Making healthy choices throughout the holiday season is challenging. Holidays are a busy time of giving, spending time with family, and celebrating with friends. We are bombarded with parties, tempting foods, and opportunities to eat too much. Way too much. And, oh, those cocktails, they are everywhere. To keep up your health, make a self-care plan for getting through the holidays.
 

When your baby is irritable all the time, it can get really frustrating. Parents with a colicky baby often don’t know how to help their baby feel better, and frequently worry that their baby is in pain. It’s a tough situation to be in, but chiropractic can help. 

Surfing requires a level of fitness and skill to do well. It requires the strength to paddle, dexterity to pop up, and balance to stay up. All of these actions require a healthy and flexible spine. If you don't take steps to maintain a healthy back, you won’t enjoy surfing for as long as you’d like. 

“Being a surfer means that you are at the mercy of thousands of pounds of water at any moment. It also means that the lower back takes a beating from the unnatural positions that you must take.

“I used to just deal with the pain because I had no other solution, but with adjustments, I can be ready to go for another session at a moment's notice.” —Jeffrey R., Golden Chiro patient

Taking time away from surfing because of low back pain can be frustrating. It’s hard to watch a good set roll in and miss out on the fun. But if you experience low back pain, you must get treatment as soon as you notice it’s an issue. Left untreated, surfers can get chronic low back pain, and eventually experience arthritic degeneration.

Moms-to-be should feel confident in their ability to carry and birth their baby just as they want to. It's your body and your baby. At Golden Chiropractic, we see our role as members of your support team—helping you have a healthy and successful pregnancy and birth.

Basing our prenatal recommendations on clinical experience and research, we treat the three most important components of a pain-free, uber-healthy pregnancy and successful birth:

1. Health of Mom and Baby
2. Mental Preparation
3. Physical Preparation

Chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and nutrition support optimal health and ease throughout your pregnancy, and beyond. Below you’ll find our general recommendations for your prenatal and postpartum pregnancy stages.

Understanding how your body is changing as you age, and what you can do to maintain fitness, are the keys to staying active at 40, 50, 65, and beyond.

When it comes to exercise and sports, the rules change as you age.

Our bodies are always changing, and after 40, those changes require certain lifestyle adjustments.

After 40, your athletic performance begins to decrease. After 65, you really need to carefully consider your fitness activities to stay active and avoid injuries like broken bones.

If you want to maintain an active lifestyle, you need to come to terms with these changes. By making the necessary adjustments, you'll reap fitness' rewards and avoid painful injuries.

Here's a list of 6 ways your body changes as you age, and what you can do about it.

Most people really don’t want to talk about “down there,” even with their healthcare professional. Let's face it — issues with urination and sexual dysfunction often feel embarrassing.

Pelvic floor dysfunction often results in leaking urine. It can also cause problems in our sex lives. It's a condition that often contributes to, and is linked to, acute and chronic low back pain, as well. These problems make us feel physically uncomfortable at best, and deeply ashamed at worst.

Did you know that 10 million individuals in the US have urinary incontinence?

It's really not that weird, and definitely not shameful! Neither is having sexual difficulties from pelvic floor dysfunction. Sometimes it's just a part of life we need to deal with. Pelvic pain and spasms, or urinating without intention during sneezing or coughing aren't a life sentence. Therapeutic interventions like chiropractic can really help.

Throwing out your back is a term used to describe what happens when the muscles in your back have been strained. This happens when you lift a heavy object incorrectly, overwork, stretch too far or awkwardly, or have improper posture.

When you throw out your back, you can’t live life fully. That’s not only painful, it’s also very stressful as you have a hard time working and doing the things you enjoy.

It’s important to know that “throwing out your back” isn’t a specific condition. When you suddenly experience back pain, the cause of your pain will be specific to you: your body, your lifestyle, your activities.

We're all familiar with stories about the old woman who falls and breaks her hip. What we're less familiar with are the devastating results of that hip-breaking fall.

If a woman aged 65 years or older is living independently and breaks her hip, one year later she has a:

• 50% chance of being unable to live independently
• 40% chance of being unable to walk independently
• 30% chance of no longer being able to get in and out of a bath
• 17% chance of death within the year

Anyone who's getting older—a.k.a. YOU—should be concerned about the effects of osteoporosis.

For many expectant moms, fears about delivery complications are very real. One of the most common fears associated with birthing is having their baby move into a breech position. The good news is that there are techniques and exercises that help keep babies out of the breech position. 

Babies are innately intelligent — they want to be in that ideal position for birth. When they aren’t able to get there before birth, chiropractic can help. 

Aging, as they say, isn’t for the faint-hearted. And, yes, growing older can have its challenges, but it doesn't have to mean a weak and unstable body.

Aging is often associated with a slower metabolism, loss of balance, loss of strength, reduced mobility and reduced range of motion. These common traits of aging ARE NOT inevitable, though. If you want to age strong, you have to prioritize a very important act of self-care: regular exercise.

If exercise were advertised on TV like pharmaceuticals, most people would “ask their doctor about” this "miracle" drug.

While exercise is not a patented drug, I do prescribe some form of it to almost every patient. Exercise is the best prescription for an excellent quality of life, especially as you move into your elder years. You can even see benefits if you begin exercising later in life.

Problems with breastfeeding can cause a lot of pain and confusion. When breastfeeding is hard, many mothers worry that their bond with their baby won’t be as strong. This is especially true if their delivery did not go as planned. Often, problems like poor weight gain, dribbling, or biting the nipple can be signs of a tongue tie. The fussiness that comes with difficult breastfeeding is often related to the stress of trying to feed despite a tongue-tie.

One of the easiest ways to prioritize your health is to let your smart watch do the thinking for you. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, and when you get health-smart with your watch's fitness features, it's easier to take good care of yourself. Easier = less stress and more health.

Here are my 4 favorite ways to optimize self-care with a smart watch.

My patients, and my staff, often hear me say, “Motion is lotion.” It’s one of my favorite sayings, because movement is one of the key ways you can take care of yourself. Your body is simply more healthy when you move — that's why you should prioritize your health by taking a walk instead of some other less-than-healthy stress-reliever (sugar and alcohol, I'm looking at you). 

