Unfried Chiropractic and Active Release Technique Clinic/Wellness Center

03/02/2026

Today I am going to be talking about the quadriceps. The "quads" are made up of 4 separate muscles that share a common area of the body (front thigh). These muscles can become problematic when they become shortened and tight. This happens most commonly in patients that sit for longer periods of time (work related). Most professionals suggest getting up and moving every 20 to 30 minutes. As the muscles shortens it can pull/tilt the pelvis downward. This motion can put more pressure on the lower back or on the SI joints. This can be noticed when it is painful going from sitting to standing. Along with lower back pain, tightness in these muscles can also cause pain in the front of the hip as well as knee pain. If you or someone you know is struggling with any of these problems call or text the office today @ 618-558-2429 or visit www.unfriedchiropractic.com to set up an online appointment today.

02/24/2026

Today I am going to be talking about the suboccipital triangle. This is a very important area of the spine. Today, I wanted to focus just on headaches and how many start in this area. These muscles help connect the spine to the skull. The first 2 vertebrae are known as atlas and axis. These 2 have a direct connection to the 2 separate branches of the nervous system known as the sympathetic and para sympathetic and has a direct connection to all of the other systems in the body via the vagus nerve. There is a branch of chiropractic care that specifically only look at these 2 vertebrae.

These muscles can become extremely tight and restrictive, not allowing full cervical motion to occur. A wide range of headaches start here for example: tension, sweatband headaches, headaches that start right at the back of the skull that go to the eyebrow, and the head that starts in the back of the head and then travels to the top of the head (baseball cap headache).

Chiropractic care can work great on releasing the inflammation in the joint and helping restoring motion and Active release technique (ART) can help reduce the amount of scar tissue and inflammation inside these muscles. Many patients notice a difference before they even leave the office. If you of someone you know who have been dealing or struggling with anything like this, call or text the office today at 618-558-2429 or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com and schedule your own appointment.

01/21/2026

Today I am going to be talking about the Rhomboid muscles, the minor and major. This is a very important muscle group in regard to shoulder blade motion and stability. This muscle squeezes or brings the shoulder blades closer to the spine. Due to poor posture, the rhomboid muscles can become weak and have constant tension put through them. This can cause poor circulation and the inability to function properly. Many patients complain about pain between the shoulder and spine or pain under the shoulder blade itself. Many times the rhomboid muscle will impinge the spinal accessory nerve (XI). This nerve run between the shoulder blade and the spine. Active Release Technique (ART) works like magic bringing fresh blood to the area which can help bring relief within the first week of treatment. Once the muscle is healing, we have to retrain the muscle on how to stay strong and supportive, so the issue doesn't come back. Call today to find relief, 618-558-2429 or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com and schedule online.

01/05/2026

Today I just to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year! To many, new year means new resolutions, newer healthy habits. To many, this means exercising. The biggest problem that happens is that people/patients might "jump" into quick or try something that there muscles and joints are not ready to handle. This can lead to prolonged soreness or even an injury. This is one of the main reasons people stop their jump into fitness. If you have prolonged soreness (more then 4 days) or pain, don't stop your fitness/healthy new year. Set up an appointment and keep the pain away. Remember, Unfried Chiropractic treats everything from head to toe, headaches to plantar fasciitis and everything in between. Call the office today at 618-558-2429 or schedule online at

Unfried Chiropractic specializes in Active Release Technqiue and bringing you back to your body's full healing potential. Located in Southern IL.

12/15/2025

Today I wanted to talk about head and neck pain, especially with the dreaded headache. Headaches are one of the most commonly treated symptoms at the office. Some people suffer from them more than others. Let's be clear though, HEADACHES ARE NOT NORMAL!!!!
Think of it like your check engine light coming on and letting you know something is wrong. It could be something simple like dehydration or it could be very complex and involve many different systems and structures.
The good news is that most headaches can be helped with Chiropractic and Active Release Technique (ART) therapy. If you or someone you know is dealing with headaches, give us a call today to set up a complimentary consultation and demonstration of ART. Experience how ART makes the difference in chiropractic care here at Unfried Chiropractic and Wellness Center.
618-558-2429 or www.unfriedchiropractic.com

12/08/2025

Today I am going to be talking about the shoulder and the many different presentations of pain and what your ailment could be. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. Increased range of motion means that the joint is more susceptible to injury. There are tendons, ligament, bursas, and multiple joints involved with the shoulder itself. Active Release Technique (ART), my specialized soft tissue therapy, is done as a diagnostic and a treatment tool when treating shoulder pain patients. If you have had shoulder issues that haven't gone away, give us a call today so we can get you in this week 618-558-2429, or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com and schedule your appointment.

