Golf and Upper Cervical Care

Every year August brings us National Golf Month. During this month, you might be trying to get all your swings in before the summer is over. Many golf courses and driving ranges offer discounts and deals during August to get everyone participating. 

Of the 25 million people who enjoy golfing, many of those players suffer from chronic pain. Golf requires a repetitive motion and uses a variety of muscles in your entire body. It requires most of the repetitive motion on one side of the spine. Because of this, your body may find it hard to efficiently guide your swing and have a load of stress on the lower back, neck, and wrists. 

The mechanics of your golf swing starts with your nervous system. That’s why upper cervical care will keep your swing on track. By not having a properly aligned and balanced head on the vertebra, the signals that travel from your brain to your nervous system to all of your body parts, your body can be disrupted or distorted. Resulting in experiencing symptoms and developing pain, all while affecting your performance. 

To prevent the interference between your brain and body from communicating correctly, you must maintain balance and alignment on top of your neck. Upper cervical care will help you restore balance to your body and remove the interference. 

You can improve your golf game by making regular visits to the chiropractor. 

Your body can be balanced and function better, resulting in a BETTER GOLF GAME. An upper cervical correction is a gentle, non-invasive way to fix your pain. By applying a precise and controlled touch to your head, neck, and spine, your body can be restored and have balance by removing the interference in communication signals. 

There are many benefits of chiropractic care. Not only can it help with your golf swing, but also a tool to keep you on track to a healthy and active lifestyle. Regular adjustments can keep your body on track and perform maximum mobility at the top of your game. Even if you do not suffer from pain or injuries, chiropractic can help prevent injury in the future. 

Contact Atlas Chiropractic today for more information on how we can help reduce the chance of injury for golfers and promote healing! 

Good posture is a sign of many things; one of those things is a well-functioning brain. The body and central nervous system are connected. Your posture results from a developed proprioception, balance, coordination, and muscle function.

What is Proprioception? 

Proprioception (or kinesthesia) is our perception of our body’s position and movement. The term “proprioception” was coined by neuropsychologist C.S. Sherrington, the combined Latin word for “one’s own” and reception. Meaning paying attention to ourselves. 

If you think about it, you know exactly where every part of your body is. You know if your knees bend straight or not. You can close your eyes and touch your nose. This is because your proprioceptive sense lets you know where your body parts are.

These sensations are signals of sensory receptors within your muscle, skin, and joints. Proprioception helps us be aware of our own limbs in relation to external objects, control our movements, and keep our bodies properly aligned. 

Why proprioception matters

Proprioception benefits our bodies in numerous ways, from improving reaction time and speed to preventing injuries and improving balance. It’s even been linked to reducing stress and being able to pay closer attention to things. 

Our proprioception worsens as we age, thus the higher risk for injury and falls resulting from things like twisted ankles or displaced hips. Diseases like Parkinson’s can also affect your proprioception. 

Here are some tips to improve your posture and develop proper proprioception. 

Work on ways to Improve Your Balance 

Balance is directly linked to proprioception. It’s impossible to balance yourself without the ability. That and proper posture require this ability and focus. That’s why focusing on the issue of poor proprioception is going to generate more positive results. 

We may not realize how often we use our balance because it’s a part of our everyday life. People who have poor balance can find the simplest movements difficult to perform. If you want coordination of good posture, it’s vital to maintain good balance. 

There are many different ways to improve your balance. For example, Yoga is a great way to get low-impact exercise while improving balance and coordination. Try yoga-based balance poses like the single-leg Tree Pose. 

Practice proper Breathing Methods 

It’s common for us to breathe with short, shallow breaths. But when we become more aware of our breathing habits, we can focus on taking slow deep long breaths. Breathing deeply and filling our lungs with air is directly related to posture. 

Deep breathing has been linked to decreasing stress, improving posture, increasing cognitive function, and decreasing pain levels, all while boosting your energy. 

Make Regular Visits to the Chiropractor  

Research has often shown that chiropractic adjustments focus on lower back or neck pain and musculoskeletal problems. While still associated with chiropractors, that’s no longer just the case. More and more evidence shows that adjustments can transform the structure and function of the nervous system and brain. 

Regular chiropractic adjustments can improve proprioception, posture, balance, and coordination. 

Posture is a direct indication of brain functionality. Correcting the linked problems o proprioception and proper posture will lead to a healthier lifestyle.

If you are living with constant migraines, then you know it’s more than just a bad headache. Migraines are neurological conditions that can impact all areas of our lives and our health.  

