Garcia Family & Sports Chiropractic

01/24/2026

Text Neck” Explained – What Your Phone Is Doing to Your Neck

This image powerfully shows how head position directly multiplies the load on your cervical spine. The human head weighs about 4–5 kg in neutral posture, but as the head tilts forward, the effective load on the neck increases dramatically.

🟢 0° – Neutral Head Position (≈ 5 kg)

When your ears are aligned over your shoulders, the cervical spine carries only the true weight of the head. Muscles work efficiently, discs are evenly loaded, and stress on joints is minimal. This is the safest and most energy-efficient posture.

🟡 15° Forward Tilt (≈ 12 kg)

A small forward tilt nearly doubles the load on the neck. Neck extensors must contract continuously to prevent the head from falling forward, increasing muscle fatigue and early stiffness.

🟠 30° Forward Tilt (≈ 18 kg)

At this angle—very common during phone use—the cervical spine experiences almost four times the normal load. Disc pressure increases, posterior neck muscles are overstretched, and joint compression rises.

🔴 60° Forward Tilt (≈ 27 kg)

This is the most stressful position. The neck now supports more than five times the head’s actual weight. Ligaments, discs, and muscles are overloaded, increasing the risk of:

Chronic neck pain

Disc degeneration

Headaches and nerve irritation

🧠 Why This Matters

The neck is designed for mobility, not sustained load. Holding the head forward for long periods causes cumulative micro-stress that builds silently over time. This is why neck pain often appears gradually rather than suddenly.

We can't fix your daily habits that lead to poor posture but we can help you alleviate the pain you're experiencing! Call today

01/23/2026

SOFT TISSUE INJURIES (This is what we focus on whether you're an athlete, weekend warrior, over use or simply injured yourself.

Soft tissue healing is a complex, multi-stage biological process that typically takes anywhere from six weeks to over a year to complete. While initial pain may decrease within a few days, the underlying structural repair is far from finished.

The four primary phases of soft tissue healing are:
Bleeding & Hemostasis (Seconds to Hours): The body immediately works to stop blood loss and seal the wound area.

Inflammatory Phase (0–7 Days): Peaking around 1–3 days, this phase clears damaged cells and bacteria. Patients often feel worse during this period as swelling and chemical signals increase.

Proliferative Phase (1–6 Weeks): The body begins laying down new collagen and forming temporary scar tissue. While mobility improves, the tissue is still weak and highly vulnerable to reinjury.

Remodeling Phase (6 Weeks to 2 Years): This is the longest phase, where temporary scar tissue is reorganized into stronger, more functional tissue. Complete structural restoration can take a year or more.

Why Healing Often Takes Longer Than Expected
Severity of Injury: Minor (Grade I) strains may heal in 1–3 weeks, but severe (Grade III) tears often require 6–12 months or surgery.

Tissue Type: Muscles heal faster due to high blood supply (2–8 weeks), while ligaments and tendons take much longer (up to 12+ weeks) because of poor vascularization.

Patient Factors: Healing is significantly slowed by aging, smoking, poor nutrition (lack of protein/Vitamin C), and chronic conditions like diabetes.

The "Desensitization" Trap: Pain often subsides long before the tissue has regained its strength. Returning to full activity too early can lead to chronic inflammation or re-rupture.

We offer state of the art technologies to expedite your healing, leading to decreased pain, increased range of motion, easier activities of daily living and overall... feeling better!

Call us today to schedule your appointment and find out how we can help you.

908-654-9228

12/02/2025

Is posture the problem or our daily habits?

Is it time to rethink the role of posture in our daily lives and focus on empowering habits that promote overall well-being? One of the most significant insights from clinical practice is that people often attribute their pain to posture, having been led to believe that upper crossed syndrome, lower crossed syndrome, or other postural issues are the root cause of their discomfort. However, pain is far more complex and multifaceted. While posture may play a minor role, it is our daily habits, movement patterns, emotional state, and recovery strategies that hold the key to unlocking true wellness. Interestingly, people rarely think about their posture until pain arises, at which point it becomes the primary scapegoat. This phenomenon is not a coincidence, but rather a result of conditioning. The posture industry often perpetuates fear and misinformation, leading practitioners and patients alike to seek a simplistic solution. However, the truth is that posture is not the enemy, and striving for perfection is unlikely to yield the desired results. Instead, let us shift our focus towards cultivating empowering habits that promote resilience, self-awareness, and overall well-being. By doing so, we can unlock a more balanced, vibrant, and healthy life.

