What causes my spine to go out of alignment?
There are many ways your spine is stressed, but for the most part, we can divide it into 2 main categories; Macrotramas and Microtrauma's:

• Here a few examples of Macrotraumas :
  • Auto accidents resulting in whiplash or back injury.
  • Slipping and falling on the ice, or down the stairs, etc.
  • Lifting furniture, heavy objects, boxes, etc.
  • Overexertion caused form beginning exercise too fast, shoveling snow/dirt, etc.
  • Over-Exhaustion due to overworking, improper exercise, long hours working, and/or lack of sleep
  • Sneezing or Coughing forcefully or repetitively
• Here a few examples of Microtraumas:
  • Repetitive/Overuse Injuries like sleeping wrong, continuous light lifting, repetitive work habits
  • Imblanced Carrying. Improper lifting, bending, or twisting
  • Organic Overloading caused by Improper diet, nutrition and exercise
  • Chemical Overloading from some long-term medications and prescriptions, food additives/preservatives
  • Emotional Overloading from stress, tension, anxiety, anger, etc.
  • Body Malformations like old bone fractures, congenital malformations, etc.

What is a subluxation?
A subluxation is a term used by Doctors of Chiropractic to describe the misalignment of spinal vertebrae resulting in pressure against delicate nerves exiting between these vertebrae. This misalignment results in a dysfunction of spinal joints, causing a disruption of the nerve impulses coming from the brain and spinal cord. This interference of nerve signals can cause a variety of symptoms, from pain and stiffness in your back and neck to numbness and tingling in your legs or arms.

What is an adjustment?
Upon locating the areas of your spine that are misaligned or not functioning properly, gentle pressure is applied to the individual joints of your spine to help restore alignment, improve mobility and relieve irritation of the nerves. Dr. Swickard utilizes a gentle hands-on approach to his adjustment, as well as, the occasional use of an adjusting instrument known as an Activator. The particular type of adjustment given is based on the needs of each patient individually.

How often are adjustments necessary?
How you feel is not always a good indication of how healthy you are; in fact you may feel fine while vertebral subluxations are damaging your body. Most people first visit their chiropractor after years of long-standing subluxations and in the beginning repeated adjustments are typically necessary over weeks or months to reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Once optimum correction has been achieved, depending on your current health status, periodic adjustments may be necessary in order to maintain alignment and flexibility of your spinal column. A person with old injuries, weak supporting muscles and spinal deterioration is obviously not going to hold their adjustments as well as the person who has good health habits and little to no spinal degeneration. As you can see, individual needs vary, therefore, Dr. Swickard would discuss your unique spinal care needs and how often he feels you may need to be checked to maintain proper spinal hygiene.

How do I know I need Chiropractic care?
At a very young age we begin putting stress on our spinal column in one way or another. These "spinal stressors" can lead to a lifelong battle with headaches, numbness, tingling, back pain and other health problems. These conditions can result from pressure or irritation of spinal nerves caused by the joint dysfunction or misalignment within the spine we refer to as spinal subluxations. It is my opinion that everyone young and old should have their spine checked regularly for spinal subluxations, just like you go to your dentist, eye doctor and family physician for periodic examinations. Please review the following list of warning signs that may indicate you have an unhealthy spine and need chiropractic care:

1. Your have had a recent injury to your spine causing neck or back pain.
2. You have had a previous injury to your spine that never completely healed and gives you episodes of pain.
   • The episodes are becoming more frequent and increasing in intensity.
3. You are having continual stiffness in your back and neck.
4. You are getting frequent tension headaches or migraines.
5. You can turn your head or hips farther to one side compared to the other (decreased range of motion).
6. You have poor posture. In a standing position, check to see if:
   • One hip is higher on one side than the other. This may indicate misalignment in the pelvis and lower back.
   • One shoulder is higher on one side than the other. This checks the middle back and lower neck areas.
   • If you have one ear higher than the other, your neck may out of alignment.
7. One leg appears shorter than the other which may indicate your pelvis and spine may be out of alignment.
   • To check someone for a short leg, have them lay face down on the floor or bed with their shoes on and arms at their side. Then look at their heels with their legs straight and with the knee's bent to 90 degrees and see if they remain even. The heels on your shoes are wearing unevenly.
8. Your feet turn in or out when you walk
   • This may indicate your hips or pelvis is out of alignment
9. You feel stressed out all the time and seem to have a lot of tension in your muscles and joints
10. You have fatigue or poor concentration.
11. Your seem to be sick and have a constant lack of energy.

What kind of Treatments and/or Therapies do you use?
The most common treatment used at our office is the adjustment to the spine done by Dr. Swickard. Other therapies include electrical muscle stimulation, intersegmental traction, ice packs, moist heat, electrical and needle acupuncture, and special exercises.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation Small amounts of electrical impulses are sent into the muscles and soft tissues over the site of injury to promote healing, relieve pain and reduce swelling. Four pads are typically attached to the skin where the impulses, described as a "pins and needles" sensation, help sooth achy muscles, stimulate the release of the body's own natural pain killers (endorphins) and increase blood circulation to the area.

Intersegmental Traction This therapy is a very comfortable therapy used to help stretch out tight spinal muscles and joints to help improve function and mobility of the spine. It also helps exercise these associated supporting muscles and ligaments of the spine to allow your adjustments to hold better and last longer. The patient lies face up on a bench-type table while rollers move up and down your spine in a circular pattern. This circular motion of the rollers helps improve the blood supply to area allowing the surrounding spinal joints and disc to get the necessary nutrients needed for proper function. This decreased circulation can cause abnormal wear and tear to the spine resulting in disc thinning and degeneration, often referred to as arthritis.

Ice Ice is applied to the injured area to help reduce swelling and inflammation, muscle spasms and numb the affected area. This cooling effect helps reduce and prevent posttraumatic swelling for an acute injury which also helps decrease nerve transmissions of painful symptoms, providing temporary relief. Ice is often used with electrical muscle stimulation for added benefits.

Moist Heat Moist heat is applied using hydrocolator packs (silicone-filled pouches soaked in hot water to hold heat). This helps promote increased circulation, relax tight muscles and increase flexibility. Moist heat is typically used on chronic pain, muscle disorders and during the rehabilitative phase of treatment to help speed the healing process. It is also often used with electrical muscle stimulation for added benefits.

Electrical and Needle Acupuncture Click here for a more detailed explanation of acupuncture.