CHIROCARELA.COM: Blog

Do you feel an ache on one side of your lower back? Does your hip feel stiff, or like it can’t support your weight? Lower back pain is unfortunately common and has a variety of causes. But at ChiroCareLA in Glendale, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff are equipped to not only diagnose patients’ problems and treat them noninvasively, but also to help them prevent relapses. Today we’re going to take a closer look at one of the most common causes of lower back pain: sacroiliac joint dysfunction.   Although the name sacroiliac joint dysfunction might sound complicated, it’s really just a description of the joint that is being affected. The sacrum is a structure made up of fused vertebrae that dangles beneath our lumbar spines and connects to the pelvis. The connecting part of the pelvis is called the ilium, of which there is one on each side, and it includes the bony crests at the top of the pelvis. The sacroiliac joint is a shock absorber, but it doesn’t normally have very much mobility. Th...

As the days get longer, we have more opportunities to get out in the sun. And in addition to boosting our moods and encouraging us to exercise, more sunlight is especially good for our bones. At ChiroCareLA in Glendale, we don’t just treat symptoms. We help our patients maintain holistic wellness, and that means educating the public about the connection between sunlight, Vitamin D, and preventing hair fractures in the vertebrae.   Our bones require calcium as their basic building material, and our muscles need calcium to function properly. However, an excessive amount of calcium can be harmful, so our bodies are only able to absorb it when they receive a chemical signal from Vitamin D. This vitamin is produced in our skin when it is exposed to sunlight, so we need sunlight in order to build our bones and muscles. Bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding, but without enough calcium, they can’t rebuild fast enough to keep up with their rate of resorption, and become brittle. Whe...

When you hear the phrase “rotator cuff tear,” you might feel frightened. And it’s true that fraying the connective tissues in the shoulder is never a good thing, and can result in permanent debilitation without intervention. But rotator cuff tears are not always sudden, and a person may spend a long time pushing through their discomfort, unaware that their situation is becoming more urgent. At ChiroCareLA in Glendale, we provide non-invasive, non-addictive treatments for shoulder pain and other musculoskeletal problems, but since gentle interventions are most effective when done early, we want our patients to understand why they should seek help for shoulder pain as soon as possible.   The shoulder is where the ball of the upper arm bone (the humerus), fits into a socket formed by the collarbone (clavicle) and shoulder blade (scapula). A group of tendons formed by four muscles strap the humerus in place, along with a seal of cartilage surrounding the socket joint. This joint is loose e...

As teenagers test their new strength, they have an opportunity to develop a life-long habit of healthy exercise. But they also need to learn where their limits are and how to build up their strength sustainably. Dr. Alajajian and his staff in Glendale, CA, run a wellness-oriented clinic and are happy to help all patients avoid overuse injuries, as well as recover as quickly and completely as possible. For teenage athletes, there are a few specific concerns that need to be addressed.   Most back injuries in teen athletes are soft tissue strains. They tend to happen when the athlete didn’t warm up properly, which could happen if they weren’t planning on activity or only exercise intermittently. They’ll usually heal well if the athlete refrains from activity for a few days while icing them, and then gradually builds up the intensity of their work-outs. But if they want safe pain relief and to guard against scarring, we can provide electric muscle stimulation such as Acoustic Wave Therapy...

Are you careful to keep good posture while you drive or sit at your desk? If you aren’t, you risk developing a type of deformity chiropractors refer to as Upper Crossed Syndrome. The good news is that Upper Crossed Syndrome is almost always reversible, but the bad news is that it’s often a source of pain in the jaw, neck, shoulders, and upper back. Dr Alajajian and his staff in Glendale, CA, utilize a variety of complementary treatments to help patients recover from the effects of bad posture. Let’s take a close look at Upper Crossed Syndrome and how non-invasive treatments can help.   In a person with Upper Crossed Syndrome, some of the muscles in their upper body have become overactive and tight, while others that are underused have become weak. If you were to imagine a person with Upper Crossed Syndrome as seen from their side, their overactive shoulder and chest muscles would form one diagonal line, and their underactive neck and upper back muscles would form an intersecting diago...

