How Spinal Health Influences Your Overall Well Being

There is an old Indian saying that goes, “The body is as young as the spine is supple.”

As our scientific understanding of the neuromuscular system has developed, we’ve come to find that this statement is profoundly accurate. The spine plays an important role in our overall health. The spinal cord is a central hub for your entire nervous system.

Chiropractic care is primarily concerned with the health of the spine. The core theory behind chiropractic treatment is the theory of subluxations. Subluxations, when referring to vertebrae, are when one or more of the vertebrae are moved out of position and create pressure on a nerve or nerve cluster. Sometimes this only creates discomfort or minor pain, other times it creates more serious health problems throughout the body.

What Exactly is the Spine?

Before we can further discuss how a healthy spine promotes overall wellbeing, let’s talk more about the spine itself.

Your spine facilitates your locomotive function. Every movement you make involves the spine at some level. In addition to housing and protecting the spinal cord, the spine provides the main structural support of your skeletal system.

Your spine consists of 24 vertebrae separated by 5 discs. These are separated into five distinct sections: cervical (upper), thoracic (upper-middle) and lumbar (lower) [LINK: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-spinal-health]. At the very end of the spine are two smaller sections, the sacrum and coccyx.

There are hundreds of muscles and primary muscle groups involved with the motion of the spine. Each type of muscle group can be aggravated by certain external factors. For example, your iliopsoas complex can become tense with too much sitting without movement.  

Perhaps the most important function of our spine is housing the spinal cord. Nerves from all over your body connect to the spinal cord. The aforementioned subluxations result in impaired or a complete loss of function in some regions of the body.

The Role of Your Spine in Your Overall Well Being

Your spine plays three primary roles in the overall wellbeing of your body. Each role is vital to your continued health.

1. Posture. Poor posture is not just an unflattering look, it can actually create serious problems. When you slouch, you are altering the structure of your spine and back muscles. You end up overloading certain regions with weight and pressure that they are not intended to support. Over time, poor posture can lead to degenerative disc diseases. John Lennon, BM, MM. C., discussed the effects of posture in an article in the American Journal of Pain Management [LINK: http://www.accessacupuncture.com/effects-of-posture-of-physiology/]:

We believe the posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.

This indicates that your posture directly impacts the overall function of your body. It takes time to counteract the poor habits that led to improper posture. Recovery involves chiropractic treatment, strengthening weakened muscles and cultivating the right postural habits.

2. Structure creates function. Your spine is the central hub for your skeletal and nervous system. A strong and healthy spine directly supports a healthy and functioning body. This applies both to locomotive function as well as respiratory, circulatory and digestive functions. A subluxation, the aforementioned pressure that can occur between vertebrae, reduces the overall structural integrity of the spine. This decreases the overall function of the body.

The nerve interference created by a subluxation is the biggest impairment of function. Distorting the messages sent along the nervous system can result in vital information not being received. This can disrupt the areas ability to function with the rest of the body. There is no limit to the number of health problems this can create. Correcting subluxations and ensuring a strong spinal structure is a prime focus of chiropractic treatment.

3.  Spinal flexibility promotes health. As such an important neuromuscular hub, the flexibility of your spine is dramatically important. Losing some flexibility as you age may not be considered to be important, however, research has shown that flexibility plays a bigger role than simply touching your toes. Decreased range of motion in the back may be related to cardio vascular disease, arterial function and can be a factor in heart attacks and strokes.

The stiffness that can occur in your muscles also occurs in your arteries. The inability to bend your spine may relate to the inability for your arteries to remain loose and elastic. Arterial elasticity helps ensure proper blood flow and staves off a host of related disease.

What Can Lead to Spinal Problems?

There are dozens of causes of spinal problems. Sometimes, spinal issues can be genetic or the result of an injury. However, they are usually related to the patient’s lifestyle, posture and overall health. Someone who spends most of their time in front of a computer or lifting heavy loads will likely develop a spinal issue if they do not take preventative measures.

Chiropractic care is a perfect preventative treatment program. You do not need to wait until your back starts hurting to visit a specialist. Early treatment will help prevent major health issues that may occur in the future. Additionally, leading an active and healthy lifestyle will greatly reduce the risk of subluxations and other related diseases.

by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook

Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center
4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

(303) 683-5060

Combating Neck and Shoulder Pain - Advice from a Chiropractor

Neck and shoulder pain is a fact of life for many people today, especially for those who work in an office environment. Sitting at a desk, looking at a computer all day is hard on our backs and necks, and can lead to chronic headaches in addition to neck and shoulder complaints. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Pain is a sign that something is wrong. You do not need to live with it when a chiropractor can eliminate it for you.

