Staying Aligned with Your New Year Goals

The New Year has a way of flipping a mental switch. Suddenly, people in Franklin decide they’re walking more, lifting heavier, sitting less, and “finally getting healthy.” It’s a great mindset. But Dr. Rick Cutsinger sees a familiar pattern every January: people change their habits fast, while their spine is still dealing with old stress and movement patterns.

When alignment is off, even slightly, new goals can feel harder than they should.

What Alignment Really Affects Beyond Pain

Most people associate spinal alignment with back or neck discomfort. That’s part of it, but it’s not the whole picture. When joints in the spine don’t move well, they can irritate the nervous system. The nervous system coordinates movement, balance, strength, and how your body responds to stress.

As Dr. Rick explains, “Whenever these joints get locked up, and they don’t move correctly, that provides irritation to the nervous system.” Over time, that irritation can make progress feel slow and frustrating, especially when activity levels increase.

Why Small Issues Add Up Faster Than You Think

Imagine your hips are slightly out of alignment, not enough to cause pain. Then you decide to walk 10,000 steps a day. That minor issue repeats itself thousands of times. As Dr. Rick puts it, “It’s a little bit, but it’s 10,000 times a little bit.” That’s how people end up sidelined a few weeks into a new routine.

Where Chiropractic Checkups Fit In

Chiropractic checkups help keep joints moving the way they should, reducing stress on the nervous system and helping your body adapt to change. Dr. Rick often recommends periodic visits, even when pain isn’t present, especially during times when routines shift, such as the start of a new year.

It’s not about pushing harder. It’s about giving your body a better foundation.