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Cerebral palsy is a term used to refer to a group of disorders that change the way a person is able to move and function. It is usually caused by damage to the developing brain during pregnancy or just after childbirth. It affects the child’s muscle control and coordination, muscle tone, posture, balance, reflexes, and body movement. It is a permanent condition, but some of the symptoms may improve or worsen over time. It is often accompanied by epileptic seizures, learning and speech delay, and a slow rate of development. The good news is that there is growing proof that upper cervical chiropractors can have a positive influence on cerebral palsy.
Dr. William Amalu, of the International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association, reported on a case study of a 5-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He also suffered from blindness, severe seizures, and chronic ear infections. When Dr. Amalu performed an examination on the boy, he found that his upper cervical spine was out of alignment. It is more than likely that his problems were connected to this misalignment, as it can hinder communication to and from the brain. Dr. Amalu began to work on adjusting the boy’s spine so as to help his brain and body communicate better.
The very next day, the boy’s mother saw improvement in him. She reported he had slept better than he had in a long time. After getting his second adjustment, his seizures reduced from 30 per day to only 10 per day. He continued to show improvement with additional adjustments in:
After 4 weeks’ time, he was continuing to improve:
If this little boy can see improvement in such a short time, isn’t it worth your time and effort to see if adjusting the upper cervical spine can help your child, as well?
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain can hit you out of the blue one day. You may have felt perfectly fine the day before and wake up to aching, sore muscles or other pain in your neck. Sometimes you may do an activity and not even realize it may be the reason for neck pain. Let’s look at a few of these activities so that they can be corrected.
The problems really begin when the neck muscles are overextended or are involved in repetitive motion as this leads to muscle spasms or an injuring and spraining of the ligaments.
Here at Body Balance Spinal Care in Sacramento, California, we help our patients eliminate neck pain by ensuring the upper cervical spine is in proper alignment. A misalignment in either of the top bones of the spine (C1 or C2) can lead to a breakdown of communication within the body as the brainstem is put under stress. By using a method that is both gentle and specific, the source of neck pain can be corrected without popping the spine. This has been seen to help with neck pain and, as communication is restored, other serious health issues may clear up as well.
Lower back pain is the number one reason for people to have a disability around the world. It reduces one's quality of life and can be difficult to cope with. Let’s look at some ways to keep from acquiring back pain and what might help you if you have tried these methods and are still in pain.
Personal health coach and trainer, Tania Kowalski, firmly believes that lower back problems develop due to poor posture and weak core muscles. She advocates strengthening the core by doing exercises to build lower back strength, abductor muscles in the hips, and abdominal strength. Posture is important, as well, but may be harder to correct if you are already having back problems. Due to the pain you are in, sitting or standing in a certain position may alleviate the pain, even if that position includes improper posture. Incorporating some exercises into your daily routine is a good idea if you are suffering from lower back pain. If these do not help, it may be time to take things a step further.
What exactly is proper posture? If you are standing, your head should be located directly above the shoulders and not tilted forward at all. If your head is tilted forward by just 3 inches, it triples the amount of weight put on the spine, leading to 42 pounds of pressure being exerted. Adding to that, the head can weigh as much as 14 pounds. And, if a misalignment exists in one of the bones of the upper cervical spine, more stress and pressure is added, leading to a domino effect down the spine that causes lower back pain.
Here at Body Balance Spinal Care in Sacramento, CA, we help our patients by correcting any misalignments we find in either the atlas or the axis bone of the upper neck. This corrects any spinal compensations and can help improve your back pain.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Whiplash is also referred to as neck strain, and it happens when the tendons or muscles of the neck become damaged, often but not always as the result of being struck from behind by a vehicle. It only takes a car moving at 5 mph to cause your neck to be damaged, meaning that even a sporting accident, a mild blow to the head, or anything that overextends the neck muscles can also cause whiplash.
You may wonder what can be done about whiplash. Are there any home remedies that help? And if you suspect you have endured whiplash, where should you begin to find help?
