August 14, 2013

Upper Cervical Care: The importance of Chiropractic Adjustments

By : Schrier Family Chiropractic

Chiropractors are highly trained to detect and correct problems in the spine and nervous system. When spinal bones become misaligned, they can also affect other tissues in and around the joints. This might include muscles, ligaments, nerves, discs and soft tissue. Misaligned joints are referred to by health care professionals as Subluxations. Subluxations can be caused by car accidents, falls, sporting injuries, work injuries or even poor posture. Chiropractors are the only healthcare professionals specifically trained to locate and correct Subluxations. A Subluxation is different from a dislocation in that the joint is not completely dislocated. It often results in nerve irritation which can cause pain and loss of function in the body.

The nervous system in the body literally controls every cell and organ in the body. Upper Cervical Chiropractors correct Subluxations by performing specific hands-on adjustments to restore normal alignment. The adjustment involves a very gentle tap of the bone back into place, which most people hardly feel. Upper Cervical Care is necessary to make sure the messages going through the brainstream to the rest of the body are not being distorted in any way. Here at Schrier Family Chiropractic, we do this by giving our patients the most specific adjustment possible to help them achieve optimal health. We take precision x-rays to see exactly where the misalignment is, so that each adjustment is tailor-made.

Everything is done in a neutral position, which means no twisting or pulling on the head, and no popping or cracking noise. After the initial adjustment, the muscles may try to pull the bone back out of place. This is because the muscles and ligaments have gotten used to the bone being in the wrong position. This is why multiple adjustments over time may be necessary to help train the muscles and ligaments to keep the bone in the correct position. After the problem is corrected, periodic adjustments can help to maintain normal alignment and proper function of the joints. It is important to keep the joints healthy to maintain optimal health. Subluxations cause many of the unwanted conditions that are seen today.

Some of the more common conditions that people seek Chiropractic care for include neck pain, back pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs and headaches/migraines, but the list is endless. The longer the subluxation is there, the more damage is being done. Unfortunately no stretch, massage, yoga, or exercise can realign the upper cervical area; therefore, we encourage getting checked by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor even if you have no pain.