Journal of Chiropractic Humanities
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 22-32 , December 2010

Historical overview and update on subluxation theories

  • Howard Vernon, DC, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCanadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 6100 Leslie St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2H 3J1. Tel.: +1 416 482 2340; fax: +1 416 482 2560.

Received 4 June 2010 ,Revised 22 July 2010 ,Accepted 22 July 2010.

References 

  1. Arkuskewski Z. The efficacy of manual treatment in low back pain: a clinical trial. Man Med. 1986;2:68–71
  2. Gatterman MI. Subluxation—historical perspectives. Chiropr J Aust. 2009;39:151–164
  3. Peters R. The subluxation—historical perspectives. Chiropr J Aust. 2009;39:143–150
  4. Ebrall P. Towards better teaching about the vertebral subluxation complex. Chiropr J Aust. 2009;39:165–170
  5. Palmer DD. The chiropractor's adjuster. Oregon: Portland Printing House Company of Portland; 1910;
  6. Keating J. Dr. Palmer's lifeline. http://www.chiro.org/Plus/History/Persons/PalmerDD/PalmerDD's-Lifeline-chrono.pdf
  7. Hynes RJR, Callender AK. Technique in the classroom at Palmer College of Chiropractic: a history of art in chiropractic. J Chirop Human. 2008;15:55–66
  8. Carver W. Carver's chiropractic analysis. Oklahoma City: OK: self-published; 1921;
  9. Schafer RC. Basic principles of chiropractic: the neuroscience foundation of clinical practice. Arlington, VA: American Chiropractic Association; 1990;
  10. Vladef T, Hardy M. The theory of fixation points. Nat Chirop J. 1945;
  11. Grecco MA. Chiropractic technic illustrated. New York, NY: Jarl Publishing Co.; 1953;
  12. Korr IM, Wright HM, Thomas PE. Effects of experimental myofascial insults on cutaneous patterns of sympathetic activity in man. Acta Neuroveg (Wien). 1962;23:329–355
  13. Korr IM. Proprioceptors and somatic dysfunction. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1975;74(7):638–650
  14. Korr IM. The spinal cord as organizer of disease processes: some preliminary perspectives. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1976;76(1):35–45
  15. Denslow JS. The somatic component. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1953;52(5):258–261
  16. Denslow JS. Neural basis of the somatic component in health and disease and its clinical management. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1972;72(2):149–156
  17. Wright HM. Sympathetic activity in facilitated segments: vasomotor studies. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1955;54(5):273–276
  18. Denslow JS. Pathophysiologic evidence for the osteopathic lesion: the known, unknown, and controversial. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1975;75(4):415–421
  19. In:  Korr IM editors. The neurobiological mechanisms in manipulative therapy. New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1978;
  20. Homewood AE. The neurodynamics of the vertebral subluxation. 3rd ed.. St. Petersburg, FL: Valkyrie; 1977;
  21. Gitelman R. The treatment of pain by spinal manipulation. In:  Goldstein M editors. The research status of spinal manipulative therapy. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health; 1978;p. 278–286[NINCDS Monograph #15]
  22. In:  Haldeman S editors. Modern developments in the principles and practice of chiropractic. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1978;p. 297–330
  23. In:  Haldeman S editors. Modern developments in the principles and practice of chiropractic. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1978;p. 331–358
  24. Haldeman S, Meyer BJ. The effect of constriction on the conduction of the action potential in the sciatic nerve. South African Med J. 1970;44:903
  25. Head H. Studies in neurology. Vol II. London: Henry Frowde and Hooder & Staughton, Ltd; 1920;
  26. Kellgren JH. Observations on referred pain arising from muscle. Clin Sci. 1938;3:175
  27. Kellgren JH. On the distribution of pain arising from deep somatic structures with charts of segmental pain areas. Clin Sci. 1939;4:35–46
  28. Inman VT, Saunders JB. Referred pain from skeletal structures. J Nerv and Men Dis. 1944;99:660–667
  29. Sinclair DC, Weddell G, Feindel WH. Referred pain and associated phenomena. Brain. 1948;7:184–211
  30. Illi F. The spinal column: lifeline of the body. Chicago, IL: National College of Chiropractic; 1950;
  31. Janse J. A concept: the neurologic element as it relates to clinical chiropractic. The Chirogram. 1975;
  32. Gillet H. The anatomy and physiology of spinal fixation. J Nat Chirop Assoc. 1963;
  33. Gillet H, Liekens M. A further study of joint fixations. Ann Swiss Chirop Assoc. 1969;4:41–46
