Posts by Espinosa
Heat and Ice: Nature’s Original Painkillers
Choosing heat and ice for muscle pain
Heat and ice fit in with the chiropractic adherence to drug-free pain management. For anyone struggling with chronic muscle pain, heat and ice can do wonders when used correctly. “Correctly” being the operative word; many people don’t know (or don’t care to know) the difference between the two. But understanding the difference helps you to determine when to use heat or ice to maximum effect. Do you know what heat and ice do for you? Read on to find out.
Making Childbirth Easier with the Webster Technique
When it comes time for childbirth, the breech position can pose a serious problem
Though there are multiple sub-types of breech positioning, the term essentially refers to a baby that presents before childbirth with a feetfirst or bottomfirst position, rather than head first. Occurring in 3-4% of pregnancies, breech is known to cause many complications during childbirth and often involves surgical intervention to protect both mother and child. Fortunately there is a technique that is very effective for moving the child into a fetal position more conducive to childbirth: the Webster technique.
What can I do if my baby is in breech?
Fetal positioning can be influenced by chiropractic. The Webster Technique utilizes specific adjustments to align the spine through the pelvic region, reduce intrauterine restraint and help encourage the baby to move into a healthy position for birth. By alleviating nerve compression, we facilitate smooth nervous system functioning throughout the spine and body, and contribute to the proper alignment of the pelvic muscles and ligaments.
Making an easier birth in Sacramento
Breech positioning adds on to the stress of one of the most intense processes in the human experience. We want to help reduce this stress with the Webster Techique, allowing you to approach childbirth with confidence and a baby presenting the way it is supposed to: head first! If you are interested in our services for pregnant women in Sacramento, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.
Making a Less Painful Pregnancy in Sacramento
Sacramento, is there such a thing as a pain-free pregnancy?
The answer is no, but there are steps you can take to mitigate the so-called, “standard pains of pregnancy;” the ones that every mother-to-be complains about- pains in the lower back. At Espinosa Family Chiropractic, we specialize in chiropractic care for women at all stages of their pregnancy.
Why is chiropractic care important for pregnant women?
As an adjunct to the pregnancy services offered by your doctor, chiropractic is important for managing the body changes that come with pregnancy. We seek to:
- Support efficient nervous system and immune system functioning
- Prevent the aches and pains of pregnancy
- Create a nurturing environment with plenty of room for the baby to grow
- Minimize the possibility of surgical intervention during childbirth
- Prevent dystocia
The changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy in Sacramento
During pregnancy, the reproductive hormone relaxin is released in elevated quantities, loosening ligaments in the pelvis to help make way for the passage of the child. The unfortunate side effect is that this leaves the base of the spine weakened. Then you add on the weight of the growing child and the shifting center of gravity and you have a recipe for lower back pain.
Chiropractic supports pregnancy in Sacramento
A common result of the aforementioned situation is misalignment in the spine, especially in the lower back. Chiropractic adjustment helps to rectify this situation, utilizing a specialized table just for pregnant women. By maintaining spinal alignment and treating myofascial pain, the following objectives are achieved:
- Maintain alignment and proper curvature of the spine
- Decrease physical tension and mental stress
- Decrease tension on the womb, known as intrauterine restraint, which reduces the amount of room available to the baby to grow.
- Increase immune function
If you are interested in finding out more about how our chiropractic care can support your pregnancy, give our office in Sacramento a call to schedule an appointment today.
The Best Exercise Your Back Isn’t Getting
Are you a person who sits in a chair for most of the working day?
Here’s what sitting all day, every day is doing to your back, from a chiropractor’s perspective:
- Intervertebral discs: sitting, especially with poor posture, puts more pressure on your spine than any other position. Sitting prevents oxygen and nutrients from replenishing your intervertebral discs and causes them to lose flexibility.
- Muscles in the back: abdominals are less-used when sitting, causing them to weaken depending on how much you sit.
- Hips: your hips tighten up in a sitting position, limiting their range of motion. Your glutes also weaken and hamstrings become tight, creating a pull on the base of the spine.
“But, I have no alternative to sitting!” you say. Read on to find the perfect antidote to the damages of sitting
Getting Rid of Tension Headaches in Sacramento
Tension headaches in Sacramento
Tensions headaches can be merciless. They are the most common type of headache, a category of pain that is among the most common reason for doctor visits in the United States.
How to Stop Feeling Stiff in Sacramento
Muscles Feeling Stiff in the Morning Time?
Shoulder Pain in Sacramento
Beating Back Spasms in Sacramento
Back spasms are the symptom, not the condition
Let’s define a “back spasm,” as a sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle in the back. If that doesn’t sound painful enough by itself, imagine that this uncontrollable tightening happens regularly; now that’s a problem. Back spasms are often brought on by excessive strain, acute injury or by repetitive trauma that wears down the spine over time and contributes to nerve compression.
The anatomy of a back spasm
When a spinal condition or injury creates compression on the nerve roots which exit the spinal cord, a sharp pain occurs; a warning signal telling your body to stop moving in order to prevent further pain. These same nerves control muscle contraction in the back; people often seize up in a natural reflex to the spasm. Conditions that are most often linked to back spasms include:
- Disc herniation
- Muscle and ligament damage
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Ruptured disc
- Other injuries
This makes it all the more important to get a proper diagnosis as to what exactly is causing your spasms and pain.
Treating back spasms in Sacramento
If you are suffering from recurring back spasms, give our office in Sacramento a call. We begin with a conversation that includes a detailed history of your health and a physical assessment to determine what may be causing your pain. Our plan for treatment involves chiropractic adjustment to correct misalignment and alleviate nerve pressure. This allows you to return to a normal range of motion which in turn helps facilitate a faster healing process. From here, we focus on strengthening key supportive muscles and stretching to keep your muscles limber and less prone to injury.
Is Running Among the World’s Most Dangerous Sports?
Why are injuries so prevalent in the running community?
For an innate human activity, nearly 1 in 2 people who run habitually will suffer an injury during the course of a year. There are a few factors at play here: the repetitive nature of running tends to stress the same muscles and joints, while the impact of striking the ground with the feet is quite jarring to the joints as well. Variety is important; if you are doing the same exact run every day, certain parts of the body will strengthen while others will suffer. So the first key to preventing injury is to make your routine more well-rounded. Read on to discover a few more tips on how to avoid injury while running.
Protecting yourself while running
- Mix up your running surfaces: concrete is brutal for your joints; running on trails is less abrasive and will work different muscles.
- Pace yourself properly: optimal cadence is 180 steps per foot per minute.
- Adjust your stride: a longer stride means your leg strikes the ground in front of you heel first; this can be detrimental to your posture and cause you more fatigue. Try striking the ground with each foot underneath your hips to distribute forces evenly
Chiropractic keeps you running upright
Posture is another huge factor that prevents injury while running. Staying upright, even when exhausted, is immensely important in preventing damage to the spine. The decrepit, hunched over looking runner is not getting the same workout as someone who is running upright with their chest open and striking the ground each time under the hips. We can help you address and correct injuries and get you running more efficiently; give our office in Houston a call to schedule an appointment today.