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Disc Disc Disc, The Importance Of The Disc Within The Spine

By | Benefits of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Myths, inflammation, stress | No Comments

Disc Disc Disc, The Importance Of The Disc Within The Spine

Let’s talk about disc spacing and why it often gets left out when discussing spinal hygiene.  A disc acts as a cushion between each single vertebra and is your shock absorber for every action that you encounter in life.  Think gravity!  Not only does it function as a shock absorber, it allows proper spacing between each spinal bone to form a canal in which the spinal nerve exits through.  This canal provides protection and open communication for the spinal nerve to be a two way communicator from the brain to the body and the body to the brain.  This makes it vitally important to your overall health.

Understanding the disc space comes from utilizing x-ray analysis.  As a Gonstead chiropractor we study and analyze the x-ray films to calculate and adjust “through” the disc space.  It is the analysis of the disc and the changes it undergoes that gives the most reliable information for locating the subluxation.  To judge the level and condition of the subluxation is to access the surrounding disc space.  When a subluxation occurs it creates a displacement within the spinal column which will place stress upon the disc.  As a result the disc will produce undo stress upon the spinal nerve exiting through the canal.  This in turn will create health problems.

Subluxations that remain uncorrected will cause calcium deposits and bone spurs to occur.  Nerve and soft tissue damage will ensue.  The subluxated vertebrae will become rough and uneven on the surfaces compressing the disc and resulting in the loss of its natural cushioning.  The process accelerates causing the disc to collapse and fusion begins.  The final stage of disc degeneration from an uncorrected subluxation is when the bones are fused together creating immobility and even more severe health problems.  Keep the disc space alive and mobile with specific adjustments and you keep the channel open for the nerve to express your life through.  Happy disc = happy nerve = healthy you.

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Proper Structure = Proper Posture

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Proper Structure = Proper Posture

Special attention must be given when talking and differentiating between structure and posture.  Definition of structure – the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.  The human body is COMPLEX to say the least.  In Chiropractic we utilize the science that the body is an entire unit.  The patient is an entity and must be dealt with as such.  The primary need is to correct all faults in the entire architecture of the patient.

In Chiropractic we visualize the spinal column via x-ray analysis to understand the health of the most important and complex system within your entire body…the central nerve system.  Your spinal structure is often hindered by vertebral subluxations that create chaos within the most complex system in the body.  Nevertheless, structural corrections must be made to restore normal flow of the CNS.  Imagine the importance of x-ray’s and getting a clear understanding of what to do for the patient, most importantly though, of what not to do.  Primo Non Nocere (First, not to injure).

Proper spinal structure will bring about proper posture.  The definition of posture- the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.  People can have “good” posture and still have a poor spinal structure.  Imagine how much more energy the body would have if the spinal structure was intact within the proper limits.  When subluxations exist within the spinal column, your muscles begin to work harder and faster than they should to maintain the constant fight of gravity.  Your body is always attempting to right itself and make sure the eyes are level to go throughout your day.   Ideally, our bones stack up one upon the other: the head rests directly on top of the spine, which sits directly over the pelvis, which sits directly over the knees and ankles. Posture is on the outside of the body and we know that it’s the inside that counts.  It’s the inside of the body that heals, adapts, and makes corrections.   The body craves alignment. Making good structural corrections will lead to the proper posture.

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Being Healthy Is Not Addictive…It Is Rewarding


Being Healthy Is Not Addictive… It Is Rewarding

Your Body Rewards Itself






Crisis In Healing…Why Natural Healing Is Still Growing


Crisis In Healing…Why Natural Healing Is Still Growing

There is an age old conflict between treating the disease itself vs. the patient as a whole.  These opposing viewpoints have not changed, relatively, since 460 B.C….why? The current trend in emphasizing the disease puts our money, time and energy in the magic pill.  While this might be efficient for some in times of a crisis, the magic pill does not heal the body as a whole. How about utilizing the most non-invasive form of healing on your body?  Natural healing.

The Science Of Natural Healing

In chiropractic, we utilize inductive reasoning.  Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology has everything to do with the cause of disease.  If you disturb the structure of the human frame, you disrupt the nerve system. We deny that disease “just happens”.  The disease process must have a cause and chiropractic seeks that cause. The cause is attributed to a disturbance (subluxation) in the normal flow of neural communication.   The chiropractic profession is pretty advanced and continues to make more advancements to understand the reasoning of subluxations. These disturbances create a anatomical dis-relationship with the rest of the body, a.k.a dis-ease.

