Central Health Chiropractic

03/20/2024

We went viral on TikTok! Up to over 5 Million views and over 350,000 likes. Check out a few of the articles written about our video in the New York Post and on Upworthy. Follow us on TikTok for more entertaining and insightful videos!

https://www.upworthy.com/chiropractor-shows-people-under-35-are-getting-hunchbacks

https://nypost.com/2024/03/12/lifestyle/gen-z-and-millennials-are-turning-into-old-hunched-backed-people-chiropractor/

“If you are under 35 you need to pay attention to this. We are all turning into those old hunched over people and there’s a reason behind it.”

02/12/2024

Do you know the most common reason for spinal surgery in people over the age of 65?

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is narrowing of the lumbar vertebral spinal canal that houses the spinal cord. The main symptom experienced with lumbar stenosis is Neurogenic Claudication, which is severe pain, weakness, sensory deficits, or cramping in the legs. These symptoms are typically relieved by sitting or with forward flexion. Lumbar stenosis is a degenerative process, with risk factors of advanced age and previous spine trauma or surgeries. Stenosis occurs when structures within/surrounding the vertebrae (such as ligaments, discs, osteophyte growths on the vertebral body) become calcified and hypertrophied, therefore decreasing the space allowed for the spinal cord.

How can Chiropractic help?

Flexion Technique is a light force, low speed technique that requires a special type of chiropractic table. The technique involves contacting on each individual lumbar segment while simultaneously flexing the legs down towards the floor. This opens up the joint and disc spaces of the lumbar spine while simultaneously stretching the musculature of the lumbar spine. This technique is the most recommended for patients with Lumbar Stenosis to relieve pain and increase mobilization.

02/05/2024

Friday Jake and his fiancé Emily cooked chili for the families at the Ronald McDonald house. Some people maaaayy have worked harder then others😂

Ronald McDonald house provides a temporary place for parents to stay while their child is in the hospital at no charge to the parent!! They are always looking for people to cook dinner for the families every night! If you want more info on how to get involved send us a message and we can get you in contact with Maggie the volunteer coordinator

01/22/2024

Do you spend the majority of your day sitting? Ever experience pain in the buttocks that radiates down the back of the leg?

Piriformis Syndrome is a neuromusculoskeletal condition that involves compression and/or irritation of the Sciatic Nerve by the Piriformis Muscle. The piriformis muscle is a deep gluteal muscle that externally rotates the hip (opens the hip and turns the toes out). Typically the sciatic nerve runs underneath the piriformis muscle, but there are anatomic variations where the sciatic nerve runs directly through the piriformis muscle, or both above and below it. When the piriformis muscle is spasmed or tight, it can compress and irritate the sciatic nerve, causing the radiating pain down the leg. This compression is caused by long durations of seated posture, falling on the buttocks, long distance biking, or poor sleeping posture. The pain is typically worse when seated, squatting, or with internal rotation of the hip.

How can Chiropractic help?

A tight/spasmed piriformis muscle can pull on the pelvic bones causing rotation within the pelvis. Chiropractic adjustments to the pelvis correct the misalignments and allows the muscles of the gluteal region to relax and relieve pain. There are also stretches we can show you to stretch and relax the piriformis muscle to relieve the compression and irritation on the sciatic nerve.

01/16/2024

Do you experience migraines?

Migraines are severe recurring headaches caused by changes in the brain and surrounding vasculature that supplies the brain. There are two types of migraines: with aura and without aura. Aura typically involves visual, olfactory, and other sensory symptoms that accompany the migraine. Migraines are more common in females than males, and often coincide with the hormonal fluctuations experienced with menstrual cycles. Other triggers for migraines include upper cervical spine subluxations, high stress, and foods/beverages that have high Tyramine content (some examples include red wine, chocolate, cheese, beer, caffeinated beverages). This is because Tyramine causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels, therefore reducing blood flow and increasing blood pressure.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical region of the spine (C1/C2) are extremely effective at relieving migraines. This is because the Vertebral Artery travels up the neck to the brain through the cervical vertebrae. Misalignments in the upper cervical region can pinch on the Vertebral Artery reducing the blood flow. By correcting the misalignment, the blood flow is restored and the headache is relieved.

