Chiropractic Theories Flashcards
A basic chiropractic hypothesis holds that abnormal spinal biomechanics and muscle dysfunction have effects, via the nervous system, throughout the body and that the chiropractic adjustment is applied not only to restore ROM and alignment, but also to cause or relieve reflex effects in the nervous system.
- Reflexes are simple neuronal loops in which a stimulus and response occur as the result of a direct sensorimotor hookup.
- All reflex arcs must involve the spinal cord
- A reflex arc is where sensory meets motor
Neurological Reflex Model
What are the 4 types of reflexes based on the contributions of somatic and autonomic nerves to the efferent and afferent pathways of reflexes?
- Somatosomatic
- Viscerovisceral
- Somatovisceral
- Viscerosomatic
Reflexes whose afferents and efferents are somatic nerve fibers; stimulus at one level of the musculoskeletal system produces reflex activity in the nervous system, which is then exhibited elsewhere in the musculoskeletal system.
Ex: Knee-jerk reflex
Somatosomatic
Reflexes whose afferents and efferents are visceral sensory and autonomic nerve fibers.
Viscerovisceral
Reflexes whose afferents are somatic sensory fibers and whose efferents are autonomic motor fibers.
A stimulus to nerves or receptors related to spinal structures produces reflexive responses influencing function in the visceral organs.
Ex: Spinal adjusting may be effective for relieving pain and distress of primary dysmenorrhea
Somatovisceral (Somatoautonomic)
Reflexes whose afferents are visceral sensory fibers and whose efferents are somatic motor fibers.
Respiratory or digestive dysfunction such as Asthma or Colic may cause reflex disturbances in the spine leading to muscle tension and joint subluxation.
Viscerosomatic
Somatic refers to _____.
Skin, Bone, Muscle, Nerve
Visceral (autonomic) refer to _____.
Organs, Blood, Lymph
Psycho refers to _____.
Thoughts
Theory that states that within the substantia gelatinosa (lamina II of the gray matter), several factors are able to block or facilitate the transmission of pain-producing impulses to the thalamus.
“GATE” Control Theory of Pain
The degree in which the “GATE” is open or closed depends on the _____.
Spinal Cord
With the “GATE” theory, signals traveling on fast, type 1A (A alpha) afferent fibers greatly _____ pain transmission which travel on type C (IV) fibers.
Depress or Inhibit
“GATE” Theory:
Pain fibers terminate at the _____ of the spinal cord in the substantia gelatinosa. Here, second order mechanoreceptor axons terminate causing _____.
Dorsal Horn
Presynaptic Inhibition
The subclavian arteries become the vertebral arteries which then join to become the basilar artery.
The vertebral arteries provide a large portion of the blood supply to the cranium and are the major blood supply to the _____.
Brain Stem
This hypothesis/theory states that cervical intervertebral subluxations may cause deflection or compression of the vertebral arteries, thereby altering cerebral circulation.
Vascular Insufficiency Model
What are the symptoms of VBAI?
5D’s, 3N’s, 1A:
Diplopia, Dizziness, Drop Attacks, Dysarthria, Dysphagia
Nausea, Numbness, Nystagmus
Ataxic gait
What is the MC location for compression of the vertebral artery?
Over the Posterior Arch of C1
What motion causes the most compression to the vertebral artery?
Rotation & Extension of C1 and C2
From the beginning of chiropractic profession (DD Palmer), the theory is that nerves can become compressed through impingement from inter-segmental spinal biomechanical derangements.
What hypothesis states that intervertebral subluxations may interfere with the normal transmission of nerve energy (ie: action potentials and other associated neural phenomena) by irritating or compressing the spinal nerve roots?
Nerve Compression Theory
What is the emphasis of the Nerve Compression Theory?
The importance of the IVF and its anatomic contents - the spinal nerve, nerve roots, recurrent meningeal nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and connective tissue.
Degenerative changes in the bony structures in the IVF predispose nerve roots to compression. Bone on a nerve (nerve pressure) will cause the following effects: …
- Decreased sensation
- Pain in dermatomal patterns
- Decreased DTR’s
- Decreased conductivity
- Muscle Atrophy
(2-5% of subluxations exhibit all these characteristics)
Why are nerve roots more mechanically predisposed to irritation or compression than peripheral nerves?
Nerve roots are placed in tension by traction on peripheral nerves such as head and neck movements. Nerve roots (endoneurium) do not have the strong connective tissue sheaths that support peripheral nerves (epineurium and perineurium) thus nerve roots fail before peripheral nerves when nerve roots are tested under increasing tension.
A non-impulse component of neural function proposed to be affected by vertebral subluxation is _____.
Axonal Aberration-Trophic Models
This component is a non-impulse mechanism based not on transmission of signals along the surface of the neuron but rather on the intra-axonal transport and exchance of macromolecular materials.
Chemicals transported by this process are collectively known as _____ (relating to growth) substances and have been found to be essential for the maintenance of proper tissue function
Trophic
