Posts by Dr. David Basco

Patients who suffer from sciatica are at risk for developing muscle atrophy. A recent British study found that patients with sciatica had decreased muscle mass, also known as muscle atrophy.

Muscle atrophy occurs in people that have a restricted range of motion due to an injury or medical condition. Developing atrophy can further reduce muscle strength and mobility. In patients with low-back pain, weakened muscles can cause patients to compensate in other ways leading to further injury.

That’s why it’s important to seek treatment for sciatica before it worsens. Unlike medications, chiropractic treatment actually addresses the cause of sciatica – an injury or disc herniation pinching the sciatica nerve. Chiropractors adjust and realign the spine to reduce pressure on the sciatica nerve, and in doing so, significantly relieve the pain. Chiropractic treatment, along with strong core and back muscles, is a powerful way to recover and prevent sciatica.

Ploumis A, Michailidis N, Christodoulou P, Kalaitzoglou I, Gouvas G, Beris A. Ipsilateral atrophy of paraspinal and psoas muscle in unilateral back pain patients with monosegmental degenerative disc disease. British Journal of Radiology. November 2010.0: 58136533

Finding the time and motivation to exercise 30 minutes a day can be difficult. However, if you can devise ways to make your routine interesting and enjoyable, you may wind up looking forward to exercising. The Academy of Nutrition of Dietetics recommends: planning three 10-minute mini-workouts per day, exercising as a family, using household chores to burn extra calories, and taking a walk with a co-worker during lunch or breaks.
Academy of Nutrition of Dietetics, October 2015

A new study has found that individuals with chronic migraines exhibit altered neck muscle performance, take longer reach to maximum strength with some neck movements, and have higher co-activation of neck flexor muscles when bending forward at the neck. These findings add to the growing body of research that dysfunction in the neck may play some role in the presence, frequency, and intensity of migraine headaches.
Headache, September 2015

Millions of people are injured in car crashes each year in the US, and many of these “minor” collisions result in long-term symptoms and disability. In fact, research shows that a significant number of people have pain from a crash even 10-15 years later.  Chiropractic is one of the best ways to treat and heal from these types of injuries. Chiropractic works by restoring the normal function of your spine, allowing the tissues to heal and become pain-free.

Researchers have found that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake among schoolchildren by a minimum of one serving per week can improve their HDL (good) cholesterol. They also note that high consumption of these beverages was linked to a lower intake of fruits and vegetables among the same age group. Senior author Jennifer Sacheck comments, “Importantly, not only are most sugar-sweetened beverages high in sugar and devoid of nutritional value, but they are displacing other foods and beverages that offer high nutritional quality, which are critical for children’s growth and development, further exacerbating the potential harmful health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages.”
The Journal of Nutrition, September 2015

Even though it seems counterintuitive to place physical stress on the muscles of patients with muscle pain, resistance training appears to have a positive effect on reducing the severity of symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.
Arthritis Research and Therapy, September 2015

Among a sample of 365 nurses, researchers found 59.7% had experienced back pain during the previous year. Those who had at least one episode of back pain during the preceding twelve months were significantly more likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease characterized by fatigue that is not improved by bed rest. The research team notes this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between back pain and chronic fatigue syndrome in hospital employees. 
Agri, July 2015

Chiropractic care is the perfect way to keep your body functioning correctly, and it’s also perfect for those involved in sports and athletics. Thousands of professional athletes take advantage of the competitive edge they gain from regular chiropractic care. For example 27 of 30 Major League Baseball teams, the NFL, and almost every NBA team has an official, on-staff chiropractor to care for team members.  John Stockton of the Utah Jazz (retired) attributed his longevity to his chiropractor.  Olympic athletes began working with chiropractors officially in 1976, and the US team sent over 100 chiropractors to London for the 2012 Olympics.

The most effective self-help approach to LBP management is exercise. Studies show those who exercise regularly hurt less, see doctors less, have a higher quality of life, and just feel better! This dovetails with diet in keeping your weight in check as well. Think of hamstring stretches and core strengthening as important LBP managers – USE PROPER TECHNIQUE AND FORM; YOUR DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC CAN GUIDE YOU IN THIS PROCESS!

Hello Dr. Basco was just thinking of you and how you gave my wife new hope and a better quality of life thru the use of  your knowledge, chiropractic, skills and DRX9000  to help straighten out her back pain issue. I remember Exxxxx , back bent over walking with a cane in extreme pain ( 2005 ), I don’t know if you remember us after we came back from Hawaii we moved to Sacramento ,we would like to thank you and God Bless you and all your family.