The brain stem and spinal cord are the primary pathways for nerve impulses to and from the brain. Messages back and forth through these nerves control the health and function cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body. Chiropractic focuses on the health and proper functioning of the spinal column, thereby influencing the entire body.
The vertebral column is a complex structure made up of bones, ligaments, muscles and nerves. The spine provides many functions crucial to the body:
Support Framework
Muscle Attachment
Protection of the Central Nervous System
Protection of the Internal Organs
The bones of the spinal column (backbone) are known as vertebra. The vertebral column houses the part of the nervous system called the spinal cord. Nerves branch off the spinal cord and exit between two vertebra to travel to every muscle, organ and gland in the body. In other words, the entire body communicates with the brain through this important structure, the spinal column. Ligaments connect the vertebra together into a jointed column.
Animals have a spinal column just as humans do. There are some major anatomical differences, though. Dogs have 13 thoracic vertebrae (rib pairs) while humans have 12. And of course, dogs and cats are quadrapeds (walk on four legs) while humans walk on only two legs.
There are approximately 200 joints in the spinal column of the dog or cat. Muscles are attached to the vertebra enabling the spinal column to flex and bend. With all of these joints, the possibility of specific problems or disease of the spinal column exists.
What is a Vertebral “Fixation”?
You may have heard the term subluxation used in the past by a human chiropractor. Subluxations are now commonly described as fixations. These fixations can be palpated as lack of motion of a joint, resulting in potential impingement on every structure in the vicinity of that joint including nerves, lumphatics, vessels, and joint capsules.
Nerves communicate messages from cell to cell. For example, a cell in the foot can talk to the brain and to the entire body through nerves. Fixations may be pictured as pinching off or changing the flow of information through nerves. Fro instance, think of the nerves as our telephone connections. If you are talking on the phone to New York, and a fixation occurs, you may end up talking to Florida. Or you may experience extreme pain from strange sounds coming from the telephone receiver. Or communication may totally cease.
Fixation and Excess Motion
Every movement of the body requires a constant synchronization of muscles in contraction and relaxation. If proper nerve messages to muscles are obstructed, this coordination will falter. Ner ve obstruction can occur from either fixations or excess motion of the vertebral segment. Minor interferences may only result in slight changes. Excess nerve pressure can also produce pain – acute or chronic.
Fixations and excess motion in the spine may cause compensations in movement or posture. When your back hurts does your gait change? Weight may be slightly shifted to one leg or certain activities may be avoided. When the spine is not functioning correctly in one area, stress is placed on other vertebral joints. Secondary fixations or excessive motion can then occur in other areas of the column and/or extremities further complicating the problems. These are described as compensations.
Symptoms of Fixations & Excess Motion
PAIN: THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM
CHANGES IN MUSCLE COORDINATION
CHANGES IN FLEXIBILITY
With even slight compression of nerves, many other problems can occur due to influences on the glands, the skin, the blood vessels and lymphatics.
UNUSUAL BODY OR TAIL RUBBING
INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO HEAT OR COLD
CHANGES IN INTERNAL ORGAN FUNCTIONS
CHANGES IN SIGHT OR HEARING
ABDOMINAL PAIN
CHANGES IN COMPETITION ABILITY
Causes of Fixations & Excess Motion
TRAUMA
STRESS
CONFORMATION/GENETICS
BIRTH
CONFINEMENT
PERFORMANCE
CHOKE COLLARS/ LEASHES
AGE
OTHER MEDICAL OR SURGICAL CONDITIONS
