Category: Blog

Though most people assume chiropractors mainly deal with the neck and spine, chiropractors can treat a wide variety of conditions, including head injuries or cranial damage. Damage can happen during pregnancy or childbirth, injury or trauma during childhood, or due to a concussion later in life. Sometimes head injuries can even disrupt or misalign the bones of the skull and result in various health problems. If not corrected, these issues can become chronic and cause a lifetime of pain, cognitive disorders, learning disabilities, and other health problems.

What are cranial adjustments? Isn’t the skull just one bone?

Cranial adjustments are a form of chiropractic treatment used to treat misalignments within the skull or face as these misalignments can lead to a wealth of health problems when not treated.

The skull is composed of thirteen separate bones that fit together like a puzzle, but they are not fixed or fused. Instead, these bones are held together with connective soft tissue and blood vessels. Though the amount of movement between the bones is small, they can become misaligned through trauma or injury. These misalignments can interfere with the central nervous system or blood supply to the brain resulting in an onset of health problems.

Chiropractors use light force either with their hands or an adjusting instrument to unlock or release the misalignments, removing the pressure on the brain and neurological system as a whole.

What happens during cranial misalignment?

These misalignments can interfere with the cerebral spinal fluid that naturally flows throughout the brain helping to control the body. The symptoms or effects of cranial misalignments vary depending on the parts of the brain that are misaligned. For example, the mandible or maxilla being misaligned can result in jaw pain, sinus problems, tender gums and teeth, oral health complications, and even problems with balance. Misalignments that occur during childbirth or early childhood may result in cognitive disorders, speech impairment, and learning difficulties. Other common symptoms include chronic headaches or migraines, vision problems, auditory problems, nausea, emotional problems, and behavior problems.

Is it painful?

No. Many patients report that they are very relaxed during cranial adjustments and feel no pain, but some say they experience a feeling of light-headedness or fatigue afterward. However, it is very safe. This is even true for children and can be very important for them if they do suffer from misalignments as cranial bones need to expand and contract while the brain grows during childhood. If the cranial bones do not return to their normal alignment, this can lead to health and developmental issues.

Who can benefit from cranial adjustments?

Anyone who has suffered trauma to the head should be examined for misalignments. Cranial adjustments are not just for the young or elderly.

We would like to stress that our treatment for cranial adjustments is to correct the misalignments, not to absolve the specific conditions that may result in or be symptoms of cranial misalignments.

For more information on cranial adjustments and how you can benefit from treatment, please contact Get Well Chiropractic of Northville today.

In the US, when something is fundamentally important, we call it “the backbone.”

Teachers are “the backbone” of our society!

Small business is “the backbone” of America!

Eggs are “the backbone” of a delicious breakfast!

So, why is it that we, through this figure of speech, compare anything that’s truly essential to a “backbone”? Simple––it’s because the spine is one of the most important parts of human anatomy. The backbone is, quite literally, “the backbone” of our body!

The spine fulfills numerous roles in the body. It is so important that scientists even divide all of the Earth’s species into two categories of whether or not they have a spine—vertebrates and invertebrates.

It only makes sense that the remedies to most health problems need to include the spine. A properly aligned spine and neck will help to alleviate and prevent many health issues. By working on the spine, chiropractors can fix so much more than back pain. Here are just a few examples:

Blood Pressure

Who enjoys taking medication and suffering from all its side effects? The nausea, dizziness, fatigue, etc, that come with these drugs––all just because we need to take a pill to help solve a health problem?

A study published in the Human Journal of Hypertension indicates that chiropractic treatment of the Atlas vertebra (a bone on the top of your spine) could help to reduce blood pressure as effectively as some medications. We’re not saying that you should stop taking your medicine right away, but this study indicates that proper care of your spine could help to fix problems as effectively as medications. Plus, chiropractic treatment spares you many of the negative side effects that come with prescriptions.

Headaches

Headaches and migraines are some of the top ailments that chiropractors treat, other than back pain, of course. Most people spend their days sitting in a fixed position (at a desk, on the couch, etc), which causes neck tension and joint irritation—the primary cause of most headaches in today’s society. Proper spinal alignment performed by a chiropractor helps to relieve that tension and solves your issues at the source instead of simply masking the pain (as with ibuprofen or other pain medications).

Pain Management

If you’ve read up to this point, it shouldn’t surprise you to find that most pain in the body is related to your spine. When your spine is properly aligned, it reduces pain throughout your entire body, not just backaches. Proper spinal alignment has also been shown to reduce inflammation, which is a major cause of chronic muscle and joint pain (inflammation is also linked to cancer and heart disease).

So, Why Does The Spine Matter So Much?

Almost everything in our bodies is based on our spines. Our skeletal system branches out from it, and our muscles are rooted in it. The spine even provides a home for the nervous system, which controls nearly every function in your body.

That is why chiropractic treatment helps with so many different health issues. Chiropractic care has helped with everything from joint pain to digestion, to ear infections, to epilepsy.

As an added bonus, these treatments often solve the problem at the source, while medications usually focus only on the symptoms. Chiropractic methods are also much lower risk than many other treatments.

Visit us here at Get Well Chiropractic of Northville today to receive low-risk, drug-free treatment which will provide relief to whatever pain is ailing you.

