Chiropractor in Burke, VA - NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Dr. Todd P. Sullivan

Anatomy 101 – The Thoracic Spine: What Chiropractic Patients Need to Know

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Back pain can be debilitating. A patient can find they have trouble moving or engaging in regular activities like lifting their children or even walking. Pain in the mid to upper back can be caused by a variety of issues, and it can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Many people see chiropractors to get relief from their back pain, but there are some things that chiropractic patients should know so that they can get the most out of their treatments.

What is the Thoracic Spine?

There are 12 vertebrae that make up the thoracic spine which is located just above the lumbar spine and just below the cervical spine. It is often referred to as the upper back. This part of the spine has several very important functions. The ribs connect with this portion of the spine and it also is responsible for protecting the spinal cord.

The thoracic spine also differs from the lumbar spine and cervical spine. Instead of curving inward (lordosis) as those areas do, it curves outward (kyphosis). This provide the freedom of movement that allows a person to bend forward and touch their toes. It does not allow for much bending backwards; that typically comes from the lower back.

There are many nerves that extend from the thoracic spine. They control organ function for the major organs, including:

T1 to T4

  • Heart
  • Esophagus
  • Upper body muscles
  • Lungs
  • Larynx
  • Part of the arms
  • Trachea
  • Esophagus

T5 to T10

  • Gallbladder
  • Diaphragm
  • Small intestine
  • Appendix
  • Liver
  • Kidneys
  • Suprarenal gland
  • Stomach
  • Spleen
  • Adrenal gland
  • Pancreas

T11 to T12

  • Small intestines
  • Mid to upper body muscles
  • Lymph circulation
  • Colon
  • Solar plexus
  • Uterus

Mid to Upper Back Pain

Pain in the thoracic area of the spine is often caused by muscle strain, overuse, and injury to the discs, ligaments, and muscles that surround the spine and support it. Poor posture can also cause pain in that area. It is also very common for myofascial pain to affect the connective tissue of` muscle groups and individual muscles These problems can occur due to a variety of causes:

  • Slouching or slumping while standing or sitting
  • Getting in a car accident where the patient is lurched forward or jolted
  • Lifting something that is too heavy
  • Yard work
  • Getting struck or hit in the back
  • Playing sports

Osteoarthritis can also occur in this area. It is caused by torn cartilage brought about by the everyday wear and teas and even the simple process of aging. Fractured vertebrae can also cause back pain in the thoracic area, as can a herniated disc, and a spine that is oddly shaped or misshapen. Degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis can also be culprits.

Chiropractic Care for the Thoracic Spine

The goal of the chiropractor treating a patient for thoracic back pain will usually focus on reducing the pain and inflammation in the area. The treatments may include:

  • Spinal adjustments
  • Specialized exercise recommendations
  • Ergonomic training
  • Distraction
  • Heat or ice
  • Traction
  • Electrical stimulation

The chiropractor may also recommend nutritional supplements like proteolytic enzymes to aid in managing the swelling and pain that may be caused by disc herniation and some other back injuries. They may also recommend dietary changes or weight loss to help the patient manage their pain.

Chiropractic is a safe, effective, non-invasive treatment for mid to upper back pain. Many patients experience results immediately which is another draw for people. Most patients with back problems will be advised to maintain regular chiropractic visits in order to effective manage the pain and keep it at bay.

What Type of Headache Do You Have?

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Headaches are experienced a little bit differently by everyone. You may feel tired, have blurred vision, a stiff neck, or feel as if you’re unable to function for the day. But they do all have one thing in common – they are not “normal” to deal with frequently.

Why it Matters:

There are many different types of headaches and knowing which one you have is the first step towards finding relief. Here are a few of the most common headache types:

Migraine: Migraines come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, you’ll feel a throbbing on one side of your head. This type of headache can be incredibly painful and can last up to 3 days. You may feel nauseous, have difficulty speaking, or even be sensitive to light, sound, or smell.

Tension Headache: Tension headaches are very common and may affect up to 20% of the population. They usually consist of a constant dull pain that is felt on both sides of the head. Stress, anxiety, or depression are a few of the triggers for a tension headache. You could also get them from dehydration, loud noises, lack of sleep, or even by not getting enough exercise. In short, living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to get rid of tension headaches.

Cluster Headache: Cluster headaches are usually experienced more by men than by women. You will generally feel an intense burning or even a piercing feeling behind or around one of your eyes. These types of headaches usually come when you least expect them and can last anywhere between 15 minutes to three hours.

