Catalina Medical Center: Blog

Chiropractic care is typically sought out by people seeking relief from neck or back pain.  The staff of Catalina Medical Center is also skilled in treating extremities like the knees, elbows, and the shoulders. The shoulder joint is the body’s most mobile joint. It is surrounded by nerves, tendons, bursa, and other tissues which can all experience irritation and cause pain. This complex structure means that shoulder pain can have many causes and may require your chiropractor to assess your overall health and condition to target the root of the problem.  Whether pain began after an injury or has increased over time, chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective way to treat damage to both hard and soft tissue.  When shoulder pain is caused by joint irritation, relief can often be achieved through an adjustment.  Pain in the muscles can be addressed by massage or stimulation therapy, and your chiropractor will recommend exercise and stretches if needed.  If you are suffering from pain ...

If you’ve recently been experiencing weird muscle cramps, or you feel exhausted for no reason at all, you may be lacking magnesium. At Catalina Medical Center, our doctors want you to feel your best each minute of every day, which is why we want to explain how important magnesium is to the human body. Dubbed the “invisible deficiency” because it can be hard to diagnose, magnesium deficiencies can be dangerous because every organ in the body needs the mineral. Magnesium is used as a component of several enzymes that contributes to bone structure and helps to transport calcium and potassium in a way that keeps your heart beating and your muscles contracting. People who don’t eat enough vegetables and whole grains may not be getting enough magnesium in their diet, but few are likely to have obvious symptoms. Some foods that are rich in magnesium include green leafy vegetables, like spinach, as well as legumes, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds. Early signs of magnesium deficiency inclu...

Knowing the proper steps to take after experiencing an injury can make all the difference during your healing time. As a general rule of thumb, one should use ice for acute injuries or pain, along with inflammation and swelling and use heat for muscle pain or stiffness. Allow our doctors at Catalina Medical Center to explain why. Cold therapy (cryotherapy) and warm compresses (thermotherapy) are common self-treatment options for many painful problems. Cold therapy alleviates damaged tissues that are inflamed and swollen. Therefore, ice should be used if an injury occurs around a joint or a tendon. This is because it reduces blood flow to a particular area, which can significantly reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain. Heat therapy should be used for muscle tension, chronic pain, and stress. If hot or cold therapy doesn’t help the injury you’ve sustained, you’ll need to discuss treatment options with one of our doctors. If you have questions or concerns regarding chiropracti...

One of the most common causes of back pain is a slipped disc. While they can be debilitating, the good news is that the body is able to repair them naturally if allowed to do so. At the Catalina Medical Center in Redondo Beach, we help patients’ bodies get into the optimal condition to heal while managing their discomfort, but it’s helpful for patients to know more about what a slipped disc is. The spinal discs are located in between the vertebrae. They provide cushioning and absorb shocks. Each disc is made up of a gelatinous center and a rubbery outer ring. When the gel in the center of the disc leaks out, the disc is said to be slipped, herniated, bulging, or ruptured. Sometimes the gel may push all the way outside the outer portion. Although most slipped discs are the result of long-term wear, they can be caused by sudden trauma. People who remain in good shape as they age have better back support and are less likely to suffer a slipped disc. However, if such an injury does occur, ...

Self-care is necessary to remind yourself that you matter. Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings while boosting your confidence and self-esteem. Most of us tend to put the needs of others before our own, which is why our doctors at Catalina Medical Center encourage patients to schedule “me-time.” If you need some suggestions for taking a break from everyday life, we hope you take advantage of these. Indulge in a massage – set aside some time to experience the complete and total bliss of a massage. It soothes both the mind and muscles, improves sleep quality, and reduces stress. Unplug – these days it seems like we’re all glued to our phones, laptops, or even both at the same time. Taking a break from social media, email, blogging, and so on can help us recharge and gives our brain the downtime it needs to work at an optimal level. Get outside – ditching the comfort of your home is a great way to improve mental and ph...