Dr. Broc Sheets

04/29/2026

Neck and shoulder pain isn’t always a local tissue issue.

The phrenic nerve originates from C3–C5 and provides motor and sensory innervation to the diaphragm. Sensory fibers also carry input from surrounding structures, including diaphragmatic pleura and peritoneum.

When the diaphragm becomes restricted or irritated (e.g., altered breathing mechanics, increased intra-abdominal pressure, or local inflammatory/lymphatic congestion near the liver), afferent signaling through the phrenic nerve can increase.

Because these signals enter the spinal cord at C3–C5, the brain may interpret the source as somatic structures in the same segmental region- commonly the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, or shoulder tip. This is a classic example of viscerosomatic referral.

Additionally:

* Reduced diaphragm excursion → decreased lymphatic and venous return (the diaphragm acts as a mechanical pump)
* Increased fascial tension → altered rib and thoracic mechanics
* Heightened sympathetic tone → increased nociceptive sensitivity

This creates a feedback loop of:
restricted diaphragm → altered neural input → perceived neck/shoulder pain → further guarding

Interventions that improve:

* Thoracic and rib mobility
* Diaphragm function (breathing mechanics)
* Nervous system regulation

…can reduce aberrant input and improve symptoms- even when the pain presents in the neck or shoulder.

04/20/2026

Shoulder Pain While Running Testimonial

04/07/2026

The shoulder is just the messenger.

It’s one of the most mobile joints in the body, which means it depends heavily on everything around it working well- your spine, rib cage, scapula, and even your breathing patterns.

If your thoracic spine is stiff…
If your rib cage isn’t moving well…
If your nervous system isn’t coordinating stability and movement…

Your shoulder has to compensate.

Over time, that compensation turns into irritation, inflammation, and pain.

That’s why just chasing the shoulder doesn’t always create lasting change.

At our office, we look at the entire system- how your brain, spine, and body communicate and move together so the shoulder doesn’t have to do it all alone.

Heal the system → the shoulder follows.

03/25/2026

There are many connections with the jaw and the pelvis.

Two main connectors are through muscle/ fascial and nerves.

The deep frontal fascial line starts at the bottom of the feet and goes up to the back of and inner legs, into the pelvic floor, up to the diaphragm and back around to the neck and jaw.

The Vagus Nerve is a cranial nerve that innervates jaw muscles and travels down to the diaphragm, stomach, and pelvic floor, innervating many muscles and organs along the way.

If you are experiencing pain, tension or symptoms, it is never just one thing by itself. Everything is connected.

This is why we take a whole body approach to see where the root cause is. It is not always originating where you feel the pain.

03/07/2026

03/07/2026

Shoulder pain usually isn’t just about the shoulder.

02/18/2026

There are layers to every human.

There are layers to every adjustment.

02/17/2026

Emotions are supposed to be Energy in Motion.

The body doesn’t lie. Our nervous system keeps track of everything. If we have an experience (physical, emotional, chemical) that our system cannot adapt to in the moment to integrate, the information becomes stored and we hold onto it resulting in patterns that cause a state of dis-ease and tension in the body.

We help facilitate the body in unraveling and releasing these patterns that are causing dysfunction

By assisting the body in releasing these patterns, the body gets a second opportunity to integrate the experience and fully process the information allowing more ease, flexibility and healing in the system.

02/04/2026

20-20-20 Exercise

Your body and eyes were never designed to stare at a screen for hours. Try the 20-20-20 reset: every 20 minutes, stand up, move for 20 seconds, and look 20 feet away.

It’s a small shift that helps your spine, eyes, and nervous system stay calm and clear.

02/03/2026

Does your SI joint go “out of place”?

When the sacroiliac (SI) joint is not moving properly, the problem is less about a “misaligned bone” and more about how the joint is communicating with the nervous system. The SI joint is rich in proprioceptors and mechanoreceptors that provide the brain with constant information about pelvic position, load, and movement. When motion is restricted or poorly coordinated, this sensory input becomes distorted or reduced, leading to impaired proprioception and less accurate motor control of the pelvis, hips, and lumbar spine.

Chiropractic adjustments provide a rapid, specific mechanical stimulus that activates these joint and ligament mechanoreceptors. This improves the quality of afferent input sent to the spinal cord and brain, helping restore clearer body awareness and more efficient muscular coordination. At the same time, increased mechanoreceptive input helps inhibit excessive nociceptive (pain) signaling at the spinal cord level, reducing pain without numbing normal sensation.

Poor SI motion can also increase strain on surrounding ligaments and tissues, sensitizing pain receptors and driving protective muscle tension. By improving joint motion and sensory feedback, chiropractic care reduces this ongoing mechanical and neurological irritation. On a broader level, adjustments influence central processing and autonomic nervous system balance. The result is improved movement confidence, decreased pain signaling, and a nervous system that shifts from protection toward stability, coordination, and adaptability.