Bottom Line:

One of the primary side effects of many prevalent headache medications is, well…more headaches! 

That's right.

Rebound headaches are often caused by the same medications you use to find relief. Even taking medications for more than just a few days may trigger overuse, or rebound, headaches.

Why it Matters:

If you find yourself reaching for over-the-counter pain medications more than once a week, you may be putting yourself at risk for rebound headaches. 

Most headache medications aren't designed to be used frequently because they simply address the symptoms, not the cause of the problem.

As you take medication, your body can become sensitized, meaning you need to take more medication to achieve the same result. This can lead to a downward spiral and cycle of chronic rebound headaches.

The good news? Taking care of yourself and creating healthy habits each day can prevent most headaches.

Here are a few ways to naturally reduce your risk of headaches...

• Get enough sleep - going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps your body maintain a natural rhythm.
• Reduce your stress - plan, manage your daily schedule, and make stress-busting activities like yoga or meditation a part of your lifestyle.
• Exercise regularly - movement and exercise releases endorphins that help your brain and body feel good and block pain signals.

Next Steps:

Medications aren't very effective at reducing the frequency or severity of headaches.

Masking the symptoms with drugs can work now and again, but it's not a sustainable way to find long-lasting relief.

To find lasting relief, you'll want to follow the latest healthcare guidelines that recommend movement-based care, such as chiropractic.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to live their life free from chronic headaches, and we’re here to help!

Science Source(s):

Medication Overuse Headaches. Mayo Clinic. 2020.

Bottom Line:

If you notice that your headaches are becoming more frequent and intense, it can be troubling 

Daily headaches can make it challenging to have a high quality of life and can affect your work and home life.

The good news is that many of the most common types of headaches can be reduced or even eliminated by changing just a few of your daily habits.

Why it Matters:

Stress and tensions are two of the biggest triggers for tension headaches.

Chronic headaches can cause your nervous system to become sensitized, meaning each day it takes less and less "stimulus" to kickstart a headache. Sensitization can become a vicious cycle, especially if your days are filled with repetitive motions.

One of the best ways to reset your system and decrease sensitization is through movement. Whether you prefer yoga, stretching, or massage, movement of your spine and body can ease the tensions associated with headaches.

Here are the most common symptoms of tension headaches:

• Dull, aching pain in the head and neck.
• Pressure and tightness across the sides, front, and back of your head.
• Tenderness in your shoulders, head, and neck.

Next Steps:

Movement and exercise are key to life and one of the most powerfully simple ways you can break a cascade of daily headaches.

If you're struggling to get moving because of the pain, let us know.

We're happy to work with you to develop a comprehensive plan to help you reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches starting today!

Science Source(s):

Tensions Headaches. Mayo Clinic. 2019.

Bottom Line:

Your head hurts. Could it be coming from your neck?

You may be surprised to learn that neck pain and headaches are tightly linked together.

A headache that starts from an issue in the neck is called a cervicogenic headache. A cervicogenic headache is characterized by a dull pain that radiates from the neck to the back of the head. At times it may spread around the side or front of your head.

Why it Matters: 

Cervicogenic headaches are common if you spend long hours at the computer each day.

Neck stiffness and tender muscles around your head and shoulders often come along with cervicogenic headaches because of the position that many of us sit in all day. 

That added stress and strain on your upper back and neck muscles adds up. Without taking proactive steps to address the cause, you may notice that the headaches become more frequent and intense.

Keep this in mind...

• Cervicogenic headaches can begin due to tightness in the shoulders, a stiff neck, or poor posture.
• Chiropractic adjustments can reduce the severity and frequency of headaches.
• Over 70% of people with cervicogenic headaches find significant relief with chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

To break the cycle of daily cervicogenic headaches, you need to address the underlying cause.

Staying well hydrated (with water!), stretching at least every hour, and setting your workstation up ergonomically are all important to reduce your headache risk.

If you still notice that headaches are bugging you, or you’re experiencing neck pain or limited neck range of motion, call us for a complete evaluation so we can create a plan of care to help you not only get well, but stay well!

Science Source(s):

Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Cervicogenic Headache: a Single-Blinded, Placebo, Randomized Controlled Trial. BioMed Central. 2017.

Bottom Line:

Over 90% of people will have at least one headache in their life.

For some, occasional headaches can turn into a daily occurrence that disturbs both work and hobbies. In many cases, headaches aren't associated with a disease but are, instead, a result of daily habits and actions.

The most common triggers for headaches include stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, hunger, and caffeine withdrawal.

Why it Matters:

Being aware of the type of headache you have and its triggers is the first step towards finding relief.

Stress is often the primary cause of all types of headaches. It's important to remember that stress can be mental or physical. Physical stress can include muscle tension in your shoulders, head, and neck resulting from long hours at the computer, unbalanced posture, or a lack of regular exercise.

The three most common types of headaches include tension, sinus, and migraine headaches.

Did you know...

 Tension headaches are usually felt across the forehead and last a few hours.

• Sinus headaches typically occur in the face, last a few hours, and are seasonal.
• Migraine headaches are painful and often felt in the back of the head, temples, or eyes, can lasts a day or longer, and can produce sensitivity to light and sound.

Next Steps:

Once you've identified the types of headaches you are usually affected by, you can begin taking proactive steps to reduce your risk.

Getting enough rest and watching your caffeine intake is a good start.

Research has also found that spinal adjustments are often effective at reducing the frequency and severity of headaches.

So if you've been suffering from headaches, we invite you to take the next step and reach out to learn more about how we can help.

Science Source(s):

Headache. Stanford Health Care. 2021.

Bottom Line:

To an athlete, there’s nothing worse than being sidelined with an injury.

Improper training, incorrect stretching routines, and a lack of a good warm-up can lead to an increased likelihood of sprains, strains, and muscle injuries.

The good news? With the proper plan of action, many sports injuries can be prevented.

Why it Matters:

Developing a fitness plan that includes dynamic stretching, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise can help decrease your chance of injury. 

Each aspect of your plan will of course require movement, aka biomechanics - the science of how your muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement.

Altered biomechanics in one joint can lead to overcompensation in others which can result in pain and an increased risk of injury.

Ensuring that you have optimal biomechanics is critical to reducing the chance of injury.

• Scheduling periodic movement assessments is recommended to improve biomechanics.
• Taking time to move through the body's full range of motion each day and to train different muscle groups every other day is also recommended.

Next Steps:

Did you know… movement assessments are an essential part of every chiropractic evaluation.

No two people move the same, which is why having a qualified healthcare professional analyze your movement is so important.

Chiropractors are trained to carefully examine your biomechanics and provide both passive and active ways to improve them.

By identifying altered biomechanics before you have pain and discomfort, you may not only be able to reduce your risk of injury but maybe even improve your performance.

Science Source(s):

Preventing Sports Injuries. University of Rochester Medical Center. 2021.

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Bottom Line:

You may have heard that chiropractic care can help improve your athletic performance.

Is it true?

The truth is that many athletes work with chiropractors to improve their performance.

Chiropractors have a unique outlook on health and well-being that is often the perfect match for athletes and people looking to stay active.

Why it Matters:

To perform at your highest level, you need to optimize your body's structure and function.

Sports can be highly competitive, so even a slight edge can make the difference between success and failure.

Athletes of all ages can be found looking for a natural advantage that can help improve their performance.

Exciting new research has shown that the spinal adjustments provided by chiropractors can positively influence muscle strength, balance, and endurance.

Here are three key takeaways from that research...

• Pain can reduce your strength, balance, and endurance. 
• Spinal adjustments can improve joint and tissue motion, helping to reduce pain.
• Increases in muscle strength have been observed following spinal adjustments.

Next Steps:

Being proactive by working with a chiropractor, whether you’re in pain or not, is a smart idea for athletes of all ability levels.

Assessing your movement patterns, making adjustments where necessary, and helping you craft an at-home exercise plan are just a few of the ways chiropractors help athletes like you improve their performance.

Science Source(s):

Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020.

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Bottom Line:

For over 100 years, professional athletes of all kinds have used chiropractic care to recover, reduce their likelihood of injury, and even get an edge in performance. 

And what used to be a secret is now well-known.

Chiropractic care is used by sports teams from high schools right up through the pros.

Why it Matters:

Historically, the medical staff of pro sports teams have focused primarily on helping athletes recover from injuries more so than improving their performance - that was left to the coaches.

Chiropractors provide a unique bridge between the player, coach, and medical team by focusing on injury prevention, mobility, and, yes, performance.

Pro sports are big business - athletes, coaches, and owners will always look to maximize their talent.

What began as a way to reduce injuries has evolved into a way to improve performance.

New research shows how spinal adjustments can influence the brain, spinal cord, and even muscle strength.

Here are three exciting findings...

•        Motor control and movement patterns can improve following a spinal adjustment. 
•        Spinal adjustments can positively alter how the body processes pain.
•        Increases in muscle strength have been observed following spinal adjustments.

Next Steps:

Pro athletes choose chiropractic for many different reasons.

For some, it's the focus on mobility - others are looking for a performance edge.

No matter what drives an athlete to seek out a chiropractor's expertise, one thing is for sure: the use of chiropractic care in competitive athletics is here to stay!

Science Source(s):

The Impact of Spinal Manipulation on Cortical Drive. Brain Sciences. 2017.

The Effects of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation. Scientific Reports. 2019.

Neurophysiological Effects of Spinal Manipulation. Spine Journal. 2002.

Bottom Line:

Almost everyone has heard of chiropractic care, but many people have no idea if or when they should see a chiropractor.

And if your doctor hasn't yet referred you to a chiropractor, you may be in the same boat.

Chiropractic has been around for over 125 years.

However, it’s just this past decade that most healthcare professionals and leading healthcare organizations have started actively recommending chiropractic care for a wide array of reasons.

Why it Matters:

Over 15% of the population has received care from a chiropractor.

Chiropractic care is primarily used in two distinct ways: proactively and reactively.

Reactive care is simply going to see a chiropractor when something hurts.

The most common conditions that people reactively seek chiropractic care for are low back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

However, proactive chiropractic care is also - if not more - valuable.

Chiropractors are highly trained in movement and biomechanics, and periodic visits to a chiropractor give you the chance to identify, evaluate, and take care of any emerging health issues before they become a big deal.

Next Steps:

The path to a long and healthy life includes movement, proper nutrition, and a positive mindset.

Millions of people around the world choose their chiropractor to help guide their health and well-being.

If you've thought about chiropractic, give us a call today!

We'd be happy to learn about your health goals and help you achieve them.

Science Source(s):

Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy Result in Better Long-Term Outcome? Spine. 2011.

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Bottom Line:

Millions of people participate in sports each weekend as a way to stay active and stay connected to their friends… but, inevitably, as we age, the likelihood of an unexpected injury creeps up.

So how can you stay healthy as a weekend warrior?

Taking proactive steps during the week to stay well can directly impact your ability to keep enjoying your weekend sports.

Why it Matters:

Weekend sports activities like a softball game typically last a few hours.

If you enjoy hiking or mountain biking, you’re probably looking at 4-6 hours of sports activities each weekend.

That may seem like alot, but it's a short amount of time compared to the number of hours you spend working each week.

That’s why taking daily proactive steps with your health are so important.

Stretching to improve your mobility, strengthening to improve your support, and moving through your entire range of motion can all help you feel more energized each day and potentially reduce your risk of injury on the weekends.

Did you know…

• Regular exercise during the week may help reduce your risk of injury on the weekends.
• At least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise is recommended each week.
• Weekend warriors have a 40% lower risk of experiencing an adverse event as a result of cardiovascular disease.

Next Steps:

Getting older doesn't mean you need to stop playing sports – you just need to be smart about your approach.

Building new healthy habits take time.

Utilizing your smartwatch or other health apps is a great way to receive reminders to help you start making getting up, stretching, and moving your body more often part of your daily routine.

Small steps like these will help you to maintain a balance of strength and flexibility that will help you continue to enjoy your weekends week in and week out for years to come!

Science Source(s):

Bottom Line:

Although NSAID medications can be purchased over the counter, it doesn't mean they don't have risks and dangers.

Why it Matters:

Over the past twenty years, we've seen the effects of low back pain change our healthcare landscape forever.

• It’s estimated that 100,000 people are hospitalized each year from NSAID related complications.
• Each day, it’s estimated that 100 people pass away as a result of opioid overdoses.

Leading healthcare organizations have taken note and now recommend that movement-based care options, such as chiropractic, are explored for most low back issues before medications.

The added benefit? Most people who explore chiropractic care take far fewer medications than those who don't.

Why? Because it works.

The care that chiropractors deliver ranks at the top of nearly every list!

Next Steps:

Medications are designed to mask the pain, not fix the problem.

Receiving a complete and comprehensive evaluation is the first step towards finding relief.

After discovering the cause of your pain, we can work together to craft a care plan that will help you not only reduce your pain so you can reach your health goals.

If you or someone you know is struggling with low back pain, call us today.

Science Source(s):

Noninvasive Treatments for Chronic Low Back Pain. American College of Physicians. 2017.

Bottom Line:

It may seem odd to think that nagging leg, calf, or foot pain could be traced back to a low back problem…

But if you've had pain in your leg or foot, a pinched nerve in your low back may be creating your issue!

Pain that travels along a spinal nerve is called radicular pain, and it's one of the most common types of pain that occurs as a result of spinal nerve compression.

Why it Matters:

Your spinal nerves can be pinched or compressed by a bone, disc, or ligament.

Whichever your pain is coming from, it's important to know that all have a great chance of recovering without the need for drugs or surgery.

Here’s a closer look:

• Bone Spurs: Bone spurs can form as a result of joint damage associated with osteoarthritis, and these can sometimes grow large enough to pinch your spinal nerves.
• Disc Herniations: Disc herniations, bulges, or tears can invade the space of your nerves and that inflammation and pressure can cause narrowing of the canals.
• Ligament Hypertrophy: Ligament hypertrophy (or overgrowth) can happen with age and injuries and lead to added pressure your nerves.

Next Steps:

Leg pain that begins in your low back can start with an injury or for what seems like no reason at all.

Either way, your body is telling you to Pay Attention Inside Now!

Every day in our practice, we help people treat their compressed nerves and regain their quality of life.

Reducing inflammation, establishing proper joint motion, and taking proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of the pain coming back are all part of our care plans.

So, if you've felt leg pain, give us a call today!

Science Source(s):

Radiculopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2021.

Bottom Line:

Movement is one of the best ways to recover from back pain.

In fact, science has shown us that medications and rest are actually a few of the least effective ways to find relief!

Your body is designed to move, and often it's a lack of daily movement (or chronic postural changes) that causes back pain to begin in the first place.

Why it Matters:

The right movements and exercises can help you recover more quickly and prevent future back pain episodes.

There are three different types of body movement: segmental, regional, and whole body.

Segmental motion occurs between the individual joints of your body.

Regional movement occurs in a body region such as your neck, mid-back, or low back.

Whole-body movement is characterized by the actions we typically think of as exercise.

All three types are essential and work together to keep your spine and musculoskeletal system healthy and functioning at its best.

Here’s a closer look:

• Segmental Movement: Moving the individual joints of your body is what chiropractors are specifically trained to do. Proper segmental movement can help reduce pain, improve your range of motion, and influence your central nervous system.
• Regional Movement: Dynamic stretching with regional range of motion exercises can reduce low back stiffness.
• Whole Body Exercise: daily exercise can help your brain and body feel better as well as improve your rest and recovery at night.

Next Steps:

The foundation of all movement is segmental movement.

If your joints aren't moving correctly, the rest of your body isn’t moving correctly or well.

Moving may be the last thing you want to do if you're struggling with back pain, but research has repeatedly shown that movement and exercise are two of the best ways to find relief from back pain.

If you've dealt with back pain, call us today.

Our team will be happy to provide you with a complete movement assessment and personalized exercise plan to help you get (and stay) well for years to come!

Science Source(s):

5 Steps to a Pain-Free Back. Harvard Health Publishing. 2016.

Bottom Line:

Low back pain is the number one reason people worldwide visit their doctor and miss work.

If you've dealt with it in the past (or maybe even right now), you know back pain can change your life in an instant.

Not being able to enjoy hobbies, difficulty in your ability to work, and a sneaking suspicion that you may never get "back to normal" are all normal when you're experiencing a bout of back pain.

So why do so many people struggle with back pain?

In many cases, your daily habits are a big contributor to your back pain.

Why it Matters:

Repetitive stress, nagging injuries, a diet filled with inflammatory foods, and a lack of daily exercise and movement can contribute to an increased likelihood of back pain.

Here are the three most common causes of back pain:

1. Sprain/Strain Injuries: Repetitive stress can create inflammation and lead to sprains or strains.
2. Spinal Disc Issues: Disc bulges and herniations can press on your spinal nerves, leading to back pain that travels to other parts of the body.
3. Arthritis: As you get older, your body will naturally go through some degenerative changes, and if your spinal joints become inflamed, you may notice some pain.

Next Steps:

For over 80% of us, back pain will be something we deal with at some point in our lives.

While it may feel like you'll never get back to your old self, chances are you will!

An overwhelming majority of people recover from back pain naturally or with a little additional help from a chiropractor.

Remember, even if you typically recover by taking it easy for a few days, it's still a smart decision to visit a chiropractor to discover the specific steps you can take to reduce your individual chances of experiencing back pain in the future.

Science Source(s):

Back Pain Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. 2020.

Bottom Line:

Screech. Bam. Uh-oh... you've been involved in a car accident. Your day has been thrown upside down, and a million thoughts are racing through your head.

If you don't feel immediate pain, you may be tempted to think you don’t have a problem - but waiting too long to seek care has been shown to increase the chances you'll need more aggressive intervention later.

With the stress of an accident, calling the insurance company, getting a car repaired, etc. - it's not uncommon for people to make the mistake of putting their health and well-being last on the to-do list.

Why it Matters:

Taking the right action steps as quickly as possible after a car accident can make a huge difference in your overall health and healing.

Without a proper diagnosis and treatment, your body may begin to "heal" with more scar tissue than necessary. What’s more, trying to live "around" your injuries can cause additional stress on other parts of your body, which can lead to additional injuries.

Research has shown that active care involving range of motion, mobility, and strengthening exercises can effectively reduce pain.

To give yourself the best chance to find relief without the need for drugs or surgery, we recommend 3 simple steps…

1. Get an evaluation - a complete evaluation can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Begin receiving care - after reducing inflammation, movement-based techniques are often recommended to help you regain your quality of life.
3. Stay consistent - getting well is a process and staying consistent with your care will help you to heal as quickly as possible.

Next Steps:

There's no way around it - auto accidents aren't fun.

However, with the right healthcare team, you can get back to your full life and activities without the need for drugs or surgery.

The key is in sticking to the 3 steps above.

This simple plan will give you the best chance to get well quickly and stay well for years to come!

Science Source(s):

The Effectiveness of Conservative Management for Acute Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) II. PLOS One. 2015.

Bottom Line:

It may surprise you to learn that shoulder injuries, like whiplash injuries, are some of the most common challenges people face after a car accident.

If you’re driving and have your hands on the steering wheel at the time of an accident, the sudden forces created by the event can result in a torn rotator cuff.

Why it Matters:

Your shoulder is one of the most dynamic and unstable joints in your body and one of the most complex parts. It’s made up of a collection of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

The rotator cuff in your shoulder is a ball and socket joint made up of three bones: your arm bone (the humerus), your shoulder blade (the scapula), and your collarbone (the clavicle).

The supporting muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your shoulder are designed to help you lift and rotate your arm.

It's hard to ignore a torn rotator cuff because…it hurts! Signs of a tear include shoulder pain when lifting your arm, weakness, pain when lying down, or a limited range of motion.

Did you know…

• Shoulder impingement has been estimated to occur in 10% of people involved in car accidents.
• The risk of neck or shoulder pain 7 years after a collision was 3 times higher for people who suffered whiplash injuries.

Next Steps:

Ignoring a shoulder injury after a car accident is not a good idea.

Your shoulder is designed to move, and if you try to "let it heal" by not moving it, you're putting yourself at risk for a frozen shoulder.

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) results from adhesions that develop in the shoulder due to lack of movement. It can cause severe pain and takes months to heal.