10/27/2025

Today I am going to be talking about the posterior leg and some of the bigger nerves that can cause a world hurt on a patient.
Right off the bat let's talk about the one everyone knows, which is the Sciatic nerve ( also known as the Tibial Nerve). This nerve is huge ( about as big as your thumb) and goes all the way down to your foot. That is where you will find someone's pain pattern. This nerve can also cause muscle weakness, often patients have trouble bearing weight and standing straight.
Next is the Posterior Femoral nerve. I feel like this nerve is often placed into the sciatic nerve region. Symptoms of this nerve entrapment or irritation are pain that goes down the back of the leg to the knee.... but not past it. Often pain and/or a hypersensitivity sensation is described.
Lastly, are the Gluteal nerves (or Cluneal Nerves). These nerves are separated by superior and inferior. Symptoms mostly stay high up in the leg, focusing on the actual Glutes and Hip (butt cheek) at times the pain will wrap around to the side of the hip, almost to the front.
Once I know your pain pattern, I will get a better idea on how and where to treat your pain with Active Release and Chiropractic adjustments. Many of the muscles in the hip can affect each one of these nerves or unluckily can cause trouble on all of them. If you or someone you know is suffering from issues like this, give the office a call at 618-558-2429 or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com and schedule an appointment.

09/22/2025

Today I am going to be talking about the Iliotibial band or what is known as the IT Band. This muscle can cause a number of problems in the body. The IT Band can cause hip and knee pain and sometimes in prolonged conditions, can even cause Lower back pain. The most common injury I see from this muscle is runners knee and runners hip. You do not have to be a runner to suffer from hip or knee pain. Sitting improperly can cause the IT Band to become under immense tension. The IT Band sits on top of one of the Quad muscles. This interaction ( the muscles do the opposite motions) with each other can cause friction to built up and inflammation to set in, causing tendinitis or bursitis. If you or someone you know is suffering from hip or knee pain and no longer can enjoy their life, give us a call and lets get back on the road of healing. 618-558-2429 or schedule online at unfriedchiropractic.com

07/28/2025

Today I am going to be talking about the Facet joints in the spine. Each vertebrae has 4 facet joints located on them: 2 superior and 2 inferior. The facet joints run the entire length of the spine. From the upper neck all the way down to the belt line. The job of these joint are to help the smooth motion in all 3 planes of motion that the spine is capable of performing. When these joints become inflamed and irritated, the pain can range from local dull aches to severe sharp radiating pain that can be diffuse and wide spread across a large region of the body. Over time, long term pain and irritation will cause wear and tear on the joints. This is called osteoarthritis, and chiropractors see and treat this every day successfully. This is something that is very common in todays society and something that chiropractic care can take care of successfully. If you or someone you know has been suffering from any of these issues, give us a try, you'll be surprised at the results. Many patients report same day relief. 618-558-2429 or visit www.unfriedchiropractic.com and schedule a new patient visit.

06/23/2025

Today I am going to be talking about spinal pain. This could include lower back all the way up to the back of the head. The spine is made of 24 movable bones called vertebrae and then 5 fused vertebrae called the sacrum. There are also over 600 muscles in the human body. Some of these muscles help control, move and support your spine. Studies have shown that 90% of the population experiences back/spine pain in their lifetime. Unfortunately, some have this pain more frequently than others.
Have you tried Chiropractic care? I hope if you did, it worked for you. If it didn't, maybe you were missing something in your treatment protocol. You might be missing Active Release Technique (ART) from your treatment. ART is unique on how it addresses your pain symptoms. Before any chiropractic adjustments happen, Dr. Unfried works on the muscular system in helping increase range of motion and blood flow to the targeted muscle.
When combining the 2 treatments together, you can get the best of both worlds. These techniques address the muscular and the joint component of an injury. If you or someone you know has been struggling with pain or discomfort, call the office today to schedule an appointment 618-558-2429 or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com and setup your apt online.

05/30/2025

Dr. Unfried will be out of the office from May 30th to June 8th. Clinic hours resume June 9th. Go to Www.unfriedchiropractic.com to schedule your online apt. Thank you

05/19/2025

I wanted to talk today about these stretch "clinics" or "classes". I think most of us know that stretching is an important part of being physically active.
Most of what you would get at one of these facilities would probably be a static hold or a stretch till you feel it. In some instances, stretching can produce pain and even cause further injury when doing the therapy. This is why education is important when picking your therapist when preforming these therapies.
There are over 600 muscles and each one of those has a specific attachment as well as a specific movement involved to it. That is why Active Release Technique is so important. We learn how the structure moves, what the structure controls and/or how the structure interferes with its surroundings.
If you or someone you know would like more information on this specialize therapy call or text the office at 618-558-2429 or go to www.unfriedchiropractic.com