Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic

Top Santa Clara Chiropractor gives tips on how to deal with pain and stress

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That thing we all love to hate…Stress. 

What is stress? 

Stress is primarily the body’s physical response to external pressures resulting in the release of a complex mix of chemicals and hormones i.e. cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline.  Most people know this phenomenon as the “fight or flight” response. Stress is not always a bad thing, however, if neglected; it can lead to long-term systemic damage.

There are various types of stress including, acute, episodic acute, and chronic. Acute stress is temporary stress that lasts for a short period of time, it also the most common type amongst people. This type of stress is usually experienced on a day-to-day basis, for example, when you almost get into a car accident, or when you’re running late for work because of bad traffic. The increase of energy you feel heightens your senses and makes you more capable of dealing with critical situations.

Another type of stress is Episodic acute stress. When you’re experiencing episodic stress, it is usually due to an exaggerated reaction to something miniscule. People who suffer from anxiety, have a short-temper, or tend to have a negative perspective on life are most likely to have episodic acute stress because they have a hard time coping with a stressful life.

Lastly, there is the worst type of stress, chronic; chronic stress is rarely resolved and has long-term effects on one’s health. Studies have linked it cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, shorter life-span, sleep deprivation, and depression amongst other issues. Not only does chronic stress rob you of life’s blessings but it also has a physiological effect on the brain’s neurohormones causing them to become imbalanced and dysfunctional.

Stress can also manifest into physical pain. People who suffer from this type of stress often develop chronic pain built up mostly in their shoulders, neck, muscles, joints and lower back. For example, stress-related teeth grinding causes headaches, migraines and neck discomfort due to increased strain on the accompanying muscles. The good news is, stress can be manageable and at times, curable.

 

Chiropractic care has been linked to a decrease in chronic stress and chronic pain. Treatment consists of alleviating physical symptoms and increasing body circulation to dilute the harmful stress-causing chemicals in the body. Chiropractors have many therapeutic benefits and helpful techniques including, stretching, massage therapy, soft-tissue work (ART/IASTM), dry cupping therapy, and kinesiology taping. Chiropractic care heavily focuses on reducing muscle tension, relaxation, and spinal manipulation to help restore the body to function at its full capacity. With these techniques, you can lead a healthy, happy, and stress-free life.

 

 

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Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic
(408) 248-8700
3700 Thomas Rd. Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Corporate Chiropractic

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Chiropractic care has become an essential method in maintaining musculoskeletal health, and more companies agree. Doctors of chiropractic not only offer hands on treatment and modalities such as heat therapy and soft tissue work, they offer nutritional and health counseling. Chiropractors also see their patients on a regular basis so they are often better suited to monitor symptoms and encourage healthier life styles. Thus chiropractic patients often spend less overall on healthcare and are less likely to take sick leave from work. 

Value of Chiropractic for Corporations:

  • Less utilization of expensive radiology services
  • Less utilization of expensive outpatient and emergency services
  • Employees suffer substantially less from musculoskeletal issues
  • Lower overall cost of healthcare

The National Institute of Health Statistics did a survey about the most common musculoskeletal issues employees suffer from.

  • 27% reported lower back pain 
  • 15% reported severe headache or migraine pain
  • 15% reported neck pain
  • 4% reported facial ache

Image result for lower back pain

The American Productivity Audit calculated the overall lost productive time due to the issues listed above and found that an estimated $61.2 billion was lost– 76.6 percent of which was due to decreased performance attributed to reduce work performance due to chronic pain issues.

Archives of Internal Medicine highlighted the staggering costs of lower back pain treatment. Just in the United States well over that the direct $50 billion a year is spent on lower back pain treatment. Moreover, the economic burden of lower back pain is not limited to medical costs.

Lower back pain was the second most common condition leading to loss of work. Research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine showed higher rehabilitation rates among on-site corporate health clinics compared to off-site physical therapy. Researchers pointed to the lower cost and ease of accessibility to reasons why on-site chiropractic showed more benefits.  

Why choose Chiropractic? 

