Abnormal
Vertebral Motion: Eccentric motion of a vertebrae in which
the disc center of motion is no longer aligned to the vertical axis
of the body.
Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity in respect
to time.
Adjustment:
A specific directional thrust maneuver or application of forces applied
to a subluxated vertebra that sets the vertebra into motion with the
intent to reduce and/or correct the vertebral misalignment, thus improving
the neurological component of the vertebral subluxation complex along
with vivification of the affected tissues and body functions.
Angular
Rotation: The abnormal excursion of the cervical spine and
skull as a unit about the vertical axis of the body and into either
the right or left frontal plane of the body, thereby producing gravitational
stresses resulting in rotations of the vertebrae and traction alization
of the contents of the spinal canal and nerve roots.
Anomaly:
A marked deviation from the normal standard, especially as a result
of congenital or hereditary defect(s).
Atlas
(aka C1): The first cervical vertebra, which articulates above
with the occipital bone and below with the axis.
Atlas
Subluxation Complex (ASC): An atlas that has lost its alignment
with the vertical axis in one or more planes, resulting in neuromuscular
stresses which in turn produce malalignments of the spine and pelvis
and contiguous structures.
Atlas
Subluxation Syndrome: Measurable distortions of the spinal
column and subluxated body associated with a C1 subluxation. The physical
signs of the C1 subluxation.
Axis
(aka C2): The second cervical vertebra.
Axis
of Motion: A straight line about which a body or geometrical
object rotates or may be conceived to rotate.
Coccygeal
vertebrae: The lowest segments of the vertebral column, comprising
three to five rudimentary vertebrae which form the coccyx.
Coccyx:
The lowest segment of the vertebral column, comprised of three to five
rudimentary vertebrae.
Center
of Gravity: An imaginary point representing the weight center
of an object; the point about which the object balances in every direction.
The center of gravity is that point at which the gravitational potential
energy of the body is equal to that of a single particle of the same
mass located at that point and through which the resultant of the gravitational
forces on the component particles of the body act.
Center
of Mass: The point about which the sum of all the linear moments
of mass of the particles in a body is zero.
Cerebellum:
The part of the metencephalon that occupies the posterior cranial fossa
behind the brain stem, being a fissured mass consisting of a median
lobe and two lateral lobes connected with the brain stem by three pairs
of peduncles. It is concerned in the body's coordination of movements.
Cervical
spine: The upper spinal area, consisting of seven vertebrae,
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, and C7.
Chiropractic: A healthcare system of therapy which
holds that disease results from a lack of normal nerve function and
which emphasizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body to heal
itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure
and function and how that relationship affects the preservation and
restoration of health by manipulation and specific adjustment of body
structures (as the spinal column) and empowering the effective operation
of the nervous system.
Of primary concern to the doctor of chiropractic are abnormalities of
structure or function of the vertebral column known clinically as the
vertebral subluxation complex.
The
subluxation complex includes any alteration of the biomechanical and
physiological dynamics of contiguous spinal structures which can cause
neuronal disturbances.
Chiropractic
adjustment: This term refers to a wide variety of specific
manual interventions that may be high or low velocity; short or long
lever; high or low amplitude; with or without recoil.
Chiropractic adjustments are directed at specific anatomical regions
of the vertebral spine. The purpose of the Chiropractic adjustment is
to correct vertebral subluxations which can cause alteration of the
biomechanical and physiological dynamics of contiguous spinal structures
and manifest neuronal disturbances.
Chiropractic Analysis: A chiropractic analysis is performed
on a routine basis to determine the patient's need for spinal adjustments.
A chiropractic analysis may include (but certainly is not limited to)
two or more of the following procedures: instrumentation (skin temperature
differential analysis), chiropractic x-ray analysis, spinal static and
motion palpation, postural analysis, leg-length comparison tests, muscle
strength measures, and other chiropractic analysis procedures.
Chiropractic Assessment: The process of integrating
the clinical analysis to determine the best mode to address and monitor
the correction of vertebral subluxation and other malpositioned articulations
and structures. Specifically it is the integrating of history with physical,
imaging and instrumentation examinations.
Chiropractic Care: This term refers to the behaviors,
methods, procedures, etc., that chiropractic practitioners employ in
the case-management of patients.
Chiropractic Diagnosis: Such clinical processes as
are necessary in the professional judgment of the attending doctor of
chiropractic to determine the need for care and, in particular, to detect
the presence, location and nature of chiropractic lesions (subluxation
and attendant biomechanical, biochemical, structural and neurophysiological
problems, etc.) and prepare and administer an appropriate course of
care within the realm of chiropractic.
Chiropractic Practice Objective: The primary professional
practice objective of chiropractic is to reduce or correct vertebral
subluxations and other malpositioned articulations and structures in
a safe and effective manner.
Chiropractor (aka Doctor of Chiropractic, aka D.C. or DC):
A practitioner of chiropractic.
Chiropractic Neuro-Spinal Hygiene (NSH): NSH is a preventive
spinal health program designed to educate and empower individuals to
improve their spinal and general health, and their sense of well-being.
