Posts

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis San Diego

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis | San Diego

/in , /by

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis | San Diego

Plantar fasciitis is a frustrating condition that can linger for weeks, months, or even years. It is characterized by pain on the bottom of the heel and even into the arch of the foot. Usually the symptoms are worse when you take your first few steps out of bed. As you move around, symptoms lessen but do not go away. Treatment  is multifactorial, meaning several different approaches usually help fix the issue.

In our sports injury clinic in Mission Valley, San Diego we primarily use Active Release Technique, and Graston Technique treatment for plantar fasciitis. These treatments combined with treatment for plantar fasciitis at home, we see excellent outcomes.

Common Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

There are many causative factors for developing plantar fasciitis. Successful treatment of plantar fasciitis involves discovering the root cause of the injury. Here are the main factors that lead to plantar fasciitis:

  • Standing and walking on hard surfaces for long periods of time
  • Over training, especially with running
  • Excessive forceful jumping or pushing (basketball, football)
  • Ill fitting footwear or shoes without proper support
  • Excessive body weight
  • Congenital foot and lower extremity issues (flat arches, tibial torsion)

    Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis San Diego

 Conservative Treatment in San Diego

At our Mission Valley office, we have treated countless plantar fasciitis cases. Watch the video below to get a full understanding of how we treat plantar fasciitis.

After treatment we work with each and every patient to develop custom exercise programs for patients to perform at home. If a patient is diligent with their home care, patients often see great results.

Check out our blog post Top 7 Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis at Home. Usually we recommend a combination of those 7 recommendations to help with continued improvement.

If you have been experiencing heel pain and looking to get it resolved, please do not hesitate to schedule. Our  Sports Chiropractors are trained to properly diagnose plantar fasciitis and other conditions that may be affecting the heel. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley near Normal Heights, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, and Hillcrest.

Chiropractic Treatment for headaches

Chiropractic Care for Headaches

/in , /by

Chiropractic Care for Headaches | San Diego Chiropractic

Summary

  • Chiropractors are trained to diagnose the type of headache you are experiencing
  • They are trained in manual therapies designed to treat muscles and joints that are causing or worsening the headaches
  • They will work with you to identify reasons to why the muscles and joints are causing headache symptoms
  • If there is a need for a referral, chiropractors can make sure you are sent to the right physician
  • Our chiropractic office for treating headaches is located near La Mesa, Mission Gorge, Kensington, Serra Mesa, Bay Park, and Clairemont Mesa
  • The types of headaches we treat are migraines, tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, posture related headaches, trigger point referral headaches

Does Chiropractic Care Help Headaches?

Does chiropractic care help headaches? Chiropractic care can help reduce and even fully eliminate headache symptoms. Many headaches are due to muscle imbalances, and/or joint injury to the upper back, neck, and head region.

What Are Common Causes of Headaches?

Headaches are often experienced after trauma to the head and neck. They can also begin the develop over time as a result of poor posture or repetitive strain (same movements during sport, sitting at a desk 40 hours a week). As repetitive stress continues, the muscles and joints become irritated and start referring pain to the head region.

Pain referral patterns of muscles?

Chiropractic Care treats headaches

Upper Trapezius Trigger Point Referral

Acutely or chronically strained muscles can develop trigger points. Trigger points are hyper irritable fibers within a muscle unit that can cause local and referred pain. An active trigger point, actively causes pain. Example: pain in the muscles at the base of the skull with headache symptoms at eyeball area.

In this example, the muscle itself is sore and painful and is referring pain to the eyeball/forehead area. Another example is the upper trapezius muscle which connects the top of the shoulder to the neck. When that muscle develops a trigger point (often due to postural strain), headache symptoms can begin from the neck area up the side of the head, around the ear and to the temples. It looks like a question mark and headache symptoms can be felt anywhere along that path.

Ever tried rubbing your temples to get your headache to go away? Didn’t work? Try addressing the upper trapezius muscle which refers pain to the temples!

Pain Referral Patterns of the Joints

An inflamed and painful joint in the neck may also refer pain to various points of the neck, upper back, and head. Joints are normally injured through whiplash type injuries or quick movements without proper stabilization. Degenerative joints can also be a source of headache symptoms. As the joints wear down from past trauma and age, the degenerative joints compress the local tissues which then can refer pain.

