Every upper cervical chiropractor based in Redwood City or anywhere else surely has been asked about this question for so many times. Is it safe or dangerous to crack your neck and back by yourself?
People who do this may argue that cracking their neck or popping a spot in their back brings them a feeling of relief. However, self-manipulation can be dangerous if done on your own.
Self-manipulation is the practice of cracking or popping your neck or back to relieve the pain you are feeling. It is dangerous for a couple of reasons:
Studies show that something as simple as cracking your neck can increase your risk of health complications, such as having a stroke. When you regularly crack your neck, you may tear one of the arteries in your neck. This can result in blood clots in your arteries, blocking the blood supply to your brain. Called cervical artery dissection, this condition is a common cause of stroke. This is what exactly happened to a man in Oklahoma.
Whenever you crack your neck, you are stretching the ligaments around your joints. This may permanently stretch or damage your ligaments, putting you at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. It is the disorder where the cartilage surrounding the bones and joints wear down. Therefore, it can also limit the mobility of your neck. As a result, you may find it extremely difficult to turn your head or even make movements.
Since the spine is a critical structure, you would want to be careful with yours. Only have your back or neck adjusted from a licensed chiropractor who has comprehensive training on spinal adjustments. Or better yet, seek the care of chiropractors who do not resort to cracking or popping of the neck and back. They are none other than upper cervical chiropractors who only adjust the C1 and C2 vertebrae of the neck.
Schedule an appointment and visit us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, so we can help you get relief without cracking your back or neck.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 or you can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com
I’m an experienced chiropractic doctor for back pain based in Redwood City. And I’ve come across many patients dealing with muscle knots. They usually complain of pain of varying intensities, ranging from dull to sharp.
But why do these knots happen? Is there a form of care that could get rid of them when they happen in the neck or back? These are questions that this article aims to answer.
When muscle fibers stay tight and contracted, knots form. They usually occur when muscles are overused or incorrectly utilized for an extended period. The tightened tissues feel like knots under the skin, hence the term.
Several factors lead to muscle knots, including sports injuries, accidents, or even a bad fall. Sleeping the wrong way and poor posture can cause discomfort because the body is being held in an unnatural position for long periods of time.
One way to avoid having knots develop is by using proper posture, especially when lifting heavy objects. Another way is by avoiding a seated position for a prolonged period of time.
Another possible cause for muscle knots is a misalignment in the top bone in the neck, also known as the atlas. An atlas misalignment can cause muscles the tighten and shift to adapt to the problem. When this happens, pain develops in the back, neck, and shoulders.
As a chiropractic doctor for back pain based in Redwood City, I would recommend upper cervical chiropractic care. It is a practice I use here at my clinic, Advanced Spinal Care. I use gentle, precise methods to bring the atlas back into alignment. For more information on what upper cervical chiropractic care can do for you, contact my clinic for a complimentary consultation. You can also call me at (650) 595-0500.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 or you can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com
If you are looking for neck pain relief in Redwood City, CA, we’re here to help. Neck pain is a common complaint in today’s world. Stress, technology, and our jobs can cause our neck pain. People manage stress differently. While our minds carry our mental and emotional stress, our bodies do, too. We “store” our stress in spots such as our neck.
One doctor breaks down where people store their stress.
When we store up our stress, it often causes tension that leads to pain, headaches, and other distressing symptoms. The impact gets worse when an upper cervical misalignment is present. Why is that so?
When the uppermost bones of the spine — the atlas and axis — get out of alignment, it makes the rest of the spine shift to compensate for the imbalance of the head. Furthermore, it causes changes in soft tissue and pressure on the various nerves, leading to pain that radiates in the back, shoulders, and even the face.
Some people are skeptical about going to a general chiropractor as they are scared of the popping and twisting of the spine that often happens during general chiropractic adjustments. But this is not the case with upper cervical chiropractors. What makes upper cervical chiropractic different from traditional chiropractic?
If you want to experience these benefits and see for yourself if upper cervical chiropractic care is the best treatment option for your neck pain, schedule a consultation with Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California today!
We all have endured neck pain at some point in our lives. Neck pain is not only a painful physical burden but also a sure way to mess up your mood and ruin your day. Neck pain can range from a little soreness that resolves itself shortly to a powerful pain accompanied by pins and needles that makes even moving your head impossible to do. Some severe cases of neck pain include additional symptoms:
If you’re suffering from neck pain, relief is likely your number one wish. Fortunately, comfort does not have to be just a dream as there are several neck pain treatment options out there. Neck pain patients can resort to medications such as over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Massage therapies, surgeries, or interventions may also work. The bottom line is that while most known treatment methods provide relief, they all fail in addressing the underlying cause of neck pain.
