Susan Carter, D.C.

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 [..]

Efficient blood circulation is essential for the health of nearly all bodily functions, including the heart and cardiovascular system, the kidneys, and the brain. If vascular health is compromised, either from endothelial (blood vessel wall) dysfunction or stiffening of the large elastic arteries (such as the aorta and carotid arteries), then the risk for adverse [..]

Lumbar diskectomy is a surgical procedure for removing herniated intervertebral disk material when non-surgical options fail to satisfactorily alleviate radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness. However, there’s no guarantee such a procedure will provide relief. Up to 12% of patients require reoperation withing three months to address post-surgical complications and up to 20% may experience [..]