There are plenty of referral patterns that result in headache symptoms. A chiropractor will evaluate the muscles and joints of the neck, shoulder, and upper back to identify the likely culprits. A proper referral will be made if the presenting symptoms are found to be outside of the musculoskeletal system.

Chiropractic Care for Common Headache Symptoms

In our San Diego based chiropractic office, we use a handful of therapies to treat common headache symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments or joint mobilization to the neck and upper back help restore motion to stiff, achy joints and relax local muscle tissues. Active Release Technique, and Graston Technique break down trigger points and tight muscles to eliminate muscular causes of headaches. Home exercises are then given to help combat headache symptoms and decrease the likelihood of the headaches returning.

Here is an example of how we treat a patient with neck and headache symptoms.

Why do the joints and muscles keep causing pain after treatment?

Many chiropractors, physical therapists, and other physical rehabilitation specialists claim they treat the “root cause” of your conditions. Many will treat the muscles and joints that cause the headaches as the “root cause”. Yes, that is treating what is causing the symptoms, but what is causing those muscles and joints to become irritated? Proper chiropractic care for headaches will also look at the entire picture. Here are a few likely causes for recurring headaches:

  • Poor Posture
  • Poor movement mechanics
  • Diet
  • Hydration
  • Stress
  • Sleep

Working working those categories, starting the most likely first, will identify the true cause of the headaches and eliminate them from returning!

Get Your Headaches Treated Today!

Our San Diego chiropractic team is trained to evaluate and treat your headaches. We are confident our chiropractic care for headaches will help reduce and even eliminate the frequency, intensity, and duration of the headaches you are experiencing. We are conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego near Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Normal Heights, and Hillcrest! Call or schedule online today!

Treat Plantar Fasciitis at home

Top 7 Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis at Home

/in , /by

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We may earn an affiliate commission if you click on a link and purchase an item we recommend. This doesn’t add any additional cost to you, but helps support our business.

Top 7 Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis at Home

Plantar Fasciitis can be a frustrating condition to treat. It can take weeks, months, or even years to fully resolve. Our sports injury clinic in Mission Valley, San Diego specializes in treating chronic injuries, plantar fasciitis included. Check out our other blog post on how we treat plantar fasciitis in our office Plantar Fasciitis: Resolving Foot Pain with Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston. Along with treatment, here are the top 7 ways to treat plantar fasciitis at home.

Trigger Point Release Ball

Using a trigger point release ball and roller to help massage tight muscles of the foot and calf can help ease the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. We recommend the TriggerPoint Foundation Starter Kit  for self massage of the lower legs and feet. It has a durable and firm roller to address the calves and trigger point balls to use on specific points of the calves and bottom of the feet. Using them daily will help improve the quality of the tissues and help treat plantar fasciitis at home.

Calf Stretcher

If you have tight calves, and many of us do, daily stretching of the lower leg will help improve function of the foot and ankle. We recommend a dedicated Calf Stretcher & Foot Rocker  it allows for a really good stretch to the lower leg and foot.  Using it to stretch multiple times throughout the day will help keep the muscles and tendons loose.

YogaToes

Stretching the toes out where the muscles, tendons, and fascia insert can help ease the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. We like YogaToes because they are thick, strong, and durable. Other devices we have found to break easy, or do not offer a good enough stretch in most cases. Where YogaToes when sitting at home, move your toes in a stretched position. They can be very valuable to treat plantar fasciitis at home especially if you have other signs of toe deformity such as bunions.

Heel Cups

One of the ways to ease the symptoms of plantar fasciitis is to stay off of your feet when it hurts. For most people, that is nearly impossible! Tuli’s Heavy Duty Gel Heel Cups are designed to placed in you shoes and absorb shock transmitted to the heel from walking and standing. We also like heel cups as they squeeze your heel together from the sides. This reinforces the heels fat pad to help bolster your natural heel cushion.

Night Splint

Classic plantar Fasciitis symptoms include sharp, dagger like pain in the bottom of the heel. These symptoms are worse during the first steps out of bed in the morning. This is due to the tissues tightening up over night and then getting rapidly/forcefully stretched when you stand up and put weight on the plantar fascia. A Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint helps keep the fascia and lower leg muscles in a stretched position over night to reduce the pain in the morning. It can be highly effective to treat plantar fasciitis at home.

