I have said and written many times that most of the patients of my San Diego Chiropractic clinic ended becoming patients because of aches and pains related to bad posture. Think about how many times that your parents told you to "sit up straight" when you were a kid. Although they probably didn't have any medical reasons behind this command, the potentially negative health consequences that accompany bad posture make this sitting up straight a reasonable request.
Bad posture can cause neck pain, headaches, back pain, digestive stress, carpal tunnel syndrome type symptoms, irritability and fatigue. Surveys also indicate that bad posture gives others the opinion that you are not intelligent, lazy and unattractive. Egads!
Correcting bad posture requires awareness, specific types of exercise, specific kinds of stretches and chiropractic treatment to help improve alignment and balance of the spine.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Strong Glutes and Chiropractic
One of the common problems that I see in the patients of my San Diego chiropractic practice is weak gluteal muscles. The gluteal muscles should be the strongest muscles in the body. In addition to being powerful hip extensors that drive the body forward and upward in activities such as in running and climbing they also help hold our spine in proper alignment.
The problem with us in general is that instead of using our glutes to move our body weight we use them to sit on. With increase time sitting and less activity time the glutes begin to weaken causing loss of posture, instability of the lower back and increased chance of injury. When the glutes are weak the body recruits other muscles such as the hamstrings and the larger muscles of the lower back to perform the tasks that are usually handled by the glutes. This kind of compensation leads to muscular imbalances, poor spinal alignment and back pain or injuries.
For most of us, avoiding hours of sitting each day would require a monumental effort as well as being in control of your work station. Since this isn't possible in most cases, maintaining healthy spinal alignment requires specific exercises for the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, taking as many breaks from sitting during the day as possible, a structured stretching program and maintenance chiropractic treatment.
The problem with us in general is that instead of using our glutes to move our body weight we use them to sit on. With increase time sitting and less activity time the glutes begin to weaken causing loss of posture, instability of the lower back and increased chance of injury. When the glutes are weak the body recruits other muscles such as the hamstrings and the larger muscles of the lower back to perform the tasks that are usually handled by the glutes. This kind of compensation leads to muscular imbalances, poor spinal alignment and back pain or injuries.
For most of us, avoiding hours of sitting each day would require a monumental effort as well as being in control of your work station. Since this isn't possible in most cases, maintaining healthy spinal alignment requires specific exercises for the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, taking as many breaks from sitting during the day as possible, a structured stretching program and maintenance chiropractic treatment.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Chiropractic and Exercise: Insanity
I always try to express the importance of complete fitness to the patients of my San Diego Chiropractic clinic. Lets face it, chiropractic care can help you recover from car accident injuries, work injuries and sports injuries and it can be of tremendous benefit in keeping balance and alignment in people who sit at a desk all day but if you don't stretch, don't exercise and don't eat healthy you will not be a healthy person.
The reason that I am writing this post is because I recently began doing the Insanity workout. I believe that this is my third or maybe fourth time that I have done the Insanity program. This is also the first time that I will finish it (knock on wood) without injury. Apparently injury isn't uncommon with the Insanity workout - you can find this out yourself with a quick Google search that will give nearly one million results for the search phrase "Insanity Injuries".
Each time I have gone through this program I have relied heavily on my chiropractor and acupuncturist to give me the extra supportive care that I need to make it through without significant injury. Of course, listening to your body is important as well - you have to make sure to make adjustments and avoid or modify exercises that cause pain. "Working through the pain" is a common mistake that people who exercise make - in reality, there is no such thing as working through the pain. Pain is always an indication that you have irritation and inflammation in a joint or a muscle. Some muscle soreness following a workout is a good thing but pain during exercise is not.
Exercise, stretching and a healthy diet will always help you get the most out of your chiropractic care. You don't have to commit to a program as challenging as Insanity to make improvements in you whole health picture but if you do - exercise safely, we don't want your exercise to be the reason that you need treatment. For more information regarding the beneficial relationship between chiropractic treatment, exercise, stretching and proper nutrition call us at our San Diego Chiropractic clinic - we would be happy to help.
The reason that I am writing this post is because I recently began doing the Insanity workout. I believe that this is my third or maybe fourth time that I have done the Insanity program. This is also the first time that I will finish it (knock on wood) without injury. Apparently injury isn't uncommon with the Insanity workout - you can find this out yourself with a quick Google search that will give nearly one million results for the search phrase "Insanity Injuries".
Each time I have gone through this program I have relied heavily on my chiropractor and acupuncturist to give me the extra supportive care that I need to make it through without significant injury. Of course, listening to your body is important as well - you have to make sure to make adjustments and avoid or modify exercises that cause pain. "Working through the pain" is a common mistake that people who exercise make - in reality, there is no such thing as working through the pain. Pain is always an indication that you have irritation and inflammation in a joint or a muscle. Some muscle soreness following a workout is a good thing but pain during exercise is not.
