We have probably all experienced a muscle knot at one time or another. The pain can range from dull to sharp. We may ache all the time and feel increased pain when moving. The pain can be in a person’s back, neck, or shoulder. But what is a muscle knot and what natural remedies are available? Let’s consider why we experience muscle knots and what can be done for them without taking pain medication.
Sometimes due to use, overuse, or misuse of a muscle, the fibers constrict and cannot release. This gives us the knot like feeling that we get when we touch the area. If the muscle is large, knots can become as large as a person’s thumb. In a smaller muscle, pinhead sized knots may be nearly undetectable other than the ache that they cause
Sometimes they can be the result of an injury such as whiplash from an automobile accident or a sports accident. At other times, knots may occur after a workout or some other strenuous activity such as lifting heavy boxes while moving. You can also get a muscle knot from sitting or lying in the wrong position for too long. Good posture is a key to avoiding muscle knots.
What are some natural ways to relieve knots in back muscles? Massage is usually the first treatment we turn to for muscle knots. While a professional massage may be pricey, it could be tough to reach the area yourself and a loved one may lack the finger strength to work the knot out. A foam roller may help. They can be rolled over the area up to a dozen times, three times per day until the knot loosens up.
Another natural way to relieve muscle knots in the back or neck is upper cervical chiropractic. Studies have been done which show the effect that upper cervical chiropractic treatments have when pain is caused by an injury such as whiplash. Don’t think that because your knot is in your lower back that upper cervical chiropractic won’t help. When the C1 and C2 vertebrae become misaligned, the effects can be felt all over the body. This is because these vertebrae in the upper neck are right at the base of the skull where the brain stem is. Thus, seeking the help of an upper cervical chiropractic practitioner is a great, drug-free way to treat all sorts of conditions including neck and back pain.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Some small children and babies have low immune system due to which they are more vulnerable to different forms of infections. Otitis Media (OM) mostly occurs in babies who have been ill due to the flu or cold. Viruses and bacteria find a way into the middle ear leading to ear infections. Sometimes mechanical obstructions caused by the structural misalignment inside the ear such as skull, jawbones and cervical spine lead to blockage. In such cases, fluid builds up near the eustachian tube and eardrum providing a place for the microbes to grow and create an infection in the ear.
One of the biggest causes of OM is birth trauma. Babies born with traumatic births or interventions such as vacuum extraction and forceps or by pulling the neck are more at risk of facing cranial or spinal cord injury. Cesarean sections also can put a severe strain on the neck as the baby is pulled from the incision site. In the U.S, alone 35 percent of infants born through C-section suffer from ear infections. Drugs given to the newborn can further aggravate the condition. In 50 percent of the children over 10 months, use of pacifiers or sucking mechanism has been found to be the cause behind such infections. Some research also shows that the overuse of vaccines and medications such as the antibiotics can cause infection in the ear.
To ensure that the ear infections do not occur in the newborn children, doctors suggest chiropractic adjustments. In the upper cervical chiropractic approach, the doctor corrects the interference in the nervous system by adjusting the misalignments of the upper neck. This procedure also has an influence on the jaw, cranial bones and spinal column without using any surgical procedure or drugs.
These corrections also decrease inflammation, muscle tension and increase mobility. Due to this proper flow of blood and drainage of lymph is made possible which is necessary for the smooth functioning of the Eustachian tube and middle ear. According to a study conducted by Dr. Joan Fallon, upper cervical chiropractic mobilizes the process of ear drainage with children and regular draining stops the buildup of fluid which is the main cause of infection. This gives the body time to build antibodies and recover much faster. One study showed that 80 percent of children did not show any further infection after undergoing upper cervical chiropractic adjustments.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Shoulder pain is a terrible thing to have to live with. People never realize how much their shoulders play a role in everyday living until it starts to hurt. Shoulder pain can be caused by many things but the most common causes are overuse or doing activities that are not usually done.
Some individuals when suffering from shoulder pain will go to a medical doctor. Frequently the result of that visit will be sending you home with some sort of over-the-counter or prescription pain or anti-inflammatory medication. Often the pills will help with the pain, but they won’t fix the root of the pain.
An underlying cause of shoulder problems can be related to posture and poor body mechanics as a result of misalignments in the spinal column. If the position of the head is altered as a result of accidents or injuries, the shoulders will frequently be tilted. Sometimes you can see this postural change in the mirror where one shoulder is lower than the other. This postural imbalance can lead to overuse or straining of the shoulder with unusual activity.
Going to an upper cervical chiropractic clinic is an excellent way to seek the underlying cause of your shoulder problems. An upper cervical chiropractor will look for postural imbalances that may be leading to your shoulder dysfunction. Misalignments in the spine can also lead to nerve irritation and nerve related numbness, tingling and pain in the shoulder and arm.
An upper cervical chiropractor is able to correct these underlying postural imbalances without any of the popping, cracking or twisting of the spine common with general chiropractic manipulation. Because the upper cervical approach is non-traumatic to your spine, it leads to maximum recovery for misaligned joints and structures.
Upper Cervical Chiropractors also have a large knowledge of exercises that can help to strengthen the muscles that will support the alignment and help keep it in place. There are many individuals that have felt instantly better after going to an upper cervical chiropractor.