The one complaint we hear from patients is that it is difficult to sleep through the night with it on as it is bulky and awkward. If sleeping is a challenge, then where the brace when you are stationary for extended periods of time to maintain flexibility to the fascia. The next item on the list is a similar device but tends to offer a bit more comfort for sleeping.

Strassburg Sock

The Strassburg Sock is another device to be used when sleeping to help maintain flexibility to the foot and lower leg muscles. One reason we like it better than a splint is that it pulls the toes back to get a better stretch. The two complaints we hear are difficult to sleep with and the sock can compress the calf too much. If sleeping with the sock is too difficult, wear it when you are stationary for long periods of time.

Arch Support

The final recommendation is arch support to help support the plantar fascia. In cases of low arches, extra support to the arch and heel can help ease the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. We recommend Superfeet GREEN Full Length Insole for a couple of reasons. If the goal is arch support, you need something firm enough to actually support the arch. Too many insoles are too soft and do not offer any support whatsoever. Superfeet insoles are made form hard plastic or carbon (depending on models). They support the arch sufficiently. Another reason we prefer Superfeet, is that they have deep heel cups in the insole. This can help bolster the padding around the heel to offer symptom relief.

These are the top 7 ways to treat plantar fasciitis at home. Please keep in mind that these are general recommendations. We always recommend getting a proper evaluation by a health care provider. If you are in San Diego, our injury treatment clinic is conveniently located in Mission Valley. We are located near Hillcrest, Normal Heights, University Heights, North Park, South Park, and Downtown. Our Sports Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, manage, and treat plantar fasciitis. We also offer Acupuncture, Personal Training, and Massage. Please schedule using our online scheduling application or call our office at 619-818-4306 today!

Laptop ergonomics

Laptop Ergonomics | Recommendations

/in , /by

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We may earn an affiliate commission if you click on a link and purchase an item we recommend. This doesn’t add any additional cost to you, but helps support our business.

Laptop Ergonomics: General Recommendations

Proper laptop ergonomics is very important for musculoskeletal health. We live a rapidly progressing digital age. More and more jobs are now performed part or full time remotely. Many people find themselves working from a number of different places and therefore primarily use a laptop.  Laptops are versatile and convenient; they also cause a high amount of physical strain on the body. It is very important to practice proper laptop ergonomics.

Laptops do not put a person’s body into a proper position. Due to the attached key board, small screen, and low height, most users find themselves with poor posture through their backs, neck, shoulders, and arms. At 40 to 80 hours per week, this will result in back, neck, shoulder, head, arm and wrist injury sooner or later. This article will discuss helpful recommendations for proper laptop ergonomics.

Laptop Stand

Goal: Raise laptop screen so eye level is in the upper half of screen when sitting/standing with upright posture.

Reason: Reduce Strain to upper back, shoulders, neck and head by promoting proper posture while working.

Equipment Recommendation: Adjustable Laptop Stand
One the most important elements for proper laptop ergonomics is to raise the laptop higher on the work surface. To accomplish this, use a laptop stand. We recommend a laptop stand that is foldable, light, and is adjustable to accommodate sitting and standing posture. The Adjustable Laptop Stand by Rhino Flex is a stand we recommend for patients who work at least part time from home.

We like this laptop stand for many different reasons. First, it is light and portable so it can be used on the go. You can set it up at home, coffee shops, office, you name it. Second, you can set it up to support a seated position and a standing position. For proper laptop ergonomics, having this ability is key to reduce strain to the body throughout the day. Finally, it has an adjustable leg system with measurements so you can quickly set it up and break it down between travel, seated, and standing positions; just remember the numbers!

Keyboard and Mouse

Goal: Keep arms closer to waist level and a slight downward bend at the elbow when screen is elevated.

Reason: Decrease strain to wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

Equipment: Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse Combo
Most attached keyboards and mouse pads are again, terrible ergonomically. They often force your arms to work toward mid line and the mousing options (pad, stick, ball) are not as easy to use as a traditional mouse. Using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo via a USB receiver on your laptop is the best way to go.

