Shoulder pain at night can ruin a good night’s sleep and wreck your productivity the next day. In fact, shoulder pain that keeps you up at night can cause a cycle of making you experience even more pain than you would if you had had a good night’s sleep. In a study conducted by UCLA, individuals who were purposefully kept … Read More
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
We all know someone who is a little bit clumsy, gets injured easily, and although otherwise looks healthy is chronically tired and complains of pain. Are they just complaining for the sake of complaining, or is something truly wrong? A possible explanation is that the person has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, often referred to as EDS. What is EDS? EDS is a … Read More
What Does the Clicking Sound in Your Shoulder Mean?
“Doc, my shoulder clicks when I do this…” Often times I have a patient that says that statement, and it is accompanied by a windmill movement of his or her arm. I always think of what my mother would say when I did the same thing as a kid: “If you don’t like the clicking then stop doing that!” But … Read More
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Tools
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) tools vary in technique, shape, size, and material. Your Chiropractor will normally use an IASTM tool if you have limited motion, pain during motion, motor control issues, and muscle recruitment issues. Instruments are made up of different materials, have different shapes, and are used for a variety of reasons. Here is a list of different types instruments: … Read More
Is Rotator Cuff Surgery the Answer to My Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain is a very common problem, affecting as many as one in every three people. Many people with shoulder pain have problems with their rotator cuff, which is the common term for the four muscles that support your shoulder joint. Billions of dollars are spent annually in the treatment of shoulder pain in the United States. Your first move … Read More
What Are Meridian Lines? And What Is Their Role in Gua Sha and Acupuncture?
Many centuries ago Chinese philosophers and healers began to study the rich and complex natural phenomena of life. They carefully observed the environment around us, and also the human body. They noticed patterns in how nature’s energies flow, and also how all things are subject to universal laws. From these roots Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) grew into a comprehensive system, … Read More
Does Gua Sha Help Weightlifters and Bodybuilders?
Weight training comes with a fair share of risk, and there is always a possibility of straining or tearing muscles, or developing painful tendonitis or a slap tear. Anyone who spends a lot of time in the gym will know how back, shoulder or neck pain can severely limit your workout routine. While applying ice to the painful area, getting … Read More
What is IASTM and what are the benefits?
“Just a minute while I go get my scraper…” my colleague said to his patient. I thought about what might be going through his patient’s mind. What is a scraper? Will I have any skin left when he is done? Is it really as bad as it sounds? My colleague was referring to a small plastic device that was triangular … Read More
Gua Sha vs. Cupping – Which one is better?
Is Old the New “New?” An estimated 4.5 million Americans visit the emergency room or doctor’s office because of an adverse reaction to medication, and an additional 2 million individuals already hospitalized experience an adverse drug response. This statistic resonates with many people, therefore in Western society there is a movement away from medications and invasive procedures to relieve pain … Read More
The Evidence and Science Behind Gua Sha
Centered around a mysterious, invisible set of energy pathways and with techniques that baffle the Western mind, traditional Chinese medicine can seem esoteric, to say the least. In that regard, gua sha, the therapeutic method of scraping the skin to alleviate pain and improve health certainly doesn’t disappoint. An ancient and maybe one of the earliest known medical practices, gua … Read More