Tension, Integrity, and Chiropractic: Understanding Spinal Tensegrity
Using the tensegrity principles of spinal function, we can explore how tension relates to integrity, and how changes in tension caused by vertebral subluxation can affect communication and function at the tissue level.
The Power of Connection
Your body contains an estimated 70 trillion cells. These cells form a vast communication network, both locally and globally, using cell-to-cell and tissue-to-tissue communication. This communication is coordinated by the neurological system, which acts as the body’s central network to help everything function together in harmony.
Mental Impulses: The Body’s Morse Code
Mental impulses—electrical messages within the nervous system—carry instructions for how your cells, tissues, and organs should behave. Like Morse code, a modulation in the vibration or tone of these impulses sends a specific message.
These impulses move through the neurological system at speeds up to 275 mph, thanks to the system’s cable-like, electrochemical design. For this communication to remain effective, the tone or tension within the system must remain optimal—not too much, not too little.
How Vertebral Subluxation Interferes
When stress overwhelms your body’s ability to adapt, vertebral subluxation can disrupt spinal tissue function. Subluxation refers to a misaligned vertebra that interferes with nerve communication—not always by bone-on-nerve pressure, but often through subtle shifts that create tension in the surrounding spinal tissue.
This impingement affects the openings and channels in your spine through which mental impulses travel. Even slight misalignments can alter the tension and interfere with the free flow of nerve signals, reducing your ability to function at full potential.
Tensegrity and Functional Integrity
Each vertebra plays a critical role in the spine’s tensegrity model—a balance of tension and compression that supports efficient movement and communication. When this model is disrupted, so is the neurological transmission of mental impulses, which your body relies on to coordinate its innate healing power.
The Role of Chiropractic
Regular chiropractic adjustments help restore proper spinal alignment and tone, removing interference and allowing your body’s innate intelligence to flow freely. This enhances your ability to communicate internally, adapt to stress, and function at your highest potential.