You already know that you need to exercise, but did you know that healthy exercise doesn't have to be strenuous and time-consuming? You don’t need to go to the gym everyday for two hours, ride your bike for 20 miles, or swim 60 laps in the pool to get benefits. These activities are all great for you, but sometimes you just can’t put in the time or energy. 

When you’re pressed for time or lacking energy, walking is a small act of self-care that you can fit in pretty easily — no matter where you are. Walking is an easy way to care for yourself, and its health benefits are physical, mental and emotional. 

Birth is traumatic for both mom and baby. During birth, your baby transitions from a zero-gravity environment to feeling the full effects of gravity. Feeling the forces of the world for the first time acutely affects their nervous system. Labor and birth can leave your baby feeling tense and may lead to difficulty with feeding.

How does the trauma of birth affect feeding?

Some babies will present with difficulty turning their head to the right or left. This often means trouble switching between breasts, as their neck cannot completely turn to face the breast for proper latch. Parents often notice their baby is favoring one side, and this could be the reason. Chiropractic can help.

When you can't keep training for that big event without pain, you really begin to worry.

Soft tissue injuries are not only debilitating, they're frustrating. You feel crummy and achy in your muscles. You're irritable from moving less and not getting those exercise endorphins. Worst of all, you're anxious about those training schedule setbacks. Soft tissue injuries don't just mess with your body, they mess with your head and stress you out.

When home treatments stop working, it may be time for blading.

Have you ever had lower back pain that appeared out of nowhere? Like one day your lower back is just achy, tight, or stiff? You’ve had no trauma, no accident, no sports injury. There’s just suddenly pain. What’s going on?

It could be time spent on your computer. Maybe your computer posture or poor ergonomics are putting a strain on your low back. Many of our patients are surprised to learn that not moving much, or staying in one position for too long, can cause pain.

We need computers to get just about anything done these days. Low back pain from computer use can feel unavoidable, and frustrating, but there are ways to stop it.

Vertigo is scary.

Sometimes it’s feeling dizzy and light-headed. Maybe the dizziness only happens when you look to one side or the other. Maybe it comes when you extend your head or just look up.

Sometimes you may feel like the room is spinning. Other times you feel like you’re moving when you’re actually still.

Vertigo can affect your balance and your other senses.

Vertigo can make you fear falling down, like you’re not able to control your ability to function. Our patients with vertigo symptoms have good reason to feel nervous and uneasy. Vertigo makes you feel out of control.

As a former competitive athlete, Kirstin knows first hand the value of massage for keeping people active for life. “Massage has helped me with recovery from injuries and has allowed me to continue to lead an active lifestyle.” Kirstin has been active her whole life, and focused her career on keeping people moving.

Her favorite thing about massage is “knowing that I can provide a service that helps individuals feel better. Massage can help with pain management, stress reduction, lymphatic drainage, and muscle tightness.”

Life is stressful. 

These days it seems we are constantly bombarded with crises to handle and fires to put out. It can often seem like there are just not enough hours — or energy — to manage it all.

We’re all feeling more uncertain at this moment in history. With the hit of the pandemic and 24-hour news cycle, the world seems more unsafe, and more frightening, than it used to.

The neck, back, or shoulder pain we may be feeling from just working and managing our lives can add fatigue and tension. It's even more stressful when you've got an injury.

There may be relationship demands: sometimes coming from our jobs, sometimes from our kids, our spouses, or our parents. We can often feel pressure from all of these relationship stressors at the same time.  

We may be feeling financial stress as prices keep going up, and our go-tos for managing life are becoming less available. 

Endometriosis can be annoying, and terrifying. The unpredictability regarding your own body when you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis can drive you crazy. Management of this condition is often tricky, and over time dealing with it becomes tiresome.

Some women end up feeling completely hopeless. It’s a condition that can leave you wondering if you will ever be able to conceive, or ever have a consistent, normal period. It’s a lot to handle, and the symptoms can make life difficult.  

"That chiropractic helps people through a hands-on, non-pharmaceutical route is mind-blowing to me. I love that chiropractic helps people overcome pain, understand their bodies, and return to activities they love."

Women’s bodies go through an enormous amount of changes during pregnancy. Some of the changes are confusing, others are downright frightening. Suddenly having pain in places where you didn’t have pain before can cause some serious stress. It's especially challenging when the pain and discomfort negatively affect your ability to perform daily tasks.

Stressed, overwhelmed, tense — being a mother is a full-time job. And while it’s a very rewarding job, it can also wreak havoc on your body. One condition we see in stressed out moms has been lovingly termed by chiro intern Michaela Peterson as “mom shoulders.” Read Michaela’s blog post explaining the symptoms and treatments for mom shoulders. 

Sometimes our bodies need signals to rest and relax. That’s where the Craniosacral therapy (CST) and Myofascial Unwinding (MFR) can really help. I’ve seen patients with headaches, low back and sacral pain, or pregnancy related tension all get relief with CST/MFR.

"My belief is this: if you can move your body easily and without pain, you can then focus on everything that makes you happy. Chiropractic helps so many people get back into their lives and the joy that comes along with it."

Expectant moms feel pain and discomfort. Many moms-to-be suffer frequently from low back pain, pelvic joint pain, and groin pain. These pains come from the changes in a woman's body that occur with pregnancy.

As the body prepares for birth, connective and supportive tissues expand and contract rapidly and extensively. This causes tension, spasms, and pulling on nerve endings. The result is a body that's out of balance, and a mom who is feeling extremely uncomfortable.

With the Webster Technique, moms often feel instant waves of relief and calm.

Chronic lower back pain can be disabling. Not only for your ability to move as you'd like, but also for your outlook on life. Low back pain can make you anxious — expecting the worst and unable to focus on anything else. Chronic back pain negatively affects not only your body, but your work and your most important relationships, too. In fact, chronic pain rewires your brain in a way that produces negative emotions. 

Dr. Alex has put together a helpful guide for helping our runners avoid injury. This post contains an oveview of the contents and a download link so you can keep it handy. 

Making snow or sand angels when you were a kid was fun. It was also great for preserving some range of motion in your arms, shoulders, and side body.

Starting January 1, 2021, Golden Chiropractic will be a “Non-Participating” Medicare Provider. 

