A Distorted Rib Cage

  Did you know that your whole rib cage can get torqued, or twisted? I often see this when a patient has been sick with a cough, has fallen, or has lifted something in an imbalanced way. 
      Recently a patient who had fallen off her motorcycle complained of shortness of breath, discomfort with deep breaths, and a “sense of pressure” at the level of her diaphragm.
      I found her rib cage distorted---ribs on one side stressed upward, while ribs on the other side were stressed downward. After correcting this, I found several ribs jammed at the spine, and some likewise in front at the sternum, which needed gentle adjustments to release the pressure at the articulations.
     Gentle adjustments high in the abdomen, at the level of her diaphragm, finished bringing her relief and restoring her breathing to normal.

One Leg Shorter

 

     Leg length inequality can be due to an anatomical short leg---one leg literally shorter due to an anomaly or after a (healed) fracture in the leg---or due to a  functional short leg. 

  A functional short leg means one leg is shorter due to disturbances or aberrance in one’s frame (bones & joints). This could be a distorted, tilted pelvis, misalignments in the spine, etc. The sum total of the imbalances & disequilibrium in the frame results in one leg shorter than the other.

  I commonly see a functional short leg in my practice; it is obvious as soon as the patient is on the adjusting table. After full-body balancing via Activator Chiropractic, the patient’s legs are even again. 

A Shallow Fit, A Joint "Complex"

         Unlike the hip joint, which has the tight fit of a "ball-and-socket," the shoulder is more like a "ball-and-saucer"---the fit is more shallow. While this allows for a wider range of motion, it also makes the shoulder more vulnerable to misalignment or dislocation.

The shoulder is made up of several interacting articulations; it is not just one joint; it is a joint “complex.” The upper bone of the arm, the humerus, articulates with a shallow “cup” that is part of the scapula. Another projecting part of the scapula makes a joint with the outer end of the collarbone.

Many ligaments and muscles connect & attach to parts of the shoulder complex. These also contribute to the multiplicities of motion of which our shoulders are capable. But, like the “ball-and-saucer,” they contribute to the vulnerability of the shoulder to injury. 

As an ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I am trained to evaluate the multiple parts of the shoulder complex, and to make precise adjustments as needed to relieve pain and restore normal function.

Open Farm Tours--This Weekend!

     I am delighted to be a business sponsor for the annual Open Farm Tours--- free, self-guided visits to local, organic family farms.  http://www.openfarmtours.com/sponsors/
     Farms on the tour are all within about a 10-mile radius, and use sustainable agriculture. You can tour at your own pace, meet the farmers, learn how foods are produced, sample local foods,  & kids can meet farm animals.

    Go to http://www.openfarmtours.com  for more details.

Opening Reception, Mountain Art Center

      Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, Ben Lomond

OCTOBER 3 – 27, 2018 
Opening Reception Friday, October 5,  6 - 8 pm

Featured Artists:  Linda Levy, Pat Worley & Larry Worley

Basketry, Ceramics, Digital Paintings, Jewelry, Fiber Art & more!
  http://www.mountainartcenter.org

(I am delighted to be a business sponsor for this event)

ART INSPIRED BY FRIENDSHIP

      Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, Ben Lomond

OCTOBER 3 – 27, 2018 

Featured Artists:  Linda Levy, Pat Worley & Larry Worley

Basketry, Ceramics, Digital Paintings, Jewelry, Fiber Art & more!    http://www.mountainartcenter.org

(I am delighted to be a business sponsor for this event)

Open Farm Tours

     I am delighted to be a business sponsor for the annual Open Farm Tours--- free, self-guided visits to local, organic family farms.  http://www.openfarmtours.com/sponsors/
     Farms on the tour are all within about a 10-mile radius, and use sustainable agriculture. You can tour at your own pace, meet the farmers, learn how foods are produced, sample local foods,  & kids can meet farm animals.
    Go to http://www.openfarmtours.com  for more details.



   

http://www.openfarmtours.com/sponsors/

How Long, How Often?

Patients who come into my office usually want to know:  "How often do I have to come in, and for how long?" 

In my chiropractic practice, each patient's Treatment Plan is tailored to the individual. I have no set formulas or requirements. Some patients come in for their initial treatment and their follow-up visit, and they're done. Some people need more. 

Each person’s course of treatment depends on what their problem is, their general state of health & whether they take good care of themselves, whether they have a heathy diet, whether they've been injured, their lifestyle and what they do physically with their bodies, etc. 

My goal is to help bring each patient relief from pain and restore them to normal functioning.  As soon as they are sufficiently improved and able to continue healing on their own, I release them from active care.