It’s In The Literature

Show me your evidence of natural healing.  Research has and always will provide insight on how the body heals.  The truth is that the day to day action of the body and what it is capable of is research within itself.  In Collected Papers Of Mechanico-Therapeutics, Dr. Edgar Cyriax  states “Every displacement of a vertebra changes the normal condition of pressure, tension, shape, size and length of the surrounding structures.  If nature is able to set up compensations, no evil effects ensue.” This statement means that subluxations will create dysfunction and produce symptoms of the body relating to the visceral (internal organs) or non-visceral.  Eugenics, Dr. Herman Rubin, M.D. – ” It may never occur to them (medical colleagues) that the headaches, stomach trouble, neuritis or nervous irritability they are attempting to cure may be due to nothing more serious than a displaced vertebra which any competent chiropractor can restore in ten seconds.”

extremity adjusting

Shoulder, Knees, Hips, Ankles…It’s Still A Spine Problem

By | Benefits of Chiropractic, chiropractic adjustment, inflammation | No Comments


Extremities….aka, shoulders, knees, ankles, wrists or whatever extremity you want to throw in the mix is all related to the spine.  “Look well to the spine for the cause of disease” – Hippocrates. When extremity problems present themselves in our life, we forget about the structure that provides life to those parts of our body; the spine.  Now, what about incidences that occur like with Nancy Kerrigan. For those who don’t remember, Nancy Kerrigan was an Olympian struck in the knee by an individual who wanted to cause her harm. In these cases, this is a simple cause and effect situation.  For everything else, pay attention to the spine and what it offers in your healing abilities.

The Nerve Of That Extremity

To understand that healing begins in the spine, you must understand the importance of the central nerve system.  Every tissue cell that makes up any extremity, whether it’s your shoulder, knee, wrist or whatever, is originated and can be traced back to a specific spinal nerve.  For example, think about the wrist and carpal tunnel. The concept is that the large amount of time spent typing causes inflammation in the wrist. What most fail to realize is that the wrist and any muscle movement used for typing is controlled via your lower cervical spinal nerves.  Sure, the person is typing for hours upon hours, but what about the position of the monitor.  What about their neck posture…etc? Are they constantly looking down and then back up and creating constant flexion and extension in the lower cervical part of the neck?  Most of the time…YES!  Specifically for the wrist, it’s called double crush syndrome.  The first “crush” (irritated nerve fiber) will occur at the cervical spinal nerve and then the second “crush” will occur in the shoulder, elbow or wrist.

It’s No Coincidence

Every tissue cell of your body traces back to a specific spinal nerve.  Take care of the spine first and foremost and extremity dysfunction will cease to exist.  With a healthy spine, the tissue cells in your extremities will increase its adaptability and perform at peak potential.  The most important project you’ll ever work on is yourself. Technology has become a literal “pain” in the neck. Don’t forget to mind your posture and look to the spine first.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

chiropractic can help

We Can Help You With That

By | ADHD, Allergies, Asthma, Benefits of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Myths, depression, Ear Infections, emotions, fibromyalgia, High Blood Pressure, inflammation, posture | No Comments

We Can Help You With That

We can help you with that.  Help with what?  Your bodies overall functionality.  People say that  “Chiropractors think they can cure anything.”  There is truth and misguided information in this statement.  First, your Chiropractor should be teaching you why and how they can help the body.  Second, the word cure is thrown around way to loosely and should not be used in chiropractic care. Understand the major premise to understand your Chiropractors thought process.

The Major Premise

Scientifically we understand that the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the central nerve system (CNS) regulates, controls, and even made every system and part of you. When a nerve exiting out of the spinal column has stress placed on it, immediately the nerve deviates off of normal tone. The organs, cells, and tissues that the nerve supplies will as a result begin to become hyper or hypo, thus damaging the body.  This “major premise” is not just recognized by Chiropractors. It is no different than what medical doctors have been taught in basic physiology.  The difference however, begins in treating the damaged organ and addressing the cause which controls, and coordinates the organ to help the body adapt and function properly.

Chiropractic Enables Your Body To Adapt

Chiropractic does not treat, nor cure the body. When a Chiropractor adjusts a specific area that is placing undo stress on a specific nerve the body immediately begins to release adaptive forces. Meaning? You begin to heal yourself. This once again is not a new “made up concept.” People are demanding more natural and effective forms of healthcare. You’d be amazed with what wellness and regular chiropractic care can do to enhance your health and performance. If your lifestyle does not include specific spinal healthcare, your body cannot function efficiently.​ By eliminating stress on the CNS you will have a positive impact on your ability to adapt and function. #getchecked

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Be Wary Of The Man Behind Curtain… The Cover-Up

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Be Wary Of the Man Behind the Curtain… The Cover-Up

Nowadays in our society we are told about cover-ups, patches, and band-aids that manly just do just that…cover up the problem.  The man behind the curtain relates to our so-called “health care” system.  The two truths that will always remain the same in our lives are time and health.  Unfortunately these truths can become blurred with false promises from the man behind the curtain, or our health care system.  The only way for our patients to clarify what time and health mean to them personally, is to go back to the fundamental truths.

The Truth

Health was created by you!  The very first entity that was developed and created was brain cellular tissue.  Then the brain was BORN!  Boom!  Next, the brain made a body, and it accomplished this development and creation via a “construction” highway called your spinal cord.  Collectively, the brain and spinal column is deemed your central nerve system.  You were born healthy.  “Look to the spine for the cause of disease,” -Hippocrates.  Taking care of your spine via spinal check-ups is advertently taking care of your health.