  34. Seaman D, Faye LJ. The vertebral subluxation complex. In:  Gatterman MI editors. Foundations of chiropractic: subluxation. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby; 2005;p. 195–226
  35. Mennel JM. The musculoskeletal system: differential diagnosis from symptoms and signs. Gaithersberg, MD: Aspen Publishers; 1992;
  36. Vear HJ. Standards of chiropractic practice. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1985;8(1):33–43
  37. Lantz CA. The vertebral subluxation complex. ICA Int Rev Chirop. 1989;37–61
  38. Gatterman MI. What's in a word?. In:  Gatterman MI editors. Foundations of chiropractic: subluxation. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby; 2005;p. 5–18
  39. In:  Merskey H,  Bogduk N editor. Classification of chronic pain: definitions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. Seattle, WA: IASP Press; 1994;p. 111
  40. Crelin ES. A scientific test of the chiropractic theory. Amer Sci. 1973;61(5):574–580
  41. Sharpless SK. Susceptibility of spinal nerve roots to compression block. In:  Goldstein M editors. The research status of spinal manipulative therapy. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office; 1975;p. 155–162[NINCDS monograph #15]
  42. Sunderland S. Meningeal-neural relations in the intervertebral foramen. J Neurosurg. 1974 Jun;40(6):756–763
  43. Sunderland S. The anatomy of the intervertebral foramen and mechanisms of compression and stretch of nerve roots. In:  Haldeman S editors. Modern developments in the principles and practice of chiropractic. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1978;p. 45–64[180]
  44. Luttges MW, Gerren RA. Compression physiology: nerves and roots. In:  Haldeman S editors. Modern developments in the principles and practice of chiropractic. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1975;p. 65–92[180]
  45. Olmarker K, Rydevik B, Holm S, Bagge U. Effects of experimental graded compression on blood flow in spinal nerve roots. A vital microscopic study on the porcine cauda equina. J Orthop Res. 1989;7(6):817–823
  46. Olmarker K, Rydevik B, Holm S. Edema formation in spinal nerve roots induced by experimental, graded compression. An experimental study on the pig cauda equina with special reference to differences in effects between rapid and slow onset of compression. Spine. 1989 Jun;14(6):569–573
  47. Rydevik BL, Myers RR, Powell HC. Pressure increase in the dorsal root ganglion following mechanical compression. Closed compartment syndrome in nerve roots. Spine. 1989;14(6):574–576
  48. Olmarker K, Holm S, Rosenqvist AL, Rydevik B. Experimental nerve root compression. A model of acute, graded compression of the porcine cauda equina and an analysis of neural and vascular anatomy. Spine. 1991;16(1):61–69
  49. Olmarker K, Rydevik B. Pathophysiology of sciatica. Orthop Clin North Am. 1991;22(2):223–234
  50. Rydevik BL, Pedowitz RA, Hargens AR, Swenson MR, Myers RR, Garfin SR. Effects of acute, graded compression on spinal nerve root function and structure. An experimental study of the pig cauda equina. Spine. 1991;16(5):487–493
  51. Rydevik BL. The effects of compression on the physiology of nerve roots. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1992;15(1):62–66
  52. Rydevik B. Sciatica and herniated disk. Current aspects of pathophysiology and pain mechanisms. Nord Med 1994;109(3):74-6, 80.
  53. Garfin SR, Rydevik B, Lind B, Massie J. Spinal nerve root compression. Spine. 1995;20(16):1810–1820
  54. Vernon H. Basic scientific evidence for subluxation. In:  Gatterman MI editors. Foundations of chiropractic: subluxation. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 1995;p. 35–55
  55. Henderson CNR. Animal models in the study of subluxation and manipulation. In:  Gatterman MI editors. Foundations of chiropractic: subluxation. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby; 2005;p. 47–103
  56. Tachihara H, Kikuchi SI, Konno SI, Sekiguchi M. Does facet joint inflammation induce radiculopathy? An investigation using a rat model of lumbar facet joint inflammation. Spine. 2007;32:406–412
  57. Mense S. Nociception from skeletal muscle in relation to clinical muscle pain. Pain. 1993;54:241–249
  58. Mense S. Muscle pain: mechanisms and clinical significance. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2008;105(12):214–219
  59. Mense S. What is different about muscle pain?. Schmerz. 2003;17:459–463
  60. Solomonow M. Ligaments: a source of musculoskeletal disorders. J Body Mov Ther. 2009;13:136–154
  61. Solomonow M, Zhou BH, Harris M, Lu Y, Baratta RV. The ligamento-muscular stabilizing system of the spine. Spine. 1998;23:2552–2562