        I am always available to support them, should they need me again.

Suboccipital Tension

Chronic tension at the base of the skull is a very common cause of discomfort and often a prelude to headaches.

       The occiput is the bone across the lower part of the back of our head, just above the top of our neck. Along its lower edge are the suboccipital muscles, which help support our head, help us move and turn our head, and often bear the burden of stressful postures, especially related to computer use.

I often find a patient’s suboccipital muscles so tight that the occiput itself is stressed abnormally downward on one or both sides. This is relieved by a gentle, precise adjustment with the Activator.

Activator Chiropractic adjustments combined with ergonomic counseling and stretches are an effective solution to this problem.

The Fabulous Fibula

There are two bones in the lower leg, the larger, heavier tibia and the smaller fibula, which is a long, slender bone parallel to the tibia, and on the outside of our leg. Ligaments connect the top of the fibula to the upper tibia just below the knee. The lower end of the fibula forms the “bump” on the outside of our ankle.

     Although the fibula minimally participates in weight-bearing, it provides attachment points for muscles and ligaments.  Between the tibia & the fibula is connecting tissue called the “interosseous membrane.”

What does this “extra” little bone do, besides hold onto muscles & ligaments? Quite interestingly, it is integrally involved in the biomechanics of the lower extremity and in the gait cycle. In my practice, I often find the upper and / or lower parts of the fibula misaligned, causing pain when sitting or walking. Precise adjustments with the Activator instrument correct the problem & bring relief.  

Jaw Pain

 Pain in the jaw is often due to problems with the temperomandibular (TMJ) joints---the right and / or left joint(s) may be misaligned or abnormally stressed. An example of abnormal stress is TMJ compression on one side and TMJ distraction on the opposite side.

Jaw pain can also be related to disturbances in the temporal cranial rhythms. The temporal bones are just above the TMJ on the sides of the head.

Treatment in my office includes careful assessment of the jaw complex and, if necessary, gentle adjustment with the Activator Instrument. If the temporal cranial rhythms are abnormal, I make gentle corrections with my hands.

Summer Art Series

"Each month in the summer, the Museum features a different local artist who is inspired by the natural world of the Santa Cruz region."

     I am pleased to support my community by sponsoring the 2018 Summer Art Series at the Museum.
     
     Go here to learn more:    http://www.santacruzmuseum.org/exhibits/summer-art-series/

Consequences of Whiplash

Among the common sequelae of an acceleration / deceleration injury (whiplash), including pain, are a feeling of weakness in the neck, temporary loss of the cervical curve, and development of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).

These may not be immediately noticeable, but may appear slowly following the injury.

A feeling of weakness after this trauma is normal, and often the patient is given a foam neck brace, which helps support the head and relieve the cervical muscles.

Loss or straightening of the normal, forward-facing, cervical curve commonly appears on lateral X-ray, and may persist over months or even years. Proper rehabilitation, including chiropractic adjustments, can help restore the curve.

Numbness or tingling or pain down the arms or hands may develop after this trauma as the nerves exiting the spine in the cervical region become impinged between cervical muscles or in passage under the collarbone. This is called thoracic outlet syndrome. Resolution of TOS can take time, but is assisted by precise chiropractic adjustments, proper stretches, postural corrections, and focused soft tissue therapy.  

Shoulders Rolled Forward

 This is a common component, along with head-forward postures, of what’s called an upper thoracic kyphosis. The upper part of the back, and the shoulders and neck, become bent forward and over. In advanced stages, as with some elders, the condition has become so chronic it becomes impossible to straighten up. 

Strain on the neck and upper back, discomfort, compression of the anterior chest and lungs, shortening of the anterior cervical muscles, and medially rotated upper humerus (bone in the upper arm that articulates at the shoulder) are some of the results.

Early awareness and proaction can prevent this. Be aware of your posture---if you find your head is out in front of the center of gravity of your body, gently bring it back. If you spend lots of time on a computer, take frequent breaks to stretch, bring your shoulders back, roll and drop them to release tension.

An excellent stretch that counteracts development of this condition is simple and easy. Find and face into a corner, place your hands on the wall, keep your head up, and lean in. The stretch to the front of your chest and shoulders feels great! Change the height of your hands, and notice how you feel the stretch in different parts of your upper body. 

Sometimes this stretch is advised in a doorway, but I caution that it’s better to do it in a corner. You will be much less likely to lose your balance and overstretch.

Appropriate chiropractic adjustments help prevent the condition, as well. As an Activator doctor, I have precise, comfortable protocols for aligning and balancing the upper body.