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 Hogle 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 deeper issue. In many cases, clicking joints—especially in the neck, back, or shoulders—stem from misalignments in the spine. These misalignments, known as subluxations, affect how the joints move and how the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body. Over time, subluxations can lead to muscle imbalances, joint degeneration, and chronic…

How Flip-Flops and Sandals Affect Your Spine Flip-flops and sandals may be summer staples, but most people don’t realize just how flip-flops affect your spine. These light, open shoes may feel comfortable, but they often lack the support your body needs, and that can lead to real problems from the ground up. Your feet are your foundation. When they don’t have the right support, your entire posture can shift. Flip-flops and flat sandals offer little to no arch support, heel cushioning, or shock absorption. This causes your foot to work harder to stay stable with each step, often leading to changes in your gait, like shorter strides, inward foot rolling, or tight calf muscles. These small changes travel up the kinetic chain and can cause misalignment in your knees, hips, and spine. Over time, people who wear unsupportive footwear regularly may develop lower back pain, hip discomfort, or neck tension.…

The Connection Between Spinal Health and Mood When most people think of chiropractic care, they think of relief from back or neck pain. Dr. Hogle understands that spinal health is deeply connected to how you feel, both physically and emotionally. A properly aligned spine supports not just your posture, but your nervous system, and that system plays a key role in regulating your mood. Your spine protects your spinal cord, which serves as the main communication highway between your brain and the rest of your body. When vertebrae become misaligned (known as subluxations), they can interfere with nerve signals. This interference doesn’t just cause discomfort—it can disrupt how your brain and body communicate, which may contribute to irritability, fatigue, anxiety, or even depression. We’ve seen patients walk in feeling low or drained and leave with a renewed sense of clarity and calm. It’s not magic—it’s neurology. Adjustments restore balance and…

Heat, Hydration, and the Spine: Summer is a great time to stay active, but heat and dehydration can sneak up fast, and they have a bigger impact on your spine and nervous system than you might think. I know how easy it is to overlook hydration when you’re on the move. But here’s the truth: your spine needs water just as much as your muscles do. Each disc between your vertebrae is like a shock absorber, made mostly of water. When you’re even slightly dehydrated, those discs lose cushioning, and that leads to stiffness, discomfort, and strain on the nervous system. Your nervous system is what controls every function in your body, from digestion and immune response to body temperature and focus. It runs through the spine, and when spinal alignment is off, especially during high-activity, high-heat months, your body can’t communicate clearly between the brain and body. That’s when…