Do you suffer from pain, weakness, or stiffness in one of your hips? If so, don’t think that’s just a natural consequence of aging or healthy activity. Dr. Alajajian and his staff in Glendale, CA, believe everyone is entitled to a life free from pain. We practice holistic, non-invasive therapies to help our patients maintain wellness. As experts in the musculoskeletal system, we’re particularly concerned with hip pain and the possibility that a patient may be suffering from a hip labral tear.   A labrum is a ring of cartilage around a ball-and-socket joint. The ones on the hips keep the femurs and pelvis aligned and allow the legs to rotate completely and smoothly. But when a labrum tears, the leg may catch or make clicking sounds when it moves, and a patient may feel a deep, constant ache that is especially bad when they attempt to stand up or walk on stairs. Hip labral tears can develop because of an acute injury, or they may be caused by repeated stress over a long period of time. ...

Herniated discs are extremely common and they don’t just cause soreness in the back; they can also compress nerves headed elsewhere in the body. Dr. Alajajian and his staff in Glendale, CA, provide patients with expert holistic treatment for symptoms and work to put the body in the best position to heal itself. But preventive care is also one of our priorities, so we want our patients to know more about disc degeneration.   The spinal discs are the shock absorbers in between the main bodies of articulated vertebrae. They are made up of a gel center, the nucleus pulposus, and a fibrous outer ring, the annulus fibrosus. Degenerative disc disease is different from a disc being injured by an acute injury, although it puts discs at greater risk of being damaged by a sudden blow. It is unclear why the discs lose water as people age, but as their shape changes, they tend to bulge outward and become less springy. When the annulus fibrosus ruptures, it releases inflammatory proteins, and the sw...

Located in Glendale, CA, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff offer cryotherapy, the latest revolutionary treatment to relieve all your chronic pain conditions. To learn more if cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy is the best treatment for you, visit ChiroCareLA.com today! What is Cryotherapy? Cryotherapy is a treatment that exposes the body to freezing temperatures. The therapy uses liquid nitrogen to create an extremely cold atmosphere for the body. A popular cryotherapy treatment is full-body cryotherapy which involves submerging the whole body in a cold chamber. Other treatments involve exposing only parts of the body that need treatment which typically is the arms, legs, feet, and hands.  Benefits There are a number of benefits of using cryotherapy to treat chronic pain. Instead of medications or surgery, cryotherapy is a non-invasive method to heal your body. The extremely cold temperatures of cryotherapy trigger blood from the skin, muscles, and joints towards the body’s core. ...

Whether it’s being able to see no matter where you are in a crowd or having a natural advantage in sports, tall people enjoy many advantages simply because of their physical stature. But according to the American Journal of Epidemiology , a towering height is also a disadvantage with tall people more likely to experience health issues like back and neck pain. Located in Glendale, CA Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff are passionate about treating patients of all shapes and sizes, including those who are tall. Here are three reasons why tall people may need chiropractic care and how we can help today! More Injury Prone Tall people are more likely to face serious injuries from everyday accidents and falls than the average person. With longer limbs and bodies, there’s more distance to the ground when a taller individual falls. This is why athletes who are lankier suffer from hip injuries and have a longer recovery time in contrast to the shorter athletes.  Spinal Injuries The taller you are...

Spending long hours in front of the screen? The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, logging into meetings from Zoom instead of the office due to stay-at-home orders. But spending all day on the computer has detrimental effects on your spine health. That’s why Located in Glendale, CA Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff provide expert care and tips for patients who use the computer regularly for their work-related tasks. Here are four tips for computer users. Proper Posture Staring at your computer places immense strain on your neck and back. Don’t hunch your back or move your face closer to the screen. Instead, keep your body including your neck and back in a neutral position. Make sure your feet are flat on the ground with elbows remaining on your sides. Take Breaks Frequent breaks to stretch and move around are beneficial for lessening the strain that comes from sitting in front of your laptop for long hours. Your Glendale, CA chiropractor recommends 15 minutes for a stretc...