Exercise, stretching and a healthy diet will always help you get the most out of your chiropractic care. You don't have to commit to a program as challenging as Insanity to make improvements in you whole health picture but if you do - exercise safely, we don't want your exercise to be the reason that you need treatment. For more information regarding the beneficial relationship between chiropractic treatment, exercise, stretching and proper nutrition call us at our San Diego Chiropractic clinic - we would be happy to help.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Chiropractor San Diego
Are you looking for quality chiropractic care?
At my San Diego Chiropractic Clinic we believe in helping you restore and maintain your health – not just with chiropractic care but by teaching you to balance and strengthen your body with stretches, exercises and proper nutrition.
Chiropractic care is natural health care that improves the relationship between your nervous system and your spinal joints. Misalignments of the vertebral joints cause pinched nerves which result in pain, headaches, back spasms and other symptoms. Spinal misalignments are called subluxations and are treated with chiropractic adjustments.
We are a San Diego chiropractic practice and we use this blog and our website to explain to the residents and visitors of San Diego what chiropractors do and what chiropractors don’t do. We also use these sites to relay information regarding general maintenance of your body in order to promote general health and wellness.
If you are searching for natural treatment methods that will help you get well and stay well while avoiding drugs or surgery, you’ve found the right place!
At my San Diego Chiropractic Clinic we believe in helping you restore and maintain your health – not just with chiropractic care but by teaching you to balance and strengthen your body with stretches, exercises and proper nutrition.
Chiropractic care is natural health care that improves the relationship between your nervous system and your spinal joints. Misalignments of the vertebral joints cause pinched nerves which result in pain, headaches, back spasms and other symptoms. Spinal misalignments are called subluxations and are treated with chiropractic adjustments.
We are a San Diego chiropractic practice and we use this blog and our website to explain to the residents and visitors of San Diego what chiropractors do and what chiropractors don’t do. We also use these sites to relay information regarding general maintenance of your body in order to promote general health and wellness.
If you are searching for natural treatment methods that will help you get well and stay well while avoiding drugs or surgery, you’ve found the right place!
Whiplash Treatment in San Diego
Rain almost always means that the phone of my San Diego Chiropractic clinic will be ringing with new Whiplash patients. Today it looks like rain outside even though it is the second week of July - normally a dry time of year in this part of the country. No doubt there will be people on the road who are in hurry and won't slow down for the wet conditions - this always leads to auto accidents and injuries.
Whiplash is a broad term that is mostly associated with sprain / strain injuries of the muscles and ligaments of the neck. The whiplash injuries occur when your car either accelerates rapidly such as when your vehicle is hit from behind or when your vehicle slows rapidly which happens if you run into another vehicle or some other object. Your neck is the most likely injured part of your spine because the muscles in that part of your body are weaker than they are in the rest of your back and because your head and neck are not supported as well by your seat and seat belt like the rest of your back is.
Whiplash can cause neck pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, difficulty swallowing and upper back pain. There are more serious - potentially life threatening injuries associated with whiplash as well. If you were involved in a whiplash injury we would be happy to consult with you about your injuries.
Whiplash is a broad term that is mostly associated with sprain / strain injuries of the muscles and ligaments of the neck. The whiplash injuries occur when your car either accelerates rapidly such as when your vehicle is hit from behind or when your vehicle slows rapidly which happens if you run into another vehicle or some other object. Your neck is the most likely injured part of your spine because the muscles in that part of your body are weaker than they are in the rest of your back and because your head and neck are not supported as well by your seat and seat belt like the rest of your back is.
Whiplash can cause neck pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, difficulty swallowing and upper back pain. There are more serious - potentially life threatening injuries associated with whiplash as well. If you were involved in a whiplash injury we would be happy to consult with you about your injuries.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Low Back Pain Treatment
As a San Diego Chiropractor I see my share of patients with Low Back Pain. The majority of these patients come to my office to see what it is that I can do for them without really thinking of what they can do for themselves. Chiropractors are the unofficial "back doctors" of the medical community and we can often relieve back pain with very little additional help from the patient so long as they keep their appointments.
That being said, patients that play an active role in the treatment of their back pain tend to heal quicker and get longer lasting results. At my San Diego chiropractic clinic in addition to chiropractic adjustments and therapy my patients are always encouraged - but not pressured - to ice at home, stretch, exercise and take nutritional support.
That being said, patients that play an active role in the treatment of their back pain tend to heal quicker and get longer lasting results. At my San Diego chiropractic clinic in addition to chiropractic adjustments and therapy my patients are always encouraged - but not pressured - to ice at home, stretch, exercise and take nutritional support.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Poor Posture and Chiropractic Care
Poor posture is the root cause behind most of the cases of neck pain and headaches that I see patients for in my San Diego Chiropractic Clinic. Slumping over your computer for hours on end stresses all of the joints in your spine, therefore middle back pain and lower back pain are also common results of poor posture. Good posture is just as important to your overall health picture as proper diet, sufficient exercise, regular stretching routines and 7 hours of sleep per night. From a superficial aspect, poor posture is one of the negatives that we often first notice about the way others look, the head forward posture and crumpled mid-waist region are never attractive.
