Posts by Espinosa
Improving Sleep Quality the Most Natural Way Possible
Sleep is central to well-being.
When you sleep restfully, you encourage proper functioning of the body and brain, boosting happiness and performance during waking hours. When people’s central circadian rhythms are disrupted, everything becomes harder: anxiety is increased and your body and brain have to work harder to achieve simple objectives. Caffeine consumption goes up and nutritious eating goes out the window, both of which tamper further with your ability to sleep. It is a vicious cycle that has caught a good portion of the population in its rotation.
Stretched To A Breaking Point
There is such a thing as too much stretching
Yoga addicts, listen up! There is always a breaking point. Remember that when stretching, you are elongating muscle fibers and tendons. The normal benefit is of increased flexibility, less systemic tension and more nervous system coordination; the feeling should be of looseness and freedom. But some people take it too far.
The All-Natural Escape from Sciatica
Don’t wait to take action on sciatica
Studies consistently show that chiropractic is one of the best treatments for sciatic nerve pain. If you are suffering from chronic sciatica, it is a good idea to call our office in Sacramento and schedule an appointment so we can start resolving the underlying cause and help you leave pain behind. But getting in to see a chiropractor at the drop of hat is not always easy and sciatica can cause an exigent pain in need of immediate relief. Here are some tips on what to do.
Breastfeeding Basics: How to Avoid Back Pain
Back pain and breastfeeding go together
Holding any additional weight is likely to put your body at an odd angle, but a baby ups the ante. In order to effectively nurse, you crane your neck to maintain a gaze with your child, while your back often becomes hunched to support the weight on one side. As your spine is already trying to recover from the trauma of the long journey of pregnancy, this additional stress can be untimely. But there are some steps you can take to mitigate the soreness and stiffness that accrues from breastfeeding.
Magnesium is Essential for Bone Health
The reality of bone loss
Today, we’re talking about bone loss, a natural part of aging that will occur to us all in varying degrees. Starting during our thirties and accelerating thereafter, our bones begin to lose mineral density. This leaves us vulnerable in a variety of ways- take our spines, which are already often compromised by unhealthy lifestyles, poor diets and lack of exercise. Bone loss makes the vertebrae weaker and therefore more likely to fracture from compression- the resulting compression fractures cause terrible pain, limit range of motion and can hasten spinal degeneration. So what can we do about it?
Stop Ignoring Your Stretches: They Will Save Your Spine
Stretching is so easy: why do we avoid it?
Many of our patients tell us how surprised they are at the ability of stretching to help them feel better. Whether you are mired in the grips of chronic back pain, or you haven’t had a single complaint from your spine in all your life, you can still benefit from regular stretching. The fact is, most adults in America aren’t moving enough. And if you are moving a lot, you need to condition your muscles to accept this movement. Stretching answers both of these calls: it can be adapted to work out muscles which are weak and stiff from lack of movement, or to ease muscles that have been strained from overuse.
Gentle Chiropractic
Spinal mobilization is a gentler form of chiropractic therapy
As with all other chiropractic techniques, our goal is to restore lost range of motion and improve the function of your spinal joints. Traditional adjustments are known as High Velocity, Low Amplitude (HVLA), which utilize a rapidly applied but low-force thrust to restore a spinal joint into neutral alignment. But some people require, and others desire, a more gentle form of care. The answer is mobilization.
Water Therapy: A Godsend for Back Pain Sufferers
Why is water-based therapy so good for the spine
Let us give you a bucketful of reasons. Begin with the suspension of gravity: as soon as you enter the pool, the majority of downward force on the spine is negated. The majority of water therapy routines are performed in warm-water pools designed to get your blood flowing (*make sure that exercising in warm water will not exacerbate other pre-existing health conditions*). The exercises involved are ultra-low impact, meaning that there is negligible wear and tear on the spinal joints compared to land-based exercises. Let’s look at more reasons why water therapy is so desirable for people with back pain.
Don’t Let Running Be the Source of Your Back Pain
Running is repetitive stress
At Espinosa Family Chiropractic, we love running. It is an instantly-accessible activity that boots fitness and wellness in a single, simple package. We always say, if it gets you active, we support the activity! But don’t make the mistake of thinking it is truly low-impact. In fact, running is quite high impact by nature; the repetitive jarring motion involved in striking the ground sends shockwaves up the body, through the joints of your lower body and into your spine. The lower back bears the brunt of this shock absorption and quite often suffers as a result.
Weightlifting and Back Pain: A Precarious Relationship
Weightlifting is a double-edged sword for back pain sufferers
On the one hand, it helps maintain muscle strength and tone, lending your back a crucial support. Strength is fundamental to function- it makes us more able and less prone to injury; your muscles are the frontline of defense for your spine against daily compression. On the other hand, weightlifting can significantly increase the risk of muscle strain, ligament injury, disc injury due to compression and other spinal health conditions. If you currently suffer from back pain, but you still want to maintain a weightlifting regime, it is highly advisable that you speak with a spinal health care specialist such as a chiropractor. We can provide you with a diagnostic picture of the state of your spine, helping your determine exactly what muscle-building activities will benefit you and which to avoid.