A
Activator Adjusting Instrument - A handheld instrument used by chiropractors who assert that slightly misaligned vertebrae can betapped back into place with a mallet
Acute back pain - Back pain that lasts a short while, usually a few days to several weeks. Episodes lasting longer than three months are not considered acute. Relatively severe and of short duration.
Adjustment - The use of pressure or force in specific location, direction and time to the spine or other articulations of the body to help normalize function.
Arthritis - A general term referring to a condition of the joints. Literally it refers to an inflammation of the joints. There are many types of arthritides. The form, which will inflict many people as they age, is known as osteoarthritis. Other types include rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.
Atlas - The top and most freely moving bone of the spinal column.
Axis - The second cervical vertebrae of the neck.
B
Bone spur - A bony outgrowth. A calcium deposition, which can be part of the body’s response to abnormal motion or position of bones in the spine or elsewhere.
C
C.A. - Abbreviation for “chiropractic assistant.”
Cervical - The vertebrae of the neck, usually seven bones.
Chronic - Persisting for a long period of time. A problem showing little change or with slow progression.
Chiropractor - Doctor trained in the science, art and philosophy of manipulation (adjustment) of the human body. Chiropractic evaluation and treatment is directed at evaluating the cause of the problem through structural analysis of the musculo-skeletal systems of the body. Abnormal function of these systems can lead to abnormal function of the body’s nervous system, which in turn may affect function of other systems in the body. Treatment is then rendered with the goal of restoring normal function via manipulating (adjusting) areas exhibiting abnormal structure
Coccyx - A series of small bones below the sacrum that are also known as the tailbone.
Cox flexion-distraction technique - Method of applying manually controlled distraction or stretching to specific spinal segments with the assistance of a movable table. Not a manipulation technique.
D
D. C. - Abbreviation for “doctor of chiropractic.”
Degeneration. A “wear and tear phenomena.” When the joints of the body wear out, it is referred to as osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease.
Disc - A cartilage (cushion/pad) that separates spinal vertebrae, absorbs shocks to the spine, protects the nervous system and assists I creating the four normal curves of the spine. A disc can bulge, herniated or rupture but because of the way they connect to the vertebrae above and below, a disc can’t ‘slip’.
Dynamic Thrust - Chiropractic adjustment delivered suddenly and forcefully to move vertebrae, often resulting in a popping sound.
E
Edema - A condition in which fluid fills a damaged joint area causing swelling similar to the swelling of a sprained ankle or black eye.
Extremity - Lower or upper limbs, such as a leg or an arm.
F
Facet - The joint surface of a spinal bone, facing the adjacent bone above or below.
Fixation - Being held in a fixed position. ‘Stuck’. A joint with restricted movement.
Foramen - An opening, a hole or passageway in a bone for blood vessels or nerves.
Full-spine technique - Method of adjusting or manipulating any of the vertebrae from the neck down.
G
Gonstead technique - System of correcting pelvic and sacral “subluxations” to correct secondary subluxations elsewhere in the spine. The alleged problem areas are located by motion palpation and skin-temperature instrument measurement and “confirmed” with full-spine x-ray examination.
H
Herniation - Condition of the intervertebral disc, whereby some of the material, which makes up the disc, shifts to a position, which irritates the nearby nerve for that spinal area.
Hypermobility - Too much movement.
Hypomobility - Restricted movement.
I
Iliam - One of the two large bones that form the pelvis; the hipbone.
Inflammation - A reaction of soft tissue due to injury that may include malfunction, discomfort, rise in temperature, swelling and increased blood supply.
Innate Intelligence - An alleged inborn ability of the body to heal itself, which chiropractors believe is enhanced by spinal adjustments.
Intervertebral disc - This is the soft tissue found between the bones of the spinal column, (i.e., the vertebrae). They help cushion the spine from everyday stress (i.e., running, walking, jumping, etc,). Through improper posture (i.e., bending forward at the waist and twisting), discs can wear out (degenerate). This can lead to the condition known commonly by the laymen, as a “slipped disc”, or a disc herniation.
J
Joint - The area between two bones where movement occurs. If movement is abnormal, pain and degeneration may occur.
Joint dysfunction - A condition, whereby the joints of a particular area are not moving properly. Any sort of physical trauma may bring this about, along with proposed chemical or mental causes.
K
Kyphosis - A backward displacement in the lateral curve of the spine. The “normal” posture of the upper back.
L
Lateral - The side view of the body.
Ligament - A band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that binds joints together.
Lordosis - The forward curve of the spine. Normally found in the cervical and lumbar spine.
Low-force technique - Use of an adjusting machine and /or reflex technique said to be an alternative to forceful manipulation. It may not be an appropriate substitute for properly performed spinal manipulation. Advertising it is often a promotion gimmick.
Lumbar - The vertebrae of the lower back, usually five bones.
Lumbosacral strain - Strain or injury of joints or ligaments at the base of the spine where the last lumbar vertebra (L5) is connected to the sacrum. Strain or disk degeneration in this area is probably the most common cause of low-back pain.
M
Maintenance Care - Subluxation-based program of periodic spinal examinations and “adjustments” alleged to help maintain the patient’s health. Also called “preventive maintenance” or “preventative maintenance.”