Many patients are wondering what this change means for them, or their loved ones. Don’t worry, we’re still here for you, we’re just changing the way we manage Medicare payments. You'll find answers to your questions in this blog post.

Lowerback compression and hip stiffness can mean you need to get moving! 

Regain pelvic mobility with an overball. 

Running on hard, flat surfaces for miles and miles can cause IT band issues. Road runners especially need to be on the lookout for symptoms. If you have a gradual onset of pain with running, downhill running or walking, and/or going down stairs, it could be IT band syndrome. 

As the status on viral spread changes, so do our protocols. We've always used only the best hospital-grade professional cleaning solutions — 99.99% effective in destroying harmful germs, viruses, and bacteria. The only thing that's new is our reference for operational guidelines.

If you feel tension or burning pain in your neck or upper back, this stretching sequence is for you. 

Do you know how many chiropractic visits you have per year under your insurance plan? 

Many of our patients have plans with 20 visits per year. That means these patients likely have chiropractic coverage to use before they expire in the new year.

Ben Jacques-Maynes joins Dr. Goldi at Golden Chiropractic.

Long hours hunched over your computer or digital device can cause pain and discomfort.

If you’re not moving often, the poor posture associated with screen use may lead to long-term damage. 

The good news is that there are some simple stretches you can do to help keep you out of pain. 

My patients often tell me their “hips feel off.” I also see patients who notice one leg seems shorter than the other. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you can get relief immediately.  In this video I show you how to do a series of simple movements to re-align your pelvis. Get out your mat,…

Alex Barone loves to connect with patients and teach them about their health. “My favorite thing about working with patients is that I get to use my hands to restore function and actually feel changes in people’s health.” Alex was planning to become a surgeon, but realized it didn’t align with her values. Alex believes…

Repetitive activities such as typing, grasping gardening tools, pulling weeds, and swinging your arm to hit a tennis ball can cause pain and discomfort. If you’re not stretching properly, these activities can even lead to injury. The good news is that there are some simple stretches you can do to help keep you out of…

Teen's social activities haved moved mostly online.

One day I found my daughter using 3 screens at the same time! She was on her smartphone three-way video chatting with her best friends, playing Animal Crossing on her Nintendo Switch with another friend, AND watching season 7 of her latest Netflix binge! I was both horrified and amazed.

I love being able to meet new people and get them feeling better. Currently a 13 quarter chiropractic student at Palmer College of Chiropractic West, Anne is interning at Golden Chiropractic. In her training, Anne has performed physical, neurologic, and orthopedic examinations and other procedures. She has diagnosed and treated musculoskeletal conditions. She’s manipulated the…

Many women have low back and abdominal pain during their period. Primary Dysmenorrhea, the medical term for menstrual cramps, is very common. Cramps can be disabling for women who also experience headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This can really add to the stress we feel when trying to keep our lives running.   While it’s tempting…

So Excited to Offer Runners and Cyclists Merchandise from Jakroo 

  The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor are tragic events. Tragedies that are not isolated events, but three of many in a long series of injustices. We are seeing, yet again, the laying down of another layer of the prejudice that supports the systemic racism that built our country. The…

Wait, there’s a thing called COVID-TOES? Yep, I’m adding Covid-Toes to the symptoms list. Chiropractors are Essential Service Providers, so I’ve been seeing patients throughout the entire shelter-in-place order. I’ve also been carefully monitoring the literature for information on clinical presentations for Covid-19 in primary care.  In addition to what we know, the virus has…

Hugging during Social Distancing Studies show that hugs have a very powerful effect on our brains and help us achieve a state of relaxation and comfort, while allowing us to better deal with stress and fear.  Hugs can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress and relieve anxiety.  During this time of Social Distancing I…

At Golden Chiropractic, we’re here to support your health. We’ve always prioritized your health and well-being above all else. That’s why we are closely following the guidelines set by the CDC. Dr. Goldi is now wearing a Cloth Face Covering during treatment times. Click here for CDC  advice on the use of Cloth Face Coverings to…

Outbreaks can be stressful. Fear and anxiety can be such overwhelming feelings. We all react differently to stressful situations. And the way you react today, may not be how you react tomorrow.  Signs of stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include: Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your…

“KEEP CALM” is generally good advice, but sometimes it’s nearly impossible to stay calm, especially in times of crisis and emergency. Our daily lives already place stress on us , and when the outside world adds to that stress, we can suffer from anxiety, depression, and other stress-related illnesses like headaches and heart problems. Stress…

With the current news about the corona virus, we know that you have a lot of questions on your mind.

We'd like to help alleviate any concerns you may have about your health. We've always been here for you, and we'll continue to prioritize your health and well-being with strict cleaning protocols.

As a mother of two VERY active teenagers, I know about those “growing pains” and sports-related injuries. As parents, we can prioritize helping our kids prevent injuries as a form of self-care. What we can’t do is speed up the natural development of their biomechanics. This is why growing teens are especially susceptible to Sever’s disease.

Who doesn’t love a come-back? I know I do, especially when it’s the amazing Darlene Ocampo who is coming back to Golden Chiropractic. Darlene worked with me at the Golden Chiropractic clinic from 2014-2016. She left us for a while to grow in her massage skills, knowledge, and experience. During that time, Darlene — provided…

You may have heard, you may not have heard. Word spreads fast in a small community. My son Chase was injured on 1/18/20 while riding his mountain bike up at UCSC. He has a concussion, fractures in both his arms, and a fracture in his skull. After four days in the hospital, he was released…

How do Affirmations Work? Affirmations work by stimulating the areas in our brains that make us more likely to affect positive changes for our health. Just as doing repetitive exercises improves physical health, affirmations improve our mind. Positive affirmation repetitions can change our thinking patterns. Eventually, we begin to think and act in healthier ways.…

We are optimizing the patient experience to make it easier for you. For most of us, online booking simplifies daily life. Here at Golden Chiropractic, we want to focus on getting you back into life as painlessly as possible, so we’re updating to a simpler management system. You can now schedule appointments online, pay your…

We’ve seen ice used for injuries during sports events for much of our lives. Ice has been the traditional go-to for almost as long as I can remember. But ice is not always the best answer for your injury as you go through the healing process. Sometimes heat is better. Sometimes neither heat nor ice is the answer. Sometimes it's best to use both. 

