.

When the spine bones are in better alignment this reduces nerve pressure. The nerve system overall can function better and express health at a greater potential.

If you manipulate a bone that is not a subluxation, you can potentially create a subluxation. You can also manipulate a subluxated bone to the point of making the subluxation worse.

Sometimes you will hear the words ‘adjustment’ and ‘manipulation’ used interchangeably. This though is not accurate. An adjustment is not a manipulation and a manipulation is not an adjustment. Quoting Dr. Joseph Strauss, DC:

“Manipulation is putting a bone through a hyper-range of motion. Adjustment puts a vertebra back into its proper position in relationship to the nervous system.”

So putting a spinal bone, whether it is subluxated or not, through a hyper-range of motion, can potentially create a subluxation.

Only subluxations should be adjusted. If the spinal bone is not putting pressure on nerves and disrupting how they function, then it should not be adjusted.

A Chiropractor should use objective tools such as imaging and instruments to help determine the presence and/or absence of a subluxation. This includes things such as X-rays, thermography and muscle testing.

The more specific a Chiropractor is with the application of Chiropractic, the less chance there is of causing a subluxation. Instead of causing a subluxation, the Chiropractor can assist your body in the generation of health.

- Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP

Related Blogs:

1. Who Can and Can Not Get Adjusted?

2. Can You Adjust Someone With a Spinal Fusion?

3. "I Heard That Too Many Adjustments Can Wear Down The Disc, Is This True?"

Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP is a pediatric, family wellness and upper cervical specific Chiropractor. He is an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Jarek has postgraduate certification in Pediatric Chiropractic through the ICPA. Dr. Jarek also has postgraduate certification in the HIO Specific Brain Stem technique through The TIC Institute. Dr. Jarek is happily married to his wife Regina. They live in Youngstown, Ohio with their daughter Ruby.