Kids love Chiropractic
Kids and chiropractic is a topic that many people don’t realize go together. Just the other day I was adjusting a patient of mine and he saw in the next room a parent with her kids and the kids were patiently lying on the table waiting for me. He asked me, “Why do kids get adjusted, do they have back pain?” Continue reading
Many people believe that chiropractic works only for spinal issues. Chiropractors are experts and locating and correcting subluxations (areas of stress) to the spine, but we are also trained to work with extremities as well. Chiropractic and extremities such as ankles, knees, wrists and shoulders work great together. Continue reading
Recently I was reviewing X-rays with a new patient who was having a lot of health challenges. I found the cause of her problems and was explaining this to her. After reviewing what we need to do to correct her problem we talked about the finances of what it would cost. She sat in silence thinking about it for a while and then she said Continue reading
This is one of the most common questions I get asked when people first come into my office. Many times people are aware of how their pain started. Maybe they were lifting a weight that was too heavy for them, or maybe they bent over to pick up their child in an awkward way and felt immediate pain. Most people who come into my office though actually don’t know how or why they are having back pain. So quite often they come in confused and asking, “What caused my back pain?” Continue reading
Allergies and Chiropractic
Allergies got you down? Chiropractic can help!
It’s that time of year again. The weather is warming up, things are blooming, and your allergies are kicking! Well it doesn’t have to be that way. Many people in our office have experienced the allergy relieving effects of having their spine adjusted. Many other people are skeptical, and they ask, “how does having my spine adjusted help me with my allergies?” Continue reading
I am seeing more and more people come into my office with neck pain and other symptoms associated with having too much stress on the neck and upper back. Things like headaches, fatigue, allergies, sinus issues and migraines. What concerns me, is the people coming in with these symptoms are younger than ever before.
When I was an intern in chiropractic school, I used to adjust an elderly gentleman in his late 80’s who was in phenomenal shape! He was agile, trim, active, and mentally very sharp. I asked him what his secret was to staying so healthy and happy. His answer was this: “I have been getting adjusted regularly for over 50 years and I make sure learn something new every year.” Being in chiropractic school I already understood the importance of adjustments (and I hope you do to) so I questioned him further. I asked him to give me an example and tell me what he was doing this year that was new. He told me “this year was really exciting because he was learning to play the drums and he had always wanted to do that since childhood!” He then told me “sometimes he would stick with his new adventure and sometimes not, it all depended on if he was having fun doing it or not!”
Ever since hearing that story I have made that my philosophy too, so every year I do something different because I like to stretch my comfort zone. One of my favorite sayings is, “growth happens at the end of your comfort zone” and if you are not growing, that means you are shrinking!
So every year I choose a new adventure to participate in. It is usually physical in nature, but doesn’t have to be. In 2010 I competed in an Olympic weightlifting competition, In 2011 I committed to riding a century, which is a 100 mile bike ride in one day! In 2012 I entered and competed in a powerlifting meet. In 2013 I ran a spartan race and I joined a hockey team and started playing the sport I haven’t played since I was in High School. I have also been learning Mandarin which is taking a lot longer than a year as you could imagine! I am not telling you this to impress you, I am telling you because it is possible for all of us to learn new things and get uncomfortable! Every time you perform a new activity or sport your brain builds new connections, your body changes, and you ultimately become a better, more rounded, healthier person.
So whether it is learning to golf, play the guitar, take an imrpov class, or join a new group…make 2014 the year you do at least one new thing! Do something that scares you, it will make your year more fun and ensure you are making the most of your life!
I am often asked if chiropractic can help with (insert any disease or symptom here). My answer is always the same no matter what is in between those parenthesis…. YES! Would you have that (insert any disease or symptom here) if you were healthier than you are right now? That is what chiropractic does. We do not treat specific symptoms or diseases, what we do is help build you body from the inside out so you are more adaptable, more flexible, more relaxed, and more in-tune with your body so you can be the healthiest version of yourself.
When we are sick or diagnosed with a disease we often focus on trying to eradicate, fight against, or get rid of the disease. For example: The war on Cancer. What if we changed our focus. What if instead of trying to fight the disease we focused our energy on doing the most that we can to make our body so healthy and so strong that disease could not exist within it? What do you think would happen then?
What you think about you bring about. Focus on health and healing, and health and healing is what you will have!
Going back to school has always been my favorite time of year. Re-connecting with friends, new classes, new teachers, and limitless possibilities, what’s not to love?! This time of the year also begins the “cold and flu” season. Most people are spending more time indoors, stress levels are higher, and the weather is getting colder. This is a great time remember that our body is designed perfectly and getting sick is OK.
Many times the first sign of sickness is a fever. We talk about fevers a lot in our office because they are important. Fevers are one of the bodies first defense mechanisms to fight off a cold or flu. Germs can only survive at a certain temperature, and our body, with it’s innate intelligence recognizes the body is under attack and raises it’s core internal temperature. THIS IS A GREAT THING! Can you see why it does not make sense to try and lower the fever? Yes, being sick and feverish is very uncomfortable, but by allowing your body to heal itself and letting the fever run it’s course you will heal much faster.
Oftentimes, when we get sick it is because we were exposed to germs at a time when our immune system is worn down or under stress. You see, we are exposed to germs every single day, but we are not sick every day! Our immune system is equipped to handle these challenges. It is when we are stressed, overworked, and under nourished that our immune system cannot adapt and we get sick. It’s or bodies way of telling us to take a break. Listen to the signals your body gives you, they are there for a reason!
When it comes to exercise, I often hear one of three excuses.
1) I don’t have the time
2) I don’t have the desire
3) I don’t know what to do
I would like to address each of these to help get you back on the exercise bandwagon. First, who does have time to exercise? I know I don’t, but guess what, I make the time to exercise! We all live in the same world. Family obligations, work deadlines, appointments, commuting, exhausting days, etc… The people you see walking down the street in perfect physical shape have these issues to deal with too. The difference is they see the value in scheduling time to improve their health and wellness. Your health is your number one asset, without it nothing else matters. The healthier you are the better you will be able to manage all the other obligations you have in your life. Unfortunately, a lot of people wait until a crisis to change. Don’t let this be you, make the time, I gurantee you have it!
Secondly, a lot of people are too lazy to start an exercise program. This is a catch 22 because as soon as you start working out, you all of a sudden feel like working out more! The hardest part is getting started. The easy part is to keep going. Just start, that is all it takes. Don’t look back one year from now and think to yourself, “I wish I started last year.” Being sedentary is just a habit, and the best way to break a bad habit is to create a new habit in place of the old one.
Lastly, a lot of people wonder what type of exercise is best for them. My answer to this question is always the same, “Do whatever it is you enjoy doing!” If you are going to take the time to exercise, make sure you are enjoying yourself. Exercise should not be a source of stress, it should be fun. Whether it be walking, swimming, lifting weights, yoga or hula hooping, enjoy it! Life is too short to not have fun!
We all know the importance of exercise and the numerous health benefits it provides. The human body was not designed to be sedentary, get up and get moving! If you need some motivation or ideas on getting started let me know, I’d love to help.