Sacroiliitis is pain and inflammation of one or both of your sacroiliac joints located at the base of your spine where your lower spine and pelvis connect. Sacroiliitis can cause pain in your buttocks or lower back, and can extend down one or both legs. Pain may be worse with walking, weight-bearing, moving from sitting to standing, or flexing forward. It is often associated with ligament laxity or direct trauma.

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature and/or rotary deformation of the spine occurring most often in teenagers during the growth spurt right before puberty. Most cases of scoliosis are mild and considered to have a genetic link. Scoliosis may be caused by birth defects, mesenchymal disorders, trauma, neoplasmic disease, or metabolic disease. Symptoms may include: uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other, uneven waist, or difficulty breathing.

Treatment options depend on the severity of the scoliosis. Mild scoliosis is best treated by conservative care: chiropractic adjustments, massage, exercise, yoga, good posture, etc. Moderate to severe forms of scoliosis may require bracing, or even surgical intervention.

If the symptoms are related to functional muscle inhibition, the A.M.I.T. ® method will allow the spine to balance out.

Cervical dystonia is a painful condition in which the neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing the head to twist or turn to one side. This condition can also cause the head to uncontrollably tilt forward or backward. It can occur at any age and is more common in women than men. Babies can be born with this condition. Causes may include: certain reactions to drugs, trauma to the head, neck and upper shoulder injuries, or infections. Symptoms are characterized by the head and neck being locked in a rotated and flexed position with severe neck pain radiating into the shoulders. For some, the pain can be exhausting and disabling.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: The muscles of one side of the neck have been traumatized causing muscle inhibition and the joints to be inflamed. The body pulls the neck in a certain direction, which decreases the stress on the injured tissues, in an effort to protect them.

A condition in which the neck is suddenly hyperextended or hyperflexed such as the trauma associated with rear-end or head-on auto collisions. Pain may include: local or allover dull aching, local or allover sharp pain, swelling or weakness. Often the symptoms begin as sharp pain upon impact and evolve into a dull ache. Eventually after a few months, the patients may begin to develop arm, elbow or wrist pain, which does not respond to treatment.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: The muscles, discs, and joints in the neck are filled with complex nerve centers that assist in control of the head and neck. When these muscles and joints become injured or irritated, nerve centers cause the muscles of the neck to splint or tighten in an effort to protect from further injury. This situation leads to pain and restricted motion. The key is to normalize the joint and muscle function, which removes the source of the pain. This can occur rapidly using the A.M.I.T. ® methods.

Text neck is a term that has been coined to describe the posture formed by leaning forward or looking down for prolonged periods, for example when viewing a cellphone, reading, or texting. This stress over time often results in neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and thoracic hyperkyphosis (upper back hunch). Pain can be localized to one spot or may be diffused over an area, usually lower part of the neck. Can be described as dull aching or can also be sharp or stabbing in extreme cases.

Often times, a “simple fix” can be to lift your phone or book to your gaze, rather than dropping your head to look at your phone. Avoid excessive usage and take frequent breaks. Avoid slouching for prolonged periods of time.

A cervicogenic headache is caused by a problem in the neck. Causes may include multiple traumas to the neck, inflammation of the facet joints, or degenerative disease. Symptoms may include steady, non-throbbing pain at the back and base of the skull, a sensation of a tight band around the head, pain radiating up the neck into the skull, or neck stiffness.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Any injury to the joints (facets) and muscles of the neck, which may cause joints to inflame and muscles to become inhibited or dysfunctional. Once damage has occurred, the body attempts to stabilize the neck by tightening the muscles supporting the head. This constant tension restricts circulation and lymphatic drainage leading to pain and inflammation.

A tension headache is mild to moderate pain in the head; often a feeling like a tight band around the head is described. This is due to constant tightness of the muscles attached to the back of the head and into the neck and shoulders. Causes may include: neck trauma, constant emotional or physical stress, problems with teeth/jaw, or low-grade sinus inflammation triggers. Symptoms may include: dull, aching head pain, sensation of pressure across the forehead and back side of the head, or tenderness in scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles.

A migraine headache is throbbing or pulsing sensations in one area of the head. Early symptoms include aura and blurred vision occurring before or during migraine headaches. One may experience nervous system symptoms, flashes of light, sound and light sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, lightheadedness, fainting, speech problems, or vision loss. Attacks, untreated, may last from four to 72 hours.

