When they’re in alignment, your body functions at its best, supporting everything from balance and posture to pain-free movement. 

However, misalignments in this critical area can lead to discomfort, reduced mobility, and even impact your overall health. 

Chiropractic care offers a natural and effective solution to restore alignment and promote optimal well-being.

Let’s explore why head, neck, and spinal alignment matters and how chiropractic care can help.

1. The Importance of Alignment for Nerve Health

The spinal column protects the central nervous system, which controls your body’s functions. 

Misalignments in the head, neck, or spine can compress nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and body. This can lead to symptoms like pain, numbness, and poor coordination. 

Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment, relieving pressure on nerves and improving nerve function.

Take a few moments to sit or stand upright, focusing on a neutral head position to relieve tension on your neck and spine.

2. Reducing Pain and Discomfort

Misalignment in the head, neck, and spine often causes headaches, neck pain, and back pain. Poor posture, stress, or injury can strain muscles and joints, leading to chronic discomfort. 

Chiropractic care targets the root cause of pain by correcting misalignments providing lasting relief without medication.

Spend 5 minutes stretching your neck gently to alleviate tension and improve flexibility.

3. Enhancing Posture and Balance

Good posture depends on proper head, neck, and spine alignment. Misalignments can throw off your posture, leading to muscle imbalances and increased strain on joints. 

Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine, improving posture and balance, which reduces the risk of injury and chronic pain.

Check your posture in the mirror and adjust to keep your head aligned over your shoulders for better spinal support.

4. Supporting Overall Health

The head, neck, and spine are interconnected with many vital systems in the body, including circulation, digestion, and respiration. 

Misalignments can interfere with these systems, leading to issues like poor digestion or reduced lung capacity. 

Chiropractic care helps restore alignment, promoting better overall health and function.

Pair chiropractic care with regular exercise and hydration to support your body’s natural alignment and health.

5. Preventing Future Misalignments

Routine chiropractic care not only corrects existing misalignments but also helps prevent future ones. 

Regular adjustments maintain the balance and integrity of the head, neck, and spine, reducing the likelihood of recurring pain and mobility issues.

Schedule regular chiropractic visits to stay proactive in maintaining proper alignment.

Aligning the head, neck, and spine is essential for overall health and wellness. 

Chiropractic care offers a safe, effective way to restore balance, relieve pain, and enhance your body’s natural function. 

Whether you’re experiencing discomfort or simply want to prevent future issues, chiropractic adjustments can significantly affect your well-being.

Call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 to schedule your chiropractic consultation and experience the benefits of proper alignment.

The post Aligning the Head, Neck, and Spine: Why It Matters first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Back adjustments involve the manipulation of the spine to improve mobility and reduce pain.

Today, we will discuss 5 reasons you should consider a back adjustment to increase comfort and mobility. Back adjustment:

1. Alleviates Back Pain: One of the most immediate benefits of back adjustments is the relief from chronic or acute back pain. By realigning the spine, adjustments can reduce pressure on nerves and muscles.

2. Improves Range of Motion: Regular adjustments can enhance flexibility and mobility, allowing for a more active and healthy lifestyle.

3. Boosts Overall Health: Back adjustments can have a positive impact on the nervous system, which is linked to various bodily functions. This means improvements in health far beyond just the spine.

4. Reduces Dependence on Medication: By addressing the root cause of pain, chiropractic care can reduce the need for pain medication and its potential side effects.

5. Enhances Posture: Ongoing chiropractic care can correct poor posture, a common issue in today’s digital world, leading to a range of benefits, including improved appearance and reduced strain on the body.

What Gets Adjusted

A back adjustment specifically targets the vertebrae of the spine.

The goal is to realign any vertebrae that have moved out of place, referred to as a subluxation, which can influence nerves and compromise the spine’s ability to transmit nerve signals efficiently.

The Mechanics of Pain Alleviation

Adjusting the back alleviates pain by restoring proper spine alignment, easing muscle tension, and improving blood flow. This relieves pressure on the nerves and promotes a more efficient healing process for the body.

