Springtime has arrived in full bloom here in Portland! With beautiful sprays of colors and aromas, the wonderful arrays of blossoming trees, and the multiplicity of flowers peek bravely from the landscape to greet the sun. Unfortunately, this season arrives with a variety of pollens, dust and other foreign substances that brings suffering to many of us, instead of the sublime enjoyment that the season should usher in. Why are some of us cursed with seasonal allergies? Why is

It’s that time of the year again - time to set goals and intentions for the new year! Now that we are a few weeks into 2020, we want to give you a “smart” way to make sure all of your new years resolutions and goals are met! This tool gives you a way to get your plan of action organized. It's easy to think of goals like ‘run a half marathon’, or ‘stop eating sugar’, but without utilizing the “smart” guidelines it is easy for your goals to fall to the back burner or not get ac

The body it set up to alternate between mobile joints like our hips and ankles and stable joints like our knees and pelvis/low back. When one joint is too mobile or not functioning "normal," it has an effect on all of the other joints, especially those above and below. There is a common misconception that if you are flexible you should not have pain. It is important to think of the roles of the joint and how they interact with each other. If the joint and surrounding muscles

A very common condition chiropractors see and treat is upper cross syndrome. This is when the muscles of the neck and upper back are not functioning properly. Many people are affected by this condition, such a desk workers, students, and individuals with poor posture. This condition is becoming more and more prevalent with increased cell phone use in both the adolescent and adult populations. This is due to the fact that we are looking down at phones, tablets, books and telev

A common question asked of us is “how long will it take for me to feel better and completely heal?” The answer to this question varies depending on the severity of the injury. A general time frame for healing of the musculoskeletal system is 6-8 weeks, but some injuries can take more or less time. It is important to keep in mind that healing is not always linear, it is perfectly normal to have ups and downs along the way. Treatment goals will vary depending on what stage of

If we’re lucky, most of us spend at least 6-8 hours in our beds at night. Sleep is a crucial factor in resting and restoring daily functions of the human body. Inadequate or lack of quality sleep can negatively affect the body and not allow it to function at its optimal level. Not only can low back pain affect your sleep but bad sleeping posture can also cause or be a contributing factor to low back pain. So, what can you do to make sure you are setting yourself up to get the

Iliotibial band syndrome, also known as ITB syndrome, is very common in both the athletic population, and the general population. The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia running from the outer portion of the pelvis down to the lateral, or outer portion of the tibia, crossing both the hip and knee joints. The role of the ITB is to stabilize the knee while it flexes and extends. Due to the function of the iliotibial band, it tends to get injured due to overuse. Irritation

Warm up! With any type physical activity, it is important to warm the body and muscles up prior to beginning. By doing so, you loosen the muscles and joints and get blood flowing. A proper warm up should include movement that slightly elevates your heart rate, and muscular stretching. This will help the body prepare for the physical demands placed on it while doing out door chores. Proper form! Avoid prolonged positions, especially bending forward. If you are going to be bend

1. Computer Height It is important to make sure your computer is a good distance away from you, but not so far that you are having to strain or lean forward to read the screen. To find a good screen distance, sit back in your chair and extend your arm out, and your arm should reach the screen. A good tip is to make sure the top quarter of the screen is even with the top of your eyes. To avoid excessive glare on the screen, tilt the screen down a little bit. These small change

Do you experience low back pain while traveling? For a lot of people, the idea of long trips increases stress levels due to fear of experiencing low back pain. Here are 3 quick tips to improve your comfort while traveling! 1. Change positions frequently Anytime the body is in a static position for a prolonged amount of time, you are more susceptible to pain. This is due to a neuromusc