Medically, the causes of migraine headaches are unknown and often involve many triggers.

TMJD is pain and tenderness due to dysfunction of one or both sides of the temporomandibular (jaw) joint or surrounding musculature and soft tissue. Symptoms include clicking, grinding, popping, locking, or catching of the joint with opening or closing the mouth. Often times there is also pain with chewing and can be the cause of headaches, earaches, or upper neck pain. The pain is almost always following a trauma to the face or side of the head: hit by a soccer ball in the face, car accident, concussion injury,

When the muscles of the jaw are traumatized, it causes them to become inhibited, The common muscles affected in TMJD are temporalis, masseter, pterygoid internal/medial, and pterygoid external/lateral. Functional imbalance of this musculature can cause the jaw joint to track improperly resulting in clicking, popping, discomfort, and pain. We have found the A.M.I.T. ® and NPI methods to be the most efficient way to correct this condition.

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, stabilizing the head of the upper arm bone in the socket of the shoulder. Severe injuries may require surgical repair. Causes of rotator cuff injuries include sports injuries, lifting or pulling repetitive stress, or bone spurs.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Rotator cuff syndrome is caused by an injury to one or more of the four shoulder muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, or Subscapularis (SITS) muscles. When these muscles are injured, their attachments, or entheses, become inflamed and cause pain any time the muscle is stressed. The A.M.I.T. ® method is the most efficient way to correct this condition. If a patient does not respond to therapy within two to three visits, the rotator cuff is torn requiring surgical repair.

Frozen shoulder is characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. One may experience difficulty lifting the arm above 45 degrees. Causes may include: thickening of connective tissue making up the shoulder joint, tightening of connective tissue, flexion restriction of the head on the spine, injury to multiple shoulder support muscles, or damage to connective tissue. Patients may wake up one morning and find they cannot move their shoulder.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This is a severe and chronically painful condition in which the patient is unable to move their shoulder and arm past 45 degrees. Our clinical research suggests this condition is caused by a number of factors. Muscle inhibition of the shoulder due to multiple injuries lead to a major functional imbalance, causing the muscles to become tight and painful when activated. The body restricts the motion to protect itself. Another common finding is extension and restriction in the motion of the base of the skull on the spine. This is caused when the small suboccipital muscles are inhibited due to upper neck trauma.

Shoulder Impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain. It occurs when there is impingement of tendons or bursa in the shoulder from bones of the shoulder. Causes of shoulder impingement may be any overhead activity of the shoulder, especially repeated activity.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This is a severe and chronically painful condition in which the patient is unable to move their shoulder and arm past 90 degrees. It can last three months or longer and then completely go away. Some patients try surgery as a last resort yielding varying degrees of success. Our clinical research suggests this condition is caused by a number of factors. Muscle inhibition of the shoulder due to multiple injuries lead to a major functional imbalance, causing the muscles to become tight and painful when activated. The body restricts the motion to protect itself. These factors can be corrected using the A.M.I.T. ® methods.

Bicipital Tendonitis is an inflammation of one of the tendons that attach the muscle (biceps) on the front of the upper arm bone (humerus) to the shoulder joint. The inflammation is usually along the groove where the tendon passes over the humerus to attach above the shoulder. Causes may include overuse in throwing motions, inflammatory conditions, infections, or injury.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: The tendon of the long head of the biceps runs through a groove at the top part of the shoulder. A strong tissue holds this tendon in the grove, allowing for smooth gliding of the tendon when the arm is moved. This tendon may become inflamed leading to bicipital tendonitis; however, the primary cause of this condition is inhibition and inflammation of the attachments of muscles connecting close to this groove. The pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, teres major, teres minor, subscapularis, and supraspinatus can all be involved. In addition, pain can also be coming from a referral from the cervical spine. Once the source of the pain is established, the condition can be correct using the A.M.I.T. ® method.

Tennis elbow is a painful condition occurring when repetitive motions of the wrist and arm overwork tendons in the elbow. Causes are due to overuse and muscle strain. Repeated motions and stress to the tissues may result in a series of tiny tears in the tendons attaching the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Activities leading to causes may include golf, racket sports, throwing sports, weight lifting, or other wrist bearing activities. Pain associated may radiate from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. It may be difficult to shake hands, turn a doorknob, or hold a cup.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Pain that occurs on the outside of the elbow is caused by inhibition of the wrist extensor muscles, inflammation of the periosteal tendon insertions (enthesis) of the extensor muscles or over development of the anterior shoulder muscles. Correction of this condition is accomplished by reactivating the extensor muscles and exercising the posterior shoulder muscles.

