Giust Chiropractic Center

01/26/2026

In normal head and neck posture, the center of the shoulder joints are located vertically in line with the bottom of the mastoid processes (the bone just behind the bottom of the ear at the base of the skull) while the muscles on the posterior (or back side) of the cervical spine (neck) act to maintain balance and keep the head back.

Sitting at a computer or using a smartphone for long lengths of time can lead to a muscular imbalance—referred to as an “upper-crossed syndrome” (UCS)—where specific muscles in the upper back and neck (upper trapezius and levator scapulae) and the chest muscles (pectorals) are too tight. These hypertonic muscles “cross” with weakness of the deep neck flexors (in the front neck) and middle and lower trapezius (in the mid-back). This results in the classic forward head posture and rounded shoulders.

Fortunately, forward head posture can be remedied with exercises to strengthen the weak muscles and stretch the overly tight muscles. Here are a few:

Perform a standard push-up (from knees or toes) and when in the “up” position, push further toward the ceiling (feel your shoulder blades spread further apart).
Lie prone on a bench and raise your arms overhead to form a “Y”; follow with a “T” by lowering the arms to horizontal or 90°; move to a “W” (bend elbows 90° and lower arms to 45°); follow with an “L” (place arms at your sides keeping elbows bent at 90°, rotate outwards the forearms as far as possible). Squeeze your shoulder blades together, DON’T shrug the shoulders, HOLD each position for five to ten seconds and repeat the series two to three times.
Tuck your chin inward and nod; add some resistance—using your thumb/index grasping the chin—resist in BOTH directions (down and up nods). As a posture re-trainer, keep your chin-tucked during the day.
Lie on your side, elbow bend 90°; use a hand weight and raise it slowly toward the ceiling and lower it back down (five to ten slow reps); repeat on the other side.
Stand in a doorway and hook your elbow on (or grasp with your hand) the door jamb; slowly turn your body away from the door jamb until you feel a strong stretch in your chest muscles. Start low and move your elbow/hand higher and repeat; continue upwards until its overhead. Repeat several times on each side.
Look down and side bend RIGHT; reach over with your RIGHT hand and gently pull the head to a firm endpoint; reach with the LEFT hand toward the floor.
Look down, side bend, and rotate your head RIGHT; reach over with your RIGHT hand and gently pull the head to a firm endpoint; reach with the LEFT hand toward the floor. REPEAT on opposite side. Hold five to ten seconds and repeat two to three times.
Upper crossed syndrome and forward head posture can also lead to joint fixations in the cervical and thoracic spine, which can be addressed by a doctor of chiropractic using spinal manipulative therapy. Your chiropractor can also walk you through these and other exercises to restore normal posture, depending on your unique case.

Thousands of Doctors of Chiropractic across the United States and Canada have taken "The ChiroTrust Pledge":
“To the best of my ability, I agree to
provide my patients convenient, affordable,
and mainstream Chiropractic care.
I will not use unnecessary long-term
treatment plans and/or therapies.”

01/26/2026

“DID YOU KNOW?” (PAIN SIGNALS)

Caption:

Did you know?

Pain is not always a sign of damage—it’s a signal from the nervous system.

In chronic conditions, the nervous system can become overprotective, sending pain signals even after tissues have healed.

That’s why evaluating function—not just symptoms—matters.

01/26/2026

We are open!! I know it cold and will be all week. Please be careful in the shade areas as them may still be icy and especially the bridges... Call us for any reschedules.
Our mission is always,
"Giving hope for a more active and healthy life without drugs and surgery"

01/23/2026

12/18/2025

Merry Christmas to all!! from the Staff at Giust Chiropractic Center

12/17/2025

Running is a form of exercise that many people utilize to stay in shape, lose weight, and reduce stress, among other reasons. While many avid runners do their best to ignore hip pain while on the road, trail, track, or treadmill, there is a point when their pain forces them to seek care. Let’s discuss the most common causes of hip pain seen in recreational runners…

There are two main categories of hip pain: intra-articular (within the joint itself) and extra-articular (outside of the joint). The most common causes of intra-articular hip pain are osteoarthritis and labral tears. Perhaps the most common cause of extra-articular hip pain is bursitis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by wear and tear often tied to sports and/or weight bearing occupations, and it is more common in the elderly. Your doctor of chiropractic is well-versed in identifying those with OA-related hip pain and can manage the disease up to the end-stage when “bone-on-bone” contact occurs. At that point, hip replacement becomes the standard of care.

Labral tears can be trickier to identify because advanced imaging such as MRI is often needed since the labrum does not appear on standard x-rays. If a tear is present, then care will focus on improving range of motion and flexibility, as well as addressing muscular imbalances in the hip and associated areas.

