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January 22, 2011

Upper Back Pain – What Can You Do?

Filed under: Chiropractic,Chiropractic Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:01 am

chiropractor san clemente Upper Back Pain What Can You Do?When we hear someone complaining about back pain, it is often lower back pain.  Indeed, upper back pain is not really all that common.  When it happens though, it can result in a lot of discomfort, and severe pain.  While they do work together, as does your entire body, the lower and upper back serve different purposes.  The upper back’s job is to provide stability and strength to stand up straight, whereas the lower back, as well as the neck, are meant to allow for mobility.  The upper back, or thoracic spine, also helps to protect your internal organs and your chest.

The thoracic spine consists of twelve vertebrae, all situated in the middle of the spine.  Your ribs link to the vertebrae, and on the other end of the ribs, they are then linked to the breastbone.  This allows for limited movement of the spine, as the ribs keep the spine in place by being attached to the sternum.

What Causes Upper Back Pain?

There are a number of factors that can lead to upper back pain, including strain, poor posture, or injury and trauma.  Working at a desk all day can also contribute to upper back pain, and neck and/or shoulder pain will often accompany this type of pain.  Lifting heavy objects or repetitive motions can sometimes be the cause of the strain or sprain that occurs to cause upper back pain too.  These activities can cause muscles to stretch and strain too much, which can result in tearing of the muscle tissue.  Along with joint dysfunction, this muscular irritation is a primary underlying cause of upper back pain, often resulting in damage to the ligaments.

Treatment of Upper Back Pain

Massage therapy, passive physical therapy and acupuncture are all possible treatment options for this type of muscle strain pain.  Stretching and strengthening exercises can help to relieve pain in the long term and prevent further injury.

Chiropractors specialize in any type of back pain, whether it is occurring in the upper, middle or lower back, or even in the neck.  When you see a chiropractor for upper back pain, he or she will examine your spine for trigger points in your muscles, which can produce radiating pain. Trigger points are nodules that build up in injured or over-used muscles, and they are strong generators of pain.

While your upper back pain is most likely coming from muscles, adjustments to the spine can help to relieve pressure on those muscles, which will help to reduce the pain.  Upper back pain is often accompanied by subluxations of the spine, which put pressure on the muscles and joints.  A series of chiropractic adjustments addresses these subluxations and helps to relieve pressure and reduce pain.

The important thing to remember is that if you don’t see a chiropractor for your back pain, even if the pain subsides, the underlying cause of the pain will not have been addressed.  This means the chance for pain returning is high.  So if you are experiencing upper back pain – or any other back, neck, or joint pain – it’s time to call the chiropractor for an appointment.  If you’re in the San Clemente area, get in touch with our San Clemente Chiropractor Office today!

November 21, 2010

Sleeping Posture and Back Pain

Filed under: Chiropractic,Chiropractic Tips,Health Tips — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 9:46 am

chiropractor san clemente Sleeping Posture and Back PainMany visitors to our San Clemente Chiropractor’s office don’t realize that there are some positions that we sleep in that can actually trigger back pain. What happens is that our spine isn’t aligned properly and the back muscles are being disproportionately stretched. For those who like to sleep on their stomach, what’s happening is that they are causing the curve of the lower back to become extended, which can cause stress on the muscles of the neck.  Allowing the natural curves of the spine to be supported while sleeping is ideal.

For people who are suffering with back pain, they may find that sleeping on a firm mattress or using a bed board while sleeping on their side can be helpful.  Make sure to put a pillow between the legs (at knee-level) prior to bending the knees and also a pillow under the head.  This type of sleeping posture has been known to ease discomfort levels and allow many back pain sufferers to get a much better night’s sleep.

If you happen to be one of the people who simply have to sleep on your stomach, there is a method that can help to align your spine.  (As stated previously, sleeping on the back isn’t recommended by chiropractors.) Simply place a pillow under the abdomen, and make sure that there is no pillow under the head.  Try using this sleep posture tonight – you might notice that your back pain isn’t quite as bad as it would normally be.