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. During this time, we must raise awareness and educate others about migraines, headaches, related diseases, and conditions. Migraines impact over 40 million people in the US, and nearly 400,000 Americans experience cluster headaches. These painful, intense headaches can be frequently known as a cluster period and could sometimes last weeks or even months. 

Migraines can affect your work environment, productivity, and earning potential. 

Migraines may cause you to disappear during work hours because of your experiencing symptoms due to migraines, like debilitating pain, blurred vision, or even nausea. The most common migraine symptoms sometimes make it impossible to work. Some may go to the workplace, which triggers migraine attacks because of the long hours on the computer screen or feelings of being in a stressful environment. 

People who experience consistent migraines cannot work normally and function as they could. Because of this, you feel less productive, get less done, reschedule meetings, call in sick, and miss out on essential details to reach your goals. 

Migraines can affect your personal life and relationships.

Because of migraine unpredictability, you never know when or where you will be when a migraine attack occurs. The encompassing nature of these attacks means sometimes, we wind up disappointing ourselves and the people close to us. You never know when and where you will feel a migraine come on. It could be when you’re out trying to support a friend or on an important date for you and your partner. Those relationships could feel threatened. After all, you can’t show up when they need you most because you’re dealing with unbearable pains and symptoms. 

Dealing with migraines can make parenting feel impossible. 

It’s hard enough being a parent, or even a single parent, and having to deal with the difficulties of migraines. Even the most minor things can feel challenging when dealing with children while you have a migraine attack. You may feel bad for your partner, who is taking more responsibility because you have to rest and feel the burden of migraine symptoms. For single parents, there is no help, and juggling parenthood while feeling pain can take a toll on our bodies and mental health. 

Don’t fear, managing migraines IS possible. 

It’s not uncommon for people who experience migraines to experience mental health problems. Because of these effects on our lives, other body parts have trouble coping with regular life tasks. 

At times there is no cure for migraines; however, there are common ways to manage them effectively with upper cervical chiropractic.

Migraines are neurovascular headaches. “Neuro” stands for the nerve component and “vascular” for blood vessels. Another primary issue that directly causes migraines is a disruption in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is crucial for proper brain function.

At Atlas Brain and Body, we can measure stress on the brain stem and the pain-sensitive surrounding tissue. Sometimes the blood supply to the brain is often compromised. Another primary issue that directly causes migraines is a disruption in Cerebro spinal fluid, which is crucial for proper brain function. 

If you want to start making significant changes in your life and live without the pains and agony of migraines, make an appointment at Atlas Orthogonal at  (828) 253-0700 to see how we can help. 

 

It’s easy for cervical instability to creep into our lives and become a prominent reason for the aches and pains you are experiencing. With the increase in smartphone use, computers, and other technology devices, neck pain has become more common among men and women.

What exactly is cervical instability?

Cervical instability is more than a condition. For those with cervical instability, the cervical vertebrae can move beyond their normal limits due to stretched and loose ligaments. When that occurs, the cervical spine can no longer work as it should, not allowing you to move and twist and turn comfortably.

The strain on the ligaments sometimes results in symptoms such as headaches, fainting, or even memory loss. Having those lax ligaments can result in chronic pain and affect specific body parts or the entire body.

What causes cervical instability?

Cervical instability has numerous potential causes, like so many other orthopedic problems.

The most common reasons for cervical instability include:

Trauma: Traumatic events like a car crash or injury can cause cervical instability on the spine over time. Often patients who experience cervical instability have experienced whiplash during a car accident or have some sort of disruption and trauma that overextended joints and ligaments.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): When having RA or similar arthritis conditions, the joints progressively deteriorate and affect the joints that connect to your vertebrae. Ultimately leading to cervical instability.

Genetic Disorders or Syndromes: Cervical instability is associated with other conditions and syndromes such as down syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos.

What are the symptoms of cervical instability?

When trying to understand what’s causing your pain and if you are concerned you may have cervical instability, looking at key signs and symptoms can help you better understand your condition.

Symptoms of cervical instability include:

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed, it may be related to cervical instability. It’s best to be evaluated by a qualified and experienced physician.

How is cervical instability diagnosed?

There are several tools and techniques to help diagnose cervical instability and diagnose clinically by assessing the patient’s symptoms and medical history. In some instances, medical professionals will perform imaging studies to properly diagnose specific pains so you can seek further treatment.

Treatments and Prevention

To prevent and treat cervical instability, it’s best to have regular visits to a chiropractor. Chiropractic care is a common and effective way to treat headaches, poor posture, and spinal misalignments, which are common symptoms when you are facing cervical instability.

