D.D. Palmer’s discovery of the Chiropractic Objective led him to believe that vertebrae or bones in the spine could be slightly displaced or misaligned “incomplete luxation” and interfere with neurological function.
D.D. Palmer taught his Chiropractic Students that when these vertebrae suffered an incomplete luxation, the neurological tissue that is surrounded by the bones of the spine can have an impingement or stretching to the tissue due to the new negative structure of the vertebrae in their luxated position.
The Chiropractic Luxation was the founding terminology by D.D. Palmer for what we now call Vertebral Subluxation.
In 1927, R.W. Stephenson’s Chiropractic Text Book brought more clarity to D.D. Palmer’s discovery on Vertebral Subluxation. R.W. Stephenson’s definition of vertebral subluxation in his textbook is the following:
“Vertebral subluxation is a condition of a vertebra that has lost its proper juxtaposition with the one above or the one below or both; to an extent less than luxation; which occludes an opening, impinges nerves and interferes with the transmission of mental impulses.” —R.W. Stephenson, DC
Let’s review the Stephenson Criteria to Vertebral Subluxation by breaking the definition down into the following elements:
- Vertebral Subluxation is a condition of a vertebra that has lost its proper juxtaposition with the one above or the one below or both; to an extent less than luxation
- Vertebral Subluxation occludes an opening
- Vertebral Subluxation impinges nerves and interferes with the transmission of mental impulses
Vertebral Subluxation is a condition of a vertebra that has lost its proper juxtaposition with the one above or the one below or both; to an extent less than luxation.
If you break this first element to Stephenson’s Subluxation Criteria down even further you’ll see that vertebral subluxation requires a vertebra in relationship with the bone above, below or both and its displaced or misaligned.
The spinal column is designed to protect and direct the neurological system. Starting at the top of the spine is the cranium. The cranium is otherwise known as the skull and its there to protect the brain which is the body’s headquarters for keeping the body alive and functioning as one harmonious system. At the bottom of the cranium is a hole where the brain extends down the spine through the inside of the vertebral column.
The vertebral column is composed of 24 bones stacked on top of each other. These vertebrae are tightly knit together with soft tissue ligaments and muscles keeping the bones articulating in proportion to just enough movement, but not too much.
Malposition or displacement is a foundational element to Vertebral Subluxation, but alone it’s just that. Vertebral Subluxation is more than a misalignment.
Let’s discuss the second element to Stephenson’s Criteria to Subluxation; the occlusion to an opening.
With the headquarters to optimal function being placed on top of your spine, the communication needs to travel through your spine in order to direct and coordinate the trillions of cells located predominantly below the head.
Within each of those 24 bones within the spine is one to three openings where the neurological system can enter and exit for communication to take place between the brain and body. This communication flows through the nerves and the nerves flow through the vertebral column.
At the top of each vertebrae and the bottom of the adjacent vertebrae are two more openings that are produced through articulation of the vertebrae. These openings are referred to as intervertebral foramina. These openings protect the nerve roots that extend out from the spinal cord and innervate the trillions of cells throughout the body.
Openings within the spinal column are directly influenced by the position and integrity of the vertebrae. If one vertebrae becomes displaced or malpositioned compared to the one above or below, the opening that houses the nerve roots or spinal cord can be negatively affected by creating tension from the enlarged foramina creating a state of occlusion.
The first two elementals to Stephenson’s Subluxation Criteria are directly related to one another and set us up for looking at the final element: Vertebral Subluxation impinges nerves and interferes with the transmission of mental impulses.
In chiropractic, mental impulses are electrical nerve activity with a message embedded within impulse similar to a code for the purposes of coordinated activity throughout the entire body. The neurological system transmits mental impulses to relay the proper instructions for all cells, tissues and organs to work in harmony.
The transmission of these mental impulses rely upon the unique makeup of the neurological system and the infrastructure that protects and directs the delicate nerve tissue. The nerves’ capability to transmit information at 275 mph is due to the cable insulated structure that can provide a pathway of electrochemical communication without interference along the way.
If there’s too much tension on the nerve pathway that can interfere with communication highway and alter the mental impulse. Too much tension on the nerve creates an alteration in the amplitude similar to stringing the guitar too tight and altering the musical vibration from the chords.
Nerves transmit through vibrations and if the misalignment along with the occlusion in the neural foramina creates too much tension on the nerve tissue and this alters the message being sent via the mental impulse-you now have yourself a vertebral subluxation.
Your body is currently sending and receiving messages throughout the body through your neurological system for the purpose of uniting the body’s inherent recuperative power or innate intelligence with the cells, tissue and organs that make up the body.
Being interference free to these mental impulses gives your inherent recuperative powers of the body to function at a higher potential. Every cell in your body requires mental impulses at every moment. That means there are trillions of mental impulses for every moment in your body to maintain proper function throughout the body. Trillions of impulses per moment requires efficient means of communication.