Construction work is another of the professions most affected by back pain

Lifting and bending over account for a large percentage of common back injuries, from muscle sprain to herniated discs. Almost every job in the construction industry requires some kind of lifting. And there is a triple-headed problem that exists here:

1. Often the loads present no clear way to lift in a manner conducive to your back’s health 
2. The loads are too heavy: no one worker should lift over 51 pounds at a time
3. We have forgotten proper body mechanics regarding lifting and bending

Most construction workers reading this will agree that they regularly lift more than 51 pounds at a time by themselves. Because lifting is one of the most harmful motions for our back, it is always good to keep your spine’s health in mind while on-site. 

Prevention of back pain for construction workers

Prevention of back pain begins before the job starts: every construction worker should stretch before a day that will involve even a mild demand of lifting. Having cold muscles when you go to lift is one of the surest ways to injure yourself. Make sure you give yourself at least 5 minutes of stretching time before each day. Furthermore:

• Use a support belt to lend stability to your core, restrict excessive motion and prevent injury. 
•  Focus on core strength: your back is one of your greatest and most fragile assets on the job. It behooves you to spend time at home or in the gym strengthening and stretching the core stabilizing muscles. 
• Limit the loads you are lifting as much as possible and ask for a helping hand when possible.

We take the health of construction workers’ spines seriously. If you need help rehabilitating injuries sustained on the job, or to prevent them from happening in the first place, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Your spine is always under pressure 

Our spines are constantly under pressure: from the force of gravity to the added compression we do to ourselves with things like poor posture, there is rarely a second when your spine gets a break. Unless you plan to live in space (which comes with its own set of problems), or become fully aquatic, there is little we can do to escape the pressures of gravity. 

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Lower back pain is among the most prolific and life-changing conditions of our time

It can be broken down into two constituent categories:

• Mechanical low back pain refers to pain related to the dysfunction of the moving parts of the spine, i.e. facet joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments, and muscles.
• Compressive pain refers to pain that is caused when nerves exiting the spinal cord are put under pressure.

Chiropractic is a conservative method of treatment that shows great efficacy in improving the symptoms of both conditions.

Chiropractic for mechanical and compressive low back pain 

• For mechanical low back pain, chiropractic adjustment seeks to address symptoms through mobilization of the spinal joints. Through low-intensity, high-frequency adjustments to the affected region, we restore proper alignment and effect great improvement on the symptoms of mechanical low back pain. 
• For compressive back pain, we use decompression modalities to provide spinal elongation. By gently stretching the spine and providing manual adjustments to the affected region, we restore spinal alignment and allow for the retraction of bulging disc material which is often impinging on spinal nerves. 

Chiropractic is a conservative form of treatment that seeks to correct the root of the problem with natural methods. While this doesn’t work for everyone, it is recommended that most cases of non-specific back pain be treated by conservative methods before moving on to more invasive methods such as spinal surgery. 

Low back pain relief

If you are looking to address spinal pain, whether it be mechanical or compressive in nature, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today. We are back pain specialists who will determine the cause of your spinal dysfunction before setting a course for treatment that combines a multitude of natural modalities to effect great improvements in your symptoms. 

Walking is essential for life

The health benefits of walking are well known, but for the purposes of this blog here’s a quick reminder:

• Boosts circulation
• Releases pain-killing endorphins
• Strengthens bones and muscles
• Maintains range of motion
• Manages weight

The basic health benefits of a good walk are too many to ignore. On days when you can’t spare a second to make it to the gym, a brisk walk may be the only physical boost your body receives. Yet, far too few of us are getting the daily steps we need to reap such benefits. Here is our guide to getting more steps throughout the day. 