When the sciatic nerve is pinched, patients experience pain in their lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs. Sciatica is painful, but you don’t have to suffer in agony your whole life. At ChiroCareLA.com, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff use non-invasive treatments to relieve pain, allowing patients to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Contact our office in Glendale, CA to learn more! What Causes Sciatica? The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. Spanning from your lower back and down to your hips, buttocks, and two legs, sciatica usually starts because of a herniated disk in the lower spine. This herniation causes the disk to place pressure on the nerves, including the sciatic nerve. Most sciatica patients range from 30-50 years old. While rare, children and teens are prone to sciatica too.  Symptoms One of the main symptoms of sciatica is pain. Pain levels vary and radiate from different parts of the lower back. Sometimes the pain consists of electric-like shots, mild ache...

Health is wealth, as the popular saying goes. That’s why taking care of your body including your spine is important because it allows you to live longer and keeps dangerous diseases away. At ChiroCareLA.com, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff are passionate about helping patients achieve healthy spines, the key to lifelong wellness. Here are three tips to keep your spine healthy. If you love these tips, contact our office in Glendale, CA to learn more!  Exercise and Diet Eating healthy and staying fit should be a no-brainer tip for better spinal health. If you want to take the extra step for spinal health, Dr. Alajajian and his staff will work with you to create a diet and exercise plan that fits your preferences and life. Good habits like exercise and healthy eating set you up for a strong and robust spine! Correct Posture Bad posture equals a host of issues for your spine. Slouched and hunched stances not only strain your spine but also cause back and neck pain.  One of the best things...

According to Medscape, about 8.3 million people in the United States suffer from gout, and this rate is only growing. A debilitating form of arthritis, gout interferes with a fulfilling life. But at ChiroCareLA.com, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his expert staff are here to help manage this pain. Here are four different types of treatment we offer at our Glendale, CA office to empower gout patients! What is Gout? Gout develops from increased levels of uric acid in the body. When your kidney produces too much or not enough uric acid, uric acid crystals build up in your joints, producing hard needle-like shards in the body. This is why gout is characterized by intense pain and inflammation.  Treatment Options Massage Therapy Dr. Alajajian and his staff provide a variety of massage therapies at their Glendale, CA location. Designed to alleviate the inflammation caused by gout and stimulate blood circulation in the joints, massage therapy is a beneficial treatment plan to manage gout and other fo...

With the coronavirus pandemic spanning the entire globe, building your immune system is more important now than ever. At ChiroCareLA.com, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff expertly treat weakened immune systems without drugs or surgery, promoting wellness and long-lasting health for patients at our Glendale, CA office today. Spinal Adjustments Spinal misalignment or subluxation refers to when your spine or another vertebrae is misaligned or moved from its original position. This misalignment can impair the brain’s communication with the body’s neural pathways. Because everything is connected in the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system, a subluxation can lower your immunity. Dr. Alajajian and his staff will adjust your spine using a variety of gentle spinal manipulations designed to relieve the pressure of a misaligned spine.  Diet At our Glendale, CA clinic, we aim to provide a holistic treatment plan that leaves our patients feeling better th...

Have you been eager to get back to golf as society re-opens? At ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale, we’re certainly glad to see our patients exercising and getting bone-strengthening Vitamin D from sunlight while maintaining a safe physical distance. But we also advise everyone to increase their activity at a slow, steady pace. Golf is a sport that takes a heavier toll on the lower back than most, so we wanted to say a bit about the risks and how we can treat overuse injuries.   A golf swing forces the spine to rotate quickly at a tilted angle, which puts it under a great deal of strain. The vertebrae of the lumbar region don’t have as much anchoring as other parts of the spine to prevent rotation, so the connective tissues they do have are more vulnerable. Besides being at risk for pulling a muscle, older athletes may have dehydrated spinal discs, which could become herniated if subjected to enough force. Younger golfers are at greater risk for spondylolisthesis, in which a vertebra slides ...

