Back in Balance Chiropractic Wellness Center

05/15/2025

The Jefferson Curl is a slow and gentle full forward bend. Hold the flexed potion for a breath, relaxing the arms and feeling the decompression of the lower back. Then slowly extend up starting from the lower back and translating the motion upwards until you’re standing tall again. Regress to doing it in a chair if too difficult or painful. Try doing it against the wall to feel how each area flexes downwards as you bend forward. Progress to an elevated surface once you’re comfortable with the standing version, and even add weight once you feel strong enough. It should feel like a good stretch and mobilization, if painful please avoid until you’re able@to perform pain free.
Also, say hi to our new pup Odinn.

12/24/2024

Happy Holidays!
We will be in the office Thursday 12/26 2-6pm, and for our regular hours for the next week. Out of office 12/31 and New Year’s Day.
May your holidays be blessed, and your new year prosperous and happy!

12/09/2024

It’s with a heavy heart we’re sharing the news that we said goodbye to our beloved dog Benny last week. After 10 years with him, it was time to let him go. His health had deteriorated sharply over the last two years, as you may have seen if you’ve been in our office lately. Early last Thursday morning he began seizing and wouldn’t stop. It was a terrible decision, but we chose to end his suffering. We’re gutted, heartbroken, overcome with waves of grief.

Benny was our dog, but he belonged to the world. Anyone willing to throw the ball or give some scratches was his buddy. Losing him isn’t just our grief, it ripples out in the orbit around our lives and to the people who loved him; those patients who appreciated the emotional support of his presence, delighted at the sight of a big mutt lumbering toward our office’s front door with ball-in-mouth, ready to greet whoever rang the chimes attached to the door handle. Housemates, neighbors, and friends who watched him while we were away, took him on walks, or for a fetch to get his energy out because we couldn’t make it home in time. We’re all sharing this grief for losing Benny.

We thank you for all you did for our energetic mutt. Thank you for the affection you showed him. Thank you for throwing the ball for him in our office where his paws struggled to gain traction on the laminate flooring. Thank you for letting him lick your hand and nuzzle your shoulder as you laid on our chiropractic tables. Thank you for sharing dog treats with him when you came for your adjustment or massage.

If you have any pictures or words you can share with us about your experience with Benny, we’d love to see and hear it. We’re coveting the memories with him, and grasping onto the happy times so we aren’t left with only memories of the recent past when he was in poor health.

We’ll miss him dearly.

He was a good boy.

10/11/2024

08/16/2024

Hoping your summer is full of fun, nutritious movement, and restoration.

Summer is often when many of our patients travel, sleeping in awkward and non-supportive beds or couches (or on the ground for the campers and backpackers), and sitting in cars and planes for hours at a time.

Once you’ve reached your destination, or when you wake up stiff in an uncomfortable new bed, give this version of the cat/cow exercise a try. It will mobilize the spinal joints, hydrate the discs in between each of the vertebrae, and wake up the muscles surrounding it. Motion is how our joints stay healthy, so let’s move your spine and help it keep you going in your favorite movement practice or hobby.

Keys for this version of the cat/cow (Dr. Franco likes to call it the rainbow/unicorn, because she doesn’t want you to think you’re a cow) is to move slowly and initiate the movement from the base of your spine. Translate the motion slowly up the spine and hold the end position for a slow inhale and exhale. Do it at least 3 times in each direction, until you feel like your spine is loosened up and your muscles are activated. This is a great first move to do before any other stretching or exercises, but also as a stand-alone exercise to get you feeling ready to start the day.

We’re in the office for the remainder of the summer, no more travel for us until the fall. Dr. Franco will be out of the office Thursday July 25th to Saturday July 27th for a seminar, but Dr. Manley will be here to see you if you’re in need of some acute care or maintenance.

Taylor is also available for massage therapy on Friday mornings now, and every other Saturday. And when you see her, wish her Happy Birthday (July 19th)!

When you’d like to book an appointment, you can go to our website scheduler to see our availability, give us a call at 510-444-8494, or shoot an email to info@backinbalance.com.

We appreciate you, and look forward to seeing you in the office!

Drs. Jessica Franco and Rich Manley
Back in Balance

07/12/2024

“I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing light of your own being.”
-Hafiz

New office quotivation for the summer.
Each person on our tables has a light to shine, and we strive to help you feel vibrant in your bodies.

05/04/2023

We’ve been nominated for the Best of Oakland 2023, Best Chiropractic Services, by Oakland Magazine. Voting for this year’s Best of Oakland is open until the end of May. We’d love it if you could go to the link and give us a vote, and then vote for the other businesses in the town that you love.

A sincere thank you for trusting us to care for your body and help you get moving optimally. We truly appreciate you!

When you’re ready to come in and see us again, head over to our Schedulista page and book a visit, or give us a call/email. Our massage therapists, Taylor Garza and Zan Morsch, are still accepting massage therapy sessions for 50 and 80 minute increments. We always recommend combining massage and chiropractic visits back-to-back, it’s a great way to accelerate healing and take care of yourself.

One more note; starting June 1st Dr. Rich Manley will be decreasing his treatment times to 20 minute appointments. If you’d like to book more time with him, you can schedule a double session for 40 minutes, just as with Dr. Jessica Franco.

Thanks again for trusting us with your bodies and growing with us as our business and professional lives develop.

10/18/2022

When your patient knows where to get the good stuff, ask for a bulk order! Thanks Cesar!

09/06/2022

Yes we DO have air conditioning!

The Santa bats on the ceiling of Dr Franco’s treatment room are flapping their wings, which means the air is blowing! Stay cool while we help work out your tension, and stiffness.

06/16/2022

Just a note that we will be out of the office Monday to Wednesday next week, and will be back on Thursday! Still some time this week to see us, or come in and see Rebecca for a massage on Monday!!
Happy Thursday folks!

11/13/2021

Loving the new art in the massage room! Thanks !

09/18/2020

Thank you City of Oakland public works for finally replacing the trash can in front of our office!