We are a comprehensive wellness center focused on providing patients of all ages and abilities exceptional care. We have proudly contributed to the success of Olympic and professional athletes—and bring that exceptional level of care to all of our patients.
Our focus is on providing high-level, preventative and restorative life-long health solutions to support the body in responding and performing optimally.
Our innovative treatments and individualized approach ensure that our patients receive the most researched, proven-effective and current techniques and services available—all under one roof.
We offer a continuum of pure healthcare solutions that ultimately lead to a healthier way of life. Our goal is to provide maximum support to keep our patients functioning at their highest level.
Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine is owned and operated by Dr. Karen Bloch. With a distinguished career in chiropractic care, athletic training, and sports medicine, Dr. Bloch is widely recognized as a visionary in her field.
Among her many accomplishments, she led the sports medicine and athletic training programs for the USA Water Polo Teams at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the London Olympics in 2012.
Dr. Bloch has always been passionate about sports and wellness. She is active in the community and values the opportunity to share her knowledge and give back.
In 2016, Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine was featured on NBC News for work with Olympic athletes. That same year, Dr. Bloch was among the "Women of Distinction" selected by the California State Assembly. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine received the Long Beach Press-Telegram "Readers' Choice Award" for Best Medical Spa. Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine was also awarded Best Chiropractor in 2018 and 2019, from Los Angeles Magazine's "Best of LA."
All of our doctors specialize in something unique. Make an appointment with any clinician. We work as a team to get you feeling your best!
I am not an elite athlete, just a basic weekend warrior type that works too much and doesn’t make enough time to stretch and work out as much as I should. I have chronic pain in my lower back, which causes (I think) tightness in my glutes and legs. I have gone to many other chiros, massage therapists, acupuncturists, etc. … but I recently had a MAT session with Diane Villar. Along with some deep tissue and percussion (AWESOME!!!) Diane worked her MAT magic and relieved a lot of the pain and tightness. I will be returning for additional tune-ups to manage my pain.
-Art Villar
Dr. Bloch provided our team with superb chiropractic care during our Olympic journey. She was always there with a positive, caring attitude keeping our team healthy and performing at the highest level. I can honestly say that I have been adjusted by hundreds of chiropractors through the years, and Karen—even as a young doctor, would rate among the best in all of her adjusting skills. She is truly world-class!
-Dr. Terry Schroeder, D.C.
USA Olympic Water Polo Coach 2008, 2012
For decades I searched for solutions to chronic back, shoulder, and neck pain, constant misalignment issues, and muscle weakness. I finally found MAT. After the first treatment, I knew that something good had happened. After a few treatments, the pain disappeared, and my chiropractic adjustments began to hold longer than just a few minutes. I felt my body moving differently, with more stability and balance. MAT is amazing. Diane is terrific. I hope you try it!
-Nancy Diven
I’ve had many athletic trainers, but Dr. Bloch is by far the best one. Not only does she care about your body and know exactly what to do when you’re injured, she cares about you as a person. I consider her one of the best, and will go to her if I ever need anything major!
-Bloch Wellness Client
Dr. Bloch, I have never experienced a Doctor/Chiropractor with the kind of knowledge, professionalism, and care that you and all the doctors at Bloch Wellness demonstrate ...
-Bloch Wellness Client
The words "thank you" don't come close to expressing the gratitude that I have toward you for all you have done for me, but THANK YOU!!
-Bloch Wellness Client
Good things come to those who sweat.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday @ 6:30 am
Drop-in rates and monthly memberships available.
Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body. This process stimulates the movement of energy within the body, allowing natural healing to take place. These points are selected based on years of training acupuncturists receive and based on over 3,000 years of experience in China. Acupuncture is part of the holistic system of healing, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by improving the overall functioning of the body's immune and organ systems. Acupuncture is helpful for:
Treating existing illnesses and injuries.
Preventing both recurrences of illnesses and new illness.
Improving overall health.
How does it work?
The classical Chinese explanation is that energy (Qi) flows in channels throughout the body and over its surfaces. These channels are rivers of energy, referred to as meridians. The Chinese have identified 71 meridians in the human body, which provides a basic energy map for all people. The meridians are often compared to a series of interconnected highways. Each of the major organs in the body is associated with its own meridian. Through the network of meridians, the internal organs are connected to certain areas and parts of the body, including the muscles, bones, joints, and other organs.
