Bone Component
This happens when the joint is restricted due to bone degeneration over time. This can lead to a narrowing of the spaces between the bones. The space that is narrowing is actually where the nerve for that segment passes through. Narrowing of this space often results in irritation or impingement of the nerve itself.
Nervous Component
The narrowing of joint space discussed above can occasionally cause disruption of the normal electrical flow along the nerve fibers. This can cause the messages traveling along the nerves to become diminished or even lost. This results in the muscles that are fed by those nerves to receive decreased signals from the brain. A decrease in signal will ultimately lead to the muscles affected not being able to function properly. To compensate, other muscles which are controlled by other nerves can end up doing more of the work, which can cause soft tissue damage, pain, and can create a muscular imbalance on one side over the other.
Muscular Component
Muscles can often times have contracted bundles of muscle fibers within a relaxed muscle. Those bundles of contracted fibers are called “trigger points.” Trigger points can either cause dysfunctional movement of joints, pain, or both. If muscles are in dysfunction, and the affected muscles control joints, then joints can end up moving in ways that are less than optimal. This can cause an array of issues, and can eventually lead to atrophy of muscles if not properly taken care of.
Soft Tissue Component
Abnormal joint movement will also affect the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and blood supplies found in the joints. Over time, the soft tissues can become stretched out or scarred, leaving the spine with either a permanent instability or restriction.
Chemical Component
The change in the chemistry of the body can sometimes be due to a restricted joint. Most often, the chemical changes, such as the release of a class of chemicals called “-kinins”. These are pro-inflammatory agents, meaning they increase inflammation (pain, redness, swelling, and/or heat) in the affected area. Inflammation is the body’s way of healing threats within the body or damage. It is also a way to tell us if something is wrong and needs to be addressed.