10/19/2025

Low back pain? Walk your hands up your legs when you go from sitting to stand? Hip pain? Knee pain? Feel uneven? This could be your reason.

The iliopsoas is an essential muscle group for overall body function, stability, and movement, acting as the primary connector between your torso and your lower body. It is composed of the psoas major and the iliacus muscles. Its primary functions include flexing the hip, stabilizing the lower back, and enabling fundamental movements like walking, running, and sitting upright.

Core functions and importance

Hip flexion:
As the strongest hip flexor, the iliopsoas lifts the legs toward the torso. This action is critical for many daily activities, such as walking, running, climbing stairs, and getting up from a chair.

Postural support:
The psoas muscle originates from the lumbar spine and plays a key role in stabilizing the spine and pelvis. It supports the lumbar lordotic curve (the natural inward curve of the lower back) and helps maintain an upright, balanced posture while standing or sitting.

Core stability: Working with other core muscles, the iliopsoas helps stabilize the pelvis and spine. This stability is crucial for distributing the weight of the upper body over the hips and legs during movement, which helps prevent injuries.

Connection between upper and lower body: The iliopsoas connects the torso to the legs, allowing for efficient movement from your center of gravity. This deep-seated connection affects the quality and ease of your motion.

Impact of iliopsoas dysfunction:
Because of its central role, issues with the iliopsoas can lead to a variety of problems, including chronic pain and reduced mobility.

Pain and limited mobility: A tight, shortened, or weak iliopsoas can pull on the lumbar spine, leading to lower back pain, hip discomfort, and a limited range of motion.

Postural imbalances: Prolonged sitting can cause the iliopsoas to become short and tight. This can result in an excessive anterior pelvic tilt, which in turn increases the lumbar curve (hyperlordosis) and puts added stress on spinal discs and joints.

Hip and groin issues: Overuse from repetitive hip flexion, common in athletes such as dancers, runners, and soccer players, can cause iliopsoas tendinitis or bursitis. A clicking or snapping sensation in the hip can also occur with this condition.

Compensatory problems: When the iliopsoas is tight, other muscles in the back, hips, and legs may be forced to overcompensate. This can lead to imbalances and pain in seemingly unrelated areas, including the knees, buttocks, and hamstrings.

Do you want to get to the root cause of your pain and not just treat the symptoms?

You need to call us today.

908-654-9228

05/16/2025

Shoulder problem? Physical therapy not working? Ice/Heat not working? I have your answer for shoulder pain!

Does Active Release Technique really work?
Active Release Technique helps muscles heal, relieve pain and stiffness, and increase range of motion. A systematic review of nine studies found that ART decreases pain and improves motion and function.

Red light therapy, specifically low-level laser therapy (LLLT), can be a safe and effective way to reduce shoulder pain and inflammation. It works by using red and near-infrared light to pe*****te tissues, stimulate cellular activity, and promote natural healing processes. This can lead to pain relief, improved circulation, and increased range of motion.

Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) can be a non-invasive treatment option for shoulder pain, particularly for conditions like rotator cuff tendinopathy and calcific tendinitis. It involves using sound waves to stimulate the body's natural healing process. Studies suggest it can be effective, especially for calcific tendinitis,

These are cutting edge technologies that we offer at our office and patients are extremely happy with the results. Often as little as 6-8 treatments for most conditions..

Call today to schedule your evaluation and treatment.

908-654-9228

04/18/2025

Tennis elbow also known as lateral epicondylitis, occurs when a person strains the tendons in their forearm.
It’s usually a result of inflammation of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon.
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive activity. Although common in racket sports, it can also be seen in workplace injuries, particularly among painters, carpenters, and plumbers.

We help people with Tennis elbow everyday especially now that the weather is getting nicer and people are more active. Don't struggle with pain, give us a call today and let us help you!

908-654-9228

03/10/2025

Do you have running/sport injuries? I can help!

Aches and pains are common discomforts that can affect various parts of the body. They can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as stiffness, tenderness, and swelling.

Causes:
Muscle strain or injury:
Overuse, trauma, or repetitive motions can damage muscle fibers.
Joint problems:
Arthritis, osteoarthritis, and injuries can cause joint pain and stiffness.

Our misssion is to get to the root cause of your aches and pains, not just mask the symptoms. It's time to start taking care of your body and take measures to minimize future injuries.

Call us today for a consult!