The Chinese believe that health is a manifestation of balance, both within the body itself and between the body and the external environment. When the body is internally balanced and in harmony with the external environment, Qi flows smoothly through the meridians to nourish the organs and tissues. If an obstruction occurs in one of the meridians, the Qi is disrupted and cannot flow properly. When the Qi cannot flow smoothly or is forced to flow in the opposite direction, the body's innate balance is disrupted, and illness results.
Acupuncture points are the specific points on the meridians where the Qi is both concentrated and accessible. Acupuncture engages the Qi by inserting needles at these specific points, the goal being to restore the proper flow of Qi. As the body regains its natural balance, well-being returns.
To the human body, acupuncture needles are a physical stimulus. In Western science, a stimulus is defined as a detectable change in either the external environment or the body itself. When the body detects a change, it produces a response. Although acupuncture is not yet fully understood by Western science, scientists can now actually observe the body's response to acupuncture with modern technology. For example, using an MRI (a very sophisticated x-ray), researchers have shown that when a needle is inserted at a specific acupuncture point on the body, corresponding changes occur in the brain.
In the west, acupuncture is most well-known for its ability to relieve pain—so the majority of research thus far has been done in this area. Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release pain-relieving chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. Acupuncture may also stimulate the release of other chemicals by the brain, including hormones that influence the body's self-regulating system.
Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years and has provided us with a unique and holistic approach to preventing and treating disease. Western science and Traditional Chinese Medicine both ultimately rely on the body's natural healing ability to maintain health and protect against disease. Both have the same goal of helping a person stay healthy. Western science tends to use drugs and surgery as needed. Acupuncturists tend to use gentle needling and herbs. A combination of both systems creates an ideal environment for health and healing.
BEMER (Bio-Electro-Magnetic Energy Regulation) is designed to improve circulation, thereby supporting the body’s natural self-regulating processes. The working mechanism of BEMER consists of a unique signal transmitted into the body via an electromagnetic field.
The BEMER signal, not the electromagnetic field, acts as the agent that stimulates the circulatory response. Blood is the body’s universal means of transport. Oxygen, nutrients, chemical messengers (i.e., hormones), immune cells, etc. are all transports through our blood. Only when all of our body’s cells, tissues, and organs are adequately nourished, and all metabolic waste products removed, can we be healthy and productive and our body function properly. The optimal regulation of circulation is a prerequisite for ensuring adequate levels of health and fitness.
The following are proven, scientifically measurable physiological outcomes observed in patients exposed to BEMER:
BrainMaster is a brain avatar, 3D brain-imaging, QEEG (quantitative electroencephalography), neurofeedback (NFB) system.
Small sensors are placed on your head to record brainwave activity using real-time displays of EEG. The information gathered during the process may be used to teach the brain to operate more efficiently by providing visual and auditory feedback through a system that rewards a client's brain as their brainwave patterns improve, and self-regulation occurs.
NFB can include a QEEG assessment, where your brain function is compared to a normative database and converted to a brain map to be used as a validation and guidance tool. Brain training usually involves 2-3 sessions/week, 15-45 minutes per session, depending on your goals.
Chiropractic care is a form of manual care that focuses on diagnosing and treating the musculoskeletal system, which in turn affects the nervous system. The nervous system controls all body systems, including the heart, digestive tract, and immune system. Misalignments in the spine and other joints can alter nerve function, affecting many other functions in the body.
Chiropractic care helps align the spine, restore optimal function in the nervous system, and support the body’s natural ability to heal.
For those looking for something beyond a traditional chiropractic adjustment, we offer other treatment forms to address health and well-being. Treatment can include gentle chiropractic techniques, soft tissue techniques, fascial release, and other therapeutic modalities such as rehabilitation and physical training, and nutrition analysis and planning.
Our board-certified chiropractors incorporate a number of different techniques to offer the best care for each individual. These adjustments can be light and gentle, or firmer, depending on the individual patient’s needs and preferences. Our techniques include:
Whole-Body Cryotherapy is one of the most advanced therapies of its kind, circulating nitrogen-cooled air in a chamber to stimulate the body’s natural response to cold. This brief exposure elevates endorphin levels and reduces inflammation, swelling and pain: A full-body treatment, the cryosauna is an excellent alternative to ice baths or cold packs and takes only minutes.
WBC has shown benefits for musculoskeletal, endocrine, immune, and integumentary systems of the body. This therapy is excellent for improving athletic performance and decreasing recovery time, healing injuries, decreasing inflammation, reducing chronic and widespread pain, improving immunity, and increasing metabolism.