The question you need to ask yourself (or better yet, your chiropractor, sports medicine doctor, or physical therapist) is, “Will ice help me or hurt me?” The answer depends on the cause of your pain and the best course of treatment for your specific circumstances.

Like most healthcare providers, we want to focus on what’s best for you. Overtime, we have seen a relationship between simplifying our operations and delivering a higher quality of care. To maintain this higher quality of care, we’ve made a decision about insurance providers. We will improve patient care by limiting the number of insurance…

How Does Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Show Up? It’s often a 12 year-old female that feels spine pain, primarily in her upper back. She has one higher shoulder, along with a protruding shoulder blade and protruding ribs on the same side as her spinal curvature. She often feels a lot of pain while sleeping. Lying flat…

There are 3 common reasons for triathlete’s susceptibility to injury — inflexibility, inadequate range of motion, and inadequate stability. You can reduce your odds of injury with a specific exercise routine for triathlete self-care. These 5 exercises increase your flexibility, range of motion, and stability.  Shoulder exercises to help prevent and rehab rotator cuff tendonitis.…

Ashley chose Dr. Goldi as her mentor, so she’ll be working in our office for a while. We asked Ashley a few questions to help you get to know her better. Update! Ashley graduated in September from Palmer, just like me! She is a board certified and California licensed chiropractor. Ashley’s working here to learn the…

Here in Santa Cruz County we have a great climate for Triathlon training. We can run at Big Basin, Nisene Marks, and West Cliff Drive. We can swim around the Wharf in Capitola. We can bike in many beautiful places — on dirt or on pavement.  Triathletes need to train a lot, and there are…

Hemp has been a wellness tool for thousands of years. What the ancients knew from observation, we now have science to explain. It’s the way hemp works chemically with the human body. The body creates compounds called endocannabinoids, while hemp produces phytocannabinoids. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) maintains human health and function. Scientists believe that its…

I have a patient who has frequent pain in her lower back and leg. It began some years ago when she herniated a disc at her L5 vertebrae on the left. She is a mother to two children and a small business owner. You may know her as Dr. Goldi. Like most of us here…

Many people are motivated after the holidays to cleanse. They want to clear out the sweet, rich food and drinks like alcohol and hot chocolate. While this is a great time to cleanse, spring is an even better time. Spring is connected to the Liver. In Chinese Medicine we think of each season in…

I don’t know a woman who doesn’t struggle to balance motherhood, marriage, work, exercise, and eating right.   The pressure to achieve expertise in every area of our lives leads to internal and external disharmony. Overwhelm, guilt, and exhaustion are the only things we end up achieving. The truth is, work-life balance is a myth.…

Pain radiating from the mid back which wraps around the waist and travels towards the groin could be Maignes Syndrome. Patients with this condition also tend to experience pain in the lower back, hip, and groin.

Maignes syndrome can be worrisome for patients. No one wants to experience pain in their groin area! Luckily it doesn’t present any real danger to the groin. But, it can cause some pelvic floor issues which need to be addressed.

Is pain holding you back in life? Are you avoiding activities you once enjoyed because of pain? Do you miss gardening, being active with your family, running, or riding a bicycle? Are you afraid you’ll not be able to enjoy life again, because of your pain? The good news is that pain can be managed.…

Plantar Fasciitis Can Be Life-Altering Nurses frequently spend 12 to 16 hours on their feet during any given day. Being on your feet that much can lead to foot problems. It’s no surprise that our patient who works as a nurse has pain in the bottom of his foot. He feels the pain in the…

Do you love to get outside and play? Are you a swimmer, cyclist, hiker, gardener, surfer, or trail runner? Maybe you love to hit the gym or train for more traditional sports like football or soft ball? We all know that all this exercise is great for our health, but it also increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. You can decrease the risk of injury by adding a quick warm-up to your exercise routine.

Everyone’s using fitness tracking these days, and that’s a good thing. We love it when our patients tell us they are paying attention to their health. You can track many, many, MANY things with a fitness watch. At our Golden Chiropractic office, patients ask questions about what to track and why. If you’re new to…

It’s easy to stop paying attention to your fitness. Life events tend to impact on our time. Our physical activity and our diets often get shoved aside. Long commutes, a new child, sedentary jobs mean less mountain biking and beach running. These life events often lead to weight gain. Significant weight gain has potential…

When you feel pain in your hand, wrist, or forearm, you may begin to worry that you've got carpal tunnel syndrome. Since most of us use computers and devices, it's natural to suspect the pain is from this notorious office-work condition. We do see a lot of carpal tunnel in our office, but it's not always from office work. There are quite a few reasons you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Where have you been working over the last few years? Your kitchen table? Curled up on your couch? Reclined in bed? If this is you, you may be asking for a world of pain, and some chronic posture problems in the future.

Working from home may have many benefits, but supporting a pain-free lifestyle often isn't one of them. If you're experiencing pain in your neck, back, or even hips and legs, it could be from your home office set-up.

Poor ergonomics could mean a lot more intermittent pain today, and maybe some chronic pain from a serious condition later in life. Is it time to assess the set-up of your home work station?

We want to give you the incredible chiropractic experience that you deserve. Golden Chiropractic has been committed to providing the highest level of care since 2008. We want to keep this commitment to all of our patients, now and into the future. Patients seek care with us because we provide expert, evidence-based, and individualized care.…

It’s that time of year, again! Sore throats. Coughs. Runny noses. Or worse—moderate flu complications like sinus and ear infections. Some patients even suffer from serious flu complications like pneumonia. 

