San Carlos CA February Calendar

February 8, 2011

Adult Community Center Happenings (650-802-4384)

  • February 8 Sleep Issues Lecture
  • February 10 AARP Tax Assistance
  • February 11 Valentine’s Day Luncheon
  • February 13 Teatro Zinzanni Brunch trip
  • February 14 Jim Dunbar Talk
  • February 17 AARP Tax Assistance
  • February 18 Armchair Travels
  • February 24 AARP Tax Assistance

Pathfinder Hikes:  Huddart County Park
February 9, 2011
These Wednesday hikes are 3 to 5 miles long.  The group leaves from the San Carlos Adult Community Center at 9am and usually return by 1pm.  There is no charge for these hikes, but be prepared to carpool and drive if necessary.  Each hike is rated easy to moderate.  For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Office at 650-802-4382.

Composting Workshop
February 10, 2011
Turn garbage into gardens! Why throw away leaves, grass clippings, vegetables, fruits, and other organic waste when you can easily compost them into a soil conditioner richer than anything you can buy? Topics will include backyard composting, work composting, and organic gardening. Your garden will thank you for using non-toxic methods. For more information, call 1-888-442-2666, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.Recycleworks.org.  Workshop is taught by Certified Master Composter from County of San Mateo RecycleWorks.

Valentine’s Day Luncheon
February 11, 2011
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Adult Community Center’s Happy Valentine’s Day Special Luncheon.  Relax and enjoy the crooning tunes of Rick Slyter Entertainment.  Menu:  spring salad mix & vinaigrette dressing, Virginia baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, dessert, glass of wine or cider, coffee or tea.  Purchase ticket for $10 one week before luncheon date.  Price increases to $12 if purchased the week of luncheon date.  For more information, please call the Adult Community Center at 650-802-4384.

Challenge Hikes:  Wunderlich County Park
February 12, 2011
Beautiful grasslands, redwoods, views, beaches and ridges are all right here in our area to be explored by adventurous hikers.  Join Leader Tom Davids as the group departs at 9am and returns by 3pm to the San Carlos Library.  Bring water and a lunch.  Additional information will be provided one week before hike date.  Each hike is $5 and can be directly paid to Tom at the beginning of the day.  For details or to register, email [email protected].

AARP Tax Assistance
Thursdays
AARP volunteers will once again be at the San Carlos Adult Community Center every Thursday beginning February 3 thru April 14, 2011 for preparation and electronic filing of Federal and California tax returns for low and moderate income taxpayers with special attention to people age 60 or older.  This service is free and AARP membership is not required.  Appointments are mandatory and may be made between the hours of 9am and 4pm by calling the Adult Community Center at 650-802-4384.

C.E.R.T.
February 23rd, 26th & March 12th
Join us for this free, interactive, and informative class and learn how to take better care of yourself, your family, your loved ones and neighbors when a disaster does happen. The C.E.R.T. program provides citizens with basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills to help save lives and protect property during the most critical time frame, until emergency responders can arrive.  During the course, students will receive training in emergency preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search & rescue, disaster psychology, team organization, and terrorism.  Upon completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and basic disaster response equipment (hard hat, work gloves, goggles, vest, and more). Don’t miss this valuable training. Please register at least one week prior.  You must attend all 3 days of the course in order to receive your Certificate of Completion. For additional information go to www.bscfd.org, or to register by phone, contact Christy Adonis, Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department at 802-4254 or e-mail [email protected].

Community Crab Feed
February 27, 2011
Join us for delicious and fresh cracked crab, pasta & meatballs, salad & desserts!  It’s the annual Friends of the San Carlos Adult Community Center (SCACC) fundraiser at the ACC.  Money raised from the dinner will go to benefit senior programs.  A no-host wine & beer bar opens at 4:30pm with the delicious dinner following at 5:30pm.  Tickets are on sale now at the ACC.get tickets before they sell out!  For more information, call 650-802-4384.


Adult Softball League Registration
begins March 1, 2011
Spring/Summer softball begins in late April and ends in August.  Games are held at Burton Park and Highlands Park.  Team registrations are accepted for the following leagues:  Women’s, Men’s D-Low, Men’s D-Int, Men’s D-High, and Coed Recreational I & II.  Individual registrations are accepted for the 50+ league with teams formed and balanced prior to league play.  “Free Agents” hoping to be picked up by teams other than the 50+ must call the Athletics Office at 650-802-4104 to be placed on an eligibility list.  Registration will open on a first come-first serve basis beginning Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  For more information, contact the Athletics Office at 650-802-4104.

By admin | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , | Comments (0)

5 warning signs of stroke

January 28, 2011

The American Stroke Association suggests that if you see these signs on a love one, you call 911 immediately.  It is a medical emergency!

