Auto accidents can cause injuries even when the collision seems minor. The most common is whiplash, where the head and neck move quickly through a forceful range of motion. Symptoms may start immediately or develop over the next few days and can include neck pain, headaches, mid-back tightness, jaw tension, dizziness, and stiffness or pain into the shoulders and arms.

In many cases, the issue is not one damaged structure. It is a combination of joint restriction, muscle guarding, tissue irritation, and a nervous system that stays on high alert after the event. That can make recovery feel unpredictable.

At Priestley Chiropractic, the first step is making sure the pattern fits a typical post-accident presentation and identifying red flags that require referral. From there, we assess mobility, tissue response, and how the body is compensating. Care is kept appropriate to the stage of healing and may include gentle chiropractic work, soft-tissue techniques, acupuncture, and rehab to restore motion and confidence without pushing too hard too fast.

The goal is to reduce irritation, restore more normal movement, and help you return to work, driving, and training with fewer setbacks.

Neck and upper back pain often build gradually and are closely linked to posture, screen use, breathing patterns, and stress. Long hours at a desk, frequent device use, or carrying tension through the shoulders can place ongoing strain on the neck and upper spine.

The neck is a highly active and complex region. It supports the weight of the head, allows a wide range of motion, and plays a major role in how the body coordinates movement. When joint motion becomes restricted and surrounding muscles stay tight or overworked, symptoms like headaches, reduced rotation, stiffness between the shoulders, and persistent tension can develop. Many people notice flare-ups during stressful periods, even without a clear injury.

At Priestley Chiropractic, the focus is on identifying where movement is restricted and what is driving the strain. Chiropractic care may be used to restore motion in specific segments and reduce mechanical stress. Soft-tissue work, decompression, or acupuncture may be added when appropriate to reduce tension and improve tissue response. The goal is to help the neck and upper back move more comfortably so tension does not keep building over time.

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek care. It can show up suddenly after lifting, bending, or an awkward movement, or develop gradually from prolonged sitting, repetitive strain, poor posture, or accumulated stress over time.

The lower back handles a large share of the body’s load and depends on coordinated movement between joints, muscles, connective tissue, and the nervous system. When movement becomes restricted or tissues are overloaded, the body often compensates in less efficient ways. This can lead to recurring pain, stiffness, reduced tolerance to activity, or symptoms that come and go without a clear pattern.

At Priestley Chiropractic, the goal is to understand why low back pain is happening, not just where it hurts. We assess how the spine is moving, how surrounding tissues are responding, and how daily habits, work demands, and past injuries may be contributing. Disc involvement, joint restriction, muscle imbalance, or nerve irritation may all play a role.

Care is directed at improving movement and reducing mechanical stress so the body can function more comfortably and reliably over time.

Disc-related issues are a common reason people experience back or neck pain, stiffness, or nerve-related symptoms. Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, helping the spine handle load and movement. Over time, discs can become irritated or stressed, and in some cases may bulge or herniate.

Disc-related symptoms can present in different ways. Some people feel localized back or neck pain. Others notice pain that travels into the arm or leg, along with tingling, numbness, or weakness. Symptoms often change with posture and activity and may flare with prolonged sitting, bending, lifting, or repetitive strain.

At Priestley Chiropractic, the goal is to determine whether a disc is likely contributing to your symptoms and what is driving stress in that area. We evaluate movement, joint function, nerve irritation, and how daily habits or past injuries may be influencing the problem.

Care may include chiropractic adjustments to restore motion and reduce mechanical strain, along with soft-tissue work and rehab strategies to improve stability and tissue tolerance. Spinal decompression is often a key part of care in disc-related cases. By reducing pressure on the disc and surrounding nerves, it can help decrease irritation and support the healing process.

The focus is on improving function and reducing irritation so the spine can tolerate daily activity more comfortably over time.

Sciatica usually feels like pain that starts in the low back or buttock and travels into the leg. It may be sharp, burning, or deep and aching. Some people also notice tingling, numbness, or weakness. Sitting, bending, lifting, and long drives often make it worse.

Sciatica is a symptom pattern, not a single diagnosis. Most often, it reflects irritation or compression of a nerve in the low back that feeds into the sciatic nerve. Common drivers include disc stress, restricted spinal joints, soft-tissue tension, or inflammation along the nerve pathway.

The key is identifying what is actually provoking the nerve. At Priestley Chiropractic, we look at how your low back is moving, which positions trigger symptoms, and whether the signs point toward disc involvement, joint restriction, or tissue overload.

