Spinal Adjustments

Although Chiropractic is commonly known to focus on disorders of the musculoskeletal system, help low back pain, neck pain, mid back pain, sciatica, arthritis, sports injuries, arm pain, leg pain and even headaches, we here at Elizabethton Chiropractic look at the whole body, how it functions, how your spinal bones function, your whole nerve system, brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves, their body & brain connections and the effect it has on your overall health.

Our purpose at Elizabethton Chiropractic is to find and detect any spinal bones or vertebrae that have lost their normal position and movement or function that could be interfering with our brain to body connection or vice versa.  This is called the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.  The primary job of the chiropractor is to find, detect, reduce or correct and help prevent these vertebral subluxations with specific hands on chiropractic Spinal Adjustments.  They are performed specifically to increase spinal function, increase the brain’s connection to the body, increase the body’s connection to the brain, improve your vitality and optimize your whole body’s health through the working of these specific Spinal Adjustments.

More specifically Dr. Dennis uses the system of Chiropractic case management called the Gonstead system, the application of a specific Spinal Adjustment or Spinal Adjustments using the Gonstead Method of Chiropractic, and serves you with other therapies & services that you qualify for listed in the Elizabethton Chiropractic services rendered.  The purpose of this method of spinal adjustments involves specifically affecting and correcting alignment, restoring motion, restoring physical function and/or function of a spinal bone or vertebral joint specifically with the purpose and intention to correct or reduce the Vertebral Subluxation Complex which is typically caused by 3 factors: (1) Trauma (repetitive &/or an incident), (2) Toxins and (3) Thoughts.

So specific Spinal Adjustments reduce Vertebral Subluxation Complex, but what’s specifically the Vertebral Subluxation Complex?  Vertebral Subluxation is a complex of functional, structural and/or pathological articular changes affecting nerve integrity and may influence organ system function and overall health.  There are 5 interconnected parts of this spinal bone or vertebral subluxation complex.

(1) Spinal Kinesiopathology:  This is a fancy way of saying the bone is stuck out of place reducing how far you can bend forwards, backwards, side to side and twisting to both sides.  Some people call this a backbone stuck out of place, a “crick” or “switched.  Active and passive range of motion examination can help pick this up.

(2) Neuropathophysiology:  this improper spinal function can compress, rub on, choke or irritate the nerve which can cause friction, inflammation and symptoms anywhere from where that nerve starts to where it goes away from in your spine.  Dr. Gonstead would recommend even tracing the patient’s symptoms and nerve back to the spine to find the location of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

(3) Myopathology: Spinal muscles that move and support the spine can weaken, atrophy, brace, spasm and cramp.  This can cause scar tissue to form changing integrity to the muscles requiring management of this condition.  Some people call this cramping, spasms, a pulled muscle and just simply tight musculature.  Motion and static palpation can help find this.

(4) Histopathology: Objective constriction & dilation of the capillaries or small blood vessels around the vertebral foramen of the spine where the spinal nerve root comes out and gets irritated or compressed can objectively be picked up through instrumentation (Nervoscope) indicating where the Vertebral Subluxation Complex is.  This increase in blood and lymph flow also results in swelling.  Discs can bulge, swell, degenerate, herniate and tear.  Other soft tissues may suffer permanent injury.  This is why static palpation is so important to pick up this pitting edema changes and sudoriphic or oil gland changes associated where the Vetebral Subluxation Complex is located.

(5) Pathophysiology: Bone spurs, osteophytic change, arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA), spinal decay, degeneration or degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD), scar tissue or fibrous tissue which isn’t as pliable as original tissue which is elastic, stretchable, bendable, near joint fusion or joint fusion can affect other systems of our body causing malfunction.  This can be picked up with digital x-ray biomechanical analysis, some arthritis is picked up w/ lab work and other imaging studies reveal these findings.

To learn and master the art of the Spinal Adjustment with the hands using the Gonstead method, Dr. Dennis of Elizabethton Chiropractic has went beyond his college education and 8 years of education at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, followed by the Tennessee state board and national board licensing requirements to be a practicing Chiropractor, he has spent additional time attending multiple Gonstead Seminars throughout the years to perfect the Gonstead System of Chiropractic technique and case management and has taught this technique to multiple students & Doctors at Chiropractic Colleges, Universities, workshops and seminars throughout the United States.

Our ultimate goal is to educate you, your family & friends, serve you with specific Gonstead vertebral or spinal adjustments, serve you with restorative therapy services, whole food nutrition and get you back doing what you love best to do as soon as possible while improving your whole body’s health.  As a Gonstead Doctor, there is a set standard for the patient examination which includes your history, static palpation, motion palpation, running a Nervoscope instrument on your spinal column to read objective signs of where the nerve is getting ‘pinched’ or irritated at indicating  pressure on the nerve, running orthopedic and neurologic tests, doing digital biomechanical x-ray analysis and doing lab work (if necessary).  When all of these findings are brought together, Dr. Dennis will immediately let you know if you are a chiropractic case, if you have a Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) and if he and his team can help you or not.  Fair enough?

Spinal Adjustments are also safe, appropriate and beneficial for children, too.  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the average 10 year old child has had 1,500 spinal traumas from falls and accidents.  This comes as no surprise to me with a 5 year old son who is under regular Chiropractic care since he’s been born.  Participating in sports, bike wrecks, high flying acts off the couch and bed, all can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex to happen.  Safe, effective Gonstead adjustments are the solution to this problem.

The Spinal Adjustment is done by hand on the subluxated spinal bone to restore and enhance joint function to resolve joint inflammation, reduce pain and restore health.  It’s a highly controlled process that rarely causes discomfort.  Each adjustment is adapted to the patient member, is done by hand and often positive changes are noted immediately following the adjustment.   So why not experience a Spinal Adjustment today at Elizabethton Chiropractic?  Dr.  Dennis’ son will even come sit with you for support during your spinal adjustment J!

Yours In Health,

Your Elizabethton Chiropractic Team

“Find the subluxation, correct it and then leave it alone.” –Dr. Clarence Gonstead