I was recently asked by someone why I feel the spine is so important, and why I place so much emphasis on its health. I love that question. And I am certain that the person asking me did not realize the floodgates that opened. My knowledge, experience, and passion related to spinal health has only reinforced my belief that the spine is the most overlooked portion of the human body and that caring for it appropriately is so incredibly important.
In regards to knowledge, I have been studying the spine for nearly 30 years. I have countless hours into reading studies, studying the anatomy, and analyzing the biomechanics of the human spine. In terms of experience, I have been in private practice for over 25 years, have seen tens of thousands of x-rays, and have personally examined and cared for thousands of patients. And my passion? I am more excited now than I have ever been at the amazing results we see when a spine that was not functioning properly begins to heal and move the way it was designed. I have been blessed to witness miraculous changes in the health of so many patients, many of which had tried many, many other health-related treatments.
The biggest problem I see is that most people do not understand the impact spinal problems can have on their overall health. And medical doctors often overlook the subtle misalignments and dysfunctions (called vertebral subluxations) in the spine simply because, one… they don’t do the proper exam or use the proper diagnostic tools to locate these subluxations, and two… they do not have the knowledge or skillset to correct these subluxations. If you are not looking for something, you’ll likely not find it. And if you do not have a way of fixing a particular problem, you’ll likely not look for it.
To be clear, my interest in the spine lies in its relationship with the nervous system. Truth be told, I only analyze and work on the spine to ensure that the nervous system is working properly. The spine is made up of 24 vertebral bones, all separated by discs. These discs keep the bones from rubbing together, allow us humans to have the flexibility and mobility that we have, and most importantly, create small holes between each vertebra, allowing space for the nerves to exit the spine. The brain sends signals down the spinal cord and out nerves (which travel out between the vertebrae through those small holes). The nerves travel throughout the entire body, communicating with every cell, tissue, and organ. The brain communicates with these cells, tissues, and organs by sending signals along the spinal cord and nerves. These cells, tissues, and organs send signals back to the brain through those nerves and spinal cord. If functioning properly, the brain and the body are in perfect communication, and everything can run smoothly and optimally.
It is critical that your nerves function well and communicate with your body properly. This why I believe that every single person should have their spine checked. A proper and thorough examination includes looking at posture, palpating the muscles along the spine, moving the spine through ranges of motion, and having an x-ray. In our office, we use digital x-rays to capture a picture of the spine in the standing position. Measurements and analysis can then be done to determine exactly what the spine looks like. We show these x-rays to our patients and give a detailed explanation of our findings.
These steps allow us to be extremely precise and help to ensure that our care is extremely safe. We utilize a specific method of chiropractic, called the Gonstead Method, which is only practiced by a handful of doctors in each state. We also care for patients ranging from only days old to those in their 90’s. Youth, high school, college, and professional athletes utilize our care to come back from injuries, to help prevent injuries, and to maximize their athletic potential. We care for moms, dads, office workers, construction workers, couch potatoes, and pregnant women. We see patients of all ages and sizes.
If you have not had your spine checked, I urge you to do so. We are able to detect subluxations of the spine long before they cause symptoms. And while most people know we help with neck pain, back pain, numbness and tingling in the arm and hands, and other musculoskeletal conditions, many are surprised to find out that we have helped thousands of patients with conditions such as asthma, reflux, headaches (including migraines), digestive disorders, constipation, vertigo and dizziness, carpal tunnel syndrome, Restless Leg Syndrome, muscle weakness, menstrual issues, and even have helped with conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more.
It is time to have a spinal examination, including an x-ray (if needed), to determine the condition of your spine. Do you have one leg shorter than the other? Is there any arthritis in your spine? Do you have degenerative disc disease? Are either of your hips wearing down? Do you have scoliosis or any curvature of the spine? Is your spine headed for that dreaded hunching that your mother, aunts, or grandmother have? There is one way to determine ALL of this… have a thorough spinal examination and x-ray.
Your spine is so much more important than you’ve been taught. It could be choking off the lifeline to your organs, tissues, and cells. It could be what is causing your current ailments. Get checked TODAY!
