Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why is so much emphasis placed on the state of my spine and nervous system?
  2. What is vertebral subluxation?
  3. How are stress and vertebral subluxations related?
  4. What are the causes of subluxtion?
  5. How do I tell if I have a vertebral subluxation?
  6. Who can benefit from tonal chiropractic?
  7. What can I expect from tonal chiropractic adjustments?

Why is so much emphasis placed on the state of my spine and nervous system?

ALL of life's experiences and functions, including genetic expression, involve the nervous system. All of our perceptions, thoughts, decisions, actions, emotions, etc. intimately involve the nervous system and are directed through one's "sense of self" (i.e., the spine and spinal cord). It is responsible for controlling and coordinating every cell, tissue, and organ in the body, including how we self-regulate, heal, adapt, and develop. The nervous system is the most protected organ system in the body; the brain is fully encased by the skull while the spine protects the spinal cord. Every system in the body, including the endocrine (hormones) and immune system, is under its direct influence.

For all of this to function optimally, it is imperative that the nervous system function as optimally as it can, as often as possible, throughout one's life. It is impossible for one to live an optimal life through a nervous system that is compromised or functioning at less than optimal levels as a result of stresses or life events that the body-mind perceives as being unsafe to fully engage and experience. This causes defense physiology (fight-or-flight) and posture (armoring), thereby expressing a narrowed ability to adapt appropriately to the environment and life events (i.e., vertebral subluxations are present).

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What is vertebral subluxation?

A vertebral subluxation is an effect or symptom of the body's defense strategy that involves sustained misalignments of spinal bones due to irregular, asymmetrical signals to the muscles of the spine. It is the body's mechanical way of storing information (stress) that the body-mind cannot handle at the time. It is commonly accompanied by alterations in neurological signals going from the body to the brain (Dysafferentation), and signals regulating the body's organs, blood vessels, and glands (Dysautonomia).

Vertebral subluxations can be thought of as the body's brilliant short-term protective strategy; somewhat similar to what happens when a circuit in your house experiences an overload in which a circuit breaker in the fuse box is tripped in order to protect the fuse, and ultimately everything connected to that electrical line.

They can also be viewed as a "separation from wholeness" or a "de-railed" relationship between the body, mind, and soul; between the material and immaterial. It is a loss of the body's ability to fully comprehend itself in its environment, and hence, a diminished ability to function at one's best and adapt in the most efficient way to subtle external and internal cues.

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How are stress and vertebral subluxations related?

The tough, protective connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges—specifically the Dura Mater) also serves to strongly anchor these structures to the bones of the cranium, upper spine (cervical/neck), and lower spine (sacrum and coccyx/tailbone). The meninges can distort and hold patterns of tension in response to various stresses (emotional, chemical, and physical) we encounter throughout our lives that are perceived by our central nervous system (CNS) to be beyond our body's ability to fully adapt to or recover from at the time.

One can think of these tension patterns as unresolved "issues" that are "anchored" or stored in the sub-conscious mind at the level of the spinal cord and meninges, which negatively impact the body as a whole: e.g., abnormal muscle tension patterns leading to altered posture and spinal misalignments & subluxations, disruption of body and brain chemistry, including the Brain Reward Cascade, sub-optimal organ function, and so forth.

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What are the causes of subluxtion?

The causes of Subluxations (nerve interference) fall in to three primary categories: physical, emotional and chemical stress. Activities many of us encounter on a daily basis fall into one of these three criteria. Some examples are as follows:

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How do I tell if I have a vertebral subluxation?

The only accurate way to determine if you suffer from a Subluxation is to receive a Chiropractic evaluation. However, a number of signs and symptoms are commonly associated with the Vertebral Subluxation including: Pain, tenderness, soreness, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, weakness, balance problems, muscle spasm, reduced spinal mobility, numbness, tingling, low energy, and poor health or healing.

Individuals who are not experiencing pain or other symptoms are not necessarily free of Subluxations. Pain is a poor indicator of disease processes, including the presence of Subluxations. Subluxations are similar to dental cavities, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure; many times a significant amount of damage is present before symptoms or pain is felt.

This is why we recommend, like your dentist, that individuals seek periodic spinal checkups to assess for Subluxations, even in the absence of pain. Periodic well-child checkups are especially important because children often suffer from subluxations yet do not express outward symptoms until much later in life, when these Subluxations will become more difficult to correct.

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Who can benefit from tonal chiropractic?

Because of the fact that Chiropractic care has a positive impact on the nervous system, which is involved in every realm of human experience, including our perceptions and adaptation, everyone can benefit regardless of age, level of health, or the presence or absence of symptoms. Dr. Jeremy has worked with colic babies to children with ADHD & asthma to adults with numerous symptoms and disorders. The goal of chiropractic care is to aid the body in expressing higher levels function and helping the body move toward a more optimal state of health. Tonal chiropractic is beneficial to anyone, young and old, who wants to improve their health, but it's especially useful for individuals seeking:

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What can I expect from tonal chiropractic adjustments?

While each individual's positive response and timing of observable changes as a result of Tonal Chiropractic may vary, what follows below is a list of commonly observed responses while on the table during an adjustment and/or out of the office:

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