Upper cervical chiropractic care can essentially correct cervical instability. Spinal chiropractic manipulative therapy can correct cervical instability,” joint disorders, dislocations of cervical vertebrae, and MORE importantly  Chiropractic adjustments are a safe and effective solution for symptoms and pain caused by cervical instability.

Cervical instability is often underdiagnosed. If you are experiencing any symptoms of cervical instability, contact your chiropractor right away.

This is manageable and highly treatable. You don’t have to live with pain and discomfort. Find long-lasting pain relief and restore brain-body balance at the Atlas Orthogonal Clinic in Asheville.

Atlas specializes in care for complex upper cervical conditions. Our patients struggle with their health over the years often because they don’t know what’s wrong or are usually provided with short-term relief for the pain. We focus on treating the root cause of the pain you are experiencing by treating the misalignment of the bone and vertebra.

Correcting these distortions requires specialized diagnostics and treatment protocols that aren’t widely practiced—or even known about—in mainstream medicine or traditional chiropractic care.

If you’ve ever been told that nothing can be done, you’ll have to “learn to live with it,” or that medication and surgery are your only options, make an appointment at Atlas Chiropractic, ou where we expect you will find results you are looking for ????

Everyone experiences stress, but we all experience that stress in different ways. Stress causes tensions in your life physically, mentally, and emotionally. Learning to cope with our stress in a healthy way can sometimes feel unattainable. April is Stress Awareness Month, and it’s important to remind everyone that there are many ways to help you with your stress. 

By finding a healthier way to cope with the stress, you can live a more positive and healthier life. Stress can impact more aspects of your mind and body than you think. The longer the stress goes on, the more susceptible you are to various mental and physical health conditions.

Studies show the most common reasons for stress among Americans include money, work, and political climate.  

When you’re experiencing stress, your body immediately turns on its physiological response called the “fight-or-flight” response. This response gives you the tools you need to either defend yourself or flee. Once the perceived threat disappears, your body should stop releasing stress hormones, and everything goes back to normal.

One of the most common stress-induced symptoms- Headaches.

Stress can cause headaches and they can exacerbate others. Knowing the type of headache you have helps you find the solution and find the best pain relief. Getting those answers to better understand your stress triggers and contributors. 

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches, also known as “stress headaches,” are the most common headaches and are directly correlated with stress. They include both sides of your head and forehead. When experiencing tension headaches, you may often feel both sides of your head tightening and the back of your neck. Tension headaches are presenting a question around your head and gripping it. 

The pain in tension headaches are caused by the buildup of tension in your body. It’s normal to feel pressure when you have a busy schedule, especially when you have significant responsibilities weighing on you. 

There are two types of tension headaches:

  1. Episodic tension headaches occur fewer than 15 days a month.
  2. Chronic tension headaches occur more than 15 days a month.

Atlas Orthogonal chiropractic adjustments are ideal for treating headaches because they address the root cause of your pain. By improving your spinal alignment, your blood can circulate more freely to reduce inflammation and irritation that leads to headaches. Chiropractic adjustments also enhance the flexibility and range of motion in your neck and shoulders. You can engage in exercise and physical activities without pain.

Many people who have experienced chronic headaches due to stress go to numerous doctor visits and don’t receive long-term results. There is no magic serum that will simply CURE you, but there are things you can do to prevent stress headaches from causing havoc in your life. 

Getting results means getting to the cause of the pain and not just masking the problem with medications. Here at Atlas Brain and Body, we understand how to reverse years of degeneration and create a success plan that includes all the aspects that make up a proper health care solution. 

The fundamentals of upper cervical care empower the nervous system so that you can heal properly and experience true relief from pain caused by stress.

Call and book an appointment with Dr. Nygaard at Atlas Brain and Body today at (828) 253-0700.

 

The Cranial nerve is also referred to as the Vagus Nerve. The Latin word Vagus means wandering. This nerve is named because it originates in the medulla part of the brain stem, then winds through the body. Networking the brain with the stomach and digestive system, heart, spleen, intestines, liver, and kidneys, the lungs, 

The vagus nerve is a major parasympathetic nerve. The PNS or Nervous parasympathetic system helps keep us stable and helps heal our bodies. The PNS is the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system (or SNS). Also known as the fight or flight system, the PNS is the Wine and Dine system. 

Vagal Tone 

Everyone has a specific Vagal tone. The strength of our tone is measured by how quickly our body can relax after stress. The stronger your vagus activity, the faster your body responds to a relaxed state after a stressful moment. 

Vagal tone (or VT) is the strength of your vagus response. The VT can be determined by measuring your heart rate and getting your HRV or heart rate variability.