Manipulation - This is a form of manual therapy where an application of forces to structures such as muscles, joints and bones is presented, where the goal is the restoration of normal joint motion and the elimination of pain secondary to disturbed biomechanics.
Massage - This is the application, usually by hand, of systematic stroking or manipulation to the soft tissues of the body for therapeutic purposes, i.e., to alleviate pain and discomfort. The most well-known massage movements are those that involve stroking and gliding (effleurage), kneading (petrissage), and percussion (tapotement) to soft tissues of the body.
Mobilization - Method of manipulation, movement, or stretching to increase range of motion in muscles and joints that does not involve a high-velocity thrust.
Motion palpation - Useful method of locating fixations and loss of mobility in the spine by feeling the motion of specific spinal segments as the patient moves.
Musculoskeletal - Referring to structures involving tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints.
N
Nerve root - One of the two nerve bundles emerging from the spinal cord that join to form a segmental spinal nerve.
Nervous System - The telephone communication center of the body. All information from outside the body and from inside the body must pass through this system. The two parts of the nervous system include the Central and Peripheral Nervous system.
Nerves - The extensions which branch off of the brain and spinal cord and carry information to all parts of the body.
Nucleus Pulposus - The gelatinous mass in the centre of the spinal disc.
O
Occipital/ Occiput - Pertaining to the lower, posterior portion of the head or skull, which rests on the spinal column.
Osteoarthritis - Also known as degenerative joint disease. A form of arthritis in which a wear and tear phenomenon occurs at the joint. A common form of arthritis, especially in older people.
PPalpation - Examining the spine with your fingers; the art of feeling with the hands.
PI - Abbreviation for “personnel injury.” Used in the phrases “PI practice”, which focus on patients with auto injuries, slip-fall injuries and dog bites.
Posterior - Toward the back of the body.
R
Range-of-motion - This is a description for the amount of movement, which occurs at a particular joint or region of the body, such as the lumbar spine. In the spinal column, there are six (6) different movements, which may occur. These include flexion (bending forward), extension (bending backward), rotation (twisting right and left) and lateral flexion (bending to each side, right and left).
Reflex - An involuntary action resulting from a stimulus.
S
Sacroiliac - The two joints where the pelvis (hip) connects to the sacrum.
Sacrum - The triangular bone at the base of the spine.
Sciatica - A pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and down the back of one or both legs caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerves, the largest nerves of the body.
Scoliosis - Looking from the back of a person, a “sideways” curvature of the spine can be observed.
Slipped disc - An incorrect name given in a situation in which a disc becomes wedge shaped and bulges. In extreme cases, pressure can cause a disc to tear or rupture.
S.O.T. Sacral Occipital Technique - This is a technique performed by chiropractors that utilizes blocks under the pelvis to help correct “subluxations”. This is a low-force technique that concentrates on subluxations in the occiput and sacral regions of the spine. The degree of alleged correction obtained is monitored by checking leg length.
Spasm - A constant contraction or tightening of a muscle.
Spinal column - The bones of the back. The spinal column protects the spinal cord and allows for movement of the body in various ranges of motion. There are 24 moveable bones (also known as vertebrae), plus a sacrum and a coccyx at the bottom of this column, which is surrounded by the bony pelvis.
Spinal cord - The extension of the brain. Coming off of the spinal cord are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which communicate with the body as a whole. The spinal cord is protected by the Spinal Column.
Spinous process - The protruding part of the back of each spinal bone that can be seen or felt when examining the spine.
Spondylolysis - A degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
Spondylolesthesis - An anterior or posterior slippage of a vertebra with respect to the vertebra below. Can be caused by disc degeneration or a fracture of the posterior elements of the vertebra.
Subluxation - A misalignment or malfunction of the spine that is less than a total dislocation, which affects the nervous system and it’s ability to correctly control or monitor the organs and tissues of the body.
Symptoms - The feeling, perceived by a patient that something is not right.
T
Tendon - Fibrous tissue that connects muscle with bones.
Thomson terminal point technique - A chiropractic adjustment performed on a table in which the supporting cushions drop an inch or two when a thrust is applied to the spine. Practitioners locate “subluxations” by checking leg lengths with the legs straight, the knees bent, or the head turned to either side.
Thoracic - Pertaining to the 12 vertebrae of the middle back from the base of the neck to about six inches above the waistline to which the ribs attach.
Torticollis - A contracted state of the neck muscles that produces a twisting of the neck and unnatural position of the head.
Transverse process - Lateral protrusions (wings) on the side of each vertebra to which powerful muscles and ligaments attach.
Trigger point - An involuntary tight band of muscle that is painful when pressed and can refer pain to other parts of the body when pushed upon.
V
Vertebra - Any of the individual bones of the spinal column.
Vertebral arteries - Arteries, one on each side of the neck, that thread through holes in the six upper cervical vertebrae. Sudden rotation during neck manipulation can injure them and interrupt blood flow to the lower part of the brain, causing a stroke.
Vertebral subluxation complex - A “modern” chiropractic term for the chiropractic subluxation. Types of pathology resulting from a vertebral subluxation complex including kinesiopathology, histopathology, neuropathophysiology, myopathology and pathophysiology.
W
Whiplash - An injury to the spine caused by an abrupt jerking motion, either backward, forward or from the side. Most common to the cervical spine due to motor vehicle collisions.
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