 While the air quality is bad, support and protect your lungs with acupuncture and herbs.   Tuesday, November 27 and December 4 6pm – 8pm Golden Chiropractic 9053 Soquel Drive, Aptos RSVP for Community Acupuncture  

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient. It helps the body to absorb calcium, which promotes bone growth. Strong bones keep you moving and living life. The body produces its own stores of vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light. Most people just need 5 to 10 minutes of  UVB and UVA sunlight—without sunscreen—to synthesize vitamin…

It’s that time of year again! Pumpkins, gifts, parties, and the end of opportunities to use your health care benefits. Things change on January 1st. Start planning to use your benefits in the next few months, before they’re gone. Deductibles reset, plans change. If you’ve been putting off taking care of your health all year,…

by Carmen McIntyre, LAc   Last month I attended a three day acupuncture seminar in Oakland where I learned about using Master Tung points. I’m excited and inspired about Master Tung points as a treatment for my patients. What Are Master Tung Points? Tung’s acupuncture is a complete system. It includes its own channels, unique…

by Carmen McIntyre LAc My daughter was back to school for no less than 2 weeks and BAM! She got a head cold.  Luckily it was mild with no fever or missed school days.  I used herbs, supplements, healthy food and acupuncture to ensure a quick recovery. My daughter had no lingering or secondary symptoms.…

Non-Harmful Sunscreen is Best Sunscreen use has risen. That’s great news! Protecting your skin from harmful sun rays can save your life.   The problem, though, is most conventional sunscreen products. These chemical sunscreens typically use one or more harmful chemicals. These chemicals include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate.  Some Sunscreens Cause Problems, Disrupting…

Patients Ask, We Deliver! Dr. Goldi just created an account with Biotics Research for ordering nutritional supplements. Dr. Weinstein retired in March and has since referred many of his former patients to Golden Chiropractic. We will be carrying their products based on many requests from Dr. Weinstein’s patients. An online patient ordering option is available…

Cupping therapy has many benefits, that's why all of our healthcare professionals offer it. If you need relief from: 

• painful trigger points
• painful muscle tension
• limited mobility and range of motion

cupping may help. If we believe cupping would help you, we'll apply RockPods — silicone cups that stick to your skin to help relieve your pain and soreness, as well as improve your range of movement.

I often see patients suffering for years because they’re sleeping on the wrong mattress. Sleeping like this is terrible for your health. Not only does an uncomfortable night’s sleep rob you of energy, it also causes many health problems.Poor sleep increases stress, pain, and emotional distress. It also reduces memory and cognitive performance. my practice, I often see neck and back pain that results from bad mattresses.....

Whiplash isn’t just caused by car crashes

Whiplash comes from any motion causing your head to forcefully and quickly move backward and then forward. This motion often injures bones, discs, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other tissues of the neck and spine.

If you’re like most women, you rip that bra off the moment you walk in your door. Straps falling off, underwires that dig in, shoulder pain, back pain, breast pain— we know our bra is there throughout the day, and not for good reasons.

Back when I was in chiropractic school, I attended a conference. Lance Armstrong’s chiropractor was there introducing us to the benefits of using kinesiology tape. For those who don’t know, that’s what RockTape is – kinesiology tape. He used it with the professional cyclists for treating repetitive strain on the knees and IT bands. One One of my fellow students had an enormous bruise from being hit by a football. We applied the tape, and after 3 days, the bruise had disappeared. It left an impression on me, for sure. It was magic...

Having just returned from spring break in Bear Valley with my kids, I have to say, “Yes! We NEED vacations!” Away from daily stress, being completely present with my family, skiing – it felt good. Many in my community agree that vacation is good for you, too. When I asked my Facebook friends,  “What are the health benefits of taking a vacation?” many responded with their beliefs about taking planned breaks:

Today’s technology-centered lifestyle is killing our necks and shoulders.

Our desktop computers and mobile devices are giving us pain. Add in a long commute, and our bodies begin to show negative symptoms. We begin to experience conditions associated with poor posture and improper weight distribution. Shoulder impingement and text neck, are two prime examples. 

Introducing the All-New PRO SPORT Pain Stick   CBD CLINIC™ is the first and only family of FDA-registered Topical Pain Relief Ointments & Creams combining cannabidiol (CBD) and pain-relieving ingredients. Our most popular and powerful ointment is now available in a convenient twist-bottom tube applicator! $80 The CBD CLINIC PAIN STICK is 30 grams of…

Do you find yourself eating mindlessly? Do you turn to food for comfort? Are your food cravings controlling you? Do you beat yourself up over unhealthy food choices? Are you feeling stuck and don’t know where to start to change unhealthy eating habits? If any of these sound familiar, my Mindful Eating Group Program is…

Many of our patients experience shoulder pain and limited shoulder movement. They often describe the pain as a pinched nerve. When they come in to see us, we frequently diagnose the condition causing the pain as Shoulder Impingement.

Use Your Breath to Protect Your Back Low back pain: almost everyone has felt it and been frustrated by it. The good news is that there are some simple and effective ways to mitigate and prevent it. Belly breathing is one effective technique for relieving anxiety, stress, pain or tension. 

Everyday we decide how our day will go, whether it’s by making a conscious choice, or just reacting to what happens. I choose to make conscious choices. I declare my intentions. Then I write them down, and review them daily.  Words Guide Our Intentions My overarching word for the year: Alignment. I want to look…

New Year’s Resolutions often go like this: I’m overweight. I need to go on a diet. I join a gym and go five days a week for the first two weeks. I feel guilt and shame when I fall off course. I eat three slices of pizza instead of just one. I feel like a…

 Low Back Yoga: Easy Breath and Stretching Techniques for Easing Low Back Pain with Ashlee Tatum Thursday, March 15th  at 6:00pm Low Back Class is designed to relieve pain in the low back through accessible breath and movement techniques. It will give you tools you can use throughout your day to encourage ease…

I get the inspiration to write on certain topics from my patients.  I believe that reflecting on where we’ve been, what we’ve chosen, and how it affected us is the starting point for making decisions for the healthiest tomorrow.  It’s my goal as a health care provider to treat the whole person, so I look…

Health insurance. Ugh. No one likes thinking about it. Especially during the holiday season. I’m sorry to tell you, though, you should think about it. Right now. It’s the end of the year, and you may have benefits you’ll lose on January 1st! Think about it. Are You Taking Advantage of Your Deductible? The deductible,…

What Self-Care REALLY Means Self-care is a way of life for me. Chiropractic adjustments, nourishing food, and long walks are a regular part of my week. But self-care for me also means self-love, self-improvement, and self-healing. I work to ensure the most authentic, aligned version of me shows up in the world. Self-care means getting…

Waking up with a neck that can't move is scary.

Have you ever woken up with an intense spasm in your neck, or pain when you try to move your neck? The cause of your limited mobility could be Acquired Torticollis – otherwise known as "crick in the neck."