Neck pain accounts for many of the cases we have successfully handled at Advanced Spinal Care. Upper cervical chiropractic care specializes in healing neck pain and injuries and focuses on addressing the root cause of your neck pain, rather than just chasing around symptoms.
The atlas is the uppermost vertebra in the spine and is responsible for most of your head’s movement. Because it’s freely moveable, it is susceptible to misalignment. When the atlas gets skewed from its normal position, it generates issues throughout the neck and the rest of the spine such as inflammation and muscle strain.
If you are suffering from chronic neck pain, then an atlas misalignment may be the culprit. Our gentle and accurate adjustments will help to restore normal alignment. Once the vertebrae in your neck can move properly, then pain and discomfort will be reduced, and in most of our patients, even eliminated. Reach out to us and let us help you address the root cause of your neck pain naturally.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/basics/definition/con-20028772
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Dealing with a sore neck is not just a bother but can also affect your performance at work, your focus in your personal life, and the daily activities you usually enjoy. If waking up with neck soreness becomes a regular pattern, it can lead you to become irritable and more and more desperate to find a solution.
Getting relief for your neck pain is a necessary for your all-around quality of life. Finding out why it is happening can help resolve more than just your pain. It can increase the quality of your life, since pain is an indicator of something gone wrong. There are a number of possible reasons for your neck pain, which have been listed below.
Consider whether you have experienced some kind of head or neck injury in the past, or if you have exposed your neck to repetitive awkward movements such as from your sleep position or holding a phone between your ear and your shoulder. All of these can eventually lead to some changes in your spinal alignment. If the problem is the result of an injury, it may have happened many years in the past, but the problem took time to develop in severity. It is not uncommon for old injuries to resurface after years of being untended.
No matter what your history, if the underlying problem is due to a misalignment of the cervical spine, immediate relief could be only one upper cervical chiropractic visit away. The reason for this is that when the vertebrae in this area shift from their proper position, it places stress on the brainstem and interrupts communication between the brain and body.
Th good news is that here at Advanced Spinal Care, we specialize in the knowledge and methods necessary to restore this type of alignment and get you back to living life free of neck pain. We invite you to call us for a free consultation to see how we can best meet your specific needs.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is so prevalent that it would be difficult to find someone who has not had some kind of neck discomfort at some point. For many people, neck pain is just something that they cope with since it is a normal and constant part of life. Neck pain could feel like a continuous dull ache or like a paralyzing, sharp pain that suddenly spikes due to certain movements. In cases that are particularly severe or have been happening for a long period of time, here is a list of several other symptoms a person may suffer from as well:
Obviously, finding a solution for their neck pain is a high priority for those suffering with it. For most people, they find their relief in a bottle of medicine, such as anti-inflammatories or pain relievers. Other options are certain therapies, surgeries, or interventions. The problem with the most commonly recommended treatments is that they only deal with the symptoms instead of addressing the underlying cause.
Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in the area of neck injuries, and it is one of the top complaints we handle with patients at our offices at Advanced Spinal Care. We see so much success with our neck pain treatments because our focus is on tending to the root of the problem instead of short-term relief of the symptoms. The uppermost vertebra in the spine, the atlas (C1), is unique because it is the most freely moveable bone in the entire spine. Unfortunately, this special attribute makes it more susceptible to misalignment. If there is a shift out of alignment for the atlas from its normal position, it can result in problems throughout the neck and rest of the spine, like muscle spasms and inflammation.
If you have a neck injury resulting from something as minor as a fender bender or your job requires you to sit at a computer all day, the ongoing neck pain could be the result of an atlas misalignment. When you come to our office, we will do a thorough examination to identify whether this is the case of you. If it is, we will apply a gentle, precise adjustment to restore your normal alignment. When the vertebrae in your neck are able to move properly, then pain and discomfort will decrease. If you have tried everything and have experienced only temporary relief, then give us a call.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/basics/definition/con-20028772
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain will affect nearly every person at some point in their life. The different kinds of neck pain range from a dull ache to sharp, shooting pain that radiates down the arms and into the hands. There are a few common causes of neck pain:
No matter the reason for the neck pain, treating the symptoms of the problem will only provide short-term relief. Searching for treatment that focuses on the root cause of the neck pain is necessary for any kind of long-term solution to occur.