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Be prepared:

  • Keep a list of emergency rescue service numbers next to the telephone and in your pocket, wallet or purse.
  • Find out which area hospitals are primary stroke centers that have 24-hour emergency stroke care.
  • Know (in advance) which hospital or medical facility is nearest your home or office.

Take action in an emergency.

  • Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don’t ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!
  • Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You’ll be asked this important question later.
  • If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don’t delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical service (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent for you.
  • If you’re with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest — denial is common. Don’t take “no” for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.

For stroke information, call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE or contact the ASA

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

What is Nursemaid’s Elbow?

January 19, 2011

Nursemaid’s Elbow

Nursemaid’s elbow, also known as “pulled elbow” usually happens in kids from ages 1to 3 years old.  Infants and older kids can experience it, too.

So, what is it and how does it happen?

Your elbow joint consists of three bones. The Humerus (upper arm bone), Radius and Ulna (lower arm bones). Ligaments surround these bones and if there is force on the joint, a ligament may slip over the bone (normally the radius) and pull the bone out of place. Pain will occur and your child may start grabbing his/her elbow or experience pain when moving their arm. This can happen a lot easier than you think with minimal force.

Here are some common reasons why Nursemaid’s elbow may occur:

    1. Jerking a child’s arm. Pulling a toddler along while walking or quickly grabbing his or her hand can jerk the arm, causing the radial head to slip. Remember to be gentle when taking a child by the hand.

    2. Pulling a child up by the hands. Pulling on hands or forearms can put stress on the elbows. Never pick up a toddler or infant by the hands or wrists. Lifting under the armpits is the safest way to lift a child.

    3. Swinging a toddler by the arms. Any type of swinging by holding the hands or wrists can put stress on the elbow joint and should be avoided.

    4. Breaking a fall with the arm. The natural response to falling is outstretching an arm for protection. The elbow can overextend during this action, resulting in a slip of the radial head.

    5. Rolling over in an awkward way. Sometimes rolling over in a crib, bed, or on the floor can cause nursemaid’s elbow in infants and very young children.

The injury happens in younger kids because their ligaments (the elastic-like bands that hold bones together) are loose and bones are not yet fully formed. This makes it easier for some of the bones to slip in and out of place. As kids get older, however, their ligaments tighten, bones enlarge and harden, and the risk of nursemaid’s elbow decreases.

While a child with nursemaid’s elbow has some initial pain in the arm, the injury does not cause any long-term damage. We can gently put the bone back into place, causing symptoms to go away quickly.

For more about this problem or other important information, go to www.kidshealth.org

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Constipation: Why and What to do

October 24, 2010

Constipation can be caused by a disorder of bowel dysfunction and/or a structural problem. Here are some reasons for constipation:

•    Obstructed nerve and muscle function in the bowel.
•    Not drinking enough water.
•    Not enough fiber in the diet.
•    Changes in diet regular diet (traveling).
•    Sedentary lifestyle (decrease physical activity)
•    Eating large amounts of dairy products.
•    Increased Stress.
•    Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.  This can result in hemorrhoids
•    Overuse of stool softeners which decrease bowel muscle strength.
•    Hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
•    Too much calcium or aluminum
•    Strong pain medicines, narcotics, anti-depressants or iron pills).
•    Depression.
•    Eating disorders (disrupt bowel function)
•    Pregnancy.
•    An obstruction in the colon (cancer)

What Are the Symptoms of Constipation?

•    Infrequent bowel movements and/or difficulty having bowel movements.
•    Swollen abdomen or abdominal pain.
•    Pain.
•    Vomiting.

If you have constipation for more than two weeks, you should see a doctor so he or she can determine the source of your problem and treat it.  It can become dangerous if you are unable to release your bowel.

How Can I Prevent Constipation?

1. Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain bread and cereal (especially bran). Fiber and water help the colon pass stool.

2. Drink 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of water and other fluids a day.  Drinks which have caffeine should be avoided because they dehydrate you.  as dairy products may be constipating for them.

3. Get into an exercise program.

4. Do not hold in your bowels.  Go to the bathroom when you need to.

What Should I Do If I Am Constipated?

•    Drink two to four extra glasses of water a day (unless fluid restricted).
•    Try warm liquids, especially in the morning.
•    Add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
•    Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.
•    If needed, use a very mild stool softener or laxative (such as Peri-Colace or Milk of Magnesia). Do not use laxatives for more than two weeks without calling your doctor, as laxative overuse can aggravate your symptoms.

Sometimes I have patients with this problem and after gently adjusting their hips and lumbar spine, the constipation subsides.  It can really be that easy!

