Your spine is one link in a "chain," with your feet as the base. Lack of stability in the pedal foundation can lead to distortions and a muscular stretching all the way up the spine. With foot pronation and the associated collapse of the arches in one or both of your feet, the base point of your body's center of gravity shifts forward. This causes other parts of your body to try and compensate for this shift.

There are many causes of neck pain, and the pain itself can be divided into the categories of: mechanical, coming from the joint or the disc; radicular, coming from a nerve or nerve root; or myelopathic, coming from the spinal cord. The spine is composed of segments that have essentially three joints, the disc in the front and two facet joints in the back.

Neck pain can be so mild that it is merely annoying and distracting. Or it can be so severe that it is unbearable and incapacitating. Most instances of neck pain (and stiffness) are minor and commonly caused by something you did. That is, if you keep your head in an awkward position for too long the joints in your neck can "lock" and the neck muscles can become painfully fatigued.

Almost everyone experiences some sort of neck pain or stiffness at one time or another. Because you are human and walk upright, your head is "balanced" atop your spinal column. If the muscles that support your head are not kept strong and in good condition, the upper part of your spinal column is vulnerable to strains and injuries. Older people, whose joints have been worn by much use over time, are subject to osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease or DJD).

Doctors of chiropractic have the training and skills to relieve your neck pain, overcome stiffness, and restore the mobility and range of motion of any frozen neck vertebrae. They are devoted to helping you get back to your normal pursuits and start feeling like yourself again. Perhaps their most important contribution is their ability to bring their specialized diagnostic skills, techniques, and equipment to bear in assessing what is causing your neck problems.

The term for pain under the ball of the foot is called "metatarsalgia" and can have many different causes from a torn ligament responsible for stabilizing the toe, to an injured nerve, an inflammed joint or even a stress fracture. The only way to find out what is causing your metatarsalgia, is it to have it evaluated by a podiatrist. There are many people with flat feet who never have a problem with their feet.

There are many nerves that come off of the cervical (neck) vertebral bodies that pass down in front of the shoulder heading towards the arm. Irritation of these nerves can refer pain to the shoulder.

Rotation of the neck or tilting of the neck can create your shoulder pain if these nerves are involved. There may also be numbness, tingling, weakness, and difficulty with motion/movement.

Foot wetness is a common problem and left untreated can lead to foot and shoe odor. Fortunately, it can be treated effectively with Odor-Eaters products. Using an Odor-Eaters Foot Powder or Insole will help absorb the wetness and keep your feet comfortable all day – plus stop foot and shoe odor before it has a chance to start!

While there are many excellent pain medications available, they are not intended for long term use. Make an appointment with a pain clinic, or look into alternative therapies such as massage, meditation, yoga, or physical therapy and exercises that may strengthen the muscles and reduce the pain.

Flare ups are not uncommon. If you have a flare up (exacerbation), give us a call. We may suggest you come back to see us, return to your doctor, or simply modify your daily activities or exercise routine.

Probably nothing. Purely passive treatment rarely has enduring effect. Massage, adjustment, cold-pack application, or prescription medication can produce short-term benefit, but by themselves they offer little hope of lasting improvement. In this scenario, even if I offer help, the person’s approach of asking what I can do portends a poor result. Neck pain can be managed; I have already made the point. But they require the active participation of the owner.

Neck pain can be so mild that it is merely annoying and distracting. Or it can be so severe that it is unbearable and incapacitating. Most instances of neck pain (and stiffness) are minor and commonly caused by something you did. That is, if you keep your head in an awkward position for too long the joints in your neck can "lock" and the neck muscles can become painfully fatigued.

Unlike more visibly obvious physical injuries, soft tissue injuries may be apparent immediately after the accident or incident, but instead may show no symptoms for a few days. You should see your doctor as soon as possible and then consult an experienced attorney to ensure that your legal rights are protected.

If you have just injured yourself or are getting continual soreness from an area of your body, then it’s a good idea to get it checked out by your own doctor. He/she can make sure there is no damage to any tendons or joints and could recommend physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture or something else.

The most feared complication of back injury is paralysis of the legs and or arms due to the fracture of the spine. The spinal cord injury may cause total paralysis, therefore after a fall or motor vehicle accident the injured person should be checked out by a qualified physician.

If your pain involves your intervertebral discs, it can worsen in the morning after lying down for the night. This is because your discs now have a chance to rehydrate (absorb fluids) and enlarge after being compressed from the weight of your body all day. This swelling tends to irritate any compressed nerve that is causing you pain. Similarly, if muscle pain is involved, the muscles can stiffen overnight, resulting in painful movement in the morning as the stiffness is worked out.

The attacks may be inevitable, but the duration and intensity can be significantly reduced. Some attacks can be completely aborted by assuming a specific position or immediately carrying out a series of neck stretches. No one needs to accept the pain, and certainly no one should quietly endure the associated loss of function. We all have the ability to fight back.

Pain that occurs as a result of a cervical spine problem usually radiates in a line extending distally from the neck or shoulder girdle into the arm and toward the hand/fingers. It usually has a specific distribution in the arm rather than feeling like "whole arm" pain.

A: Probably not. Flat feet are normal for early walkers. The arch in the foot develops as the child learns to use her feet in a more adult pattern.

Yes. Poor foot function can lead to abnormal rotational forces on the leg bones which can cause misalignment of the complex ankle, knee, and hip joints. The opposite is also true where misalignment of the hips can cause knee, ankle, and foot pain. Accurately diagnosing the origin of these problems is essential to appropriate treatment.

Lifting involves not only the muscles of your legs and low back, but the muscles in your arms and across the top of your shoulders as well. Jutting your head forward provides more leverage for the shoulder and upper back muscles and adds a little strength. When you watch people trying to lift heavy objects, you will notice that one of the first things they do is stick out their chin. Arching the neck and pulling the chin up tightens the small muscles at the base of the skull.

The body is comprised of a series of biomechanical levers that all work in unison together, thus the programs are designed to restore muscular balance and function throughout the entire body. Additionally, pain is often felt in one or more locations because it can be "referred" from another body region. Please keep in mind, pain is a teacher or a red flag that tells us something is in need of attention. Unfortunately, it does not often tell us what is wrong.

If you have chronically tight muscles they are probably in a weakened state and you might have to back off from your usual exercises until you strengthen the weak muscles. For instance, sore neck and/ or shoulder muscles can make your arms feel very tired, making it hard to do your regular arm exercises. But if you take some time to strengthen the specific weak muscles, you will gradually be able to resume your regular routine. Believe me, it’s worth the effort.

Pillows and sleeping most definitely cause undue stress to your spinal column and all the musculature around your neck and shoulders. Having the proper pillow is very important in maintaining good spinal health. It is the biggest frustration to many people, and can in fact cause many neck problems which require chiropractic adjustments to correct. In discussing your pain, addressing the issue of the proper pillow is critical. Many patients ask what a "good" pillow is.

The goal of chiropractic care is to get the joint stable. It depends on the severity, and duration of the problem as to the prognosis of care.

Research has shown considerable improvements in the quality of life for people who do! You also may want to invest in a pillow that helps simulate the upright position. This means your neck and spine should be aligned while sleeping.