Experiencing back pain while sleeping will often times extend to the morning.  In addition to regular chiropractor visits, doing some relaxing and stretching exercises each morning will not only get the blood flowing and wake you up fully, but you will relieve some of the soreness that was brought on during the previous night’s sleep.  One exercise that may be of some relief is the following:

1. Lay on your back with a small pillow under your head.
2. Place two large pillows below your knees and concentrate deeply on relaxing the back muscles.
3. Close your eyes and breathe deeply while focusing on relaxation.  Do this for 15-20 minutes.
4. Gently remove the pillows from under your knees with knees remaining bent.
5. Slowly pull one leg to your chest and hold for 5 seconds.
6. Repeat with other leg, and do this for three repetitions per leg.
7. Slowly pull both legs to the chest at the same time and hold for 5 seconds.  Do this three times.
8. Slowly roll over onto your knees and up to a standing position

Doing this type of stretching exercise in the morning shortly after you’ve woken up will not only help alleviate back pain, but can also keep you limber and flexible.

For people who experience back pain while sitting, it is recommended that a small pillow be placed in the small of the back. This will offer support and allow the person to sit with better posture and a lower degree of discomfort.

It should be noted that we chiropractors recommend that people with back pain never wear corsets. The reason for this is that back muscles can weaken when restricted in such a manner, and this can eventually even lead to muscle atrophy.  Corsets aren’t optimal for anyone, but especially not for sufferers of back pain.

There are a lot of things that we can do to not only prevent, but also alleviate back pain.  Seeing a Chiropractor in conjunction with proper sleeping methods and stretching exercises is optimal.  Things like having proper sleeping postures, not smoking, being active, doing regular back exercises, and watching your weight are all terrific measures to take in ensuring that you’re doing everything you can to feel as good as you can.  For more advice on reducing back pain and living a healthy lifestyle, get in touch with our San Clemente Chiropractor office today!

November 14, 2010

Obesity and Back Pain – There is a Link

Filed under: Chiropractic,Health Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:39 pm

chiropractor san clemente Obesity and Back Pain There is a LinkObesity is described as an excess of total body fat. A person who currently weighs 20% or more above his or her normal body weight is considered obese.  Why are we talking about obesity? Simple. Obesity has been proven to be one of the leading causes of back pain. In many cases, if an obese person were to reduce their weight by only 10%, it would make an unbelievable difference with their level of pain.  The reason that obesity is one of the leading causes of back pain is because extra abdominal weight can actually pull the body forward.  This puts a lot of strain on lower back muscles, which results in pain for the person dealing with this issue.

Obesity can take pain to an entirely new level by throwing posture off, which makes it difficult and almost impossible at times to align your body properly.  The back muscles are forced to pick up any slack and develop new ways in which the person carries and shifts their weight.  One area of the spine which is most vulnerable to the negative effects of obesity is the lower back – also known as the lumbar spine. When you live a fairly sedentary lifestyle and rarely get exercise, this can lead to poor flexibility and weak back muscles, pelvic muscles, and even thigh muscles. Being obese can actually increase the curve of the lower spine, which can cause the pelvis to tilt too far forward. As you can probably imagine, this will result in even more back pain.

It’s very common for people to attempt to dismiss or blame the cause of their back problems on normal aging. While it is true that with age, bodily tissues can create changes to the spine, if a person is overweight or obese, the chances are very high that they already have or will have back pain.

Following is a list of things that can happen with a person suffering from obesity:

  • Degenerative Disc Disorder
  • Osteoporosis
  • Hernias
  • Ruptured Discs
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Unhealthy posture


Sadly, childhood obesity is also on the rise these days. There are many factors in today’s world that contribute to this fact: Computers, video games, television and its nearly constant advertisements for tasty and unhealthy food, to name a few. Some believe that even genetics can play a role when talking about obesity.

A whopping 1/3 of the American population is reported to have back pain, which can also cause fatigue and breathlessness.  All of these factors cause even more inactivity, which can cause weight to increase. This is why it is so important to make fitness a part of your daily routine. Exercise can be worked into anyone’s lifestyle. Even a five minute walk three times per week can be a bigger benefit than you might imagine.

