The Missoula Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor Missoula

Get Your Neck In Gear!

Headaches and neck pain image.

Anyone who has experienced cervical (neck) pain knows that it can be a real pain in the neck! Consider the fact that the cervical spine, consisting of only seven vertebrae, is responsible for supporting your head which can weigh as much as a bowling ball. No other region of the spine is more mobile or more prone to injury.

Mobility in the neck is measured through range-of-motion testing that includes three distinct tests:

  • Flexion – measured by ability to touch chin to chest

  • Extension – measured by tilting your head backwards

  • Lateral flexion – your ability to touch each ear to your shoulder

Various injuries and/or conditions are responsible for neck pain and can restrict range of motion. These include:

  • Whiplash from a car accident - the head can be violently thrust forward and backward beyond its normal range of motion, resulting in muscle pain and stiffness.

  • Degenerative conditions - occur as a result of the aging process, such as osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease.

  • Poor posture and obesity – forward head carriage can cause the muscles in the neck to contract and stiffen.

  • Spinal fractures, tumors or infections - can be serious and require immediate attention from a medical specialist.

According to a research study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (2001, pp.552-555), chiropractic adjustments can significantly improve cervical range of motion. As obvious as that may appear to those who regularly receive chiropractic care, limited range of motion plays a major role in many health problems that usually improve with chiropractic adjustments.

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Dr. Mark Asks some important questions of interest to Missoula residents - Chiropractor Missoula Dr. Mark Asks...

What are the two things drugs do?
Drugs can either speed up (laxatives, amphetamines, caffeine) a bodily process, or slow down (stomach antacids, sleep aids, antihistamines, muscle relaxers) a bodily process. Chiropractic care can produce the same results, but relies on the intelligence of the body. Chiropractors trust your body. Do you?
Is a muscle spasm a cause or an effect?
With the knee-jerk use of muscle relaxers, you'd think it was a cause. But it's an effect. Chiropractors know that bones don't move unless muscles move them. And muscles don't contract unless commanded by the nervous system. That's why your nervous system is the focus of our Missoula chiropractic practice.