Bursitis occurs when the bursa—a fluid-filled sac that lubricates areas where friction is common such as at muscle-tendon attachments to bone—becomes inflamed, which can cause pain and affect joint motion. In the hip, there are two major bursae—one at the greater trochanter (the bone that sticks out of the side of the hip by our pants front pocket) and the other at the ischial tuberosity (the “sitting bones” in the buttocks). Another hip bursa is the iliopectineal located in the front of the hip in the groin area in front of the hip and under the hip flexor muscle. Chiropractors frequently manage bursitis using a combination of manual therapies, physical therapy modalities, activity modifications, and home instructions on ice massage and exercise training.

Doctors of chiropractic are well versed in managing many common conditions that affect the hip, as well as conditions in the low back, sacrum, buttocks, pelvis, and lower extremities that can contribute to or co-occur with hip pain. For runners, as with most patients, one of the primary goals of treatment is to reduce pain and restore function so that they can resume their normal activities as quickly as possible.

12/16/2025

Plantar Fasciitis? Knee pain? Golfers or tennis elbow?
Chronic Pain Is NOT Something You Have to “Live With.”
At Giust Chiropractic Center, we believe the body is powerful and capable of healing—when given the right support.
That’s why we created our Shockwave Healing Program using StemWave® technology.
What does it do?
StemWave therapy sends high-energy focused electrohydraulic waves into injured tissue to:
• Increase blood flow
• Activate healing cells
• Break up chronic scar tissue
• Reduce pain at the source
It’s especially effective for plantar fasciitis ,heel pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and stubborn injuries that haven’t responded to rest, injections, or medication.

This Is More Than a Treatment — It’s a Program
Every patient receives:
✔ Front-Desk Concierge Support
✔ A Patient Progress Tracker to measure real improvement
✔ Condition-Specific Home Exercises to support healing between visits

Start with a $49 First Shockwave Session
Your first visit includes:
• A focused consultation
• A Shockwave therapy session
• Clear next steps to see if this program is right for you
📞 Call or message us today to schedule
Appointments are limited. 601-833-8100

12/10/2025

The head is a large and heavy part of a person. In a child, the head can account for a quarter of their total weight. In the adult, the head weighs 10-14 pounds (about 4.5-6.3 kg), and this load has to be balanced by the strength of the neck muscles. In normal upright posture, there is a forward curve to the neck, and this curve provides the perfect balance between strength and mobility. Unfortunately, this curve can be disrupted by whiplash and other traumas that damage the delicate ligaments and disks.

When a person bends their head forward to read or type, the neck begins to straighten and the weight of the head must be countered by the pull of the muscles at the back of the neck. If the person does this all day—because they work at a computer, for example—then the muscles never get a break. Knots, tightness, or spasm of the muscles will increase and cause a neck ache. The person may feel a tightness or pain around the head because the muscles pull at the base of the skull. These are the symptoms of what is called a tension-type headache.

Usually, the shoulder muscles are also involved and tight. Over time this forward head posture can become more permanent and a "round back" may also develop. In addition to contributing to a bad appearance, poor posture causes the spinal cord and nerves to become stretched and painful. Poor posture may also cause the spine to prematurely deteriorate, called degeneration, which results in thin disks. Forward head posture and abnormal cervical curvature can be diagnosed by x-ray and by observing the patient from the side.

Although over-the-counter and prescription medication may block the pain and provide temporary relief, they don't necessarily address the cause of a patient's pain and long-term use may be associated with unwanted side effects.

There are other causes for tension-type headaches and the 'heavy" feeling of the head. Certain rare diseases and high blood pressure can also make the head hurt. This is why it is important to have the cause of your problem properly diagnosed. If the cause is musculoskeletal in nature, your doctor of chiropractic may use a combination of spinal manipulation, mobilization, exercises, workspace modifications, and even dietary recommendations to reduce pain and improve function so that you can carry out your everyday work and life responsibilities. However, if a more serious cause is suspected, then your chiropractor may refer you to a specialist for further testing.

Thousands of Doctors of Chiropractic across the United States and Canada have taken "The ChiroTrust Pledge":
“To the best of my ability, I agree to
provide my patients convenient, affordable,
and mainstream Chiropractic care.
I will not use unnecessary long-term
treatment plans and/or therapies.”

12/10/2025

Shoulder injuries are a common complaint, affecting approximately 40 out of every 1,000 people each year. While the causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction vary, they all share one frustrating trait: they tend to heal slowly. In fact, many clinical guidelines published around the world recommend longer treatment durations for shoulder complaints compared to other soft tissue injuries. That raises the question—why does the shoulder take so long to recover?