Finding good chiropractic care in conjunction with a lifestyle change has the ability to change your life in ways that you’ve never even imagined.  Nobody wants to live with pain – especially agonizing back pain that can, at times, become immobilizing.  There is hope for everyone suffering with back pain as a result of obesity.  You’ve got all the tools within you that you need to change your life for the better and be able to participate in all of those family functions that you’ve been shying away from for so long.

For more information on living a healthy lifestyle and finding relief from back pain, whether from obesity or any other cause, get in touch with our San Clemente Chiropractic Office for a free evaluation.  We’ll take great care of you and get you back to feeling good sooner than you might expect!

October 25, 2010

Back Killing You? It Could be Your Shoes!

Filed under: Chiropractic,Chiropractic Tips,Health Tips — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 9:19 am

chiropractor san clemente Back Killing You? It Could be Your Shoes!Much like a building has a foundation, so does your body.  And in your body’s case, that foundation is your feet.  Just as when a building’s foundation is less than sound, the entire structure is at risk, when your feet are not in good shape, they affect the structure above them, and the alignment of that structure.  This is why we often see people complaining of back pain, when the root of the problem might have more to do with their feet (and their shoes).  This is why we look at the feet during an examination for back pain, not just the back.

One example of the foot having an effect on the rest of the body is in the case of a planter’s wart or other painful issue with the foot.  When this kind of issue exists and is not properly addressed, or when the shoes a person wears actually causes the problem to worsen, the patient tends to walk in such a way that helps them avoid putting pressure on the part of the foot that is causing them pain.  This, in turn, changes their gate, which can have a serious effect on the back, as the muscles of the back have to flex in abnormal ways to compensate for the adjusted gate.

Sometimes though, there is not an obvious problem with the foot, and the culprit is the shoes a person has chosen.  Shoes that don’t lend enough arch support or are too loose or too tight can also affect a person’s posture, gate, and the alignment of their spine.  A very common cause of this is found in women who wear high heels often.  Your foot is simply not meant to function at the angle at which heels cause your foot to walk.  This difference in the angle of the foot causes a change in the center of gravity, which can cause serious strain on the lower back.  For this reason, any shoe heel above about 1 ½ inches is not recommended.  And even then, heels should be worn on a limited basis if at all possible.

The irony is that shoes with no heel, like flip flops (which you can barely call shoes at all), are another common cause of foot problems.  The lack of any arch support at all in this type of footwear often leads to strain and stress on the tendons and joints.  Wearing flip flops and similar footwear for short periods of time once in a while is probably not going to cause any big issues, but they are not recommended for long periods of walking or exercise.  Doing this can cause a host of issues in the feet, ankles, knees, and back.

Your best bet when shoe shopping is to find a shoe that has superior shock absorption, a rigid, straight back (heal counter), and good arch support.  These features will ensure your feet and ankles are well supported, and will help with your body’s alignment.  Of course, even the perfect shoes won’t eliminate the chance of your spine getting out of alignment, so be sure to see your chiropractor on a regular basis to keep your body in tip top shape!

October 18, 2010

Chiropractic Care for Your Sciatica

Filed under: Chiropractic,Chiropractic Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:00 am

chiropractor san clemente Chiropractic Care for Your SciaticaYou’ve probably heard of sciatica, and you might even have it, but not everyone knows what sciatica really is.  It is common for patients to think they have sciatica when they don’t, and just as common for those with sciatica to believe it is something else.  We often see this with leg pain that people assume stems from an issue with the leg itself.  As chiropractic care demonstrates daily, problems that manifest in one part of the body are quite often the result of an issue that originates in another area – very often the spine.  Sciatica, a condition that is very common and affects many people, stems from aggravation of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the human body.  The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, runs through the buttocks, and down the leg.

