Garet Davis

Hi there!
This could be a complicated question, but we will keep it simple for sake of time. Your spine has what are called Facet Joints in them. These joints are synovial in nature and have a fibrous capsule with fluid and air inside them. When a joint becomes restricted or "tight", often times manipulation (i.e. adjustment) is utilized to free up that joint or joints and at the same time release muscle tightness that attaches to that joint as well. So, if your neck feels tight and range of motion has decreased, you may benefit greatly from this type of treatment! Be sure to get a thorough exam and health history by the provider BEFORE treatment. X-rays are not necessary unless you have had recent trauma or to rule out any specific pathologies/abnormalities.

Hi there!
Adhesive Capsulitis (aka frozen shoulder) often times resolves on its own but faster with soft tissue treatment and rehab and is HIGHKY correlated to Type II diabetes. The capsule doesn't always just "release" as much as it loosens over time. There still may be pain at end range after an inflammatory episode but in general, if it has calmed down, you will notice more range of motion and less pain. There is no magic "release". I hope this helps!

Great question. Interestingly enough, there are several types of joints in the body and the toes fall into the synovial joint category. The toes have a fibrous capsule around each individual joint. That capsule contains synovial fluid and cartilage at the ends of each bone. Manipulating the joint allows for maximal range of motion within its normal range and gaps the joint allowing for synovial fluid to get between the bones into the cartilaginous spaces which nourishes the joint. It also serves to reduce muscle tension. Why do chiros manipulate joints that aren’t problematic? That’s a good question that I’m afraid I can’t answer. As a sports doc, I treat what is needing to be treated. Some chiros just like to hear the popping noise. If it feels good, go for it! If not, tell them not to. I hope this helps!

Well, to put it simply, pillows are tough. I am not a fan of most as they tend to put your neck into a poor biomechanical position regardless of their material, density, comfort, etc. Either too much forward flexion, lateral flexion, extension, etc. Minus any sleep dysfunction such as sinus issues, sleep apnea, etc, I often suggest sleeping with no pillow. By that I mean laying on your back, tucking your chin into the back of your spine (giving a double chin) and then relaxing. Maybe add a rolled-up microfiber towel under the neck. In that way, you are biomechanically "neutral" with less tendency to hurt even more than you do and prevent any sleep-derived pains later on.

Hi there, Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common and frequent pains we feel. It is often from poor biomechanical movement and or "overuse" injuries that tend to fatigue issues and eventually cause changes at the cellular level that end up causing pain. I good history and physical exam can help narrow down the issue and get you back to 100% but age is no indication of pain. You can and should be back to 100% with the right treatment!

Great question! Although it is common for people to feel a "pop" in their sacroiliac joint, the pop indicates that the joint cavitated (released gas). The joint does not pop out of place, but can be sprained which responds well to active rehab or inflamed which responds well to manipulation (adjustments). After a thought history and physical exam, we can decide on optimal treatment. Either way, we can help but be sure you are not being told you need 3x/wk for several weeks by a Chiropractor or anything of that nature!