We recommend the Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse Combo particularly when combined with a laptop stand. If you only use a laptop stand, then you will be forced to type like a T-Rex as the keyboard will be in front of your chest! This will eventually create issues with your arms, and posture. The mouse is a nice add on as the laptop mouse pads are not as efficient to use. Finally, having both the keyboard and mouse wireless is nice for on the go type of work and will help with proper positioning for your body.

Standing Mat

Goal: Improve cushioning on standing surface while offering different positions to stand in.

Reason: Decrease forces traveling up body from standing.

Equipment: Standing Desk Anti-Fatigue Mat

The last item that is recommended for proper laptop ergonomics is an anti-fatigue mat. Standing on firm surfaces for extended periods of time can cause discomfort to the main weight bearing joints of the body. We recommend a standing desk anti-fatigue mat to help disperse the forces traveling up the body. This particular mat works well as it also offers several different shapes, angles to stand on to further vary your position throughout the workday.

An important reminder for standing desks, vary your standing and seated position throughout the day! Many people transition to a standing desk and then stand all day long in the same position. Try different foot positions when standing, and work seated periodically throughout the day. Variety is key for proper laptop ergonomics.

Laptop Ergonomics: Conclusion

The combination of the above recommendations along with frequent mini breaks during the workday can help a lot with overall strain to the body. It is important to be aware of these fixes early on in your career to keep your body in the best shape possible. If you are suffering from posture related neck, back, head, and shoulder pain, we are happy to help! Our San Diego Chiropractors are conveniently located in Mission Valley. We are located near Downtown, Point Loma, Hillcrest, North Park, South Park, Golden Hill, and La Mesa. Our clinic also offers acupuncture, massage, and personally training. We believe in a well rounded approach to help a patient take the proper steps to optimal health. Schedule online or call our office at 619-818-4306.

Low Back Pain Exercise San Diego

Exercise to Combat Low back Pain in San Diego

/in , /by

Low back pain is a painful, frustrating, and sometimes disabling condition. There are many different causes of low back pain (Different Types of Low Back Pain) but there are similar characteristics among back pain conditions that can be addressed to help address it. Common risk factors that are associated with low back pain are: Tall stature, obesity, weak core musculature, muscle imbalances, prior back injury, family members with low back pain, improper lifting or exercises mechanics. In our chiropractic office in Mission Valley, San Diego, near Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Hillcrest, and North Park, we see many types of low back pain. Majority of the time we need to address the functionality of the core. Many patients who are experiencing low back pain often carry their low backs in a disengaged position which causes hyperextension and irritation of the joints of the low back. This hyperextended position is often due to inhibition (inability to control) of the core musculature. By addressing this inhibition, patients begin to learn proper “lumbopelvic” control and posture, meaning they are able to hold their back in a stable position during their daily activities. The following low back exercise for low back pain, called the dead bug, is an excellent drill to utilize to teach patients how to use their deeper core musculature which is important in getting patients out of low back pain. The more control that is developed in these muscles, the more stable the back will be and less prone to causing pain.

“Dead Bug” Core Exercise

Start by laying on the ground with the legs bent 90 degrees at the knee and above the hip. Now, there should be an arch in the lower back or in other words, some space between the ground and the low back. Press the low back in towards the ground; this engages the deep abdominal and spinal core muscles. If you have pain when pressing down, try rolling up a towel about 1″ thick and place that under the low back for support. Hold the core engaged and slowly straighten one leg toward the ground about 6″ from the ground and back; repeat on the other leg. It is important to keep the back pressed toward the ground to develop the lower abdominal strength. Repeat this exercise, 3 x 10 nice and slow! If you can’t make it to 10 before you fatigue and the back arches, then stop on whatever rep it is that you maintain proper back position. Check out the video below for more details for the “dead bug” exercise.


If you are having low back pain, please get a full evaluation before attempting any new exercise routine. Back pain is complex and not all exercises work for every type of low back pain. Get a proper diagnosis with one of our sports chiropractors today. We are conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego. We are near the neighborhoods of La Jolla, UTC, Poway, Scripps Ranch, and Normal Heights. We are experienced in treating all types of low back pain!