Golfer’s elbow is similar to tennis elbow; instead the pain occurs on the inside of the elbow, where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. Causes are due to damage of the muscles and tendons controlling the wrist and fingers, usually related to excessive or repetitive stress. Activities leading to causes may include golf, racket sports, throwing sports, weight lifting, or other wrist bearing activities. Pain may include: tenderness on inner side of elbow, stiffness or pain making a fist, weakness in hands or wrists, or numbness and tingling into the ring and little fingers.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Pain occurring on the inside of the elbow is caused by inhibition of the wrist flexor muscles, or over development of the anterior shoulder muscles. Correction of this condition is accomplished by reactivating the flexor muscles and exercising the posterior shoulder muscles.

Wrist sprains can be caused by sudden injuries. Causes of sprains or strains may vary. Pain may include dull aching or various degrees of pain and tenderness.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Damage to any of the muscles that cross the wrist, or to any of the ligaments that support the wrist, can lead to pain. Jamming of the carpal bones by a fall landing on the extended wrist and hand is the most common cause. Manipulating the bones back into proper alignment creates immediate relief.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a progressively painful hand and arm condition caused by a nerve pinched in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve. The median nerve runs from the forearm, through a passageway in the wrist (carpal tunnel) to the hand. Anything that crowds irritates or compresses the median nerve can lead to pain. Pain may include tingling or numbness in fingers and hand, pain radiating or extending from the wrist to the arm and shoulder, or down into palm and fingers, or a sense of weakness in hands.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This condition is caused by falling on the hands, jamming the bones in the wrist, repetitive stress, or trauma to the wrist. This leads to compression of the median nerve by the retinaculum supporting the wrist or the inhibition of the pronator quadrates muscle. The symptom may also be due to irritation of nerve roots in the cervical spine. Manipulating the cervical spine or carpal bones can cause a dramatic change in symptoms without surgery. Correction is achieved by manipulating the bones back into alignment or reactivating the pronator quadrates muscle taking the pressure off the nerve.

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a painful condition that affects the two tendons located on the thumb side of the wrist. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis may be caused by repeated movement leading to the tendon sheath becoming inflamed and thickened. Pain may include: pain in wrist, pain at base of thumb, swelling near base of thumb, or difficulty grasping or pinching.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This condition may be caused by multiple traumas to the thumb leading to joint fixation and muscle inhibition. It can be corrected by reactivating the muscles and manipulation of the thumb.

Piriformis Syndrome is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder. The piriformis muscle is a flat, band-like muscle located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint. It stabilizes the hip joint, lifting and rotating the thigh away from the body. Piriformis syndrome is caused when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve.

Pain may include tingling, or numbness in the buttocks, pain extending down the leg, sciatica after sitting for long periods of time, pain walking, or running. Most cases of sciatica are not due to piriformis syndrome.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: The piriformis muscle attaches to the greater trochanter and fans out to attach to the lateral side of the sacrum. When this muscle becomes chronically tight, it can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to symptoms associated with sciatica. In a small percentage of patients, the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle, instead of under it. Inhibition of this muscle is the most common cause of irritation, which is easily corrected using the A.M.I.T. ® method. Another common cause is sitting on a wallet for extended periods of time.

Hip Bursitis is a painful condition affecting the small fluid-filled pads, called bursae, which act as cushions along with bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints. Bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed. Causes of hip bursitis are repetitive motions or positions that irritate the bursae around a joint. Pain may include: feeling achy or stiff, pain with movement or pressure, or an area appearing swollen and red.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Inflammation of the bursa in the area of the hips. There are multiple bursa in the hip such as Ischial-Gulteal Bursa, Trochanteric Bursa, and Iliopsoas Bursae. The primary causes of pain are muscles attached to the hip that are injured or inhibited. Forcing injured or inhibited muscles to work may create pain and reduced motion, increasing degenerative changes.

Hip sprains and strains are common injuries sharing similar signs and symptoms. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments, the tough bands of fibrous tissue connecting bones in the joints. Causes may include: falling, a direct blow to the muscle (a contusion), overstretching, or overuse causing muscle fibers to tear. Pain may include pain over the injured muscle, swelling, or loss of strength and mobility in the muscle.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: When the hip is traumatized, muscles may become overloaded and inhibit to protect from more serious injury. Inhibited muscles do not contract in appropriate ways. From that point on, any time the muscle is loaded it “gives way” in a weak response. If it continues to be stressed, the pain will result in an effort to protect the muscle from more injury. The body will not allow motion it cannot stabilize, resulting in motion restriction for that plane of motion. Stretching the muscles to increase motion may only set up conditions for more severe injuries.

