Our "Patient of the Week" is Will O. Will presented to our clinic with neck, back, hip, and leg pain. The pain was keeping him from getting a full nights sleep and was interfering with his home and work life.
Since coming to our clinic, Will has improved in his ability to function at work and at home as he is in much less pain. Will is also able to sleep better at night which has contributed greatly to his healing process, energy levels and attitude. We are all excited to have Will at the office and can't wait to see him pain free and back to normal.
Chiropractic is the perfect choice for busy urbanites that are experiencing back or neck pain. Our typical patient has limited time and is always on the go. Our no-waiting, walk-in service makes it super convenient for patients like Will to get the care that they need without making it such a big time consuming ordeal.
To schedule an appointment for neck or back pain treatment with one of our San Francisco Chiropractors call 415-392-2225.
Mention this blog post for a complementary consultation and clinic tour. We have been serving the SF Financial District in zip code 94111 for over 20 years.
This
has been a hot topic for a very long time.
In fact, it’s quite possible that cavemen and cavewomen were debating
this while sitting around the campfire chomping on Mastodon burgers. The
question is:
What’s The Best Time Of Day
To Work Out?
Okay. Fine.
Cave people had a few more important things to worry about like food,
shelter, and getting eaten by Saber-Toothed Tigers.
But, if you are trying to lose
weight and get in shape TODAY, then the answer to this question may be VERY
important to you.
If you are like most people, you
have very limited time. So, you want to
get the maximum results from exercise that you can in as little time and with least
effort possible.
The good news is that a few recently
published research papers may have some answers...
The first is a study published in
the October issue of Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise.
This research out of Brigham Young
University (BYU) shows that 45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise in the
morning actually reduces a person’s motivation for food. This is contrary to the common belief that
exercise STIMULATES appetite.
According to BYU: Professors, James LeCheminant and Michael
Larson, measured the neural activity of 35 women while they viewed food images,
both following a morning of exercise and a morning without exercise. They found
their attentional response to the food pictures decreased after the brisk
workout.
“This study provides evidence that exercise not only
affects energy output, but it also may affect how people respond to food cues,”
LeCheminant said. The report went on to
say, “The 45-minute exercise bout not only produced lower brain responses to
the food images, but also resulted in an increase in total physical activity
that day, regardless of body mass index.”
One thing of interest was that the
women did not eat more food on exercise days than non-exercise days. In other words, they did not eat more to make
up for the calories burned from working out.
“The
subject of food motivation and weight loss is so complex,” Larson said. “There
are many things that influence eating, and exercise is just one element.”
What About Peak Performance?
There are studies that show the
AFTERNOON is the best time for peak performance. One study published in Sports Medicine in 1995 revealed that, “Performance of physical activity is generally improved in the
afternoon or evening, compared with morning.”
Even more important are the results
from a study published in Medical Science
Sports Exercise in 1998 that found: “These
results demonstrate that there is temporal specificity in training to increase
work capacity in high-intensity exercise. Greater improvements can be expected
to occur at the time of day at which high-intensity training is regularly
performed.”
In other words, training at the same
time every day yields the best results in regards to performance.
Here’s something to keep in
mind… The last two studies mentioned
concern performance (strength, speed, etc.)
The first study done at BYU is about appetite and potential weight loss.
Once again, science does not give us the clear-cut answer we are looking for.
So, What’s The Bottom Line?
Make an exercise plan and exercise
regularly. That is the number one
priority. Clearly, any workout is better
than none. But, TRY to workout at the
same time every day.
These studies used small sample
sizes and it is very possible that not everyone fits into these results. For example, some people are morning
people. They jump out of bed at 5:30
every day cheering. For others, that is
torture.
So, is it possible that these two
types of people have different peak performance times? One early and the other later? Yes, it is. Once again, try it out for
yourself. Just be consistent and give it
a valid shot. Don’t try something for a
week or two and think it did not work. Exercise, weight loss, and athletic
performance simply do not work like that.
Neither does health.
All of these things take
consistency. You must do the right
things… long enough… and “long enough”
is for the rest of your life.
Sometimes reality can be a little
harsh, but the alternative is much worse.
Whiplash
injuries occur as the result of a sudden acceleration followed by deceleration,
and the degree of injury is dependent on many factors. Some of these include:
the size of the vehicle, the conditions of the road, the angle of the seat
back, the “springiness” of the seat back, the position of the head rest, the
size of the patient’s neck, the position of the patient’s head and neck at the
time of impact, the awareness of the impending collision, etc. Hence, each case
must be evaluated and managed using a unique, individualized approach.
The chiropractic encounter begins
with the history and examination. Here we will ask many questions and perform
tests that will give us clues to understand the mechanism of injury, identify
the primary tissues injured, and determine the best treatment approaches to
utilize.