Shoulders are used every day and when they hurt it certainly will get our attention. Injuries rarely happen at a convenient time, but it is important that we respect pain signals. To see the underlying cause, rather than just covering up the symptoms will lead to less problems down the road.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
In the June 2011 edition of the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. Dr. Nimira Alibhoy DC presents the case of a 45-year-old female with a history of two major head traumas and 10 car accidents leading to complaints of an 11 year history of fibromyalgia. The history from the study is quite remarkable:
The patient was a 45-year-old female with Fibromyalgia. Symptoms included migraine headaches, chronic pain in the neck, upper and lower back, numbness in fingers, sciatica, right knee pain, depression, and duodenal ulcer.
She sustained a traumatic injury from diving head first into a shallow pool at the age of 15. The patient was then in 10 car accidents over 25 years.
She was later diagnosed with fibromyalgia by her medical doctor. Five years after the diagnosis, she had another traumatic head injury, when she fell head first down a flight of stairs. This increased her sciatica, neck, and back pain.
The patient had been to five general chiropractors over 12 years, who provided temporary relief of her Fibromyalgia symptoms. She was in chronic pain and suffered from depression. She was given Vicodin, Flexeril, or Soma at different times for her pain and soft tissue injuries. Her activity levels were limited in that she could not use stairs, swim, or walk further than 20 feet. She used a wheelchair as it helped her complete her daily routine and limit her tiredness.
A history of head or neck trauma should always be investigated by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor trained in the detection and correction of the Atlas Subluxation Complex (A misalignment of the top bone in the neck). This misalignment causes brain stem dysfunction which can lead to all sorts of changes in the way that all the body systems work. Specifically important in patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia is the brain stem connection to the immune system, circulatory system, respiratory system and digestive system. Along with the connection of the brain stem with the postural muscles up and down the spinal column.
Here is the results for the patient in the study who was able to get the proper upper cervical chiropractic care needed to correct the underlying Brain Stem Subluxation.
Within six months of the first upper cervical correction, the patient revealed that she no longer needed wheelchair assistance. At the first re-evaluation, she reported that her fibromyalgia and left leg sciatica had resolved. She was able to move and perform basic daily functions and sleep in any position. She was feeling more relaxed and had more energy throughout the day. She stated that the sciatica in her right leg improved by 60% and was no longer on any medications.
At second re-evaluation, she stated that her chronic back pain and headaches had resolved. She only continued to have minor right sciatica. By the fifth re-evaluation, 6 months into care, her knee tenderness had also resolved. Her sciatica on the right had 98% improvement. She stated she was able to perform house and yard work. She was also able to swim, walk distances, and stand for long periods of time without taking Tylenol or Advil. The only complaint she had at this point was right hip pain.
Have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?
Do you have a history of head or neck traumas? Car Accidents? Falls? Other Head Injuries?
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
A fairly common problem for infants is acid reflux. This can make it difficult for the baby to keep down any amount of food. It can also result in a lot of crying and sleepless nights. What is the primary cause of this condition? Can upper cervical chiropractic help babies that are suffering from acid reflux? Read on to learn more.
Acid reflux in infants seems to be connected with some form of birth trauma that results in an injury to the upper neck. These upper neck injuries can be caused by anything from a breech birth to extended labor. These injuries are frequently the root cause of the acid reflux.
Unfortunately, once most doctors make a diagnosis of acid reflux, they immediately start offering drugs such as Prilosec, Zantac, or Prevacid to treat the symptom rather than the problem that is causing it.
How does upper cervical chiropractic provide a safe and drug-free alternative?
Since the ultimate issue is frequently an injury to the two uppermost vertebrae at the base of the brain, using gentle upper cervical chiropractic procedures can provide natural relief for the condition. Studies on a number of infants have shown the benefits that come from upper cervical chiropractic care, especially when the baby suffers from acid reflux.
Dr Erin Elster has done some incredible research in the upper neck area. In one case series, she evaluated nine babies from 3 weeks to 11 months of age all who had been diagnosed with acid reflux by their pediatrician.
All 9 children were found to have an upper neck misalignment. All 9 children had their upper neck misalignments corrected with upper cervical chiropractic care. The care programs took between two and eight weeks and in all 9 cases symptoms resolved by 100%, and all medications were discontinued.
Don't just treat the symptom, treat the cause. Upper cervical chiropractic can help to alleviate your child's acid reflux symptoms permanently by repairing the injury that is causing it in the first place.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Do you suffer from a temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ? If so, you may suffer from jaw pain when you chew, smile, or even speak. Can upper cervical chiropractic care help you? The answer is yes. In order to understand why, it helps to know a little bit about what causes TMJ and what upper cervical chiropractic can do for you. Read on to learn more.
While TMJ can have numerous causes, the most common is some kind of trauma to the jaw itself or to the upper neck. This is because an injury in the upper neck area (the two uppermost vertebrae that are right at the base of the brain) can put pressure on the trigeminal nerve and also affect posture. When this nerve suffers damage various temporomandibular joint disorders can result.
This helps to explain the connection between upper cervical chiropractic and drug free, natural relief from TMJ. Fixing the upper neck issue can result in relief of the pressure that is on the trigeminal nerve and underlying postural problems. Once this pressure is relieved, this can improve many TMJ symptoms and other conditions.
If you suffer from TMJ and are searching for natural relief, upper cervical chiropractic is a good place to look. An upper cervical chiropractor can do more than just help your posture. These two uppermost neck bones being aligned properly can relieve TMJ symptoms, headaches, and many other related conditions. Why not have a upper cervical specialist check out your neck to see if you could benefit from this specific and gentle type of chiropractic care.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
