Congratulations to Rick D. our January Practice Member of the Month. We are excited to share the improvement in Rick’s neck curve, despite degenerative changes (arthritis). An ideal neck, when viewed from the side, should have a 35 degree forward facing arc, sometimes referred to as the “arc of life.” When this arch structure is lost, or reversed, it changes the biomechanical forces through the joints, and can lead to bone spurs, disc decay and loss of normal joint movement. Often this is accompanied by pain in the neck, clicking, grinding, popping or tightness of the shoulder and neck muscles. Headaches can also result as a secondary condition to subluxation (spinal misalignments). It’s never too early to have your spine checked, but it’s also never too late. While a younger, less damaged spine may recover quicker, or to a greater degree, there is still a possibility for positive outcomes in the more challenging spines!