Brian Baker, D.C.

Cervicogenic headaches are a form of secondary headache resulting from dysfunction in the cervical spine—typically, the upper most part of the cervical spine (atlanto-occipital joint) and upper three cervical segments (C1-3). Dominant symptoms and signs include unilateral head and upper neck pain, limited neck motion, and increased symptoms with certain neck and head positions. It’s [..]

Background According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC), the top ten causes of yearly death are (1): Number of deaths for leading causes of death Heart disease: 695,547 Cancer: 605,213 COVID-19: 416,893 Accidents (unintentional injuries): 224,935 Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,890 Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 142,342 Alzheimer’s disease: 119,399 Diabetes: [..]

Lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow, is a muscle tendon injury located on the thumb-side of the elbow. While the condition can result from a single traumatic event, tennis elbow is typically caused by repetitive motions that involve gripping or extending the wrist that overload the forearm muscles. Initially, the tennis elbow patient [..]

Whiplash associated disorders is a term used to characterize the constellation of signs and symptoms that commonly result from the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck, most often from motor vehicle collisions. Whether from the recommendation of a friend, family member, or personal injury attorney or from a self-referral after other treatment [..]

The hamstrings consist of four muscles in the back of the thigh and upper leg—the biceps femoris (long and short heads), semitendinosus, and semimembranosus—that connect the ischial tuberosity to the knee area. This collection of muscles performs a variety of functions including bending or flexing the knee joint; extending the hip joint; internal hip rotation; [..]

Bone is a living tissue that naturally and continuously breaks down (osteoclastic activity) and is replaced (osteoblastic activity). Peak bone mass is achieved at around age 30 with breakdown accelerating thereafter. If sufficient bone mass and microstructure is lost, an individual may be diagnosed with a condition known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect both men [..]

It’s estimated that 84% of individuals will experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime, with 23% developing chronic low back pain. While dysfunction in the lumbar region is typically thought to be the cause of a patient’s low back pain, there’s a growing body of research suggesting that the underlying [..]

With the rise of smartphones and social media apps that keep users glued to small screens for hours upon hours, forward head posture is becoming more common. Unfortunately, this postural fault can set the stage for neck pain. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 60% of patients with neck pain exhibit forward head posture. [..]

“Manipulation” and “Chiropractic” are not Synonyms Background Joint Manipulation Joint manipulation is the applying of a force to a joint that helps that joint move better. It is classically associated with an audible sound. All people, trained and untrained, are capable of manipulating joints and eliciting an audible sound. Manipulation is a lay term. It is often [..]

Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is a very common cause of shoulder pain that affects about half of adults at some point in life. Essentially, the condition describes the pinching of pain-sensitive structures in the shoulder that restricts normal use or function, with raising the shoulder being a very common activity that triggers a painful reaction.  [..]

The carpal tunnel is formed by eight small bones that comprise the top of the tunnel with the transverse carpal ligament serving as the floor. The median nerve, blood vessels, and nine tendons and their sheaths pass through the tunnel. In a healthy individual, there is a constant fluid pressure within the carpal tunnel that [..]

Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) is a term used to describe the constellation of signs and symptoms that can arise following the sudden acceleration-deceleration of the head and neck that can occur in automobile collisions, physical trauma (such as sports or assault), or a serious fall. It’s estimated that half of WAD patients will continue to [..]