Symptoms are the tip of the Iceberg
A symptom may only be the tip of the iceberg – with a much bigger problem lying under the surface. A symptom is just a symptom – it isn’t the cause. Symptoms are a bit like the fire alarm going off, to warn you that there is a problem. The fire alarm is not the problem, the fire is!
It is also important to understand that symptoms may be due to dysfunction in a part of the spine that seems unrelated to the problem area
Spinal Movement
For example, you have pain in your left knee. It’s hard to imagine that this pain could have anything to do with your spine. But, if your spine is not moving properly, it may interrupt the flow of information from your leg to your brain and back again. Poor movement sustained over time often creates an imbalance in your body and may cause pain.
References
- Complaint of Knee Pain. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine 2010;33(4):431-34. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2010.11689724
- Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, et al. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The spine journal 2010;10(2):117-28.
- Haas M, Vavrek D, Peterson D, et al. Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2014;14(7):1106-16.
- Buckland AJ, Miyamoto R, Patel RD, et al. Differentiating hip pathology from lumbar spine pathology: key points of evaluation and management. JAAOS-Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2017;25(2):e23-e34.
- Haavik H, Murphy B. The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2012;22(5):768-76.
- Holt KR, Haavik H, Lee ACL, et al. Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2016;39(4):267-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.02.003
