Posts by Dr. David Basco
Preserving the Spinal Health of Young Athletes in Alameda
Our spines were all young once upon a time…
When it comes to spinal health, our youth don’t know how good they have it! Because the structures and muscles of our spines are naturally resilient at a young age, we rarely put thought into taking extra-special care of this pinnacle of health. One further advantage of being young is that you are more active across the board than all other age groups. In general, higher levels of activity bode well for the health of your spine. However, because young people are more active than other age demographics, they also face a unique set of risk factors for back pain. Back pain risk factors for young athletes include:
- Too much physical activity
- Poor training techniques
- Poor posture while performing physically demanding movements
- Traumatic injuries
- Overuse injuries
And these risks increase depending on the sport you play; football and other high-impact sports contribute to horrific spinal injuries; gymnastics incorporates physically demanding disciplines which can affect the spine negatively.
Remaining Active to Defeat Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is age-related muscle loss
It is going to happen to all of us; at some point in our 30s we begin to slowly, but steadily lose muscle mass. As we approach seniority between the ages of 65-75, this muscle loss accelerates. Losing muscle mass is a leading contributor to frailty and loss of independence in old age. It makes us weaker and less able; it also increases our vulnerability to injury from even simple motions. From a chiropractor’s perspective, sarcopenia is doubly alarming because of its effect on the spine.
Sciatic Nerve Pain in Alameda
Sciatica in the Bay Area
Sciatica is a commonly-experienced condition that affects people in a variety ways. The pain can be mild to severe and frequency ranges from intermittent to chronic and constant. But there are several hallmarks of sciatica that leave a mark on your quality of life, including:
- Feelings of burning, tingling numbness
- Radiating pain into the extremities
- Limited range of motion
Your Back Pain Treatment Should Be as Unique as Your Spine
Your spine is completely unique- every motion and action in your life has made it that way
But many of our most common motions and actions lead our spines down the road toward nonspecific back pain. It is part of the reality of growing old- our bodies become less maleable and more stiff; our muscle mass begins to wither away and spinal instability sets in; posture becomes more difficult to maintain and the problems compound upon themselves. Back pain is one of the leading detriments to well-being; it simply makes life harder. At your Bay Area Spine Care Office, we are dedicated to providing people with the latest, multi-disciplinary approaches to treating back pain with the objectives of:
- Helping you live better in the here and now
- Protecting the longevity of your spine to make old age easier
- Preventing back pain through proactive measures
- Rehabilitating acute injuries and easing the pain of chronic injuries
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression with the DRX9000
Spinal decompression is pressure relief for your spine
Our spines are always under pressure- you simply can’t escape the downward force of gravity. But as we grow older, our spines become less resistant to the omnipresence of compression and we start to feel its effects more acutely- generalized back pain, sciatica, herniated discs and degnerative spinal conditions are all linked to the effects of spinal compression. One of the best responses we have for addressing spinal compression is providing your back with the opposite sensation: decompression. At Basco Chiropractic, we utilize the DRX9000 to provide effective, non-invasive relief of pressure to the anatomical structures of your spine.
Knowledge is Spinal Health: Getting to Know the Spinal Motion Segment
Good spinal health begins with having all the facts in hand: have you heard of spinal motion segments?
Spinal motion segments have two main functions: facilitating movement of the upper body and stabilizing the spine in order to prevent injury from excessive movement. They consist of: 2 vertebrae, 2 facet joints, 1 intervertebral disc and a whole network of supportive soft tissue. The vertebrae, intervertebral disc and facet joints form the articular triad; these are the structures that allow for minute articulation between vertebrae and thus, when all the spinal motion segments are put together, for the overall articulation of the spine and upper body.
Is your Workplace Putting Your Spine at Risk?
Don’t let ergonomic injuries become your workplace reality
Bad ergonomics are a chiropractor’s worst nightmare. And unfortunately, they are for more common than good ergonomics in most workplace settings. The fact is, few employers care enough, or can invest enough, in the ergonomics of the office to truly benefit their employees. That means it is up to you, the worker, to take the onus upon yourself and ensure that your workplace is ergonomically supportive. There is a reason why back pain is the number one complaint that causes missed work in the blue-collar professions, and it’s because you are sitting for longer than you are designed too with poor ergonomics.
Chiropractic’s Role in Preventive Medicine
Why is preventive medicine important?
Preventive medicine is the idea that we take measures to prevent disease and dysfunction rather than treating them reactively. Western medicine places a much larger premium on treating disease than it does on preventing disease, which doesn’t make a lot of sense. At Basco Chiropractic, we believe in living a healthier life in the here and now, and taking proactive steps to keep ourselves resilient against disease and dysfunction.
Effecting Spinal Decompression on Your Own Time
Spinal decompression isn’t limited to the chiropractor’s office
You should always check with a health professional before starting any new exercise regimen, especially one to account for lower back pain, to ensure that your body will not suffer further injury or dysfunction by new movements. Once you get the go ahead however, it is worth taking a proactive approach to your back pain by incorporating spinal decompression movements into your daily routine.
A Spine Under Pressure calls for Decompression Therapy
From the word go, our spines are put under the ever-present downward force of gravity
For the first 20 years of life, most people enjoy a spine that is resilient to the compression of daily life- whether it be from gravity, poor posture, or something like the trauma imparted by sports. But how many of us took this golden age of spinal resilience for granted? As we move on from 20, compressive forces start to accumulate and cause damage- unless we do something about them! Growing older necessitates being more proactive about our spinal health and at Bay Area Spine Care Office, we are your resource for preventing and treating all things compression related.