Approaches to Subluxations

Chiropractic is a lot more than just pushing on someone’s back to make it feel better. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we believe in putting the body in the optimal position to heal itself, using minimally invasive, non-addictive means. Part of that means using spinal adjustments to treat vertebral subluxation complexes, but those are more than just regular back pain. They’re misalignments in the spinal column that could become more severe if they’re not corrected.

 

The spinal column is made up of bones, called vertebrae, that are connected to each other by facet joints in back and spongy, shock-absorbing discs between their main bodies. The bundle of nerves that makes up the spinal cord runs through a canal made up of hollow spaces in the vertebrae behind their flat parts, and the nerves to the rest of our bodies branch out of the spinal cord through small holes in the vertebrae. A vertebral subluxation complex is what we call it when an injury causes a vertebra to move out of its usual position. This could compress the nerves exiting through it, causing them to experience pain, tingling, or numbness. It could also press down on blood vessels, prompt inflammation, and distort the shape of the spinal discs.

 

A subluxation may be painful, but the body can adjust to it. However, this would not be good for the spinal column’s overall integrity, and would likely further strain its supporting muscles and allow the affected area’s blood flow to remain restricted and its nerves to have difficulty relaying messages. A chiropractic adjustment is the most simple way of dealing with this. With a controlled, gentle amount of force, a chiropractor would return the vertebra to its optimal position. This would remove the impingement on the nerve and allow the body to heal fully. But it works better when the rest of the body hasn’t experienced wear from overuse due to compensating for a subluxation.

 

If you are experiencing back pain, visit Dr. Carmelino Caratozzolo at the ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355. We’ll help determine whether a vertebral subluxation complex is the cause and what your best course of treatment is.

Bones of the Spine

The nerves to our limbs all pass through the spine. One of our foundational theories at ACT Wellness Center in Woodridge is that the health of the body depends on the spine being healthy and properly aligned. We offer several kinds of treatments to ensure patients do not suffer from subluxations, but to fully understand their choices patients will need a basic understanding of how the spine works.

The spinal column is a complicated structure comprised of the spinal nerves, their protective membranes, shock absorbing rubbery discs, and a series of connected bones. The bones, called vertebrae, are flat discs that stack on top of each other and have arch-shaped protrusions in back, which the nerves of the spinal cord run through. They also have joints in back by which they connect to each other. The top seven vertebrae are the neck bones and are also called cervical vertebrae. On top is the axis vertebra, which plays a vital role in moving the head up and down, and below it is the axis vertebra, which allows the head to pivot.

The upper back is comprised of the twelve thoracic vertebrae. They have additional joints by which they attach to the ribs. The lower back is made up of the five lumbar vertebrae, which are the largest vertebrae and bear the most weight. Below them are the sacrum and the coccyx, two structures each made up of fused vertebrae without spongy discs between them. The sacrum connects to the hip bones, while the coccyx or tailbone dangles below and also anchors pelvic muscles. Nerves to the legs pass through the sacrum.

We would love to help you feel better now! If you are in need of a chiropractic adjustment in Woodbridge, VA, come visit us! Dr. Caratozzolo of ACT Wellness Center is a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP) and a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician. Dr. Caratozzolo offers a multitude of services that sets him apart. To schedule an appointment at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Rd., Woodbridge, VA, call us at  703-491-9355 or visit ACT Wellness.