The spine and the nervous system

The nervous system is the master controller of all cells, tissues and organs. Nerves control the heart, lungs, immune system, endocrine system, as well as our thoughts and other cognitive processes. Effectively, the nervous system is in charge of directing and overlooking all bodily functions - keeping us alive and healthy, fighting off diseases and infections, and healing our bodies following periods of physical, chemical and emotional stress. The main purpose of the nervous system is to help our bodies adapt to stress. When we lose the ability to adapt, we lose function and in turn health. Physical stress may appear in our life in several forms. There is microtrauma such as repetitive motion or poor posture in the workplace. And there is macro trauma such as falls and spinal nerve problems from accidents. In fact, the most common time that the spine misaligns is during the traumatic birthing process (even in an “uneventful” birth). Chemical and emotional stress play an equal role in disturbing our nervous system and affecting our health. The foods we eat, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, insecticides and pesticides all stress our nervous system and can lead to a loss of nerve function. Emotions such as fear, guilt, anger, depression and anxiety all have the potential to have deleterious effect on the nervous system.  Upper Cervical Chiropractic offers Help for Spinal Stenosis Pain and Cervical Spine Movement Disorders When stress accumulates on the nervous system, the nervous system short circuits and the spine and body assume an adaptive posture. When we no longer have a straight cervical spine we refer to the adaptive position as a Subluxation. A subluxation is an alteration in the position of the spinal bones that negatively affect the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the body and the body to the brain. The subluxation interferes with the body's natural ability to self-heal and self-regulate. This results in a state of Dis-ease…where the body is no longer functioning with as it was intended to. The Dis-ease stage is often asymptomatic and its not until months or years down the road that a symptom or disease appear. We can intervene during the early stages of the aforementioned process by living a healthy lifestyle that mitigates the effects of stress and correcting spinal subluxation through scientific Upper Cervical care. The first spinal subluxation most commonly occurs during in-utero constraint or during the birthing process (even if it was an “uneventful” birth). An infant’s spine and supporting musculature often can not withstand the forces applied to the head and neck during the birth process and misalignment typically follows in the upper neck. We have cared for many children through the years (with or without symptoms) with our gentle pediatric chiropractic procedures. A straight cervical spine may prevent cervical spine stenosis and other spinal problems. Many people are surprised to learn that the spine plays a key role in protecting the nervous system. When there is an atlas misalignment (C1 vertebra), the spine will deviate from its normal position. Over time, the nervous system may begin to malfunction which may lead to various health challenges throughout the body. When the atlas misalignment is corrected, the straight cervical spine can greatly enhance neurological health, healing and optimize function. Often a corrected or straight cervical spine will lead to improvement for common lower back injuries or spinal nerve problems as the top and the bottom of the spine work together. The spine is an organ. The neck and lower back are not two distinct body parts, instead they are intimately connected and their respective alignments are dependent upon each other. In fact, the main function of the spinal column (in addition to providing movement for the torso) is to encase and protect the spinal cord and nerve roots. Without this protection it's unlikely that we would survive a relatively small slip and fall or spinal nerve problems from serious accidents.

Over time, a misaligned spine will apply uneven forces to the spinal joints leading to accelerated degenerative changes at the levels of the spine that near the greatest load. Similar to a car being out of balance and one tire balding before the others. There are many names for degeneration. As the disc degenerates it may become bulged, herniated, protruded or extruded. The integrity of the bone may become deformed and as the vertebra changes it’s shape bone spurs and cervical or lumbar stenosis may occur. The spinal cord and spinal nerve function is almost always affected and altered. Like tooth decay, spinal decay occurs over time and is a progressive process if the mechanics are not corrected. Upper cervical care aims to balance these compressive forces and correct the altered mechanics in order to prevent future degeneration and suffering. Atlas Misalignment resulting in an Out of Line Spine An Out of Line Spine may lead to Common Lower Back Injuries, Spinal Nerve Problems, Cervical Spine Stenosis and other spinal conditions. How is Spinal Cord Compression and body imbalance determined?

Body imbalance (or posture distortion) can be determined a number of ways: Head Tilt Restricted Neck Movement Low Shoulder Lack of straight cervical spine/ Loss of curvature High Hip Bilateral Body Weight Difference One leg shorter than other Computerized neurological testing Surface Electromyography (sEMG) and Infrared Thermography (IT) When the weight of the head (10-14 lbs) is shifted off the center of the top of the neck (atlas misalignment), the body becomes imbalanced. It is best to maintain a straight cervical spine. In the effort to keep the head over the center of the neck, the spine and pelvis will twist, causing one leg to shorten. (body imbalance) Correcting the atlas misalignment (a straight cervical spine) or out of line spine can help your body resolve the symptoms associated with headaches/migraines and/or pain in the neck, shoulder, back, hips, legs, knees, or feet/ankles. Atlas misalignment may result in body imbalance, spinal nerve problems and/or muscle and joint pain anywhere in the body. For further illustration, check this link Upper Cervical Spinal Charts Herniated Discs

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Offers Help for Spinal Stenosis Pain with corrections helping Cervical Spine Movement Disorders, General Wellness, and Spinal Nerve Problems from Accidents. How is body imbalance and spinal cord compression corrected? Body balance is restored by an Upper Cervical Spinal Correction. The doctor calculates the exact position of the atlas bone. The atlas, a 2-ounce doughnut shaped bone, is the first vertebra of the neck and spinal column) that completely encircles the spinal cord and brainstem. The doctor analyzes exactly that how far it has shifted, tilted, or rotated away from it's normal position. The slightest degree of atlas misalignment of this small bone that supports the weight of the head can cause body imbalance and spinal cord compression -- which may result in head problems and pain that may be felt anywhere in the body. By utilizing a formula calculated from interpreting the results of the precision x-rays, the doctor is able to make the upper cervical spinal correction. (Precision x-rays enable the doctor to develop an exact formula which he uses to make the spinal correction.) The doctor applies a slight, pre-determined application of force on one side of the neck to gently re-position the head over the center of the neck and correct the atlas misalignment. This re-positioning restores the body balance and removes spinal cord compression. The Upper Cervical Spinal Correction requires NO forceful, twisting and jerking motion and is barely felt by the patient. The Upper Cervical procedure cures nothing - - but simply removes spinal cord compression and reactivates the transmission of brain healing messages to the affected part of the body so it can heal itself. (Each spinal correction is as individual to that patient as a fingerprint.)