Posts by Scorca
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.
Psoas Power: A Little Known Muscle in the Back Pain Game
Introducing the Psoas: a make or break muscle in lower back pain
The psoas, along with the gluteus maximus and the piriformis, is one of the three primary muscles responsible for connecting the spine to the lower body. These muscles support a crucial intersection in the body and they are often implicated in lower back pain. Let’s take a look at the psoas in a little more detail. The psoas attaches the lumbar vertebrae to the femur, by way of the iliacus muscle. It creates a natural pull on the lumbar vertebrae which helps form the lordotic curve that gives your spine strength and balance; this curvature is crucial in your spine’s ability to support the weight of your upper body. The psoas is heavily activated during standing and walking, which is why a sit-heavy lifestyle is so bad for it.
Find Your Performance Flow with Chiropractic
Athletes must be able to trust their bodies
So what does trusting your body truly mean? Confidence in your body is determined by being secure in the knowledge that the muscles and structures involved in a certain sport can be exposed to exceeding levels of stress without breaking. As an athlete, you are working constantly to improve your baseline of strength and mobility; when it comes time to ask your body for that extra ounce of performance, all you have is the faith that you’ve done enough to set yourself up for it. This is the performance flow that all athletes are looking for- the perfect balance of circumstances that helps them get to the next level. Chiropractic helps you find that performance flow! Read on to find out how.
Yoga is Nature’s Medicine for Back Pain
Don’t forego the power of yoga!
At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we are all for using yoga to prevent and manage back pain. Yoga and chiropractic line up on quite a few of their core tenets including a natural and holistic approach to healthcare, mindfulness, and a focus on relaxation. In the whole spectrum of exercise, yoga is one of the most effective disciplines for people who have back pain. As with all exercise, however, you need to know which moves are beneficial and which moves will actually worsen your condition. Read on to find out how to effectively use yoga to account for back pain.