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Chiropractic is a natural method of health care that treats the causes of physical problems rather than just the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise: With a healthy lifestyle and normal functioning spinal joints and nerves, your body is better able to heal itself. Thats because the spinal cord, which is protected by the spine, is the main pathway of your nervous system. It controls movement, feeling, and function throughout your body.
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What Can I Do to Avoid Back Pain?
Just as you may not know that a tire on your car is out of balance until it begins to vibrate or wear unevenly, you may not know your spine is out of alignment until you feel pain. You can do much to prevent this by being aware of your body, taking care of yourself, and seeing Dr. Weber--even if the pain goes away.
Be Aware of Your Body Even if your back doesnt bother you, your body can be telling you that your spine is out of alignment. Frequent headaches or neck pain, stiffness or soreness when you wake up, or shoes that wear unevenly can be signs of a problem in your spine. So can having one shoulder or hip thats higher than the other, or feeling pain anytime you move a certain way. Have Regular Spinal Checkups Just as you need regular dental exams, you also need regular spinal exams. Early
detection of wear and tear on your spine can prevent permanent injury. Dr. Weber does
physical, orthopedic (bone and muscle), and neurological (nerve) tests to check the
condition of your joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Gently touching and moving your spine
helps locate the muscle tightness. If Dr. Weber finds a problem, he can recommend
appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes.
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Possible Spinal Problems
A healthy spine supports your body and lets you bend and twist your back. Injury, poor posture, overuse, or a problem from birth can put stress on your spine. This causes wear and tear on the joints where the bones (vertebrae) meet. You may have pain and stiffness, or you may have no symptoms until the spine is permanently damaged.
Misaligned Joint When a joint is out of position (misaligned), the bones cant move
correctly. The discs that act as cushions between the bones become stressed and may press
on nerves.
Early Degeneration With repeated stress, a disc may thin and tear or bulge. Bony outgrowths (spurs) may
develop, muscles may stretch unevenly, and nerves may become irritated.
Advanced Degeneration Years of stress on joints may cause discs to wear out. The nerves may become irritated, causing pain and limited movement. |
If You Need Treatment
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