The Man Behind The Curtain

The man behind the curtain is the taste of things that “muddy the waters”.  What do we mean by this?  In our society the man behind the curtain will get you to believe that time and health are easily bought.  Fundamental truth number 1: You live your life through your central nerve system.  Every human experience you have is processed, coordinated, controlled, and CREATED by your Central Nerve System.  If you neglect your spinal hygiene, then any other therapy, pill, lotion, potion or external stimulant will be lesser or produce no benefit whatsoever.  Biased?  No.  Just the truth.  This is not a law that we make up, this is nature’s law.  Don’t get caught up in what the man behind the curtain says…listen to your body’s innate intelligence.

Get To Work

Time and health cannot be bought.  The super groin stretch that fixes your spine, the super diet pill, the 5 minute exercise burn that eliminates 20 pounds… it does not work.  We are not truth-seekers or whistle blowers.  Just use your mind and THINK.  We understand that we were born to be healthy and health is created from the inside out and from the top down.  Taking care of the fundamental truth will give you the best time that you have on this earth while providing the health to have the time.

chiropractic is addictive

Myth: Chiropractic Is Addictive.

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Myth:  Chiropractic Is Addictive

You have probably heard people say that once you start seeing a chiropractor you have to keep coming back. Or that chiropractic is addictive.  While these statements are not factual, they do have some merit when in the proper context. When you understand how the body operates and was designed, being healthy becomes simple.

Being Healthy Is Addictive

Chiropractic is addictive or being healthy is addictive?  One is in the same.  Chiropractic is the study of life and what continues to make man live and be HEALTHY.  So, let’s break chiropractic down into general principles.  Chiropractic does not remove anything from your body (surgery), it does not add anything to your body (pills), it does not perform external interventions (lasers, lotions, potions, etc.).  After eliminating all extraneous “stuff”, chiropractic sounds pretty basic in this day and age of health trends.  Where does the addiction come from?  It comes from choice.

Adapting Is Addictive

When you understand that the human body is designed to adapt and heal itself, health becomes addictive. Why would you want to take, consume, or limit your body from what it actually needs?  Where does adapting come from? It comes from within your body, or it is innately given.  Innate intelligence – the mission of innate intelligence is to maintain the material of the body of a “living thing” in active organization – Chiropractic Text Book.

Living Through The Inside

The inside for this matter is the brain and spinal cord (collectively called the central nerve system, or CNS).  What is the importance of the CNS?  It made every organ, cell, tissue, and material of your body.  Every second the CNS is maintaining your life.  When the CNS has stress placed on it, the body begins to mal-adapt and become dysfunctional.  Regular check-ups via your chiropractor ensure that you have proper connection flowing through your CNS.  A healthy lifestyle begins from taking care of your CNS.  Being healthy is addictive.


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4.5 Reasons To See A Chiropractor During Your Pregnancy

By | Benefits of Chiropractic, depression, pregnancy, stress | No Comments

4.5 Reasons to See a Chiropractor during Your Pregnancy

4.5 reasons to see a chiropractor during your pregnancy.  Why 4.5?  This is a blog, and literacy standards and protocols go out the window and we are allowed to do whatever we want.  A mom’s body is constantly changing and altering in order to develop a child. Every source of nutrition, function, and coordination to the developing child is sustained and controlled via the mother’s central nerve system and her spinal health.  Healthy spine = Healthy Pregnancy.

1. The Most Notorious = Pain

Low back pain is caused by pelvis dysfunction.  The body is changing and adapting to the new physical stress placed on it.  Most expecting mothers will try to off-set the developing child and create a type of “sway-back” that ultimately creates more problems than it should.  According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) 16/17 women saw clinical improvement from of back pain and relief from discomfort after seeking chiropractic care.

2. Shorter Labor

According to the CCA, 50% of mothers will experience easier labor and delivery with regular chiropractic check-ups.  With regular spinal checkups the pelvis and sacrum can be balanced, creating the environment for an ideal birth.  A balanced pelvis eliminates undue tension to muscles and ligaments which will enhance optimal fetal positioning.

3. Regulating Your Hormones

Relaxin.  One of the “top” hormones that is essential for pregnant mothers is also a hormone that creates constant instability in muscle tissue.  80% of pregnant women did not receive treatment for muscle pain related to pregnancy while under chiropractic care.  Regular spinal checkups can help regulate relaxin levels, resulting in less muscle pain and tension.

4. Supporting Mother’s Health

Healthy living can be over-whelming and daunting for expectant mothers.  With regular check-ups not only are you supporting your physical needs, your emotional needs become elevated as well.  Your overall quality of pregnancy will increase by allowing you to maintain your activity level (motion).  Because life is motion and motion is life.

4.5  The Just In Case

The breech position.  Chiropractors have been trained in and can utilize a specific technique called the Webster’s Technique.   The Webster’s Technique has an 82% success rate in moving babies from breech to cephalic position.  Considering the high rate of cesareans today (plus the unwillingness of more OBs to deliver a breech baby), the Webster technique should be an option for every eligible pregnant woman.  Just in case.