A high vagal tone lets your body regulate blood glucose levels better and reduces the likelihood of things like diabetes, stroke, or other types of cardiovascular diseases. A higher VT means that your body can relax faster after experiencing stress. A higher VT is also directly related to a better mood and feeling less anxiety. 

A lower vagal tone, as part of the immune system, inflammation is helpful when trying to help the body heal after an injury. Still, it can damage organs and blood vessels if it persists when not needed. 

Why Upper Cervical Chiropractic 

The vagus nerve and upper cervical chiropractors go hand in hand because of the link between the essential nerves and the spine and upper neck. Spinal health plays a role in directing the health of the vagus nerve. Suppose the spine is altered in its position or ability to move. In that case, the information to and from the vagus nerve becomes interrupted. That’s why chiropractic adjustments play an essential role in aligning and moving the spine to assure vagus nerve activity is doing its job correctly.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic plays a vital role in reducing chronic disease through adjustments that directly influence vagal nerve function. Research shows that Chriocpic adjustments can improve HRV by bossing the health function of the vagus nerve. By enhancing the vagus nerve, you will improve the way your entire nervous system functions. Resulting in lowering your risk for chronic disease and increasing your life span.

A better functioning nervous system will experience overall better health through regular chiropractic care. Call Us At  (828) 253-0700  for more information. 

 

It might be hard to believe, but the foods you eat can play a significant role in your spinal health. Suppose you’ve been experiencing spinal problems lately. In that case, getting on track with the proper diet is probably the next step to feeling your best. 

Specific food is packed with what your body needs to be healthier and more robust. By making the right food choices, you can get back on track to a healthier spine. Avoiding the wrong foods and replacing them with the right ones is the best way to start. 

Wondering what foods are best for your spine? Here are 5 of the best foods to consider adding to your diet to keep your spine healthy.

  1. Vegetables 

We know that vegetables are good for our health, body, and mind. By creating more vegetables in your diet, you can improve your spine and overall health and wellness. That being said, certain vegetables contain properties that will help fight spinal issues. 

Green, leafy vegetables like kale, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach strengthen properties like inflammation. These vegetables also contain nutrients that help support the spine. Your spine is the backbone of your body’s skeletal system, and it needs all the nutritional help you can give it. These leafy greens are full of essential vitamins like A, C, E, and K for the bones and tissues for a healthy full-functioning spine. Things like vitamin K help with calcium absorption, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Magnesium in these vegetables also increases bone density and muscle strength. 

2. Fruits 

When adding fruit to your diet, you have to be more careful because the high sugar and overconsuming can negatively affect your health. While you need to be responsible, fruits have many health benefits on the spine. 

Berries are particularly good for spinal health. Pack with antioxidants that naturally fight inflammation and even reduce the risk of experiencing pain when developing arthritis. Fruits like blueberries have more than 20 different antioxidants. Cherries and grapes have similar benefits. Tart cherries have the most anti-inflammatory benefits of any other fruit. 

Pineapples are another fruit that can help people manage osteoarthritis pain. Pineapples carry an abundance of manganese that help prevent arthritis of the spine and strengthen connective tissues. High amounts of manganese and protein-digesting can also minimize flare-ups from inflammation and increase the strength of the spine and joints.

3. Calcium/ Dairy 

Calcium is essential for maintaining proper bone and spine health. The easiest way to add calcium to your diet without taking supplements is by increasing dairy in your diet. You can begin building your spine health by choosing the right type of dairy to add and not overconsuming it. 

Be smart about consuming dairy products to avoid adding too much fat or cholesterol. 

4.Omega-3- Fatty Acids 

Omega-3 can naturally reduce your body’s inflammatory response and help the healing process. Omega-3 is known for decreasing chronic inflammation. Since inflammation is a contributor to back pain, reducing the inflammation will likely decrease pain you may be experiencing. 

Adding salmon to your diet regularly is a great way to gain omega 3 fatty acids. Salmon is versatile and tastes good. It can be prepared in different ways and suitable for your health in many different ways. 

5. Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are another great way to increase spinal health. Add one of these herbs and spices below to your recipes and daily diet routine. Try creating herbal teas, which strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. 

When changing your diet to gain better spine health, remove unhealthy choices gradually and replace them with better alternatives. Enhance your diet by replacing your meals over time with more nutritious options. 

A diet full of essential vitamins and nutrients is ideal for overall well-being. If you need further guidance on proper nutrition for optimal back health in your spine, consider making an appointment with Dr. David Nygaard to discuss your options for a healthier spine.