How Long Does Relief Last?

The duration of pain relief from a back adjustment varies greatly among individuals.

Some experience immediate relief, while others notice improvements over time with regular adjustments. The longevity of relief can depend on several factors, including the nature of the back issue, lifestyle, and adherence to the chiropractor’s recommendations.

Frequency of Adjustments

The optimal frequency for back adjustments is highly individualized. It can range from multiple sessions weekly to once a month or even less frequently, based on the patient’s condition, response to treatment, and the chiropractor’s assessment.

A tailored plan is usually developed after an initial evaluation.

Potential for Harm

While back adjustments are safe for most people, there are circumstances where they may be avoided.

Individuals with certain conditions, such as osteoporosis, spinal cancer, or an increased risk of stroke, may be advised against adjustments. A thorough examination and patient history should precede any chiropractic treatment to minimize risks.

Back adjustments offer a pathway to improved health and well-being, addressing not only the symptoms but also the causes of discomfort and immobility.

However, like any medical treatment, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we believe in providing personalized care plans that are safe, effective, and tailored to meet your specific health needs.

Whether you are new to chiropractic care or seeking to continue your journey toward optimal health, we encourage you to get in touch with us to schedule a consultation.

We offer complimentary consultations for all new patients, and our goal is to help you unlock the full potential of your body’s natural healing abilities.

The post The Top 5 Reasons to Consider Chiropractic Back Adjustments first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Intersegmental traction therapy is one of our restorative treatments. It promotes healing as it gently relieves pain and improves the body’s range of motion.

What is Intersegmental Traction Therapy?

This type of traction therapy is used by chiropractors to stimulate additional healing in the spine.

The treatment employs a special table with rollers, which move gently up and down the patient’s back. It uses passive motion to stretch spinal joints and muscles, improving the alignment of the vertebrae. The process increases blood and oxygen circulation to the spine’s muscles, ligaments and discs.

Why Your Chiropractor May Recommend Traction Therapy

People with various types of pain and spinal disc problems can benefit from traction therapy. Patients often suffer from painful muscle spasms caused by fatigue, poor posture or injuries.

Your chiropractor will determine whether this therapy is appropriate for you, based on a full examination and on your medical history.

The gentle motion of the roller table relaxes tense muscles and provides relief to a range of conditions, such as:

• Lower back pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Stiff or sore neck
• Weakness or numbness in the back
• Joint pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Benefits of Traction Therapy

By stretching muscles around the spinal discs, use of the traction table decreases the pressure on your discs, providing benefits that include:

• Relaxation of muscles to help relieve pain, stiffness and muscle spasms
• Restored mobility, flexibility and range of motion to the spine
• Improved stability of the spine
• Better strength and balance
• Faster healing and recovery from back injuries
• Better disc hydration through improved circulation that supplies nutrients to discs
• Less swelling, as motion of the spinal joints helps to reduce fluid buildup from injuries
• Increased function of spinal joints
• Overall feelings of wellbeing from the traction experience

What to Expect at Your Intersegmental Traction Therapy Session

As your session begins, you’ll relax face up on the roller table. Rollers travel slowly up and down your back, gently moving each segment of your spine to restore movement and function. The rollers manipulate each vertebra, moving from your neck down to the base of your spine. The effect is reduced pressure on discs, nerves and tissues and improvement in blood flow to the area.

Treatments typically take 5-15 minutes, and patients often find them quite relaxing.

The traction table has many settings that can be adjusted to the most comfortable pressure for each patient, as well as for different body types, including children.

As a highly-trained spine specialist, your chiropractor puts together a treatment plan uniquely customized for you, with another important benefit: it’s noninvasive–no medication or surgery needed.

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation at Our Broken Arrow Office 

Our mission at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic is to help you feel great and live pain-free. Give us a call today at 918-940-4630.

The post The Benefits of Intersegmental Traction Therapy in Your Chiropractic Care first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Why an Aligned Spine is Essential

Misalignments happen when parts of the spine move out of their natural position.