Whiplash often causes the top bones of the spine to misalign due to the force of the impact and overstretching of the muscles. If the bones of the neck misalign by even ¼ of a millimeter, enough stress is placed on the brainstem to wreak havoc on the entire body. This interferes with communication between the brain and body, leading to problems such as migraines, neck pain, back issues, vertigo, and much more. Here at Body Balance Spinal Care, we offer our patients a gentle method to realign the bones, and this often leads to an overall improvement in health.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
When the term tinnitus is used, it is often referring to a ringing noise in the ears. Sometimes it occurs after one has been exposed to a very loud noise, and it goes away after a short time. Others, however, have to cope with this on a daily basis. The American Tinnitus Association reports that out of every 5 people, 1 has this condition.
When the ear receives sound, a complicated process ensues. First, noise enters the outer ear and then vibrates against the eardrum and three small bones called ossicles. These vibrations then move the fluid within the inner ear and are read by the brain as sound. If for any reason, this process becomes hindered –due to too much earwax, head trauma, or a tumor – tinnitus may be the result. The solution may lie in correcting the bones of the upper neck.
By looking closely at the blood flow reaching both of the ears, a connection to tinnitus was discovered. Research revealed:
Body Balance Spinal Care helps their patients cope with tinnitus by addressing the issues that may be wrong in the neck. We use special x-rays and take measurements that help us find the exact location of the misaligned bones. We then employ a gentle method to help the bones to realign without popping or cracking the spine.
Interestingly, in 1895, the first chiropractic patient was a man who was deaf. He got his hearing back after his first chiropractic adjustment! This proves that the ears and the bones of the spine are connected and can affect one another. Correcting spinal alignment can help a person feel better overall.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Sciatica is defined as an irritation of the roots of the sciatic nerve that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the lower extremities of the body. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest in the body and originates from the spinal cord in the lower part of the back. It travels through the buttocks and branches off into each leg along the back.
Sciatica usually only affects one side, and the pain is anywhere from mild to severe. In some cases, the pain begins gradually and then worsens over time. The most common symptoms a person may have with sciatica are:
The sciatic nerve has five root nerves that attach to the spine. If one of the roots becomes irritated or pinched, it may result in sciatica. What causes irritation to occur?
When visiting a primary care physician for sciatica, one can expect to get some recommendations and maybe a prescription to help ease the pain. This is helpful for a short time, but unless the underlying cause is addressed, one can expect sciatic pain to return. To help with the root cause of pain, a trip to see an upper cervical chiropractor may be in order.
How does a chiropractor who focuses on the neck help pain in the lower back? Well, it is possible that the atlas bone (the top bone of the spine) is the cause of the pain. If it is misaligned, the spine will compensate for this by shifting and may end up irritating or pinching the sciatic nerve. By correcting the misalignment, the pain of sciatica may become a thing of the past.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Concussions are also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury or MTBI. They can be caused by trauma to the head or neck – a fall, being hit, or bumping the head on something. One typically thinks that a concussion will lead to a problem in the head. However, it may be a problem in the neck that is more concerning. The sudden jerking motion of the head can cause the bones of the neck to misalign. It may be called a mild injury, but that doesn’t mean the aftereffects can’t be serious. It simply refers to the fact that it is not life-threatening.
When one has experienced a concussion, if not properly cared for immediately, it can lead to post-concussion-syndrome (PCS). A neuroscientist from the University of San Diego, Dr. Aron, states that when one has an MTBI, sharp ridges are created within the skull that can cause bruising whenever the brain quickly moves forward. This can actually have a negative effect on one’s behavior, movement, and ability to control one’s emotions.
This information sheds some light on self-control and control functions, according to Dr. Aron. These bodily functions may be affected in a number of cases, such as Tourette’s, ADHD, stuttering, and addictions if one has undergone some kind of brain trauma or concussion.
As mentioned, the brain is not the only part of the body to be impacted when one has suffered a concussion. A misalignment in the top bones of the spine – the C1 and C2 vertebrae – may have occurred, negatively affecting the brainstem and spinal cord and thus hindering communication between the brain and body. This becomes apparent in emotional and physical problems.
However, this is not a permanent situation. The bones of the neck can be realigned through a unique form of chiropractic called upper cervical care. It involves using a gentle method to help the bones to realign without cracking or popping the spine. This can restore the body’s communication system and lead to a reversal of the negative effects brought about by a concussion.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Experiencing an attack of vertigo can be frightening. One may feel as if he is falling or spinning or the things around him may seem to be spinning. Vertigo is put into 2 basic categories: peripheral and central. Let’s take a closer look at what these mean and how to care for them.