Sometimes, relief from neck pain can come from something as simple as a hot shower or a massage. However, when the neck pain is constant, or persistently returns every few days or weeks despite resolving for short spells of time, it becomes more urgent to find a lasting solution. The neck is made up of 7 vertebrae. Many of them move and behave the same way, except for the top two. These two are the atlas and axis, which are designed to move uniquely from the rest because their purpose is to give the head most of its range of motion. Due to the vast mobility of these vertebrae compared to the rest of the bones along the spine, they are more susceptible to misalignment.
Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on the position of the atlas and axis and how they may be impacting the rest of the neck and spine’s overall health and alignment. Any time the atlas misaligns, it causes dysfunction in the natural alignment of the spine as all the vertebrae beneath it must compensate for the incorrect position of the bones above. As a result, the muscles strain, degeneration in the discs can begin, and a loss in the range of motion can happen. Fixing the atlas misalignment using gentle, specific upper cervical adjustments relieves the vertebrae below of unnecessary pressure. This will also allow the nerves in that area to be restored to their optimal function and health. As the body heals, neck and back pain can be resolved.
Reference:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/basics/definition/con-20028772
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is a common complaint around the globe. It is possible that your neck pain is coming from an ever increasing epidemic called text neck. This is due to the abundant usage of mobile devices in today’s busy world. This is where the term, text neck, comes from. Text neck is referring to neck pain coming from the regular use of a tablet, smartphone, or similar device. Why does this lead to neck pain?
For one thing, the human head can weigh as much as 12 to 14 pounds, which is no problem if you are keeping your head upright. However, if you tip your head forward just a few degrees, the neck becomes stressed. Even if you have your head at a 15-degree angle, 27 pounds of pressure is put on the neck. If the head angle is more severe, you could have 60 pounds of pressure applied on the neck. When you put this into perspective, you realize that when you bend your head forward to look at your phone, your neck takes the brunt of the problem.
However, neck pain is not the only problem that comes from text neck. The lungs can also be compromised. Lung capacity can be reduced by as much as 30 percent. Other health problems can include headaches and back pain. Neck misalignments often are the end result of text neck.
If you have a misaligned C1 or C2 vertebra, you may be experiencing neck pain because of it. Upper cervical chiropractors have been specifically trained to find these small misalignments and then work at correcting them. We use a gentle method to encourage the bones to move back into place on their own. Once corrected, if any soft tissues have been damaged, they can begin to heal. The same holds true for nerves. Neck pain often improves after an adjustment.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is not pleasant, and it does matter which position you sleep in to keep your neck in proper alignment. If you are seeking the care of an upper cervical chiropractor for neck pain, you want to ensure your recent adjustment stays in place as long as absolutely possible. If you sleep in the wrong position, you may throw off your adjustment. This is particularly true if it is a couple of days after your initial adjustment when your muscles are healing. Continue reading below to see the best and the worst ways to sleep. If you have not had a chiropractic adjustment yet, this information still applies to you. We all need to take care of our necks while we are sleeping.
Waking up with a stiff neck usually causes you to wonder if you “got up on the wrong side of the bed” or “slept wrong” somehow. While we have to sleep at night, we must remember there is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to back and neck health.
Waking up with a stiff neck may mean it is time to visit us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California. We can make sure you are not suffering from a misalignment, and if you are, we can work to correct it.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
It seems as if almost everyone has had some experience with neck pain at one time or another. It might be from the way you slept the night before, the aging process, overusing your muscles, or an accident of some sort. No matter the cause, the end result is often pain and stiffness. So, is it a good idea to apply heat or ice to the sore area?
Ice: This is a good place to start. Ice is recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours. New injuries tend to be hot and swollen. Icing can help reduce the pain from the body’s natural response to injury: inflammation. Icing the area helps calm the tissues down. This is vital in the first stage of the healing process.
Heat: Heat is the next step in the process. It is good for relieving chronic muscle aches and stiffness. This is also appropriate if you have had a long day at work, and your neck muscles feel sore and achy. Heat can bring some well-needed relief.
Both heat and ice can play a vital role in your recovery. However, you may get to the point of needing professional help. If heat and ice do not give you the relief you need, you may consider visiting us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California.
The neck is made up of seven vertebrae surrounded by ligaments, muscles, and tendons to stabilize and move the neck. Any of these can become irritated and inflamed. The atlas bone -- the top bone of the spine -- is the most freely moveable bone of the spine, allowing the head to move in various directions. The atlas also protects the delicate brainstem. If it becomes misaligned due to some type of head or neck trauma, neck pain can result.
We use a gentle method to help the atlas bone realign more naturally than using force to pop or crack the neck or spine. This technique encourages the bone to move back into place, often leading to relief for those suffering from neck pain.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