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Decompression is therapy for your spine

Among the different kinds of decompression (simple stretching, nonsurgical and surgical), the underlying theory is the same: by changing the position of the spine, we can alleviate pressure on the spinal canal and nerves to effect improvements in back pain. Nonsurgical decompression, of the kind we offer at Espinosa Family Chiropractic, often utilizes a motorized table to gently stretch the spine, creating negative intradiscal pressure and allowing for the rehydration and healing of intervertebral discs. What if we told you that you can create a similar decompressive effect from your own living room? 

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Dehydration is one of the most debilitating factors for your spine

It affects every part of the structure:

• The discs become dried out and lose their ability to cushion the vertebrae and absorb shock.
• The joints become less lubricated and lose their ability to support full range of motion
• The muscles that support your spine become cramped and weaken as they lose nutrients and oxygen from the lack of circulation

In short, your spine cannot function properly without the proper input of water. When your body is dehydrated, it diverts remaining water supplies to the vital organs to keep them running and keep you alive. But that means that even less is available to the muscles and structures of your spine, and so the vicious cycle continues. This is why, at Espinosa Family Chiropractic, we choose water! Read on to find out more about how water supports spinal health.

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A plea for you to adhere to your target weight

There are few things that help your spine more than maintaining a healthy weight. Each pound you hold on to over that target zone are adding an unbearable burden onto your spine, increasing the wear and tear on your joints and ratcheting up the compression on your intervertebral discs. As your muscles strain to account for this burden, the whole network of stability is threatened and back pain is a frequent result. We are lucky if it stops at pain- excess weight and obesity are some of the primary contributors to long term spinal conditions and spinal-related disability in our populations. if you are looking to lose weight, here is a great way to go about it:

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The link between posture and brain function

So many people treat posture indifferently, which is really a shame when you consider that it is actually a make-or-break part of spinal health. One thing to consider is the link between posture and brain function, which is borne out by a growing wealth of clinical findings. Besides increasing pressure on your spine, reducing lung function, and impairing your organs, poor posture can also hamper brain function. Poor posture is linked to issues including: 

• Self-esteem
• Focus and attention
• Rate of speech
• Stress levels
• Mental performance
• Chronic pain
• Memory response

As chiropractors, we focus on limiting the damage on the physical side of things, which we know will have a knock-on effect on the mental side. Here’s how our approach to posture works:

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As the holiday season rapidly approaches, it’s common to stress over things like preparing meals, shopping for gifts, and having the financial stability to provide all of those things for yourself and your loved ones. Although many of us might be practicing social distancing this holiday season, it’s likely we’ll still go through some of the holiday motions. This holiday season might seem especially stressful, lonesome, and depressing.

However, there is a lot you can do for yourself to stay physically and mentally well, and chiropractic is one drug-free option that addresses both departments simultaneously. Your spine and your body/brain are inextricably connected, and one simple chiropractic adjustment can provide drug-free pain relief, provide you with a better night of sleep, reduce anxiety, and brighten your mood — all in one simple visit with your local chiropractic care specialist.

At Espinosa Family Chiropractic we provide our wellness treatments to patients of all ages and from all walks of life. Contact this Sacramento Chiropractic Care Specialist today to schedule your holiday consultation. We hope you stay happy, healthy, and well.

Many people know by now the many benefits that chiropractic treatment offers patients who experience injuries, but what about for patients who are feeling what they perceive to be healthy and well?

At the end of the day, our immune system plays a vital role in warding off infectious organisms from entering our bodies. A good immune system will seem invisible — you won’t even know it’s there. But you will know if you get sick.

Chiropractic treatment is a great way to give your immune system a boost. One simple adjustment can help clear the sinuses, motivate quality sleep, and ensure that your internal systems are running at optimum capacity, including your GI system.

Combine chiropractic treatment with a healthy diet. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system as well and so does elderberry extract, red peppers, and a number of other healthy foods. Getting out in the sun is also good for your immune system as well, giving your body crucial Vitamin D.

Contact Espinosa Family Chiropractic to learn more about how our treatments help our patients mount serious defenses against cold and flu.