NSH assits individuals in maintaining a healthy spinal column and nervous
system through active personal empowerment in daily procedures promoting
spinal flexibility, strength, resiliency, stress management, proper
spinal and body ergonomic habits, and optimal spinal and neurological
health.
Contractured
Leg: An apparent difference in the leg length of a C1 subluxated
individual when measured in the supine position, and resulting from
spastic contracture of the extensor musculature of the spinal column.
Frequently called the "short leg".
Curvilinear
Motion: The motion of an object along a curved path.
Direction:
The line or course along which an object moves.
Disequilibrium:
Loss or lack of stability.
Doctor
of Chiropractic (aka D.C. or DC, aka Chiropractor): A practitioner
of chiropractic
Drugless
profession: Chiropractic is a drugless health care profession.
Doctors of Chiropractic do not prescribe or issue drugs to their patients.
Eccentric
motion: Irregular or abnormal motion; off center motion.
Force:
A vector quantity tending to produce an acceleration of an object in
the direction of its application. Capacity to do work or cause physical
change. A push or pull. A vector quantity possessing size and direction.
Frontal
plane: A vertical plane which passes through the body from
side to side, dividing the body. Also called the lateral plane.
Gatekeeper:
Health care professional designated to exercise responsibility for,
and control of, the utilization of health care services, e.g., D.C.,
M.D., D.O., D.P.M., D.D.S., D.D.M.
Gravity:
The natural force that causes objects to move or tend to move toward
the center of the earth. The cause of weight. A constant force that
pulls vertical down on all objects at all times.
Health:
This is a state of optimal physical, mental and social well-being, not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Homeostasis:
This is the tendency to maintain, or the maintenance of, normal, internal
stability in an organism by coordinated responses of the organ systems
that automatically compensate for changes in the organism.
Innate
Intelligence (aka Innate ): An inborn intelligence that keeps
the body of all living things in repair. The mission of Innate Intelligence
is to maintain the material of the body of the living thing in active
organization.
Joint
fixation: Diminished movement within a joint space.
Joint
Play (Accessory Movement): The small, precise joint movements,
not under the control of the voluntary muscles or patient, that are
necessary to permit normal voluntary joint movement. Joint play may
include spin, glide and roll of articulation. The full range of active
movement of a joint without practitioner assistance is a combination
of voluntary movement (voluntary muscles) and joint play.
Ligament:
A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilage, serving to
support and strengthen joints.
Lumbar
spine: The lower spine area consisting of five vertebrae, L1,
L2, L3, L4, L5, and sometimes the anomaly L6.
Manipulation:
A non-specific manual procedure that involves a directed thrust to move
a joint past its physiological range of motion.
Mobilization:
Movement applied singularly or repetitively within or at the physiological
range of joint motion, without imparting a thrust or impulse, with the
goal of restoring joint mobility.
Motion Segment: The smallest functional unit, made
up of two adjacent articulating surfaces and contiguous and intervening
soft tissues.
Perpendicular:
Intersecting at or forming a right angle; a 90 degree angle.
Physician:
An authorized practitioner of medicine, as one graduated from a college
of medicine or osteopathy and is licensed by the appropriate state board.
Primary Care Profession: Any health care provider which
by law, expertise and professional ethics, may accept patients without
referral, e.g., D.C., M.D., D.O., D.P.M., D.D.S., D.D.M.
Primary
Contact Health Care Provider: Any health care provider capable
of providing first level contact and intake into the health delivery
system, (b) any health care provider licensed to receive patient contact
in the absence of physician referral.
Sacrum:
The triangular shaped bone located just below the Lowest Lumbar vertebrae
(L5), formed usually by five fused vertebrae (sacral vertebrae) that
are wedged dorsally between the left and right illiumes.
Spinal
Analysis: The comprehensive process of evaluating the spinal
column and its immediate articulations for vertebral subluxations and
contraindications to any or all chiropractic procedures.
Spinal
hygiene: See Chiropractic Neuro-Spinal Hygiene
Subluxation:
: A complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular
changes that compromise neutral integrity and may influence organ system
function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed,
and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the
best available rational and empirical evidence.
Subluxation
complex: See subluxation
Symptom(s):
Subjective evidence of a patient's condition, such evidence as perceived
by the patient.
Tendon:
A fibrous cord by which a muscle is attached.
The
Foundation of Chiropractic: The Foundation of Chiropractic includes
philosophy, science, art, knowledge, and clinical experience.
Thoracic
Spine: The mid spine, consisting of twelve vertebrae, T1, T2,
T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, and T12 .
Vertebra:
Any of the thirty-three bones of the spinal column comprising the seven
cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, five sacral and three to five
coccygeal vertebrae.
Vertebrae:
The plural of vertebra.
Vertibral:
Of or pertaining to a vertebra.
Vertibral
subluxation complex (VSC): See subluxation.
Vivification:
The restoration of life to the body.
Weight:
The degree to which a body is drawn toward the earth by gravity.
Wellness:
The relationships between health, regular physical activity, and physical
fitness as it applies to Chiropractic philosophy.
