Dr. Zac Lujan

Call Directions Website

Dr. Zac Lujan Grateful to provide whole family healthcare from infancy to one’s golden years.

🦴 ONE SMALL VERTEBRA HELPS YOU TURN YOUR HEAD SIDE TO SIDE!Every time you look over your shoulder, check your blind spot...
09/25/2026

🦴 ONE SMALL VERTEBRA HELPS YOU TURN YOUR HEAD SIDE TO SIDE!

Every time you look over your shoulder, check your blind spot or turn to talk to someone beside you, there’s some pretty clever anatomy at work.

At the very top of your neck are two unique vertebrae:

🔹 C1 — the Atlas: supports the skull and forms a joint with C2.
🔹 C2 — the Axis: has a specialised projection called the dens, which acts as a pivot for the atlas and head to rotate around.

Together, the C1–C2 region is responsible for a large proportion of the rotation in your neck, helping you comfortably look from left to right.

This is also why chiropractors may assess upper-neck movement and range of motion when looking at how your neck is functioning.

✨ Small joints. Surprisingly big movement!

💪 WHY DOES YOUR BODY NEED BOTH MOBILITY AND STRENGTH?Being able to move well isn’t just about being flexible — and being...
09/24/2026

💪 WHY DOES YOUR BODY NEED BOTH MOBILITY AND STRENGTH?

Being able to move well isn’t just about being flexible — and being strong isn’t just about lifting heavy weights. Your body benefits from both.

🧘 Mobility is your ability to move your joints comfortably through their available range of motion. Good mobility can make everyday movements like bending, reaching, turning and squatting feel easier.

🏋️ Strength helps your muscles produce and control force, supporting your joints and helping you manage the demands of everyday life.

Think of it this way: mobility gives you access to movement, while strength helps you control that movement.

From a chiropractic perspective, looking at both can help us understand how your body is functioning as a whole. Where appropriate, care may include mobility work alongside strengthening exercises tailored to your individual needs.

✨ Move well. Build strength. Keep your body capable.

🏃 WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT?It’s not just about where it hurts — it’s about how your body moves as a whol...
09/23/2026

🏃 WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT?

It’s not just about where it hurts — it’s about how your body moves as a whole.

During a functional movement assessment, your chiropractor may ask you to perform simple movements such as squatting, bending, rotating, reaching or balancing while they observe how your body responds.

They may be looking at:

🔹 Joint mobility and range of motion
🔹 Differences between your left and right sides
🔹 Balance, stability and control
🔹 How different areas of your body work together
🔹 Whether certain movements reproduce your symptoms

For example, if you’re experiencing lower-back discomfort, looking at how your hips, pelvis, knees and ankles move may provide useful information alongside examining your back itself.

These assessments help your chiropractor build a clearer picture of your individual movement patterns and can help guide treatment, rehabilitation and exercise recommendations.

💚 Because understanding how you move can be just as important as understanding where you hurt.

↔️ WHY CAN ONE SIDE OF YOUR BODY FEEL TIGHTER THAN THE OTHER?Ever noticed that you can turn further one way, one hip fee...
09/22/2026

↔️ WHY CAN ONE SIDE OF YOUR BODY FEEL TIGHTER THAN THE OTHER?

Ever noticed that you can turn further one way, one hip feels tighter, or stretching feels completely different from one side to the other?

Our bodies aren’t perfectly symmetrical — and small differences between sides are completely normal. But sometimes, our everyday habits can contribute to one side feeling noticeably tighter or moving differently.

Things like:

💻 Sitting in the same position for long periods
👜 Always carrying a bag on one side
🏃 Sports and repetitive movements
📱 The way we use our phones or work
😴 Sleeping positions
💪 Differences in strength and mobility

During a chiropractic assessment, we can compare how each side moves, looking at joint mobility, muscle function and your overall movement patterns.

The goal isn’t to make both sides perfectly identical — it’s to understand what’s normal for you and whether a movement difference could be relevant to the symptoms you’re experiencing. 👐

✨ Sometimes the bigger picture starts with comparing both sides.

💚 YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL 100% TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR BODY.Some days you’ll feel motivated, energised and ready to...
09/21/2026

💚 YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL 100% TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR BODY.

Some days you’ll feel motivated, energised and ready to go. Other days, simply getting moving can feel like an achievement — and that still counts.

Looking after your body doesn’t always have to mean a hard workout or hitting a new goal. It might be:

🚶 Taking a gentle walk
🧘 Spending a few minutes stretching
💧 Drinking enough water
🪑 Breaking up a long period of sitting
😴 Giving your body the rest it needs
👐 Taking the time to address an ache or discomfort

When it comes to your health, consistency doesn’t have to mean perfection. Small, manageable choices can help you stay active and look after your mobility and overall wellbeing.

