New study: Vertebral subluxations a public health issue 

Pain. Headaches. Numbness. Reduced range of motion. All of these can bring a person into a chiropractic office for diagnosis and treatment. All are also signs of vertebral subluxations which, according to a study published in Cureus on November 13, 2023, are present in four out of five patients, making chiropractic care a primary preventative approach for public health and wellness. 

Vertebral subluxation prevalence

The goal of this study was to better understand how many chiropractic patients had subluxations and, secondarily, to identify the public health implications of these misalignments. In total, 1,851 patients were included. These patients were from seven different chiropractic offices spanning four states. The mean patient age was just over 43 years old and 64.6% of the participants were female.  

Roughly 77% of the female patients had vertebral subluxations as did approximately 80% of the males, putting the overall prevalence of this diagnosis at 78.55%. Put another way, see five patients in a row and four of them are likely to have at least one subluxation. 

One diagnosis, several symptoms

An important aspect of subluxations to note is these spinal issues can appear in a variety of ways. Each patient has their own experience with them based, in part, on the location of the subluxation and the severity of the misalignment. 

Individuals involved in the research reported seeking chiropractic care for several different reasons. Some of their physical complaints included: 

• Pain, numbness or tingling in the spine or extremities 
• Headaches 
• Ear, nose and throat issues 
• Visceral issues 

Some participants also sought care for mental health reasons or neurocognitive issues. Others were simply interested in looking after their general health.  

Public health implications

Based on the high level of subluxations present in the participants, the study’s authors suggested chiropractic can play a major role in advancing public health by preventing injury and disease. They aren’t the only ones who believe this either. 

In 2018, Chiropractic & Manual Therapies published an article describing the World Federation of Chiropractic’s public health agenda. It recommended that practitioners focus on three main areas as public health initiatives that can improve the health and well-being of entire communities. The three areas of focus were:  

• Healthy aging 
• Opioid misuse 
• Health of children, teens and women 

Importance of educating patients on vertebral subluxations

Informing patients about the high prevalence of vertebral subluxations can help them understand the commonness of these issues. It also reinforces they are not alone with this diagnosis.  

When educating patients, it’s beneficial to discuss the symptoms to watch for. Share some of the most common based on the location of their subluxation and degree of misalignment. Patients may not recognize some of their symptoms as being related to the subluxation. With some guidance, they can make this connection. 

Educating the community

As a health issue impacting a large portion of the population, it’s also important to educate whole communities about vertebral subluxations and their effects. Taking this approach enables practitioners to tackle this issue from a public health perspective, reaching larger audiences. 

One option is to host a seminar or workshop. These can be held in person, online or live-streamed to get the benefits of both. Another alternative is to organize a community-wide health expo. Invite other professionals in the health and wellness space to provide attendees with the most information possible for improving their mental and physical health. 

Awareness is the first step for both prevention and treatment. Find ways to increase the general public’s awareness of vertebral subluxations and this can lead to greater health on a mass level. 

Final thoughts

Subluxations are a common health issue, about which most people need more education. Informing patients about the symptoms, presentation and treatment of subluxations can go a long way toward increasing public health.