Catalina Medical Center: Blog

When people think of back problems, probably the first image that comes to mind is the stooped posture often seen in older people. At the Catalina Medical Center in Redondo Beach, we want our patients to know that this painful ailment is not an inevitable part of aging, but is something that can be treated through chiropractic. The most common cause of spinal curvature in the elderly is osteoporosis. This disease is the result of bone breaking down without enough new growth to replace it. Over time, the vertebrae become so weak that they can be cracked easily by common movements with the patient hardly even aware of it. All those little cracks add up to the vertebrae collapsing, causing the afflicted to lose height and stoop over. Anybody can get osteoporosis, but it is more common in women. One good way to prevent it is to maintain high levels of calcium intake. But at our office, we can also prescribe therapeutic exercises for strengthening the muscles supporting the spine and provid...

At the Catalina Medical Center, we provide comprehensive, non-invasive treatments for a number of ailments affecting the spine and soft tissues of the limbs. Injuries to the muscle, tendon, and ligament groups are common, which is especially sad since a lot of them could be avoided if people knew how to warm up properly for a work-out. One of the worst mistakes you can make before exercising is stretching a limb that is still “cold.” While stretching is important, the kinds of static stretches in which a person holds a pose for a time should be saved until the cool-down. When warming up, stretches should be dynamic, meaning that they involve continuous movement. Some examples of these are arm circles, high kicks, and lunges with a twist. Yoga is particularly well-known for its large number of dynamic stretches. Some athletes target the particular part of the body they are planning to work most during the session, but regardless, warm-ups will take about five minutes to be effective. No...

Does your back feel like it just needs a good crack? Then it’s time to visit our doctors at Catalina Medical Center for an adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is also known as spinal manipulation or hand manipulation is a common therapeutic treatment for lower back pain. The goal of this treatment method is to increase the range of motion in patients as well as reduce nerve irritability. A chiropractic adjustment will involve one of our doctors using their hands to apply a high velocity, short lever arm thrust to a vertebra. Often, patients will feel a sense of relief as the subluxation is released. It should be known that nothing is being cracked, but simply adjusted and put back in place. There are typically no side effects related to chiropractic adjustments though the patient may experience mild soreness afterward. If you have questions or concerns regarding chiropractic adjustments, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit  www.catalinamed...

When people experience pain sitting down and problems associated with sciatica, a tailbone injury may be to blame. Although breaks and bruises in the lowest part of the spine are rare, they can be highly debilitating and painful. The tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is a fusion of vertebrae and ligaments into a single structure. Like the rest of the spine, it can become the location of pinched nerves when it is out of alignment or its soft tissues are inflamed. Because of its location near the thighs, the pinched nerve in question may be a sciatic nerve, in which case the patient may experience incontinence, tingling and weakness in the leg and foot, as well as radiating pain. The coccyx is usually well-insulated against injury, but it can be damaged during childbirth or horseback or bicycle riding. It is best to allow the tailbone to heal naturally, but this will take some time. To help ease patients’ discomfort, we provide adjustments, acupuncture, and instructions in therapeutic ...

Lower back pain isn’t limited to adults. In children, improper use of backpacks is a common source of several ailments of the back, shoulders, and arms, and although we use chiropractic and holistic treatments at The Catalina Medical Center to get them healthy again, a preventive approach is always best. Backpacks are a better way of carrying items than shoulder bags or large purses, which unevenly distribute weight, making muscle strain and misalignment likelier. However, the backpack should only contain an amount equal to 15% of the wearer’s bodyweight, at most. It is a good idea to not use a backpack which is large enough to hold more than this, as well as to avoid using one with wheels and a pull-out handle if it is not usually being worn in a context where these can be used. Children should regularly switch out items throughout the day and avoid packing anything they are unlikely to need. The backpack’s shoulder straps should be padded, and wearers should always use both. They sho...

Headaches can have many triggers, such as food, environmental factors and/or lack of sleep. The greatest cause of headaches, however, is due to muscle tension in the neck. If a person is more sedentary than active, they spend hours in a fixed position, therefore putting a strain on the neck and upper back, causing the head to ache. Fortunately, our doctors at Catalina Medical Center can treat the problem. The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Triggers also may include foods, environmental stimuli, (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). At Catalina Medical Center, your doctor will perform spinal manipulation and/or chiropractic massage to alleviate pressure on the cervical spine (neck) to help you return to your daily activities. If you have questions or concerns regarding chiropractic care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, vi...