01/08/2024

Have you experienced neck pain with shooting pain into the shoulder, arms, or hands?

Cervical Radiculopathy is a neurocompressive disorder in which the cervical nerve roots get compressed where they come off the spinal cord to supply the arms. The compression of these nerve roots is what causes the radiating symptoms of shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness is the shoulder, arms, and/or hands. The most common location of compression in the cervical spine occurs between the C5 and C6 vertebrae because they bear the most weight from your head and upper cervical spine. Cervical Radiculopathy can occur due to disc herniations, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, or trauma to the cervical spine.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractic adjustments to the area of compression correct the vertebral misalignment and restore proper motion in the joints, therefore relieving the nerve root compression and irritation.

12/13/2023

Have you ever experienced numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your outer thigh?

Meralgia Paresthetica is a compressive neuropathy of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve which supplies innervation to the skin over the anterolateral thigh. Because the LFC nerve only supplies the skin and not muscles, it is purely a sensory issue and not a motor issue. Most commonly the LFC nerve becomes compressed by the inguinal ligament as it passes below to supply the skin of the lateral thigh. Meralgia Paresthetica can be caused by wearing too tight of clothing/belts, wearing heavy tool belts, pregnancy, obesity/weight gain, or trauma to the groin area. Typically it is worsened by standing or walking, and relieved by sitting.

How can Chiropractic help?

The LFC nerve is a branch of the lumbar nerve plexus that originates from the L2 and L3 spinal nerve roots. Chiropractic adjustments to these vertebral segments relieve compression of the LFC nerve, as nerves are continuous from their origin off the spinal cord all the way to their terminal branches. Stretches and post-isometric relaxation exercises to the muscles of the groin also release tension and pressure that causes compression of the LFC nerve as it enters the thigh.

12/05/2023

Have you experienced a severe neck cramp where your head felt stuck bent to the side?

Torticollis is rotation and lateral bending of the head and neck due to spasm of the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, located in the anterior neck, causing extremely restricted range of motion of the cervical spine. There are two types of Torticollis: Congenital and Acquired. Congenital Torticollis occurs in newborns due to birth trauma. Acquired Torticollis occurs in adults and is activity/posture induced such as sleeping with your head in a bent position or long periods of time holding a phone between the head and shoulder.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine restore proper range of motion in the joints of the cervical spine, as well as release the hypertonicity of the SCM and the other muscles of the neck. Stretches to the SCM, Trapezius, and Levator Scapulae muscles are also beneficial in releasing the hypertonicity of the cervical spine musculature experienced in Torticollis.

11/28/2023

Have you experienced a disc herniation in your low back? Or experienced a sudden onset of sharp low back pain that radiates past the knee into the toes and not known what caused it?

Lumbar disc herniations most commonly occur due to a "bend, twist, and a lift" mechanism of injury. This is because the pressure within the intervertebral discs is greatest with forward flexion and rotation. When this pressure is combined with additional weight being lifted, it can cause the outer fibrocartilagenous rings of the disc to prolapse (bulge) and potentially rupture, allowing the fluids of the disc to leak out. When the disc prolapses it causes compression of the nerve roots where they come off the spinal cord to supply the legs. In the case of a complete rupture, the fluids in the disc also cause chemical irritation to the nerve roots. Compression and chemical irritation of the nerve roots is what causes radiating pain into the legs that travels past the knee into the toes.

How can Chiropractic help?

The body heals disc herniations by using immune cells called phagocytes to break down and destroy the inflammatory chemicals and injured disc fragments. In order for this to occur, the disc fragments and chemicals become sequestered (separated) from the intervertebral disc. Chiropractic adjustments help to sequester the disc particles as well as reduce the compression of the disc on the nerve roots, therefore relieving the pain and promoting healing.