Needless to say, if you experience shoulder pain after an accident, time is of the essence!

Our team is here and can provide a complete evaluation and treatment plan for you to get moving safely and heal quickly. Just give us a call.

Science Source(s):

The Association Between Exposure to a Rear-end Collision and Future Neck or Shoulder Pain: a Cohort Study. JCE. 2000.

Subacromial Impingement in Patients with Whiplash Injury to the Cervical Spine. JOSR. 2008.

Bottom Line:

Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, and confusion — none of these sound like a good time…

And if you've been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering how long these symptoms are going to last.

There’s good news! With a proper evaluation and early treatment, there’s a high likelihood of getting well within a matter of weeks.

Why it Matters:

One of the most common injuries associated with whiplash is ligament tearing.

Ligaments are the short, tough bands of connective tissue that hold together the bones in your neck and joints of your body. If these ligaments are torn, it can cause neck pain.

The average time it takes a ligament to heal is about 6 weeks with the proper care and treatment.

• The acute inflammatory phase of injury last up to 72 hours.
• The repair phase takes up to 6 weeks.
• The final (remodeling) phase of healing can last up to 1 year.

A non-healed ligament injury can result in osteoarthritis.

(We should also note, if you notice symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or impaired memory, you may have suffered a mild brain injury. A majority of people with these injuries recover within 3 months.)

Next Steps:

After an accident, the most important step you can take is to receive a full evaluation.

Only after a complete evaluation will you be able to know what type of injuries you've sustained, and most importantly, how to get well. 

It’s surprising how many people shrug off a "small" accident and push their symptoms aside.

While that may save a little time today, it's likely to result in much more pain down the road – so don’t wait.

Make a mental note right now to call your favorite trusted chiropractor as soon as possible if you or someone you know experiences an accident.

Science Source(s):

Ligament Injury and Healing: A Review of Current Clinical Diagnostics and Therapeutics. ORJ. 2013.

Bottom Line:

Whiplash is an injury that occurs when your body is suddenly forced backward and forward.

It's the most common injury that happens during an automobile accident, and it's one of the leading causes of chronic neck and back pain.

While a fender bender may not seem like a big deal, new research has shown that even small accidents can result in significant injuries.

Why it Matters:

The violent forces that occur during an auto accident can cause damage to your spinal discs, ligaments, tendons, and bones - even at "low" speeds.

Most of these injuries happen because your head is whipped backward and forward very quickly. This rapid motion often results in torn ligaments and injured discs.

Symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, confusion, and even depression may indicate that you've suffered a whiplash injury.

You may not immediately notice any immediate pain because of an adrenaline spike at the time of the accident. For many people, these symptoms develop over hours or even a few days and go unnoticed until the initial shock of the car accident has worn off.

To recap…

• Whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration injury that can affect your ligaments, spinal discs, muscles, and joints.
• Symptoms of whiplash may include neck or back pain, headaches, radiating pain, confusion, and difficulty sleeping.
• There is often a period of little to no pain before the symptoms of whiplash injuries worsen.

Next Steps:

It's smart to get a complete evaluation after an auto accident to minimize your risk of long-term pain.

Getting the right care at the right time can make a big difference in your ability to heal quickly.

Remember, even small accidents can cause injuries, so if you've been involved in an auto accident, be sure to reach out to our office as soon as possible so we can help you get on the road to relief!

Science Source(s):

Biomechanics of Whiplash Injury. Chinese Journal of Traumatology. 2009.

Bottom Line:

Ain't no one got time for back pain!

Proactively doing things today to help your spinal discs stay healthy in the future is a smart idea.

Every day, your spinal discs absorb stress related to gravity, your posture, and your movement patterns. Over time, this stress can cause wear and tear to your discs that can become painful.

The good news? There are a few key ways you can keep your discs healthy… starting today!

Why it Matters:

Not surprisingly, movement and exercise are the top ways to keep your spinal discs healthy.

Each day try to move your spine through its full range of motion and be cautious about sitting for hours on end. 

If you have to sit for long periods, try to change positions every 15 minutes. If you have to work at a computer for hours at a time and you have the option, bring in a standing desk. These small steps can help both reduce stress on your discs and engage the small muscles supporting your spine – both of which are essential for disc health.

Also, mind your posture. The combination of inactivity and long periods in an unbalanced posture can wreak havoc on your spinal discs.

Next Steps:

Keeping your spinal discs healthy is one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing neck or back pain.

If you spend long hours at the computer especially, you need to take proactive steps to counteract that stress.

We’d be happy to work with you on a plan to keep your spinal discs healthy for years to come. Just shoot us a message or give us a call!

Science Source(s):

Disc Changes Associated with Prolonged Sitting. PMR. 2014.

Bottom Line:

No one wants to deal with back pain.

Whether you’re living with pain today or looking to reduce your risk of injury in the future, you may be curious about how you can strengthen your spine.

When it comes to strengthening spinal discs, it’s wise to start with the body’s core -- the set of muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your spinal column and help your spinal discs move.

Why it Matters:

Your core needs to have a balance of strength and flexibility to perform at its best.

A strong core allows your body to have the support it needs to move, bend, and twist without causing injuries, and a flexible core is crucial to allowing the body to move well and through a full range of motion.

Together, these physical qualities help you keep your spinal discs healthy, just like movement-based care such as the adjustments we provide.

• Core exercises can help your back maintain a balance of strength and flexibility.
• Movement of the spine promotes the delivery of nutrients to the spinal discs.
• Spinal adjustments can improve your range of motion and help to decrease pain.

Next Steps:

It's been said that we don't get old and stiff, we get stiff then old.

It’s much easier to keep your spine moving than to get your spine moving, and our practice is here to help you stay active, healthy, and happy.

Reach out to us today to schedule a visit to assess your movement and create a plan of action to keep you pain-free and at the top of your game.

Science Source(s):

Exercise and Physical Therapy for Treatment and Pain Management. Spine-Health. 2006.

Exercise for Sciatica from a Herniated Disc. Spine-Health. 2019.

Bottom Line:

If you've had a spinal disc problem, you know how painful it can be.

Every movement seems to hurt, and it can feel like you'll never be back to your old self.

That pain is the body’s way of signaling you to "Pay Attention Inside Now" -- it's a warning sign from your body. It's your body's way of letting you know it’s been pushed past its limits.

However, with the proper care and a little time, you can get your life back.

Why it Matters:

The most common type of spinal disc problem is called a bulge or herniation, and these injuries most commonly occur between 45-65 years of age when discs are naturally more dehydrated and stiffer.

A disc bulge or herniation occurs when a disc's inner portion is trying to (or has) pushed through its tough outer layer.

When this happens, it can cause pain in two different ways.

• If the disc bulges far enough to press on a spinal nerve, you may notice pain that travels down your arms or legs.
• If the inside of your disc pushes through the outer layer, it could also cause severe inflammation resulting in pain.

Next Steps:

The good news is that your spine is incredibly resilient.

Research has proven that movement-based care, such as spinal adjustments and spinal rehab, are incredibly effective at helping you heal from spinal disc injuries. In fact, exercises that "centralize" your spinal disc may be able to prevent future episodes of sciatica.

If you have spinal pain or pain that travels down your arm or leg, let us know. Our practice focuses on using the latest research-based treatments to help you heal, improve, and regain your quality of life.

Science Source(s):

Bulging Disc vs. Herniated Disc: What's the Difference? Mayo Clinic. 2019.

Exercise for Sciatica from a Herniated Disc. Spine-Health. 2019.

WEEK 1

What are Spinal Discs Made of?

Bottom Line:

We all know spinal discs are important -- but to understand why, the real question is… what are they made of?

Simply put, your spinal discs are the little cushions that sit between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. Each disc is made up of a tough, fibrous outer layer (annulus fibrosis) and a jelly-like inner layer (nucleus pulposus). The tough outer layer contains and protects the softer inside layer.

These small discs have a big job. They enable your spine to move in all directions.

Why it Matters:

Your spinal column has 24 moveable bones with spinal discs between each pair. Each disc acts like a small swivel to allow your body to tilt and rotate.

A disc’s inner layer is mostly made up of water, and that high water content helps keep it supple and moveable. However, as you get older, your discs tend to lose their high water content, which can lead to degeneration.

Degenerative discs don't move as well, are more prone to cause pain, and even contribute to the compression of your spinal nerves.

Next Steps:

Movement is one of the best ways to keep your spinal discs healthy.

Since the spinal discs don't have a particularly good blood supply, movement is how they bring in nutrients. Those nutrients help the discs stay healthy and push out waste that can contribute to pain and inflammation.

If your neck or back hurts, let us know! We'll help get your spinals discs moving and working together better so you get your life back from pain!

Science Source(s):

Intervertebral Disc: Anatomy-Physiology – Pathophysiology -Treatment. Pain Practice. 2000.

Bottom Line:

Have you found yourself tired and drained at the end of each day?

It may be easy to grab a second (or tenth?!) coffee or energy drink but boosting your energy level doesn't mean you need to rely on caffeine.

Creating smart, healthy habits each day can help increase your energy level, mental focus, and endurance.

Why it Matters:

When you walk through the grocery store, you may notice dozens of products designed to increase your energy level lining the shelves.

Many of these synthetic stimulants aren't healthy, and some can even become addictive.

Instead of that daily quick fix, it's better to take a step back and consider the effect that your stress levels, exercise frequency, and diet can have on your energy levels.

• Being stressed out consumes a ton of energy. Bringing down your mental stress levels with a relaxing activity like meditation and your physical tension with some quick physical therapy in the form of chiropractic care can help you reclaim that energy.
• Daily exercise can help you sleep better, elevate your mood, and further improve your energy levels by boosting the amount of oxygen circulating in your body.
• Eating foods with a low glycemic index (where sugar is absorbed slowly) can help you avoid a crash after meals and snacks, keeping you more energized throughout the day.

Next Steps:

Developing an awareness of your daily habits and making small changes can result in big changes.

Start with avoiding using caffeine as a crutch and instead making positive lifestyle choices like those we just mentioned - and if you have questions or would like our specific natural supplement recommendations, just let us know.

We’re here to help!

Science Source(s):

9 Tips to Boost Your Energy — Naturally. Harvard Health Publishing. 2020.

Bottom Line:

You've heard it before: regular exercise is good for your physical and mental health.

Daily exercise can help you lose weight, lower your risk of future health challenges, reduce your stress, and improve your mental outlook.

But, if you're like many people (over 80% to be exact!), you just aren't getting enough exercise each week.

Why it Matters:

As chiropractors, a primary focus of ours is movement-based care.

Your overall health is influenced by three types of movement:

1. Segmental: how well your body's individual joints move.
2. Regional: how well your neck, low back, arms, and legs move.
3. Whole body: how well your whole body moves.

Here’s how...

• Segmental Movement: Regular chiropractic adjustments can positively influence the function of your nervous system, help decrease aches and pains, and help relax your muscles
• Regional Movement: Regular stretching can help to improve your range of motion and biomechanics and your energy levels.
• Whole Body Movement: Daily exercise can help to improve your mood and your sleep and help to lower your risk of chronic disease.

Next Steps:

Millions of people make New Year’s resolutions to get more active each year… and each year, they seem to come up short…but this year, you have the tools and resources to succeed!

By setting smart health goals and cultivating a positive mindset, you have the right foundation to begin moving your body towards better health in 2021.

And if you notice you’re struggling to stay on track, or you’re sidelined by chronic aches and pains, let us know. We're here to help you get health and stay healthy so you can stay active and reach your goals!

Science Source(s):

Mindset is the #1 predictor of success.

The conversations that you have with yourself that play a major role in determining your growth. And thinking that you can't do something can become a self-fulfilling prophecy that prevents you from acting and making the decisions you need to live your best life.

The good news is that there is good news!

Why it Matters:

You can change your habits, beliefs, and transform the way you think.

When you do, you'll be able to look at the world with a new perspective, and that alone can empower you to become the person you know you can be. Pay attention this week to the thought loops that play in your head and try to be more conscientious about what you tell yourself. This small change will help you cultivate a more positive mindset in 2021.

Did you know...

Negative emotions may weaken your immune response.

• Positive thinking can help you more effectively manage stress and contribute to improving your overall health.
• In fact, a positive outlook has been attributed to a 30% decrease in the likelihood of one day experiencing a cardiovascular event.

Next Steps:

Cultivating a positive mindset isn't just a lackadaisical, “granola” way to approach life.

New research on the mind-body connection has shown us that our mental health impacts much of our physical health, and a positive mindset can lead to improvements in your overall health and well-being.

Speaking of that mind-body connection, if you have a health challenge or some other aches and pains that are weighing on your mind, let us know. We’re here to help!

Science Source(s):

Positive thinking: Stop Negative Self-Talk to Reduce Stress. Mayo Clinic.  2020.

The Power of Positive Thinking. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2020.

Bottom Line:

Have you ever felt like you were working hard but weren't making any progress towards your goals?

You're not alone.

Most people feel that way each year around this time.

They set goals, take a few action steps, but never seem to accomplish very much. Often the problem isn't a lack of motivation... it's just that they haven't set smart goals.

Smart health goals make it easier for you to clarify your thoughts, focus your efforts, use your time to your advantage, and increase your chances of not only achieving but surpassing your expectations!

Why it Matters:

Living a healthy life is more than just being free from pain.

Setting health goals, stretching your comfort zone, and celebrating small wins are important parts of a fulfilling life.

As you plan your New Year's resolutions for a healthy 2021, plan SMART goals.

• Specific: Make your goals specific for more effective planning.
• Measurable: define how you are making progress.
• Attainable: make them reasonable to accomplish.
• Relevant: your goals should align with your values.
• Time-Based: set a date of completion.

Next Steps:

There is no better time than right now to begin setting goals to improve your health this year.

Living a healthy life is a journey, so be sure to celebrate each step of your progress, no matter how seemingly small.

And know that our practice is here to help guide you along the way! If you have a health challenge or an ache or pain that's holding you back from reaching your goals, let us know. We'll be happy to help!

Science Source(s):

Smart Goals: How to Make Your Goals Achievable. MindTools. 2020.

Bottom Line:

We all know someone who gets sick around the holidays every year.

Are they just unlucky? Thankfully, luck doesn’t have anything to do with it!

Our bodies are designed to be healthy and resilient, and research indicates that our daily choices may be the most crucial factor in our ability to stay well.  

Why it Matters:

Managing our daily choices well = managing our daily stresses well = staying well.

Each day, our bodies are tasked with handling our chemical, physical, and emotional stresses in order to protect and maintain an optimal state of health. That includes what goes into our bodies, how we use our bodies, and any changes we make to our in our habits in response to stressful situations. 

Each is vitally important.

Knowing that, here are 3 steps you can take today to gift yourself better health as we head into 2021...

1. Daily Movement: Exercise is an essential way to keep your mind and body fit over the holidays.
2. 2.     Mental Moments: Each day, set aside time to pause, decompress and count your blessings.
3. Portion Planning: Try to plan and balance your meals so you give yourself the best shot at avoiding any extra empty calories or foods that may lead to added inflammation.

Next Steps:

Staying healthy this holiday season is more than attainable – it’s easy! Just take a few minutes each day to be proactive with your healthy habits. Managing your daily stresses with the tips above are great ways to get started, and if you need help, we hope you’ll give us a call. We’re here for you!

Science Source(s):

Psychological Stress and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. NEJM. 1991.

Stress Management. Mayo Clinic. 2020.

Bottom Line:

Did you know… chronic stress can contribute to health challenges like anxiety and even back pain.

Why? When your body is in a constant state of stress, it produces hormones that can disrupt almost all of your body's natural processes.

That’s one of the big reasons discovering healthy ways to cope with stress is one of the best ways to keep yourself well, and chiropractors may be the perfect healthcare partner to help you get started.  

Why it Matters:

Studies have proven that chronic stress affects both your brain and body in various ways and identifying its presence early is a key way to maintain your good health.

Early signs of chronic stress include sleeplessness, headaches, muscle tension, and joint pain.

As it happens, chiropractors can help you overcome stress in a few unique ways.

Here are just 3 ways we can help you reduce stress…

1. Reducing Muscle Tension: Reducing any built-up tension in your muscles can help sooth a tired body and mind.
2. Restoring Movement: Gentle adjustments to the body can help you move your back, arms, and legs more freely and with less pain.
3. Offering Personalized Exercise: Daily exercise is a powerful way to turn the dial down on that mental stress and up on your overall physical wellbeing (not to mention the effectiveness of our care!).

Next Steps:

Even people who are never stressed out often start to notice an uptick in headaches, muscle tension, and difficulty sleeping during this time of year.

If you’re finding it just a bit challenging to simply relax and enjoy the holidays because you’re stressed, we hope you’ll think of us. Just give us a call. Our team is here for you!

Science Source(s):

Neurophysiological Effects of Spinal Manipulation. The Spine Journal. 2002.

Bottom Line:

Your stress level and spinal health are linked through your nervous system.

Just think about what happens to you physically when you get stressed out.

Your muscles tense, your breathing patterns change, and often, so does the way you move. Changes in your posture, for example, can lead to neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and more – all in response to the stress you’re feeling.  

Why it Matters:

Stress often triggers some cycle of pain or dysfunction, and the process is coordinated through your nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal systems.

Here's an example. If you're stressed out, you may notice you start to exercise less, which may lead to pain and stiffness, which may bring your mental health down, which may in turn lead to more stress.

You should know, our team can help you combat the effects of stress on your body.

Let’s look at an alternative…

• Stress can affect your posture and the way you move.
• That abnormal motion can lead to pain and inflammation.
• Chiropractic adjustments to the body can help improve your posture, the way you move, and lessen any physical irritation to your nerves.

Next Steps:

In short, movement is the best natural "medicine" for bringing down those stress levels and improving the way you move and feel. In fact, daily exercise has been shown to lower stress levels, elevate moods, and improve overall health.

Between workout sessions, gentle chiropractic adjustments to the body can help keep you moving well and keep any pains at bay so you can get the daily exercise you need to stay well this holiday season.

So, if you are looking for a natural way to relieve those aches and pains so you can get back to being active, we hope you’ll give us a call!

Science Source(s):

Neurophysiological Effects of Spinal Manipulation. The Spine Journal. 2002.

The Interaction Effect of Posture and Psychological Stress. EHAWC. 2011.

Bottom Line:

You may not know that there is a neck pain solution that is recommended by most major health care organizations that almost no physicians talk about. It can work better than medication and is far less risky than injections or surgery. So why hasn't the world embraced it?

That's a good question.

Why it Matters:

What are we talking about? Chiropractic care. Spinal adjustments are the neck pain solution that physicians haven't been talking about... until now!

Gentle adjustments to your neck can help effectively reduce neck pain, improve how you move, and even positively influence your brain and nervous system.

Chiropractors focus on the structure and function of your spine. When your spine is functioning optimally, your body is better able to heal itself without the need for medication. And don’t let a disc herniation make you believe that you’re too far gone for chiropractic care. Research has shown that nearly 80% of people with a disc herniation in their neck found relief with spinal adjustments!

To recap....

• Drugs and surgery usually aren't recommended for the care of neck pain due to their risks and side-effects.
• The Cleveland Clinic and American College of Physicians support chiropractic adjustments for the care of neck issues.
• Spinal adjustments have been shown to provide more relief than steroid injections for neck pain caused by a disc herniation.

Next Steps:

We believe that the first step to finding relief from neck pain is discovering the root cause. After identifying any structural issues in your neck and spine, we can put together a treatment plan designed to both help improve your movement and reduce your pain.

If you or someone you know has struggled with neck pain, we hope you'll give us a call today!

Science Source(s):

Chiropractic Care for Arthritis. Arthritis Foundation. 2020. | Do you have a stiff neck? Try these simple remedies. Cleveland Clinic. 2015. | Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013.

Bottom Line:

Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold up the weight of your head every day... for a lifetime. Holding up 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but those 7 bones and 25 or so muscles in your neck need to work together correctly for you to move your head around free of pain.

Postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are just a few of the primary causes of neck pain.

Most of the time, your pain can be traced to a problem with either the muscles, bones, discs, or nerves in your neck.

