10/17/2025
In chiropractic philosophy and education, the three main causes of subluxation are classically described as the “Three T’s”:
Trauma, Toxins, and Thoughts
Each represents a category of stress that can disrupt the nervous system’s normal function and lead to misalignment or altered joint motion (subluxation).
Let’s break each one down in detail:
1️⃣ Trauma (Physical Stress)
Definition: Any physical force or injury that overwhelms the body’s ability to maintain normal alignment and neuromuscular balance.
🔹 Examples
Major: Falls, car accidents, sports injuries, whiplash, lifting injuries.
Microtrauma: Repetitive motion, poor posture, extended sitting, carrying heavy bags, or sleeping awkwardly.
🔹 Mechanism
Physical stress can:
Strain ligaments and muscles supporting spinal joints.
Alter joint motion (hypomobility or hypermobility).
Irritate spinal nerves through misalignment or inflammation.
Over time, these micro- or macro-traumas can create fixations and altered biomechanics that chiropractors identify and correct.
2️⃣ Toxins (Chemical Stress)
Definition: Internal or external chemical imbalances that interfere with cellular and neurological function.
🔹 Examples
Poor diet, dehydration, or processed foods.
Alcohol, drugs, or medications.
Environmental pollutants or heavy metals.
Hormonal or metabolic imbalances.
🔹 Mechanism
Chemical stress changes the body’s internal environment:
Causes inflammation, muscle tension, and impaired nerve conductivity.
Alters proprioceptive and motor control, increasing the likelihood of muscular imbalance or subluxation.
A toxic or inflamed body is less able to repair micro-injuries, so joint and soft-tissue stress accumulates more quickly.
3️⃣ Thoughts (Emotional / Mental Stress)
Definition: Mental and emotional stress that affects muscle tone, posture, and the autonomic nervous system.
🔹 Examples
Chronic anxiety, fear, anger, grief, or depression.
High workload, relationship conflict, or financial stress.
🔹 Mechanism
Mental stress triggers the fight-or-flight response, increasing sympathetic tone.
This leads to elevated muscle tension (especially in the neck, shoulders, and back).
Chronic tension causes restricted motion and postural imbalances, setting the stage for subluxations.
✅ In short:
Subluxations arise when physical, chemical, or emotional stress exceeds the body’s capacity to adapt. The resulting dysfunction can irritate nerves, restrict movement, and disrupt normal physiology — the primary focus of chiropractic correction and lifestyle care.
🔹 Changing Your Mindset for the Best
Today, I want to focus on the “T” that I think gets the least attention and is often overlooked — Thoughts.
Your thoughts can create a physical reaction in your body. If you don’t feel good physically, then you won’t feel good mentally. Likewise, if you aren’t feeling good mentally, your body will reflect that state of mind as well.
Your perspective on life dictates the reality you live in. If you can shift your mindset to see the light even in the darkest of times, the world around you will become a much brighter place.
The mind and body work as a synchronized system. It’s not an easy task, but if you can focus on the positive aspects of your life and take negative moments as learning lessons that help you grow as a person, then your mind, body, and spirit will be able to heal more effectively — allowing you to blossom into the person you truly want to be.
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