Do you suffer from neck pain and poor sleep? Do you find yourself trying a new pillow every few months? Still trying to find the "perfect" pillow?

Do you know what makes a pillow perfect for YOU? We do! 

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called “TMJ,” cause not only aches and pains in your jaw, they can also cause a lot of frustration, anger, irritation, and sadness.

At Golden Chiropractic, it’s our job to figure out if we can help when others haven’t been able to. Sometimes, chiropractic care is the solution for TMJ. It helps to understand the symptoms and the causes in order to identify the best treatment.

I've seen the symptoms quite a few times over the years—sitting slightly crooked, leaning to one side, and away from the opposite buttock. Patients may complain of low back pain on one side, and buttock pain with radiating ‘sciatic’ pain down the leg to the back of the thigh. Often the pain is worse with driving and sitting. I often instruct these patients to unload their pockets. Then I see it—an enormous wallet pulled from a back pocket.

Many parents worry that their child’s backpack is too heavy. Heavy packs can lead to neck, shoulder and low back pain. Even worse, a backpack can lead to poor posture that will have long term effects on a child’s spine. 

How Does Your Fee Structure Affect My Care?  At Golden Chiropractic, we simply don’t believe that an adjustment in isolation is best for long term health and wellness. We deliver Massage and/or Myofascial Release with your chiropractic adjustment. Releasing soft tissues eases the adjustment, and helps the results last longer.   Unfortunately, many insurance providers will…

I’ve learned the hard way what happens when I stop taking care of myself: I FEEL SICK AND TIRED OF FEELING SICK AND TIRED! I feel overwhelmed because the expectations I put on myself are very high. When I start to get TOO BUSY. The first thing I always let go of without even noticing is my exercise routine. Then I skip an adjustment because I’m too busy catching up with other priorities.  Not far behind that comes take-out at a restaurant or just picking up tacos at the brewery...

Anesthall Topical Analgesic: We’ve Used This Over and Over and Over. Our Patients Love It! Advanced Pharmaceutics offers a product that helps to promote a pain free life. Anesthall Topical Analgesic is available as a pain relieving cream, and a pain relieving balm for use as a topical agent that temporarily relieves minor aches…

We are thrilled that Amy will be with us, honing her skills and helping us grow. She will be shadowing Dr. Goldi in the clinic thru early September.  Make your appointment, or just drop by and say Hi to Amy.

A patient recently shared with me that she was so overwhelmed she felt paralyzed, defeated and unsettled. She didn’t feel like a good wife, a good mother, or a good business owner. She was trying to do too much. She was doing a little bit of everything, and felt that nothing turned out as good as she wanted...

While my Chiropractic Assistant Heidi is on leave, I’d like to say THANKS to my friends who’ve stepped up and helped out at the front desk. My big lesson this summer is the Art of Asking for Help. So thank you to Yuan, Ingrid, Veronica, Mona, Amanda and Amy for your smiling friendly faces at…

Pamela Cox is joining the Golden Chiropractic team, and boy, are we excited about having her in the clinic. In order for you to get to know Pamela, and understand how she can help you thrive, we’ve interviewed her. 

Daily commutes and long drives are hard on our bodies. Burning pain in the back of the neck and/or across the back of the shoulders is very common for those who drive a lot.

The good news is that you CAN ease this pain, and work towards preventing it.

To help, I've put together this list of 8 things you can do to avoid neck and back pain from driving.

Do you know when to use…Heat vs. Cold? A good rule of thumb is to apply COLD to an acute injury. These injuries are typically sudden and may be accompanied by a sharp pain. H EAT can play a role in relieving pain and discomfort for chronic conditions such as arthritis and muscular tension. Using…

Good Driving Posture for a Healthy Back

Good Driving Posture for a Healthy Back You understand the importance of ergonomics at your workstation, but have you considered the ergonomics of your driving position? The time you spend driving is time that can either be used to reduce the possibility of pain and discomfort, or to encourage back pain and neck pain. Let’s…

Dr. Goldi is a Bike Ambassador for Ecology Action and supports Bike2Work Santa Cruz. Listen to her give you tips about giving yourself the opportunity to move your body everyday, and watch her family riding for health and happiness here. 

Could your SuperSize Purse be giving you neck pain and musculoskeletal problems? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that great bag that carries everything is not good for your body. Big, heavy bags cause quite a few health issues.

Pregnancy is Tough. RockTape is Tougher.  Pregnant mammas visit Golden Chiropractic because we offer a natural drug-free approach to relieving that all too common lower back pain. Many moms say they feel more energized, get better sleep, and show up better in other areas of their life when they are adjusted regularly throughout their pregnancies. The mamma…

Harness the Power of your Mind to Heal Your Body Healing Affirmation Card WorkshopWednesday, Jan. 31, 6:30 to 8:30pmGolden Chiropractic9053 Soquel Drive, Aptos, (831) 291-3330 Affirmations are positive statements that help you to visualize, and believe in, positive changes to your life, health and career. During this workshop we will discuss ways to create affirmations…

“Doctors, professional athletes and other patients have reported truly amazing results.” Check out their website CBC CLINIC over-the-counter, non-prescription ointments and creams are FDA-registered, made in an FDA-registered facility. They have provided remarkable relief to NFL players, other professional athletes and patients across the US since its introduction to health & wellness professionals in early…

At Golden Chiropractic our motto is, “Get Out of Pain and Back Into Life.” Getting back into life means different things for different people. For me it means being there for my family, enjoying physical activities outdoors, and giving my patients the best care possible.

I like seeing happy families. I believe that when mom and dad are out of pain, the whole family is happier. My own family is important to me, so I really try to take care of myself. I want to be happy and healthy for my family and with my family. 

We strive to be happy. We think being happy means getting what you want. But is getting what you want truly the secret to finding happiness? “Happy” Originally Meant “Lucky” Lucky enough to be prosperous, lucky enough to have sufficient wealth. Lucky enough to be pleased, and to be content. Historically, being happy meant having enough…

Organized physical activities are healthy, keep the body moving, and build confidence. With sports, kids learn to care for their bodies, be mindful of their thoughts, and develop social skills. Sports activites set kids up for a happier, healthier life.