Why it Matters:

If you've ever had a stiff neck and couldn't turn your head to either side for a day or two, you know how impactful neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move often result from your body trying to protect a joint that isn't moving correctly.

Let’s look at the anatomy.

Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If an adhesion forms or the joint is stuck, your body will try to compensate for a little while. However, over time, this compensation can cause a cascade of additional challenges.

To recap…

• Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain.
• The facet joints of your neck can become stuck and cause muscles spasms and pain.
• Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore the motion of your facet joints and reduce pain.

Next Steps:

A stiff neck is your body's way of saying "pay attention inside now"! Even if the pain eases up at the end of the day, it's a smart idea to reach out to a chiropractor. Movement assessments are a just one part of our physical examination, and they provide us with important information about your body and what may be causing your pain. Remember, by taking a proactive approach to your health today, you may be able to prevent future episodes of neck pain and stiffness.

Science Source(s):

The Cervical Spine Before, During and After Manipulation. The Spine Journal. 2018.

Bottom Line:

Working on computers and staring down at our smartphones for hours each day has left over 20% of us experiencing neck pain over the past few months. A stiff neck is usually the result of postural issues that have tired the neck muscles over time. Weakened, or unbalanced, muscle strength can place additional stress on your spinal joints and lead to changes in how you move, extra pressure on your discs, and pain.

Why it Matters:

If you are looking down at your digital devices all day every day, the stress can add up and result in your neck not moving correctly. At this point, it's only a matter of time before you wake up with a stiff neck or turn your head during the day and are greeted by an intense muscle discomfort or pain.

Here are our 3 smart tips for getting rid of that stiff neck:

• Perform exercises each day to stretch and strengthen the muscles that support your neck.
• Sleep on a supportive pillow to keep your head in a neutral position throughout the night.
• Visit your chiropractor regularly for gentle adjustments to restore the proper motion of your neck and spine.

Next Steps:

Remember, chiropractic care can lead to big changes in your quality of life. Our practice is focused on helping you feel and move better through gentle adjustments and by providing you with the stretches and exercises you can do at home to keep improving. If neck pain is getting in the way of you enjoying your life, give us a call. Our team is here to help!

Science Source(s):

Do You Have a Stiff Neck? Try These Simple Remedies. Cleveland Clinic. 2015.

Bottom Line:

Many people think that surgery can "fix" an area of their spine that is injured. While in rare cases that's true, the permanent changes that surgery makes to your anatomy can cause a host of new problems in addition to the trauma and risks that inherently go along with surgery.

The changes are referred to as "adjacent segment disease," and they are the number one reason why people who have one surgery on their low back often have to repeat the process.

Why it Matters:

A recent study found that chiropractic care can provide the same relief as surgery for disc issues in the low back, and that’s without any of the surgical risks.

The kicker is those individuals who didn't get great results with chiropractic care were found to be great surgical candidates. So, in most cases, it's clear that anyone entertaining the idea of surgery should go to the chiropractor before going under the knife!

.

• An estimated 60% of patients with sciatica benefited from spinal adjustments to the same degree as if they had received surgery.
• Over 25% of patients undergoing spine surgery may have complications.
• Patients with disc herniations should consider chiropractic care before surgical intervention.

Next Steps:

Having surgery is a big, irreversible decision. The time away from work, risks associated with anesthesia, the direct trauma to your spine, and results that aren't exactly fantastic have all led many doctors to question whether surgery is a good option (outside of emergency cases).

In our practice, our goal is to help you avoid unnecessary addictive drugs and risky medical procedures so that you can find health and healing naturally. And if you are one of the rare people who may benefit from surgery, we'll let you know. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the best care recommendations based on your goals and our findings. It's how we believe healthcare should be delivered.

Science Source(s):

Manipulation or Microdiskectomy for Sciatica? A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study. JMPT. 2010.

Risk of Complications in Spine Surgery. Open Orthopaedics Journal. 2015.

Science Says the Best Way to Treat Sciatica is…

Bottom Line:

If you've ever fallen to your knees in pain because of sciatica, you know how scary it can be. Pain that locks up your low back and travels down your leg after sneezing, coughing, or bending over is one of the least welcomed surprises you can experience in your life.

Sciatic pain is caused when a spinal disc, excess bone, or overgrown ligaments begin to pinch the nerves in your low back that travel down your buttocks and legs all the way to your feet. Do you know the best way to find relief?

Why it Matters:

You may be surprised to learn that disc bulges and herniations are quite common as we get older, and a majority of the time, they don't cause any pain.

That's right. You can and may have various spinal disc issues that aren't causing you any pain. However, if a nerve in your low back is pinched, your body is sure to let you know about it with a jolt of pain.

It may seem like the only way to "take care" of a bulged or herniated disc is by cutting it out with surgery, but that's not the case. The best way to treat sciatica is with the care offered in our practice. Stretching, exercise, and spinal adjustments have all been shown to be extremely effective at reducing the pain associated with sciatica because they reduce the pinching (or compression) on your spinal nerves.

• Controlled movement of your spinal joints can help reduce the inflammation and pain.
• Surgery is a last resort, and it's estimated that less than 5% of people with sciatica are good candidates for surgical intervention.
• A recent study found that people with lumbar disc herniations had more relief (over 60%) with spinal adjustments than with spinal injections.

Next Steps:

Having sciatica doesn't mean that you are destined for surgery. In fact, the majority of people with disc issues and sciatica can get well using chiropractic care. Remember, your spine is resilient, your spinal discs can heal, and that we're here to help!

Science Source(s):

Symptomatic MRI-Confirmed Lumbar Disk Herniation Patients: A Comparative Effectiveness Prospective Observational Study. JMPT. 2013.

Bottom Line:

According to The Lancet, low back pain is the number one source of disability in the world. If you've dealt with low back pain in the past, you understand just how much it can alter your daily life. Even simply standing up straight can feel like an incredibly impossible task, and for that reason, many top healthcare organizations have begun to publish recommendations for the best ways to take care of low back pain.

Their findings may surprise you.

Why it Matters:

The care provided by chiropractors ranks at the top of many leading healthcare recommendations for relieving low back pain. Movement-based strategies like spinal adjustments, controlled exercise, and dynamic stretching are a few of the most effective ways to relieve low back issues. Not only are movement-based strategies good for providing fast relief, but emerging research shows that they may be able to offer a preventative effect when continued over time.

The days of taking drugs and medications for back pain are over. Prescriptions are now rarely recommended as a first option because of their dangerous side effects and, frankly, lack of results.

• The American College of Physicians supports chiropractic care for the treatment of back pain.
• Both Harvard Health and The Mayo Clinic have published numerous articles highlighting chiropractic and movement-based treatment options for low back pain relief.
• Clinical care guidelines discourage the use of medication for low back pain due to the risks, dangers, and lack of results.

Next Steps:

We're happy that major, trusted healthcare organizations have evolved to support natural ways to find relief from low back pain. If you or someone you know is struggling with back pain, reach out to us today. Our practice will provide you with a thorough evaluation to determine the source of your problem and the best unique care plan designed specifically to help you find relief.

Science Source(s):

Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Practice Guidelines.  The American College of Physicians. 2017.

Prevention and Treatment of Low Back Pain: Evidence, Challenges, and Promising Directions. The Lancet. 2018.

Bottom Line:

Have you ever been able to tell what someone's mood is just by how they walked into a room? We all have! It's a great example of how our posture and attitude are connected. Within seconds you can look at someone and tell whether they are confident, depressed, withdrawn, or happy. Emotions, posture, and pain sensitivity are all influenced by each other to some degree.

Why it Matters:

Postural change has been linked to depression and other health challenges. Maintaining an unnatural, stooped posture can often create aches and pains that exacerbate depression. It’s a vicious cycle. On the flip side, a recent study discovered that people who were depressed found their mood to improve after they changed their posture.

The exact reason for these changes is yet to be discovered. It may be as simple as people feeling better about themselves by demonstrating a confident posture. Our body posture and position can also influence the release of endorphins, or feel-good chemicals in the brain.

• Slumped posture has been linked with depression symptoms.
• An upright posture has been shown to improve mood.
• Emotions and thoughts affect your posture and energy level.

Next Steps:

Look up and pull your shoulders back to reset your mind and body! The next time you are feeling down or depressed, pay attention to your posture. You'll likely be slumped with your head and neck curved forward and down. A simple change in posture may help you feel more confident, energetic, and happy. And if your posture is causing neck or back pain, give us a call. We'll be glad to help!

If you're experiencing depression, we also recommend reaching out to a professional for help.

Science Source(s):

Upright Posture Improves Affect and Fatigue in People with Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 2017.

Bottom Line:

Years ago, researchers believed that the health benefits of exercise were limited to the body. However, recent research has indicated that regular physical activity and movement can benefit both the body and brain. We’re seeing that movement supplies the brain cells with oxygen, promotes the production of new cells, and aides in creating synapses (connections in the brain).

Why it Matters:

With many schools reducing physical education classes, and even more students moving towards e-learning, you want to be sure to encourage your child to exercise each day.

Movement triggers the release of many chemical substances in the brain that enhance brain function. In many ways, exercising each day is likely to make your child a better student, in many ways!

• Brain Function: Movement may protect your brain against degenerative changes.
• Stress Reduction: Exercise and movement have been shown to decrease stress and has an antidepressant effect.
• Memory: Regular exercise can help memory and thinking in both direct and indirect ways.

Next Steps:

In the past, we may have considered exercise and physical education classes to be a distraction from learning. Now we have come to understand that movement and exercise play an integral role in learning and brain function.

Daily movement and exercise are healthy for both your child's body and brain. If your child struggles to get enough exercise due to pain or postural issues, schedule an appointment with us today. Our posture and movement assessments are designed to identify abnormal patterns, and our care can help your child feel better so that they can stay active and become the best student possible!

Science Source(s):

Learning Up Regulates Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Messenger RNA. BN. 2019.

The Anti-depressant Effect of Running. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005.

Regular Exercise Changes the Brain to Improve Memory. Harvard Health Publishing. 2014.

Bottom Line:

Does your child's backpack feel like a 50-pound bag of rocks? You may have noticed that your child struggles to get it on in the morning or may even need help to pull the straps together enough to click the buckle. What’s more, researchers and healthcare organizations are growing more concerned about the effects of this extra weight on your child's developing spine.

Why it Matters:

It's estimated that over 60% of children routinely carry backpacks that weigh more than 10% of their body weight. For some children, that may mean carrying a backpack nearly identical to their own body weight!

This is a big deal because researchers have found that carrying heavy backpacks increases the risk of back pain in children by a whopping 50%.

The good news? You’ve got their back.  

• Ergonomics: Select an appropriately sized backpack. It shouldn't be wider than their torso or sit more than 4 inches below their waist.
• Fit: Use both shoulder straps to balance the weight and ensure that the are snug so the backpack doesn't hang low.
• Packing: Teach your child to place the heaviest items towards the bottom of the backpack and use all the compartments to distribute the load.

Next Steps:

One benefit of the e-learning movement is that digital versions on the computer are replacing many heavy textbooks (though long hours of e-learning have their host of challenges, as you'll discover next week!).

Most experts agree that a backpack shouldn't weigh more than 10% of the child's body weight. Backpacks that are too heavy can lead to back or neck pain, as well as poor posture. If your child has developed poor posture or neck/back pain, let us know. We'd be happy to evaluate their posture and movement to correct any concerns before they become a problem.

Science Source(s):

Backpack Safety: It's time to lighten the load. National Safety Council. 2020.

Bottom Line:

As students worldwide return to school, it appears as though many will be e-learning for hours each day on their digital devices. While our devices can be fantastic tools for entertainment and education, the postural effects are something all parents should be aware of. For many students, e-learning may increase in neck, mid-back, and low back pain.

Why it Matters:

Spending 6 or more hours each day on a digital device can profoundly affect your mental, social, and physical health. Prolonged periods looking at a phone, tablet, or computer can result in “Tech Neck Syndrome.” This forward head posture can place a tremendous amount of stress on the neck (cervical spine) and lead to headaches, back pain, neck pain, and more.

Did you know…

• It’s estimated that 50.3% of school-aged children present with posture disorders.
• A surprising 41.6% of children experience back pain from prolonged sitting.
• Low back pain is the 3rd most common form of pain that interferes with schoolwork.

Next Steps:

Making it a habit to look up (literally!) throughout the day is a great first step in significantly reducing the effects of “Tech Neck”.

Try this: pull your chin back, open your arms out wide, and look up to the ceiling and stretch at least every 60 minutes to help reset your posture and body position.

Remember, if your child is spending every day at their compute, schedule a check-up with us to provide you with a full posture and movement-based assessment so we can identify any potential issues and work together to come up with a plan to reduce their chance of dealing with the effects of “Tech Neck Syndrome.”

Science Source(s):

Back Pain in School Children. Dynamic Chiropractic. 1995.

Bottom Line:

Developing a healthy spine begins by understanding the three keys of strength, flexibility, and posture. Strength, flexibility, and improving your posture will go a long way towards reducing pain and improving your spine's function.

Your spine is made up of bones (vertebrae), and spinal discs that separate each bone. If you look at someone from the side, you'll notice that the vertebrae and discs create three distinct curves: the neck (cervical), mid-back (thoracic), and low back (lumbar). What you may not realize is that you began your life with a single curve, and the others developed as you began to crawl and walk as a child.

Why it Matters:

As a baby, you had a single c-shaped curve - perfect for optimizing growth and development in the womb. However, once you began to lift your head, your cervical (neck) curve began to develop. Not too much after that, your low back (lumbar) curve formed as you started to take your first steps and walk upright.

The development of these curves is critical to posture as an adolescent and adult, and there are three key factors that support the development healthy spinal curves:

• Strength: Strong core, shoulder, and leg muscles are essential to providing the proper support for your spine.
• Flexibility: Flexibility is necessary to maintain a full range of motion, which reduces your risk of injury.
• Posture: Strength and flexibility will help ease the stress on your back, as will focusing on the dynamics of your posture and being sure to frequently changing positions throughout the day.

Next Steps:

Developing a healthy spine starts when we’re young, and we all know the habits and actions we take today will affect our quality of life for years to come. Set an example and encourage your children to stay active, keep an eye on their posture, and promote activities that strengthen their spine to help support the development of great posture, and a possible reduction in their likelihood of experiencing back pain.  

Science Source(s):

Three Steps to Build a Better Back. Harvard Health Publishing. 2015.

Bottom Line:

Whether you’re driving to work or taking a big family vacation, an unexpected car accident can cause painful injuries that may impact you for months and years to come. The weight of your vehicle combined with your speed can create a tremendous amount of force. During an auto accident, that force gets transferred directly to your body! Even "low speed" collisions can create enough force to cause serious injuries.

Why it Matters:

Seat belts save millions of lives each year and should be used every time you enter a vehicle. No questions. What you may not know is that they also can contribute to a few of the most common spinal injuries seen following an auto accident.

The sudden stop or change in direction that often occurs during a car accident can place a tremendous amount of force on your chest. Your unsecured arms and legs can also strike your vehicle’s interior, causing injury.

Here are a few of the most common injuries that occur during a car accident.

• Head Injuries: Striking your head against the steering wheel, dashboard, or window can result in severe injury such as a concussion (which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury).
• Spinal Injuries: The competing forces experienced during a car accident can result in spinal injuries like instability, whiplash, or herniated discs.
• Arm or Leg Injuries: Injuries to your shoulders (if you're holding the wheel) or your knees (if they hit the door or dashboard) are very common during a car accident.

Next Steps:

If you're in a car accident, regardless of whether it's major or minor, it is important to seek medical attention. Properly documenting your cuts and scrapes, evaluating your spine, and evaluating if you've suffered any head injuries is nearly impossible to do without the help of a trained medical professional, so don’t put it off. Make a mental note right now to make it a priority and know that we’re always here to help if you have any questions or have recently experienced an auto accident yourself.

Science Source(s):

The Impact of Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained in Road Traffic Crashes on Work-Related Outcomes: a Protocol for a Systematic Review. BMC. 2018.

Bottom Line:

Your spine is a long chain of bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments that extend from your skull down to your tailbone. The cervical spine – better known as your neck - is designed to support your head and protects the nerves that connect to your face, shoulders, and arms. Whiplash injuries can create damage to these delicate structures and can cause symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, stiffness, shoulder pain, numberless, and tingling / pain into the arms and hands.

Why it Matters:

Even minor damage to the ligaments of your neck (a hallmark of whiplash) can take up to 12 weeks to heal. Depending on the severity of the ligament tearing, these injuries may also be classified as permanent.

Significant damage to the supporting ligaments is known as spinal instability, and it's essential to limit any inflammation early on in your treatment and to improve your range of motion. While it may seem strange that movement can be a good thing even if it may hurt, know that carefully controlled movement can limit the amount of scar tissue that forms and may even increase the rate of healing.

• Obtaining an accurate diagnosis through a complete examination and spinal imaging is the first step towards determining the best plan of care to heal your injuries.
• Inflammation is one of the primary factors that causes pain and restricted movement after sustaining a whiplash injury.
• Controlling inflammation naturally and re-establishing your range of motion can reduce your pain and improve the results of your care.

Next Steps:

Chiropractors take a holistic approach to helping you recover from whiplash by examining and treating the injured muscles, ligaments, discs, and more. By focusing on improving your movement, biomechanics, and functional ability - while reducing your pain – it’s no wonder that Chiropractors are considered an essential part of a person’s healthcare team especially after an auto accident.

Science Source(s):

The Treatment of Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline. JMPT. 2016.

Bottom Line:

If you can walk away after a car accident without any catastrophic injuries, you may consider yourself lucky! Even if you feel ok after exchanging information and speaking with the police, it’s always a good idea to see a Chiropractor following an auto accident. With your adrenaline pumping in the aftermath, your brain may not immediately register the pain signals coming from your body. Often only after you’ve had some time to calm down do you notice you may be struggling with aches and pains.

Why it Matters:

Ignoring a new ache or pain after a car accident and hoping it will go away is not smart. Even minor symptoms can be an indication of a more significant problem.

Receiving a complete and thorough evaluation is critical to discovering any injuries early on so that you can receive the best care and treatment to put those injuries in the rearview mirror as quickly as possible.

The following symptoms often have a delayed onset and may not appear for hours (or even days!) after an auto accident:

• Headaches: A concussion, neck injury, mild traumatic brain injury, or whiplash can lead to chronic headaches after a car accident. Don't dismiss a headache or dizziness until it's been adequately evaluated by a doctor.
• Back pain: Pain in your back following a car accident can take hours or days to surface. This could be a sign of a spinal disc, soft tissue, or whiplash injury.
• Neck/Shoulder Pain: If you notice pain in your neck, shoulders, or arms, it may be a sign of a whiplash or spinal injury.

Next Steps:

Delayed onset of symptoms after a car accident is quite common. It doesn't mean that you're "making it up." The stress of a car accident can make it difficult to truly assess how you feel minutes after the event. It takes time for swelling and inflammation to begin, and if you notice pain hours or days after your auto accident, don't dismiss it. Get a proper evaluation as soon as you can. Doing so has the potential to make a massive difference in your quality of life!

Science Source(s):

Whiplash. WebMD. 2019.

Bottom Line:

Whiplash injuries used to be considered "no big deal', but times have changed. Doctors now know that whiplash can cause lifelong pain and disability if not treated properly. During a car accident, the head often suddenly moves forward and backward with a tremendous amount of force. Even low-speed collisions can generate enough force to injure the delicate ligaments in your neck that support your head.

Why it Matters:

When you experience a whiplash injury, your head and neck extend beyond their normal range of motion. This can create partial tears or other damage to the muscles and ligaments around your spine and injure the spinal disc, nerves, or muscles. A few key indicators that you may have suffered a whiplash injury include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, pain into your arms/shoulders, or limited range of motion.

• It’s estimated that over 80% of people involved in a car accident will sustain whiplash injuries.
• Whiplash injuries are now considered severe, and often permanent injuries to the ligaments of the neck occur after the rapid back and forth motion experienced during an accident.
• What’s more, nearly 50% of people with neck pain or whiplash following a car accident will continue to have pain one year after their initial injury.

