Catalina Medical Center: Blog

Catalina Medical Center offers chiropractic care to patients of all ages, and there is no age recommendation for beginning chiropractic care.  Even infants who have suffered trauma to the spine during a natural or C-section birth can receive a minor adjustment.  Chronic ear infections in a small child can feel like a vicious cycle, but this irritation is often related to misalignment in the neck.  Restoring that balance can improve middle ear drainage and prevent further infections. Allergies and asthma also start to surface in young children, and the two are closely linked to the respiratory system. A misalignment in the spine can confuse a body’s immune system and cause a reaction with respiratory symptoms, so children should be seen by a chiropractor before being treated for allergies.  Regular adjustments are healthy for the growth and development of a child’s nervous system and strengthen immunity.  Chiropractors use the body’s ability to heal itself in their approach to treatment...

At Catalina Medical Center we see a lot of patients straining their back and neck by looking down at the screen on their devices.  You may have even heard this being called “text neck”. The average adult head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds, and neck muscles are meant to support the weight of the head in a neutral position.  Looking down at a screen increases the strain on your neck as if your neck is carrying a lot more weight.  Tilting your head forward just 15 degrees adds enough force to double the weight your neck is supporting, and the greater the angle, the greater strain.  Many people who text with their chin near the neck are tilting the head forward 60 degrees, which increases the load to about 60 pounds! The good news is we can make smarter choices about how to use devices every day to reduce strain on our bodies. Starting with good posture will always reduce strain on your neck.  Sit up straight with your shoulders lined up above your hips and your head upright. Hold your p...

If you live in the Redondo Beach area and have a deciduous tree, you know that you’ll soon have raking to do. Like any vigorous physical activity, there are ways to do it that minimize your chance of injury. At the Catalina Medical Center, we thought it would be a good idea to pass some tips along to our patients and anyone else who might soon have to do some yard work. The first thing you’ll need to do is choose clothes that are form-fitting but allow air to permeate. Your shoes will need to be close-toed and well-supported. Get a rake that has a long enough handle for you to use without bending over, but that is lightweight. Before raking, do a five-minute warm-up to get blood moving through your limbs and be sure to tie back your hair and remove anything that could get caught. When raking, stand with your knees unlocked and with one foot in front of the other in a scissor position. You’ll have to switch which hand is higher on the rake about every five minutes, which might also requ...

This National Diabetes Month, we at Redondo Beach’s Catalina Medical Center want people impacted by diabetes to know we can help ease their pain. Neuropathy, damage to nerves, is one of the most common results of high blood sugar’s interference with bodily systems. However, our practitioners are trained in whole-body methods of pain reduction that are non-addictive and minimally invasive. “Peripheral neuropathy” refers to pain, numbness, or extra sensitivity in the limbs. When related to diabetes, it is often felt first in the lower limbs, where acidic crystals accumulate. Neuropathy can also affect organ systems and cause weakening of the thigh muscles. People with high blood sugar have weaker blood vessels, which prevents them from healing quickly because it is more difficult for nutrients to reach their body parts. When people have pain in their lower limbs, they often compensate by changing their posture or gait. This puts them at greater risk for developing back pain, as their bac...