Santa Clara Custom Chiropractic

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

Impact of Whiplash explained by Santa Clara Chiropractor.

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What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a generalized term for the symptoms typically seen after a traumatic injury to the neck. Whiplash is most commonly seen after car accidents, however, any abrupt jerking motion of the head backwards or forwards can cause whiplash. No whiplash patient is ever the same, whiplash can vary from can damage vertebral nerve, intervertebral joints, cervical discs, ligaments, and cervical muscles. Many people who suffer from a neck injury do not initially seek treatment as symptoms can be delayed up to a few days after the initial accident.

Whiplash Symptoms:

  • Headache
  • Neck pain
  • Neck Stiffness
  • Shoulder pain 
  • Peripheral Nephropathy
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Difficulty Remembering

Whiplash Treatment:

MRI imaging and CT scans can help identify specific tissue damage which can assist in creating a more specific plan of treatment. The current recommendation is to avoid restricting the neck in a cervical collar, as was one the standard. Now doctors recommend keeping the injury on ice for at least a day after the accident, and then incorporating gentle neck exercises to help stabilize the area. For the best results continuous treatment with a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor is highly suggested. Chiropractors can increase mobility and circulation to the injured area to help increase circulation and reduce inflammation around the injured area. Chiropractic adjustments can further facilitate healing by realigning vertebrae that may have been impacted after trauma. 

Other treatment options:

  • Heat
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Ice
  • Massage
  • Cortisone injections
  • Pain medication

Exercises for whiplash:

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

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

What is TMD? Santa Clara Expert explains.

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What is TMD?

TMD or Temporomandibular Disorder is a condition where the sliding hinge joint between the temporal bone and Mandible is damaged leading to pain around the jaw and ear, difficulty chewing, and locking of the jaw. The Temporal Mandibular Joint controls the lower jaw’s movement and is responsible for our chewing motions. 

This condition can arise from several ways:

  • Articular Disk Damage: The articular disk that joins the two bones is often impacted with continuous wear and tear and dislodges out of alignment.
  • Cartilage Damage: Conditions such as arthritis gradually destroy the cartilage making up joints and impact the joint’s ability to absorb shock. 
  • Trauma: Physical damage to the joint can misalign it and cause chronic TMJ pain. 
  • Teeth Grinding: Continuously grinding teeth can damage TMJ tissue over time leading to misalignment. 
  • Unknown: Many factors of TMD have yet to be identified; many scientists and clinicians speculate genetics may play a factor in developing the condition.

Symptoms of TMD:

  • Jaw Pain
  • Jaw Tenderness
  • Restriction in jaw movement
  • Localized pain to either or both temporomandibular joints
  • Ear ache
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Pain while chewing
  • Facial Pain
  • Locked Jaw
  • Jaw clicking

Risk factors:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis arthritis
  • Trauma to jaw
  • Grinding teeth
  • Clenching of teeth

Treatment:

In severe cases TMD will need surgery to treat it, a consultation from a Dentist or Physician can help determine how sever your case is. Some of the most common treatments for TMD are:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Muscle relaxers
  • Occlusal appliances: Mouth Guard

  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Botox
  • Chiropractic treatment

  • Acupuncture
  • Splint

  • Modified condylotomy: Surgery directly on Mandible, not on joint.
  • Arthrocentesis: A minimally invasive procedure that involves the insertion of small needles into the joint so that fluid can be irrigated through the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts

  • TMJ arthroscopy: A small thin tube (cannula) is placed into the joint space, an arthroscope is then inserted, and small surgical instruments are used for surgery
  • Open-joint surgery: If your jaw pain does not resolve with more-conservative treatments and it appears to be caused by a structural problem in the joint, your doctor or dentist may suggest open-joint surgery (arthrotomy) to repair or replace the joint. 

In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical treatments.

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

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

The Best way to deal with Shoulder Pain, explained by top Santa Clara Chiropractor.

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Shoulder anatomy:

The shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula, humerus and clavicle bones. Each of the bones articulates with each other in a joint, the most significant of which is the ball-in socket joint connecting the humerus with the scapula. The glenohumeral joint gives the shoulder its range of free motion, however in doing so it sacrifices stability of the articulating bones. The bones overcome this somewhat by relying on surrounding muscles and tendons (also known as the rotator cuff) to stabilize the bones. Therefore, any damage or injury to any of the stabilizers can be extremely painful and severely restrict the shoulders range of motion.

