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Glossary
* Abnormal Vertebral Motion: Eccentric motion of a vertebra(e) 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 tractionalization 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 particl e 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: Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or sergery.
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between stucture (primarly the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.
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., aka DC: A practitioner of chiropractic.
* Chiropractic Neuro-Spinal Hygiene (NSH): NSH is a prventive spinal health program designed to educate and empower individuals to improve their spinal and general health, and their sense of well-being.
NSH assists 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., aka 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 responsibly 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 organisms.
* Innate Intelligence aka Innate aka IN8 aka in8: 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’s, 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 nonspecific 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 90¼ 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 illiums.
* 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 .
* Vertibra: 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.
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