Next Steps:

Receiving the proper diagnosis and care after a car accident can help reduce your likelihood of struggling with a lifetime of chronic neck pain. Our practice is focused on accurately assessing, documenting, and treating people who have been involved in a car accident. We’d ready to help you regain your quality of life as quickly and safely as possible!

Science Source(s):

The Association Between a Lifetime History of a Neck Injury in a Motor Vehicle Collision and Future Neck Pain. European Spine Journal. 2010.

Bottom Line:

"Sit up straight and stop slouching!" You've likely heard this since childhood, but is there such a thing as perfect posture? The answer is a bit complicated. The latest research shows that it may be more important to think about a "balanced" or "dynamic" posture than perfect posture, and we're also discovering that our ability to change positions and move may be more critical than our static position while standing or sitting.

Why it Matters:

Your posture is made up of a dynamic pattern of responses, reflexes, and habits, not a single position. Gravity, your work environment, and your anatomy all play a role. For instance, sitting for hours on end staring at a computer screen is a perfect example of an imbalanced and challenged posture as a result of ergonomics. Over time, this imbalance can lead to forward head posture, which can cause pain and even degenerative changes in your joints. Forward head posture affects millions of people who spend their days using computers. It places stress on the neck and shoulders and weakens the supporting muscles.

• Forward head posture affects millions and results in neck pain for up to 75% of people.
• Neck pain, tension, stiffness, and tenderness are all signs of chronic forward head posture.
• Trapezius strengthening has been shown to provide clinically significant relief for those struggling with neck pain as a result of forward head posture.

Next Steps:

Strength and flexibility play a significant role in your posture. Having good core strength and balancing that strength with flexibility can help you dynamically adapt to your environment. While "perfect" posture may not exist, each one of us has an opportunity to improve our strength, flexibility, and ergonomics to reduce our likelihood of experiencing pain. If you spend your days looking at a computer, let us know. We'll be happy to recommend a care plan to help you balance the effects of all that screen time.

Science Source(s):

Effects of Lower Trapezius Strengthening Exercises on Pain, Dysfunction, Posture Alignment, Muscle Thickness, and Contraction Rate in Patients with Neck Pain; Randomized Controlled Trial. Medical Science Monitor 2020

Bottom Line:

An estimated 85% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. Why? As a woman enters her second or third trimester, her growing baby pulls her body’s center of gravity forward, which in turn increases the curve of her low back. That increased amount of stress on the low back often leads to pain.

Why it Matters:

Spinal adjustments are considered a highly safe, effective, non-invasive, and evidence-based option for women to find relief from pregnancy induced back pain. In fact, Chiropractors often also provide specific exercise and stretching recommendations to help ensure lasting results.

A recent study found that patients who received care from their OB-GYN and Chiropractor together had greater reductions in pain and an improved quality of life versus those who only saw an OB-GYN alone.

• Approximately 92% of pregnant women are advised by their primary doctor to exercise and stay active during pregnancy.
• Choosing the right pillows and finding the best stretches can dramatically reduce any pregnancy induced neck and mid-back.
• The low back pain that many women experience during pregnancy can often be relieved with chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

If you or someone you know is expecting, reducing stress, staying physically active, and finding relief from those pregnancy related aches and pains are important. We hope you’ll consider including us as part of your birth team. An amazing 90% of women report a high level of satisfaction with receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy, so it's no wonder that chiropractic is one of the most popular "organic" healthcare choices for expecting moms.

Science Source(s):

Optimizing Pain Relief During Pregnancy Using Manual Therapy. Canadian Family Physician. 2013.

Bottom Line:

A woman's body undergoes many transformations during the nine months of pregnancy. Some of these changes are visible, such as an expanding belly, while others, such as morning sickness and backaches, may not be as visible but equally well known. Then there a few body changes may be unexpected and catch some women by surprise.

Why it Matters:

During pregnancy, the hormone Relaxin is produced to help loosen the joints and ligaments of the pelvis to best prepare the body for birth. Relaxin not only relaxes those ligaments in the pelvis, but also stretches other joints and ligaments all over the body.

This is one reason pregnant women develop back pain or sciatica (pain that starts in the back and travels down the leg into the foot).

As those ligaments become looser and the body’s center of gravity is pulled forward by a growing baby, a woman's low back can become over-stressed by these biomechanical changes, resulting in pain.

• Relaxin is a hormone produced during pregnancy that relaxes the joints and ligaments to prepare the body for birth.
• What’s more, the other joints and ligaments of the body also become "looser" due to Relaxin, which can lead to changes in the body’s movement patterns.
• These changes, while welcomed, often result in low back pain and other joint pains throughout pregnancy.

Next Steps:

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman's life, and a unique time for the body. The changes that help guide a successful birth process can also wreak havoc on a woman’s back and joints. If you or an expecting mother you know are looking to find natural pain relief solutions, give us a call. We’re happy to evaluate you and work with your birth team to provide non-invasive, safe, effective care that can help keep you active through all three trimesters!

Science Source(s):

Back Pain in Pregnancy. University of Rochester Medical Center. 2020.

Bottom Line:

Slipped or herniated discs happen when the inside of your spinal disc pushes through the disc’s exterior. Believe it or not, most herniated discs don’t cause any pain or symptoms. However, if you’re struggling with sudden pain after lifting or twisting, a herniated disc certainly may be to blame.

Why it Matters:

As you age, your spinal discs become less flexible, and that can make you more prone to tearing or herniating a disc as you lift or twist. The good news is that over 95% of spinal disc herniations can be resolved without drugs or surgery.

Here are a few tips to recover from a herniated disc:

Exercise: Low back mobility and stability exercises have been shown to have positive effects on recovery from lumbar disc herniations. Exercise can also help with your proprioception, or awareness in space, which can reduce your risk of re-injury.

Chiropractic: Depending on your specific condition, our care may include gentle spinal adjustments to improve your range of motion and decrease pain, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises aimed at returning your spine to its normal function

Support: Back braces can help give you extra support as you begin your care and treatment - but be careful. Using a brace over a long period of time is not recommended. They should only be used short-term to help relieve the pressure on your low back as you return to your normal daily activities.

Next Steps:

Many leading healthcare organizations have recommended chiropractic care for the care and treatment of disc issues. Discover more information to improve your health by visiting our website and Facebook Page today.

Science Source(s):

Herniated Disc. Mayo Clinic 2020

Effect of Lumbar Stabilization Exercise on Disc Herniation Index, Sacral Angle, and Functional Improvement in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation. Journal of Physical Therapy Science 2017

Bottom Line:

You’ve felt back pain. What’s causing it, and how can you tell if your back pain is muscle or disc related? Well, there are several common causes of back pain, and the first step on your road to recovery is identifying what type of back issue you’re dealing with.

Why it Matters:

Identifying the source of your pain is critical to developing the right plan of care. Research has found that while imaging can be helpful, it isn’t required every time you experience back pain. Starting with a thorough history and physical examination, our team will pinpoint your pain generator, identify the root cause, and create a complete plan of action to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.

A couple of the most common pain generators in the spine are:

• Muscle Strain - Muscle strains don't tend to occur because of a single traumatic occurrence. Instead, they usually happen due to repetitive physical stress and overuse.

• Herniated Discs - Between each of the vertebrae of your spine, you have discs. A herniated disc is when the inside (the nucleus) of the disc pushes through the outside (the annulus fibrosus) of the disc wall. The pain you feel from a herniated disc generally comes from the disc irritating or compressing a nearby spinal nerve.

Next Steps:

Dealing with back pain can be scary. But don’t stress! Most back pain can be taken care of without drugs or surgery. If you’re unsure of the diagnosis or cause of your pain, reach out to our practice today. We’ll be happy to help guide you on the best course of treatment to help you feel better quickly!

Science Source:

Low Back Pain Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2020

Bottom Line:

There's a secret behind the success of many professional athletes. A hidden factor that they wouldn't tell anyone else, and one that never left the elite circle of athletes - until now. Almost all the world's top athletes rely on Chiropractic care to stay at the top of their game. Through a unique combination of recovery, injury prevention, and performance, Chiropractors can help athletes of all fitness levels perform their best.

Why it Matters:

No matter how naturally powerful or talented you may be as an athlete, receiving Chiropractic care can have some pretty serious benefits. Most professional athletes receive Chiropractic care throughout their careers to help them make sure they continue to stay at their best.

Chiropractors can help athletes recover between workouts and improve their movement patterns & biomechanics, decreasing the risk of injury. Since athletes put their bodies through a lot of stress, their skeletal system takes a beating. Having a Chiropractor on their side helps them to make sure their body is solid, strong, and fit to keep on performing.

-       Nearly every professional sports team has a Chiropractor on their healthcare team.

-       Chiropractors can help athletes recover and perform by bridging the gap between the coaches, trainers, and medical staff.

-       Research has shown that adjustments can improve functional ability and may even be able to provide immediate short-term strength increases.

Next Steps:

Whether you're a professional athlete or weekend warrior, one thing is for sure: Chiropractic care can help you perform at a high level and recover. Just because you're an athlete doesn't mean that you have a limited shelf life. Your body is built to perform. You just need to take care of it! Let us help you today.

Science Source(s):

The Effects of a Single Session of Spinal Manipulation on Strength and Cortical Drive in Athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2018.

Bottom Line:

If you are stressed out or looking for a little rest and relaxation, exercise may be just what you need. Aerobic exercise is good for your mind and body. It has the unique ability to counter depression, decrease stress, and provide a combination of exhilaration and calm.

Why It Matters:

Exercising lowers the levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain. Think of these as natural pain killers with the power to elevate your mood. Neurochemical changes like these are why exercise has been shown to alleviate some symptoms of anxiety and depression.

What about stress? Symptoms such as tense muscles, headaches, and even back pain, can be rooted in chronic mental stress. Pain is distressing and can place your body into a stress response, where the mind and body enter a vicious cycle of tension and anxiety. Exercising can help reduce this stress response and relax both your mind and body.

Finally, exercising during the day helps regulate your sleep schedule and allows you to spend more time in a deep, restful sleep. Moderate exercise increases the slow wave sleep you get at night, which is the deep sleep that gives your brain and body a chance to rejuvenate and recover for the next day.

Next Steps:

Exercising daily can help reduce the stress on your mind and body. It's never too late to start exercising, and even small changes can make significant differences in your overall health. With a better mood, more restful sleep, and the ability to live a longer life, exercising daily is a crucial part of living a healthy lifestyle.

Science Source(s):

Exercising for Better Sleep. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2020.

Bottom Line:

Staying healthy as you age isn't just about adding more years to your life. It's also about adding more life to your years! Participating in daily physical activity and exercise can help ensure that you maintain a high quality of life as you get older, as well as help you reduce aches and improve your mental attitude.

Why it Matters:

Time marches on but getting older doesn't mean that you’ll have to live an inactive life. Weakness and poor balance are the result of inactivity, not age. There are plenty of activities that you can take part in to avoid slowing down as you age.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorites:

• Lighting Weights: Don't worry, you don't have to throw up hundreds of pounds on the bench press to benefit from lifting weights. Studies have shown that even light to moderate weight can increase bone density and help you maintain a healthy body weight. Researchers have also discovered that weight training has the potential to help get rid of nagging pain you may have in your shoulders, lower back, and knees.

• Light Cardio: Sprints and 5-mile runs aren't necessary to improve your cardiovascular health. You don't even have to jog. There are plenty of ways to get a solid cardiovascular workout without hurting your joints or wearing you out for the next three days. Popular options include cycling, swimming, and daily walking.

• Yoga: Even people who are in the prime of their lives will find that yoga requires a unique combination of flexibility, strength, and balance. By balancing strength and flexibility, yoga remains one of the best ways to keep your body limber.

Next Steps:

Pain is not a byproduct of aging. If you are not as active as you would like to be, let us know. Our team is dedicated to helping you find ways to enjoy doing the things you love with the people you love for years to come.

Science Source(s):

Physical Exercise as Therapy for Frailty. Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series. 2015.

Bottom Line:

Being healthy doesn't mean that you need to spend 20 hours each week in the gym. Even little things like standing at work can make a big improvement in your overall health. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle is a significant factor in many chronic diseases, as well as spinal aches and pains.

Why it Matters:

Do you drive to work and then spend your day on the computer? You may not realize that you have been spending 8, 10, or even more long hours each day sitting down. That much sitting can have a negative impact on your back, legs, neck, and even your mind.

The compression that occurs in your mid-back while seated can lead to problems in your low back and has also been linked to shoulder issues. Researchers have found the people who sit the majority of the time are more prone to a variety of chronic health diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

Incorporating more movement into your day can help keep your body and mind healthier.

 -      Make it a habit to stand up from your desk every 30 minutes to stretch and try to get in a brisk walk at lunchtime each day.

-      Improving the mobility of your mid-back (thoracic spine) can reduce your low back pain, improve your posture, & even decrease your
        likelihood of experiencing shoulder issues.

-      Daily exercise can lower your risk of heart disease, help control your weight, and lower your blood pressure.

Next Steps:

A few small changes in your activity level can make a huge difference, so keep your health goals in mind and start taking small daily steps in the right direction. If you feel "tight" or have pain between your shoulder blades, let us know. You may have restricted motion in your thoracic spine, and we would be happy to help you improve your mobility and so you can move your way towards better health.

Science Source(s):

Exercise and Cardiovascular Health. Circulation. 2003.

The Short-Term Effects of Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation on Patients With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Manual Therapies. 2009.

When farmers plant, they don't question the seed's innate ability to grow and produce crops.  Neither do they dig the seeds up every day to verify they’re maturing underground.  They simply prepare the soil as best as they can and trust nature to handle the rest. 

Similarly, Chiropractors don't question your innate ability to heal when we remove interference in your spine (Subluxations).  We know the each human body is blessed with an internal intelligence - an auto pilot capable enough to coordinate and carry out all the steps required to build and repair damaged tissue when necessary.  By adjusting, we're simply maintaining an environment conducive for that healing process to occur (a clear nerves system) and TRUSTING the innate wisdom in the patient to run the show.

The only thing a doctor can ever heal is him or herself.  Likewise, the only one capable of healing you is the 'doctor' within you.  The best physicians in the world recognize and yield to this awesome Power within every patient.  The best we can do is prep the soil and get out of its way.

Bottom Line:

Headaches are experienced a little bit differently by everyone. You may feel tired, have blurred vision, a stiff neck, or feel as if you’re unable to function for the day. But they do all have one thing in common - they are not "normal" to deal with frequently.

Why it Matters:

There are many different types of headaches and knowing which one you have is the first step towards finding relief. Here are a few of the most common headache types:  

Migraine: Migraines come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, you'll feel a throbbing on one side of your head. This type of headache can be incredibly painful and can last up to 3 days. You may feel nauseous, have difficulty speaking, or even be sensitive to light, sound, or smell. 

Tension Headache: Tension headaches are very common and may affect up to 20% of the population. They usually consist of a constant dull pain that is felt on both sides of the head. Stress, anxiety, or depression are a few of the triggers for a tension headache. You could also get them from dehydration, loud noises, lack of sleep, or even by not getting enough exercise. In short, living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to get rid of tension headaches. 

Cluster Headache: Cluster headaches are usually experienced more by men than by women. You will generally feel an intense burning or even a piercing feeling behind or around one of your eyes. These types of headaches usually come when you least expect them and can last anywhere between 15 minutes to three hours. 

Next Steps: 

If you're having trouble with migraine, tension, or cluster headaches, make sure to consult with our healthcare team. Did you know research has shown and continues to show that Chiropractic care can reduce the intensity, severity, and frequency of many common headaches… all without the need for medications. Think about that the next time you find yourself dealing with one too many headache episodes. We’re here to help!

Science Source(s): 

US National Library of Medicine. MedLine Plus. Tension Headache. 2019

The weight of a dime, 8-10 mm of Hg, that's all it takes to drain normal nerve transmission to a trickle.  Stretching a nerve by as little as 6% can also decrease its signal strength by 70%.   So what does that mean for you?

Your Nerve System transmits the data of Life.  Depending on role, thickness and sheath covering, some nerves can relay information from your brain to your body at speeds exceeding 200 mph.  If those impulses are communicating vital instructions like 'how many times your heart needs to beat,' or 'how should your immune system respond to a pre-cancerous lesion,' you want those messages traveling at the highest possible speeds - with NO interference.  If those signals get blocked at the spinal level because of misaligned vertebrae (subluxations), damage to your health becomes eminent.

Sustained pressure and stretch on spinal nerves may not manifest symptoms immediately.  Detrimental effects usually grow silently until a crisis occurs.  That's why it's important to keep your spine in proper alignment with Chiropractic care - so your good health doesn't stop on a dime.

You rarely hear a medical doctor prescribing to their patients the same care they do for their own families. Think about it. When was the last time your MD said "…here, try some of these antidepressants, statins and stomach acid inhibitors. I take them ALL to stay healthy and I give them to my family too."

Most Chiropractors, however, cheerfully follow their own care recommendations - adjusting their family, friends and most importantly THEMSELVES to stay Subluxation free and keep their bodies working at peak levels. Some adopted this 'clear nerve system' lifestyle from a miraculous chiropractic experience they had before becoming one themselves… others because their parents brought them as a child or they descended from a long lineage of Chiropractors. Whatever the reason, prioritizing regular care in their OWN lives gives it so much more validity in YOURS.

Isn't it nice to know that in a day and age of fake news, false advertising and idle promises there are DC's who walk the talk and keep their spines aligned just like you? Do you know why your doctor decided to become a Chiropractor? The answer may inspire you.

Your doctor determined from your last set of X-Rays that you have arthritis in your spine.  Now you're concerned with how it got there. Was it the physical stress of your job? The 15 years of league bowling? Or maybe the accident you had when you were a teenager? It's hard to tell.

When it comes to arthritis the underlying cause isn't necessarily what you DID, but more what you HAVEN'T BEEN DOING. Do you maximize the range of motion in your body every day?  Do you regularly have your spine checked for Subluxations?  Joints wear down faster when they're stuck and misaligned - that's why it's important to keep them lined up and moving with regularly spaced Chiropractic care.

Blaming the activities in your life for your arthritis is like blaming the sidewalk for scuffing your shoes. Things naturally wear down when you use them over time, including your spine. Instead of worrying about the wear and tear you have, start doing something NOW to slow the process.  Getting adjusted more often is a good place to start.

Clark Griswold stands with bated breath and extension cord in hand as a childlike giddiness overtakes him.  The family drum roll commences, he makes the anticipated electrical connection and VOILA... nothing happens.

Clark has a power problem.  Although the extension cords are all connected and each individual Christmas light has been inspected with precision, he's still not connected to the source.  It isn't until his wife 'adjusts' the switch in the garage and turns the MAIN Power on that the light show begins.  She'd actually make a good Chiropractor!

If your wiring is connected and your body parts have all been dutifully inspected by the best doctors in the world, you still won't function to your potential if you're not connected 100% to your source... the Life sustaining Power that flows from your Nerve System.  Make sure you and your family stay connected to it with regular Chiropractic care during this bustling holiday season.

You've been given the throw down.  Your family and friends are egging you on to try their Chiropractor.  But you don't 'believe' in Chiropractic and doubt it would actually work for your health problems.

The question isn't whether you believe in Chiropractic, but rather do you believe in your own ability to heal yourself?  You see, Chiropractors don't heal anything.  It's the innate doctor inside you that does all the healing. Chiropractors simply create a better environment (a clear Nerve System) for that process to happen.

So what do you have to lose?  You've been to every specialist under the sun.  You hate taking drugs and the idea of surgery scares you.  So why not call the Chiropractor and get connected to your innate.  You'll be amazed at what the doctor inside you is capable of doing - we triple dog dare you to try it.

Thanksgiving is over, so let the shopping stress begin!  Millions of people worldwide will spend the next several weeks in a buying frenzy - determined to secure the perfect gift for a rock bottom price, all while sacrificing their health and their sanity in the process.

According to a 2006 Greenburg Quinlin Rosner Research survey 'people in the United States are more likely to feel their stress increases rather than decreases during the holidays' citing, 'the holidays can be a hectic time for many, and a lack of money, a lack of time, and the hype and commercialism' is the cause of it all.  No doubt the self-induced stress of Black Friday and Cyber Monday can lead to Subluxation Tuesday.

