AMI Chiropractic Clinic Blog

TECH NECK Bottom Line: Smartphones and tablets have quickly become a part of our everyday life. Many kids spend hours per day messaging with friends and playing the latest games. Often, it’s done with their neck bent forward, shoulders rounded, and arms holding the phone up in front of their eyes. New research has shown this type of awkward position can lead to a painful condition called “Tech Neck.” Why it Matters: Recently, Scientific Reports published a shocking paper which found a “horn” growing off the back of the head of kids who spent a great deal of time on their cell phones and tablets. This extreme variation of Tech Neck is suspected to be caused by constant pressure placed on the back of the head (the occiput) when the head is bent forward and chin is tucked. The excessive force can result in calcification of the soft tissue, which can start to look like a “horn” growing out of the back of the head! Did you know… Kids may be spending up to 140...

The Brain And Spine Connection Bottom Line:   Every thought and movement in your life occurs through your brain and spinal cord, which is collectively known as the central nervous system. Your spinal column acts as the armor and pathway for your spinal cord to travel down and split into the nerves that reach every cell of your body. Every moment and millions of messages and bits of information are moving along your spinal cord this very moment to maintain the delicate balance between your brain and body. Why it Matters: Recent research has shown that the type of movement which happens during a Chiropractic adjustment can change the chemistry of your brain. Pretty far-out right? Chiropractic adjustments can alter the biochemical markers in your brain. These changes can result in everything from increased endorphin release (a feel-good hormone) to pain relief. Emerging research has even indicated increased strength (or cortical drive) following an adjustment! ...

The Bowling Ball and the Pin: How Poor Posture Causes Neck Pain Bottom Line: The average human head weighs about 8-10 pounds. Each day we all walk around with a bowling ball (our head) balancing on a pin (our neck).  Driving a car, working on the computer, and using a tablet/phone all usually result in less than ideal posture. With every inch our head learns forward an addition of 10 pounds of weight is added on our muscles, joints, tendons ligaments, discs and nerves etc. The more the head leans forward, the more the pin is under stress! Unfortunately, the neck is not designed to hold this extra weight and this is where the problem starts… As your head leans forward the shoulder start to roll with it causing stress in the shoulders, upper back and mid back. It is crazy how poor posture can lead to so many health problems! How We Can Help: Here at the AMI clinic in Bedford we see lots of patients complaining of neck pain that is a result of an anterior...

Your Arm Pain Could Be Caused By A Neck Issue Bottom Line Pain in your hand, wrist, or arm can be frustrating. You may not realize how much you use your arms and hands each second of the day until pain, numbness, or tingling gets in the way. But, getting rid of the pain may be easier than you think. Why Does It Matter? Hand, wrist, and arm pain often starts with a neck problem. When a spinal disc in your neck irritates or presses on a nerve, it can result in arm pain. Just like the power lines that bring electricity to your house, your brain and spinal cord split into individual nerve roots that deliver information to every part of your body. The nerves in your neck are specifically focused on providing strength and sensation to your head and arms.       A bulged or herniated disc in your neck can irritate or compress the nerves that travel to your hands, arms, and shoulders.       A recent study of people with cervical (neck...

Is Your Phone Causing Tech Neck? Bottom Line: Staying connected to friends and family, catching up with emails, reading the latest news, watching our favourite TV episodes and playing games can come at a price! As a society we are spending to much time looking down at our mobile phones. Screen time may be anything from 1, 2, 3 hours or more depending on your use. Let's face it, a lot of these hours are spent in an awkward forward head posture that experts have begun to call 'tech neck'. A 'tech neck' can result in neck and upper back pain, stress and tension, headaches, spinal disc issues, and even trapped nerves. Here at the AMI Clinic in Bedford we work with people who are experiencing these symptoms associated with a 'tech neck'. We offer advise our patients on how poor posture using a mobile phone can lead to dysfunction and symptoms abd advise on how simple stretches, using the correct posture  and postural exercises can ...