  • Countless studies have proven chiropractic treatment is a more cost effective way of treating musculoskeletal issues.
  • Research has shown greater rehabilitation rates in chiropractic patients.
  • Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive way to treat musculoskeletal issues. 

The Growing Role of Doctors of Chiropractic in On-site Chiropractic Clinics

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic
(408) 248-8700
3700 Thomas Rd. Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95054

 

Wrist pain.

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You use your hands for almost everything. From cooking, to cleaning, to writing, and even brushing your teeth so many of your daily activities are directly depending on the health of the 29 bones and 34 muscles in each hand. Hand pain can occur from a variety of reasons ranging from old age, chronic damage from work related tasks, to injuries sustained from mechanical accidents. Injury to joins, nerves, bones, and tendons is generally approached very differently so it is important to evaluate the source of your pain. Contrast therapy which involves an alternating treatment of heat and ice is most commonly suggested for all hand injuries. 

Damage due to sports injuries or falls can damage the muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves in the wrist. Sports that include a lot of weight bearing activities such as lifting and gymnastics can cause a lot of damage over time. Skiers thumb is a common injury many people get from damaging or tearing the ulnar collateral ligament, the tissue connecting the thumb to the wrist. Damage to this tissue can reduce the thumbs ability to grip and extend. Skiers thumb most commonly arises after falling while skiing, falling whiling gripping ski poles generates enough force to stress the thumb and stretch or tear the ulnar collateral ligament.  

Other Causes of Wrist Damage:

  • Neuritis: Inflammation of nerves
  • Bursitis: Inflammation of bursa; small, fluid-filled sacs cushioning bones, tendons and muscles near joints. 
  • Carpal Tunnel: Increased pressure on median nerve, causes numbness, weakness, and tingling in the hand an digits 1-4 
  • Rheumatism: Inflammation of joints
  • Osteopenia/ Osteoporosis: Low bone density
  • Injuries to joints
  • Broken bones
  • Crushing injury: An injury caused by a compression force onto the body, usually is caused by a natural disaster or deliberate force 
  • Tendinitis: Damaged tendon with inflammation pathology

Treatment

Within the first 48 hours of an injury due to a fall or accident you should rest and ice the injury. It is also important to keep your wrist elevated so it receives adequate circulation. Compression should be applied after inflammation has subsided. Anti-inflammatory painkillers are recommended for short term relief. Strength exercises are recommended to retrain stabilizers and rebuild and muscle loss due to the decreased movement from extended period of restriction. 

Imaging may be required in sever cases to rule out bone fracture before chiropractic treatment can be initiated. A trained chiropractor can restore range of motion to wrist joins and reduce inflammation and scar tissue build up in the wrist. Chiropractors can also recomend exercises and stretches to help facilitate the healing process. 

Wrist Exercises:

Wrist extension:

Extend your arm with your palm facing your body and gently secure position with opposing are. Hold Stretch for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times per day

Wrist Flexion:

Extend your arm with your palm facing away from your body and gently secure position with opposing are. Hold Stretch for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times per day

Finger Extensions:

With elastic band around the upper 2/3 of all five digits alternated between extension and relaxation. Stretch fingers out and hold extension for 15 seconds and rest for 15 seconds. Repeat 10 times. 

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic
(408) 248-8700
3700 Thomas Rd. Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95054

To heat or to Ice? Santa Clara expert breaks it down.

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When to use heat vs ice

 

Heat

Heat dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, increasing the amount of nutrients and oxygen around the localized area it is placed on. It also increases the rate toxins are removed from the site of injury, allowing muscles to relax. Heat packs also confuse sensory nerves decreasing your perception of pain.

 When to heat:

  • After working out: Try to utilize heat therapy a few days after a tough work out! We recommend doing light exercise to generate heat systemically thereby increasing circulation and reducing cramping symptoms. 
  • Chronic pain: Heat pads, warm showers, and warm baths can do wonders for chronic pain.
  • A few days after injury: Heat has been a great tool that speeds up healing and reduces pain after the inflammatory response has died down. 