WBC increases metabolic rates after treatment, burning up to 800 calories. It can also benefit patients suffering from skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis. Clients often report feeling invigorated after a session from a boost in endorphins and report less pain, improved sleep, less stress, faster recovery time, and increased performance.
Cupping is a type of alternative medicine used to help ease pain, enhance circulation, remove toxins, relieve sore and tight muscles, and decrease inflammation. The technique applies suction cups to the skin along meridians and fascial restrictions, stimulating energy flow and optimizing tissue function.
While cupping may temporarily produce a red or purple circular area, the tissue is not bruised or injured. Instead, the skin's lifting has increased local circulation, allowing stagnant blood, fluid, and toxins to come to the surface so the body can dissolve it more easily. Cupping is often used to complement chiropractic care and soft tissue work but is also offered as a stand-alone treatment.
Far infrared (FIR) is a region in the infrared spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Invisible to the human eye, far infrared light is experienced as heat. Unlike the heat produced in traditional saunas, far infrared heat penetrates the body to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches. This stimulates cellular detoxification, helping to reduce the body’s toxic load.
The far infrared sauna detoxifies the body. Simultaneously, it enhances the immune system; improves cardiovascular conditioning; relieves stress, pain, and fatigue; helps with weight and cellulite control, mood disorders, and improves mental clarity.
This therapy is especially important for those affected by heavy metal (i.e., mercury or lead) poisoning. Chemical or heavy metal toxicity symptoms can include:
Our high-tech FIR Sauna is made of untreated, chemical-free, hypoallergenic poplar wood to maximize benefits without the odors or off-gassing interference from the wood used in other commercial saunas.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber increases oxygen absorbtion in the body by 4.8 times.
Why is this important? The oxygen can reach areas in the body that are hypoxic (without oxygen). This calms your neurosensors with the 4 PSI pressure and saturates your blood and cerebrospinal fluid so that your spinal cord and brain are bathed in oxygen.
The HBOT aids in surgery recovery, concussion healing, sports injury, performance and recovery, sleep deprivation, autism, infections, stroke recovery, and much more.
Kinetisense is the world’s first patented markerless motion capture system. The system uses state-of-the-art software and Wii technology to capture pictures and videos that let us objectively assess posture and biomechanics in real-time. With this information, we can track rehabilitation progress or identify imbalances that may impact sports performance.
Muscle imbalances can lead to poor posture and improper biomechanics, which may set you up for injury and chronic pain. Based on your initial Kinetisense evaluation, which takes just a few minutes, we will recommend specific exercises and provide personalized instruction to help you perform at your best.
The Class IV Continuous Wave Diode Laser is a fast, safe, and painless way to address a local area of injury. This innovative treatment promotes cellular activity and growth and stimulates nerve function—which speeds up healing, reduces inflammation and scarring, and reduces pain.
Low-level light therapy is a powerful healing technique that utilizes therapeutic red, blue, and infrared light wavelengths with specific frequencies for different conditions.
The lights' thermal-like properties stimulate collagen production, acetylcholine and APT release, and lymphatic system and fibroblastic activity—which aids in tissue repair and reduces nervous system excitability; and increases phagocytosis, which speeds up healing after an injury.
LED light therapy is a proven, non-surgical answer for quick relief from localized pain and injury. The first device of its kind, the LS Pro System uses targeted, painless red and infrared light to stimulate healing and decrease inflammation, provideing relief with little to no down time from your favorite sport or activity.
Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing, and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure. There are many different types of massage, including:
Swedish Massage. A gentle form of massage that utilizes long strokes; kneading; deep, circular movements; vibration; and tapping to help relax and energize you.
Deep Massage. Utilizes more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage is commonly used on patients with muscle damage from injuries.
Sports Massage. Similar to Swedish Massage, but geared toward people involved in sports to help prevent or treat injuries.
Trigger Point Massage. Focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse.
Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It’s increasingly offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
Studies on the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:
Neurolumen is an innovative, industry-changing medical device that works to reduce pain and increase circulation. This sophisticated system uses a low-level laser, light-emitting diode (LED), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) to deliver healing energy to affected tissues.
The approach combines the restorative properties of light therapy with the therapeutic benefits of electrical stimulation. The resulting synergy provides effective pain treatment while enhancing circulation and improving tissues’ ability to transport toxins and metabolic waste away from affected areas. This fast-acting, non-invasive therapy is FDA-approved and Intek-certified, exceeding stringent design, quality, and safety standards.