11/21/2023

Have you ever felt like you've had a rib "out" before?

Rib subluxations occur when the head of a rib becomes malpositioned within its joint articulation with a thoracic vertebrae. This typically presents with a sudden onset of sharp pain in the midback and scapula areas that is especially noted with trunk movement, coughing, sneezing, or taking in a deep breath. Rib subluxations can occur from poor posture, improper lifting technique, chronic overuse, or direct trauma to the thoracic spine.

How can Chiropractic help?

Chiropractic adjustments to the costotransverse joint (where the head of the rib meets the thoracic vertebrae) are the best treatment for rib subluxations and patients typically feel immediate relief right after the adjustment.

11/16/2023

Do you wear high heels to work? Sleep on your stomach? Do a large amount of repetitive heavy lifting? Experience dull, achy low back pain that's worse when standing for long periods of time?

Lumbar Facet Syndrome is a condition that involves inflammation and/or degeneration of the facet joints of the lumbar spine. Lumbar Facet Syndrome is caused by chronic hyperlordotic posture, such as wearing high heels, pregnancy, sleeping on your stomach, or simply standing with anterior pelvic tilt and excess arch in the low back. These joints experience the greatest amount of load when standing and when leaning backwards into extension, therefore these positions are aggravating and painful with Facet Syndrome. The facet joints are how each individual vertebra in the spine connect to each other to allow movement. They are also innervated by the same nerve branches that supply the muscles of the low back. Therefore, when the adhesions form within the joint capsule the inflammation of the joints also causes irritation to the nerves. This causes hypertonicity and spasms of the muscles of the low back, increasing the dull, achy pain and stiffness.

How can Chiropractic help?

When the facets become irritated and inflamed from intra-articular adhesions within the joint capsule, the joints become locked up and no longer move as individuals, but rather as a big block. Chiropractic adjustments to the lumbar spine break up the adhesions and restore proper motion in the joints, therefore reducing irritation, inflammation, and muscle hypertonicity.

11/07/2023

Do you work as a professional painter, carpenter, mechanic, or other over-head labor? Experience numbness, tingling, and pain into the arm while working?

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a neurovascular condition involving compression of the brachial plexus and subclavian artery in the lower neck/upper chest. The compression is most commonly caused by tight scalene muscles, but can also be caused by tight pec minor muscles or subluxation of the first rib. The tightness in these muscles occurs after performing long hours of over-head labor, which is why the symptoms are typically experienced while working and are relieved by rest.

How can Chiropractic help?

Adjustments to the lower cervical spine, upper thoracic spine, first rib, clavicle, and shoulder help to restore proper motion and release the tight muscles, allowing the neurological and vascular structures to function normally. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, there are several exercises and stretches we can recommend to further release the tight musculature involved with TOS.

10/31/2023

Do you experience headaches in the back of your head, neck, and temple areas that are made worse by neck movement?

This type of headache is called a Cervicogenic Headache and is characterized by painful and restricted cervical range of motion, tender to touch upper neck muscles and joints, and a radiation pattern that comes up the neck through the back of the head and around the ears and forehead. Cervicogenic Headaches originate in the upper cervical spine when the first three joint segments become misaligned, restricted, and dysfunctional. The improper position and motion causes the small suboccipital muscles that attach to these three vertebrae and the skull to become very tight and hyperactive, causing the headache.

How can Chiropractic help?

Cervicogenic headaches respond extremely well to chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine. By correcting the misalignments and restoring proper motion in the joints, the suboccipital muscles relax and release the tension, therefore relieving the headache.

10/24/2023

Do you experience low back pain that you also feel in the groin, hips, or buttocks? Experience pain or difficulty standing up?

