Retrolisthesis

      Retrolisthesis is a slippage backwards of one vertebra along its neighboring disc above or below. It is most common in the lumbar (low back) or neck regions.

     Often this is part of a general degenerative process in the spine, sometimes associated with aging, or it may be a sequela of injury.

     The condition often causes pain at the site, and may also cause radicular symptoms down the leg(s), such as pain or paresthesias (e.g. numbness, tingling).

     Chiropractic management in my office includes careful, gentle adjusting with the Activator instrument, exercises to strengthen the low back and abdominal muscles, and nutritional counseling for supporting a healthy body.

          

Toxic Oils

     "Designer oils" such as rice bran oil and grapeseed oil, often promoted as "healthy," are, in fact, highly toxic. Here's why: these oils are highly PROCESSED.

     Also beware canola oil, which is popularly touted as a healthy oil. It is also in the HIGHLY PROCESSED category. 

     Processing is necessary to extract the oil from rapeseed (canola), rice bran, and grape seeds, and may include extraction with heat and solvents, as well as chemical bleaching, degumming, and deodorizing. 

     Because the raw oils have monounsaturated and polyunsatured components, when exposed to heat, they readily oxidize. Oxidized oils are toxic and highly inflammatory.

     Avoid these oils, and use extra virgin olive oil (the highest grade olive oil, extracted with cold pressing without the use of solvents) instead.   

Sinus Congestion

Congestion in the sinuses can often be alleviated by balancing the cranial rhythms. This gentle balancing is something I include with every treatment in my office.

     The rhythms of the bones in the head are very subtle, and are related to the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. Correcting aberrances in these rhythms can relieve headaches, sinus congestion, or vertigo. 

     I also have an effective direct adjustment for the sinuses with my Activator instrument. The adjustment is gentle, and is often followed by immediate sinus drainage. 

Side Sleeping

        Patients often ask if they must sleep on their backs, for the sake of their necks, even though they are more comfortable on their sides. The answer is a qualified “No.”

It depends on the pillow you use under your head and neck.  A pillow that adequately supports your cervical curve and maintains your spine in proper alignment is essential for healthy side sleeping.

I recommend an orthopedically designed pillow. I am a side sleeper, and this is what I use. I have orthopedic pillows in my office for my patients, and although the particular configuration may not be comfortable for a small percentage of patients, it works beautifully for most.

Side sleeping is OK if you have the right pillow.

Bunions

      Bunions commonly form at the base of the big toe, as a result of abnormal biomechanical stresses in the foot. The body's autonomic response to these stresses is to build extra bone in the enlarging joint.

     A fallen arch, especially if combined with pronation of the foot (bending inward of the inside of the foot), can cause development of a bunion. The process is slow, and may not be noticed until the toe starts to hurt, or shoes don't fit well.

    Problematic changes in our body's biomechanics can develop at any age, and are almost always a complex interplay of forces and effects.

    Bunions can be treated effectively without surgery. Here is my treatment plan:

    As an Advanced Proficiency Rated ACTIVATOR chiropractor, I check the status of the arch, assess for pronation, and check & adjust all the joints of the feet. I advise the patient if orthotics are necessary to support the feet, and I prescribe exercises to strengthen the arch.

    Prescription orthotics may be needed, but patients can usually start with a good over-the-counter orthotic, properly fitted.

    Every aspect of my treatment plan is designed to relieve or counteract the stresses that caused the bunion. I have found this approach successful many times in my practice. 

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.