Posts by Scorca
After the Adjustment: How to Keep the Good Feeling Alive
Getting used to a properly aligned spine
Spinal adjustment, also known as spinal manipulation, is a mainstay of chiropractic science. Spinal adjustments are designed to get you moving the way you were meant to- free of pain and full of function. By manipulating the spinal joints, we are able to improve range of motion and decrease the pain that results from nerve impingement. Studies have shown that chiropractic is a safe and effective natural treatment for lower back pain, boosting the speed and effectiveness of recovery and preventing reinjury. But the upward trajectory doesn’t end after you leave the office- read on to find our tips for how to get used to your new, properly aligned spine.
Biking and Back Pain
When biking causes back pain
At our office in Fremont, we treat many a biker with back pain; for a sport that conditions and strengthens the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, it is quite a frequent contributor to spinal dysfunction. No matter your age, if your bike doesn’t fit properly, or if your posture is less than perfect, your biking habit can actually create the conditions that leave you stiff and sore. We want to help cyclists ensure that their chosen method of exercise is only moving them up in the ranks of wellness; in order to do this, we need to prevent the factors that contribute to back pain in the saddle.
How Posture Makes You a Happier Person
Posture contributes to health and happiness
Along with the universally agreed upon tenets of diet, exercise and sleep, we propose a fourth cornerstone of well-being: posture. As we see it, the spine is a foundation of physical health and thus, maintaining its form and function at all points in the day is of the utmost importance. That’s why posture is so important: good posture reinforces your health and protects your body for the future, while poor posture exponentially increases the amount of compression that your spine must endure at a given time. What’s more, good posture reflects your attitude toward life while also informing it: by appearing physically upright and strong, you project a feeling of confidence that also redirects into your brain, helping you actually feel stronger and more confident.
Along with Adjustment: Chiropractic Modalities for Reducing Pain
Our mission is your wellness
Spinal adjustment is at the core of chiropractic theory and it forms the bulk of the treatments we provide at our office in Fremont. However, spinal adjustment is just one part of our commitment to your wellness; we are trained in a multitude of natural modalities that seek to maximize your well-being by improving the way you move and function. One of these modalities is soft tissue therapy, a common tool used throughout chiropractic and physiotherapy to improve musculoskeletal health, overcome injury and heal effectively.
Helping Athletes Improve Balance
Balance is innate; balance is essential
For athletes, balance is one of the factors that determines fine margins. Unfortunately, too many of us neglect balance in pursuit of strength and endurance. Balance is something you need to constantly maintain and improve- it is your ticket to controlling equilibrium and stability. At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we focus on biomechanical balance, as well as the balance of your nervous system. Here is how we help athletes improve balance:
Sleep Alchemy Starts With The Right Mattress For Your Body
Think of your bed as a double-edged sword for spinal health
If you get it right, each night is a comfortable, restorative period of time for your spine; if you get it wrong, your mattress could actually contribute to your back pain, or worsen a pre-existing condition. By failing to support the alignment and curvature of your spine, a bad mattress undoes the good work you have put in during the day time and reinforces tension in the musculature and degeneration in the spine. When it comes to mattresses, we should avoid sentimentality and instead think of it as one of the most important purchases we will make on a regular basis throughout our lifetime.
Fighting Against Extension-Based Back Pain
Who is at risk?
Many people who live with chronic back pain find comfort and relief when extending their spine. But a certain subset of the population- mostly those who spend a lot of time standing, may suffer from too much extension; baristas, teachers, mechanics, and athletes are among the most at-risk demographic. This pain and discomfort, known as extension intolerance, can be identified by changes in your posture, including:
- Excessive lordotic curve in the lumbar spinal segment
- Anterior pelvic tilt, which makes your butt stick out like Donald Duck
These two factors combine to destabilize your spine and wreak havoc, especially in the lower back. So how do we ease extension intolerance?
Protecting Your Spine On the Job
You need to look out for your back at the office
It is one of the most dangerous environments for your spine. The incessant sitting, poor posture and repetitive stress of office tasks puts many of us at risk for spinal misalignment, dysfunction and sets us on a course for premature spinal degeneration. The only defense your back has in this scenario is your proactivity- have you made the choice to take daily action to look out for your spine in your office work? If not, we urge you to make some small changes that can save your back a whole ot of trouble down the line.
Living a Low-Pressure Lifestyle
Why make life harder than it needs to be?
Almost everything about adult life is conducive to tension, whether it be mental or physical. Our jobs and families often keep us too busy to focus on the activities that help us reduce tension, leaving us at the mercy of a stress-cycle that spares no one. This stress-cycle certainly does not spare our spines- everything about tension spells spinal dysfunction. But neglecting our spines because we are too busy, or because we are lazy, is certain to make your life harder than it needs to be. Here are our tips for maintaining a high-level of spinal health despite the rigors of daily life.
Why Runners Should Prioritize Pelvic Stability
Running represents a challenge for spinal health
Core stability has been and always will be a top priority at our practice in Fremont. But a lesser known way to proactively protect your spine is to simultaneously prioritize pelvic stability. Multiple joints connect at the pelvis, including the sacroiliac, iliofemeral and pubic symphysis. These joints facilitate the movement of the lower body and are also involved in stabilizing the transference of forces between lower body and the spine; weakness in these joints translates to weakness at the base of your spine, leading to misalignment and injury. This is particularly crucial for runners: if these joints are unable to stabilize the excessive movements and shock of each stride, you will effectively be left with a topsy-turvy structure at the base of your spine. A further consideration is that runners shift all the weight of their body from foot to foot; one side of the body is supporting the weight of the entire body. Runners who lack stability in the pelvis are causing a disproportionate amount of stress to each side of their body during this transfer.