Next Steps:

If you’re having trouble with migraine, tension, or cluster headaches, make sure to consult with our healthcare team. Did you know research has shown and continues to show that Chiropractic care can reduce the intensity, severity, and frequency of many common headaches… all without the need for medications. Think about that the next time you find yourself dealing with one too many headache episodes. We’re here to help!

Anatomy 101 – The Cervical Spine: What Chiropractic Patients Need to Know

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Neck pain is one of the most common sources of pain and chronic pain worldwide. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, each year, around 30% to 50% of the general population experiences neck pain and around 15% will, at some point in their lives, have chronic neck pain. Women seem to experience it more often than men and it is most prevalent at around middle age. Neck pain can be debilitating, impacting a person home life as well as their work performance. It can also trigger migraines and limit range of motion. Understanding the cervical spine is integral in understanding how to manage pain in that area.

What is the Cervical Spine?

There are seven vertebrae that make up the cervical spine: C1 through C7. They protect the spinal cord and are part of the system that makes up the neck.

C1 is located at the base of the skull and C7 sits at the beginning of the thoracic spine. While C1 is the smallest vertebrae, each subsequent one is slightly larger as you move down the spine. This is necessary because the farther down the spine, the more weight it must bear.

The vertebrae C3 through C6 are called “typical vertebrae.” Like other vertebrae in the spine, they have a similar construction. The top vertebrae, C1 and C2 are “atypical vertebrae.” Their construction is somewhat different from typical vertebrae due to their specialized function and location.

The atlas, C1, is the only vertebrae that has more of a ring shape than a shape resembling a vertebra. It is what connects the skull to the spine and is responsible for about half of the head’s backward and forward range of motion.

The axis, C2, is the second vertebra and has a special construction that connects it to C1 at the atlanto-axial joint. It is responsible for around half of the head’s rotation. The vertebra prominens, C7, is much larger than the vertebrae that sit above it and its shape is different to facilitate its connection to T1, at the beginning of the thoracic spine.

Neck Pain

The cervical spine has several critical functions. It houses the spinal cord and protects it, supports the head and facilitates its movement, and facilitates the flow of blood to the brain.

The human head is around 10 to 13 pounds and the cervical spine, along with an intricate network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments support it. This is what also allow flexibility to the head so that it can move up and down, backwards and forwards, rotational, and side bending. This job alone puts a great deal of stress on the neck and can lead to neck pain. Common causes of neck pain include:

  • Whiplash (whipping the head forwards and then backwards very suddenly)
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Pinched nerve
  • Age related conditions
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Sleeping in certain positions
  • Neck strain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Keeping the neck in one position too long, such as looking down at a mobile device
  • Herniated disc
  • Neck injury
  • Fibromyalgia

Chiropractic Care for the Cervical Spine

A chiropractor will typically treat a patient with neck pain using cervical spinal manipulation, cervical spinal mobilization, or a combination of the two techniques. Cervical spinal manipulation is what most people think of regarding chiropractic treatment. It involves brief, quick thrusts that focus on a single joint at a time so that range of motion is returned to that area. Cervical spinal mobilization is a gentler, lower impact adjustment that does not use as much force but does move the joint to its correct position.

Other treatments the chiropractor may employ include the application of cold or heat, massage, and exercises to strengthen and stretch the neck. The doctor will carefully consider the patient, their lifestyle, habits, and current level of fitness then create a plan that is tailored specifically for them that will help them manage their pain and return flexibility and range of motion as quickly as possible.

How the Quality of Sleep Affects Your Overall Health

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We live in a largely sleep deprived society. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 3 people in the United States does not get enough sleep on a regular basis. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation reports that 45 percent of adults in the US admit that insufficient or poor sleep has had an impact on their daily activities at least once in the previous week. What’s more, about a third of the people who said they slept the number of hours that doctors recommend reported experiencing poor sleep quality.

How Lack of Sleep Affects the Body

Insufficient or poor sleep has been linked to numerous health issues. People who don’t get enough sleep or their sleep quality is poor, have a higher risk of developing dangerous health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Over the long term it has been linked to a shortened lifespan. It may be tempting to forego sleep to have a few extra hours of awake time, but the price is far too high. Your body and mind need sleep and when you deny that need you set in motion the potential for some serious impacts on your health.

Sleep is when your body and brain rest and rejuvenate. When you have adequate sleep you will find that you are more focused and you have better mental clarity.