Whether you’re suffering from heartburn, upset stomach, constipation, or another digestive problem, you’ve probably spent a good deal of time scanning the medicine aisles for relief. Many people already know that chiropractic care can help treat lower back pain, and the adjustments can improve the quality of a patient’s life, but chiropractic treatment isn’t just for back, neck, and joint problems. Though stomach or digestive issues may not come to mind, they can also be treated with chiropractic care.

Digestion problems

The trouble with your digestive tract could be due to a lot of things. Common digestive problems include irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, ulcers, constipation, Celiac Disease, nausea, indigestion, and more. Issues within the gastrointestinal tract can range from mild to severe and life-threatening with varying treatment options. All of these irritations can occur anywhere within the large or small intestines, and some conditions may be chronic, while others are occasional flare-ups. Although medication can provide relief of symptoms, it may not always treat the underlying cause.

Chiropractic treatment

Chiropractors look for the root cause of your health problems by analyzing your spine. Your spine protects your spinal cord and spinal nerves, which control every function within your body, including the digestive system. Nerves in the thoracic and lumbar regions play an essential role in digestion, so when the nervous system is under stress or misalignment is present in your spine, your body may not function properly.

Pain in the stomach may originate elsewhere within your body, and finding the source is not always easy. However, chiropractors are trained to trace connections, and by understanding the relationships of your body’s systems and how they function, it allows them to alleviate the pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care can realign your spine and provide the attached muscles and nerves relief, allowing your body to return to optimum function and your digestive issues to subside.

Care will begin with a thorough physical examination and discussion with the patient about medication history and lifestyle. Sometimes overuse of alcohol, lack of exercise, chronic poor posture, diet, or even water intake can be the source of a problem. If an out-of-place vertebra is a problem, your chiropractor will provide adjustment to restore proper function and mobility to the spine.

Your chiropractor may also recommend lifestyle changes such as an increase in water consumption or improvement in diet. Dehydration can be a problem that affects the human body in a variety of ways, and the digestive tract is no different as it requires plenty of water to move food through it. A healthy diet is vital for many diagnoses and is especially true for digestive issues. Try improving your diet with less processed foods and more whole grains, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

For more information on how chiropractic care can help you with your digestive system, please contact Get Well Chiropractic of Northville today to schedule a consultation or for more information.

Nothing can compare to sliding into your bed for a long night’s rest after an exhausting day. However, while your mind may shut off that doesn’t mean your body will. Getting enough sleep at night is vital to helping us make it through the next day. As you sleep, your body uses the time to rejuvenate itself allowing you to feel well-rested in the morning. Though we know that isn’t always the case, as one of the most common complaints in adults is the inability to sleep peacefully through the night. If you don’t get enough sleep, you may suffer from headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, and many other negative side effects. The solutions for lack of sleep are less complex than the explanations, so if you are looking to get a better night’s rest, consider visiting a chiropractor for immediate sleep improvement.

Though chiropractors are not sleep scientists, we do know a few things about how to help you sleep soundly. Chiropractic adjustments not only restore your body’s functionality but help to keep you in good health and at optimal performance.

A chiropractor will not only realign your spine and joints to help alleviate any pain or discomfort, but they can also offer advice on how to achieve a full night’s rest. Sleeping positions, mattresses, pillows, and evening habits all play an important role in getting your body settled in for the night.

Sleep Positions

Many people don’t realize that how you fall asleep and what positions you might find yourself in during the night can affect your quality of sleep. Certain positions can put pressure and strain on parts of your body making you feel restless at night and stiff in the morning.

The fetal position is one of the most popular sleep positions and is recommended by chiropractors. It is great for those with lower back problems and is the choice position for expecting mothers. Roll onto your side and place a pillow under your head and neck to keep your spine in a neutral position. A pillow between your knees will remove pressure in your lower back.

Another recommended sleep position is on the side. It can reduce snoring, and heartburn, and improve digestion, however, this position may require more pillows. Place a pillow between your knees to take the strain off your hips and lower spine. If there are gaps between your body and the mattress, add pillows for support. Hugging large pillows will support your shoulders and your arms.

Those who sleep on their back are also known to sleep peacefully as body weight is distributed evenly and pressure on the body is minimized. A pillow underneath the knees will add support and reduce strain as you sleep. Keep your neck and head in alignment with a good pillow.

Mattresses and Pillow

If you have a stiff mattress or one that is too soft, you may have some sleepless nights. Softer mattresses can sag and allow the spine to shift creating strain, while a firm mattress can make your body ache with pressure applied to your joints. Search for mattresses, mattress toppers, and pillows that will support your body. Good pillows should keep your head and neck in place while sleeping. This may mean picking out a firmer pillow than you are used to, but after a few nights, you will notice a significant improvement.

Healthy Habits

Pay attention to your evening routine as you get ready to turn in for the night. Allow your body and mind time to wind down. Avoid using electronic devices 30 minutes before going to bed. This will help your mind relax.

Consider adding simple stretches and relaxation methods before climbing into bed to release any tension or energy in the body. This will allow you to feel relaxed and ready to sleep.

If you are looking for ways to improve your quality of sleep, talk to us and find out how we can help you achieve a better night’s rest. For more information on how chiropractic care can help you get that much-needed rest, contact Get Well Chiropractic of Northville today.