The antidote - Don't stress over finding the right present; instead, try BEING present.  The greatest gift of all is the innate intelligence within you and a stress free nerve system to express it.  Don't let this year's must have item steal your peace and healthiness.  Get adjusted, get your power turned on and focus on the real reason for the season.

There's a saying that goes an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. From a financial stand point, nothing could be truer when it comes to using Chiropractic care.

A 2005 study published in JMPT found "for low back and neck pain, the inclusion of Chiropractic benefits resulted in a reduction in the rates of surgery, advanced imaging, inpatient care, and x-rays.1" That means less unnecessary testing, less hospitalization and fewer operations when Chiropractic care is made available. The scales clearly tip in our favor.

When you keep your Nerve System clear and give your body a chance to heal itself, you end up saving tons of time, money and aggravation. Chiropractors know it. Our patients know it. And now the rest of the world is catching on.

No one likes the boss breathing down their neck, watching every move they make, looking for any excuse to criticize their work, especially if they were hired for their ability to get the job done. A boss's trust, patience and appreciation will motivate more than their fear and uncertainty.

Successful business owners know it's best to hire great talent and TRUST them to get the job done without the need for constant management. Healing is no different. When it comes to overcoming an illness, you already possess an expert employee (innate intelligence) who knows how to address, adapt and correct any disruption in your health - and its skill set is far beyond your comprehension. So forget trying to micro-manage its work from the outside.

'Looking over innate's back' while its diligently trying to do its job won't help matters any - in fact, it could slow your recovery process down. When it comes to healing, cut your body some slack... The doctor inside you knows way more about what has to be done and when it has to be done to bring you to perfect health. To get the best out of it, a little trust, patience and appreciation will go a long way.

…eating broccoli, do you have to eat it for the rest of your Life? The answer is obviously no, unless your parents still have an iron grip on your diet. No one can force you to do something that’s good for your health and your Life if you don’t want to.

If you don’t want to renew that gym membership, go to yoga classes or reduce your stress with meditation, that’s up to you. Don’t feel like watching your sugar intake or taking your vitamins, the choice is yours to reap the benefits or face the consequences. And the same goes for your Chiropractic care.

‘Once you start Chiropractic care, you have to keep going for the rest of your life’ is a fallacy. Although it’s true, many clients who start Chiropractic CHOOSE to continue with maintenance care because they appreciate the many health benefits that come from having a strong spine and clear Nerve System… no one is forcing them to do so. They do it because it simply makes sense - just like eating their broccoli.

If having painful arthritis wasn't bad, now a popular medical treatment for joint pain may actually make the degeneration worse.  Steroid injections have been long touted as an effective way to reduce joint inflammation and pain, but could they be doing more harm than good?

Researchers are noticing an acceleration of the patients' osteoarthritis progression, as well as other negative effects including subchondral insufficiency fracture, osteonecrosis and rapid joint destruction with bone loss after undergoing the procedure multiple times - as if the steroid injections were corroding the joints, instead of healing them.

It isn't uncommon to hear a patient say they've had multiple steroid injections over short period of time. But you have to ask yourself... is too much of a questionable thing really worth the risk? There are safer, more natural approaches to help your body heal itself – like Chiropractic.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/17/health/steroid-injections-study-trnd/index.html

When you turn your neck or twist your back does your spine snap, grind and ratchet like a bicycle chain stuck in mid gear? That grating noise could mean something's out of alignment.

Your spine is made up of movable bones called vertebrae, each joined perfectly together like the links of a bicycle chain. If one or more of these joints become stuck and misaligned it can slowly wreak havoc on the mechanical integrity of your entire spine. The result – pain, stiffness and premature arthritic changes. Don't neglect the noises. Abnormal grinding (crepitus) of spinal joints may indicate early degenerative joint disease.

Remember, unlike a bicycle chain, you can't replace spinal 'links' when they get damaged. Get your spine tuned up by a Chiropractor who is thoroughly trained in restoring the normal mechanics of your spine, and protect yourself from premature wear and tear.

What do darts, guided missiles and your health all have in common?  They eventually hit what they're pointed at.

Throwing darts, firing rockets and goal setting all exhibit 'cybernetic' activity - once a final destination is determined, an internal, intelligent system takes over behind the scenes to guide you to the target. And as long as the target remains clear, that internal system will calculate the best way to get you there without conscious micro-management. Changing your health course works the same way.

When starting any health endeavor, whether it’s a new diet plan or a corrective Chiropractic program, set your goal and keep it pinned to the forefront of your mind to improve your odds of success. At times when it seems you're off course (a plateau in your progress or a minor setback), remember the end result you ‘programmed in’ and trust that your innate guidance system is working diligently to reach it. You get what you stay focused on.

Healing is like the stock market. It never progresses in a straight line. You’ve got to expect some ups and downs along the way.

You might experience a surge of relief when you first start your Chiropractic care only to be followed by a setback. Soon you’re back on track, seeing huge improvements. Progress continues with bouts of highs and lows, and you may even experience a plateau or dip in your improvements. But don’t make the mistake of ‘pulling out of the market’ early.

Keep the big picture in mind. Like stocks, the gains in Chiropractic care are best seen over time. When you look back and see how far you’ve come since your first visit, you’ll realize the LIFE dividends are paying off.

Temporary "doughnuts" are meant to get you off the road and to the nearest service station for proper repair ASAP. Those small, cheap spare tires aren't designed to withstand the heat and loading of normal driving -- or even less than normal driving for extended periods. But regardless of that warning, you’ve probably seen someone speeding down the highway with one, oblivious to the potential dangers.

Some people treat their health that way. When they get an injury or a health problem they mask their symptoms with 'spare tire' medication, all the while continuing the activities that got them there in the first place. They pay little attention to the risks of temporarily patching their problem with drugs, and neglect to address the underlying CAUSE. Sooner or later, that will get you into trouble.

When it comes to acute or chronic health problems, the best policy is to fix the underlying cause of the problem the right way instead of masking the symptoms with medication. That's the core philosophy of drug free Chiropractic care. In the short term drugs may bring you false comfort, but in the long run you’re risking a serious blow out.

For over a century Chiropractors have been introducing their clients to the best doctor on the planet... the one that lives INSIDE them. On September 18th we celebrate another milestone.

From the first adjustment given by DD Palmer to the obsessive development and refinement of Chiropractic by his son BJ Palmer... from the suggestive healing power of Fleet to the diplomatic efforts of Williams... the technical dedication of Gonstead, Kale and Harrison to the humble service of Santo, Humber and Reaver. One principled thread holds us all together - the acknowledgment of an innate genius within all and the desire to restore Life through its free expression.

Today we can serve patients because we stand on the shoulders of giants like these, and countless more. Want to know the best birthday gift you can give Chiropractic? It’s your continued efforts to spread the message and help us serve more people. Thanks for sharing your inspiring Chiropractic stories.

A damaged lawn mower needs to be fixed. A torn pants hem may need some mending. Broken people, on the other hand, require healing... and there's a significant distinction.

Fixing is within the realm of the conscious mind. You can actually assess the damage and make the appropriate repair from experience. And yes, there is some degree of 'fixing' in health care (i.e. stitching a cut, or casting a bone).  But the detailed work of making you whole again, happens after hours in the healing process - which is totally managed by a far superior subconscious handyman.

No doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor can heal you from the outside. We can only create an environment around you, supportive of the process. Healing is an inside job best left to the professional inside you. 

Coral blue water, baby powder sand under your feet, not a worry in the world…  Vacations are the perfect time to decompress, spend precious time with family and friends and reconnect with your soul.  What could possibly stress your body?

How about a week of sleep on a strange mattress?  Or the 30 mph wipeout off the banana boat ride.  Not to mention the bottomless Margaritas and endless trips to the dessert buffet… and don’t forget nursing that 2^nd degree sunburn from day three.  Unfortunately, stress doesn’t take time off.  The scenery may change, but your nerve system is still hard at work – reacting and adapting to all those “relaxing” changes in routine.  It’s a prime time to become Subluxated.

If you and the family have been away from the office for a while, we hope you’re well rested.  But now it’s time to get back on track and into a healthy routine; especially getting your spine aligned and de-stressed.  When you need to recover from vacation, make sure Chiropractic is on top of your itinerary.

There's an honorable judge seated at the bench of your existence – watching, listening and ruling on every aspect of your health and performance with one purpose in mind… to maintain order. How far reaching is its influence in your Life?

It presided over your prenatal growth from one cell to 100 trillion in your first nine

months. It ruled over your milestone development as an infant, your maturation throughout adolescence, and as an adult it continues to strike balance between the scales of breakdown and repair as you to heal and re-create yourself every single day.

No doctor can match its wisdom, no pill can sway its resolve. When it comes to your health and ability to reach your peak potential, there's only one judge capable of keeping your body in order… the innate intelligence that built it in the first place. Trust it.

What does the world look like through Chiropractic colored glasses? Does your health shine brighter… are your relationships with friends and family more in focus… is your job performance sharper and crisper?

You 'see' everything through your nerve system – how you feel, how you interact with the people around you, how you perform at home or at work. When your nerves are stressed, the line between barely existing and fully living is blurred. However, the more clear your nerve system, the better your ability to interact physically, mentally and spiritually with the world around you; and ultimately the better your quality of Life.

When a Chiropractor adjusts the stress from your nerve system, it's like cleaning the dirt, streaks and smudges from the lens through which you interpret your world – and with a clear lens you can see all your potential. Life is vibrant when you're viewing it through Chiropractic glasses.

Your Nerve System is the ultimate sponge, soaking up all the experiences, sensations and stresses you encounter every day. Like a sponge, it can only absorb so much before it becomes over-saturated and spills stress into your body. The result… PAIN, SICKNESS and WEAK PERFORMANCE!

The best thing you can do to prevent Nerve System over saturation is to get checked by your Chiropractor regularly and adjusted when necessary. Adjustments gently “wring out” accumulated tension in your Nerve System before it has a chance to build up and affect your health negatively.

If you’re feeling super-soaked from the stress of life, bring your saturated nerves to the Chiropractor for some TLC. You’ll experience more energy, improved sleep and a better overall feeling of wellness if you do.

“Once you start, you'll have to keep going." It's the oldest cliché you'll hear about Chiropractic from those who've never given it a chance. Yet many of those same naysayers would gladly fill a prescription for OxyContin® or Vicadin® to relieve their chronic pain. Well, consider this.

In 2016 over 115 Americans died daily from opioid overdoses, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the 63,632 Americans who died of drug overdose that year. In 2018, more than 2 million Americans suffered from addiction to prescription or illicit opioids - an addiction that can take hold in as little as 5 days use, yet cause a lifetime of physical, emotional and financial devastation for the victims and loved ones involved. On the flip side...

A recent study by Yale School of Medicine now shows "Patients who have visited a chiropractor for musculoskeletal pain and associated conditions are currently 49% less likely to be issued and to receive an opioid prescription when compared to their counterparts who sought help from other healthcare providers.”

Chiropractic care is well established as a safe and cost effective means to rid pain, restore function and get patients back on the road to health faster than Big Pharma can. Start one that leads to potential death or one that leads to more Life - it's your move.

Chiropractic Care Tied to Significant Reduction in Opioid Scripts – Medscape.com

Opioid Addiction Can Happen in Just 5 Days - Truthinitiative.org

You wouldn’t call the fire department to blow out a candle, or an electrician to change a light bulb.  Those are simple tasks you can handle on your own.  Yet every day, people call on a specialist or expert for healing a problem their ‘doctor on the inside’ could easily take care of.

Maybe it's lack of understanding, fear of the unknown or concern it could be something life threatening.  Overkill is the norm in the today’s medical world.  Over testing, over diagnosing, over treating… all done for the sake of ‘thoroughness.’  In reality, all it does is strike fear in the hearts of patients who just need to hear the truth.

The greatest challenge we have as Chiropractors is to help you realize how powerful you truly are.  The same intelligence that holds the cosmos together, is holding you together too!  In the rare case you develop a health problem where outside help is needed, rest assured it will be there for you.  In the meantime - pause, take a deep breath and relax.  If your Nerve System is clear, your body is capable of putting out the ‘flame’ on its own.

If Life was a game of Jenga, stress would be the act of sliding out one puzzle piece after another, until your entire 'tower of health' topples over.

Unexpected car repair bill - slide out a block.  Emergency call from your kid's school nurse - slide out another one.  Slip down a few stairs - slide out three more.  Before you know it, you're one stress event away from major Jenga catastrophe... that is, unless your Chiropractor reverses the momentum and adjusts those loose blocks back in, restoring stability and integrity to your health.

Stress can cause you to Subluxate (misalign), and its effects are detrimental to your overall health.  So don't wait until your last Jenga stress block is pulled before seeking help.  It's far easier to keep your body standing strong with preventative Chiropractic care, than to rebuild it after the collapse.

If the healing process can be equated to restoring a house, imagine what it would be like trying to perform renovations during a Cat 3 Hurricane.  This is how the constant barrage of external physical, chemical and emotional stresses can negatively affect your body's natural building process - and no one is immune to it. 

When asked what the most important contribution Chiropractic has to a person's health, Dr. Thurman Fleet responded "adaptation." Adaptation is the ability to face external stress and respond to it in a way that protects your internal physiology and leaves you stronger for it. Your Nerve System holds the responsibility of assessing the outer world and constantly adjusting your inner world to survive in it. It's the 'storm wall' that stands between you and Mother Nature's wrath.

Your ability to withstand wave after wave of daily stress ultimately determines your health. Regular Chiropractic care maintains the nerve strength you need to stand firm in a world that is always trying to break you down.  With a properly conditioned Nerve System, you'll be strong enough to handle whatever 'weather' Life throws at you.

Ever feel 'wound up' from the stresses of life? You feel tight and distorted, like a rubber band that's been twisted to the brink of snapping?  That tension you're feeling isn't in your head... it's actually in your Nerve System.

Physical, chemical and emotional stresses of life can wind up negative energy in your Nerve System, gradually throwing your spine and your health out of balance.  Chiropractors refer to this as being in a 'Subluxated' state. If this pent up nerve stress isn’t released, it builds silently until it ultimately manifests as a physical illness in your body.  The solution... release the tension in the rubber band before it breaks.

Chiropractors care gently removes stress from your spine and spinal cord before a critical failure can occur.  In doing so, you improve the odds of your body working to its potential over the course of your life. This is one 'rubber band' you need to keep untangled.

What would happen if you didn't clean your house for a few weeks?  Your furniture would get pretty dusty wouldn't it?  The same can be said for you, if the dirt in your Nerve System isn't cleaned up on a regular basis.

The 'dirt' we're talking about is Vertebral Subluxation (a Chiropractic term for nerve interference).  If not cleared regularly, stress from Subluxations can pile up in your nerves, causing sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, lowered resistance, persistent pain or even anxiety.

People who keep their Nerve System 'tidy' with regular Chiropractic care report having more energy, better recovery from injuries and an improved state of mind.  If your health isn't as clean as you'd like it to be, maybe it’s time to dust the stress off with a good adjustment.  Get to your Chiropractor today!

There's a vast difference between playing chess vs. playing checkers. In checkers, the best moves yield immediate results... a piece is jumped or a king is crowned. With chess however, the best moves aren't made for simple instant gratification, but well thought out for the benefits they will reap many moves ahead. Chiropractic shares a similar modus operandi.

Today, instant relief comes in the form of a pain relievers, muscle relaxers and cortisone shots. And yes, those 'moves' can bring instant gratification... but does a temporary patch contribute anything to your best health? Chiropractic care, on the other hand, makes moves (adjustments) that provide natural relief AND sets you up for improvements in other areas of your health down the road. One spinal move today sets up a cascade of positive physiological changes you'll experience in your body for years to come.

Winning health strategies aren't founded on quick fixes that make you feel comfortable in the moment, but on smart actions you take now that will contribute to your wellness in the future.  Every chiropractic adjustment removes a piece of 'dis-ease' off the board - clearing a path to your desired health goals. When it comes to chiropractic, we don't think checkers... we think chess.

You’ve tried stretching, went to physical therapy and faithfully did all the exercises they prescribed.  But still your spine feels tight, rigid and locked up.  In your case, Chiropractic may hold the right key. 

Unlike the gross manipulative therapy done by PT's and osteopaths, or the general movement offered by prescribed exercises, specific Chiropractic adjustments ONLY target the parts of your spine that need work.  Specificity is the key to results - knowing what spinal segments to move, when to move them and how much force to use is paramount to getting a favorable outcome… and that requires a skill set taught only in a reputable Chiropractic College.

You wouldn't use a sledge hammer to bust open your front door if the right key was handy to unlock it safely.  The same goes for your spine.  When it comes to unlocking a tough, painful back it's best to seek the advice of a master spinal locksmith (a DC) who knows what they're doing.  In the long run you'll save time, money and frustration hiring the right person for the job.

Remember the days of pulling an 'all nighter' for a major exam - trying to cram an entire semester's worth of work in one, non-stop studying marathon?  Well, you can't get away with that when it comes to your Health and Chiropractic.

There are some who wish they could simply go to the Chiropractor and have years of aches, pains and health issues erased in just one cram session - a Chiropractic all nighter if you will.  But like cramming for a test, a quick Chiropractic patch job is temporary at best.  Last minute adjustments for long standing problems will always yield fleeting results.  It takes sustained, consistent care over time to make measurable changes to bad spines.

So if you think you can re-call a cervical lordosis or undo years of poor bio-mechanics with one 24 hour sleepless Chiropractic binge, think again. There is no such thing as pulling an all nighter when it comes to get your health and your spinal integrity back. 

Research published in 2015 revealed the superior migraine solution which spinal adjustments provide compared to treatments that only utilize pharmaceutical medication. Medical doctors usually prescribe drugs to migraine sufferers without awareness or exploration of the published research revealing other safer and more effective solutions.

Migraines consist of severe, painful headaches which can last for hours or days. The pain arrives accompanied by flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches produce some of the worst pain that people ever endure. Millions of people suffer from migraines every day and experience an agonizing experience that extends far beyond head pain. Migraines literally shut down a person’s life and render them incapacitated. The medical community offers a solution consisting of some of the most potent drugs available to human beings. The drugs never fully heal the migraines; they simply pump toxins through the body which mask the pain. A better healing solution exists.

Multiple factors contribute to the onset of a migraine. Nutrition, stress, and hormones play key roles in triggering or preventing an attack. The central nervous system engages with all three of these key elements. The brain and nervous system direct the control and function of the entire body. The connection between the brain and body explain why Chiropractic adjustments produce such amazing results for migraine sufferers. One research study determined that people who received upper cervical adjustments reduced their drug consumption by 80%! These same patients detailed a 97% reduction in the number of days spent each month suffering from migraines. The pain and functional disability associated with migraine headaches completely resolved in the majority of subjects.

The spine intimately connects to the central nervous system and regulates communication and hormone production. Proper movement and alignment of the spine allow for necessary and appropriate brain to body communication. Stress and trauma to the body alter spinal positioning and reduce the body’s ability to function and heal at full capacity. Spinal interference alters the brain’s ability to control blood vessels in the head, stress hormones, and other key factors which contribute to migraine onset. Chiropractic adjustments positively impact the body and contribute to optimal physiological performance. Chiropractic research and success stories impact millions of lives. Millions more simply need the benefit of learning more about how Chiropractic promotes health and well-being while freeing people like migraine sufferers from the burden of dark rooms and dangerous prescription drugs.

I’m forever reminded '…don't let the gas gauge get to E.’  Fill up when it hits a quarter left because you don't want to run out of fuel when you need it the most - like when on the highway with a car full of kids.

Likewise, you don't want to let your 'Chiropractic gas needle' get to E before you come in for an adjustment.  Some patients feel then can go several weeks or months without an adjustment because they're cruising along, just feeling fine.  And it's true.  Based on your health, lifestyle and activity levels adjustments can hold for quite a long time - but not forever.  Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10, the clients who fail to gauge their adjustments properly show up with some ache or pain as a reminder they've waited too long.  And that's not how maintenance works.

Maintaining a healthy spine is a proactive act... something you do regularly not based on how you feel, but based on what you need to stay on the road of Life.  The next time you wait too long for your next adjustment and experience the hurt, consider filling your Chiropractic tank WAY before it gets seriously low again.