But, constipation can be a serious issue.  If you have blood in your stool, severe pain when going to the bathroom, lose large amounts of weight without trying or if it persists for more than 2 weeks.  Please see a doctor!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Chondromalacia (Patellofemoral pain syndrome)

October 18, 2010

Your knee is responsible for absorbing a lot of stress when you walk.  Cartilage located underneath the surface of your kneecap (patella) can sometimes be scraped or damaged during overuse, leg malposition, injury or tightness of surrounding muscles.   When the under surface is irritated, Chondromalacia of the patella occurs.  It is also called “Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome”.  Basically, the tissues underneath your kneecap become inflammed and pain occurs.

Symptoms: Usually a dull, aching pain in the front of your knee especially when walking uphill or downhill, kneeling, squatting or sitting for long periods of time with your legs bent.  You may also experience a grating or grinding sensation when you straighten your leg.

When there is a flare-up, ice can help with the pain and inflammation.   I have found in my practice that a common reason why Chondromalacia occurs is because of tightness of either the Vastis-medialis or Vasits-Lateralis muscle.  This leads to a bio-mechanical problem where the knee does not move efficiently.  Finding out which muscle needs to be strengthened and which one needs to be stretched is key.  When there is an imbalance in the thigh, one muscle begins to pull your kneecap and rub against the tibia (leg).  This results in cartilage damage.

Proper stretching and strengthening exercises can prevent incidence of pain and prevent further damage to the tissues.

So, who commonly gets Chondromalacia?  Surprisingly, adolescents and young adults!  Most likely athletes who participate in running or jumping sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball.  Running can add 3-5x pounds of body weight force to the joints and Jumping can add 5 to 7x pounds.   This means if you weight 200lbs, running can add 1,000 pounds of forc and jumping can add up to 1,400 pounds.  That is a lot of strain to the joint and body.  Over time, squatting or or climbing stairs can become quite painful and sometimes even unbearable.

Proper body mechanics is important for taking the stress out of our bodies and allowing our joints to move the way they should.  Make sure you understand that this can be a repetitive injury which may take some time to heal but you can certainly get through it and even continue participating in the sport of your choice.  Hard work along with chiropractic alignments can greatly reduce flare-ups and chronic problems.

If you are experiencing knee pain, we can help!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

We have moved to Downtown Redwood City!

October 15, 2010

That is right, Precise Moves Chiropractic has moved to Downtown Redwood City!

Our new location is just one block from the downtown courthouse where entertainment happens almost daily.  We are also located just blocks from Caltrain and local bus stations.  Come on in, relax and we will release accumulated stress from your body so you can feel relaxed and ready for some entertainment.  Here is a list of some of the events happening downtown!

Tuesdays: Learn how to dance! Every Tuesday from June to September, you can learn Tango, Swing, Cha-Cha, Salsa, Waltz, Country Western…even Belly Dancing.

Thursdays: Movie night.  June through September.  Shows start at sundown (approximately 8:45pm).  Come early for the best seats (a limited number of chairs and tables are available).  Feel free to bring your blankets, pick up take-out food from the nearby restaurants and watch selected movies on the outdoor 25 foot screen.

Friday: Music. May through October.  Enjoy rock, blues, Celtic, swing, salsa, country, jazz and more.  Dance the evening away listening to your favorite tunes!

Friday/Saturday: Art on the square.  June through September.  Local artists exhibit paintings, photography, jewelry, glass, ceramics all at reasonable prices.  Original pieces of jewelry at every show!  If you like what you see, check out Jewelry on the Square in July.

You can’t find a better place to enjoy a night out with family and friends.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, Redwood City Chiropractor, San Carlos California, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Bell’s Palsy, what is it? What can be done?

July 21, 2010

Bell’s palsy happens suddenly.  You may awake with one part of your face drooping.  The 7th cranial nerve is responsible for this problem.   The 7th cranial nerve passes through an opening in the temporal bone located on the side of your head.  If irritated, stretched or impinged it will lose its ability to innervate the facial muscles of your face. You may be unable to raise your eyebrows, pucker your lips, blink or smile.  Basically, you have lost the ability to produce a facial expression.

Symptoms:

Pain around the ear can often happen before the facial nerve shows signs of paresis or paralysis.  The front of one side of the face usually feels heavy or numb.  often precedes facial paresis. Paresis, often with complete paralysis, develops within hours and is usually maximal within 48 to 72 h. Patients may complain of a numb or heavy feeling in the face.

After the examiner notices a drooping face on one side, general cranial nerve testing is administered and if positive, safe chiropractic care can be started.   If treatment is unsuccessful, then you may want to get checked and cleared for:

  1. Herpes
  2. Ear infections
  3. Sarcoidosis
  4. Lyme disease
  5. Skull fractures
  6. Carcinomatous
  7. Meningitis
  8. Tumors

Treatment:

Medical doctors like to administer corticosteroids which can only be given a limited amount of times and actually has been shown to decrease healing time for tissues in the body.  Chiropractors can adjust the first bone (Atlas) in your neck which can free up the fascial nerve.  C1 or Atlas is located near the brain stem and can affect the whole body.

