Brandon Hodges, Doctor of Chiropractic
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Structure & Function Relationship

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Structure of the Spine:
Our spine has a specific design to allow our body to have a variety of motions due to the numerous movable bones that make it up: 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid-back), 5 lumbar (low-back), and the pelvis (5 sacrum and both ilium) - 31 movable segments and each pelvic girdle.

Each region has specific biomechanics (motions) due to the structure-of certain joints: cervical = rotation (looking side to side), thoracic = lateral flexion (bending side-to-side), lumbar  = flexion-extension (squatting, walking, running, jumping), and the pelvis = wide variety of motions.  

Within the spine 2 main joints exists: towards the front between the vertebral bodies lie the discs and towards the back are the facet joints.  The discs are shock absorption and allow to all motions to occur because of the nucleus pulposus ball-bearing like structure but the facet joints limit motion due to the relationship of the joint with the next vertebrae.  
Function of the Spine:
  1. Protection of the Nervous System: ​the skull and spine houses and protects the brain inside the skull, the spinal cord within the column, and also the spinal nerve roots that exit between 2 vertebrae.
  2. Aids in Mobility: muscles and ligaments attach to specific parts of bones to allow/stop certain motions to occur.
  3. Provides Stability/Center of Gravity: supports the weight of the frame.​



Subluxation

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A vertebral subluxation is the result of joints with improper motion and/or position causing a negative effect on the nervous system transmission of signals to and from the brain to all systems
​
sub- = less than
​-luxation = dislocation
SCIENCE BEHIND SUBLUXATION

 Beyond the Pain - The Big Picture: The Nervous System 

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"The most important eventual role of the nervous system is to control the various bodily activities.  This is achieved by controlling:
(1) contraction of appropriate skeletal muscles throughout the body,
(2) contraction of smooth muscle in the internal organs, and
(3) secretion of active chemical substances by both exocrine and endocrine glands in many parts of the body"
                                 -The Textbook of Medical Physiology by Guyton and Hall 

The only way the brain and body will know when and how to adapt to the stress put on it is through the communication traveling through the nervous system.  If the communication is free, the body works as the brain is telling it properly.  

When the communication is obstructed through SUBLUXATION, dysfunction occurs: muscle imbalance/weakness, organ malfunction, numbness/tingling, fatigue, illness, etc...but first and most commonly seen as pain.

SCIENCE BEHIND SUBLUXATION

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Chiropractic has only one treatment for one condition: an applied force (the adjustment) to gently and safely correct biomechanical dysfunction, primarily in the spine progressively called a subluxation.  No drugs or surgeries, nothing added or removed from your body. The effects are improved biomechanics leading to improved musculoskeletal function and expression of the nervous system and thus health which IS the normal state of life. 
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Whatever your health concern, Dr. Hodges will first make sure you are right for chiropractic - then look towards which biomechanical faults are the primary CAUSE of your discomfort, dysfunction, and disease.  Chiropractic acknowledges that outside an emergency and very rare situations, life itself is self-healing and self-regulating.   


It's best to be checked earlier than later for subluxation to ensure a limited about of pain, compensation, degeneration, and effect on the nervous system.  

"Chiropractic philosophy is based upon the following concepts:
  1. The body is a self-regulating organism, which possesses inherent recuperative abilities.
  2. The nervous system directs all bodily functions, and therefore is requisite in the restoration and maintenance of health.
  3. Improper motion or position of vertebrae interferes with proper nerve function. This phenomenon is known as vertebral subluxation.
  4. Removal/reduction of vertebral subluxations via chiropractic adjustments relieves/minimizes nerve irritations, and thus enhances the ability of the nervous system to promote health and healing." (​Complementing Chiropractic Philosophy with Science)
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MAXIMIZED LIFE CHIROPRACTIC
DR. DAVID DIEHL, DC & ​DR. BRANDON HODGES, DC

280 North Westlake Blvd, Suite 100
​Westlake Village, CA 91362
805-496-1000

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 7:30am - 10am & 3pm - 6pm
Tuesday: 3pm - 6pm
Wednesday: 7:30am - 10am & 3pm - 6pm
Thursday: 3pm - 6pm
Friday: 7:30am - 10am & 11am - 1pm
Saturday: 9am - 11:00am
  • Home
  • Power of Chiropractic
    • Spine & Health Connection
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Chiropractic Story
    • Research
  • Blog
  • Maximized Life Chiropractic