There's an art to aging wine.  The temperature of the cellar, the seal of the barrel, the exposure to proper elements - and of course, time.  These factors combined, create the delicate balance needed to produce a classic vintage.  Introduce stress and imbalance to that environment and you'll end up with an inferior, worthless product.

Now consider your aging process.  Are you providing your body with the elements and internal environment needed to grow finer over time?  What about the amount of quality, mental impulse your body is exposed to on a daily basis - are your cells and tissues bathed with an abundance of Life thriving nerve energy, or are the spinal branches of your nerve system choked by Subluxations, leaving those cells to prematurely age and wither on the vine?

You have a choice of taking care of your spine and aging like a fine wine or neglecting it and degenerating into a weaker, less palatable version of yourself.  Vintage health is a product of choice nutrition, proper exercise and of course - regular Chiropractic care.

According to Dr. Hans Selye, the father of stress and disease theories, "...it's not stress that kills, it's our reaction to it." In essence, your health is influenced more by your inability to manage the tensions of Life rather than avoiding them all together.  

Our bodies take external stresses, (like money fears, conflict with family members or disappointments) and internalize them like a smoldering fire that slowly consumes our health. Smaller flames can be managed if dealt with in healthful manners, like routinely exercising and meditating. But failure to address those smaller flames causes them to grow out of control... eventually burning down the most important structure you'll ever live in - your body.

It's impossible to extinguish all the stress in your Life. Something negative in your outer environment will always threaten your internal one. The best you can do is to mitigate the influence - and one great way is to keep your Nerve System strong and clear with regular chiropractic care to avoid getting burned.

You're right, your pain could be coming from a muscle.  It could also be coming from a joint, a ligament, a tendon, some fascia, a bone, a blood vessel or just about any deep tissue.  In reality, 'classifying' your pain adds nothing to your healing process, but having a clear nerve system does.

Tissues devoid of animating Life cannot repair or heal.  Cut into a LIFELESS steak (a muscle), and it will never mend.  Injure a LIVE body part however, and it will reorganize itself successfully as long as it receives 100% innate intelligence from the nerve system - regardless of what sensation you feel.  When that power of Life flows - you heal.  When it trickles - you don't. When it stops - you die.

As Chiropractors, we have compassion for any discomfort you present with.  But realize, while naming your 'tissue of pain' (diagnosis) may provide some peace of mind... detecting and correcting the cause (adjustment) will restore your health.  For us, what hurts is not nearly important as what's Subluxated.

You can't sleep, your energy levels are low and you're finding it harder to make it through your day. The specialists insist there's nothing wrong, but you innately feel like something's out of tune. Maybe it's time to call the Chiropractor.

D.D. Palmer, the Father of Chiropractic, recognized that repetitive physical, chemical and emotional stress can alter the normal 'tone' within a person's Nerve System (a.k.a. Subluxation). This persistent irritation can lead to poor physical, mental and emotional performance.  The solution?  Restore normal tone to the Nerve System with specific, Chiropractic adjustments and better health will naturally follow!

Health is the 'music' that plays when all your cells, tissues and organs vibrate perfectly in unison – orchestrated by a finely tuned Nerve System.  If you're feeling sluggish, weak and tired, a trip to the Chiropractor may just be the thing YOU need to get back in key.

Second floor - sinuses, ears, nose. Third floor floor - lungs, heart, liver.  If you were a mental impulse and the spine were an elevator, every floor you select would lead you along a nerve path to a different section of body - and if the elevator doors failed to open properly, you'd be trapped!

In 1921, Henry Winsor, MD studied the levels (or floors) nerves emerged from the spine and the effect blocking those nerves had on the organs to which they terminated. He discovered that fixed, arthritic and misaligned vertebral levels corresponded to a variety of chronic disease processes in the body... to the extent where Dr. Winsor proclaimed "...disease appears to precede old age and to cause it. The spine becomes stiff first and old age follows. Therefore, we may say a man is as old as his spine." 

Adjustments to specific vertebral levels aren't just beneficial for tight spines and sore joints. The neurotrophic (nerve nourishing) effects of proper spinal alignment have a critical effect on your internal organs as well.  Those impulses need a clear, unfettered path to flow through. We agree with Dr. Windsor... By keeping those pathways clear with regular chiropractic care, your health will surely be going up!

Remember the lead character in Goldilocks and the Three Bears? She didn't settle for too hot, or too cold – too hard, or too soft. She kept trying until she found what was JUST RIGHT. When it comes to fighting disease, your body innately strives for the same thing.

Disease is nothing more than your body performing too much or too little of something. If your thyroid is UNDER active, you have hypothyroidism. If your lungs OVER react to dust in the air, you experience asthma. If your heart pumps too HARD, you have high blood pressure. Health on the other hand is when your body is clearly directed by its inner wisdom to produce, adapt, regenerate, secrete, eliminate, filter and metabolize to a degree that's JUST RIGHT.

Chiropractors recognize that no doctor, pharmacy or research lab on the planet can live up the awesome task of keeping EVERYTHING in your body working JUST RIGHT. Only innate intelligence, the immeasurable genius within you, is capable of handling that job. The best we can do as Chiropractors is to remove the stress that gets in its way. When we do, we know innate will only settle for what's JUST RIGHT inside you.

We all have excuses for not getting to the Chiropractor more often - too many appointments, too many responsibilities, too many 'you fill in the blanks.' You're the golden goose and you have little time and LOTS of people to keep happy.  But what you don't realize is those 'I'm too busy' excuses are the EXACT reasons why you need to take better care of your spine and Nerve System.

Every activity you perform starts as a mental impulse in your brain that travels through your spinal cord and nerves until it reaches its final destination. Nothing happens in your body without FIRST being patterned in the Nerve System.  From the simple act of getting up from a chair to more complex ones like balancing your books, everything you do in Life is first done in your Nerve System then executed in your body.  And the more clear your Nerve System is kept with regular maintenance Chiropractic care, the more efficient and effective those jobs become.

A full plate is no excuse for missing adjustments.  If you have co-workers and family depending on you, you owe it to them AND yourself to maintain a clear nerve system so you can always perform to your best.  A well adjusted goose lays more golden eggs.

If you jump on the scale after every healthy meal you ate, looking for an immediate change, you're going to drive yourself nuts. Doing good things for your body is good - but those good things may not register noticeable changes right away. The same goes for your adjustments.

It's common for clients to hop off the chiropractic table after an adjustment, looking for some instant, measurable change in the way they feel... and there are times when some relief is experienced. However, to expect an immediate resolution of a chronic complaint from one adjustment is no different than expecting to be 10 lbs lighter after just one low carb meal.

Patience is your friend and time is the road you must both travel to reap the health rewards you hope for. It takes work and time for your body to make the best of each Life enhancing adjustment. Be consistent and faithful with your care and you'll eventually experience the lasting results we know you're capable of getting.

In its heyday, the space shuttle would generate nearly 8 million pounds of thrust just to lift itself off the launch pad into the atmosphere.  Once beyond the earth’s gravitational pull, it didn’t require as much effort to stay in space and could effortlessly cruise at 17,500 mph with a fraction of that power.   The same can be said for your Chiropractic care plan.

The start of any healthy endeavor requires more effort – in Chiropractic that means more visits in the beginning to break free from the gravity of dis-ease and build forward momentum.  Once free from the ‘pull’ of poor habits and chronic illness, it requires less effort to keep you aloft. 

It takes more effort to get off the initial care launch pad than it does to stay in a healthy orbit.  If you want to get results, expect to put more work in at the beginning of your care.   Your chiropractic team is ready to help you along the way… just stick with the mission plan and you’ll reach your destination.

There’s a lot to love about Chiropractic - the science of nerve function, the art of correcting posture and spinal alignment.  But the best part is the philosophy that gives meaning to it all.

Physicians focus on body parts, psychologists analyze thoughts and clergy tend to matters of the spirit.  But no one profession touches them all... your physical health, mental health and spiritual health like Chiropractic.  You can't experience any of these without a CLEAR nerve system.  When Chiropractors restore normal spinal alignment and clear away nerve stress, your ability to express physical, mental and spiritual health is simply better.

Love and Life thrive where things are aligned.  The resolution of pain and restoration of function are nice side effects of Chiropractic - the thing we love the most, however, is when you become whole again.  Have a Happy and Healthy Valentine's week!

Principle #24 in Chiropractic states that the innate healing ability within us is limited by the matter it has to work with. In other words, your body's ability to repair itself is only as good at the building material at its disposal - the right nutrients, DNA, etc. But healing limitations don't only come from matter. 

Limitations of understanding and belief can also stop the healing process in its tracks. How skeptical are you (or your family and friends) of your innate ability to heal?  Doubt and unbelief are just as powerful at hindering the healing process as a poor diet. When it comes to recovering from sickness and dis-ease, simply "hoping to get better" won't cut it. You need to really believe it, in order to achieve it.

What you think about, you bring about. Your state of health is more a product of your thoughts and beliefs than you realize. Make sure you're cultivating concepts of health, faith and resolve that support the work your Chiropractor is doing - instead of surrounding yourself with unbelievers and naysayers.

“The Packers never lost a game... we just ran out of time." - Vince Lombardi.  Coach Lombardi's quote sums up his unwavering belief in his team's ability to win every game, if given enough time to execute their winning game plan. Chiropractors hold a similar, unwavering belief in your body's innate ability to heal.

The 6th Principle in Chiropractic states "there is no process which does not require time," including the healing process. BJ Palmer (the developer of Chiropractic) believed that given enough time and a clear nerve system the body could heal itself in just about any situation. In his mind, the innate wisdom of the body had the potential to win any healing game if just given a chance. This is the foundation of all a successful Chiropractic experiences.

If you've been under Chiropractic care for some time and see only minimal results, don't give up. The power that made your body designed all the plays needed to get you healthy and whole again. It won't lose the game if you provide enough time on the clock.

Many Chiropractic patients (especially those new to care) make the mistake of crediting the 'adjustment' for healing them, or taking away their pain.  Actually, adjustments don't heal ANYTHING... it's the time you stay IN adjustment, allowing your innate intelligence to heal you, that produces the result.

Healing is a process of re-creating yourself - replacing sick, old, tired cells with newer, stronger ones over time.  The quality of those new, replaced cells depends on your body's natural recuperative abilities to work uninterrupted.  Chiropractic adjustments simply keep your nerve system clear long enough, providing enough 'in order' time for innate to accomplish the job.

Ultimately, it's the doctor inside you (plus time) that mends and keeps you well, not the thrust from the Chiropractor.  So don't make the mistake of 'falling in love' with your adjustments.  Rather, fall in love with the Life you'll enjoy when you remain IN adjustment.

You've probably set goals to improve your lifestyle and get your health on track for the New Year. The question is, are you hanging out with the right people to succeed?

There's a saying that goes 'if you want to be happy, hang out with happy people.' The same can be said for being HEALTHY. Ever notice the people who hang out at the Chiropractor's office? They're generally health conscious and excited about Life. Most of them didn't start off that way. At some point they decided to maintain their spines like other happy, healthy Chiropractic clients and eventually became happier and healthier people themselves.

If you're resolved to being more sick, more tired and more medicated, then hang out at your local pharmacy or hospital. On the other hand, if you're committed to renewing your health and improving your Life in 2019, then spend more time with people who can get you there. We'll be hanging out at the Chiropractor's office.

In today's fast paced world, 'instant' trumps process. Drive through windows and quick fixes are prized in cultures where instant gratification rules supreme. Unfortunately, these principles don't work so well when it comes to your health.

It takes time for a good diet to reflect on your weight... time for exercise to improve the tone and strength to your muscles... and of course, it takes time for your chiropractic adjustments to create the positive restorative effects in your nerve system. Most everything that is good for you takes time to complete.

Don't let the convenience of your local pharmacy, fast food or savings bank drive through lull you into complacency. 'Quick' rarely fixes anything. Health favors the patient who has patience in the process. Make a plan to be more consistent with your Chiropractic care in the New Year.

Chiropractor - “Hey Mary, where are your kids?”   Mary - “I left them home, they don’t have any back pain…”  Chiropractor - “That might be true, but are they subluxated?”

Studies show that stress from the birth process alone is enough to produce pediatric Subluxations – subtle, yet significant vertebral misalignments which alter normal nerve function in children.  And don't forget the stress they experience from falling off bikes, rough housing with siblings or just trying to fit in at school.  Kids are inherently subluxation prone!

If you bring your kids to the dentist for preventative maintenance as soon as they get teeth, it only makes sense you bring them to the Chiropractor as soon as they get a spine.  In other words, don’t leave them at home… get them checked EARLY and REGULARLY for Subluxations.  You’re investing in their health and their future when you do. 

Clark Griswold stands with bated breath and extension cord in hand as a childlike giddiness overtakes him.  The family drum roll commences, he makes the anticipated electrical connection and VOILA... nothing happens.

Clark has a power problem.  Although the extension cords are all connected and each individual Christmas light has been inspected with precision, he's still not connected to the source.  It isn't until his wife 'adjusts' the switch in the garage and turns the MAIN Power on that the light show begins.  She'd actually make a good Chiropractor!

If your wiring is connected and your body parts have all been dutifully inspected by the best doctors in the world, you still won't function to your potential if you're not connected 100% to your source... the Life sustaining Power that flows from your Nerve System.  Make sure you and your family stay connected to it with regular Chiropractic care during this bustling holiday season.

You walk into your Chiropractor's office, hop on a table and point to where it hurts. But the Chiropractor adjusts a totally different part of your spine… not even close to where you feel the pain. Why is that?

There's an old saying that goes when you step on a dog's tail, it barks out the other end.  In Chiropractic, that means where you hurt (the bark) isn't necessarily where the problem is (the tail).  Many times the symptom you feel in one area is due to a remote cause.  For example, someone with sciatica may feel pain down their leg, but the cause of the problem is a Vertebral Subluxation in their spine.

Chiropractors recognize that if you address the cause of the symptom, the body will no longer have a need to produce it. That's why Chiropractors focus on fixing underlying problems and not superficial effects.  Chasing after symptoms is like a dog chasing its own tail – spinning around and around until it gets dizzy, confused and frustrated.  It's much smarter to address the underlying cause from the start.

Structures built on strong foundations last.  The same goes for your health.  If you want a healthy body for Life, you need to build it on a solid foundation of health care that will support it for a lifetime.

Chiropractic's foundation is its Principle – a belief that we all possess an intelligent, vitalistic force within that maintains our existence and keeps our bodies working in perfect order. When this Power is allowed to express itself 100%, health supports us. When the Power is interfered with, we succumb to dis-ease. Eating properly is important, as is exercise... but if the Power that holds your body together doesn't flow, the most important house YOU live in will crumble.

Health built on a foundation of drug therapy is risky and doesn’t stand for long. Health build on a foundation that supports the innate wisdom of the body, can weather any storm. What foundation is your health built on?

CHRISTMAS GIFT OF HEALTH

Making a small COMMITMENT

can make a big difference!

In this busy time of year it seems that we are bombarded with an endless list of appointments, tasks, duties and commitments. Life can be busy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and disinterested. The Compassion Christmas Card campaign can be one of those inconveniences, just another thing to do.

However the Compassion Christmas Card can save someone’s life and is a gift of hope. This Christmas, please help us by sending a Compassion Christmas Card to your family, friends, neighbours and co-workers. In fact, many patients send Compassion Cards to their entire Christmas card list. We will do all the work, it doesn’t cost you anything and we even pick up the postage.

I believe God can take one small action step and multiply it. When you reach out to others by giving them the Gift of Health included in the Christmas card (a free new patient gift certificate worth over $400!) you not only help change and improve their lives but for every new patient that comes into our clinic we donate $20 to Chiropractors with Compassion.  Your referrals and these donations from our clinic and others like ours have raised over $3 million to date! Your acts of love and kindness by giving this free gift locally, literally saves thousands of lives in child focused projects around the world. Local to global multiplication… AMAZING!

If you would like to send someone a card please talk to Tracey or Jennifer at our front desk.  You can also call or email us at: P: 519-371-1701 Email: info@cornerstonefc.ca Thank you for your help.

Dr. Greg & The Team @ Cornerstone Family Chiropractic

What does turning your clocks back and subluxations have in common?  Both leave you with less LIGHT - get it!  The primary purpose of Chiropractic is to locate and correct Subluxations.  If you break the word down you get: 

SUB = less, LUX = light, and ATION = a state or condition of.

Subluxation literally means a state of less 'light' or energy caused when misaligned spinal bones restrict the flow of impulses through the nerve system.  A Chiropractic adjustment corrects this misalignment, eases pressure off nerves and extends the time Life energy flows through you – giving you more opportunity to heal.

Even though it will be getting darker earlier now, remember your innate healing 'light' shines for hours after every adjustment you receive. Fall back into a healthy routine with Chiropractic.

Are you an overly stressed person?  Is anxiety a perpetual state of your being? Unfortunately, that constant fear of what's ‘lurking in the closet'  can be creating the chronic pain you’re experiencing in your body right now.

According to Hans Selye MD, well known author of The Stress of Life, occasional anxious moments elicit a reflex stress response in our bodies.  However, prolonged and constant levels of anxiety can cause an OVER reaction. Your muscles become so hypertonic, they unintentionally lock your spine out of alignment - creating posture distortions, chronic immobility and potential nerve damage (a.k.a subluxations). That's how constant FEAR causes constant PAIN.

Nothing is scarier than living in a perpetual, subluxated state.  If you know someone who's suffering with chronic stress, anxiety and pain, tell them how Chiropractic care can potentially pull them from the darkness of dis-ease into the light of health and happiness. Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

The immune system exists as one of the most complex and sophisticated entities of the scientific world. People often struggle understanding the immune system and the reasons why some people get sick more often or more severely than others. The human body and immune system serve in a similar capacity to various cross sections of ecosystem visible in any daily routine.  Consider two parks adjacent to one another. Both parks experience normal wear and tear associated with children, animals, and other living things. For the sake of an analogy, proper maintenance serves as the variable between the two parks. One park is mowed and cleaned on a weekly basis, allowing the beauty and function to perpetuate. The other park is ignored and becomes a haven for garbage, rodents, and unsightly foliage.  Both parks are capable of becoming well-developed places of happiness and beauty, yet only one is maintained and kept free of trash and contaminants.  The same metaphoric principle applies to the design of the human body and the immune system.

People easily identify why one park clearly functions better than the other. In order for the second park to experience the same system quality as the first, effort would need to be taken to perform proper maintenance and to remove the clutter and debris that interfered with the park’s natural design and purpose. Spraying chemicals on weeds and setting traps for rodents only serves as a temporary solution to restoring the order, and does so at the expense of injecting harmful chemicals into the environment. The problems would simply continue to return until someone makes the decision to remove the cause of the problem. The second ecosystem requires the same consistent maintenance and removal of unnatural waste as the first park.

The human immune system operates in a way very similar to the park analogy. The nervous system regulates all body chemistry (hormones) and function. Organs direct immunity and cells enforce the removal of waste throughout the blood. Research published in 2011 proved a direct link between spinal adjustments and an increase in the immune-boosting cells called IgA. The study showed an amazing 139% increase in IgA within minutes after a spinal adjustment.

Eating correctly, hydrating properly,
and sleeping adequately contribute to
MAXIMIZING immune function. Each provides natural fuel and recovery to the body, the same as rain and sunshine nourish a park. Chiropractic adjustments deliver the vital maintenance to ensure that the function and health of the body flourish from the inside-out. Returning the second park to life takes simple planning and care. Research continues to prove that the need for nervous system maintenance is just as necessary for the body’s immune system to flourish. Chiropractic care provides cutting-edge, immune-boosting support with every adjustment.

The word diagnosis derives from the Latin 'di' which means two, and 'agnosis' which means without knowledge.  So you can say a diagnosis is a meeting of two minds that don't have a clue about what's going on - not very comforting if it's a team of doctors trying to figure out what's wrong with you!

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed some rather shocking numbers about physicians’ diagnostic accuracy and confidence (1).  Turns out the 118 MDs who participated in the study were right only 55% of the time on easy cases and just 6% on the tough ones.  Even more surprising, an earlier Pew Survey (2) showed that patients were 41% accurate in their own self-diagnosis from on-line resources, giving them a statistical advantage over their more 'learned' MD counterparts.