You will also notice increased energy and a better mood. When you don’t give your body the rest it needs you will begin to feel drained and irritable.

You may also notice that you get sick more often as sleep is directly tied to immune function. One study even found that people who got eight hours of sleep a night were less likely to catch a cold or develop cold symptoms that those who got less than seven hours a night.

In fact, those who got less than seven hours were three times more likely to get sick. There is no denying, sleep is important.

Amazing Benefits of Sleep

There is no denying that sleep is absolutely vital for a healthier mind and body. This include quality of sleep. A poor quality of sleep can be just as detrimental as not getting enough hours of sleep and can still lead to sleep deprivation. A great deal of research has been done on the effects of sleep and research has shown that getting good sleep provides great benefits including:

  • Longer life
  • Increased production at work
  • Enhanced athletic performance
  • Less anxiety and depression
  • Better outlook on life
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Healthier spine
  • Better pain management
  • Improved grades
  • Lowered risk of certain health conditions
  • Better memory
  • Increased creativity
  • Decreased chance of auto accidents
  • Lower stress level
  • Better decision making
  • Enhanced attention or focus

Portrait of a Good Night’s Sleep

Adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, preferably uninterrupted, within a 24-hour period on a regular basis. There is more to a good night’s sleep than just quantity though. You should be able to fall asleep within about 20 minutes after you lie down and your sleep is continuous.

When you wake, you should feel refreshed and alert, productive throughout most of the day – although it is normal for a person to notice a temporary decrease in energy and alertness later in the afternoon.

If your family members, friend, or spouse notice any unusual or troubling sleep behaviors such as snoring, restlessness, pauses in breathing, or nightmares it could indicate a larger problem other than the interrupted sleep. It is well worth visiting your doctor to get help and remedy the situation because sleep is one of the most important needs your body has – and you can’t survive without it.

Walking vs Running: Which is Better for Low Back Pain Sufferers?

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If you are one of the seven out of 10 Americans who has back pain, you are probably looking for relief. What you probably aren’t looking for are injections or pills with harmful side effects. Your doctor may have told you that exercise is a great way to naturally relieve pain, but you aren’t sure where to start or even what exercise is best.

Running and walking are both good exercises, but they aren’t for everyone. Some back pain patients can run with no problem with others have significant trouble. So, which is better for back pain sufferers? The answer might surprise you.

Benefits of running

When it comes to health benefits, running and walking don’t differ much. Both help to decrease your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension as well as decrease your cholesterol.

Running also has the added benefit of increasing the bone that connects the femur head to the shaft, essentially strengthening the hips and helping to prevent hip fractures. Both running and walking burn calories, facilitate weight loss, and can help to make you healthier. However, one activity is a lot harder on the back so if you have chronic back pain there are some things you should know.

How running affects the back

Running puts repetitive impact and stress on the back. If you have a problem with your lower back, running can exacerbate it or lead to additional issues like sciatica.

You can experience back muscle spasms, muscular strain, and other centralized lower back pain. If you have disc problems the high impact nature of running can make put a lot of stress on your spine and make your disc problems worse.

How walking benefits back pain sufferers

Walking is a much lower impact activity than running. Although some back problems can be made worse by walking, that is fairly rare.

Most back pain is relieved with walking and you can enjoy other great benefits as well. By adopting a regular walking routine you will strengthen your hips, legs, ankles, and feet as well as your core.

This helps to provide better stability for your spine. It also helps to increase circulation in the spinal structures, draining toxins, and pumping nutrients into the surrounding soft tissues.

Pain often restricts mobility. Walking helps to improve range of motion and flexibility. You will find that your posture improves as well as your mood. A stronger body and increased flexibility help to prevent injury.

Walking at least three times a week for at least 15 minutes is great for overall wellness and a strong body. Combine it with a healthy diet and stress relief techniques and you will look, feel, and move better – and your pain will be easier to manage.

Make walking work

When you start your walking program, don’t push too hard too fast. Go at your own pace and start slow. If you have a higher fitness level you may want to try speed walking. After a five-minute warm up, walk as fast as you can for about 8 minutes then slow to a moderate pace for two minutes to cool down.

You can also engage your core muscles by using several techniques. Walk on an incline or using walking poles are excellent for strengthening the core. Pulling your abdominals in toward your spine while you walk is also a great move.

Running is good for your health, but it isn’t for everyone. Walking is a far better choice for most patients with lower back pain. You may even find that your pain is alleviated altogether so get out there and get moving.