If you’ve ever had pain in your leg, you may have tried adjusting your posture in a way that also put strain on your lower back. But the connections between our legs and the lumbar region go deeper than that. ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale offers a variety of complementary therapies for reducing pain in a holistic, safe manner, so to help our patients understand why we use them, we wanted to take some time to discuss some of the ways in which the back and legs are connected.   The nerves that lead to our legs emerge from the spinal cord in the lower back. They exit the lumbar vertebrae through small holes called foramina and weave through the muscles and bones of the pelvis. Compression in these nerves could cause a shooting pain, tingling, or numbness down the leg, which are the symptoms of sciatica, but the pressure causing the pinch could have several origins. Swelling from a dislocated facet joint or herniated disc, or a back muscle stretching over a spinal spur, could compress nerves...

Good posture depends on a solid base. If there’s a problem in the foot, a person may throw off their whole musculoskeletal alignment trying to compensate for it. At ChiroCareLA.com, our chiropractic practitioners offer a variety of soft tissue treatments for plantar fasciitis, which is swelling in the connective tissue at the bottom of the foot. But sometimes, foot pain has a simpler explanation, which is why we want to talk about avoiding foot cramps.   Foot cramps occur when the muscles in the feet tighten suddenly, usually while a person is lying down. They often occur when the muscle is fatigued from overuse or getting inadequate nutrition. While staying hydrated and getting plenty of potassium are important for preventing muscle cramps, if the foot has inadequate blood supply, necessary nutrients may not be reaching it. A patient may be able to correct this by wearing shoes that aren’t as tight and that don’t force their foot forward.   In the moment a cramp occurs, a person may b...

As experts in musculoskeletal care, we at ChiroCareLA.com offer complementary, non-addictive, fast-acting treatments for stingers and other shoulder pain. You may be wondering what chiropractic has to do with the shoulder. The field of chiropractic is concerned with every part of the body, and with shoulder pain, it is worth examining whether the problem is related to nerves in the neck.   Several nerves emerge from the spinal cord in the neck and branch out to the upper body. The ones going to the arm bundle together in the shoulder in a structure called the brachial plexus. When a person’s head is pushed away from their shoulder and their shoulder is pushed down, as often happens in contact sports, the brachial plexus is briefly pinched. This would cause a shooting pain along the shoulder and arm, which is what is called a stinger. Usually, stingers go away as quickly as they came. But if a person is subjected to repeated blows, or their brachial plexus is compressed by swelling, the...

Have you recently been in a motor vehicle accident or otherwise had your head snapped back and forth? Don’t delay seeking a clinical examination. The symptoms of whiplash don’t always appear immediately, but they can be painful and debilitating when not treated early. At ChiroCareLA.com, we offer a variety of safe therapies that account for the individual needs of each patient, designed to not only alleviate symptoms, but aid the healing process.   Whiplash is sometimes referred to as Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration Syndrome or CAD, in reference to how it develops in the neck bones or “cervical spine.” When a person’s head is snapped back and forth, they may develop microtears in their neck tissues and the connecting tissue in their head and shoulders. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including soreness, shooting pain, instability, and swelling. The ligaments of the neck may be stretched, and swelling may compress the nerves exiting the cervical spine and traveling to the ...

Bursae are a crucial part of the musculoskeletal system. These small sacs of fluid provide the lubrication that allows our tendons to glide easily. But bursae can become inflamed, and when they do, a person is likely to experience pain or dysfunction in nearby tissues. At ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale, we’ll work with patients suffering from bursitis to return them to activity as quickly as possible, while putting them in the best position to maintain their health in the future. This week, we’re taking a closer look at how bursitis relates to pain in the hips, specifically.   There are hundreds of bursae throughout the body, including some large ones on the front of the pelvis. But when a person experiences bursitis-related hip pain, the problem is most likely related to a trochanteric bursa. These bursae, one on each side, are located in a notch on the outward-facing side of the top of the femur. A connective tissue called the iliotibial band stretches from the hip to the knee over the ...