San Diego Marathon Running

Get Ready for the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

/in , /by

The San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon is coming up! You are likely finishing your build phases of training and are headed into a much needed taper to help rebuild your body before the big day. Now that training volume has decreased, you have more time to address your body to get it into tip top shape before race day. Beyond foam rolling, stretching, and mobility work, the following are services that can help decrease tightness, soreness, aches, and pains before your big day. Our office accepts most major insurances and offers affordable cash rates. Our San Diego Chiropractors treat runners and running injuries on a daily basis using the following techniques:

Active Release Technique– Our staff is trained in Active Release Technique which is a state of the art soft tissue injury management system. Our chiropractors utilize ART to help reduce tightness and soreness at isolated parts of the body. For example, many runners feel tight in their hips and quadriceps following long runs. One or two ART sessions before the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon can help rid the muscles of that tightness.

Active Release Technique Marathon Running San Diego

Graston Technique– While training for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, if any injury is long standing, particularly in a tendon, Graston is excellent to get ample blood supply to that area. Our San Diego Chiropractor will sometimes have runners perform movements while using the Graston tools to help facilitate movement between the fascia and muscles. Bascially, your muscles move better so you do not feel tight and sore before your race!

graston technique in san diego Marathon running

Spinal Manipulation– If your back is stiff and lacks proper range of motion, spinal adjustments may be the right treatment for you. Spinal manipulation is an excellent treatment to help restore proper joint mobility. Spine stiffness is a common complaint in runners especially when training for a marathon due to the long hours of training and consistent bouncing motion into the spine.

Massage Therapy– Our massage therapist is an avid runner and endurance athlete. If you have numerous areas of tightness and soreness, schedule a massage to have a nice once over to all of those complaints.

Head into your race feeling as healthy as you can and you will see great results. After the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, we recommend our runners to receive treatment about once every 4 weeks to help reduce tightness in the common running muscles and joints. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego near the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon course!

Good luck in the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon!

Hip pain running doctor San Diego

Sciatica- Conservative Management San Diego

/in , /by

Sciatica is a term that encompasses any condition that that can effect the sciatic nerve. Low back and hip injuries are the most common types of injuries that produce sciatica or sciatic symptoms. Less commonly, peripheral entrapment of the nerve around the hamstrings, and lower leg muscles cause sciatica symptoms in the back of the leg. Our San Diego chiropractor at Peak Form Health Center has treated countless conditions that cause sciatica symptoms.

Piriformis Syndrome Sciatica

What causes Sciatic Symptoms?

The sciatic nerve is made up of many different nerve roots from the low back and sacrum (tail bone). The nerve roots are extensions from the spinal cord that exit the spine to form peripheral nerves (ex: sciatic nerve is a peripheral nerve). If you have a back injury like a disc bulge, the disc bulge can press on the exiting nerve root which causes nerve irritation. Nerve irritation symptoms can cause numbness, tingling, hot/cold sensations, shooting pain, loss of sensation, and/or loss of function to the muscles that nerve innervates. Those same symptoms are what are described as “sciatica” but typically patients refer to sharp shooting pain as sciatica. Other conditions that can cause sciatica are:

  • Low back injury- See our post on types of low back pain here: Different Types of Low Back Pain
  • Disc bulge
  • Disc herniation
  • Piriformis syndrome– see our thorough blog post on piriformis syndrome here: Piriformis Syndrome: Overview and Causes Piriformis Syndrome Part II- Evaluation Piriformis Syndrome Part III- Treatment
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Foraminal stenosis of the lumbar spine (Bone Spurring)
  • Central canal stenosis
  • Sciatic nerve entrapment
  • Spondylolisthesis 

In rare but serious cases, sciatic symptoms may be due to: tumors, infection, tethered spinal cord, and other neurological conditions.

Conservative Management for Sciatica

First and foremost, a proper diagnosis is required to treat your symptoms effectively. Depending on what the cause is and how long it has been going on, usually a combination of manual therapy, specific exercise protocols, and home education can help resolve sciatica. Let’s take piriformis syndrome as an example. In piriformis syndrome, the piriformis muscles compresses the sciatic nerve. To treat this, targeted Active Release Techique and other myofascial release techniques often results in drastic improvement of symptoms. If however, the sciatica is due to a low back condition, manual therapy to the piriformis muscle will likely not result in significant relief of symptoms.

