The Difference Between Muscle Pain and Nervous System Overload Many people assume that all pain comes from tight or injured muscles. While muscles certainly play a role, they are often not the true source of ongoing discomfort. In many cases, pain reflects nervous system overload, not simple muscle strain. Understanding the difference helps explain why pain sometimes lingers even after rest, stretching, or massage. Muscle pain usually develops after overuse, injury, or sudden strain. You might notice soreness, stiffness, or tenderness in a specific area. This type of pain often improves with rest, heat, hydration, gentle movement, or manual therapy.…

The New Back Pain: How Screen Time Rewires Your Spine In today’s world, digital fatigue has quietly become the new form of back pain. People spend hours sitting, scrolling, typing, and staring at screens, often without noticing how their posture shifts over time. Your body wasn’t designed to hold the same position all day, and your spine responds quickly to the stress. The more time you spend on a device, the harder your muscles and joints work to keep you upright, balanced, and focused. When you look down at your phone, the weight on your neck increases dramatically.…

Your body is constantly communicating with you — especially your spine. When stress builds up, your nervous system shifts into overdrive, and your spine often shows the first signs. At Overstad Chiropractic, we help patients understand how emotional stress becomes physical tension, and how to recognize these early warning signals before they become chronic pain. When you can “read” your spine, you can take action sooner and support your body’s natural ability to heal. Stress Shows Up First in Your Neck When you’re overwhelmed or carrying mental tension, the muscles in your neck tighten automatically. This protective response…

Your immune system is your body’s built-in defense network, constantly working to protect you from illness, infection, and inflammation. But did you know that regular chiropractic care can help strengthen that system? By improving communication between the spine, nervous system, and immune system, chiropractic adjustments help your body function at its best. Your nervous system controls every function in your body — including your immune response. When the spine is misaligned, it can disrupt the nerve signals that help regulate immunity. Gentle chiropractic adjustments remove this interference, restoring clear communication between the brain and body so your immune…

Aging is a natural part of life, but how we age is largely up to us. While genetics play a role, your daily habits and lifestyle choices have a much greater impact. One often-overlooked factor in healthy aging is spinal health — and that’s where we come in. Your spine does far more than support your posture. It’s the communication highway between your brain and body. When your spine is properly aligned, your nervous system functions at its best, helping every organ, muscle, and cell stay in sync. This is essential for maintaining balance, strength, coordination, and even…

If you’ve ever dealt with jaw pain, clicking, or stiffness, you may already know how disruptive TMJ issues can be. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull and is responsible for talking, chewing, and everyday movement. When this joint becomes strained or misaligned, the discomfort can spread to your face, head, neck, and even shoulders. The good news? Dr. Overstad offers a natural and effective approach to easing TMJ pain and restoring balance. Understanding TMJ Problems TMJ disorders often come from a combination of stress, teeth grinding, poor posture, or even past injuries. Symptoms may…

Feeling tired all the time isn’t just about getting too little sleep. Low energy can come from stress, poor posture, and even spinal misalignments that affect how your nervous system functions. Many people are surprised to learn that regular chiropractic care may help restore energy naturally by improving the way your body works as a whole. Your spine does more than support your body — it also protects the nervous system. When the spine is out of alignment, it can create stress on the nerves, muscles, and joints. This extra tension uses up energy that your body could…

Can Adjustments Help You Breathe Easier? As the leaves change and the air cools, many people look forward to fall. But for allergy sufferers, autumn can bring itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing, and fatigue. Ragweed pollen, mold spores, and dust often make this season uncomfortable. While medications may provide temporary relief, many people are searching for natural, drug-free options. This is where chiropractic care comes in. Chiropractic adjustments do more than align your spine. They also support your nervous system, which controls every function in your body — including how your immune system responds to allergens. When the spine…

In today’s fast-paced world, mental clarity is one of the most valuable assets you can have. Whether you’re managing a busy schedule, making important decisions, or simply trying to stay present in the moment, your ability to focus affects every aspect of life. While many people think of chiropractic care for back or neck pain, it can also play a significant role in supporting brain function and mental sharpness. The brain and spinal cord make up your central nervous system, which is responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body. When the spine is misaligned, it can…

Don’t Ignore That ‘Click’: What Popping Joints Really Mean Popping, clicking, or cracking sounds from your joints may seem harmless—maybe even satisfying—but they can tell a deeper story about your spinal health. At Overstad Chiropractic, we help patients understand what these noises mean and when it’s time to take them seriously. When a joint “pops,” it often means gas bubbles are being released in the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints. This is usually harmless and temporary. However, when joint noises become frequent, accompanied by pain, stiffness, or a feeling that something is “off,” it could signal a…