A frequently overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.  When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected.  When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches.  Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Collisions that occur during sporting events, slips, falls or automobile crashes can all have a damaging effect on your neck and back.  These types of collision-related injuries are often called a "whiplash".  The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissue can contribute to headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulders, arms and hands, and the reduced ability to turn and bend.  As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear until weeks or even months later.

 
The sciatic nerves are the largest (and longest) nerves of the body, reaching about the size of your thumb in diameter, and run down the back of each leg.  When the sciatic nerve is irritated by a spinal misalignment or inflamed surrounding tissues, pain is deferred down the leg.  This is referred to as sciatica and can be corrected through chiropractic care.

Many of the pain-sensing nerves of the spine are in the facet joints, the two interlocking "fingers" at the back of each spinal bone.  The normally smooth surfaces on which these joints glide can become rough, irritated, and inflamed when a spinal bone is out of position, causing lower back discomfort.

A popular response to neck pain is to take drugs to cover up the problem (aspirin, analgesics, pain pills) or to treat its symptoms (muscle relaxants, massage, hot packs). 
The chiropractic approach to neck pain is to locate its underlying cause.  Special attention is given to the structure and function of the spine and its affect on the nervous system.

 
While the intervertebral disc is a common culprit in spine-related health problems, its function is widely misunderstood.  The disc is a small cartilage pad that is situated between spinal bones.  The soft jelly-like center is contained by layers of fibrous tissues.  Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine.  When healthy, discs allow normal turning and bending.  Discs can bulge, herniate or rupture, resulting in other problems.  Chiropractic does not make disc herniations disappear, but can usually eliminate the symptoms involved with disc herniations.

As a concerned parent, you no doubt wonder if your child is as healthy as possible.  Many factors contribute to your child's overall health. A major component is the communication between your child's brain and body, a vital link controlling the growth, repair, and function of every tissue and organ in the body. Diet, exercise, and rest are other important factors.  Chiropractic recognizes the importance of each of these factors as they contribute to your child's health.

This period of rapid development, hormonal changes, laxity of connective ligaments, and shifting of weight-bearing structures, often cause many pregnant women to experience low back pain.  Chiropractic care can be quite helpful.  The benefits of chiropractic care may also be noticed during delivery.  Many chiropractic patients report that their deliveries were faster and more comfortable than deliveries previous to chiropractic care!  Modifications to the table or adjusting techniques are made during each stage of pregnancy. Pamper yourself and your baby with regular chiropractic checkups.

 
Spinal injuries can restrict range of motion, reduce strength, slow reflexes, shorten endurance and decrease performance. Chiropractic care for these types of injuries has become increasingly popular.  Professional sports teams, Olympic trainers, and competitive athletes are employing chiropractic doctors -- because they demand results.  Besides helping to relieve pain, chiropractic care can also help reduce inflammation.  Muscles, tendons, and ligaments depend upon proper joint movement for peak performance.  Injuries to these tissues can reduce range of motion, affect delicate nerves, decrease blood supply, and can take you out of the game.  Normalizing spinal function helps speed the healing of these soft tissues and reduce the deconditioning effect of being on the sidelines.