Care is tailored to what’s driving the irritation. Chiropractic care may be combined with soft-tissue work, decompression, and targeted rehab to reduce stress on the area and improve stability. The goal is to reduce irritation and pressure on the nerve, restore more normal movement, and help you get back to walking, working, and training with more confidence.

Headaches and migraines are common, and they do not always start in the head. For many people, the pattern builds from daily strain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, and jaw. Screen posture, desk work, disrupted sleep, travel, and stress can all increase load through the upper spine and the muscles that support it.

When joints in the upper neck and mid-back are not moving well, the body often compensates with muscle guarding. That tension can refer pain into the head, create pressure behind the eyes, or trigger pain that spreads from the base of the skull into the temples or forehead.

Migraines are different from a typical tension headache and can involve throbbing pain, light or sound sensitivity, nausea, or visual changes. They often have multiple contributing factors, but many people notice their pattern is influenced by neck tension, posture, and physical strain.

Instead of treating the head in isolation, the aim is to identify what is feeding the cycle. Upper spine mobility, posture, muscle tone, jaw tension, and your most common triggers are assessed to see where strain is accumulating and how the body is compensating. Care is then adapted to your findings and comfort, with supportive strategies to reduce recurring tension and improve resilience.

The goal is to reduce the mechanical and muscular stress that drives the pattern so headaches or migraines become less frequent, less intense, and less disruptive over time.

Shoulder pain often shows up during everyday movements. Reaching overhead, lifting, sleeping on one side, or working at a desk can start to feel sharp, tight, or limited. For some people it is a deep ache. For others it is a pinching sensation or a loss of range of motion that comes and goes.

The shoulder rarely works alone. It depends on coordinated movement between the shoulder joint, the shoulder blade, the upper back, and the neck. When the upper back becomes stiff, posture changes, or the shoulder blade stops moving well, the shoulder can start taking load in the wrong places. Over time, this can irritate tissues and lead to restricted movement, recurring pain, or reduced tolerance to activity.

Rather than chasing the painful spot, Priestley Chiropractic focuses on what is limiting shoulder function. Shoulder and shoulder blade motion, upper back mobility, and neck involvement are assessed to see where movement is restricted and where the body is compensating. Care is then adapted to those findings, and rehab may be added to restore control, stability, and better movement patterns.

The aim is to reduce irritation and restore smoother shoulder mechanics so you can use your arm normally again without constant flare-ups.

Arm, elbow, and wrist pain often builds from repetitive use. Desk work, typing, gripping, lifting, tools, sports, and phone use can overload tissues gradually until the body starts reacting with pain, tightness, or reduced tolerance. Some people notice aching or burning. Others feel weakness, tingling, or numbness, especially with certain positions.

These symptoms can come from different sources. Sometimes the irritation is local, such as tendons and muscles around the elbow or wrist. In other cases, the problem is influenced by the neck and upper back, where nerve irritation or restricted motion can change how the arm feels and functions. That is why symptoms do not always match one clear “injury,” and why they can flare with posture and strain.

At Priestley Chiropractic, the key is figuring out what’s driving the pattern. We assess movement through the neck, shoulder, and arm, along with tissue sensitivity and possible nerve involvement, to see whether the issue is mainly joint-related, soft-tissue overload, repetitive strain, or referred irritation from the neck.

From there, care is tailored to what we find. Rehab exercises and supportive therapies may be added to improve tissue tolerance and reduce flare-ups.

The focus is simple: reduce irritation, restore function, and help you get back to work, training, and day-to-day life with more consistency.

Hip pain is not always just a hip joint issue. The hip works as part of a larger complex that includes the pelvis, sacrum, and low back. When one area becomes restricted or overloaded, the others often compensate, which can create pain patterns that feel hard to pin down.

Symptoms can show up in different places: the front of the hip, the side, the glute, or deep in the groin. Some people notice stiffness after sitting. Others feel pain with walking, stairs, squatting, running, or getting in and out of the car.

At Priestley Chiropractic, we focus on figuring out what part of the system is actually driving the problem. We assess hip motion, pelvic and sacral mechanics, and any low back involvement to identify restrictions, muscle guarding, and compensation patterns. From there, care is tailored to what we find, and rehab may be added to improve stability and load tolerance so the area holds up better in daily life and training.

The goal is to reduce irritation and restore smoother, more coordinated movement through the hip and pelvic complex.

Stress and anxiety do not only affect the mind. They often show up physically as muscle tension, shallow breathing, jaw clenching, headaches, digestive changes, and sleep that never feels fully restorative.

