Overview

Chi-ro-prac-tic (noun) - a medical system based on the theory that disease and disorders are caused by a misalignment of bones, especially in the spine, that obstructs proper nerve functions.

This misalignment of bones is called a subluxation. In the simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. vertebral subluxation) is when one or more vertebrae to move out of position and create pressure on, impingement or irritates a spinal nerve root at the point where it leaves the spinal cord. These nerves are a part of your peripheral nervous system which help control and coordinate all the functions of your body.

Vertebral subluxations in and of themselves are not the only cause and effect for pain resulting from nerve impingements. Muscles more often than not are the primary cause of nerve impingements. Peripheral nerves follow predetermined pathways throughout the body which at times can be vastly vulnerable to muscle compression. Typical ?healthy muscles? will pose no threat to proper nerve function. However, when muscles and tendons become injured, the normal tone of a muscle increases. It is this increased tone in the muscle (a.k.a. hypertonicity) that can apply compression to nerves thus altering proper nerve function and overall mobility. This phenomenon is often referred to as nerve pain primarily due to muscle impingement.

Furthermore, vertebral subluxations resulting in nerve impingement generally are result of two causes. One of which is physical trauma such as accidents resulting in a fall or a motor vehicle accident. The other cause and effect to subluxation of a vertebra is the muscle tendon complex. Bones (vertebrae) don?t move bones. Muscles and tendons move bones. Therefore the pathological muscle tendon complex that either originates or inserts on a vertebrae will inadvertently subluxate a vertebrae to the side of the hypertonic muscle. Proper treatment protocol is not only to treat the subluxation, but more importantly aggressively treat the muscle tendon complex that is responsible for the subluxation thus eliminating pain.

Symmetrical and uncompromising muscle tone is paramount in order to effectively maintain homeostasis within the body. Muscle hypertonicity is responsible for an unparalleled array of pathological dysfunctions. Pathological disease processes that can arise due to muscle hypertonicity and hypomobility can include headaches, herniated disc, osteoarthritis, bone spurs, rotator cuff syndromes, numbness and tingling of the extremities, disc degeneration and even constipation to list a few.

While this basic definition of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct subluxations and it has become generally accepted as a treatment protocol, the chiropractic adjustment fails to address and correct the underlying cause for pain. The underlying cause for musculoskeletal pain is most always due to pathological muscles which adversely affects our skeletal system. Your body contains intricate arrangements of muscles, ligaments, bones and nerves which function in unison to create fluid natural painless motion. Common sense dictates that if one of these components is damaged, your ability to move the injured area will be impeded by pain. A chiropractic adjustment can provide temporary relief for many of the injuries commonly associated with a spinal pathology. However, it is only temporary and the underlying cause for the pain and the subluxation has not been properly addressed. What most chiropractic patients (and chiropractors) fail to understand is that unless the underlying cause for an injury are properly diagnosed and treated, the injury and associated pain will recur.

The underlying cause for most musculoskeletal pain is a condition called Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is the name for the condition characterized by severe muscle pain. In this condition, the pain occurs in the most sensitive areas in the muscles and the sensitive points are called trigger points. These trigger points pathologically form within a damaged muscle and the pain most often will radiate throughout the entire muscle.

The most common symptom of Myofascial Pain Syndrome is deep pain that occurs in the muscle, that is constant and that becomes worse over time. The main cause for the occurrence of Myofascial Pain Syndrome lies in the trigger points, which are within sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers. These muscle lesions create a constant release of calcium ions which in turn causes persistent muscle contraction. These hypertonic muscles are called taut bands.

The most accepted model for the explanation of trigger points postulates that there is an energy crisis which leads to an increase release of acetylcholine and therefore perpetuates the vicious cycle of a prolonged contraction. Hence, pathologically tight muscles are formed.

Severe deep muscle pain is the common denominator resulting from trigger points, taut bands, muscle spasms and the hypomobility of the affected muscle due to the muscle?s increased contractile state. The longer the muscle remains pathological and in the hypertonic state the more trigger points that will form. The more trigger points that form, the tighter the muscle becomes. This is the self-perpetuating pain cycle.

The primary function of muscle tone is twofold: to stabilize the joints both statically and dynamically and to help circulate fluids through the body?s tissue. The major problematic health effects of hypertonicity can create serious health problems. The main issues are:

• Excess pressure on the associated joints.
• Decreased interstitial space.
• Increased pressure on arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels, and capillary beds.
• Decreased ability to remove toxins from the interstitial space.
• Increased contractile forces on tendons of origin and insertions of involved muscles.
• Deformation of the spine to include: hyperlordotic Lumbar spine, hyperkyphosis, forward head
  posture and scoliosis.
• Herniated discs, canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, facet syndrome, degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, and arthritis of the spine.
• Numbness and tingling of the extremities.
• Chondromalacia patella.
• Plantar fasciitis.
• Rotator cuff tears.
• Subluxations.
• Tendinitis.
• Lastly?PAIN

Chronic muscular hypertonicity may result from long-term performance of repetitive motion (e.g., at work) from long-term emotional distress (i.e. heightened tension) or from trauma (shortening of a muscle upon injury that persist through healing). In all cases, muscular tension begins as a momentary response and becomes chronic through habituation. Hypertonicity may even increase during sleep which explains why so many patients are tight and stiff upon awakening.

Habitually tight muscles interfere with movement and interfere with their muscular antagonists creating fatigue stiffness and pain. An example of this is when there is a chronic co-contraction of extensors and flexors, it is one mechanism by which unresolved muscular tension persists. When both the extensors and flexors of the trunk co-contract, they shorten the spine and compress the intervertebral discs. This is a common origin of disc degeneration and radiculopathy. Whether muscular hypertonicity arises from an unresolved injury or a repetition of overuse injuries, the result is the same: lactic acid buildup and joint compression.

The solution is straightforward ? relieve the muscles of their hypertonicity through physiotherapy at a cellular level, restore muscle length and joint function.