This type of pain referral pattern is caused by the Sacroiliac (SI) Joint. The SI Joint is the largest joint in the pelvis and allows for rotation between the sacrum and the two iliac bones of the pelvis. The bones of the pelvis making up the SI Joint can get stuck in different positions such as rotated forwards, backwards, internally, and externally from a variety of causes such as sitting with your legs crossed, sitting on your wallet, long hours of working on your feet, and pregnancy. When the SI joint is stuck incorrectly it causes improper motion, irritation, and pain. Since the SI joint is so large, it has a large span of spinal nerves that supply it. When that many nerves are involved it creates a large range of pain referral within the hips, groin, and buttocks area which makes the SI joint known as the "not below the knee" pain.

What can Chiropractic do to help?

Drop Technique is a table-specific technique that is very efficient in correcting improper rotation in the pelvis. The pelvic piece of the table pops up prior to the adjustment and drops down during the adjustment. The physics involved with the drop allows for the pelvic bones to experience increased range of motion from the adjustment. Correcting the rotation in the pelvis restores proper range of motion of the SI Joint, therefore reducing irritation and pain.

10/17/2023

Do you drive truck, public transit, or heavy machinery for a living?

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints in patients who spend the majority of their days driving large commercial vehicles. The area of the spine affected the most in these situations is the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine, which act as shock absorbers for your entire spine. The lumbar spine experiences the greatest amount of force from gravity alone, and sitting creates the largest amount of load on the discs. When gravity combines with sustained axial pressure, such as sitting for long periods of time, the discs steadily become compressed and dehydrated in a process called Creep. The discs also undergo energy loss from the constant loading and unloading of pressure when going over bumps in the road, stopping and starting, and bouncing in large equipment in a process called Hysteresis. Creep combined with Hysteresis causes Buckling Syndrome where the discs become increasingly degenerated and no longer able to absorb shock as they should, causing pain.

How can Chiropractic help?

Flexion technique is a low force technique that focuses specifically on the intervertebral discs. By stretching and flexing the lumbar spine, it opens up the joint spaces and allows the discs to reuptake water and nutrients to promote health and strength of the intervertebral discs.

10/10/2023

Do you work 8+ hours at a desk?

Neck and upper back soreness, tightness, and pain is one of the most common complaints in patients who work long hours at a desk. Poor posture while seated leads to forward head carriage and reversal of the normal cervical lordotic curve. This structural change also causes a muscular condition called Upper-Crossed Syndrome where the muscles of the front of the neck and chest become shortened and weak, and the muscles of the back of the neck and shoulders become lengthened and tight.

How can Chiropractic help?

Adjustments to the region where the cervical spine and thoracic spine meet, called the C/T junction, restores proper motion in the joints, reduces pain and stiffness, and helps reduce anterior translation of the head.

09/26/2023

Bennett decided to help out in the clinic today!

We are excited to welcome chiropractic student intern Rachel Nettleton from Logan University into the office! She will finish out her educational journey with us treating patients and learning practice management skills.

08/28/2023

Updated 2023 office pictures! This year we added X-rays as well as a massage therapist. Also our master construction workers Jake and Hannah 😂

04/03/2023

We want to thank Starbucks for donating this mug for our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment to be seen this week, between today, April 3rd to Friday, the 7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

04/02/2023

Thanks to Financial for this generous donation for our charity week raffle. To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment to come in this week between April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

04/01/2023

We’d like to say thanks to Twisted Scissors Beauty Parlor for donating 2 free haircuts for our charity week raffle. To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/31/2023

We received this gift card as a donation for our charity week raffle. Thanks so much to Rita's Cantina for your generous donation! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/30/2023

We want to give a shout out to Gusto Pizza Bar for donating this gift card for our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/29/2023

Thanks, Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers for donating this gift card to be put into our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/28/2023

Thank you Malo for this generous gift card donated for our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/27/2023

We received this gift card as a donation from the Iowa Taproom for our charity week raffle. Thanks The Iowa Taproom! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/26/2023

We’d like to say a big thank you to Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company for these 2 complimentary brunches for our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!

03/25/2023

Thanks to Exile Brewing Co. for donating this brewery tour for 4 people for our charity week raffle! To be entered in the raffle to win this prize, schedule an appointment on the week of April 3rd-7th, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa!