Neck and back pain can be related to many factors. While most back pain is muscle, joint, or nerve related, in rare cases it can be caused by referred pain from an organ. Naturally, we’ll immediately refer you to your family physician.

A common cause of neck or back pain is a “timing” problem in the muscles that support the affected joint. For example, there are nine muscles in your rotator cuff or shoulder. For you to rotate your arm through space in a circle, without pain, requires a great deal of “synchronicity” as muscles contract and relax in time. One muscle “out of time” will cause muscles to be pulling against each other, resulting in pain and limited range of motion.

Arthritis means inflammation of a joint. Over time, arthritis can cause bone spurs when calcium is laid down as the body tries to stabilize the area. This response is what you want with a fracture; it’s not what you want when there is a correctable joint problem.

Taking pain medication for arthritis does nothing to address the cause. Over time, the condition will only become worse. B.E.S.T. therapy “re-times” the muscles by turning off the messages to the muscle causing it to contract inappropriately. The treatment goal is always to treat the cause, making the symptom unnecessary.

The vast majority of headaches are related to muscle and joint problems originating in the neck or cervical spine. A comprehensive orthopedic and neurological exam will identify the probable source and cause of the pain. While the cause is usually related to the “musculoskeletal” system and will likely respond well to chiropractic management, in rare cases it can be caused by hormonal, vascular (blood flow) or organ problems.

In this case, medical evaluation may be the best course of action. Because of the gentle and non-invasive nature of B.E.S.T. therapy, it is the logical alternative to long-term use of pain medication. All drugs have side effects and are toxic to some degree and thus best avoided if possible.

The TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint is a good example to demonstrate the critical nature of timing for normal and painless joint function. Timing is normal and natural when a muscle contracts as an opposing muscle relaxes to allow motion. There are four main muscles on each side of the jaw: the temporalis, mandibular, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid. Every time we chew, speak, or simply open the mouth, these eight muscles should work in perfect balance.

A simple demonstration is to stand in front of a mirror and slowly open your mouth. Watch to see if there is any deviation of your jaw as you do this. If there is, even very slightly, you have a timing problem. While you may be pain free, the potential for a dysfunction and pain is present. If you have jaw pain and possibly “clicking” of the jaw when you chew, you might consider being evaluated with B.E.S.T. before more invasive and irreversible TMJ procedures.

Timing problems by muscles supporting a joint is a very common cause of arthritis and joint degeneration. The ultimate goal of B.E.S.T. therapy is to detect and address the muscle imbalances before symptoms occur.