How to use heat

  • Light Exercise
  • Warm showers
  • Warm Baths
  • Warm Moist Towel
  • Heated Water Pad
  • Heat Pack

Caution: Do not leave heat pad/ device on for too long, burning may occur. As heat dilates blood vessels, it contradicted directly after an acute injury with inflammation. Heat may exacerbate the inflammatory response system and make symptoms worse. 

Ice

Ice fights inflammation by increasing constriction of underlying blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to the area. This reduces the amount of histamine, one of the main propagators of the inflammatory response. 

We recommend multiple ice session a day for best results. However it is important that sessions last no more than 15-20 min long, as freezing for too long may lead to frostbite.  We highly recommend using a cloth or paper towel to insulate the body and protect your skin.

When to Ice:

  • Within 1-2 days of injury: This helps control the inflammatory response early on. If uncontrolled inflammation can lead to pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion and strength. 
  • Right after a hard work out: Icing right away can prevent soreness and cramping. 

How to Ice:

  • Ice baths
  • Ice pack
  • Cold showers

Caution: Be sure to isulate your skin with a towel if you are using an ice pack for an extended perior of time. 

When to Alternate

If neither heat nor ice seems to be doing the trick you may want to try alternating between both! Contrast therapy is very gentle and controls inflammation while simultaneously increasing circulation, giving you the best of both worlds! 

Best for:

  • Strains
  • Sprains
  • Non-acute Swelling 
  • Muscle spasms
  • Joint aches
  • Chronic pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia

DYI Tips

DIY Cooling Packs

We highly suggest wrapping ice pack with a towel in order to protect your skin!

DIY Heating 

Moist heat has been shown to be the most effective in reducing chronic pain. We recommend warm showers or baths.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic
(408) 248-8700
3700 Thomas Rd. Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Top Santa Clara Chiropractor tackles Plantar Fascitis.

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What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is describes the sharp pain heal pain typically arising after long periods of stationary inactivity. The tissue connecting the calcaneus bone to the metatarsal bones becomes inflamed and causes sensitivity along the bottom of the foot.

People generally notice plantar fasciitis more in the morning or after long periods of inactivity or just after exercise. Moving around generally alleviates the sharp pin like sensation associated with plantar fasciitis.

Risk factors

Plantar fasciitis risk factors:

  • Age: There are more reported instances in people 40-60 years old
  • Certain sports: Long-distance running, ballistic jumping activities, ballet dancing, aerobics can put a lot of stress on the fascia lying on the bottom of the heel
  • Foot shape: People with flat-feet, high arches, or even abnormal walking patterns have unevenly distributed weight and thus put more stress on the plantar fascia
  • Obesity: People who are obese can put extra stress on their plantar fascia leading to more wear and tear as time goes on
  • Occupation: Teachers, nurses, and people who tend to be on their feet for a large portion of the day can put a lot of excess stress on their plantar fascia

Complications:

  • Chronic heel pain: Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to long term damage that may impact ability to complete regular activities
  • Other chronic issues: Compensating for your heel pain can lead to increased stress on other areas of the body and may lead to chronic back pain, leg pain, and neck pain. 

Treatment Options:

  • Insoles: Insoles can help support your foot and correct any structural abnormalities which may contribute to plantar fasciitis.
  • Steroids: Steroid shots can help reduce inflammation within the plantar fasciitis. 
  • Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help strengthen the plantar fascia and surrounding muscles
  • Ice: ice can help reduce inflammation
  • Chiropractic: A chiropractor can help suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen surrounding muscles, and may also include soft tissue work to increase circulation healing and lymph drainage in the area. 
  • Shock-wave therapy: A Machine will artificially stimulate blood flow around the affected area by breaking up adhesions and confusing nerve signals with shock waves. 
  • Tenex procedure. A doctor will make a small laceration on the heel surface and administer targeted ultrasound to break down scar tissue. 
  • Surgery: Complete removal of the plantar fascia is typically only done as a last resort. Surgery usually is done in one day and requires a boot and splint for an extended period of time. 

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic
(408) 248-8700
3700 Thomas Rd. Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95054