So the question is, do we really have a 'health crisis' in this country, or is it just an 'OVER diagnosis' problem - a system clogged with people lead to believe they have pressing health issues when in fact they don't?  When it comes to knowing what ails you, two heads aren't necessarily better than one.  Maybe it's smarter to just trust the REAL doctor inside you.

(1) JAMA - Physicians’ Diagnostic Accuracy, Confidence, and Resource Requests Nov 2013, Meyer et al

(2) Pew Research Internet Project - Health Online 2013, Fox et al

New trends in intermittent fasting and time restricted eating have taken the stage as holistic techniques that not only help with weight loss, but can restore entire physiologic systems of your body. It's reported in the medical journal Cell Stem Cell that restricting all food intake (aside from water) for three days can actually reset a damaged immune system.

Where medicine's approach to health favors addition - more prescriptions, more procedures, more therapies - studies like the one above support the concept that 'less is better' when it comes to restoring health and maintaining it for a lifetime. Many health issues resolve not because of what you ADD to your body, but because of the bad stuff you SUBTRACT from it... and Chiropractors have been leading the charge of 'subtracting for better health' since its inception. 

On top of your list of 'subtractions' should be the regular detection and elimination of spinal Subluxations - the subtle nerve disturbances that throw your body out of balance and put you in a state of dis-ease. That, in combination with healthy caloric restriction methods like intermittent fasting, can reset your body and your health back to factory settings.

If you bought a blender solely for the purpose of chopping ice, you'd be missing out on its potential to do so much more.  After spending some time with your new appliance you may discover it can also grind fresh almond flower or make delicious smoothies - the culinary sky's the limit once your mind opens to possibility.

If you went to a Chiropractor solely for the purpose of easing back pain, you'd likewise be missing out on the many health benefits that come from its proper use.  After spending time in regular care you may notice your energy increasing, your sleep patterns normalizing, your digestion improving - a few of the many health changes that come from maintaining a healthy spine and nerve system.

When it comes to Chiropractic, don't sell the product short by using it only for pain relief. Do your homework and discover all the features and benefits this drugless form of care can offer. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how it can transform many aspects of your health - the sky's the limit when your Life line is clear.

Did you know the very first Chiropractic adjustment wasn't for back pain?  Here's how it all started as told by our founder Dr. D.D. Palmer…

"Harvey Lillard, a janitor, in the Ryan Block, where I had my office, had been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear the racket of a wagon on the street or the ticking of a watch.  I made inquiry as to the cause of his deafness and was informed that when he was exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf.

 An examination showed a vertebra racked from its normal position.  I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man's hearing should be restored.  With this object in view, a half hour's talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it.  I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever and soon the man could hear as before.

There was nothing 'accidental' about this, as it was accomplished with an object in view, and the result expected was obtained.  There was nothing 'crude' about this adjustment; it was specific, so much so that no Chiropractor has equaled it."

 And that’s how Chiropractic was born on September 18^th, 1895 - good thing D.D. was a great persuader!  Happy 123^rd Birthday!

Knee sore on Monday... Creaky back on Tuesday... Congested on Wednesday - there must be bad weather in the forecast. How many people do you know who attribute their aches and pains to what's going on outside, instead of trying to find and fix the real problem INSIDE?

When your body responds negatively to every change in environment, the problem isn't the weather - most likely you're breaking one or more of the cardinal rules of Health. Proper nourishment, full body motion, adequate rest and internal cleanliness aren't cliché healthy needs. Practicing these basic habits enables your body to thrive amid the stresses it experiences every day. Fail to eat right and your body won't resist the elements. Fail to move your joints fully and even the barometric pressure of weather will wear them down. Now you've become a victim of your environment, instead of being a master of it.

If weather was the real culprit of your aches and pains, wouldn't EVERYONE around you feel the same thing? We all share the same atmosphere!  Instead of blaming the elements, strengthen your nerve system, move your body and build up your innate ability to adapt to whatever mother nature throws your way.

When you get a paper cut, the natural thing to do (after getting over the intense pain) is clean it up and put a Band Aid on it to protect it from getting irritated.  After a few days when the bandage comes off, the cut is hardly noticeable.  The question is, did the Band Aid do the healing?

Band Aids and Chiropractic Adjustments have something in common… neither one have the ability to heal you.  Sure, both are helpful after an injury.  But they can only provide an environment conducive for healing to take place.  Band Aids approximate damaged skin to optimize the mending, adjustments approximate misaligned vertebrae to optimize nerve flow – but it’s the innate healing power of Life inside you that scripts the repair.

The next time you come for an adjustment to instantly ease your headache, your sciatica or your sleeping problems, understand it’s not the adjustment that produces the result.  Chiropractors don’t perform miracles.  The doctor inside you is the one who does that work.

Toes in the sand, not a cloud in the sky, 75 degree water temps.  Vacations are the perfect time to decompress, spend precious time with family and friends and reconnect with your soul.  What could possibly stress your body?

How about ten days of sleep on a mushy mattress?  Or two hours of novice water skiing / body dragging lessons.  Not to mention the bottomless Mojito’s and obligatory trips to the dessert buffet… and don’t forget nursing that nasty sunburn from day three.  Unfortunately, stress doesn’t take time off.  The scenery may change, but your nerve system is still hard at work – reacting and adapting to those “relaxing” shifts in routine.  It’s a prime opportunity to become Subluxated.

If you’ve been away from the office for a while, we hope you’re well rested.  But now it’s time to get back on track and into a healthy regimen; especially getting your spine checked and cleared of Subluxations.  When you need to recover from vacation – put Chiropractic on top of your itinerary.

In physics, resonance occurs when an object vibrating at a specific rate transfers its frequency to a second object as the two approximate each other. Think of a still tuning fork taking on the vibration of another as they are brought closer in proximity. A similar transfer of 'energy' happens in true healing environments.

When a sick individual seeks HEALTH in a place of sickness (i.e. a hospital) the unfortunate result may be more sickness - the negative vibration of the environment amplifying within the individual searching for help.  If a sick individual, on the other hand, seeks health in environments that vibrate HEALTH energy, syncing and resonating with that place usually produces a HEALTHY response. You slowly take on the environment you surround yourself with... namely HEALTH.

Logically, if you want more HEALTH, it's smarter to 'align' yourself with environments that emit that frequency. A good place to start is at your Chiropractor's office... we radiate all the HEALTH ENERGY you need right here!

The Sixth Principle in Chiropractic states there is no process which does not require time, including the healing process. BJ Palmer (the developer of Chiropractic) believed that with time and clarity in the nerve system, the body could heal itself in just about any situation.

A sick cell is replaced by a healthy one – healthy cells become healthy tissues – healthy tissues become healthy organs – healthy organs make a healthy human being. The conversion from sickness to wellness is an innate process that can only be performed by the doctor within you, via a healthy, toned nerve system.

Healing is therefore a process of RE-creating yourself, one cell at a time, over a period of time. The power that made your body is more than capable of converting you from sickness to wellness. All it needs is a clear pathway and enough sand in the hour glass to accomplish it.

You can possess the most beautiful, detailed and well thought out set of blueprints for a mansion, but without a competent general contractor to execute those plans, the structure doesn't get built. The plan is worthless without a builder.

You can have the perfect blend of DNA - Brad Pitt's good looks, Einstein's intellect, Michael Jordan's athletic ability.  But your genetic jackpot would stay dormant without an innate intelligence to turn the sequence on, yielding the perfect end product. The code is useless without Life.

In medicine, much emphasis is placed on the blueprint's (DNA's) influence on health, while in Chiropractic, emphasis is rightly given to the Power which creates and animates the matter in the first place. The former is USELESS without the latter.

The strength and stability of an arch is unparalleled in architecture.  Each block supports massive loads from above while evenly dissipating stress to the foundation below - the most important block being the keystone. Without it, the entire structure would fail.

If your health was an arch made of building blocks like good dietary habits, proper rest and exercise, the 'keystone' holding everything together would be regular Chiropractic care.  Keeping your spine in proper alignment not only maintains structural integrity, but keeps your Nerve System functioning at its optimum – and without a clear Nerve System, your body couldn’t take full advantage of all those good habits in the first place.  

Can your body withstand the loads of Life without Chiropractic care? Eating right and getting enough rest are important to guarding your health, but it's a strong Nerve System (supported by regular spinal adjustments) that keeps everything in place. Make sure you're not missing this important keystone.

Have you ever felt like you're spinning your wheels when it comes to staying healthy? You eat right, exercise five days a week and try to get enough sleep – you've got the 'pedal to the metal' when it comes to staying fit, but something's holding you back. Maybe it's time to pay more attention to your Nerve System.

Although you've got one foot on the gas, Subluxations can put the brakes on your progress. Subluxations are troublesome misalignments in your spine that irritate your Nerve System and rob you of potential health energy. The effect is like trying to drive with your brakes on. You've got your fitness throttle wide open, but you're going nowhere fast.

If you want to stop spinning your wheels when it comes to your health, prioritize your spinal care. When it comes to unleashing more health horse power, nothing releases the brake like Chiropractic can.

More work gets dumped on your desk at quitting time… School calls to schedule an emergency parent/teacher meeting... Stress pumps into your Life like air pumping into a bicycle tire, with no end in sight - if some pressure isn’t let out soon, you’re bound to burst.

As resilient as you think you are, your nerve system can only absorb so much stress before it succumbs to the load. When it finally gets a flat, your health and your Life comes to a halt. But there’s something simple you can do to avoid such a disaster.

Spinal adjustments act like the relief valve on an over inflated tire. Just a gentle push and PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.... all that pent up stress comes out. That’s why you feel so light and depressurized after your Chiropractic visit. Doesn’t it make good sense to ease Life’s pressure regularly before you pop?

Here are some recent statistics to consider...

The United States consumes 80% of the world’s pain medication while only having 6% of the world’s population.¹

In the United States, deaths from pain medication abuse are outnumbering deaths from traffic accidents in young adults.² 

American dies from a prescription drug overdose every 19 minutes.²

Chiropractors believe true freedom comes from IN-Dependence - relying on the Power that made you, to heal you and keep you well. IN-dependent Chiropractic patients know they innately possess what it takes to heal. They trust in the wisdom of their bodies to handle what ails them instead of running to the medicine cabinet for every cough or sniffle. They‘re the 30% who would rather give Mother Nature the chance to do her job, than usurp her role with drug intervention.

Big Pharma won’t stop advertising and pushing their products until we’re 100% dependent on them. This Fourth of July when you’re celebrating our country’s freedom, take a moment to reflect on your body’s freedom as well. Are you truly as IN-dependent as you want to be?

Sources: 1. ASIPP American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Getting stuff from Amazon.com is pretty easy... just pick out what you want, put it in your cart and click the order button. There's no need to worry about what goes on 'behind the scenes.' It's all handled by knowledgeable experts who retrieve, pack and ship the items you requested online without your conscious involvement. Your job is to sit back and wait patiently for your items to arrive at your doorstep.

The same applies to healing. The behind the scenes work involved in repairing your body requires no conscious micro-management on your part. You need only hold a clear image of the end result (the order) in your mind and allow Nature to fulfill it. Don't be lulled into aimless hope. No one orders from Amazon^® and then 'hopes' their packages into existence - they EXPECT them to show up. Expectation is the magic catalyst in every SUCCESSFUL outcome, including healing if that's what you desire.

So is recovery really as simple as dropping your request in a proverbial chiropractic shopping cart and waiting for your shipment to arrive?  If your desired outcome is well defined and your attitude is receptive, it surely can be. The innate, healing expert inside your body is working thanklessly behind scenes to get the job done - don't doubt, your order will get delivered.

A titration test analyzes how many drops of chemical it takes to create a specific reaction - usually a change in solution color.  Drop by drop, the reagent is added until an observable change is seen.  And if asked which drop finally made the difference, the correct answer would be they all did.

Chiropractic care works in similar fashion.  Often a patient will exclaim after a visit '...doc, that last adjustment really did it, I felt better right away.'  In reality, it wasn't just the ONE adjustment that did the trick - the past ones contributed, as will the future ones.  The effect is cumulative.

When adjusted regularly, drop by drop, you eventually reap the rewards in improved health, higher function and realized potential.  If you ever wonder which adjustment changed your Life for the better?  The answer is - they all did, and will continue to do so.

According to a CDC study, suicide has become the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and is one of three leading causes that are on the rise. Fashion creator Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s recent deaths are just two examples - with the usual media references to depression... but no specifics on how, when or where they lost sight of their PURPOSE.

Humans are 'cybernetic' creatures who need meaningful targets in Life. Like any homing device, if your guiding system is clouded by reality altering chemicals and you've lost focus on your "target," you'll miss it all together.  Worse yet, you could end up in a really bad place through no fault of your own.

We all experience let downs, disappointments and sadness in Life. Knowing these are inevitable, our Creator equipped us with an innate guidance system (our nerve system) to keep us on purpose and on track amid the stresses in Life. Numbing up that guidance system with chemicals renders it rudderless. You can't deal with Life if you can't feel it.

The Major Premise of Chiropractic states "there is a universal intelligence in all matter that continually gives to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence." Literally, something smart is holding the universe and all its components together in perfect organization and order.

Since you too are part of the universe, that unseen wisdom is holding you together as well - maintaining your physiological functions, your ability to resist life's stresses and your state of health. In Chiropractic terms, that special intelligence inside you, the one that's holding YOUR internal universe together is called “innate intelligence.” Without it, you wouldn't be in existence.

So here's a great question to ask you Chiropractor on your next visit... If the same power that holds the cosmos together is inside you, holding you together in perfect organization and operation, how could something dead or artificial from the OUTSIDE (like a pill, a potion or prescription) do a better job of healing you than what your inner Power is already capable of - as long as it's not interfered with?

“Seeing the forest for the trees" is an expression of PERSPECTIVE. It's the ability to step back and see the whole picture of a given situation, instead of clinging to a narrow, limited, myopic one. Focusing on the BIG IDEA is necessary to achieving any worthy goal.

     We commonly hear newer patients say... my migraines, my sciatica, my fibromyalgia - labeling themselves by their doctor's diagnosis instead seeing themselves as the healthy people they want to be. Unfortunately when it comes to healing, holding on to your symptoms is as beneficial as hugging a tree and never letting go. You can't see the forest of wellness if you insist on clinging to the trunk of disease.

     You don't get healthy by focusing on sickness. You get healthy by letting go, stepping back and acknowledging who you REALLY are... an innately gifted human being, capable of healing from above down, inside out. It's our job as your Chiropractor to never let you forget it.

The human body mimics nature's design in many ways. One in particular is the likeness between your spinal discs and a cut tree trunk. The rings of a tree tell its age... the rings of your discs tell HOW you've aged.

Spinal discs consist of concentric annular rings (like a tree) with a soft central area called the Nucleus Pulposis.  The nucleus responds to sustained pressure and works best mechanically when your spine is in proper alignment.  What the lay public often calls a 'slipped disc' is actually a stressed disc that has been subjected to poor spinal alignment over time, causing cracks in the annular rings and 'squishing' of the nucleus material into the voids. Bulges lead to herniations, herniations lead to ruptures, ruptures lead to surgery and disability.

Nothing will make you feel older than you are than having a disc problem. With the appropriate Chiropractic care, spinal distortions which lead to disc degeneration can be reversed... easing the lopsided pressure that splinters discs into ruin.  If you're suffering from chronic disc problems, getting back in alignment FIRST could prevent you from aging faster than you have to.

Electricity flows through power lines and messages of communication flow through phone cables... but the 'power' that flows through Nerve fibers is far more intricate, intelligent and critical to your Life.

Nerves carry 'smart' signals - organized instructions and data which relay from the brain to the body and from the body back to the brain.  This complicated loop forms the communication network needed to guide every physiological function in your body from respiration to perspiration... assimilation to elimination... tissue breakdown and tissue repair.  Innately, trillions of these messages flow through your nerve system every second of your Life, in an automated effort to keep you alive without your conscious input.  So how important it is to maintain this amazing system?

This is the realm of Chiropractic care - the protection and preservation of these 'Life wires' so that you can experience perfect function, abundant health and well being.  The doctor inside you can accomplish just about anything as long as your internal power lines remain clear.

In the classic scene in The Wizard of Oz we find Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man and Scarecrow timidly walking through the woods on the lookout for the three dreadful threats conjured up in their imaginations - lions and tigers and bears, oh my...  In Chiropractic, the three big threats we warn patients about (the big three that cause Subluxations) are physical trauma, chemical trauma and auto-suggestion (thought) trauma.

According to the founder of Chiropractic, DD Palmer, approximately 20% of nervous system interference can be attributed to physical injuries or poisons from outside the body... like a slip, fall or overdose.  The remaining 80% can be traced back to persistent negative emotions or self-talk that literally build tension in your muscles, pull vertebrae out of alignment and freeze your nerve system in its tracks - rendering you stiff like a Tin Man, foggy brained like a Scarecrow and overly sensitive like a Cowardly Lion.

A Chiropractor can locate your Subluxations, restore normal spinal alignment and reduce nerve interference when necessary. But it's your responsibility to, 1. Be cognizant when any of the big three "T's" attacks you and 2. Get adjusted ASAP so worse problems don’t manifest. Doing so will keep you and your loved ones on the yellow brick road of health.

You're proud of your lawn. You water it, feed it on schedule and try to keep the neighborhood kids off of it. But you missed a few spots with the fertilizer spreader and now dull, brown patches where the grass was STARVED of potential growth energy begin to show.  A similar situation can happen inside you.

All the cells, organs and tissues that make up your body need an even distribution of neurotrophic (Life sustaining) energy from your Nerve System in order to flourish and grow. If parts of your body are deprived of this energy, likewise you'll develop dull brown patches (disease) on your internal lawn. Chiropractors refer to it as being 'Subluxated.'

The goal of Chiropractic care is 100% coverage of neurotrophic Life energy in your body – and that's achieved by keeping your Nerve System clear of blockages at the spinal level. If you don't want to see ugly, brown, weak patches in your health, stay EVEN and consistent with your Chiropractic care.

So what’s with the popping associated with certain types of Chiropractic adjustments?  Isn’t cracking your joints supposed to be bad for you?

Not all Chiropractic techniques involve the ‘cavitation’ of joints (the escape of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, which releases joint pressure).  Some use table or instrument assisted adjustments where no appreciable cavitation is experienced.  The ones that do however are no less safe, comfortable and effective at reducing spinal fixation, clearing nerve interference (subluxations) and improving your health.  As a matter of fact, it’s been shown by John Hopkins University that joint cavitation (specifically in the hand) does not contribute to the formation of arthritis as falsely believed by grandmothers worldwide!

When you hear the noise from a professionally delivered adjustment, it’s similar to the pressure release you get from opening a bottle of champagne.  It’s like having a party in your spine!  Ultimately, with less pressure your joints move better, line up better and just plain feel better.

To eliminate darkness, you must add LIGHT. Darkness is nothing more than the void left behind in the absence of energy... in this case, “LIGHT.” Likewise, to eliminate coldness you must add the appropriate energy “HEAT” to fill the void left behind.

So if darkness is the absence of light, and coldness is the absence of heat, what can be said of disease?  If there's a Life Force in the body that provides health and order, could limiting the presence of that energy in the cells, tissues and organs of your body also leave behind a void?  It in fact does, and Chiropractors call this void Dis-ease.

Chiropractors recognize that to eliminate dis-ease, you must add “HEALTH.” When you remove interference from the nerve system and allow vitalizing Life energy to illuminate every nook and cranny of the body, the void of dis-ease is overcome. 100% innate expression over time equals health.  This is the formula on which our profession was founded and the sick get well.

The weight of a dime, 8-10 mm of Hg, that's all it takes to drain normal nerve transmission to a trickle.  Stretching a nerve by as little as 6% can also decrease its signal strength by 70%.   So what does that mean for you?