To reiterate the first point, it is important to see a sports chiropractor or sports medicine professional who will accurately diagnose what is causing the sciatica. Many times we see patients who have been dealing with sciatic symptoms for months and have been doing self treatments that are actually perpetuating their symptoms. Be very wary of a “do this one thing for your sciatica.” type blog post as it may be causing more harm than good.

Our San Diego based chiropractic group treats many different causes of sciatic symptoms. If there is ever concern of a more serious condition causing sciatica, or further investigation is required, we will make an appropriate referral to get the best care for you. Schedule today to get a thorough evaluation. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

running with IT band syndrome San Diego

IT Band Syndrome: 5 Training Tips

/in , , /by

Trying to run with IT band syndrome is very frustrating. Often times, a runner can run with IT band syndrome for a certain amount of time until the pain comes back or becomes so unbearable that they have to limp home from their run. Our chiropractors treat runners who run with IT band syndrome as well as other running related injuries.

Top 5 training tips for IT Band Syndrome

Decrease volume– IT band syndrome is worse with a high number of repetitions. When you run with IT band syndrome, try reducing your volume by 50% to start off.

Avoid down hill running– Down hill running causes more force into the quadriceps and less activation from the glutes. The glutes play a very important role in knee stability. Without proper glute activation, a run with IT band syndrome through hills will make things worse. Stick to flat surfaces.

Increase intensity– Volume is the main issue when dealing with It band syndrome. With the decreased run volume, it is ok to get more out of those shorter workouts. Adding some intensity will help keep fitness levels high for training.

Run/Walk- This technique will help you keep the repetitions low. If you have tried to run with IT band syndrome for a long time without success, this option may be a good way to start back into running.

Uneven Surface running– Running on concrete or other flat surfaces hits the same muscles in the same direction over and over. If you run on a trail that has varying terrain (and limited ups and downs) this will cause the hip muscles to work more in different orientations. This will help build overall strength to support the hip and the knee.

These tips can help manage and allow you to run until the symptoms improve and you are pain free. These training modifications combined with manual therapy and exercise like our running chiropractors in San Diego perform, can help get you out of pain even faster. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Both Dr. Travis Rose, DC CCSP and Dr. Kevin Rose DC DACBSP are avid triathletes and runners. As experienced triathletes, Dr. Travis and Kevin Rose understand the frustrations of running injuries and try their absolute best to get you better, faster!

IT Band Syndrome treatment San Diego

New Methods in Treating IT Band Syndrome

/in , , /by

IT  band syndrome remains a stubborn condition that our chiropractors treat at our office in Mission Valley, San Diego. Runners, triathletes, and cyclists are the main groups of people who we treat for this condition. We previously posted treatment recommendations for IT band syndrome (found Iliotibial Band Syndrome) but wanted to update the information regarding treatment. The previous post still highlights relevant treatment advice in terms of research based treatment. Continue below to see the most recent types of treatment our San Diego chiropractors utilizes to best treat IT band syndrome.

Do you truly have IT band syndrome?

Many patients self diagnose their knee pain as IT band syndrome. They may be correct but true IT band syndrome is characterized by outside (lateral) knee pain right at the bony attachment of the IT band. It is often worse with repetitive movements such as running, walking, hiking, and cycling.

There are many cases that we have seen where the patient is experiencing general knee pain and were diagnosed with IT band syndrome. After our chiropractor evaluates the knee pain, it is often found that the person is experiencing knee pain due to muscle imbalances between the front of the thigh and back of the thigh. The pain and discomfort is often due to very tight and sore quadricep muscles. IT band syndrome is diagnosed because the IT band itself is found superficial to the outside quadricep muscle.

These patients are categorized as “quad dominant” and our San Diego Chiropractor works on the tight/sore quadricep muscles while strengthening the back thigh muscles, namely the gluteus maximus and hamstrings. Along with general strengthening and stretching, the patient must be taught how to use the glute muscles and hamstrings more during their activity.

