Patient Library - Subluxation
When one or more vertebrae lose their normal position, they interfere with the nerves they were meant to protect. This interference can cause pressure or irritation on the spinal cord and/or on the nerve roots as they pass out of the spinal column. This misalignment of the vertebrae and pinching of the nerves is called a subluxation and is the most common aspect of what doctors call the vertebral subluxation complex. When pressure or irritation of nerve tissue is present, there can be diminished function of the body, which may manifest as muscle spasms, pains, and headaches. For more information, look at the nerve chart.