Term
| Wall and Melzack in 1965; activation of large diameter afferent mechanoreceptor fibers may inhibit smaller afferent pain fibers in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. It has been proposed that when a joint is gapped during a manipulation or an adjustment, a huge number of mechanoreceptors are stimulated. These travel into the spinal cord where they stimulate inhibitory interneurons in the substantia gelatinosa which in turn suppress the transmission of nociception to the thalamus. |
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Definition
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Term
| Acute or chronic inflammation could predispose the patient to develop spinal articular lesions in response to the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine. The inflamed tissue responds by producing eicosanoids, cytokines, nitrous oxide and substance P which further inflames the surrounding tissue resulting in swelling, pain and loss of function |
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Definition
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Term
Faye originally said the vertebral subluxation is the alteration in bony alignment. The VSC implies alteration in structure and function. The hypothesis states that segmental dysfunction commonly progresses to intervertebral subluxation and spinal degeneration. VSC can be caused by posture, trauma, disc degeneration, arthritides, infections and congenital and developmental factors. The newest definition of the VSC includes the following features:
a. Neuropathophysiology-now neurology
b. Kinesiopathology-now kinesiology
c. Myopathology-now myology
d. Histopathology-now anatomy and physiology
e. Biochemical changes-Biochemistry |
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Definition
| Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) Hypothesis |
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Term
| Cervical subluxations may cause deflection or compression of the vertebral arteries, affecting cerebral blood flow. This in turn will manifest itself in a variety of ways. Correction of the atlas misalignment is said to result in restoration of health. |
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Definition
| Vascular Insufficiency/Vertebral Basilar Artery Insufficiency Hypothesis |
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Term
| Hans Selye proposed that the body’s response to acute stress by increasing the immune response and by decreasing the immune response to chronic stress. There are three stages of this response: alarm [fight or flight], followed by resistance and then exhaustion. |
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Definition
| General Adaptation Syndrome |
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Term
| Neural dysfunction is stressful to the body and can modify the immune responses and alter the trophic function of the nerves. Nerves innervate lymph nodes and affect the defense mechanism. This hypothesis is based on Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome. |
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Definition
| Neuroimmunomodulation [neurodystrophic] Hypothesis |
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Term
Receptors activated by a subluxation (nociceptors and mechanoreceptors) can cause a somatic response (somato-somatic reflex) or an autonomic response (somato-visceral reflex).
Somato-somatic reflex: subluxation can cause activation of the alpha motor neurons, resulting in spasm.
Somato-visceral reflex: subluxation causes autonomic imbalance (activating the lateral horn), resulting in some visceral disorders. |
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Definition
| Somatoautonomic Reflex Hypothesis |
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Term
Irvin Korr proposed that a fixed vertebral segment activates mechanoreceptors and nociceptors which then send sensory information to the dorsal horn causing hyperactivity of the sensory nerve fibers. This is due to a lower threshold for firing. Joint receptors do not influence motor activity, muscle spindles do.
CNS hyperactive and activates the gamma motor activity to show abnormal somatoautonomic reflexes, lowered skin resistance, and high vasomotor and sudomotor activity. |
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Definition
| Proprioceptive Insult/Segmental Facilitation Hypothesis |
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Term
| B.J. Palmer felt the only place there can be spinal cord compression is at the occipito-atlanto-axial area. A subluxation in these areas can cause cord pressure due to exertion of the brain stem from the center of the foramen magnum, resulting from traction of the dura by the dentate ligament or BY aberrant muscle fibers from the rectus capitis posterior minor pulling on the dura. |
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Definition
| Cord Compression Hypothesis |
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Term
| In this theory, axoplasmic [cytoplasm around the axon] flow/transport (AXT) may be altered when nerves are irritated or compressed. Transport of proteins, glycoproteins, and neurotransmitters occur in both directions by sliding filaments. Anterograde: forward moving, carrying nutrients for nerve growth (trophic needs). Retrograde: backward moving waste products from the nerve terminals to the cell bodies. Anterograde flow is faster than retrograde. |
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Definition
| Axoplasmic Aberration/Trophic Hypothesis |
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Term
| D.D. Palmer believed that subluxations cause nerve compression (bone on nerve). This interrupts the nerve’s action potentials causing hyperesthesia and nerve irritation in the acute phase and decreased sensation and nerve impulse in the chronic phase. Irritation can occur and movements can cause traction of the nerve roots |
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Definition
| Neural compression/Traction Hypothesis |
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