NormaTec uses a type of dynamic pneumatic compression for a variety of conditions. This device offers cutting edge and effective ways to flush your body of toxins. As the sleeves inflate, the lymphatic system is stimulated, and a flushing response occurs in the area. This can help eliminate lactic acid build-up for improved recovery and pump out excess lymphatic fluid and stagnant blood—allowing for improved circulation and nutrient exchange. The NormaTec has had outstanding results with slow-to-heal wounds, lymphedema, athletic recovery, sports injuries, venous insufficiency—and other circulatory and peripheral vascular conditions.
We believe in treating the whole patient, which is why we incorporate nutritional evaluation, nutrition plans, supplements, and food allergy testing into our treatment plans. We know that what you put in your body is an important part of your overall health.
Certain foods can contribute to conditions like chronic inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, or autoimmune disorders. Whether you are looking to address a specific condition, lose weight, or need support reaching your optimal health, we can help.
Nutrition consultation and planning: We will evaluate your current diet and any health concerns you are experiencing, noting that some conditions, like degenerative disc disease, have a nutritional component. We offer information, tools, and follow-up on how to transition to a whole-foods, plant-based diet that can prevent and potentially reverse disease. We follow up to evaluate progress and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Food allergy testing: Food sensitivities can be challenging to detect because symptoms may not appear until 24 to 48 hours after eating a particular food. We offer comprehensive food sensitivity testing to help you identify foods that you may have trouble digesting, causing an inflammatory response in your body. Food sensitivities can contribute to many diseases, including autoimmune conditions, asthma, and autism spectrum disorders.
Supplements: We carry only the highest-grade supplements to ensure our patients receive the best quality nutritional support. Many of the products we carry are only offered through a qualified practitioner. Unlike many products offered online and in health food stores, we only carry certified products that contain pure ingredients.
Chiropractic care is safe for infants and children. We believe that a constructive, healthy approach to wellness from an early age can help prevent disease and injury later in life.
Gentle, safe, and specific adjustments can help newborns recover from stress to their spine experienced during labor and delivery.
Chiropractic care promotes a healthy-functioning nervous system, which can help children with chronic and hard-to-treat conditions. Pediatric care has been proven to enhance treatment for common childhood conditions, including:
Children’s health can be impacted by allergies, heavy metal and environmental toxicity, and improper diet. We can help address the effects of autism and other conditions with biomedical treatments, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), infrared sauna therapy, urine analysis, food allergy testing, and brain balance exercises to retrain children’s neuromuscular system.
**We recommend using an International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) certified Doctor of Chiropractic and co-managing care with your pediatrician.
Deep Muscle Stimulator (DMS) percussion therapy is different than other soft tissue techniques. The DMS device uses deep, rapid, short-duration vibration to stimulate soft tissue.
The device has been proven to improve circulation, reduce pain, improve tissue regeneration, release trigger points, decrease lactic acid build-up, break up soft tissue adhesions, and increase lymphatic flow. It also helps loosen tight muscles, stimulates weak ones, addresses imbalances in the body, and improves posture and movement.
Percussion is our most popular therapeutic modality. This is an excellent choice for patients looking to enhance the manual therapy they are receiving. It is also a great solution for those who aren't comfortable with massage but would like the benefit of soft tissue work.
Chiropractic care can reduce the aches and pains of pregnancy by improving pelvic alignment and function. Our Webster Technique-certified doctors* use specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment to reduce the effects of misalignment and dysfunction in the pelvic region.
The Webster Technique was developed as a safe way to restore proper pelvic balance and function in the mother’s body, improve her comfort throughout pregnancy, and prepare for a safer, more comfortable birth. Having optimal pelvic alignment and a properly functioning nervous system is also ideal for those trying to conceive.
We use special tables and pillows so that moms can lay on their stomachs during treatment and feel supported during and after pregnancy.
We find that pregnant women and new moms also benefit from soft tissue treatment to relieve aches and pains, and swollen feet and ankles. We may use RockTape kinesiology tape to provide sling support to mama’s growing belly and take the strain off of her lower back.
We offer prenatal yoga to help prepare the body and mind for the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth. We choose specific, gentle yoga postures to help open and strengthen pelvic and leg muscles, lower stress hormone levels, and increase the body-mind connection.
We also offer nutritional and supplement support, testing, and lifestyle modifications for preconception, pregnancy, and postnatal needs.
If you are planning to conceive, we can help you prepare your body.
Treatment can include:
After baby arrives, we recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to speed-up your recovery.
