Chiropractic Glossary

Welcome to the Rasura Chiropractic Centres glossary. This page is designed to help you better understand key terms and concepts related to chiropractic care.

Whether you're exploring treatment options or seeking to expand your knowledge, we aim to empower you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health and wellness.

A

• Activator: Handheld instrument used by chiropractors to deliver a controlled, quick, and light impulse to specific points along the spine or joints.
• Acupuncture: A treatment method that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain and promote healing.
• Acute Low Back Pain: Sudden onset pain in the lower back, often due to injury.
• Adhesion: Bands of scar-like tissue that form between two surfaces inside the body and restrict movement.
• Adjustment: A technique used by chiropractors to correct misalignments in the spine and improve overall body function.
• Ankle: The joint connecting the foot with the leg, allowing movements like walking, running, and jumping.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: A form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, causing inflammation and pain.
• Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
• Asthma: A condition that affects the airways, causing breathing difficulties.
• Atlas: The first cervical vertebra, supporting the skull.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.
• Axial: Relating to or situated around the central axis of the body.

B

• Back Pain: Discomfort or pain felt in the back, ranging from mild to severe.
• Bad Posture: Poor alignment of the body that can cause pain and discomfort.
• Bell’s Palsy: Sudden weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): A condition that can cause episodes of mild to intense dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness and nausea, usually triggered by specific changes in the position of your head.
• Biomechanics: The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.
• Bulging Disc: A condition where a spinal disc extends beyond its usual boundaries.
• Bursitis: Inflammation of a bursa, typically one in the knee, elbow, or shoulder.

C

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A condition caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, leading to pain and numbness.
• Cauda Equina Syndrome: A serious neurological condition provoking an acute loss of function of the nerve roots of the spinal canal below the termination of the spinal cord.
• Cervical Spine: The portion of the spine located in the neck.
• Chiropractic: A healthcare profession focused on diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Persistent fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.
• Chronic Pain: Persistent or recurring pain lasting longer than three months.
• Chronic Sinusitis: Long-term inflammation of the sinuses.
• Cold Laser Therapy: A treatment that uses low-level lasers to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Colic in Infants: Frequent, prolonged crying in infants due to digestive discomfort.
• Condition: A health issue or disorder that affects a person's physical or mental state.
• Core: The muscles in the abdomen and lower back that help support and stabilise the spine.
• Cox Flexion-Distraction Technique: Chiropractic method that uses a special table to gently stretch the spine and relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.
• Cracking: The sound made during a chiropractic adjustment when gas bubbles escape from the joints, indicating successful realignment.

D

• Degenerative Disc Disease: A condition where the discs between the vertebrae deteriorate, causing pain.
• Digestive Issues: Conditions affecting the digestive system, including IBS and GERD.
• Disc: The cushion of fibrocartilage between each vertebra in the spine.
• Disc Herniation: A condition where the disc's inner gel-like core protrudes through its outer layer, often causing pain.
• Diversified Technique: A common chiropractic method involving manual adjustments to correct spinal and joint misalignments.
• Dry Needling: A technique where fine needles are inserted into trigger points in muscles to relieve pain.

E

• Ear Infections: Infections in the ear that can cause pain and hearing problems.
• Elbow Pain: Pain in the elbow, often due to repetitive strain or injury.
• Electrotherapy: The use of electrical energy as a medical treatment, often to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Ergonomics: The study of people's efficiency in their working environment.
• Extremity Adjustment: Chiropractic adjustments applied to the joints of the arms or legs.

F

• Facet Joint: Small stabilising joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae.
• Fibromyalgia: A condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain.
• Flexion-Distraction: A chiropractic technique used to treat disc injuries involving flexion and distraction of the spine.
• Frozen Shoulder: Stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.

G

• Gait Analysis: The study of human motion, often used to diagnose issues related to walking.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between the oesophagus and stomach.
• GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease): A chronic digestive condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the oesophagus, causing irritation and symptoms such as heartburn.
• Golfer’s Elbow: Pain and inflammation on the inside of the elbow, caused by overuse.
• Gonstead Technique: A method of chiropractic treatment that involves specific adjustment procedures to correct misalignments in the spine.
• Graston Technique: A method of manual chiropractic therapy that uses specific instruments to perform muscle mobilisations.

H

• Headaches: Pain in the head, often due to tension or migraines.
• Herniated Disc: A condition where part of the disc's inner core pushes through a crack in its exterior casing, which can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness.
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): A serious chronic condition characterised by elevated blood pressure levels.
• Hip Pain: Pain in the hip joint, often due to arthritis or injury.
• Holistic Health: An approach to care that considers the whole person, including physical, mental, and social factors.

I

• Inflammation: The body's response to injury or infection, often causing redness, heat, and swelling.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
• Intervertebral Disc: The fibrocartilage disc between the vertebrae of the spine.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A common disorder that affects the large intestine and can cause abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits.

J

• Jaw Pain: Discomfort in the jaw area, potentially due to TMJ disorders.
• Joint: The point where two bones are connected in the body, allowing movement and supporting mechanical function.
• Joint Dysfunction: Abnormal function of a joint, often causing pain or limited movement.
• Joint Mobilisation: A manual therapy technique to improve joint function.
• Joint Pain: Pain in the joints, often due to arthritis or injury.

K

• Kinesiology: The study of body movement.
• Kinesiology Tape: An elastic therapeutic tape used to support muscles and joints.
• Knee Pain: Pain in the knee joint, often due to injury or arthritis.
• Kyphosis: Condition characterised by an excessive outward curve of the spine, causing a hunchback or slouching posture.