Common symptoms of sciatica are a shooting pain through the lower back and down the leg (following the path of the sciatic nerve), a tingling or burning sensation accompanying the pain, and numbness in the lower back and/or the legs.  Any one or a combination of these symptoms can point to a case of sciatica.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica often comes as the result of damage to one or more discs in the lower back, due to lifting heavy objects improperly or other types of injury.  This damage can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, irritating it and causing the pain, numbness, and tingling described above.  The pressure on the nerve can also come from the muscles and bones surrounding it.  Less commonly, a growth or tumor close to the spinal cord can also exert pressure on the area, resulting in sciatic pain.

In cases where an injury has not occurred, the symptoms of sciatica can be brought about by slouching and bad posture.  Sciatica is also a common complaint of women who are pregnant, which can also put pressure on the back.  This can also be the case with people who are overweight, as the extra weight – especially around the waist – can place undue pressure on the spine as well.

What can you do about sciatica?

One method that is often effective for relieving sciatica is to cool the lower back by icing it.  Cooling the back on and off for periods of fifteen minutes can offer comfort for a period of time.  Stretching can help to loosen the back muscles as well, and this can help as well, when done properly.  A good rule of thumb is that if your stretching hurts, don’t do it.  If stretching does not hurt, it is something that should be done daily. Because long periods of inactivity can worsen the symptoms of sciatica, it is often worse for people first think in the morning, so this is a good time to perform stretching exercises.

While these home remedies can provide a degree of relief, they often prove to be ineffective and/or temporary.  For this reason, seeking the care of a qualified chiropractor is your best bet for immediate, long term relief.  Seeing your chiropractor, sooner rather than later, helps ensure that your sciatica will be addressed in a way that is conducive to promoting the long term health of your entire body.  So if you or someone you know is in the San Clemente area and suffering from sciatica, get in touch with our office right away.  We’ll take great care of you and get you back to your old self ASAP!

October 11, 2010

Chiropractic Care for Your Lower Back Pain

Filed under: Chiropractic — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:00 am

chiropractor san clemente Chiropractic Care for Your Lower Back PainIt might seem unusual to some that after so many blog posts about how chiropractic care can help in so many ways, we are just now really delving into how a chiropractor can help with lower back pain.  After all, this is one of the most common reasons people make an appointment to see a chiropractor. There’s a good reason we haven’t focused on this topic, and that is because so many people only associate chiropractors with back pain, when in fact  a chiropractor can help with a wide range of problems and conditions.  As we have detailed so often, chiropractic care is concerned with the whole person, and not just the back.

Still, a chiropractic blog without information about how chiropractors treat lower back pain would not be complete.  Spinal manipulation (a method we use to adjust a patient’s spine into proper alignment) is a safe, effective treatment for acute lower back pain, and we do address this condition frequently.  The type of acute pain associated with the lower back is often the result of a sudden injury, such as what can happen when moving heavy furniture or suffering a sports injury.

While this type of pain will often lessen over time without treatment, the reason for the reduction in pain is not because the root problem has been addressed, but simply because the muscles have had a chance to relax – often with the use of pain pills and muscle relaxers.  The danger in that scenario is that the chance for the injury reoccurring is very high, as the cause of the original injury has not been treated.  When the injured patient visits a chiropractor right away though, we are able to speed the healing process and help to prevent future problems, all without the use of medications.

One concern many have is the fear of experiencing pain at the chiropractor while in this condition.  After all, if it hurts to even move normally, and your idea of a chiropractor is someone who wants to twist and jolt your back, you might think there’s no way anyone is going to do that to me right now! What’s important to remember is that any chiropractic visit begins with a comprehensive assessment that results in an accurate diagnosis of your back pain.  Because so many people trust chiropractors first when it comes to back pain, we are trained to make necessary adjustments in a way that will not exacerbate your pain.  The gentle care of a chiropractor is both safe and effective, and it’s tailored to your needs.  There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to chiropractic care.

Research has also shown time and again that chiropractic is helpful in treating headaches and neck pain. So if you have lower back pain, or any other painful condition related to your spine or nervous system, we should be your source of relief.  Call our San Clemente Chiropractor office today and start feeling better right away!

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