Most Common Reason causes of Shoulder Pain:

  • Poor posture: Continuous poor posture overworks the muscles in the upper back and causes an imbalance within the body leaving the shoulders hunched forward to compensate. Overtime this strains the shoulder muscles and can lead to chronic shoulder pain.

  • Trauma: Any damage to the rotator cuff tendons can lead to instability and reduce overall function of the shoulder.

  • Degenerative disk disease: Damage to the spinal vertebrate can also severely impact the neck and shoulder as the damaged vertebrate now puts more pressure onto surrounding tendons and ligaments which they are not built for.

  • Tumors: A tumor in the shoulders tissue or bone also leads to sever imbalance and instability in the shoulder.

  • Strains from overexertion: Overextending your shoulder can stretch the muscle fiber too much and cause tears within the tissue. Damaged tissue cannot adequately support the shoulder and may leave restrictive scar tissue after it has been healed.

  • Tendonitis from overuse: Tendonitis is a common sports injury that arises from continued overuse of the shoulder tendons. Overtime little tears within the tendon cause inflammation and tenderness within the region.  

  • Dislocation: A fall or traumatic injury may pop the head of the humerus bone out of the glenoid socket of the scapula. A medical professional must pop the shoulder back into place if the occurs as an untrained adjuster may fracture the bone while attempting to put it in place.

  • Collar or upper arm bone fractures: Bone fractures within the shoulder are extremely painful and may take up to 6 weeks to recover from.

  • Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder): Stiffness within the shoulder joint can occur as the capsules surrounding the shoulder muscle tendons thicken and restrict their movement. Frozen shoulder has no known cause though it is often associated with patients who have diabetes or have recently had to put their shoulder in a cast for an extended period of time.

How to Treat Shoulder Pain:

  1. Chiropractic Adjustment

      2. Massage

      3. Physical Therapy

      4. Cortisone injections

      5. Stretches

      6. Exercises

Exercises to help with Shoulder pain:

  1. Doorway Exercise: 

 

With your arms against a wall and your hands in line with your ears, slowly lean into a wall and push your hands up. Repeat 5 times.

2. Back pull stretch:

Shoulder Stretches:

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

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

Bursitis

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What Is Bursitis?

The Bursa; a liquid filled cavity located between bone, muscle, tendons, and skin usually acts as a buffer to reduce friction between tissue. However, when the bursa becomes irritated, its function can be impacted leading to very tender and painful tissue. 

What Causes Bursitis?

Severe injury and overuse are the most common causes of Bursitis.

Some activities commonly associated with Bursitis are:

  • Gardening
  • Raking
  • Carpentry
  • Shoveling 
  • Painting
  • Tennis
  • Golf 

 

Who Usually Gets Bursitis?

The chance for Bursitis greatly increases with age, as more wear and tear of tendons reduces their ability to handle impact. Elasticity of tendons and ligaments also greatly decreases as people age which also contributes to their decline in resilience and proneness to irritation and damage. 

 

Most common areas effected:

  • Shoulders
  • Elbows
  • Hips
  • Knees
  • Achilles tendons

Bursitis symptoms: 

Bursitis pain may develop rapidly or gradually with time. Rapid onset is usually associated with calcified deposits within the bursa cavity. Reduced mobility and range of motion are also highly characteristic of Bursitis as the joints are impacted and have reduced mobile function. 

How Can I Prevent Bursitis?

  • Regular exercise: building up your body’s ability to handle force gradually can greatly reduce the chances or developing Bursitis in the future.
  • Stretching: Stretching helps prevent maintain muscle flexibility and function reducing chances of injury.
  • Using padding: Using padding while kneeling reduces pressure on knees and protects joints.
  • Lifting properly: Lifting properly reduces chances for injury and reduces chronic strain on the back and hips.  
  • Using a dolly: Minimize the potential for injury and strain on shoulders by using a dolly when moving heavy objects around.  
  • Take breaks: Taking rest breaks can reduce the impact of chronic stress from repetitive tasks on tissue. 
  • Maintain a healthy BMI: Holding extra weight puts more stress on joints.
  • Chiropractic Care: Working with a chiropractor can help you develop a plan of action to help catch and reduce symptoms early on. 

To find about Chiropractic treatment options for Bursitis click here!

 

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

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