What is myofascial pain? 

The fascia is a layer of tissue which surrounds and protects muscles and bones; this layer of tissue is dense, strong and flexible, allowing it to aid in human movement while preventing injury. However, what happens when you sustain an injury? The myofascia tightens and conditions  ranging from pain and numbness to headaches and muscle spasms ensue. Another side-effect is poor circulation. Fortunately, we practice a natural method for treating myofascial related pain known as myofascial release.

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Your chiropractic care doesn’t stop after an adjustment! 

Restoring spinal alignment and alleviating nerve compression; improving range of motion and thus flexibility; reducing muscle pain and improving blood circulation; these are some of the noticeable improvements that many people feel after a chiropractic adjustment. This is what makes chiropractic such an effective alternative to more standardized western treatments including painkilling pharmaceuticals and surgery. But what happens after you leave the office? 

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While smoking may not cause back pain, it certainly does not help it.

Smoking has been shown to contribute to hypertension or high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, high blood cholesterol and now studies are turning to how these conditions are contributing to back pain. Because smoking suppresses the oxygen supply in your blood, muscles and structures in the back which rely on a steadily refreshing supply of oxygen don’t get the right amount and this can cause problems including hampering their ability to rebuild and repair and helping them to drain waste products such as lactic acid. 

Back pain is a less-thought of consequence of smoking

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Fetal positioning is one of the most important elements of a healthy pregnancy

Chiropractic is an important aid for mothers seeking an easier pregnancy. At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we mitigate the severity of pain caused by minor discomforts that are so standard in pregnancy, including lower back pain and sciatica. During the first two trimesters, we help to create a nurturing environment for the child to grow. By maintaining pelvic balance and the proper alignment of the spine through the sacrum, we contribute to optimal space for the baby to develop and contribute to the best possible chance for a fetus to get in a conducive position for birth.

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Postpartum care is vital

After the tumult of pregnancy and childbirth, and the joy of acclimatizing to life with a new child, your body is looking at an uphill battle to return to its pre-pregnancy state of equilibrium. A woman’s body goes through more hormonal and physical change than at any other point in life during pregnancy, it is important to focus on your body after the dust has settled. 

Chiropractic is an important part of postpartum care

Throughout pregnancy, the hormone relaxin remains elevated in order to loosen ligaments and make way for the passage of the baby. Levels of relaxin remain elevated for up to eight months after pregnancy and blood flow is limited to the ligaments which are attempting to tighten up.

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Chiropractic care is important for prospective mothers

At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we specialize in providing chiropractic care for mothers-to-be during all stages of the pregnancy. Our primary goal is to provide you with a high level of care that will: 

• Keep the mother happy and her immune system optimal
• Preventing the standard aches and pains of pregnancy
• Create a nurturing environment for the child to grow
• Lessen the chance for surgical intervention during delivery
• Prevent dystocia

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 Chiropractic is a useful tool for relaxation

Think about the scope of subconscious movements that your spine undergoes in a given week and you will quickly realize that it is an unquantifiable value. Every single movement has a given outcome and the majority result in general wear and tear that slowly accumulates over the years. Below we have brainstormed common outcomes of regular chiropractic therapy.

What could feel better than:

• Less muscle tension
• Reduced stress
• A better functioning immune system 
• Less trouble sleeping
• More flexibility and less chance of causing yourself pain
• Increased endurance 

How do we encourage such relaxation? 

• Chiropractic adjustment: to restore your spine to proper alignment, alleviate pressure on nerves, improve range of motion and mitigate pain. 
• Chiropractic mobilization: to restore and enhance joint function
• Trigger point therapy: to break up knots of muscle tension.
• Attention to muscles: to improve elasticity and improve circulation.
• Stretching to relieve muscle tension

Your chiropractic specialists in the Fremont area

When your body feels good, your brain responds. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol fall while dopamine and serotonin, two hormones responsible for mood and motivation are released; the end result is a replenished immune system. If you are interested in finding out more about the power of chiropractic to influence relaxation, give our office in Fremont a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Extension-based intolerance 

Extension-based pain is caused by the opposite of flexion-based back pain; while the latter is exacerbated by bending over, extension-based pain is caused by too much arch in the back, often brought on by conditions such as anterior pelvic tilt. The people most affected are those who are frequently on their feet, and the problem is mainly postural in origin- that is, improper posture with a weak set of core muscles can cause damage to the vertebrae. 

Common conditions resulting from extension-based pain

A spine in neutral posture is considered to be extended which means that any extra curvature contributes to hyperextension of the spine. Staying in this position for long enough contributes to the following conditions:

facet joint syndrom

spondyloisthesis

spinal stenosis 

You can test yourself for extension intolerance by lying on your back with a normal curve in your spine. Now try flattening your back to the ground; if you feel better in this position, you may be extension intolerant

How we address extension-based intolerance at Scorca Chiropractic

Because patients with extension intolerance will often present with anterior pelvic tilt, this is a good jumping off point for treatment. We focus on exercises that strengthen the muscles of the core without arching the back and establish anterior core control. Chiropractic adjustment helps to address any problems related to nerve pain resulting from misalignment of the spine. Call our office in Fremont to schedule an appointment and let go of your extension based back pain today!

Working out is not a chore; it is a commitment.

It’s a commitment to your health in the moment, to the longevity of your body and to preserving range of motion in old age. If you are someone who struggles to get motivated when it comes to working out, take a minute to boil it down to these basic commitments. 

Highly effective habits for working out

• Seek variety: cardio one day, weight training the next. Mixing up your daily workout is a great way to overcome the monotony that can make working out feel like a chore. 
• Avoid working out just for looks: yes looks are important for confidence, but don’t focus soley on those muscles. There are 29 muscles that constitute your “core” and that is a lot more than just the abs. 
• Avoid taking short cuts: pressed for time? Don’t skip the warm up; that is the number 1 way to way to injure yourself.
• Stretch! To improve your circulation and the elasticity of your joints which will help improve range of motion and prevent injury. 

Working out in Fremont, CA 

Few people realize that the efficacy of each work out is highly dependent on factors outside of the weight room. For example, an imbalanced spine can cause you to build muscle unevenly or at a much less efficient speed. At our office in Fremont, we establish spinal alignment and ensure that the muscles and structures of your body are in conducive shape to reap the greatest reward out of each workout. Give our office a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C. 

 Sitting is lethal in large doses, but so is standing!

Any position is bad, especially for your back, when held for long periods of time. All the hype surrounding sitting as the new smoking ignores the fact that plenty of jobs require standing for long periods of time also, and the back pain can be just as intense. Going all in for one or the other is not necessarily going to guarantee you an escape from pain or a longer life as is claimed by the standing desk phenomenon. 

Is there a happy medium between sitting in standing if you must work at a desk?

Humans are meant to move- there are no two ways about this; we are meant to change positions between horizontal and vertical, sitting and standing, exercising and stretching in equal parts throughout the day. Office workers face the quandary of being tied to a desk which requires them to either sit or stand and, depending on the individual, one may be more comfortable than the other. Try standing in one place for as long as you possibly can and chances are you won’t even come close to 8 hours. Long before your feet get tired, your posture will have caved in leaving you in the same boat as someone slouching in a chair. 

The question of productivity while sitting versus standing 

Everyone has their happy place, but if sitting feels more sustainable, there is nothing wrong with that. There are ways you can adjust your ergonomic set up and introduce exercise that will ensure that sitting will not take the horrible toll it is said to. Give our office in Fremont a call to schedule an appointment and start optimizing your work situation to account for the health of your back today. 

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.