Why does looking down all day affect the neck?

Putting the neck into flexion for long periods loses the cervical curve the neck is designed to hold and stresses the nerve system running through it. The source does not matter — work, a phone, a tablet, a book. The position is what does it.

Can neck subluxation cause pain radiating into the arms?

The nerves supplying the shoulders, arms and hands leave the spine in the neck. Subluxation interferes with that nerve flow at the source. This patient's radiating shoulder and arm pain resolved completely over six months of cervical correction.

How long does it take to restore a cervical curve?

This patient's films were six months apart and she kept her recommended frequency throughout. Curve corrections depend on how long the curve has been lost, the condition of the spine, and consistency of care. Not everyone responds as quickly as she did.

Can a neck problem affect the low back?

The spine is one structure and posture at the top changes load at the bottom. This patient's sustained neck flexion was beginning to show effects in her low back, where the lumbar curve was starting to straighten.

Does everyone get results this fast?

Not everyone responds as quickly as she did, as we all heal differently, but we all do heal. Her result came from a six-month plan kept at the recommended frequency on a spine whose problem was a few months old.

Cervical Curve Loss, Neck Pain, and Radiating Arm Pain

How She Arrived

In this month's Spinal Correction Spotlight we are reviewing the comparison X-rays of a 31-year-old woman who works in the aesthetics industry. She came to us complaining of headaches, severe neck and upper back pain, as well as radiating pain into her arms, going on for a few months with increasing frequency and intensity. It was starting to affect her work as well.

What Her Films Showed

The initial images, taken March 22, 2023, show the effects of looking down for most of your day. In her case her stress came from work, but the same stress applies when you are on your phone or tablet, or reading a book, or studying.

Anytime we put the neck into flexion, which is looking down, for long periods, we lose that important cervical curve and stress the nerve system. That same posture was beginning to have effects on her low back as well, as the lumbar curve was starting to straighten out.

Clinical Findings — Initial Examination

Patient: 31-year-old female, aesthetics industry

Presenting complaints: Headaches, severe neck and upper back pain, radiating pain into both arms for a few months with increasing frequency and intensity; work affected

X-ray type: AP cervical and lateral cervical

Initial X-ray: March 22, 2023 — loss of the cervical curve from sustained neck flexion; lumbar curve beginning to straighten

Re-evaluation X-ray: September 8, 2023 — cervical correction following the six-month plan kept at recommended frequency

Care span: 6 months of corrective care between films, frequency kept as recommended

Outcome: Headaches mostly resolved; radiating shoulder and arm pain completely resolved; neck pain reduced by over 90%; working without interruption

Cervical AP — Before & After

March 22, 2023 initial AP cervical X-ray in a 31-year-old female with headaches and radiating arm pain, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Mar 22, 2023 Initial X-Ray

September 8, 2023 re-evaluation AP cervical X-ray after six months of subluxation-based corrective care, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Sep 8, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Cervical Lateral — Before & After

March 22, 2023 initial lateral cervical X-ray showing loss of the cervical curve from sustained neck flexion at work, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Mar 22, 2023 Initial X-Ray

September 8, 2023 re-evaluation lateral cervical X-ray showing cervical correction after six months of care, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Sep 8, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Six Months Later

She kept her care recommendations for the six month plan, and her re-evaluation films on September 8, 2023 are very encouraging.

Her headaches have mostly resolved. The pain radiating into her shoulders and arms has completely resolved. Her neck pain has reduced by over 90%. Her Quality of Life has improved and she has been able to work, without interruption, since beginning spinal correction.

What This Case Shows

Correcting subluxations restores the body's innate healing capacity. Correcting subluxations restores the connection between the brain and the body, assisting the Innate Intelligence of the body in regulating the body properly. Not everyone responds as quickly as she did, as we all heal differently, but we all do heal.

I am not the healer. I move the bone; God does the healing. You are a self-healing organism, and when you are subluxation free, not only does your spine heal, but your body expresses life the way you were created to.

Every Hour Looking Down Is an Hour Your Neck Carries

If your work keeps your head bent forward, a structural evaluation shows what it has already cost. Come in for an X-ray analysis and find out what your own films show.

Have Your Spine Checked for Subluxation

Or call us at (561) 795-3156