Causes Of Neck And Shoulder Pain

There are many reasons we have neck and shoulder pain. Although a full evaluation by your chiropractor is the best way to identify the source of your pain, some common causes of neck and shoulder pain are:

Posture. One of the biggest causes of neck and shoulder pain is due to poor posture. When we sit, we tend to hunch our backs and lean forward. This moves the weight of the head off of the spinal column and forces the neck muscles to accommodate holding it up. That kind of strain is too much for our necks to handle. The muscles tense up or become over-taxed, leading to headaches and neck pain.

Tension. Tense back muscles will wind up causing pain. Back tension can be attributed to poor posture, stress or spinal misalignment.

Injury. Injuries like whiplash can cause pain in the neck, head, and shoulders without you even knowing it. if you’ve been involved in an auto accident or even ridden an amusement park ride that jerked your head around, you could be suffering the effects of whiplash. Frozen Shoulder is another problem that can arise from injuries, even seemingly minor ones that happen just by playing catch, or from poor posture.

Disc Problems. Problems with the spinal column itself such as pinched nerves, bulging discs and compressed vertebrae can all cause pain in the neck and shoulders.

Treating Neck And Shoulder Pain

A chiropractor has many ways to treat neck and shoulder pain. Depending on the location and cause of your pain, your chiropractor may use one or more of the following methods:

Manual Adjustments. Manual adjustments allow the chiropractor to force vertebrae that have fallen out of alignment back into place. Once they are back in place, they reduce the strain on nearby muscles and ligaments, and the pain stops. The adjustments are gentle, but firm and direct, and are used to restore the joints to their proper position and range of motion.


Massage. Tense muscles must be loosened up before they can be manipulated back into place. To aid in this manipulation, your chiropractor may massage the area before making an adjustment. In addition to the physical effects of massage, it can be relaxing for patients too, which helps decrease stress levels and related tension.


Heat/Ice. Depending on your injury, applying heat or ice, or alternating between the two, can help reduce swelling and speed up healing.


Stretches And Exercises. Stretching is important, particularly if your pain is caused from tense muscles or stress. Keeping your muscles loose and limber will allow them to move easier and function properly, instead of pushing and pulling in ways they shouldn’t.

Just as there are many causes for neck and shoulder pain, there are many ways to combat it. Consulting with a chiropractor can help you identify the source of your pain, as well as the best way to combat it.

by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook

Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center
4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
(303) 683-5060

Headache Relief - Advice from a Chiropractor

Headache Relief

Many times when we have a headache, we reach for painkillers to make it stop. And it works. Sometimes. But the problem is, painkillers aren’t really treating the headache, they’re only masking the symptoms. Without correcting the underlying cause of the headache, you can be sure your head will be aching again before you know it.

Fortunately, chiropractic procedures can help headache sufferers identify and fix the root cause of their pounding head. In fact, headache treatment is one of the top reasons people seek out chiropractic help.

Common Headache Triggers

You may not realize it, but the source of your headache could very well be in your neck. Along with injuries and poor posture, back and neck tension are common headache triggers. In our information-based society where we are constantly sitting at a computer or leaning in to use a tablet, smartphone or other handheld device, we put great strain on our back and neck. Over time, the strain on the soft tissues of our body causes uneven tension on our spinal column, resulting in overly taxed muscles and ligaments, compressed vertebrae, and pinched nerves. All of these problems can make themselves known through headaches.

Typical Treatments Used For Headache Relief

A chiropractor treats headaches by releasing the built-up tension in the back and neck that is causing the pain. There are many ways to do this. At Botha Chiropractic we use any combination of the following to help our patients who suffer from headaches:

• Adjustments. Manual adjustments are what you think of when you think of chiropractic care. By physically manipulating the spine, we can improve spinal alignment, which reduces the strain and tension on your back and neck that is causing your head to ache. 

• Traction. Traction is another way to help the spine decompress, and take that pressure off your back and neck. A compacted spine can cause pain whether you’re sitting or standing, tense or not. Traction helps counteract that compression in a direct manner. 

• Exercise. You may be surprised when your chiropractor prescribes at-home exercises to help your head. Although targeted at other parts of your body (back, neck, shoulders, core, etc.), these exercises help to strengthen your body, making it easier for the body to function properly, and avoiding the build-up of tension that can cause spinal misalignment or headaches. 

• Massage. Massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic. Sometimes muscles have been stretched so tightly, they cannot be manipulated effectively until they’ve been loosened up. Massage helps us do that. In addition, sometimes muscle tension alone can cause headaches, without spinal misalignment. In cases like this, a good massage may be all you need to get relief. 

Two of the biggest benefits to chiropractic care as treatment for headaches are that it is long-lasting and all-natural. Chiropractors don’t rely on drugs to mask your pain, instead focusing on proper body mechanics. Once your body is properly aligned, the effects are extremely long-lasting, and you can kiss your headaches goodbye.

by: Dr. Aaron Casselman, DC | Follow Me on Facebook

Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center

4185 Wildcat Reserve Pkwy #200

Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

(303) 683-5060