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Subluxation In One Area Of Spine Affects Other Areas

The April 12, 2004 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research highlights a literature review that discusses the different concepts and mechanisms involved that explain why a vertebral subluxation in one area of the spine can cause problems to show up in other areas.

Chiropractors have long held the belief that problems in one part of the spine can refer to other parts because the various parts of the spine seem to work together. In 1981, the journal Applied Kinesiology says “The spine appears to function with a specific harmonious movement as the individual walks, runs, and otherwise performs daily activities.”

So, for researchers, the question becomes “How can we test this?” A study in the journal Manual Medicine: Diagnostics in 1990 shows how. At specific areas of the spine, researchers injected a strong salt solution into the muscles, ligaments and joints or simply scratched the periosteum (covering of the bone) with a needle. In every case “referred pain was elicited” at the levels corresponding to the area that was irritated. In other words, the area that was injured referred pain to its functional partner in the spine in every case.

Commentary: How does this relate to every day experiences of chiropractic patients? It’s simple. Occasionally patients will experience pain in one area of their spine and their chiropractor will work on another area, perhaps not even touching the area that hurts. Many times the areas that hurt are not where the problem is. Your chiropractor is a specialist in finding and correcting the problem. If the problem (cause) is taken care of, the pain (effect) generally takes care of itself.

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