Subluxation is a general term for partial dislocation of bones from their joints and is especially frequent in ball and socket joints of the hip and shoulder. Subluxations also occur at the kneecap and vertebrae. Subluxations are most frequent in children, and this is not just a function of hyperactivity which is a relatively general belief.
Why Are Children Prone to Subluxation?
Children between 6 months to 5 years are prone to subluxation, and we can attribute this to the following factors:
- Straining Force of Muscles: A growing child’s bones are still relatively fragile, and calcium levels are far less in a child’s bones than in an adult’s bones. The muscles exert rotational force on these bones, and hence, in areas of high activity such as the joints, the bones are prone to detachment due to pulling stress.
- Hyperactivity: A child usually starts their journey by learning the mechanics of movement, which begins from crawling to standing and running. For the most part, they do not follow this pattern but try to start running after getting up on their feet. That often results in sharp strain and twisting of muscles, which exert stress and tension on joints and cause subluxations.
- Falls: Children often try to emulate adults and carry outfits that are beyond them. This result in falls can range from mild and non-problematic to grievous and life-threatening; some of these falls may result in subluxation of joints of the shoulder, elbow, hip, or spine. A spinal subluxation can affect nervous function and motor skills and is a usual case for Royal Beach Chiropractors.
Signs of Subluxation
Depending on site and degree of subluxation, common signs include:
- Signs of inflammation, which include pain, redness, heat, and swelling
- Complex motion at the joint
- Tingling and numbness within the body part
- The subluxation at the spine often presents headaches and pain around the neck and loss of some motor functions.
Treatment of Subluxation
A subluxation can stimulate degenerative processes in muscles or surrounding areas if there is no early therapy or correction. Hence, it is best to immediately tackle subluxations, especially in growing children to avoid lasting and lifelong effects.
The conventional management of subluxation is stabilizing the joint. That may include splinting and bandaging using a fiber-glass bandage to keep the child’s weight off limb joints and decrease activity. However, this is usually not feasible in spine subluxation, and other therapy methods can be more productive.
Chiropractic therapy is one such tool that has proven beneficial and effective for tackling vertebral subluxation, and we are best for the job. It includes a holistic therapy approach and works with five components that make up the spinal vertebral subluxation complex. These components are:
- The nervous component
- The bony component
- The soft tissue (muscles)
- Connective tissue (tendons and ligaments)
- The chemical component
Chiropractic therapy is safe and reliable, especially when a Chiropractor in Royal Beach gives this therapy. It covers all bases and can provide your child relief from the stress and pain that comes with subluxation. There is a wide range of benefits to gain from chiropractic care, and you can learn more from our website and blog posts. At Cobblestone Spine & Joint Institute our aim is to help you and your child have a pain-free life!