When the nervous system remains in a prolonged state of alert, recovery slows and pain becomes harder to resolve. Muscles stay tight, joints feel stiff, and even minor physical stress can feel overwhelming. It is common for musculoskeletal symptoms to flare during stressful periods, even when nothing physical has changed.

Care may involve chiropractic treatment to reduce physical tension and support spinal motion, combined with acupuncture to help calm nervous system activity. When symptoms suggest broader inflammatory or digestive involvement, functional medicine insights may be used to explore lifestyle, gut health, and recovery factors. The aim is to help the nervous system regain balance so the body can recover more effectively.

Leg, knee, and ankle pain often comes from how load is moving through the entire lower body, not just the spot that hurts. Walking, stairs, running, squatting, and standing for long periods all require coordinated motion between the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. When one link in that chain becomes stiff or unstable, other areas often take on extra stress.

Some people notice sharp pain with activity. Others feel aching, stiffness, swelling, or a sense that the joint is not tracking smoothly. In some cases, symptoms can also be influenced by the low back if nerve irritation is involved, especially when pain, tingling, or numbness travels down the leg.

We look for what’s actually driving the stress, not just where it hurts. That means assessing movement patterns, joint motion, tissue irritation, and how things line up under load, to see whether the main issue is coming from the knee or ankle itself, from the hip and pelvis above, or from the low back and nerve pathways. Care is then tailored to what we find, and rehab may be added to build strength, control, and stability.

The result is better mechanics, less overload, and a lower body that holds up more reliably in daily life and during activity.

Posture is not just how you look standing still. It is how your body holds itself all day, how it distributes load, and how it adapts to what you ask of it. Desk work, phones, driving, one-sided habits, and repetitive demands can slowly shape posture over time.

When posture changes, certain joints often become stiff and certain muscles end up doing too much work. Common patterns include forward head position, rounded shoulders, a stiff upper back, or an anteriorly tilted pelvis. Over time, these imbalances can contribute to neck and back pain, headaches, shoulder tension, hip discomfort, and recurring tightness that flares with fatigue or stress.

We’re not chasing “perfect posture.” We’re looking to reduce the strain patterns that build up from how you move, sit, stand, and hold yourself day to day. We assess posture and movement to find where things are stiff, weak, or compensating, then tailor care to what we see. Rehab is often part of it, so better movement and stability actually stick.

Over time, the result is a body that carries load more efficiently, moves more freely, and feels better in normal daily life.

Dr. Priestley is board certified in pediatric chiropractic by the international chiropractic association. This post graduate degree includes managing pregnancy related spinal problems and preforming the webster technique on mothers when the babies are breech.

Pregnancy places unique and changing demands on the body. As weight shifts and hormones affect joint stability, the spine, pelvis, ribs, and surrounding muscles must adapt continuously. These changes are normal, but they can lead to discomfort when the body struggles to manage the added load. Common pregnancy-related symptoms include low back pain, pelvic discomfort, sciatica, rib pain, neck and shoulder tension, and general stiffness. These symptoms are often influenced by changes in posture, ligament flexibility, and how muscles are working to stabilize the body.

At Priestley Chiropractic, care is gentle and adapted to the stage of pregnancy. We assess how these changes are affecting the spine and pelvis and where joints or tissues may be under increased strain. Chiropractic techniques may be used to reduce joint restriction and mechanical stress, and soft-tissue work or acupuncture may be added when appropriate. The focus is on helping the body adapt more comfortably to physical change.

Scoliosis refers to a sideways curvature of the spine. Some people are diagnosed young, while others only discover it later after recurring back pain, uneven posture, or stiffness leads them to look deeper.

Not every curve causes symptoms. Many people with scoliosis feel fine, while others notice muscle tension, stiffness, fatigue with standing or walking, or a sense that one side of the body is doing more work than the other. Over time, the spine can become less flexible, and the body may compensate through the neck, shoulders, hips, and low back.

Early detection matters. In children and teens, scoliosis can progress during growth spurts. Catching changes early allows for better monitoring and more timely decisions about what support is needed. If there are signs a curve may be changing, we can recommend appropriate imaging or referral and help guide next steps.

The focus is not on “fixing” scoliosis in one treatment. It is about improving function, reducing strain around the curve, and supporting better movement control. Care is adapted to what we find, and rehab may be added to support stability and day-to-day comfort..

