A Contemporary View of Subluxation that is Consistent with the Founder's Views: A Commentary.

(The following are a number of quotes drawn from a recent commentary by David R. Seaman, DC, DABC14, DACBN, Assistant Professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Port Orange, Florida and published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.)

“Unfortunately, little chiropractic-driven research has been done to elucidate the precise pathophysiological character of vertebral subluxation. We are left to consider various models of subluxation that, while put forth by chiropractors, are based largely on basic science research that has been done by scientists outside the chiropractic profession. While this is not inherently problematic, it does illustrate that the chiropractic profession needs to develop and perform subluxation research....”

"We need to examine the possibility that reduction of subluxation with an adjustment may be akin to a dentist reducing a cavity. The reduction of the cavity only addresses the acute cause of the pain and suffering, it does not address the underlying cause of the cavity, i.e., an unhealthy body due to poor dental hygiene and a sugar-rich diet."

“Trauma is a fact of life, and a de-conditioned spine is predisposed to injury and subluxation.”

“Most individuals do not realize they have heart disease or cancer until it is too late. The same holds true for subluxation, such that altered spinal function can exist for years before it becomes symptomatic, and even when symptoms develop they are not consistent from person to person.”

“The pathological process begins slowly and sub-clinically, with trauma, toxins and autosuggestion as the promoters. It is well known that degenerative and inflammatory processes can rage on for years in a subclinical state.”

“Segmental responses include excitation of alpha- motoneurons and gammamotoneurons, as well as preganglionic sympathetic fibres, which can result in alterations of muscle tone, mobility, vascular changes, and inflammatory activity. Over time these alterations of normal function lead to the development of kinesiopathology, myopathology, histopathology, etc., which we refer to as the subluxation complex, and which consist of the objective findings we associate with subluxation.”

“Back pain is only one potential manifestation of subluxation due to such extraordinary increases in nociceptive impulses, and this point needs to be emphasized. Some patients may not suffer at all; some may experience moderate pain, while others may experience severe pain. Certain patients will experience no pain at all and instead, suffer from a variety of visceral symptoms. Consider the fact that nociceptive input from the subluxation complex can stimulate the vegetative centre in the brainstem and hypothalamus and induce profound neuroendocrine and immune responses.”

“Thus, we should urge our patients to be wary of the causes of subluxation, and educate them about the simple preventive procedures that are available.”

Reference:

Seaman DR. A contemporary view of subluxation that is consistent with the founder’s views: a commentary. JVSR. 2004;6:1-4.

www.ndxinstitute.com/manuscripts/Contemp Sublux JVSR 2004.pdf