*We recommend Webster-certified, International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) certified chiropractic doctors, like our practitioners at Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine, to co-manage your care with your midwife or obstetrician.
Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) re-energizes damaged cells by inducing electrical changes to the cell. Each magnetic pulse generates an electrical signal that stimulates cellular metabolism and repair, regenerating blood cells, improving circulation, and increasing oxygen capacity. The therapy increases cellular oxygen absorption by up to 200%, which reduces pain from damaged and diseased tissue, torn tendons, and fractured bones—accelerating recovery.
Bloch Wellness and Sports Medicine has a well-equipped gym to provide acute prehab (pre-operative strengthening), post-injury rehabilitation, and treat chronic conditions. There are many ways to approach rehabilitation, and the type of therapy we use will depend on your individual needs.
Our specialties include:
Posterior chain and core activation exercises
Sports training and injury prevention
We may use RockTape kinesiology tape and Intelliskin apparel to improve functional stability and activate the underutilized muscles of the back. We often provide preventive care in our treatment plans and use specific exercises and stretches to improve posture and reduce muscle imbalances before they lead to injury.
Rotex was developed by a doctor who felt there had to be a better way of solving lower back and hip pain. This unique machine puts the body into specific, locked positions, making it possible to quickly balance muscular and fascia systems. The technique is used for injury prevention, exercise recovery, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement, and can help address pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
The Rotex machine crosses over into all aspects of healthcare and athletics. Today, it is an integral part of many colleges, professional and Olympic athlete programs, and is widely used by people who want to maintain overall health and well-being.
Shockwave therapy with PiezoWave² utilizes Myofascial Acoustic Compression Therapy (MyACT) to find the focus of pain and treat at the source. Myofascial Acoustic Compression Therapy uses acoustic waves to compress and manipulate tissue at varying depths, providing increased circulation and focused pain relief, all crucial to the healing process. This non-invasive treatment is used to treat acute and chronic pain in joints, tendons, and muscles through point focused shockwaves.
Common conditions Shockwave is used for:
Muscle, bone, fascia, skin, and other connective tissue are all interdependent—so improving soft tissue function is an essential part of our chiropractic care. Soft tissue therapy reduces internal scar tissue, improves blood flow, and reduces tension in muscle, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, allowing for improved functional movement.
We use multiple techniques, including Myofascial Release, Graston (instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization), Trigger Point Therapy, and Active Release Technique, to treat areas that are restricted, underfiring, or compensating for injury or misalignment elsewhere in the body. We often use soft techniques together with chiropractic adjustment, according to the needs of the patient.
This high energy cardio and resistance class will keep you on your toes and feeling empowered with plyometric moves, boxing combinations, sprints, lower body conditioning, pilates, martial arts techniques, and abdominal work. The small class setting allows for individual attention while drawing energy and inspiration from your classmates. Because we pride ourselves on assuring our clients the best results, we utilize resistance bands, dumbbells, jump ropes, and your own bodyweight to increase lean muscle mass and turbocharge your body’s fat-burning capabilities.
Decompression therapy is a non-surgical, non-invasive, medication-free method for treating neck and low back pain. The treatment uses traction to gently stretch the spine to treat bulging, degenerated, or herniated discs, reducing pressure on spinal discs and their associated nerves, and promoting fluid and nutrient exchange.
The treatment is safe and painless, and a great option when looking for a conservative approach to spinal pain.
Stretching
purposes. We use structural taping to stabilize injuries or prevent further damage, and functional taping to support proper movement.
Taping can help treat sports injuries, swelling, aches and pains, dysfunctional movement patterns, postural faults, proprioceptive dysfunction, and under or overused muscles.
We customize taping for your specific needs, whether it’s keeping you in the game, supporting the healing process, or improving your function and performance.
Most people who get COVID-19 recover within a few weeks. But months later, some continue to struggle with symptoms, these individuals have become known as the "long haulers".
The phenomenon is also called "long COVID-19" or "post-COVID-19 syndrome." Effective treatments are still being assessed and studied. Bloch Wellness created a combination of unique treatments for long-haulers using: HBOT with lights, Acupuncture, BEMER, Nutirition supplements, and Class 4 M6 Cold Laser.
Supplements-
- Liposomal Vitamin C
- Liposomal Vitamin B
- Savior Health Glutathione
- Vitamin D
- Immune support
PLEASE NOTE: Bloch Wellness & Sports Medicine does NOT treat patients currently infected with COVID-19. These treatments only appliy to patients suffering from long term complications and inflammation associated with previous COVVID-19 diagnosis.
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