L

• Laminectomy: A surgical procedure that removes the back part of a vertebra, called the lamina, to create more space and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Lumbago (Lower Back Pain): Pain in the lower back, which can be acute or chronic.
• Lumbar Spine: The lower part of the spine consisting of five vertebrae.

M

• Manipulation: A technique used by chiropractors to adjust joints and improve function.
• Massage Therapy: The manipulation of soft tissues to relieve pain and tension.
• Migraines: Severe headaches often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
• Misalignment: An improper positioning or adjusting of the spine that can disrupt its normal function.
• Muscle Spasms: Involuntary contractions of the muscles causing pain and discomfort.
• Musculoskeletal: Conditions that affect the system of muscles and bones that support the body and enable movement are known as musculoskeletal.
• Myofascial Release: A technique to relieve tension in the connective tissues.

N

• Neck Pain: Discomfort or pain in the cervical spine area.
• Nerve Compression: Pressure on a nerve causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
• Nerve Root: The part of a nerve that connects to the spinal cord.
• Neuropathy: Damage to the nerves causing pain, numbness, and weakness.

O

• Orthotics: Custom-designed shoe inserts to support the foot and improve posture.
• Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down.

P

• Pain Management: Strategies to reduce or manage pain.
• Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP): Discomfort that occurs in the joints of the back and front of the pelvis, often during pregnancy.
• Pelvis: The lower part of the torso, located between the abdomen and the legs, that houses the reproductive organs and provides support for the spinal column.
• Pinched Nerve: A condition where a nerve is compressed, causing pain or numbness.
• Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot.
• Polymyalgia: A condition that causes muscle pain and stiffness, primarily in the shoulders and hips.
• Posture: The way one holds their body while standing, sitting, or lying down.
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): A group of symptoms occurring in women before their menstrual period.
• Pubic Symphysis: A cartilaginous joint located between the two pubic bones in the lower part of the pelvis.

Q

• Quadratus Lumborum: A muscle of the lower back that can contribute to back pain.

R

• Radiculopathy: A condition caused by compression, inflammation, or injury to a spinal nerve root, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness radiating from the affected nerve.
• Rehabilitation: The process of restoring health and function after injury or illness.
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI): Injuries caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, or sustained awkward positions.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disorder causing inflammation in the joints.
• Rotator Cuff: A group of muscles and tendons stabilising the shoulder.
• Round Ligament Pain: A common discomfort experienced during pregnancy, caused by the stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus.

S

• Sacro Iliac Joint (SIJ): The joint between the sacrum (base of the spine) and the ilium (part of the hip bone) that helps transfer weight and forces between your upper body and legs.
• Sacro-Occipital Technique: A chiropractic method that focuses on relationships between the sacrum, spine, and occipital bone to improve neurological function and overall health.
• Sciatica: Pain affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root.
• Scoliosis: A sideways curvature of the spine.
• Shockwave Therapy: A treatment using sound waves to stimulate healing.
• Shoulder Pain: Pain in the shoulder, often due to injury or arthritis.
• Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses causing pain and congestion.
• Soft Tissue: Tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body.
• Spinal Alignment: The proper alignment of the spine.
• Spinal Decompression: A therapy to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Spinal Fusion: A surgical procedure that joins two or more vertebrae together to prevent movement and relieve back pain.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spaces within the spine, which can put pressure on the nerves.
• Spondylitis: A type of arthritis that causes inflammation and pain in the spine and other joints.
• Spondylosis: Degenerative changes in the spine such as bone spurs and degenerating discs.
• Spondylolisthesis: A condition where a bone in the spine slips out of the proper position onto the bone below it.
• Sports Injuries: Injuries sustained during sports activities.
• Sprain: An injury to a ligament caused by overstretching or tearing.
• Strain: An injury to a muscle or tendon caused by overstretching or tearing.
• Stress: Physical or emotional tension that can impact overall health.
• Stretching: The process of gently expanding muscles and tendons to increase flexibility and range of motion, reducing the risk of injuries and relieving muscle tension.
• Subluxation: A partial dislocation of a joint or vertebra.

T

• Tailbone: Also known as the coccyx, the tailbone is the small, triangular bone at the bottom of the spinal column.
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Problems with the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement.
• Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon.
• Tennis Elbow: Pain in the elbow caused by overuse.
• TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): A method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current.
• Thompson Drop Technique: A chiropractic method involving a special table with drop-away sections to adjust the spine and joints.
• Thoracic Spine: The midsection of the spine, consisting of twelve vertebrae.
• Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the ears.
• Torticollis: A condition where the neck muscles contract, causing the head to twist to one side.
• Trigger Points: Sensitive areas of tight muscle fibres that can cause pain in other parts of the body.

U

• Ultrasound Therapy: A treatment that uses sound waves to reduce pain and promote healing.
• Upright MRI: A type of MRI where the patient stands or sits during the scan.
• Upper Back Pain: Pain in the upper part of the back, often due to muscle strain or injury.

V

• Vertigo: A sensation of spinning or dizziness, often caused by inner ear problems.
• Vertebra: Each of the bones forming the spinal column.

W

• Webster Technique: A chiropractic method for pregnant women, aiming to balance the pelvis and reduce stress on the uterus and supporting ligaments.
• Whiplash: Neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, often due to car accidents.
• Wellness: The state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.

X

• X-Ray: An imaging technique used to view the inside of the body, especially bones.

Y

• Yoga: A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices aimed at improving health and relaxation.

Z

• Zygapophyseal Joint: Also known as facet joints, these are the joints between the articular processes of two adjacent vertebrae.