It is not typical but Dr. Priestley has had patients during their adolescent period where the curvature has reduced with just chiropractic care and no bracing. See the image.

Sports injuries are not always dramatic. Many start as small irritations from training load, poor recovery, repetitive strain, or movement patterns that place stress in the wrong places. Runners develop hip, knee, and ankle issues. Lifters develop shoulder, elbow, and back strain. Field and court sports often involve acute sprains or impact injuries.

The key is identifying whether the problem is coming from a specific tissue injury, poor joint mechanics, loss of mobility, or a stability and control issue under load. Treating symptoms without changing the driver often leads to repeat flare-ups.

At Priestley Chiropractic, we assess movement quality, joint motion, tissue sensitivity, and training factors to understand what is driving the overload. Care may include chiropractic work to restore motion, soft-tissue treatment, acupuncture when appropriate, and rehab to improve strength, control, and resilience.

The goal is not just pain relief. It is getting you back to training with better mechanics and a body that tolerates load more reliably.

Kids’ bodies change fast. Crawling, learning to walk, growth spurts, school posture, backpacks, sports, and falls all create new demands. Most parents do not bring a child in because something is “wrong.” They come in because they want to understand how their child is moving, whether a pattern is normal, and whether support would be helpful.

Common reasons families seek care include neck or back discomfort, postural changes, sports strains, headaches, and concerns around how the spine and hips are adapting during growth. In some cases, we are also looking at early signs of scoliosis or other developing asymmetries.

At Priestley Chiropractic, pediatric care is gentle, age-appropriate, and always adapted to the child’s size and stage of development. The focus is on assessment first: movement, posture, flexibility, and how the body is handling daily demands. When care is appropriate, techniques are modified, and rehab or home strategies are often part of the plan.

The goal is to support healthy movement and function as the body grows, and to catch patterns early when they are easiest to address.

Some patients come to Priestley Chiropractic with concerns that go beyond typical aches and pains. In our experience, certain internal-related symptoms can sometimes be influenced by tension patterns, spinal and rib mechanics, breathing function, and how the nervous system is handling stress.

We have seen good outcomes in some cases involving constipation, acid reflux, asthma-related breathing strain, chronic recurrent ear infections, and vertigo. That said, these symptoms can have many causes and should always be evaluated by the appropriate medical provider. Our role is supportive care, focused on reducing mechanical stress and improving function, alongside any medical care you may need.

Most people assume carpal tunnel syndrome starts in the wrist. Often, it does not.
The median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel and controls sensation and movement in much of the hand, originates in the lower cervical spine. When there is joint dysfunction in the neck or along the path of the nerve through the shoulder, elbow, or forearm, it can create irritation that gets blamed entirely on the wrist.
That does not mean the wrist is never involved. Sometimes soft tissue restrictions and mechanical compression at the wrist itself are the primary driver. In many cases, it is both.
Common symptoms include numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, weakness when gripping, and discomfort that tends to be worse at night or after extended use of the hands.
At Priestley Chiropractic, we evaluate the full picture: the cervical spine, the shoulder, the elbow, the forearm, and the wrist. Chiropractic adjustments aimed at restoring normal joint motion in the neck and upper extremity may help relieve nerve irritation contributing to these symptoms. For soft tissue involvement, our doctors who are board-certified in Active Release Therapy (ART) are trained specifically to address the adhesions and restrictions in muscles, tendons, and connective tissue that can put pressure on nerves.
Not every case of hand numbness is carpal tunnel syndrome, and not every carpal tunnel case requires the same approach. We will do a thorough examination before recommending any care.

Vertigo is unsettling in a very literal sense. That spinning sensation, the sudden loss of balance, the nausea that comes with it – it can make something as ordinary as turning over in bed feel disorienting and even frightening.
What many people do not know is that a significant number of vertigo cases have a musculoskeletal or neurological component that responds well to conservative care.
One of the most common forms, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), involves displaced crystals in the inner ear that disrupt the brain’s ability to read position and movement. Specific repositioning maneuvers can be highly effective for this type and are within the scope of chiropractic care.
Cervicogenic vertigo is another pattern we see regularly. Dysfunction in the upper cervical spine can interfere with the proprioceptive signals the neck sends to the brain about head position. Chiropractic adjustments aimed at restoring normal joint motion in the upper cervical region may help reduce this interference and improve balance and spatial orientation.
We also want to be honest with you: not all vertigo originates in the spine or inner ear. Some cases require medical evaluation and management that falls outside what chiropractic addresses. If that is what we find, we will tell you and help point you in the right direction.