  62. Stubbs M, Harris M, Solomonow M, Zhou B, Lu Y, Baratta RV. Ligamento-muscular protective reflex in the lumbar spine of the feline. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 1998;8:197–204
  63. Holm S, Indahl A, Solomonow M. Sensorimotor control of the spine. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2002;12:219–234
  64. Taguchi T, John V, Hoheisel U, Mense S. Neuroanatomical pathway of nociception in a low back muscle (multifidus) in the rat. Neurosci Lett. 2007;427:22–227
  65. Taguchi T, Hoheisel U, Mense S. Dorsal horn neurons having input from low back structures in rats. Pain. 2008;138:119–129
  66. Triano JJ. Measurement of lumbar spine loads and motions during rotational mobilization. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005;28(9):731–732
  67. Triano JJ. Buckling: a biomechanical model of subluxation. In:  Gatterman MI editors. Foundations of chiropractic: subluxation. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc.; 2005;p. 283–295
  68. Panjabi MM. A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(5):668–676
  69. Panjabi MM. What happens in the motion segment?. Bull Hosp Jt Dis. 1996;55(3):149–153
  70. Kumar S, Panjabi MM. In vivo axial rotations and neutral zones of the thoracolumbar spine. J Spinal Disord. 1995;8(4):253–263
  71. Klein GN, Mannion AF, Panjabi MM, Dvorak J. Trapped in the neutral zone: another symptom of whiplash-associated disorder?. Eur Spine J. 2002;11:184–187
  72. Kang YM, Choi WS, Pickar JG. Electrophysiologic evidence for an intersegmental reflex pathway between lumbar paraspinal tissues. Spine. 2002;27(3):E56–E63
  73. Pickar JG, Wheeler JD. Response of muscle proprioceptors to spinal manipulative-like loads in the anesthetized cat. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24(1):2–11
  74. McLain RF, Pickar JG. Mechanoreceptor endings in human thoracic and lumbar facet joints. Spine. 1998;23(2):168–173
  75. Pickar JG, McLain RF. Responses of mechanosensitive afferents to manipulation of the lumbar facet in the cat. Spine. 1995;20(22):2379–2385
  76. Stochkendahl MJ, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J, Vach W, Haas M, Hestbaek L, et al. Manual examination of the spine: a systematic critical literature review of reproducibility. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2006;29(6):475–485
  77. Haas M, Groupp E, Panzer D, Partna L, Lumsden S, Aickin M. Efficacy of cervical endplay assessment as an indicator for spinal manipulation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003;28(11):1091–1096
  78. Aquino RL, Caires PM, Furtado FC, Loureiro AV, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML. Applying joint mobilization at different cervical vertebral levels does not influence immediate pain reduction in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2009;17:95–100
  79. Schomacher J. The effect of an analgesic mobilization technique when applied to symptomatic or asymptomatic levels of the cervical spin in subjects with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2009;17:101–108
  80. Brennan GP, Fritz JM, Hunter SJ, Thackeray A, Delitto A, Erhard RE. Identifying subgroups of patients with acute/subacute “nonspecific” low back pain: results of a randomized clinical trial. Spine. 2006;31(6):623–631
  81. Cleland JA, Fritz JM, Childs JD, Kulig K. Comparison of the effectiveness of three manual physical therapy techniques in a subgroup of patients with low back pain who satisfy a clinical prediction rule: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial [NCT00257998]. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006;7:11
  82. Fritz JM, Brennan GP, Clifford SN, Hunter SJ, Thackeray A. An examination of the reliability of a classification algorithm for subgrouping patients with low back pain. Spine. 2006;31(1):77–82
  83. Christensen HW, Vach W, Gichangi A, Manniche C, Haghfelt T, Høilund-Carlsen PF. Cervicothoracic angina identified by case history and palpation findings in patients with stable angina pectoris. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2005;28(5):303–311
  84. Ross JK, Bereznick DE, McGill SM. Determining cavitation location during lumbar and thoracic spinal manipulation: is spinal manipulation accurate and specific?. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004;29(13):1452–1457

 Previous presentation: Portions of this article were presented at Colloquium on “Reconciling Subluxation and Science,” Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, October 25, 2009.

PII: S1556-3499(10)00029-X

doi: 10.1016/j.echu.2010.07.001

Journal of Chiropractic Humanities
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 22-32 , December 2010