I Can Turn My Head Now! How Chiropractors Can Create Better Range of Motion

Written by Dr. Michael Weir Friday, 29 April 2011 09:48

On of the things chiropractors are know for is helping people restore their range of motion, or their ability to move normally. This can be in the neck, low back, and even should or hips. So, what is the reason that we are so good at helping people with this? It is because we work on two profound systems of the body. The mechanical portion, which is the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons as well as the neurological portion of your ability to move.

On of the things chiropractors are know for is helping people restore their range of motion, or their ability to move normally. This can be in the neck, low back, and even should or hips. So, what is the reason that we are so good at helping people with this? It is because we work on two profound systems of the body. The mechanical portion, which is the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons as well as the neurological portion of your ability to move.

In the text book "Principles of Neural Science" by Kandel and Schwartz, which is a 1400 page text that I used in my postgraduate work in chiropractic neurology, it shows us perfectly how your "range of motion" is improved after seeing the chiropractor.

The chiropractic treatment puts a fast stretch (just what it sounds like) on the muscle spindles and the golgi tendon organ in the muscle, which in turn creates a reflex relaxation response and activates the 1B fibers of the golgi tendon organ which creates relaxation with the muscle. Simply put, we tell the brain which is what controls your muscles, to relax. This whole crazy reaction then allows you to turn your head normally, or bend forward at the waist the way you are supposed to. Sound complex? It really is, but this is how chiropractors get such great results is that we affect the nervous system so profoundly!

A lack of mobility in your neck or back can be a warning sign of much deeper issues, such as degenerative changes, scar tissue build or even arthritis. It is very important that you have your spine assessed by a trained chiropractor that can tell you if you are a candidate for chiropractic care to arrest any problems that may be developing.

Bellevue chiropractor Dr. Michael Weir is the clinic director at Back in Action Chiropractic. He is board eligible for his diplomat in chiropractic neurology through the Carrick institute of graduate studies.