Signals from brain to body sent through your nervous system require a correctly aligned spine. Because the nervous system enables your immune system to work properly, good spinal alignment helps you to stay healthy.

Good alignment also reduces strain on the ligaments that hold your spinal joints together, protecting your musculoskeletal system.

How Your Spine Can Lose Alignment

A sedentary lifestyle can create misalignments, weakening the muscles that support your spine and worsening posture. Sometimes, the cause is degenerative disease, such as arthritis. Additionally, common life mishaps—falls, repetitive and sports injuries, accidents, and emotional stress–contribute to misalignments.

Damage Caused by Misalignments

Spinal misalignments are common. The resulting wear and tear on the body and disruption of the central nervous system may lead to increased risks for a variety of problems, such as:

• Compressed and irritated nerves
• Back pain and sciatica
• Increased stress
• Poor sleep quality
• High blood pressure
• Reduced range of motion and mobility
• Poor circulation
• Joint, nerve and muscle damage
• Reduced immunity
• Breaks and deformities in joints and bones
• Chronic pain

Signs that May Indicate Spinal Misalignment

• Joint stiffness
• Pain in neck, hip, lower back or knee
• One leg longer, or one shoe more worn down, than the other
• Limited range of motion in the neck
• One shoulder, hip, knee, or ankle lower than the other
• Fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Chronic illness
• Numbness in feet or hands
• Trigger points (painful muscle areas)

Chiropractic Care Aligns Your Spine

Your chiropractor is trained to diagnose misalignment in your spinal joints and provide treatments such as spinal adjustments to restore the correct position. This helps to resolve pain, inflammation, and muscle strain.

Other benefits include improved mobility and better sleep, which promotes healing and lowers stress. Your chiropractor can also offer wellness advice, such as counseling about exercises and nutrition.

And, importantly, the wellness benefits of your chiropractic sessions come noninvasively, without the risks of medications or surgery.

Keeping Your Spine in Line

All the daily stresses of life cause your muscles to tighten up, making you more prone to injury and spinal misalignments. Activities that promote good posture and mobility will improve your overall function and reduce pain.

Get regular exercise, stretch, take walks, don’t sleep on your stomach, avoid prolonged sitting, and add lumbar support to your chair when you must sit.

Activities such as yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, and Pilates are beneficial. These help to relax muscles, slow down your movements, and improve concentration, balance, and flexibility.

Keeping your body well-tuned between your chiropractic visits helps you maintain the alignment you’ve achieved, so you can enjoy a lifetime of good spinal health.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic Today

Call us at 918-940-4630 to schedule a complimentary consultation with our supportive team in Broken Arrow.

The post Is Your Spine Misaligned? What to Know about Symptoms and Treatments first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Dr. D.D. Palmer administered the first Chiropractic adjustment to a deaf janitor in Davenport, Iowa, leading to the restoration of his hearing. A flu pandemic occurred in 1918 which killed millions of people all over the world in a short period of time. Over a half million Americans died from the flu during that three-year time period. Statistics reveal that those who received spinal adjustive care during the flu pandemic experienced 1/40th the death rate compared to those who did not receive spinal adjustments.

A judge from North Dakota evaluated and witnessed a group of institutionalized adults in 1935 before and after they had received Chiropractic care. Judge Ponath of North Dakota determined that a specific group of men were clinically insane and ordered them to be institutionalized. After undergoing long term Chiropractic care, they were ordered to be re-evaluated by the same judge. Ponath determined that every single man no longer met the threshold for institutionalization as determined by the same standards initially leading to their incarceration.

Gandhi knows…..

Mahatma Gandhi suffered from high blood pressure in 1942. The wise people of his village advised that a Chiropractor come live with him for three months. Gandhi experienced regular checkups and adjustments over those three months. Professionals determined that he no longer suffered from blood pressure problems at the end of the regimen.