So if you’re not feeling 100% today, meet your body where it is and do one thing that feels good for you. 🌿

🦴 FUN FACT: THE ATLAS (C1) IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF YOUR SPINE!The atlas, also known as C1, is the very fi...
09/18/2026

🦴 FUN FACT: THE ATLAS (C1) IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF YOUR SPINE!

The atlas, also known as C1, is the very first vertebra at the top of your neck. It sits directly beneath your skull and gets its name from Atlas in Greek mythology, who was said to carry the world on his shoulders — fitting, since C1 helps support your head!

Unlike the other vertebrae in your spine, the atlas doesn’t have a traditional vertebral body. Instead, it has a unique ring-like shape made up of anterior and posterior arches connected by two lateral masses.

Its unusual structure allows it to work with the skull and the axis (C2) below it to provide important movement at the top of your neck — including much of the movement involved when you nod your head “yes.”

Your upper neck may be small, but its anatomy is pretty remarkable! 🧠🦴

🔄 WHAT DOES “RANGE OF MOTION” ACTUALLY TELL US?Ever wondered why your chiropractor asks you to turn your head, bend, twi...
09/17/2026

🔄 WHAT DOES “RANGE OF MOTION” ACTUALLY TELL US?

Ever wondered why your chiropractor asks you to turn your head, bend, twist or move in different directions during an assessment?

Your range of motion can give us useful information about how comfortably and freely your joints and surrounding tissues are moving.

During an assessment, your chiropractor may look for:

↔️ Differences between your left and right sides
🦴 Areas of reduced or uncomfortable movement
💪 Muscle tightness or guarding
🤕 Movements that reproduce your symptoms
🔍 How different areas of your body move together

It’s not about being the most flexible person in the room. It’s about understanding your movement, your symptoms and what may need a closer look.

This information can then help guide an individualised approach to your chiropractic care. 🙌

✨ Movement can tell us a lot before treatment even begins.

🏃‍♂️ Kids were Made to Move, and Not Just in One Way!Running, climbing, jumping, throwing, balancing, and simply playing...
09/16/2026

🏃‍♂️ Kids were Made to Move, and Not Just in One Way!

Running, climbing, jumping, throwing, balancing, and simply playing all challenge the body in different ways. Giving children opportunities to experience a variety of movement can help them develop:

💪 Strength and endurance
⚖️ Balance and coordination
🧠 Body awareness and motor skills
🦴 Strong bones and muscles
🎯 Confidence in their movement
❤️ A positive relationship with physical activity

It doesn’t have to mean structured exercise, either. A trip to the playground, kicking a ball around, climbing, playing tag, or balancing along a low beam can all give growing bodies new challenges.

The goal isn’t to make kids exercise like adults. It’s to give them plenty of opportunities to move, explore, play, and have fun. 🌿

What type of movement does your child love most? 👇

🦴 WHY DOES YOUR CHIROPRACTOR CHECK YOUR HIPS WHEN YOUR BACK HURTS?Your hips and lower back don’t work independently — th...
09/16/2026

🦴 WHY DOES YOUR CHIROPRACTOR CHECK YOUR HIPS WHEN YOUR BACK HURTS?

Your hips and lower back don’t work independently — they’re part of a connected movement system.

If your hips are stiff, restricted or not moving comfortably, your lower back may sometimes take on more movement or load during everyday activities like walking, bending, exercising or even getting out of a chair.

That’s why, when you visit a chiropractor with back pain, they may also assess your:

🦴 Hip mobility
↔️ Range of motion
💪 Surrounding muscles
🚶 Walking and movement patterns
🔍 Pelvis and lower-back function

Looking beyond the area that hurts can help build a clearer picture of what may be contributing to your symptoms and guide an individualised treatment plan.

✨ Sometimes the place that hurts isn’t the only place worth checking.

💪 WHAT DOES “MUSCLE COMPENSATION” ACTUALLY MEAN?Your body is incredibly good at adapting. When one area isn’t moving or ...
09/15/2026

💪 WHAT DOES “MUSCLE COMPENSATION” ACTUALLY MEAN?

Your body is incredibly good at adapting. When one area isn’t moving or functioning as efficiently as it could, other muscles may change how they work to help you keep moving.

For example, reduced movement or control around the hips may lead to other areas taking on more of the workload. Over time, you might notice:

🔴 Tight or overworked muscles
🔴 Uneven or altered movement patterns
🔴 Stiffness in other areas
🔴 Recurring aches or discomfort

From a chiropractic perspective, this is one reason we look at the whole body and how you move, rather than focusing only on the spot that hurts. 👐

Assessment can help identify areas of reduced mobility, muscle weakness or altered movement so your care and exercises can be tailored accordingly.

✨ Where you feel discomfort isn’t always the only area worth looking at.

Address

909 W Main Street
Manchester, IA
52057

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
2pm - 6pm
Friday 8am - 12pm
2pm - 6pm

Telephone

+15639274295

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Zac Lujan posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category