“Is My Back Out?”
You may have heard someone use the term “my back is out”, or perhaps that they have been told that one of their vertebrae is “subluxed”. Hearing this can often leave us feeling worried that there is something majorly wrong, but is this the case?
At Be Well Health Group in Grovedale, our experienced practitioners know the physiology behind joint mechanics and pain are extremely complex, they potentially arise as a result of anything from general stiffness to a protruding disc. Due to its complexity, it can be difficult to fully understand the real mechanism of back pain, which is why these sometimes confusing terms like “misalignment” and “subluxation” are used.
So, what do these various terms actually refer to?
In standard medical terms, a subluxation is the partial traumatic dislocation of a joint, which often causes a strain to the ligaments in the surrounding area, resulting in temporary pain and reduced movement. Just like any other sprain, our spinal joints typically move back to their normal position instantaneously, with these pains and restrictions subsiding gradually over time.
A true dislocation is the displacement of a bone from its normal position within the joint. Now, this is where things actually become out of line, or “misaligned” and will usually lead to far more serious complications than pain and discomfort.
When we have back pain it’s not uncommon for us to feel crooked and distorted. Pain can cause us to adopt positions of comfort in response to the pain. The feeling of crookedness may come from the tightness of muscles and restrictions in movement resulting from our body’s adjustments to reduce the pain, but rarely does this mean that we are structurally out of line.
Many kinds of tissue issues can cause pain and may have very little to do with structure and alignment. Often pain doesn’t even correspond with tissue damage and has more to do with the way our brain processes a stimulus, which Australian neuroscientist Lorimer Moseley explains in his humorous Ted Talk [1].
Overall, terms like “misaligned” or “subluxed” can mean nothing more than a slight tissue issue. Our bodies are extremely resilient and freakishly adaptable, and sometimes using these phrases can do more harm than good for the way that we perceive our pain.
So next time you find yourself thinking that you’re “out of line”, or are told that something is “subluxed”, don’t panic - remember how strong and pliable your body really is!
If you have any concerns with regards to back pain or difficulty moving, make an appointment with one of our experienced practitioners at Be Well Health Group in Grovedale on (03) 5244 0063 or book an appointment online.
References:
1. TEDxAdelaide Lorimer Moseley Why Things Hurt [Internet]. YouTube. 2014 [cited 11 February 2020]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ylbrkstYtU