More and more are utilizing chiropractic

These historically notable testimonies highlight a tiny fraction of power and influence of Chiropractic on millions of people in world history. Millions more people enter Chiropractic clinics all over the world today. Most of these people get their spine adjusted and begin to experience health benefits seemingly unrelated to the spine. Yet science explains the connection between the results in these historical stories and the adjustments that promote long term health in the spine and nervous system. The answer begins in the brain.

The brain-body connection

Update research once again validates the assertion that Chiropractic adjustments influence the brain and central nervous system. A 2019 study involved adjusting a group of people to measure the influence triggered on the muscles and soft tissues around the elbow. The targeted muscle groups achieved greater strength and electrical drive into the muscle in the subjects receiving adjustments compared to the subjects who did not. These results compound additional research over the last twelve years indicating that adjustments to the spine impact the influence of the brain throughout the entire body.

Better technology allows for more scientific data to be collected which simply supports result-based evidence that began with D.D. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa, over 125 years ago. The spine houses the world’s most sophisticated super-computer. When freed from impingement and immobility, evidence, science, data, and research prove that the brain possesses the power to heal, restore, and maximize functional capacity within the body. Every man, woman, and child deserve to experience the power of Chiropractic.

The post New Research Continues to Assert the Brain Power UNLOCKED through Chiropractic first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

The head and neck design allow for flexion and regular forward leaning. The challenge and consequences begin to occur when they maintain flexed or forward head posture positions for long, consistent periods of time. Cell phones, computers, desk jobs, and more sedentary living contribute to the growing number of people suffering from forward head posture.  Chronic abuse leads to  syndromes and other detrimental health consequences.

Our activities have changed

The average person spends 2 to 4 hours a day with their head tilted forward for reading and texting on their smart phones. This amounts to 700-1400 hours of excess, abnormal cervical spine stress per year. 86% of American workers sit all day at their job in addition to time spent sitting on the couch after work watching television, reading, playing games or surfing the internet. Sedentary seating adds up to approximately 13 hours per day for the average person.

Sitting is the new smoking

Sitting for long periods of time takes a toll on the body. Head posture in comparison to the neck and shoulders influences so many other aspects of health and performance. Forward head flexion for long periods of time negatively impacts whole body function. A study published in 2017 showed that forward head posture caused changes in the lungs, respiratory function, and neck muscles due to the strain placed on delicate structures in the head and neck. Significant correlations were found between forward head posture, lung volume, forced expiration, and neck muscle balance. As forward head deviation got worse, the lung and neck muscle findings and measurements also got worse. Authors concluded that forward head posture lowered respiratory functions and concluded with the need for maintenance of correct head posture to prevent restrictions and long-term health degeneration.

Improvement is possible!!

Chiropractic care represents one of the most utilized healthcare interventions to help patients improve their posture, head position, and spinal health. Three proactive tips to improve posture, reduce the risk of forward head flexion, and improve overall health and well-being include:

1. Pursue regular Chiropractic care.

2. Utilize proper sitting ergonomics to ensure technology and office tasks be done with the head and neck at eye level.

3. Take regular breaks every hour to keep the spine and body moving.

Chiropractors take pride in educating their patients on the dangers of prolonged sitting and forward head syndrome while providing unique care which minimizes the risk of poor spinal and postural health. The best health care plan involves a proactive approach to prevent disease and damage which hinders the body’s function and performance. Choose Chiropractic.

The post Poor Spine and Posture Health Linked to Breathing Deficiencies and Neck Muscle Imbalances first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

The bones and joints of the spine exist to move while protecting the spinal cord. Regular spinal adjustments reduce the slow, steady degenerative changes which occur in the spine with age. Movement helps create a strong, well-functioning relationship within a joint. The spine consists of close to 40% of the joints found in the entire body. Chiropractic care ensures that every joint is aligned and moving optimally.

Specific nerve firing triggers into the brain and central nervous system when a spinal vertebra loses normal positioning and mobility. The body responds by experiencing stress in areas of the body specific to the parts of the spine being affected. The spinal joint becomes compromised while the brain experiences neurological interference and deficit. Research shows that degenerative changes begin occurring within hours and days of a vertebra losing the ability to move properly.