While great for child development, sports also come with the risk of injury. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help kids avoid injuries from their favorite sports.

Eckhart Tolle believes we create and maintain problems because they give us a sense of identity. Perhaps this explains why we often hold onto our pain far beyond its ability to serve us. For this reason, I believe it’s important to check in with yourself occassionally, and make a conscious choice to:..

Thanks Nick Trujillo for giving us the opportunity to tell Santa Cruz County locals that we value their health, and how we help alleviate back pain.

In my practice I see a lot of stressed out women. As mothers, wives, educators, caretakers, entrepreneurs, and grandmothers, we give and give and give. And we often forget to nurture ourselves.  When time is short, and life gets busy, the first thing we tend to give up is our own self care...

Call (831) 291-3330 or request an appointment online to get relief and achieve optimal health No matter your priorities, life is better when you feel good. To feel as good as you can, Golden Chiropractic offers chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and massage. We believe self-care is the best way to achieve a happy, balanced life. We’re here to help you start and stay on the road to a life well-lived...

Patients often come creeping across the lobby. They cling to the counter, leaning towards any surface of security. These patients are unable to stand up straight. These patients are in a lot of pain. They often tell me they think they have a pinched nerve.

But it's not a pinched nerve, it’s Facet Joint Syndrome.

We know most of our beloved senior patients have Medicare, and that comes with questions about chiropractic coverage. Since we love helping our seniors get the care they need, we wrote this blog post to help explain how we work with Medicare. 

Last week I pushed “Pause” on life. I snuck away to the mountains for fresh tracks and precious family time. After the holiday season, I wanted January to be the un-busiest month of the year. I wanted to curl up by the fire and enjoy a good book. I wanted to binge watch something on…

Join us March 7th at 6pm   Odds are, you’re going to live a long life, and we’d like to talk about planning for your best health. Join us March 7th at 6pm at Golden Chiropractic Office to Learn More Click Here to Let Us Know You’re Coming Dr. Goldi will be sharing her…

Your Body is a Healing Machine. We humans are set up to survive. Our bodies, for the most part, come equipped with a kind of wise defense system that protects us against invaders. Like all defense systems, it must be maintained under all conditions in order to function properly. This innate intelligence in your body…

Fall Nutrition Means Bone Broth The high collagen content of bone broth supports gut health, which is crucial to immune function. That’s what we learned this month from Melissa Pereira Gelin MTCM, L.Ac., one of the acupuncturists who practice at our Golden Chiropractic clinic.   That’s what we love about our team here. All…

I’m passionate about promoting activities and organizations that promote healthy active lifestyles for families That is why I support Ecology Action‘s biannual Bike to School Day. I’ve been the on-site coordinator for seven years at Bradley Elementary School (where my children go to school).  I’ve enjoyed watching this program grow at Bradley. This fall we had a record…

Desk jobs, binge watching, long commutes — it all adds up to some major health risks. Prolonged sitting is linked to several serious illnesses — various types of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Prolonged sitting also contributes to low back and leg pain, known as Sciatica.

“My daughter has the weirdest sleeping positions. One day she woke up with horrible neck pain and she couldn’t move her neck. Dr. Goldi was able to get her in right away. Adjustments and gentle massage really helped.” Ingrid Becker. La Selva Beach, CA A mother asks, “Is it crazy that I’m taking my child…

Because Our Motto is “Get Out of Pain and Back Into Life” My name is Dawn Weathersbee. I’ve known Dr. Goldi for years, because of bike racing, and particularly through involvement with Velo Bella about 10 years ago. Currently I create and edit blog, email, and social media content for Golden Chiropractic. As a result of…

Chiropractic care is natural and safe before, during, and after pregnancy. Many pregnant women suffer from low back pain, sciatica and neck tension. Dr. Goldi herself was adjusted throughout her two pregnancies and found significant relief from low back pain and aches associated with a normal pregnancy. This kept her active and doing the work she enjoys, instead of being unhappy and uncomfortable...

We want to offer a huge welcome to Arleen Pietrzak CMT, CPT, who is joining the Golden Chiropractic team. Arleen enjoys helping people relieve pain and feel more comfortable through coaching, education, and body awareness sessions. Much like the Golden Chiropractic team, Arleen loves empowering people to take an active role in healing their…

Text Neck is a common condition thanks to all the time we spend on our devices. Leaning forward for prolonged periods of time, looking at our phones, causes stress injuries. The poor posture associated with text neck can cause neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches. As a culture, we need reminders to correct our posture.

Can’t Make Your Appointment? We Need to Know Effective June 1, 2016  24 Hour Appointment Cancellation Policy Golden Chiropractic has a 24 hour cancellation/rescheduling policy. If you miss, cancel, or change your appointment with less than 24 hours notice of the time of the appointment, you will be charged a fee of $25 payable at…

Veronica Romero is the face you see at the front desk when you visit Golden Chiropractic. When asked by our marketing consultant, DAWN WEATHERSBEE, about her favorite things about working at Golden Chiropractic, Veronica shared that what she loves most about working in our Aptos offices is the culture we have created:

 I’m learning to stand on my head.   Thanks CrossFit Aptos… …for Re-introducing Me to My Core! Last week the mountains were calling…and after many, many attempts I did do a proper headstand. I’m always telling you to work out, take care of yourself, eat properly.  You know why? Because it just makes time with…

Summer is in full swing, and it’s a time of year when we have the opportunity to relax, play outdoors, and generally reconnect to family and ourselves at a more leisurely pace.   Dedicating time to enjoying the long daylight hours and more inviting weather should be a top priority for self-care. Take advantage…

Simple Meditation, Wherever, Whenever Three years ago when I was in a significant amount of pain following a back injury I turned to this practice of breathing as a natural way to cope with my pain. Belly breathing is an effective technique that can be used to calm yourself if you experience suffering in life…

Who knew that when those bugs were on their backs, running their legs in the air, they were getting stronger abs? 

