Reference

Chiropractic glossary

Clear definitions of the words you will meet when you read about chiropractic care and spine health.

Acute pain: Acute pain comes on suddenly and is usually tied to a recent injury or event. It often improves as the body heals.
Cervical spine: The cervical spine is the neck region of your spine, made up of the top seven vertebrae. It supports your head and allows a wide range of movement.
Chiropractor: A chiropractor is a licensed health professional trained to assess and care for the spine, joints, and muscles. Their training focuses heavily on hands on techniques and movement.
Chronic pain: Chronic pain is pain that lasts for months or longer, often beyond the time expected for healing. Managing it usually calls for a thoughtful, patient plan and sometimes a team of providers.
Coccyx: The coccyx, often called the tailbone, is the small bone at the very bottom of the spine. It provides an attachment point for muscles and ligaments.
Core muscles: Core muscles are the muscles around your trunk, including the abdomen and lower back. Strengthening them may help support your spine and reduce strain.
Ergonomics: Ergonomics is the practice of setting up your workspace and habits to fit your body. Good ergonomics may help lower the strain that leads to neck and back discomfort.
Facet joint: Facet joints are small joints where vertebrae connect at the back of the spine. They guide movement and can become a source of pain when irritated.
Herniated disc: A herniated disc happens when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer. This can press on nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness.
Inflammation: Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or irritation, often bringing swelling, warmth, and pain. It is part of healing, though ongoing inflammation can be uncomfortable.
Lumbar spine: The lumbar spine is the lower back region, made up of the five largest movable vertebrae. It carries much of your body weight, which is why lower back pain is so common.
Manipulation: Spinal manipulation is a quicker, more precise movement applied to a joint, sometimes producing a popping sound. It is one of the main techniques chiropractors use.
Manual therapy: Manual therapy is hands on care used to move joints and soft tissue. Chiropractors, physical therapists, and other providers use it to support movement and comfort.
Mobilization: Mobilization is a gentle, slower technique that moves a joint through its range of motion. It is often used when a faster adjustment is not the best choice.
Musculoskeletal system: The musculoskeletal system includes your bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Chiropractic care focuses on this system, especially the spine.
Nerve root: A nerve root is the point where a nerve branches off from the spinal cord and exits the spine. Pressure on a nerve root can cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the area it serves.
Pinched nerve: A pinched nerve happens when nearby tissue presses on a nerve, disturbing its signals. It can lead to pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling.
Posture: Posture is the way you hold your body while sitting, standing, or moving. Balanced posture may reduce strain on your spine and muscles over time.
Range of motion: Range of motion is how far a joint can move in each direction. Chiropractors often check it to understand where you feel stiff or limited.
Sacroiliac joint: The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum to the pelvis on each side. Problems here are a common source of lower back and hip discomfort.
Sacrum: The sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed from fused vertebrae. It connects the spine to the pelvis.
Sciatica: Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back down through the hip and leg. It often comes from a nerve being pinched or irritated in the lower spine.
Spinal adjustment: A spinal adjustment is a controlled movement a chiropractor applies to a joint in the spine, usually by hand. The goal is to improve motion and ease discomfort.
Spinal cord: The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs through the center of your spine. It carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body.
Spinal disc: A spinal disc is a soft cushion that sits between two vertebrae. It absorbs shock and helps your spine move smoothly.
Sprain: A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, the tissue that connects bones at a joint. Sprains often cause pain, swelling, and reduced movement.
Strain: A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon from overstretching or overuse. It commonly leads to soreness, stiffness, and weakness in the affected area.
Subluxation: In chiropractic language, subluxation refers to a spinal joint that a chiropractor believes is not moving as well as it should. The idea is debated, so honest providers use careful language when describing it.
Text neck: Text neck is a common name for neck strain linked to looking down at phones and devices for long periods. Taking breaks and raising your screen may ease the load on your neck.
Thoracic spine: The thoracic spine is the middle section of your back, connected to your ribs. It provides stability and protects organs in the chest.
Vertebra: A vertebra is one of the small bones that stack together to form your spine. Together these bones protect the spinal cord and let your back bend and twist.
Vertebrae: Vertebrae are the individual bones of the spine, seen as a group. Adults typically have thirty three vertebrae, though some fuse together over time.