Posture is a key component of good health. Bad posture presents with typical features, head forward position, slumped shoulders / upper back, flattened out lower back and inwardly rotated shoulders. Good posture saves our muscular energy reducing stress and fatigue. The ill effects of poor posture are numerous as are the causes of poor posture. Trauma, depression, failed physical education, poor ergonomic set-ups and a multitude of other scenarios set the stage for postural stress. In my office, most of my patients that I treat for posture related issues sit at a desk hunching over a computer on a daily basis. While a few isolated exposures to posturally stressful positions probably won't hurt you, repeated daily exposures can and usually do cause problems. Below is a more comprehensive list of the known causes of poor posture.
1. Accidents, injuries and falls
2. Poor sleep support (mattress)
3. Excessive weight
4. Visual or emotional difficulties
5. Foot problems or improper shoes
6. Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
7. Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
8. Negative self image
9. Occupational stress
10. Poorly designed work space
Bad posture can start a progression of symptoms. To begin with, slumped over postures allow one muscle group to rest while overworking the opposing muscle group. For instance, when poor posture causes our head is translated forward, the muscles in the front of the neck relax while the muscles that run down your neck and into the upper back are overly contracted. This imbalance creates a stretch weakness of the neck muscles causes tightness, spasms, neck pain, upper back pain and headaches. The end result for your muscles is over-worked, weak, painful muscles.
As time progresses, joint stiffness and pain begin putting you at risk for arthritis. Joints subjected to stress follow a predictable course. Postural stress causes irritation of the joints, Irritated joints become inflamed, inflammation causes pain, stiffness and scar tissue formation leading to arthritis. Chiropractic care will release the stiff joints breaking down scar tissue and eliminating pain.
While bad posture and the postural stress that accompanies it often causes discomfort, poor posture remains one of those conditions that most people identify quickly in others but not so easily in themselves. Those who are aware of their poor posture often consider correcting it impossible.
Correcting bad posture is possible but requires a multifaceted approach. Simply becoming aware of poor posture and correcting yourself when you have drifted into a posturally stressful position is not enough, although it is necessary to help break bad habits. Poor posture creates muscular imbalances throughout the body that require targeted stretches and exercises in order to reverse the structural changes that have occurred secondary to prolonged postural stress. This is yet another condition that is treated much easier in younger people or those who have not been subjected to poor posture for prolonged periods of time. That being said, almost everyone that I know spent at least 16 years looking down at their books for several hours each day while in school!
The bottom line is that most everyone can avoid the problems caused by bad posture and you can make improvements at any age. Do you need help correcting the effects of poor posture? We would be happy to help you at my San Diego Chiropractic clinic.
Posture is a key component of good health. Bad posture presents with typical features, head forward position, slumped shoulders / upper back, flattened out lower back and inwardly rotated shoulders. Good posture saves our muscular energy reducing stress and fatigue. The ill effects of poor posture are numerous as are the causes of poor posture. Trauma, depression, failed physical education, poor ergonomic set-ups and a multitude of other scenarios set the stage for postural stress. In my office, most of my patients that I treat for posture related issues sit at a desk hunching over a computer on a daily basis. While a few isolated exposures to posturally stressful positions probably won't hurt you, repeated daily exposures can and usually do cause problems. Below is a more comprehensive list of the known causes of poor posture.
1. Accidents, injuries and falls
2. Poor sleep support (mattress)
3. Excessive weight
4. Visual or emotional difficulties
5. Foot problems or improper shoes
6. Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
7. Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
8. Negative self image
9. Occupational stress
10. Poorly designed work space
Bad posture can start a progression of symptoms. To begin with, slumped over postures allow one muscle group to rest while overworking the opposing muscle group. For instance, when poor posture causes our head is translated forward, the muscles in the front of the neck relax while the muscles that run down your neck and into the upper back are overly contracted. This imbalance creates a stretch weakness of the neck muscles causes tightness, spasms, neck pain, upper back pain and headaches. The end result for your muscles is over-worked, weak, painful muscles.
As time progresses, joint stiffness and pain begin putting you at risk for arthritis. Joints subjected to stress follow a predictable course. Postural stress causes irritation of the joints, Irritated joints become inflamed, inflammation causes pain, stiffness and scar tissue formation leading to arthritis. Chiropractic care will release the stiff joints breaking down scar tissue and eliminating pain.
While bad posture and the postural stress that accompanies it often causes discomfort, poor posture remains one of those conditions that most people identify quickly in others but not so easily in themselves. Those who are aware of their poor posture often consider correcting it impossible.
Correcting bad posture is possible but requires a multifaceted approach. Simply becoming aware of poor posture and correcting yourself when you have drifted into a posturally stressful position is not enough, although it is necessary to help break bad habits. Poor posture creates muscular imbalances throughout the body that require targeted stretches and exercises in order to reverse the structural changes that have occurred secondary to prolonged postural stress. This is yet another condition that is treated much easier in younger people or those who have not been subjected to poor posture for prolonged periods of time. That being said, almost everyone that I know spent at least 16 years looking down at their books for several hours each day while in school!
The bottom line is that most everyone can avoid the problems caused by bad posture and you can make improvements at any age. Do you need help correcting the effects of poor posture? We would be happy to help you at my San Diego Chiropractic clinic.
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