A direct relationship exists between immobile joints and escalated wear. A study which used animals as subjects recorded an increase in scar tissue around areas of immobility in the spine. The scar tissue created adhesions that reduced mobility even further. The deterioration eventually reached a period of time when bony changes began to take form. The onset of irreversible damage due to immobility occurred in as little as four to eight weeks. Appropriate assessment and regular movement proved critical to avoiding the degenerative process.

Chiropractic adjustments help reduce degeneration and improve mobility by creating motion in fixated bones of the spine (called subluxations). Regular adjustments and movement in these subluxations re-establish mobility and gently breaking up adhesions. Every individual maintains a unique threshold for adhesion formation and permanent degenerative change. The study highlights the need for regular assessment of spinal joints to address any fixated vertebra.

Subluxations and immobility in the spine lasting longer than four to eight weeks run a higher risk of permanent degenerative change. Implementing a health care plan that involves regular Chiropractic adjustments ensure the long-term health of the spine and body. Waiting for pain and discomfort to form in joints tends to signal advanced stages which cannot be fully restored. Chiropractors recommend proactive care of the spine and nervous system to ensure long term health, mobility, and quality of life for the whole family.

The post Adjustments Improve Mobility and Minimize the Degenerative Process first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Many unwanted symptoms people experience exhibit a direct and indirect connection to the spine. Current medical research provides a thorough explanation for how a Chiropractic adjustment influences many aspects of human health and performance. The process begins with the brain. An intimate connection exists between the health of the spine and the function of the brain. Spinal mobility and alignment contribute to the function of nerve signals into and out of the brain. The brain directs all function of the body and altered spinal health leads to a change in brain function. The overall impact radiates throughout the body.

Doctors debated the connection between the spine, nervous system, and body function back in the early stages of Chiropractic care in the 1920s. A medical doctor named Henry Winsor heard that Chiropractic patients were experiencing significant health benefits with problems seemingly unrelated to the spine. Dr. Winsor investigated and found that many Chiropractic patients experienced benefits beyond improved treatment for back or neck pain. Concerned and skeptical with what he was hearing, Dr. Winsor set out to disprove the theory in which a Chiropractic adjustment could affect any area of the body outside of the spine. He conducted his own research.

Dr. Winsor dissected the spines of cadavers with the intent to prove no correlation between the health of the spine and organ disease. He received permission and access to dissect and analyze the spines of 50 human cadavers. Not only did Dr. Winsor find a link between the health of the spine and the function of organs, he noted a direct correlation between diseased organs and the alignment of their spine in specific areas.  He found links between a curvature of the spine in the area of the nervous system which controlled that specifically diseased organ. Diseased organs drew conclusive connection to misalignments in the spine which would have altered function in the nervous system supplying communication to that organ. These findings were revolutionary in understanding why so many patients experienced health benefits and improved health in specific organs after beginning Chiropractic care. A 100% correlation occurred between the abnormal alignment and condition of a specific area of the spine and the nervous system which supplied the corresponding organ.

The same doctor which set out to debunk the truth about Chiropractic and its influence on organ function proved the opposite conclusion. Chiropractic helps family members of all ages experience greater function and a higher quality of life without the use of drugs or surgery. This study continues to play an important role in helping explain the necessity of Chiropractic care for all family members. Better health involves Chiropractic care.

The post Research Reveals Shocking Findings of the Spine by Medical Doctor : Why Chiropractic Matters… first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Chiropractic care does not pursue the treatment or curing of specific conditions. Nervous system care functions much like exercise and other proactive health measures. Positive outcomes and long-term health benefits occur which extend far beyond most initial reasons for implementing the proactive approach. A person may initially desire to lose weight through exercise. The long-term outcomes of an exercise regimen include weight loss in addition to improved energy, lower blood pressure, reduced stress and better sleep among other benefits. These long-term benefits occur because the process of exercise radiates into many different functions and processes of the body.

