Introduction to Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of back pain and stiffness we see at the Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center in San Rafael, but many patients have questions about the condition. To help them understand it, we put together this introduction.

Osteoarthritis is distinct from rheumatoid arthritis. While rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that affects many kinds of tissues, osteoarthritis is caused by wearing down of cartilage between joints. In the spine, it is the cartilage between facet joints that gets worn down, resulting in inflammation as the joints press into each other. This causes pain and muscle spasms, most commonly after long periods of inactivity, such as sleeping. Drops in atmospheric pressure also trigger swelling, resulting in back pain, numbness, or tingling.

People with degenerative disc disease are at particular risk of developing osteoarthritis. As the discs get worn out, they are less able to absorb shocks, causing the force to be transferred to the cartilage. Our anti-aging treatments can help prevent osteoarthritis and chiropractic treatments can reduce discomfort. Diagnosing osteoarthritis will require examinations, imaging tests, and a medical history so we can eliminate other possible causes of pain. Ask about our x-ray special for new patients.

Dr. Kent Carlomagno operates Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center at 710 C Street, Suite #12, San Rafael, California, 94901. To schedule an appointment, call 415-721-7520 or visit Summit Chiro and fill out a contact sheet.

Chiropractic Care for Arthritis

The word “arthritis” means “joint inflammation” and is often used in reference to rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases include more than 100 conditions, including gout, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and many more. Arthritis medications help suppress the immune system and slow the progression of the disease, but Dr. Kent Carlomagno believes in the alternative holistic approach with chiropractic adjustments and exercises.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of the body. Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include joint pain and progressive stiffness that develops gradually. For chronic symptoms or to provide relief from severe episodes of pain from arthritis, manipulation may be recommended. The goal of manipulation is to restore or to enhance joint function. It’s important when receiving chiropractic care to remember that an accurate diagnosis of arthritis is necessary in order to develop a treatment plan.

If you suffer from arthritis, give us a call today. To learn more about the services provided at Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center, visit www.summitchiro.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kent Carlomagno in San Rafael, CA, call 415-721-7520.

Microcurrent Therapy at Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center

In addition to chiropractic adjustments and treatment, many chiropractors choose to use a variety of holistic and non-invasive procedures to help increase their patients’ health and decrease their pain. Microcurrent therapy is once such procedure. It utilizes low-level electrical currents and is applied in short therapy sessions, which are excellent for facilitating the healing of both acute and chronic pain. In San Rafael, CA, we use this type of therapy as a compliment to chiropractic treatment for increasing the speed of our patients’ healing while also decreasing their pain and rate of illness and injury.

Each tissue in your body has its own electrical frequency, and these frequencies can be disrupted by an injury. Microcurrent therapy alleviates pain and inflammation and helps the tissue heal by restoring tissue to its normal cellular frequency. It does this by sending a very small amount of current to the injured area. If you are suffering from muscle spasms, the current can help relax the muscle and return it to its normal state. The therapy also increases protein synthesis and ATP, which is the energy that fuels biochemical function at the cellular level. Both help accelerate healing. 

Treatment usually involves several sessions and can benefit a range of conditions, from arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, headaches and neck pain to neuropathy, sciatica, shingles, slow-healing wounds, tendon and ligament pain and back pain. 

If you are looking to increase your health or treat soft-tissue injuries or another conditions caused by an accident, chiropractic and microcurrent therapy can greatly benefit you. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kent Carlomagno by calling (415) 721-7520. For more information, please visit www.summitchiro.net.  

Cold Laser Therapy

Dr. Kent Carlomagno of Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center utilizes a host of holistic and non-invasive methods to help the body heal and function more efficiently. Whether you’re suffering from soft-tissue injuries, spasms or illnesses, Dr. Carlomagno can treat your condition and pain. One effective method employed by the doctor at our practice in San Rafael, CA is cold laser therapy.

Cold laser therapy is called so because the laser it utilizes operates at a wavelength that does not increase the thermal temperature of the area it is contacting. While patients cannot feel the laser, its effects are incredibly beneficial. By interacting with tissue and stimulating biological processes, the laser helps with healing, tissue repair and increased blood flow. It also is also able to reduce swelling and pain.

Cold laser therapy is an effective treatment for back and neck pain, as well as inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, tendinitis and sprains. It is also known for helping heal shoulder and neck injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle and joint pain and more.

If you are suffering, Dr. Carlomagno can help. Call 415-721-7520 to schedule an appointment. For more information on the chiropractor, the practice and its services, visit www.SummitChiro.net.

Heal with Microcurrent Therapy

Microcurrent therapy uses low-level electrical currents to heal the body and relieve pain in the soft tissues. Short therapy sessions are excellent for facilitating the healing of both acute and chronic pains. At Summit Chiropractic and Longevity Center, we use this type of therapy as a compliment to chiropractic for increasing a patient’s overall health and rate of healing while decreasing pain and rate of illness and injury.

Each tissue in your body has its own electrical frequency, which can be disrupted by an injury. Microcurrent therapy alleviates pain and inflammation and helps the tissue heal by restoring its normal frequency within the cells by sending a very small amount of current to the injured area. If you are suffering from muscle spasms, the current can help relax the muscle and return it to its normal state. The therapy also increases protein synthesis and ATP, which is the energy that fuels biochemical function at the cellular level. Both help accelerate healing.  

Treatment usually involves several sessions and can benefits a range of conditions, from arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, headaches and neck pain to neuropathy, sciatica, shingles, slow-healing wounds, tendon and ligament pain and back pain.  

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kent Carlomagno in San Rafael, CA, call (415) 721-7520. For more information, visit www.SummitChiro.net.