At OWL Chiropractic, we understand that true wellness goes beyond simply addressing pain. That's why we emphasize the critical role of diagnostic imaging, specifically X-rays, in providing comprehensive chiropractic care.
While many associate chiropractic with pain relief, the underlying goal is to optimize nervous system function. A key component of our evaluation is the lateral cervical spine X-ray, which allows us to visualize the intricate alignment of your neck. These images aren't just about spotting obvious fractures; they're essential for identifying subtle misalignments, known as subluxations, that can disrupt the delicate communication pathways of your nervous system.
Utilizing our cutting-edge dynamic digital motion X-rays, we can meticulously analyze your spine, pinpointing the root cause of dysfunction and paving the way for targeted and effective adjustments that restore balance and promote overall health.
What Is Normal?
We look for a few things when looking at the lateral cervical (or side view of the neck).
The first is the optimal curve (or lordosis) of the cervical spine. The yellow arc represents that ideal curve. If we start losing the curve in our neck this will put pressure on the nerves coming out of our spinal cord causing things like pain, but also dysfunction throughout the body as the pressure on the nerve keeps the body from communicating properly.
The second thing we look at is anterior head posture - or how far in front of the body the head goes. Ideally, this should be less than half an inch. For every inch the head goes in front of the body, the neck, spinal cord, and brain stem experience an extra 10 pounds of pressure.
The third thing we look at is the lateral atlas angle - that is to say, the angle of the top bone (C1) in your spine. This bone should fall between 18 and 24 degrees. Again, if the angle is not within this range we expect extra pressure on the brain stem and spinal cord which could cause a variety of different symptoms, most commonly headaches.
When Things Are Not Normal
So what happens if the patient’s spine does not fall into “normal”? This is the part where we get to see how things are connected. For example, if a patient has anterior head posture we expect the atlas angle to go down and the curve to start straightening. If this does not happen then we know multiple problems are happening in the spine. We can then look at our motion x-rays to evaluate the biomechanics and identify the various subluxations causing the loss of structure.
Biomechanical Breakdown
Loss of structure in the spine is the result of a breakdown in the biomechanics. This breakdown is caused by a trauma that interferes with the communication of the nerves, creating the subluxation. Therefore, we can utilize the motion of the spine to help identify where the subluxations are.
When looking at the spine in flexion (or looking down) we are looking for the backs of the bones to arch forward in a smooth fashion. We are also looking for even spacing between the spinous processes (or those little spikes in the back). On the left side, you can see what a normal flexion looks like. On the right side, you can see that the person has a restricted range of motion (their chin is not reaching their chest). You can also see the red lines creating a “kink” in the arch. And lastly, you can see that the spacing between the spinous processes is increased at the yellow arrows, but decreased at the red arrow. The red arrow points to the subluxation. By adjusting this bone, we will help unlock it, and re-establish the connection between the brain and that nerve allowing them to communicate better, leading to better function and healing.
When looking at the spine in extension (or looking up), we are again looking for a nice smooth arch in the bones. We are also looking for those spinous processes to close down on top of each other. In the image on the left, you can see how all the spinous processes closed down, while the image on the right has blue arrows pointing to the spinous processes that did not close. Again, these blue arrows are pointing to the subluxations or areas we would be helping to unlock with specific adjustments.
Degenerative Arthritis
We can identify degenerative osteoarthritis on X-rays. We can see a reduced space between the vertebral bodies (disc spacing) along with spurs and fusions. On the left, you can see the red arrows pointing to reduced spacing, and on the right, you will see reduced spacing as well as malformation of the bones as they are starting to fuse. Arthritis starts to form when a segment of the spine has misaligned or stopped moving properly and stayed that way for a long time.
On average, it takes about 10-15 years for this process to start. When multiple adjacent segments have arthritis, it typically means the area has been locked up even longer. Ideally, we want to correct misalignments in the spine before this process starts, but if the process has started, it is our job to keep it from getting worse. The more arthritis present in a spine, the longer it will take to re-establish function in that nervous system, improve biomechanics, and potentially correct the structure of the spine. This helps give us an idea of how long our Care Plans for patients should be and how often we should be seeing them.
Why Does This Matter?
Why do these subluxations and the alignment of your neck matter? As I’ve discussed earlier, the subluxations put pressure on the nerves coming out of your spinal cord. The nerves in your cervical spine go to your eyes, skull, neck muscles, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands/fingers, diaphragm, esophagus, heart, lungs, and chest. Pressure on these nerves can cause a wide range of symptoms including headaches, dizziness, sinus issues, allergies, fatigue, vision issues, arm pain, hand and finger numbness and tingling, asthma, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and more.
Remember, true spinal health isn't about chasing isolated symptoms. At OWL Chiropractic, we understand the intricate interconnectedness of your entire spine. Whether you're experiencing neck pain, back discomfort, or something seemingly unrelated, a comprehensive evaluation is crucial to pinpoint the root cause. Don't let underlying spinal issues compromise your well-being. Take the proactive step towards a healthier you – call us today or schedule your new patient appointment online, and let us help you unlock your body's full potential.
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