Vertebral Subluxation Complex or VSC

Although we described subluxations as a partial dislocation of the vertebra, in practice, it is more complex than that. In actuality, subluxations are a combination of changes going on simultaneously. These changes are not limited to your spine. They occur both in your spine and throughout your body. For this reason chiropractors often refer to vertebral subluxations as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC).

In the VSC, various things are happening inside your body at the same time. These changes, known as components are all part of the vertebral subluxation complex. There are five categories of components present in the VSC. These five are:

The osseous (bone) component is where the vertebrae are either out of position, not moving properly, or are undergoing physical changes such as degeneration. This component is sometimes called kinesiopathology.

The Nerve Component is the malfunctioning of the nerve. Even a small amount of pressure on spinal nerves can have a profound impact on the function of the nerves. This component is scientifically known as neuropathology.

The third component is the Muscle Component. Muscles help hold the vertebrae in place. Nerves control the muscles. Thus, muscles are an integral part of any VSC. Muscles effect, as well as are affected by the VSC. This component is known as myopathology.

The Soft Tissue Component is when you have misaligned vertebrae and pressure on nerves resulting in changes in the surrounding soft tissues. This means the tendons, ligaments, blood supply and other tissues undergo changes. These changes can occur at the point of the VSC or far away at some end point of the affected nerves. This component is also known as histopathology.

The Chemical Component is when all these components of the VSC are acting on your body, and therefore causing some degree of chemical changes. These chemical changes can be slight or massive depending of what parts of your body are affected by your subluxations. This component is often known as biochemical abnormalities.

To be truly healthy it is vital that your nerve system be functioning free of interference from subluxations.

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