Blog

IBS and Low Back Pain Connection When I was 15, I had a traumatic brain injury. I then started dealing with irritable bowel issues. When I was in my 20s, I had an allergic reaction to a medication, and that triggered a worsening of my irritable bowel issues. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Characterized by symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits, IBS can significantly impact

The connection that most people make with posture and their health usually comes down to back or neck pain. But study after study shows that posture, itself, may not have as much of an impact on your neck pain or back pain as we have previously thought. It is true that, sometimes, our pain can be triggered by the way we hold our body, but research is showing that if we are making sure we are engaging in movement throughout our day, our posture may not make THAT much of an imp

When you’re dealing with an injury, most people think about what they can do to their body to recover. Should I stretch?Should I rest?Do I need exercises?Should I see a chiropractor or physical therapist? These are all important questions. But there’s another piece of the recovery puzzle that often gets overlooked: what you’re putting into your body. Your body needs more than movement and treatment to heal. It needs the raw materials required to repair damaged tissue, build n

Stress is a normal part of life. Between work, family, exercise, busy schedules, and everything else competing for your attention, it’s almost impossible to avoid. The good news is that stress itself isn’t necessarily the problem. The problem is when your body never gets a chance to come back down. When stress becomes a constant part of your day, it can affect much more than your mood. Stress and muscle tension often go hand in hand, and over time, that tension can contribute

Pain has a way of becoming part of your routine. You wake up stiff, sit at your desk for a few hours, notice your neck is bothering you, and then try to fix it with a stretch at the end of the day. Or maybe your low back starts hurting after a long drive, your shoulder aches after a workout, or your hips feel tight after chasing the kids around all weekend. The good news? Staying out of pain isn't necessarily about doing more. Often, it's about doing the best things consisten

If your shoulder hurts when you lift weights, reach overhead, do push-ups, or reach behind you, you may have started changing the way you exercise, or avoiding certain movements altogether. Maybe your shoulder feels fine during everyday activities but starts hurting during a bench press. Maybe lateral raises suddenly feel uncomfortable. Or perhaps overhead pressing has become something you “just work around.” The good news? Shoulder pain when lifting doesn't automatically mea

If you're dealing with nagging back pain, stiff shoulders, headaches, or just don't feel like you're recovering as well as you used to, improving your sleep may be one of the most powerful things you can do. Many people focus on stretching, foam rolling, or buying a new mattress, but overlook the habits that actually help them fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. At Alameda Chiropractic & Ergonomics, we see it every day: patients who move better, heal fast

Have you ever woken up with a stiff neck, aching back, or numb shoulder and immediately blamed your pillow or mattress? Sometimes your pillow or mattress is the problem, but often, your sleeping position may be playing a much bigger role. One of the most common questions I hear in my office is: "What's the best sleeping position?" The answer usually surprises people: There isn't one. The best sleeping position depends on your body, your injury, and the type of pain you're exp

Movement assessments can locate hidden movement stressors If you've ever thought, "I know I need to exercise, but every time I do, something starts hurting," you're not alone. One of the biggest myths in fitness is that pain is simply the price you pay for staying active. It isn't. Whether you're chasing your kids around the park, training for your next race, getting back into the gym after years away, or simply trying to stay healthy, movement should make your body more resi

Whether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PR, or simply running because it's you want to stay healthy, getting sidelined by pain can be incredibly frustrating. One of the biggest myths I hear in my office is, "Running is bad for your joints." The truth? Running isn't usually the problem. Poor movement, training errors, and ignoring small warning signs are. At Alameda Chiropractic & Ergonomics, I work with runners who don't just want to get out of pain, the

You finished your workout. Nice! But what you do after your workout is just as important as what you did during it. If you've ever wondered why you're sore for days, feel stiff after lifting, or can't seem to make progress despite working hard, recovery may be the missing piece. At Alameda Chiropractic & Ergonomics, I work with active adults who want to stay strong, move well, and keep doing the things they love without pain slowing them down. One of the biggest issues I see

Do you wake up feeling like your body is 20 years older than it actually is? Maybe your back feels tight when you get out of bed. Your neck doesn't want to turn. Your hips protest the first few steps to the bathroom. For many people, pain and stiffness feel like a normal part of getting older. The good news? They don't have to be. The way you spend the first 10 minutes of your morning can have a huge impact on how your body feels for the rest of the day. And the best part is

Have you ever caught yourself thinking: "My hips are so tight." "I just need to stretch more." "Maybe if I hold this stretch for another minute, my back will finally loosen up." If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. As an evidence-based chiropractor in Alameda, I hear this almost every day from active adults, busy parents, and people who spend long hours at a desk. Most of them have been stretching consistently for weeks, or even months, but they're still dealing with ne

When someone hears they have a bulging disc or herniated disc, it's easy for their mind to go to the worst-case scenario. "I slipped a disc." "My back is damaged forever." "I should probably avoid bending or exercising." I hear versions of these statements all the time. The good news? Most disc injuries aren't nearly as scary as they sound. Understanding what's actually happening can make the experience much less overwhelming and help you recover with confidence. First, What

Most people think about hydration when it's hot outside, after a long run, or when they have a pounding headache. But hydration affects your body long before you feel thirsty. In fact, if you're dealing with muscle tightness, cramping, fatigue, decreased performance in the gym, or even lingering aches and pains, your water intake might deserve a closer look. As a chiropractor, I spend a lot of time helping people move better and hurt less. We talk about exercise, sleep, stres

Let's be honest: most of us spend a lot of time on our phones. Whether you're answering work emails, scrolling social media, checking sports scores, helping your kids with homework, or ordering groceries, your phone has become an essential part of daily life. The problem isn't that you're using your phone. The problem is how you're using it. As a chiropractor, I often hear patients say things like: "My neck feels tight all the time." "I keep getting headaches by the end of th

If you’ve ever skipped a workout because you “didn’t have enough time,” you’re not alone. Most busy adults feel like exercise has to be all-or-nothing. Either you get a full hour at the gym… or it’s not worth doing. But one of the biggest things I try to teach patients is this: consistency beats intensity almost every time. And when it comes to movement, a good warm-up might actually be the missing piece. Not because it burns tons of calories or looks impressive on social med

If you’ve been dealing with neck pain, there’s a good chance you’ve heard some version of this: “Sit up straight.” “Fix your posture.” “Stop looking down at your phone.” And while that advice isn’t completely wrong…it’s also not the full picture. Let’s take a more honest, practical look at what’s actually going on, and what you can do about it. First, let’s clear something up Posture is not as fragile as we’ve been led to believe. Your body is adaptable. It’s designed to move

If your joints feel stiff, achy, or just not as reliable as they used to, your first instinct might be to stretch more… or maybe just push through it. But here’s something a lot of people overlook: What you eat plays a big role in how your joints feel and function. Now, this isn’t about a “perfect diet” or cutting out everything you enjoy. Especially if you’re a busy person juggling work, workouts, and everything else life throws at you. This is about simple, realistic action

If you’re like most of the patients I see, your day involves a lot of sitting: working, emailing, parenting logistics, maybe squeezing in a workout when you can. And somewhere along the way, your neck starts tightening up… your low back gets cranky… and by the end of the day, you feel stiff, drained, and maybe a little cranky yourself. Here’s the truth: It’s not just how long you sit, it’s how you sit. Or more accurately, how your workstation forces you to sit. The good news?