There are many different
chiropractic treatment approaches available for patients with whiplash
injuries. For example, manual therapies include spinal manipulation,
mobilization, manual traction, muscle relaxation and/or stimulation methods,
the assessment of the patient's physical capacities with issuing specific
exercises and, considerations of modifying work station issues and/or lifestyle
changes. Chiropractic manipulation is a very common approach utilized in the
treatment of joint dysfunction. That is, restoring normal movement to the
joints affected negatively by the whiplash injury. Terms such as, "stuck,"
"fixed," "subluxation," and the like are often used to
describe altered joint position or function. Typically, the manipulation (also
called “adjustment”) is applied well within the normal range of motion of the
joint using a “high velocity” (or fast) movement through a short distance in
the direction that attempts to correct the joint dysfunction. Because the
procedure is quick and of short distance, patients frequently state, “…that
felt great!” In fact, if the pre-adjustment position of the patient hurts or is
uncomfortable, we will instead use a slow, mobilizing movement.
Exercise strategies are important
and typically employed as soon as possible. The type of exercise is (again)
case specific, but in general, exercises are initially prescribed in a manner
that restores movement with as little discomfort as possible. Following the
goal of increasing range of motion, strengthening the injured region with
stabilization exercises, and restoring sensory-motor activity to the muscles
becomes the primary focus in the management of the whiplash patient. When the
intervertebral disks are “deranged” or altered, directions that minimize
radiating pain are emphasized in the exercises. After careful in-office
training, the patient is instructed to perform exercises at home, often multiple
times a day, for stability of the spine and to re-establish motor control and
movement. Ergonomic and daily lifestyle modifications are frequently addressed
to avoid the possibility of the condition being irritated on a regular basis,
thus interfering with the healing process. If a patient is stressing the
injured area at work, job modifications can make or break the success of the
management program.
We realize you have a choice in where you choose your
healthcare services. If you, a friend or
family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and
confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and
your family presently and, in the future.
To schedule an appointment with one of our San Francisco Whiplash Doctors please call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.
Serving local zip code 94111 and surrounding areas since 1992
The Executive Express Chiropractic San Francisco "Patient of the Week" is Douglas Johnston. Douglas presented to our clinic with severe lower back pain that was making life miserable. The
back pain had been constant and made working, sleeping, and trying to enjoy life
extremely difficult.
Through a short series of custom exercises and stretching, myofascial massage to the lumbar area,
and chiropractic adjustments to the low back and spine, Douglas is starting to function again
without pain. Douglas is excited to start exercising again and return to his
previous division one athlete form.
All of us at Executive Express are very
excited to see Douglas's progression and the commitment to health he has
made.
Chiropractic care is #1 for low back pain treatment according to Consumer Reports. Chiropractors work on the cause of the pain vs. just treating the symptoms. By correcting misalignment's and strengthening the muscles surrounding them chiropractors offer a more permanent solution to most low back pain conditions.
We have been providing treatment for headaches in San Francisco for over 20 years now. Headaches
are a very common problem that can have multiple causes ranging from mental and physical stress to
trauma. To make matters worse, there are
MANY different types of headaches. One such type is the “cervicogenic headache”
(others include migraines, cluster headaches, etc.).
The main distinction between the
symptoms associated with cervicogenic headaches and those associated with
migraine headaches are a lack of nausea, vomiting, aura (pre-headache warning
that a headache is about to strike), light and noise sensitivity, increased
tearing with red eyes, one sided head, neck, shoulder and/or arm pain, and
dizziness. The items listed above are primarily found in migraine headache
sufferers.
The following is a list of clinical
characteristics common in those struggling with cervicogenic headaches:
Unilateral
(one-sided) head or face pain (rarely is it on both sides).
Pain is localized
or stays in one spot, usually the back of the head, frontal, temporal (side)
or orbital (eye) regions.
Moderate to severe
pain intensity.
Intermittent
attacks of pain that last hours to days.
Pain is usually
deep, non-throbbing, unless migraines occur at the same time.
Head pain is
triggered by neck movement, sustained awkward head postures, applying deep
pressure to the base of the skull or upper neck region, and/or taking a
deep breath, cough or sneeze can trigger head pain.
Limited neck motion
with stiffness.
Infrequently, the cervicogenic
headache sufferer can present with migraines at the same time and have both
presentations making it more challenging to diagnose.
The cause of cervicogenic headaches
can be obvious such as trauma (sports injury, whiplash, slip and fall), or not
so obvious, like posture. A forward head posture can increase the relative
weight applied to the back of the neck and upper back as much as 2x-4x normal.
Forward Head Posture (FHP) is a frequent finding with those that spend a lot of time at a desk in front of a computer like most of our San Francisco Chiropractor patients.
Last month, we discussed the intimate relationship between the upper 2 cervical
vertebra (C1 & C2) and an anatomical connection to the covering of the
spinal cord (the dura) as giving rise to cervicogenic headaches. In summary,
the upper 3 nerves innervate the head and any pressure on those upper 3 nerves
can result in a cervicogenic headache. As chiropractors, we are trained to
examine, identify, and treat these types of potentially debilitating headaches. It is not uncommon for a chiropractor to achieve favorable results in a very short period of time with cervicogenic headaches...even in patients that have been suffering for years.
