Rulli Chiropractic Clinic

02/11/2026

TMJ Pain: What It Is & How Chiropractic Can Help

If you’ve been dealing with jaw pain, clicking, popping, headaches, or tightness when you chew, you may be experiencing TMJ dysfunction — irritation or imbalance in the temporomandibular joint, the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull.

When this joint isn’t moving well, it can create a ripple effect:
• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Headaches or facial tension
• Ear pressure or ringing
• Neck tightness
• Difficulty chewing or opening wide

How Chiropractic Helps
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper motion and reducing irritation in the areas that influence the jaw — including the neck, upper back, and the TMJ itself.

Treatment may include:
• Gentle TMJ adjustments to improve how the joint moves
• Releasing tight jaw muscles, especially the pterygoid muscles, which often contribute to clicking, locking, and tension
• Improving mobility in the neck and upper back to reduce strain on the jaw
• Calming irritated nerves and reducing muscle guarding

Many patients notice relief not only in the jaw, but also in headaches, facial tension, and neck tightness.

If your jaw has been giving you trouble, you don’t have to just live with it.
Targeted, gentle care can make a meaningful difference.

02/09/2026

Do you know the signs of a heart attack?

A heart attack often starts with chest pressure or discomfort, but it can also show up as shortness of breath, nausea, unusual fatigue, or pain in the arm, jaw, back, or neck. These symptoms can be subtle—especially in women—and any suspicion should be treated as an emergency.

️❤️ Classic Warning Signs
These are the symptoms most commonly reported during a heart attack:
- Chest discomfort
- Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest
- May last more than a few minutes or come and go
- Pain in other areas
- One or both arms, back, neck, jaw, upper stomach
-Shortness of breath
- Can occur with or without chest pain

⚠️ Additional Symptoms
These may accompany or replace the classic signs:
- Cold sweat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness or faintness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Unusual fatigue (especially in women)
- Heartburn-like discomfort or indigestion

!! Women Often Have Different or Subtler Symptoms
Women may experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Back, shoulder, or jaw pain
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Anxiety or a sense of dread
These symptoms may occur WITHOUT the classic chest pain.

🚨 When to Act
If you or someone else has any of these symptoms:
Call 911 immediately.

Minutes matter—early treatment saves heart muscle and lives.
- If the person becomes unconscious and has no pulse, begin hands‑only CPR until help arrives.

02/06/2026

With the Super Bowl just days away, here’s a fun fact:

Every NFL team now uses chiropractic care as part of their player health strategy.

Why? Because when you’re dealing with explosive speed, high-impact hits, and split‑second movement, joints and muscles need to be working at their best. Chiropractors on the sidelines help players with:
• Faster recovery between games
• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Managing the wear‑and‑tear of a long season
• Keeping the spine and nervous system functioning optimally

You don’t have to be a pro athlete to benefit from the same approach.
Healthy movement matters whether you’re on the field, at work, or just trying to feel your best every day.

Enjoy the game this weekend!

02/04/2026

“If the adjustment helps me feel better, why do I also need exercises?”

Great question — and one many patients wonder silently.

Adjustments restore motion to joints that aren’t moving well.
Exercises restore stability to the muscles that support those joints.
When you pair the two, you get:
• Better, longer‑lasting results
• Less recurrence of the same problem
• Stronger support for daily activities
• A body that learns new, healthier movement patterns

Think of the adjustment as aligning the wheels…
and the exercises as keeping the tires properly inflated so the alignment holds.
Both matter, and together they help you stay feeling your best.

02/04/2026

Dr. Rulli got a great adjustment from Eric, our intern, today.

02/02/2026

💖 Galentine’s Day Massage Special!

Celebrate the women who lift you up, laugh with you, and keep you grounded.

Treat yourself or your favorite gals to some well‑deserved relaxation with our Galentine’s Day Massage Special — exclusive discount for women all week long.
Because self‑care is better when shared.

Call the office to reserve your spot — these appointments fill fast. (804) 261-6685

01/29/2026

Add this study to the mounting evidence of acupuncture's effectiveness in treating low back pain in older adults.

A new study looked at how much acupuncture might help older adults with chronic back pain.

01/28/2026

Patients often wonder:
“Why do you check areas that don’t hurt?”

Because pain is a symptom, not a roadmap. The spot that hurts is often just the loudest part — not the part that started the problem. Your body works as a connected system, so a stiff hip can irritate your low back, a tight upper back can strain your neck, and a weak core can make everything else work overtime.
By checking areas that feel fine, we’re looking for:
• The true source of the issue — not just the painful area
• Silent troublemakers that aren’t hurting yet but are affecting how you move
• How your joints and muscles work together as a team
• Patterns of compensation that make pain return if left unaddressed

When we treat the whole picture — not just the loudest spot — your results last longer, flare‑ups are less likely, and your body moves the way it’s designed to.
It’s not about chasing pain. It’s about restoring balance.

01/26/2026

Cold weather and low back pain—why it flares and what you can do

When the temperature drops, your muscles naturally tighten to conserve heat. That stiffness can reduce flexibility, increase joint pressure, and make old low back issues feel more noticeable. You’re not imagining it—your body really does behave differently in the cold.

A few simple habits can make winter much easier on your spine:
🔥 Warm up your muscles
• A heating pad or warm shower in the morning helps loosen stiff tissues.
• Keep your core and low back covered—cold muscles strain more easily.
🚶 Move every 30–45 minutes
• Short, gentle movement breaks prevent your back from “locking up.”
• Even a slow walk or a few hip mobility drills can reset your spine.
💧 Stay hydrated
• Cold weather dries us out more than we realize, and dehydrated muscles tighten faster.
🧘 Keep your core engaged
• Light activation—like bracing (a light, steady tightening around your middle)- when you stand, lift, or bend—gives your spine extra support.
👐 Consider a chiropractic adjustment
• When joints get stiff in cold weather, an adjustment can help restore motion, reduce muscle tension, and improve how your body moves.
• Many patients notice they move more comfortably and recover faster when their spine isn’t fighting against winter stiffness.

Stay warm, stay mobile, and consider a chiropractic adjustment - your spine will thank you.

01/26/2026

Due to the road conditions, our office will be closed on Tuesday, 1/27/26.

We will reopen on Wednesday, 1/28/26.

01/23/2026

Due to the anticipated impacts of the upcoming winter storm, our office will be CLOSED on Monday, 1/26/26.

Updates regarding our schedule for the rest of the week will be posted on our page and on our website at www.rullichiropractic.com

Enjoy this picture of a dog romping in the snow. Because dogs make most things better. Stay safe and warm.