Laughter is Just Part of Our Medicine We are here first and foremost to make you feel great so you can get back out there. We probably laugh so often because we take our own medicine: regular body work, proper nutrition, and regular exercise. If we’ve made you feel good: you’re finding more laughter in…

Self-Care is Important for Care-Givers Too! We never get tired of telling our patients that self-care is not selfish. Well, now it’s time for us to take care of ourselves and bond with our families, too.   We Will Be Closed the Following Days: Memorial Day, May 30th June 6-10th   Call us at 831-291-3330…

Rock Tape, Fish Oil, Chair Massage and Lucky Winners! We had a great time at the 8th Annual Women’s Health & Lifestyle Expo hosted by Dominican Hospital, Physicians Medical Group (PMG) and Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican. We featured our new Spin To Win wheel and had a chance to meet lots of new…

We've talked before about how sleep quality relates to pain intensity. As a reminder, poor sleep leads to more intense pain, being in a bad mood, and diminished capacity to function overall. One of the biggest culprits stealing a good night's sleep is a bad mattress.

We’re Glad We Made A Difference for Sydney If we’ve made you as happy as we’ve made Sydney, please click on Sydney’s review to leave a review, too!   Great reviews keep us delivering great service to the community! 

Choose to Become Stronger: Life is More Fun! I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. The pain of NOT doing anything. Not exercising. Not taking time for myself. Not making myself a priority became worse than the pain of actually just doing it. Going for it. Trying something new. I tried skiing…

We LOVE Rock Tape!                   Darlene and Dr. Goldi Attended a Class on FMT Movability Last Sunday 

A 2018 study found that, "Sleep quality appears related not only to pain intensity but also to a wide range of patient mood and function factors." In other words, when you don't get a good night's sleep, your pain is worse, and so is your mood. You also can't function as well. While you may have already known that, did you know that the type of back pain you experience should be considered when you go to buy a bed or a pillow?

The simple answer is: buy the best mattress you can afford.   You spend ⅓ of your life sleeping. Skimping on your mattress can be bad for your health because and an uncomfortable night’s sleep robs you of energy and may be one of the causes of back and neck pain. Changing your mattress could

Spring Cleanse at Golden Chiropractic Detoxify in 21 Days Health Classes & Group Detox Monday, April 18 @ 6:30pm Learn about the 21 Day Purification Program and how to make it fun, effective and a life changing experience! Reserve your spot now! 831-359-6286 Led by Carmen McIntyre, L.Ac, AWC http://www.acupuncturebycarmen.com

Golden Chiropractic Offers More to Santa Cruz County Having completed one year in it’s new Aptos, California location, Golden Chiropractic has come to know how best to relieve pain and stress for its chiropractic patients and massage clients. Wanting to offer the best treatments, Golden Chiropractic has decided to offer acupuncture this year. We are…

 I am Blessed with My Staff and My Patients! This month marks the Golden Chiropractic one year anniversary of our move to Aptos.  I remember lookng into the eyes of my staff, asking them to have faith in our practice, and to move with me. We got a new logo,…

Sue Smythe is Taking Her Healthy Habits on the Road

 Call (831) 359-6286 to Receive Accupuncture with Carmen Spring is the most ideal time to cleanse because all the momentum to bring new life, new growth and warmer days, gives us motivation to clean up and move forward. Use the natural momentum of the season to give your body what…

You’re in Pain, and It Doesn’t Have to be That Way   I get that your body hurts.   I get that you don’t bounce back from those mountain bike crashes like you used to. I get that it doesn’t feel good when you wake up, that rolling out of bed causes lower back pain  that it’s hard to tie your shoes because your spine just doesn’t bend that way anymore. I feel your pain when you describe the dull ache in the small of your back, the sharp pain in your hip when you bend over or twist. I’ve felt the sharp stabbing pain of a rib out of place. Neck pain, low back pain, and shoulder impingement pain. I’ve had all of that...

Call (831) 359-6286 to Receive Accupuncture with Carmen Carmen’s message for Golden Chiropractic Patients: I’m so happy to be joining the Golden Chiropractic team! It’s an honor to be part of this bright, talented, and positive group of people. Being in a setting with various…

Reverse Fly to Reduce Pain and Gain Strength   More Strength and Less Pain for Cyclists, Commuters, and Desk Jockeys                   People who sit in desk jobs for long periods of time can experience burning pain in the upper back due to improper posture and…

 For Cyclists, Commuters, and Desk Jockeys that Feel Pain in the Upper Body                     Sitting for long periods of time bent over our desks, steering wheels, or handlebars can create upper back pain, severe neck pain, and shoulder pain.  A solution to this often burning pain…

Rock Your Pelvis for Reduced Low Back Pain Rock Out the Pain So You can Rock On! The way we live today, sitting long hours at the computer, or driving long hours for work or to deliever the kids to their activities, can lead to lower back pain. Pregnant women also experince a lot of…

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Demanding jobs, loved ones that need our attention, traffic, overly packed schedules — stress really can’t be avoided. The truth is, stress will always be here. Keeping stress at a moderate or tolerable level at times can seem impossible.

The only real solution to stress is learning to avoid it or react positively to it.

What is chiropractic? Chiropractic is the largest natural healing art in the world. It is based on spinal manipulation, the chiropractic adjustment, to treat segmental joint dysfunctions. In chiropractic circles, this is often called a subluxation or joint misalignment. If you or your family are being challenged with pain, sickness or dis-ease; there is no…

Set Your Intentions – Then Make a Plan                     Call (831) 263-1324 to Make Your First Appointment of the New Year.   “If you are clear about your goals and take several steps in the right direction every day, eventually you will succeed. So decide…

Did you know there are several types of headache?

Most of us feel some headache pain, and pop a pill to make that pain go away. But have you ever thought about the cause of your headaches, and considered treating the cause, not just the symptoms?

Knowing what gives you a headache will help you prevent getting one.  I often see my patients come in with recurring headaches. A main focus of my practice is helping my patients identify the causes of their pain so they can increase their chances of avoiding it. Here are some tips that have helped my patients who suffer from recurring headaches. Stay…

Chiro Benefits: Use it or Lose it. As we get closer to the end of the year a lot of companies tend to change the health plans they offer. You may have chiro benefits now and you may not begining Jan 1st.  Don’t forget that even though your calendar year deductible has been met this  it will reset on January 1st...

Text Neck is an overuse or repetitive stress injury from having your head hung forward and down for extended periods of time. As you move your head forward, its weight increases for every degree your ear moves in front of your shoulder.