What is a subluxation? And why x-rays can't find it.

In medicine, subluxation refers to a partial dislocation of a joint, where bones that normally meet in a joint are partially separated but still maintain some contact. These subluxations result from acute trauma like falls, sports injuries, or accidents. 
In chiropractic, we use the term vertebral subluxation or vertebral subluxation complex to describe something different: a pattern of neurological dysfunction in the spine affecting alignment, joint motion, and nervous system communication. This type of subluxation may not show dramatic structural changes on X-ray because we’re measuring functional problems—how the nervous system communicates—rather than just bone displacement. 

Both definitions share a common thread: they describe altered joint function that affects the body’s ability to work properly. The key difference is focus—medical subluxation emphasizes structural displacement requiring repositioning, while chiropractic subluxation emphasizes neurological dysfunction requiring specific adjustments to restore optimal nerve function. This article focuses on the chiropractic perspective, particularly as it relates to children’s development and chronic health challenges.

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Subluxation refers to a complex neurological dysfunction within the body, characterized by three main components:
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• Misalignment: Altered positioning and spinal alignment within the neurospinal system.
• Fixation & Restriction Motion: Abnormal tension or fixation within these neurospinal segments and regions then leads to reduced range of motion and overall movement.
• Neurological Interference & Imbalance: The combination of this misalignment and restricted movement (proprioception) disrupts and alters neurosensory input into the brain, leading to interference and imbalance within the nervous system.

This pattern is sometimes referred to as the vertebral subluxation complex in chiropractic literature, distinguishing it from medical joint subluxation.
When subluxation occurs, it can interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system, which is responsible for controlling and coordinating all the systems in the body. Nervous system dysregulation and dysfunction are easily the most overlooked and dismissed components of both acute and chronic health challenges in kids and adults alike.
The key component of subluxation that sets all the neurological dysfunction in motion is the joint fixation and restriction of movement, which is known as proprioception.
Proprioception is the body’s sense of position and movement. It relies on sensory receptors in the joints, muscles, and connective tissues to communicate with the brain. Subluxations can disrupt this communication, leading to decreased proprioception and increased perception of noxious or stressful stimuli and input into the brain (nociception).
While a medical subluxation involves visible structural displacement of joint surfaces, neurological subluxation focuses on the functional impact—how altered joint mechanics disrupt nerve signaling between the body and brain. This is why traditional X-rays will not show what we’re measuring: we’re assessing function, not just structure.
While this may present as true physical pain and discomfort in an adult, in kids, it more commonly presents as altered sensory input or sensory overload, digestive or immune system dysfunction, and especially as altered sensory perception and motor input, tone, and coordination. Subluxation plays a major role in the development of both gross and fine motor delays, as well as overall developmental delays and challenges in children.
The upper neck and brainstem region are particularly vulnerable to subluxation because they house a high concentration of proprioceptors and contain critical spinal nerve roots that are responsible for controlling many vital functions in the body, such as:

• Breathing
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Digestion
• Immune function
• Sensory processing
• Motor control

In addition, the upper neck and brainstem are in close proximity to the vagus nerve and Autonomic Nervous System, which regulates the body’s involuntary functions. The Autonomic Nervous System is divided into two branches: the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” functions and overall nervous system regulation.
Subluxation of the spine or brainstem can disrupt the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, leading to a wide range of signs and health challenges. This imbalance, known as dysautonomia, is a critical factor in many of the chronic health conditions we see in children today.

If you have never been adjusted weekly by a chiropractor or you want to try a new place, start today. The innate wisdom of the body that coordinates all functions of human performance is the Foundation of Health and it runs the body via the nerve system.
 
Get In and Get Checked or schedule an appointment today if you are not currently under regular chiropractic care at one of our offices. 
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