New Treatment Approaches

We have had a lot of success using various types of myofascial release. Our San Diego Chiropractors have been trained in Active Release Technique and Graston Technique. Cupping is another therapy that has been used to help increase mobility between muscle fibers. Using motion with different types of myofascial techniques is especially helpful for treating IT band syndrome in runners, cyclists, and triathletes. The movement with myofascial work helps create mobility between layers of muscle/fascial tissue that often gets “bound up” with the constant repetitive stress from the sports mentioned previously. Take a look at the videos demonstrating IT band syndrome treatment:

Cupping used during athletic movements to decrease tissue compression and increase blood flow

Active Release Techique applied to the quadricep and IT Band

Strengthening the Hips for IT Band Syndrome

The previous article (found Here Iliotibial Band Syndrome) we wrote discussed several exercises that are still beneficial for IT band syndrome. We are finding even more success with more aggressive glute and hamstring exercises to help stabilize the hip and knee. Below is one of our favorite hip extension exercises. You can perform it one side at a time to make sure you are getting the most out of each hip. Our San Diego chiropractor treats many running injuries and will also assess different muscles groups to help establish proper running form. 

If you are experiencing IT band syndrome, it is important to get evaluated by a sports chiropractor. Our San Diego Chiropractors work with all types of athletes. Each treatment is unique to the individual but likely includes some form of myofascial release, stretching, and strength training. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Preventing Shoulder injuries

Shoulder Impingement and Shoulder Pain

/in , , /by

Shoulder impingement is a common condition that we treat at our sports injury clinic in Mission Valley, San Diego. Not only do we see shoulder impingement in the athletes we treat but we see it in many different professions that require repetitive use of the shoulder. Our conservative, non invasive shoulder treatments help provide pain relief quickly and prevent shoulder impingement from reoccurring in the future.

What is shoulder impingement

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition where the space between the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) and the acromion process (portion of the shoulder blade) narrows due to structural or functional causes. Structural narrowing of the space is due to arthritis, or bone spurring where the bone spur presses into the tissues in that space. Functional narrowing is due to poor shoulder stabilization from the rotator cuff, scapular dyskinesis (shoulder blade not moving well), and/or muscular imbalances between the front and back of the shoulder.When the space is narrowed, several structures are at risk to become irritated: rotator cuff, bursa, and biceps tendon.

Shoulder pain anatomy San Diego Sports Doctor

What are the symptoms of shoulder impingement? 

Classic signs and symptoms are pain in the shoulder while lifting the arm overhead, turning a steering wheel, pressing/reaching in front of body. Sport specific signs and symptoms include, pain with overhead activities (throwing baseball, volleyball spiking), swimming,Crossfit (thrusters, snatches), weightlifting, bodybuilding.

As impingement syndrome progresses and shoulder structures become more irritated, pain at night, pain and stiffness in the morning is a common complaint.

Evaluation

Our sports doctors will take a thorough history of the shoulder pain and perform an exam to the shoulder, upper back, and neck as there are many structures that overlap between those areas. The exam will help identify shoulder impingement and which structures are causing pain. The most common conditions that are diagnosed with impingement syndrome are:

  • Rotator cuff strain
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Biceps tendonitis
  • Biceps tendinosis
  • Subacromial bursitis
  • Labral tear (SLAP tear, degenerative tear)

In certain cases, advanced imaging may be necessary to determine the extent of the impingement syndrome and subsequent injury to the und. An MRI can identify rotator cuff tears and Labral tears.

Noninvasive Shoulder Treatment in San Diego

At our Mission Valley office, we utilize the latest techniques to treat shoulder impingement including: Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique, joint mobilization/manipulation, and targeted rehabilitative exercise.

Initial stages of care usually involve working on the flexibility and mobility of the tissues around the shoulder. This helps by improving functional limitations at the shoulder joint. After mobility has improved, targeted strength and control exercises for the shoulder are prescribed. This helps avoid re-injury to the shoulder in the future and can help improve performance.

In some cases, if the impingement is due to bone spurring or labral tear, an orthopedic referral may be warranted.

Shoulder pain treatment sports doctor

Schedule today to get a proper assessment and treatment for your shoulder pain. Our sports chiropractors are trained to treat your shoulder pain and other sports injuries effectively, and efficiently.