The first reason is structural complexity. The shoulder isn’t just one joint; it’s four interconnected joints that make up what’s known as the shoulder girdle. These include the sternoclavicular joint, located near the breastbone where the clavicle connects; the glenohumeral joint, which is the main ball-and-socket joint that allows for overhead movements and throwing; the acromioclavicular joint, where the clavicle joins the acromion of the scapula; and the scapulothoracic articulation, where the shoulder blade glides along the rib cage. Because these joints share soft tissues and must move in harmony, it’s difficult to rehabilitate one joint in isolation. When one joint is injured, compensatory movement patterns often develop in the others, raising the risk of additional injury. To make matters more challenging, certain regions of the shoulder have limited blood supply, which slows the delivery of oxygen and nutrients essential for tissue healing.

The second reason involves the shoulder’s incredible range of motion. It is the most mobile joint in the human body, capable of complex, multidirectional movement. However, that mobility comes at a price—reduced stability. Unlike more stable joints like the hip, the shoulder relies almost entirely on soft tissue structures such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons to maintain its position during activity. When these stabilizing structures are injured, restoring their strength and coordination takes time, especially if pain inhibits normal use.

A third factor is that the shoulder is more prone to severe or high-impact injuries than many other joints. Its structural design favors flexibility over durability, leaving it more vulnerable during forceful or repetitive movements—particularly in sports or jobs that involve overhead motions. Because it lacks strong bony architecture to protect it, and because many activities push the joint to the end of its range of motion, even minor injuries can cause significant tissue disruption. This is especially true for athletes who throw, swim, or play racket sports.

Finally, healing is influenced by the age and injury history of the shoulder. As we age, our body’s ability to heal declines. This is due to reduced collagen production, fewer blood vessels, slower stem cell activity, hormonal changes, and increased oxidative stress. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease further impair healing capacity. And if someone has injured their shoulder in the past, the presence of scar tissue, structural irregularities, or residual instability can make recovery from a new injury even more difficult.

Doctors of chiropractic are well-trained in using manual therapies and StemWave and customized rehabilitation exercises to restore shoulder function. However, as outlined above, recovery is typically not quick or straightforward. Improvement usually requires more than just a few visits, especially if patients do not consistently follow self-care and home exercise recommendations.


Thousands of Doctors of Chiropractic across the United States and Canada have taken "The ChiroTrust Pledge":
“To the best of my ability, I agree to
provide my patients convenient, affordable,
and mainstream Chiropractic care.
I will not use unnecessary long-term
treatment plans and/or therapies.”

12/10/2025

As we age, we often shift our focus toward healthy lifestyle habits not just to extend life, but to preserve independence and remain free of chronic disease and disability well into later years. While maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, and tracking lab values are all important, a study published in October 2024 suggests that physical activity—specifically how much we move throughout the day—may be the single best predictor of longevity.

One practical way to stay active is by using an activity tracker, whether it’s a traditional pedometer or one of the newer smart watches and rings that have become popular. There is an old business adage that what gets measured gets improved, and recent studies suggest that this applies to physical activity as well. In March 2023, researchers reported that sedentary adults who wore activity trackers and received reminders about their daily steps increased their step count by an average of 5,000 per day within three months. A similar effect has been seen in children, who boosted their activity by roughly 1,500 steps a day when given a tracker of their own.

The widely quoted goal of 10,000 steps a day may have started in the 1960s as a marketing slogan for a Japanese pedometer, yet modern research suggests it is not far off as a benchmark for health. A large analysis of 57 studies led by researchers at the University of Sydney found that averaging about 7,000 steps a day was associated with a 47% reduction in the risk of premature death, along with lower risks of dementia, depression, and cardiovascular disease. Other work suggests that the longevity benefits of walking may level off at around 16,000 steps a day. For those who are sedentary, goals like 5,000, 8,000, or 10,000 daily steps may seem daunting at first, but the most important point to remember is that some movement is always better than none, and with time and consistency, more is always possible.

Daily step counts capture overall movement, but higher-intensity activity remains essential for building stronger muscles and bones, improving balance, and unlocking health benefits that everyday walking alone cannot provide. Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each week, along with resistance training twice a week. Participating in sports or recreational activities is a particularly effective way to meet these goals, as they not only challenge the heart, lungs, and muscles, but also engage the mind and senses and provide valuable opportunities for social connection.

Before beginning any new fitness routine, it is important to check with your healthcare provider to ensure the activities are safe for your individual health profile. And if pain or stiffness begins to interfere with your ability to move more, a doctor of chiropractic may be able to help restore comfortable movement and reduce limitations, allowing you to progress to an active lifestyle that supports long-term health and independence.


Thousands of Doctors of Chiropractic across the United States and Canada have taken "The ChiroTrust Pledge":
“To the best of my ability, I agree to
provide my patients convenient, affordable,
and mainstream Chiropractic care.
I will not use unnecessary long-term
treatment plans and/or therapies.”