Chiropractic adjustments and nervous system care work in a similar fashion. The spine serves as a vital component that helps direct the function of the entire body through the brain and nervous system. An intimate connection exists between the spine and central nervous system. If the spine operates while misaligned or not moving properly, more stress occurs in the system and radiates into the body and organs. Small misalignments in the spine produce disturbances in the messages going into and from the brain and disrupt control of the body. An adjustment gently relieves areas of stress, impingement, and misalignment so the body functions and heals as intended.

Chiropractic helps people with all sorts of problems ranging from back and neck pain to headaches, energy challenges, sleep troubles, and much more. The best part of Chiropractic care comes from knowing that this form of health care addresses the underlying causes and roots of sickness and disease. A research study proved that people experiencing spinal pain experience more effective relief from Chiropractic care than from the use of acupuncture or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The study showed that people experiencing the most severe, chronic spinal pain credit Chiropractic care for providing long term results. Two years after the initial study, a follow-up study was done to track the progress of the initial findings. Researchers used the same outcome instruments among the three treatment groups (chiropractic, acupuncture, and NSAIDs) and determined that only those patients in the Chiropractic group were found to have experienced both short term and long-term relief and healing from care.

Chiropractors pursue the cause of sickness and disease rather than simply covering up symptoms. The most effective investment of time and money comes from making health care choices that pursue healing and restoration of optimal function and performance. Masking symptoms does not equate to healing. Chiropractic provides a healthcare choice that seeks to address the cause of problems and provide long term health benefits for the whole family.

The post Chiropractic gets to the main CAUSE of the PROBLEM first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

It is the end of summer and children returning to school represents a time for check-ups and annual measurements. Children usually take an annual trip to a physician for baseline monitoring of blood pressure, heart, and physical wellness. Older student-athletes undergo mandatory physicals to participate in athletics and activities.  They also receive guidance on nutrition, training, exercise, and sport-specific issues.

What about Chiropractic as the kids go back to school?

These annual exams represent the same reasons a parent would take their children to a Chiropractor for an evaluation. The health and wellness of the family begins with preventative measures. Prevention is designed to maintain health through proactive measures which actively prevent the onset of sickness, disease, and injury. The same parents who invest such care in pediatric and athletic exams often overlook the importance of spine and nervous system care. Preventative care plans begin with Chiropractic.

How does chiropractic help children and how does it pertain to back to school?

The spine intimately connects to the function of the brain and nervous system. Also it regulates the overall health of the body. A misaligned spine that does not move appropriately alters feedback in the central nervous system. This will set off a cascade of hormones that lead to or contribute to unwanted symptoms that present as sickness and disease. A compromised nervous system decreases function and performance in the brain and body.

Spine and postural health remain as important to health, function, and quality of life as good nutrition and exercise.

Research done by medical doctors and published in the reputable Spine medical journal revealed the influence of posture on overall body health and well-being. Studies evaluated spine and postural health using x-rays and plumb-line measurements along with other health measurements and recorded subjective data. Patients listed specific, unwelcome symptoms or ailments that went along with objective measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Research authors found that every recorded aspect of health deteriorated as measurements of posture deviations (shifts in posture) got worse.

This study further details the importance of healthy posture, spinal alignment, and spinal movement. Abnormal posture or small shifts in the spine referred to as a subluxation, operate like cavities in the teeth. They slowly and painlessly form in the back and neck and take root before ever festering with symptoms that declare a problem exists. The intimate relationship between the spine and nervous system makes subluxations a critical component in altering mood, hormones, and function. Poor alignment results in loss of focus, inability to concentrate, less energy, and issues with immunity and digestion. This is because the central nervous system regulates organs and functions. Maintaining a healthy spine serves to only enhance the health and well-being of every member of the family.

Annual checkups to the physician and athletic staff represent routine landmarks on the path to a healthy year. Chiropractic care provides a key element that enhances the physical, mental, and emotional health potential of the entire family. The start of a new school year offers new possibilities and new beginnings. Chiropractic offers the beginning of a healthier future.

The post Back to School Spine & Nervous System Check-Up for the Entire Family first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.