A study was conducted observing 60 patients who reported chronic vertigo. They were put under the care of an upper cervical chiropractor and received specific adjustments to the atlas (the top bone of the vertebrae). Out of the 60 participants, 48 saw their vertigo resolve and not come back. The remaining ones saw a decrease in the amount and intensity of their attacks over the course of 6 months of atlas adjustments. Why does this specialized form of chiropractic often help vertigo sufferers?
The spine has the vital job of protecting the spinal cord. The spinal cord, along with the brainstem, has the responsibility of sending messages to and from the brain and body. A misalignment in the top bone of the neck can hinder signals from reaching the brain properly, causing such health problems as vertigo.
At our Sacramento, California location, we use a gentle method that does not involve popping or twisting the spine. Instead, we encourage the bones to move into place in a natural way so that the adjustment will last longer. Once the atlas is realigned, vertigo symptoms may improve or even go away completely.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
An estimated 5 million adults in the United States have fibromyalgia, with 80-90% being women. If you've recently received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, chances are it's been a long road of doctor's visits, tests, and waiting. Diagnosing fibromyalgia is difficult. Its symptoms – which can include widespread pain, extreme fatigue, a decreased pain threshold, anxiety, and depression – overlap so many other common conditions that need to be ruled out before a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be made. This is complicated by the fact that there is no one simple, definitive test. Most people go from doctor to doctor in search of answers before finally figuring out what is causing their condition.
Generally speaking, fibromyalgia treatments rely on some combination of medication and self-care. As complicated as fibromyalgia is to diagnose, it can be equally as difficult to manage. The goal of most medications is to reduce pain and improve sleep. Antidepressants may also be prescribed. Self-care recommendations often include stress reducing techniques, healthy eating, and regular, gentle exercise such as swimming or walking.
Each day, more is being understood about fibromyalgia. One place of agreement amongst scientists and researchers is that people with fibromyalgia have a heightened sensitivity to pain. A stimulus that would not ordinarily be painful can be perceived by the brain of someone with fibromyalgia as extremely painful. This is something we look closely at in our upper cervical chiropractic practice. We focus on an area of the body's central nervous system called the brainstem which is responsible for relaying signals between the brain and body, including those carrying information about pain. When the vertebra that ordinarily protects the brainstem misaligns, it can interfere with its ability to relay signals properly.
At Body Balance Spinal Care, we carefully analyze the alignment of the upper cervical spine, made up of the atlas and axis vertebrae. Once we identify the exact problem, we use a gentle method of adjusting to restore normal head and neck alignment. Once this is accomplished and the body is given time to heal, the nervous system can function at its highest capacity and relay pain signals properly. This may lead to a reduction or even complete resolution of fibromyalgia.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines that are brought about by trauma are often seen in those under the age of 21 and are caused by a blow to the head, frequently related to sporting injuries. This trauma to the head leads to a change in the way the brain functions and shows up in symptoms such as temporary blindness or other visual problems and going in and out of consciousness. Extreme head pain begins within 10 minutes of the injury and lasts for approximately 24 hours and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. This type of a migraine is often seen in those who play football, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling.
After the initial headache goes away, whether it lasted a few minutes or a couple of days, another issue may occur called a post-traumatic migraine. This is something entirely different from a trauma migraine, even though they are caused by the same thing. If migraines did not exist before the trauma and now they begin to occur, they are called post-traumatic migraines. It can be an indication that a misalignment of the bones of the neck also happened when the initial trauma took place.
Migraines often go hand-in-hand with athletes and can regularly be traced to a misalignment in the neck. This leads to connective tissue damage. If one has been hit hard, the tissue responsible for keeping the spine in position can tear loose, and the spine can begin to break down. Even a tiny misalignment can impede the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid to and from the brain.
Here in our office in Sacramento, CA, we use a special method to help athlete’s and all of our patients get back into alignment. Using specialized x-rays and other modern diagnostic procedures, we find and then correct the misalignments present. This is often all that is needed to see a decrease in symptoms and a long-term solution to post-traumatic migraines.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation call 916-973-0623 on click the button below.
If you are outside of the Sacramento area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