Your Nerve System transmits the data of Life.  Depending on role, thickness and sheath covering, some nerves can relay information from your brain to your body at speeds exceeding 200 mph.  If those impulses are communicating vital instructions like 'how many times your heart needs to beat,' or 'how should your immune system respond to a pre-cancerous lesion,' you want those messages traveling at the highest possible speeds - with NO interference.  If those signals get blocked at the spinal level because of misaligned vertebrae (subluxations), damage to your health becomes eminent.

Sustained pressure and stretch on spinal nerves may not manifest symptoms immediately.  Detrimental effects usually grow silently until a crisis occurs.  That's why it's important to keep your spine in proper alignment with Chiropractic care - so your good health doesn't stop on a dime.

Prolonged healing can cause frustration. The time it takes to get better from an injury or illness can sometimes feel like an eternity - and unfortunately, science shows that if you BELIEVE that strongly enough, you can slow or stop your recovery process in its tracks.

The subconscious mind is greatly influenced by your thoughts and beliefs. Negative mantras like "I'll never get better," or "I'm just getting old," can take hold of your psyche, triggering your body to execute those commands whether you mean them or not. There's something to be said about guarding your health against stinkin' thinkin'.

The conscious part of our brains need a nudge towards the healing direction every now and then... not just to keep you hopeful but to keep your 'INNERGY' working towards its ultimate goal, to make you well. Your Chiropractor is here to give you that nudge when you need it.

If you leave kids unsupervised, something bad is bound to happen.  Worse yet, if they haven’t made a peep for a while – that’s when the most chaos is going down! You have to look in on them every now and then to make sure there’s no trouble.

If you leave your spine neglected for too long, inevitably it gets into trouble too.  Vertebrae get out of line, joints misbehave and nerves become irritable.  Before you know it, your health is a total a mess.  When your spine’s away from Chiropractic supervision – Subluxations will play.

Kids will be kids, and spines will be spines. You’ll never be able to protect them from every danger. But you can avert a fair number of mishaps with regular monitoring. Being responsible is maintaining a close eye on both.

If you've ever tuned into the A&E television program Hoarders, it doesn't take a genius to quickly realize it's going to take more than a bottle of Windex to clean up all the garbage, moldy food and rotting animal poop that's been accumulating in those houses for years and years and years...

But some people accumulate health problems the same way, and unrealistically believe it will take just a visit or two at the Chiropractor's to fix all their issues. From years of neglect, bad advice and denial, their chronic illnesses pile up until they can no longer recognize the healthy state their body used to be in. By the time they decide to see a Chiropractor, they've got a real 'dis-ease hoarding' problem and unfortunately one adjustment isn't enough to clean up the squalor.

The goal of Chiropractic isn't to temporarily sweep your symptoms under a rug to make things look good on the surface, but to actually roll our sleeves up and get rid of the underlying clutter once and for all. Sure it might take a little more time and a bit more elbow grease to transform your health our natural way, but in the end your human house will be clean, pristine and habitable again.

Undertaking a restoration project can be a harrowing task.  Depending on how much wear, tear and neglect you're faced with, it could take several months and a lot of money to get your rusted classic back to the way it looked in its glory days.

Getting your spine back in shape can be a big restoration project too.  Instead of re-chroming the bumpers, painting the trim and removing the rust, your Chiropractor will attempt to bring your spinal range of motion back to operating specs, correct any bad vertebral alignment issues and halt the progression of arthritic degeneration with protective care - all in an effort to undo years of neglect and poor maintenance on your part.

Too often, people leave spinal care out of their health regimen - waiting until something 'breaks down' before they give it proper attention.  Unfortunately when it comes to your spine, it's impossible to replace original parts once they've worn.  So please, take care of the ones you have now.

We will be closed March 12-16th for March Break. Please contact Tracey to keep your adjustments on track...Have a great week! 

What do you use to see with? If you said your eyes… you'd be wrong. How about hearing? If you said ears… wrong again.  You don't see or hear with your eyes or ears. Those are just end organs for collecting light and sound waves. To actually see and hear you have to interpret those waves with your nerves and brain (Nerve System) first.

In reality, you LIVE in your Nerve System. EVERYTHING you experience in life is processed through it… what you see, what you hear, what you feel. That's why Chiropractors care so much about it keeping it healthy. If your Nerve System is stressed, there goes your ability to interpret your world, and there goes your ability to successfully navigate life.

Regular adjustments keep your Nerve System clear so you can respond to life's challenges in a positive way. If you're feeling a little foggy, or just disconnected from the world, maybe it's time for some Nerve System house cleaning. Give your Chiropractor a call today and get reconnected to Life.

It takes time, patience and effort to make a perfect souffle'. Mix up the ingredients, pre-heat your oven to 425 and let them bake for the appropriate time - at an EVEN TEMPERATURE. You wouldn't go back and forth turning the heat up, down, off and on again as it tries to rise.  Consistency of environment is needed for a successful outcome. The same 'consistency of environment' is needed for a successful outcome in your Chiropractic care.

On and off again schedule create the same unpredictable results you'd expect from baking at uneven temperatures. If you make all your visits one week, then miss two the next, then one after that, then get back on track - you've altered the healing environment needed to achieve the results you've anticipated. When you stray from a proven recipe, you end up with something less than what you wanted.

Remember, it's not the adjustments that do the healing.  It's the subluxation free environment those consistent adjustments provide that helps your body do the work. If you want to get healthy and STAY healthy, 'keep the heat on' consistently throughout your healing process to. Stay on schedule and in alignment.

There’s a lot to love about Chiropractic - the science of nerve function, the art of correcting posture and spinal alignment.  But the best part is the philosophy that gives meaning to it all.

Physicians focus on body parts, psychologists analyze thoughts and clergy tend to matters of the spirit.  But no one profession touches them all... your physical health, mental health and spiritual health like Chiropractic.  You can't experience any of these without a CLEAR nerve system.  When Chiropractors restore normal spinal alignment and clear away nerve stress, your ability to express physical, mental and spiritual health is simply better.

Love and Life thrive where things are aligned.  The resolution of pain and restoration of function are nice side effects of Chiropractic - the thing we love the most, however, is when you become whole again.  Have a Happy and Healthy Valentine's week!

Fortune tellers read the life line in the palm of a client's hand. Cardiologists interpret the blipping life lines of a patient's EKG. But Chiropractors dedicate their work to the most important life line of them all... the spinal cord and its protective covering, the spine.

The spine itself is an engineering marvel. Made up of articulating bones called vertebrae, each segment lines up perfectly with the next to provide both support to your body and protection to the spinal cord. It's this critical relationship between spinal alignment and the flow of Life through the spinal cord that Chiropractors are devoted to. Distort the alignment of the spine and you distort the flow of Life through the cord. Distort the flow of Life through the cord and you distort the expression of health in your body.

For a Chiropractor, smooth lateral curves and plumb postures are more than just simple diagnostic findings. They’re the validation that Life is flowing freely through the patient like a river. And as long as Life courses through the line, healing is sure to follow.

According to a study published in 2017 by the journal Clinical Toxicology, about 1.3 million Americans are at risk of making a deadly mistake of mixing medications. More people are killed each year from deadly medication interactions than die annually from car accidents - and another familiar name has become part of that statistic.

Although Tom Petty died October 2nd of last year, it wasn't until just recent that we learned the truth of the cause.  According to an autopsy report released by the late singer's wife and daughter, Petty suffered and overdose that was caused by a variety of medication, namely fentanyl and oxycodone.

It's a dirty secret of Big Pharma - little to no research actually exists on exactly how just two (let alone multiple) prescription drugs interact with each other and what fatal effects can be expected. Add to the mix, over the counter medications and your guess is as good as anyone's what can happen. The only safe way to avoid deadly drug interactions is to keep them all out of your body in the first place.

Please note that the clinic will be closed on Monday, February 19th for Family Day. Please see Nicole or Jennifer to make sure you stay on track with your adjustments. 

Ever notice that flies like to congregate around dirty, neglected garbage cans?  You don’t usually see them swarming near clean ones. The same can be said for germs, bugs and viruses.

Germs are like flies... they’re opportunistic. Give them a dirty place to settle and they’ll multiply.  Provide a weak host and they’ll take advantage. But that’s not the case in clean, well kept environments.  BJ Palmer, the developer of Chiropractic said ‘if the germ theory was true, we would all be dead…’ He recognized that germs thrive in dis-eased (Subluxated) individuals who can’t fight back, not healthy strong ones.

If you keep your body tidy with proper hygiene, good nutrition and most important - a clear Nerve System, germs and bugs are less capable of taking up residence in you.  And if they make the mistake of trying to, your healthy well-adjusted body will give them the boot!

One of Albert Einstein's famous quotes is "Nothing happens until something moves. When something vibrates, the electrons of the entire universe resonate with it.  Everything is connected.”

Motion is life... lack of motion is death.  It’s a foundational reason why Chiropractors adjust spines - to restore normal motion to joints, mental impulse transmission through nerves and subsequently, Life throughout your entire body.  When you become 'connected,' the Life inside you resonates positively to your loved ones, your community and your planet.

If Einstein is right, the small act of moving a spine causes the entire universe to resonate with Life and Health – everything gets connected.  And why wouldn’t you want to reap the benefits of that?

We will be closed on THURSDAY, JANUARY 11th. Dr. Greg is away at a conference....please see Nicole or Jen to stay on track with your adjustments.

Having your house or car broken into is violating. The feelings of shock, loss and disbelief are usually immediate when you first see the rummage and devastation of the event.  It's obvious you've been robbed.  But what if the theft happens slowly overtime?

Imagine having your house broken into day after day, week after week for years... all without your conscious awareness. The thief takes one small, thing at a time - an obscure picture off the wall here, a small item tucked away in the draw there. Until one day they steal the ONE thing that makes you finally wake up and take notice. The ONE thing that defines WHO YOU ARE.  Losing your health to Subluxations is a similar to that.

Every moment spent in a Subluxated state robs your body of normal physiological function, slowly and silently without your awareness.  Until one day the ONE thing that makes you "YOU" disappears... perhaps your ability to work, play with your kids or enjoy your favorite hobby. The question is, what are you going to do in 2018 to secure your nerve system and safeguard your health against the slow robbery?

We will be CLOSED on Thursday, January 11th as Dr. Greg will be away at a Conference. Please see Nicole or Jen to stay on track with your adjustments.

Poor Rudolf, the enthusiastic little reindeer with the quirky glowing nose - no one wanted to play with him because he was different.  There was a time when the Chiropractic profession was in the same sleigh.

Before the famous 1987 Wilk’s Antitrust case victory, the American Medical Association made strong efforts to keep Chiropractors from playing their ‘health care game’ - warning its members to never refer patients to Chiropractors or face being shunned by the entire medical community.  They failed to realize Chiropractic was an entirely unique health care approach (unlike medicine in any shape or form) and we wouldn’t be bullied out of serving the public with our ‘different’ Principle.

Today the playing field is different.  More and more people rely on the inherent, recuperative properties of their own bodies and use Chiropractic to preserve and protect their health without drugs or surgery.  With our Principle so bright, we’ll continue guiding our patients to better heath and more Life.

Only 10 Days Left to GIVE..... THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF HEALTH. Give the gift of better health to someone you care about today. See Nicole or Jen for details. 

That's what your head and neck basically are. A 12-14 lbs weight balanced on top of a segmented, 2 inch diameter dowel, with a "Twizzler" consistency spinal cord inside. It's not surprising the prevalence of neck pain, muscle tension and nerve irritation now considering the extreme strain those structures are under when you're bent over a computer screen or cell phone all day.

Every inch your head creeps forward from its neutral, relaxed position adds 10lbs of perceived weight on your neck. For the average person glued to their mobile device that's like adding 42-52 lbs of extra strain to your muscles and supporting ligaments throughout the day. Try it for yourself... hold a bowling ball close to your chest, then extended way out in front of you. Doesn't take long to figure out which position taxes your muscles and joints more - resulting in more pain, more stiffness and more degenerative dis-ease.

The solution - do some 'opposing' good for your neck. Ditching the cell phone is an unrealistic request (no one's going to do that). But you CAN incorporate healthy countermeasures like regular Chiropractic adjustments and home traction to mitigate the stress your neck experiences from spending hours on a mobile device. If you don't, your health could end up in the gutter.

CHRISTMAS GIFT OF HEALTH IS HERE UNTIL DECEMBER 21ST! Check your email or ask Nicole or Jen how you can give this gift to someone you care about today.

Thanksgiving is over, so let the shopping stress begin!  Millions of people worldwide will spend the next several weeks in a buying frenzy - determined to secure the perfect gift for a rock bottom price, all while sacrificing their health and their sanity in the process.

According to a 2006 Greenburg Quinlin Rosner Research survey 'people in the United States are more likely to feel their stress increases rather than decreases during the holidays' citing, 'the holidays can be a hectic time for many, and a lack of money, a lack of time, and the hype and commercialism' is the cause of it all.  No doubt the self-induced stress of Black Friday and Cyber Monday can lead to Subluxation Tuesday.

The antidote - Don't stress over finding the right present; instead, try BEING present.  The greatest gift of all is the innate intelligence within you and a stress free nerve system to express it.  Don't let this year's must have item steal your peace and healthiness.  Get adjusted, get your power turned on and focus on the real reason for the season.

CHRISTMAS GIFT OF HEALTH IS HERE! Check your email for details or talk to Nicole or Jen next time you are in for an adjustment.

Sirens blare - blue lights flash in the rear view.  You're getting pulled over and a rush of adrenaline surges through your body. Thoughts begin to flood your head. "Am I gonna get a ticket? Will I get off with just a warning? Is this guy CLEAR?"

You might not readily think of the last one unless you're a Chiropractor, a CA or a Chiropractic advocate. But if you understood the ramifications of a suppressed nerve system and how it negatively affects the way we interact with each other, you'd certainly be concerned if the police officer approaching your car was suffering with chronic subluxations. We fall short of our potential at work, with our friends and with our loved ones in the presence of nerve interference - no one is immune from the effects.

A cop's job is hard enough, let alone trying to perform it in subluxated state. If you know someone on the force or have a family member on the job, please tell them about the benefits of Chiropractic. We care about them. We want our finest working and living CLEAR - don't you?

Are you an overly anxious person?  Is worry a perpetual state of your being? Unfortunately, that constant 'fear of what's lurking under your bed' mentality can be creating the chronic pain you have in your body right now.

According to Hans Selye MD, well known author of The Stress of Life, transient anxious states elicit a natural stress response in our bodies.  However, prolonged and persistent levels of anxiety can cause an OVER reaction. Your muscles become so tight, they unintentionally pull your spine off its axis - creating posture distortions, chronic immobility and potential nerve damage (a.k.a subluxations). That's how constant FEAR causes constant PAIN.

Nothing is scarier than living in a perpetual, subluxated state.  If you know someone who's suffering with chronic stress, anxiety and pain, tell them how Chiropractic care can potentially pull them from the darkness of dis-ease into the light of health and happiness. Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

We will be CLOSED Thursday, November 2^nd to Tuesday November 7^th. 

We will be open again on Wednesday November 8^th. If your schedule has not been adjusted please see Nicole at the front desk.

 STAY ON TRACK!

Are those knots in your muscles back again? You just had a good massage, and you REALLY felt great after. But you wish that feeling would last for more than just a day or two.  Maybe there's something you can do to make your sessions have a longer, lasting effect.

Muscles that support your back and neck all day long, contract in unison with spinal joints to create stability and normal motion. But if those joints are Subluxated (stuck and mis-aligned) your muscles end up pulling against unexpected forces... like trying to pull open a door you didn’t know was locked. Muscles experience the same jolt when trying to move a joint that won’t budge - creating recurring trigger points, tightness and the need for frequent massages.

To fix the problem, you must unlock the joints. Chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion and alignment to spinal segments so when freshly massaged muscles contract, they won't re-knot themselves. That's in addition to the resurgence of energy you get when your spine is well adjusted. Massage and Chiropractic certainly go hand in hand.

“I used to get bad ear infections. Mommy and Daddy had to bring me to the doctor's office a lot. They tried everything to help me get better like pills and shots. The last doctor wanted to do surgery on my ears to put tubes in. Mommy cried when she heard that. Daddy didn't like the idea of me getting an operation either...but they didn't know what else to do.

Luckily our neighbor told Mommy and Daddy about a new doctor she brings her whole family to... a Chiropractor. Mommy didn't know much about Chiropractors. She thought they just "cracked" backs and that idea didn't make her very happy. But our neighbor told her chiropractors don't crack you... they do something called an 'ADJUSTMENT' and that it was really gentle and safe and that it would help my body heal itself.

She also told Mommy how much healthier her kids were because they were getting adjusted. They didn't get ear infections, allergies or as many colds. Daddy felt better about 'ADJUSTMENTS' after our neighbor explained what they really were and Mommy wasn't afraid to take me to the chiropractor. So they decided to try it out.

I've been adjusted a few times by my chiropractor... I love it. Everyone is happy and friendly there, and I see a lot of other kids too. And the best thing of all, my ears feel so much better and I don't have to get surgery! I'm happy my neighbor took the time to explain what chiropractors really do to my Mommy and Daddy, and to use the right word... ADJUSTMENT (instead of 'crack') so they were not afraid to take me.

If you know other Mommies or Daddies who have sick kids, and want them to get better without drugs or surgery, would you tell them about Chiropractic. Make sure you use the right word...ADJUSTMENT so they won't be scared to take their kids too!" 

• Chiropractic is the largest DRUGLESS, non-medical healing profession in the world.
• Currently, Chiropractors practice in over 100 countries all over the globe...
• There are approximately 65,000 Chiropractors in the USA alone, and another 13,000 worldwide
• Statistics show that 10-15% of the American population (30 to 40 million) have seen a Chiropractor.

You rarely hear drug commercials on the radio. Television's a different story... every other commercial is for a drug to fix your stomach problems, sleep disturbances or allergy issues - all ending with a laundry list of side effects, disguised by distracting images of happy people playing over the monologue. You can't pull off that off with radio.

This year, the FDA has urged pharmaceutical companies to stop using distracting images and music in their TV drug ads following complaints that manufacturers deliberately used misleading techniques to downplay their products' risks while emphasizing potential benefits. The FDA suggested they use highlights to emphasize documented side effects and slow the pace at which the risks were being read so viewers could better understand the drug's potential dangers. We have a better solution.

Next time a drug commercial comes on TV, just close your eyes and LISTEN... like you would to a radio spot. The side effects will be more apparent (and disturbing) when you're not distracted by the 'pretty visuals' that mask them. Big Pharma doesn't want you to pay attention to the risks associated with their drugs. But if you close your eyes and listen closely you'll realize just how ridiculous, dangerous and deadly their products can be. It's a practice that could save your life.

Toes in the sand, not a cloud in the sky, 75 degree water temps. Vacations are the perfect time to decompress, spend precious time with family and friends and reconnect with your soul. What could possibly stress your body?

How about ten days of sleep on a mushy mattress? Or two hours of novice water skiing / body dragging lessons. Not to mention the bottomless Mojito’s and obligatory trips to the dessert buffet… and don’t forget nursing that nasty sunburn from day three. Unfortunately, stress doesn’t take time off. The scenery may change, but your nerve system is still hard at work – reacting and adapting to those “relaxing” shifts in routine. It’s a prime opportunity to become Subluxated.

If you’ve been away from the office for a while, we hope you’re well rested. But now it’s time to get back on track and into a healthy regimen; especially getting your spine checked and cleared of Subluxations. When you need to recover from vacation – put Chiropractic on top of your itinerary.

If you want to be better at work, better in sports, or better for your family... regular Chiropractic care can give you the edge you're looking for to be more productive in all aspects of your Life.

Your body's ability to function at its best is only as good as its ability to receive and respond to messages from your Nerve System.  While good nutrition, exercise and proper rest do contribute positively to the health of every cell and tissue in your body, it's the free flow of mental impulses within your Nerve System that keeps all those cells and tissues razor focused on their physiological tasks at hand - leading to clearer thinking on the job, better muscle reaction on the field and deeper experiences with your loved ones.

A key factor to personal success is the ability to CONSISTENTLY perform physically and mentally to your potential.  It's no coincidence that so many pro-athletes, corporate leaders and celebrities look to Chiropractic to keep their edge.  It can help you and your family stay sharp too.

Distributed with permission © The Weekly Sticky