Can Other Bones Beside the Spine Misalign and Cause Nerve Pressure?

Yes, other bones besides the spine can misalign and create nerve pressure. But a misaligned bone is not the same thing as a vertebral subluxation. The words ‘misalignment’ and ‘subluxation’ are not synonymous.

Misaligned bones can create nerve pressure. A vertebral subluxation can create Nerve System pressure.

The vertebral (spinal) bones have four specific categories of incorrect placement. The 4 different categories are:

1. Misalignment

2. Subluxation

3. Dislocation

4. Fracture

All other bones of the body only have 3 categories of incorrect placement: Misalignment, Dislocation and Fracture.

Each subsequent category creates more pressure or disruption to the Nerve System. A misalignment creates the least amount of pressure and a fracture creates the most. Chiropractors only take care of misalignments and subluxations, not dislocations or fractures, within their scope of practice.

What makes Chiropractic distinct from other healthcare professions, is that Chiropractors are the only ones educated and trained to locate and correct vertebral subluxations.

Why does the spinal column have one more category than other bones? It’s because the spine surrounds and protects a major aspect of the Central Nerve System, the brainstem and spinal cord. In general, the Central Nerve System is where we will find great collections of nerve fibers and tracts.

The greatest concentration of nerve fibers and tracts is found in the brainstem. The upper cervical spine surrounds and protects this very delicate and important area of the Central Nerve System. A vertebral subluxation of the upper cervical spine has the potential to create pressure on not just some nerves but all nerve fibers.

For example, if the elbow misaligns, it can create pressure on the surrounding nerves. In this case, there are three main nerves and their fibers that travel around the elbow. Those nerves just supply the arm.

Now, if the upper cervical spine subluxates, it can create pressure on the surrounding Nerve System. Some estimate that the brainstem and spinal cord contain anywhere between 120 to 400 trillion nerve fibers. These nerve fibers supply every organ, gland and tissue of the body. A pressure on brainstem nerve fibers has the potential to effect the whole body.

This is why some Chiropractors, such as myself, have decided to concentrate on this highly important area, the upper cervical spine.

Chiropractic focuses not on just “moving bones” but on the promotion of an optimized Nerve System.

- Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP

Related Blogs:

1. What is the Difference Between Chiropractic and Osteopathy?

2. Chiropractic is Measured in Millimeters

3. Chiropractors Do The Same Thing to Everybody, Don't They?

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.