We realize that you have a choice in
where you choose your healthcare services.
If you, a friend or family member requires care for headaches, we
sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services
and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
To schedule an appointment with a headaches doctor in San Francisco please call 415-392-2225. Mention this article for a complimentary consultation and office tour.
Our "Patient of the Week" is Temple Terkildsen. Temple came to our clinic with severe and excruciating neck pain that was interfering with her home and work life. After a few days of trying to gut out the pain, she decided to venture to our clinic to have her neck looked at.
The pain was so severe that with each step she took it felt like someone was stabbing her in her lower neck and upper back. After just a few visits with stretching, massage, and chiropractic care she knew she had made the right decision and was on the road to recovery. Temple has now regained almost full function and control of her life again. We are so happy she chose us to help her in her time of need We are SO proud of you Temple!
Chiropractors are able to fix conditions such as severe neck pain in a short period of time by addressing the cause of the problem. In Templ'e case she had a pinched nerve in her neck with was causing muscle spasms, inflammation, pain, and loss of function.
In cases like this pain pills, muscle relaxers, cortisone, or even exercise will not address the cause. Now that Temple is feeling better we have incorporated exercises into her treatment program to strengthen the injured neck muscles and prevent the problem frome reoccurring.
To schedule an appointment with a neck pain doctor in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. Mention this chiropractor review and receive a complimentary ice gel pack (Value $20).
Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most investigated, researched, and talked about
disorder when it comes to work related injuries to the upper extremity because
it is often the cause of so much lost work time, disability costs, and the
source of financial hardship for many of its sufferers. So, the questions are:
Is there a way to detect it early? What can be done to prevent CTS? And, what
can you do to facilitate in the treatment process of CTS?
1. EARLY DETECTION: Because CTS symptoms usually start out mildly, maybe
a little numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers that can be easily “shaken
off,” people usually do not identify these early symptoms as, “…a big deal” and
consequently, do nothing about it. After a while, and the time depends on how
severely the median nerve is pinched, you may start waking up at night needing
to shake out your hands in order to return to sleep. Similarly, when driving,
you may need to change your hand position on the steering wheel due to the same
symptoms. If you are really stubborn (and many people are) and you STILL don’t
give in and come to us for treatment, then buttoning shirts, writing,
crocheting, knitting, playing piano, typing, etc., may all soon become
affected. The KEY in early detection is to NOT ignore the early symptoms. Come
in right away!
2. PREVENTION: There are many highly effective preventative tactics.
For example, recognize that certain conditions predispose us to CTS and
anything to avoid and/or properly manage these conditions will help. Some of
these conditions include diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, the use of birth control
pills, inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid or lupus), hypothyroidism, and
obesity. From an ergonomic approach, make sure your work station is set up
properly including (but not limited to) the position of the monitor, the
keyboard, the mouse, and your chair. Set up the area so the extremes of wrist
bending can be avoided. If a wrist brace doesn’t get in the way, it may help,
especially when there is a high incidence rate of CTS with your co-workers.
Most importantly, small mini-breaks and stretching can be highly effective
during the day. If you develop any symptoms, come in and see us RIGHT AWAY (see
#1 above).
3.
SELF-MANAGEMENT: Certainly
consider and implement the “prevention” approaches described above in #2.
Specific exercises for stretching, strengthening, and dexterity REALLY HELP! We
will teach you these, as it is important that you perform the correct exercises
accurately. Improper exercising will only add to the problems that lead to CTS
or, worsen it. Control your diet to avoid obesity, to control diabetes and the other
sometimes preventable conditions described above. Wearing a wrist splint,
especially at night can also really help. There are many types from Velcro
wrist wraps with or without thumb loops to cock-up splints, carpal lock
splints, and many more. The key as to whether to use a wrist splint or not
during work is largely dependant on the comfort of the splint during the work
day. Many occupations simply require too much wrist bending or movement for the
splint to be comfortably worn during the work day which ends up bruising the
forearm and/or hand due to the repetitive motion into the edges of the splint.
If or when daytime use of the splint isn’t tolerated, use it only at night to
prevent extreme wrist bending while sleeping. This usually REALLY helps. Bottom
line, remember the saying, “…an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
We realize you have a choice in who
you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your
trust in choosing our service for those needs.
If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be
honored to render our services.
The Executive Express Chiropractic "Patient of the Week" is Thomas Harwood.
Thomas presented to our clinic with symptoms of neck and lower back
pain. The pain was interfering with his active lifestyle and was affecting his work, home life. Thomas drives all over the SF
Bay Area for work and was having difficulty performing his heavy work load due to the back and neck pain.
Since his first treatment, Thomas has felt a significant amount of
improvement. He notices a decrease in neck and back pain levels, better range of motion, and overall functional
improvement. His adjustments are holding longer and longer and Thomas
is excited to be active again.
Thomas appreciates the personal treatment
plan he has received at Executive Express Chiropractic and has improved
greatly with prescribed home care. He has finally found a natural and
holistic approach to health and wellness.
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