Patellar Tendonitis is an injury affecting the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). The patellar tendon helps the muscles extend the knee to kick a ball, run uphill, and jump up in the air. Causes may include: overuse, repeated stress on the patellar tendon creating tiny tears in the tendon. When tears become numerous they cause pain from inflammation and a weakening of the tendon structure.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This condition is caused by muscular imbalances of the quadriceps complex, gluteus maximus muscle group, and the gastrocnemius muscles. Each of these muscles has its own precise action. When these muscles become inhibited due to injury or overuse, their tendonous attachments become inflamed during the first six weeks following injury. After six weeks have lapsed, degenerative processes begin. The pain centers in the tendon/bone attachment, called the enthesis, generating intense pain to unload the muscle and protect it from tearing. Due to the muscle’s inability to stabilize the kneecap, it does not track properly and the condylar surface becomes inflamed and more prone to degenerative changes.

Chondromalacia Patella is a term indicating damage to the cartilage under the kneecap. It is characterized by softening of the cartilage surfaces. Causes may include overuse or repetitive stress on the knee joint, poor control of the muscles, when muscles around the hip and knee don’t function optimally to maintain proper tracking of the kneecap, or trauma to kneecaps, such as a dislocation or fracture.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: When muscles supporting the knee joint become inhibited from the accumulation of injuries, they no longer support the joint. The stress of weight-bearing is increased on the cartilage and other connective tissues. This creates a chronic inflammatory and degenerative process. If there is the addition of long-standing nutritional deficiencies related to cartilage repair, the cartilage surfaces begin to soften and degenerative processes are increased. Frequent consumption of soda pop can increase joint degeneration as well.

An ankle sprain occurs when one rolls, twists, or turns the ankle in an awkward way. This can stretch or tear the tough bands of tissue (ligaments) that help hold the anklebones together. Ligaments help stabilize joints, preventing excessive movement.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: During an inversion sprain, the lateral stabilizing ligaments are stretched and sustain a certain degree of tearing. Additionally, the peroneus muscles are injured and inhibited. Once these muscles are inhibited, the ankle loses its control, causing instability and future ankle sprains.

Achilles Tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue connecting the calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. Causes may include an intense or repetitive strain of the Achilles Tendon.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Irritation and inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which is made up of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, resulting in pain 1-2 inches above calcaneus/heel. When muscles are overloaded due to multiple factors, they become inhibited and cannot contract efficiently leading to an overuse condition and pain. If muscles are not activated, the tendinous attachments begin to break down and eventually rupture.

Shin splints refer to pain along or just behind the shinbone (tibia). Causes may include excessive force (overload) on the shinbone and connective tissue that attach the muscles to bone, running downhill, running on a slanted or tilted surface, running in worn-out footwear, engaging in sports with frequent start and stops, or physical training errors.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Shin splints are a complex problem found in many athletic activities, more commonly seen in patients who display over-pronation of the foot and ankle. Shin splints are divided into two types: anterior and posterior shin splints. The cause of each occurs when the muscle attaching into these areas become inhibited. These include tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus. These muscles attach to either the periosteum of the bone or the interosseous membrane. When any of these muscles become inhibited and stressed through athletic activities, they become inflamed and lose their ability to contract and relax under changing conditions, leading to pain at the attachment. In addition, the muscles cannot control concentric/eccentric control of the arch of the foot, allowing over-pronation to occur. This contributes to increased torque on the interosseous membrane.

Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the Plantar Fascia, which runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes. Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Causes of Plantar Fasciitis are due to small tears in the fascia. Under normal circumstances, the Plantar Fascia acts like a shock-absorbing bowstring that supports the arch in the foot. If tension on the bowstring becomes too great, it begins to tear.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: The cause of this condition is inhibition of the primary arch support muscles (tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior) of the foot. This leads to overstressing of the small flexor muscles of the toes and the plantar aponeurosis. Failure of the supporting muscles allows the foot to over-pronate, adding to the problem. This places all the stress of supporting the arch on the plantar aponeurosis and causes inflammation and break down.