Contact Atlas Brain and Body today at 828-253-0700 to see how we can help. 

A Pain in the NeckOne of the main causes of neck pain is a condition called vertebral subluxation which results from misaligned vertebrae in the spine of the neck. Fortunately, chiropractors such as Dr. Nygaard are trained to pinpoint these areas and work with you on correcting them.

Chiropractic adjustments are safe and gentle maneuvers that can be used to fix these vertebral subluxations.  Much research has been conducted that shows these adjustments can dramatically reduce neck pain and improve neck function.

According to a just-published study of over 2,000 adults who sought conventional and complementary remedies for neck pain; over half of the sufferers chose chiropractic care. 61{115649cd14c12cd94f0d147e1e5923e5cfd090a3a81f6b6da2d6b334a1994be8} of the chiropractic patients reported their care to be very helpful, while only 27{115649cd14c12cd94f0d147e1e5923e5cfd090a3a81f6b6da2d6b334a1994be8} of those seeking conventional care did.

While chiropractic adjustments may be beneficial for the treatment of neck pain, another technique called mobilization can be combined with it to provide even greater relief. Mobilization moves the neck through range of motion exercises to stretch muscles and boost circulation, and most of the time is used to set up a chiropractic adjustment.

Speaking of range of motion – according to a Canadian study, chiropractic care can offer immediate results by boosting neck range of motion, and in turn, decreasing pain.

Researchers studied 100 patients with neck pain, 78{115649cd14c12cd94f0d147e1e5923e5cfd090a3a81f6b6da2d6b334a1994be8} of whom reported endured pain.  52 of those 100 patients received chiropractic adjustments while the other 48 were mobilized.  All patient’s neck range of motion were rated before and after treatment.

The results? Both groups felt lessened pain, but the reduction was more than 1.5 times greater in the group that received the chiropractic adjustment J Manipulative Physiol Ther.

While ROM, chiropractic adjustments and mobilization are all beneficial, exercise is also very important. Building muscle strength and muscle endurance, even in as little as 3 months can have dramatic results.

Want another reason why building neck strength is important? It can prevent many of the hateful headaches that over 45 million Americans suffer from, including chronic or migraine headaches. One report, which included 683 chronic headaches sufferers, found that chiropractic care is as effective as prescription medication for tension-type headaches J Manipulative Physiol Ther

Neck pain can sometimes be a sign of another health concern. If you suffer from neck pain, a visit to Dr. Nygaard will not only relieve your mind, but also your pain. Ignoring neck pain may exacerbate discomfort. Call Atlas Brain and Body today to get rid of neck pain for good!

 

Common Myths about ChiropracticHave you ever ridden a tilt-a-whirl?  Do you remember when you were a kid and you would spin yourself in circles until you fell down?  That dizzy feeling as a child was fun, but can be scary, and even dangerous, for adults.  Most dizzy spells are symptoms of other conditions and it can present itself in a multitude of ways.  Sometimes it feels like your body is spinning, while other times it’s the room that seems to be spinning out of control.

Symptoms of dizziness can include a lack of coordination while standing or walking, a sense of imbalance, fainting sensations and/or lightheadedness. Dr. Nygaard can get to the bottom of these conditions by determining the root cause of the problem.

What causes dizziness?

It is generally attributed to an inner ear problem, although  it could also signal issues within the central nervous system.  Other causes could include allergies, colds or flu, dehydration or stress. It is the most common complaint in people over 70 years old, and the third most complaint by the rest of the population

Could it be vertigo?

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving where there actually is no movement. 

The following are types of vertigo and their symptoms:

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

The most common type, it is triggered by certain movements such as a sudden rotation or backward extension of the head.  It is usually caused by some type of blockage in the ear canal. Dr. Nygaard can correct this with exercise or a re-positioning of the head and neck.

How long will it take for me to get better?Each individual varies.

Chiropractic addresses the underlying cause of the problem instead of masking the problem with drugs. The intent of chiropractic is to identify and correct subluxation.

Subluxation directly causes pain and countless other health problems. Subluxation has a progressive, destructive impact on the nervous system and overall health. The factors affecting recovery are the: extent of damage to the nerves stage of degeneration in the bones and discs overall vitality of the patient (age, physical condition, complicating health factors) how closely a patient follows treatment recommendations (keeping appointments, following instructions for outside daily activities and doing recommended exercises)

Dr. Nygaard is the only doctor in the Western North Carolina area with this area of expertise and care. He is happy to customize a safe and effective treatment plan for you, so book your free initial pre-consultation today.

 

Book an Appointment Now!

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