Precision Chiropractic

NeuroStructural Chiropractor

Archives for March 2016

Spinal Hygiene 101 | Plank

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hygiene101(The Spinal Hygiene 101 newsletter series will focus on helping you protect and hold your structural corrections and improving overall spinal health)

Starting an exercise routine can sometimes be very intimidating and complex, but today we are going to talk about a simple exercise that can be done at home with no equipment and doesn’t require a lot of time.

Planks look so simple that one might assume it’s not doing anything at all – but don’t be fooled. This exercise works out your abs, obliques, hips, and back. In fact, it is one of the best exercises you can do for core conditioning.
So what is a plank? A plank is where you hold the trunk of your body off the ground in a straight line.
plank
Here are the instructions from the American Council on Exercise
  • Hold your elbows directly under your shoulders and place your wrists in line with your elbows.
  • Push your body up into your upper back and hold your chin close to your neck (like you’re holding an egg between your chin and your throat).
  • In this position, brace your abdominals-contract them as if you were expecting a punch in your stomach, squeeze your gluteal (tailbone) and thigh muscles simultaneously while continuing to breathe normally.
  • Hold a plank at least 20 to 30 seconds. (When using correct form, it is not necessary to hold it for longer than this amount of time.) Rest for approximately one minute and repeat three to five more times.
  • Start doing the plank using your elbows and toes (feel free to drop to your knees if necessary) and progress up to a high plank when you feel you have developed the necessary strength.
  • Make sure to pull in your bellybutton while you are in the Plank position!
TOP THREE BENEFITS OF PLANKS
  1. Reduces low back pain
  2. Increases spinal flexibility
  3. Improves balance and posture
A FEW EXTRA TIPS
  1. Don’t hold your breath while you are doing planks
  2. Make sure your elbows and hands are shoulder width apart
  3. Avoid holding the position too long (proper form is more important then length of time)
Incorporating planks into your daily routine will help to protect your structural corrections and improve your spinal hygiene! 
For some extra motivation, check out this video of the Guinness World Record holder for the longest plank – impressive!

 

TMJ & Your Neck – What’s The Connection?

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tmjA common condition that has been showing up more and more lately in my practice is temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJD. Everyone has had the occasional jaw pain when taking a big bite of a sandwich or crunching down on a hard candy, but people with chronic jaw pain can suffer terribly.

TMJ problems arise in the joint that connects your jaw to the rest of your head.  Normal motion of this joint is a non-negotiable when it comes to having a jaw that functions normally.  When correct jaw motion is compromised, the impact can be severe and can cause a wide variety of problems, including:

  • Headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Teeth grinding
  • Sharp & stabbing jaw pain
  • Clenching
  • Painful clicking
  • And much more
Generally speaking, problems with the TMJ arise from two sources:
  1. Muscle dysfunction – the jaw muscles (masseter, temporalis & pterygoids) become imbalanced and dysfunctional, leading to pain and abnormal movement patterns.
  2. Joint dysfunction – the TMJ is a complex joint.  The disc within the joint can shift, the joint can degenerate, and the extremely sensitive nerve endings surrounding the joint can become inflamed.

To understand why the muscles of the jaw become dysfunctional, it’s important to understand what controls the muscles of the joint.  Every muscle in your body, from your heart to your bicep to your achy back muscles, is controlled by a nerve.  The muscles of the jaw are under the control of the Trigeminal Nerve, which is one of 12 specialized nerves known as Cranial Nerves.  Cranial nerves are unique because they don’t originate from the spine.  Instead, they originate from the brain and brainstem and exit out of the skull.  Because of this, issues with the cranial nerves are usually a sign of a problem at the brainstem.

People with TMJD typically don’t have isolated jaw pain – they often have neck pain and headaches as well.  Interestingly, a search of PubMed shows numerous studies outlining an increased occurrence of TMJD in patients who have suffered a whiplash injury or other trauma to the head or neck.  Because of the close relationship of the Trigeminal Nerve and the vertebrae in the neck, the Atlas Displacement Complex can create the conditions under which abnormal pain signals can occur.

How does NeuroStructural Chiropractic address this?
At Precision Chiropractic, we identify the primary Structural Abnormality that has occurred in the spine.  In the majority of cases we see, this Structural Shift has occurred at the topmost vertebra in the neck, the atlas, due to its unique shape and biomechanics.  This specific area of the spine is intimately connected to key structures of jaw function and can be the culprit in many TMJD cases.  Our goal is to correct and stabilize this area so that the nerves can function normally again.  We end up co-managing many cases with dentists who focus on TMJ treatment for these exact reasons, which has been of tremendous benefit to the patient.Take the time to schedule a complimentary consultation to find out if a NeuroStructural Chiropractic approach can be a solution for your TMJ issues, or supplement the dental treatment you are already receiving.

An Uncommon Solution to Common Health Problems

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stats

More and more it seems like people all around are suffering from some type of chronic health condition, so I decided to dig up some current related information.  The stats on a few of the most common ailments in America are staggering:

  • Approximately 45 million Americans suffer from headaches (tension, migraine, and cluster types).
  • Approximately 65 million Americans suffer from back pain, which is the second leading cause for medical visits.
  • Scientists estimate fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans, with the annual average medical cost for each person approaching $6,000.
  • Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and the financial burden for the loss of work productivity is estimated to be upwards of 130 billion dollars a year.
  • The CDC estimates over 70 million Americans have hypertension and its cost weighs in at $46 billion in medical expenses, lost time at work, and medications. In addition, hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Across the board, these conditions are becoming more and more rampant in our country. The common solutions and treatment options are simply not working. Most visits to conventional chiropractors are unfortunately no different. Although there might be short term improvements in range of motion, muscle spasms, and pain, the end results are the same and the problem persists.   At Precision Chiropractic, we provide an uncommon solution to your common health problems.

Structural Shifts in the spine cause compensations that cascade throughout the spine, leading to degeneration, muscle spasm, and abnormal biomechanics. Structural Shifts also create friction within your nervous system, your body’s network of communication that regulates functions such as blood pressure, the sensing of pain, digestion, and inflammation. We focus on pinpointing and correcting these Structural Shifts so the body can heal and recover for a long term solution.

At Precision Chiropractic, we look beyond the temporary nature of symptomatic treatment and we identify the underlying cause of your health problems. This is not a one size fits all approach. However, if there is moderate to severe Structural Shift that has occurred in your spine, more often than not, that is the underlying cause to the laundry list of Secondary Conditions discussed above.

Don’t be like the millions of Americans suffering daily. There is a better, uncommon solution to your health problems.

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