Before ingesting drugs which can produce harmful affects on the liver, kidneys, pancreas and other organs, try chiropractic, you may be surprised by the results!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Weight lifting technique, lets do it the right way!

July 11, 2010

When I am at the gym, I see numerous people working out incorrectly and have no idea that it is going to cause a problem eventually.   Improper posture, lifting too much weight and rushing through the workout can cause long term issues.

Here are some ways of lifting weights at the gym the right way:

1. Lift the proper amount of weight. If you can comfortably lift a weight 12 to 15 times, it is the proper weight for you. As you get stronger, increase the weight while still maintaining the 12 to 15 drill.

2. Use the proper technique. If you have a problem maintaining your posture then try lighter weights and less repetitions. It really makes a difference. Your knees should be slightly bent, shoulders pulled back and back should be relatively straight

3. Breathe out as you lift the weight and in as you lower the weight. For more of a workout, keep a bit of tension on the way back down. This will work the muscle more and you get so much more out of your workout.

4. If you do weights with the front muscles of the body, do them in the back. Most people work on their quadriceps but neglect the hamstrings in the back. What is really popular is working the calf muscles in the back leg but not working the muscles in the front and side of the leg. You want balance in the body and not over work some muscles while under working others.

5. Exercise different muscles each day. Don’t do biceps and quadriceps two days in a row. Switch to triceps and hamstrings. Resting muscles after a workout allows them to regenerate and get ready for the next set of repetitions.

Here are the Don’ts:

  1. Don’t skip your warm up. Remember, we are shortening muscles with a workout. That means they should be stretched before and after. Shortening a muscle that is already short will provoke an injury. Each stretch should last 25-30 seconds.
  2. Don’t rush your workouts. This will make you lose your form and won’t work the muscle as much as you would like.
  3. Don’t overdo it. I quite frequently hear people saying they are so sore they can’t move the next day. Working the muscle to fatigue is really all you need. Becoming so sore that you can’t move will not motivate you to get back into the gym. I recommend going about 70% in the beginning and working your way up. This way, you won’t be at risk of hurting yourself and you will be motivated to keep doing your workout.
  4. No pain, no gain theory is not a good way of working out. If it hurts to do an exercise, stop! This is your body telling you that something isn’t right. You may need to alter your weight or check your body posture.

Now that you know the proper way to work out, you can avoid hurting yourself and have the workouts you desire.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

San Carlos Summer Concert Series

July 9, 2010

The 20th Annual San Carlos Summer Concerts 2010, presented by Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, starts tonight!

Friday Evenings
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
July 9 – August 6 at Burton Park
Free Entertainment!

Gather with friends and family and enjoy a picnic dinner in the park (sorry, no BBQ’s)

July 9
The Distractions
Rock ‘n Roll Classics
sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District

July 16
Big Bang Beat
Ultimate Party Classics
sponsored by Crippen & Flynn Funeral Chapels – Belmont & Redwood City

July 23
The Bell Brothers
Country Rock
sponsored by Palo Alto Medical Foundation

July 30
The Refugees – A Tom Petty Tribute
sponsored by Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center

August 6
E-Ticket Band
Oldies Rock n’ Roll
sponsored by RE/MAX Today and BOW WOW Meow

We will try to have a booth to raise money for San Carlos Together to support a San Carlos Dog Park. So, stop by if you see us there.

By admin | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Bisphosphonates or natural foods?

July 8, 2010

What are Bisphosphonates?

Bisphosphonates are drugs used to try and prevent bone loss.  Cancer patients are put on this because drugs they take to treat pain associated with cancer can lead to bone loss.  It is also used with patients with Osteoporosis.

Drugs prescribed for this problem are:

Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Aledndronate, Ibandronate and Risedronate.

Health Concerns:

With every drug there is a side effect.  Some of the side effects with using Biphosphonates are abdominal pain, dyspepsia (upset stomach), nausea, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), gastritis, muscle and joint pain, headaches, dizziness just to name a few.

So, if you can avoid taking drugs for the problem, here are some food and vitamin suggestions that can help keep your bones healthy.  Calcium, vitamin D and phosphorous are key to bones health.  Eating dairy products, salmon, sardines, almonds, and green leafy vegetables are great to keep your bones strong.

Whole grains, shell fish, lean meats, beans along with fruits and vegetables (especially brussel spouts) are filled with zinc, boron and copper which is needed as well.

With every problem we encounter in health, there are most often natural methods of relief.  It just takes a bit of an effort and research to find out what they are!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)