"To be, or not to be, that is the question." - Shakespeare
To be a subluxation, it requires all the components of its definition to be present and identified. The only way to tell if all the components are present is to utilize all the instruments that answer the question: "What is it to be a subluxation?"
A vertebral subluxation is a vertebra that has lost its proper juxtaposition with the one above, below or both to an extent less than a dislocation, occluding a foramen, putting pressure upon nerves and interfering with the transmission of a mental impulse.
A subluxation has 4 main parts or questions that need to be answered based on the definition above. Question 1: Has the vertebra lost proper juxtaposition with the one above, below or both to an extent less than a dislocation? Question 2: Has that vertebra occluded a foramen? Question 3: Is the vertebra putting pressure upon nerves? And Question 4: Is the vertebra interfering with the transmission of a mental impulse?
Objective instrumentation and analysis help to properly analyze a subluxation and its presentation. Spinographs (X-rays) answer the first two questions and the Neurocalometer (NCM) answers the other two. A Chiropractor that does not utilize spinograph X-ray analysis and objective instrumentation such as the Neurocalometer, can't answer all the questions with complete certainty.
Other exams such as motion palpation, muscle testing, and orthopedic testing can help build a better understanding of what is going on with your body. They alone can’t determine if a subluxation is present or not. Without all the parts of the equation in place, you have incomplete work.
If you go to a Chiropractor who says that they adjust subluxations, but doesn’t use any tools or measurements that help determine the definition of a subluxation; how do you or the Chiropractor know that a subluxation has been adjusted? Or needs to be adjusted? We use X-rays and the NCM to cut down on the guesswork so that we can go to work!
Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP is a pediatric, family wellness and upper cervical specific Chiropractor. He is an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Jarek has postgraduate certification in Pediatric Chiropractic through the ICPA. Dr. Jarek also has postgraduate certification in the HIO Specific Brain Stem technique through The TIC Institute. Dr. Jarek is happily married to his wife Regina. They live in Youngstown, Ohio with their daughter Ruby.
