What causes vertebral subluxation? When stress outweighs the body’s ability to adapt to it, vertebral subluxation can develop.

Chiropractors have categorized the environment of stress that can negatively affect the body into three labels; physical stress, emotional stress and chemical stress. If adaptation to one or more of these three stressors are insufficient, an environment for vertebral subluxation to develop occurs.

• Physical stress can be defined as external invasive forces that outweigh the internal resistive forces of the body to be in a state of balance. These external invasive forces can be major accidents or trauma, or they can be small repetitive forces that build up over time and the repetition can be too intense for the body to adapt to. 
• Chemical stress can be defined as external or internal chemicals that trigger physical reactions throughout the body, offsetting the chemical equilibrium or body chemistry balance. For example, hormones like adrenaline, cortisol and melatonin influence health, well-being and specific physiological states of function. The body is dependent upon a state of body chemistry balance and when that balance is out of harmony, the neurological and musculoskeletal system can be affected. 
• Emotional stress can be defined as internal emotional tension or mental strain that can produce physical responses throughout the body offsetting the chemical equilibrium or physical state of balance. It’s been reported that emotional stress may be the most common and most influential cause of vertebral subluxation due to the fast paced world we live in. 

Vertebral subluxation can occur in all ages and stages of life regardless of symptoms due to physical, chemical and emotional stress. Your responsibility to take care of your body to the best of your ability includes being aware of stress and the potential for vertebral subluxation to be negatively affecting your quality of life. 

Regular chiropractic care can be a positive option to lower the opportunity for vertebral subluxation to occur, increase your resistance towards stress, and strengthen your overall function of well-being from within.