908-654-9228

02/16/2025

Are you an athlete that is constantly having injuries? Tight & tender hips, calves, shin splints?

These are areas that are commonly over used and the source of pain and/or tight and tender soft tissues. Just because these are some common areas of injury that present into my office doesn't necessarily mean that this is where the problems are stemming from. I look at the biomechanics, body balances and the kinetic chain to find the "root" cause of the dysfunction and pain.

Do you want to improve your body's function? Improve performance? Limit injuries?

Whether you are a weekend warrior, in organized sports or exercise to stay in shape. We can help you.

You need to call us today!
908-654-9228

02/09/2025

Frozen Shoulder? Shoulder pain? Loss of movement? Tried PT? Minimal or no success? I can help!

Why is Active Release Therapy the Best Treatment Method for Frozen Shoulders?
ART aims to reduce the pain associated with a frozen condition shoulder by stretching the tissues and breaking down scar tissue, restricting normal movement in the shoulder joint and muscles. This method speeds the recovery process and allows the tissues in the joint to heal, preventing the chances of injury from recurring.

The main benefit is that it allows pain-free mobility and relief of symptoms that can be achieved by mobilizing the shoulder but is safer and more effective than surgery.

What are Some of the Techniques Used in addition to Active Release Therapy?
The techniques used include:

⦁ Massage

The therapist will often apply firm, deep strokes that focus on the hard-to-reach areas of the muscles and tendons. The pressure is applied to loosen tight tissues and help with mobility within the joint.

⦁ Stretching

This is used in many body areas where muscles have become short, tight, or spasmed. Stretching will help lengthen and relax the muscles to relieve pain. It is a safe and effective way of restoring normal movement.

⦁ Trigger point therapy

These are areas on the body where muscles become tense and painful, resulting in these symptoms. Trigger points are often found in the tendons at the back of the shoulder. The therapist will use thumb pressure to release these trigger points, which can alleviate pain and restore shoulder mobility.

⦁ Radial Shockwave therapy
⦁ Red Light Therapy

Stop living with pain and get your life back today.

Call today to schedule your appointment.
908-654-9228

01/05/2025

Happy New Year!!!

Do you have...
Shoulder pain?
Knee pain?
Ankle sprain/strain?
Plantar fasciitis?
Tennis elbow?
Golfers elbow?
Sever's Disease? (Growing pains)
Osgood - Schlatter disease? (Growing pains)
Carpal Tunnel syndrome?

Start the new year off right and begin taking care of those aches and pains that you keep putting off. We don't just treat your typical neck and back pain. We offer cutting edge technologies, myofascial release and soft tissue rehab to help you with acute/chronic pain and not just mask your symptoms.

Call us today and start getting relief!

908-654-9228

Call now to connect with business.

12/13/2024

MORTON'S NEUROMA?

Have you been told you need to be in a "boot"? Surgery? Painful injections? Change your footwear? Nothing working?

Morton's neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes. Morton's neuroma may feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or on a fold in your sock.

Morton's neuroma involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. This can cause a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. You may have stinging, burning or numbness in the affected toes.

Symptoms
Typically, there's no outward sign of this condition, such as a lump. Instead, you may experience the following symptoms:

A feeling as if you're standing on a pebble in your shoe
A burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes. Tingling or numbness in your toes?

In addition to these symptoms, you may find that removing your shoe and rubbing your foot often helps to relieve the pain but comes back.

When to see a doctor? NOW!!!

It's best not to ignore any foot pain that lasts longer than a few days. See your doctor if you experience a burning pain in the ball of your foot that's not improving, despite changing your footwear and modifying activities that may cause stress to your foot.

I have the solution for you, non-surgical, no painful injections. Call today to schedule your appointment today.

908-654-9228

11/27/2024

Do you have Sciatica or know someone that does?

The role of Active Release Techniques

Another way to try and solve the problem would be through the use of a specialized treatment called Active Release Techniques (ART). This is a form of therapy that involves manipulation of soft tissues (muscles, fascia, and nerves) in order to achieve a certain goal. In the setting of sciatica, ART can be used to reduce the spasm and remove adhesions of the muscle that may be entrapping the nerve. As the adhesions are removed through specific manual techniques, the nerve can slide better under the soft tissue, and sciatica symptoms can resolve relatively quickly. There are a number of things you can do to increase the efficacy of this treatment. Early start to treatment helps in quicker and long-lasting resolution of symptoms.

Give us a call today to start getting relief from Sciatica!

908-654-9228