30 Years of Adventure

30 years ago today I began practice in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  After graduating from Life Chiropractic College - West in December of 1984, my wife Pamela and I moved back to our home town of Medicine Hat to begin our careers as chiropractors.  With one young son and another on the way, I would practice solo until Pamela was comfortable leaving the boys. Graduating is one step to beginning practice.  National and provincial examinations needed to be successfully completed before a license would be issued to practice in Alberta.  On July 2, 1985 everything was in place for me to take over the Arcade Chiropractic Office from Dr. Ian Smith.  A great adventure began that day!

Looking back over the past 30 years, it has been an adventure indeed.  I have experienced and learned so much.  There have been many, many challenges and countless blessings. 
When I started practice, I thought I knew a great deal about chiropractic and health.  I was an honours grad after all.  Now, I know that I knew very little and that I still know just a tiny amount about the amazing human body.  That's one reason I am so thankful to be a chiropractor.  I don't need to know the minute workings of the body in order to help it.  I just need to know how to release it's potential.  That's what chiropractic does.  My job is to become ever more proficient at delivering chiropractic adjustments to enable my patients to experience the health they innately possess.  Along with the adjustments I have provided healthy lifestyle counseling to help people avoid the use of drugs and surgery whenever possible.

Upon reflection, there are many things from these years of practice that warm my heart.  There are the people who came to me, after having been everywhere and tried everything without success, and experienced a restoration of their health.  There are the young parents who were able to experience the joy of having a baby that didn't cry constantly.  There are the young children whom I adjusted who are now bringing their children to see me.  There are the smiles of the people who can sleep again, or walk again, or play again.  There the patients who have been able to return to work and support themselves and their families.  There are the support staff who have been able to be part of something greater than just having a job.  There are the associate doctors who have had the opportunity to develop skills to become great servant chiropractors.

I've also learned some other very important lessons.  Not everyone likes me or chiropractic.  I get fired on a regular basis.  I'm good with that.  Not all patients get the results either they or I desire, but I know their bodies are better for having been adjusted.  Not everyone values their health the way I value mine and they may not be prepared to work at, or invest in, being healthy the way I do.  Once I think I have things figured out, God sends someone through the door to prove me wrong.  Being the boss may seems like an enviable position, until the tough decisions need to be made and the tough actions need to be taken.  This has been 30 years of constant learning and it will continue to be as long as I am in practice.

Chiropractic has been good to me.  It has caused me to grow in innumerable ways.  It has given me a purpose bigger than myself.  There is no greater joy than helping people on a daily basis.  Chiropractic principles have guided me to live a healthy life.  I have been able to help my family be healthier as well.  Chiropractic has also given me and my family a very good and satisfying lifestyle.  I'm thankful every day that I'm a chiropractor and I have no desire to be in a different profession.  Let the adventure continue!  

Mastering the Tough Stuff

Usain Bolt receives a masterful chiropractic adjustment

When I graduated from Life Chiropractic College - West 30 years ago, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what it took to be a chiropractor.  Graduating near the top of my class I certainly had a lot of knowledge.  I also thought I had the skill to give a pretty good chiropractic adjustment.  When I started practice a few months later, I quickly realized that my knowledge and skill levels were far less than what I needed to be a great chiropractor.  There are still many days when I'm not sure I have arrived.  I still have much to learn about being a chiropractor.

In my early practice years I would go to seminars and watch to see how successful chiropractors conducted themselves.  The truly masterful adjusters had been in practice for years and regularly saw many, many patients.  People were attracted to their practices because their adjustments were extraordinarily effective.  Patients got results from these chiropractors they didn't get elsewhere.  Most of these chiropractors had one focus - to deliver outstanding chiropractic adjustments.  How did they get to be great adjustors?  They adjusted a lot of people and constantly focused on how they were providing those adjustments.  They weren't satisfied with being mediocre.  It was a constant that I observed in those who delivered outstanding adjustments regardless of which chiropractic technique they used. 

In Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers", he proposes that in order to become truly great in a given field, a person needs to practice for 10,000 hours.  This applies to athletes, musicians, computer programers, scientists and, by extrapolation, even chiropractors.  While there may be holes in his theory, my experience is that when I had been in practice for 10,000 hours my skills where exponentially better than when I started practice.  When I had delivered 10,000 adjustments, my adjustments were amazingly more effective than when I thought I was a good chiropractor after graduating.  As I look back there has been a constant improvement of the effectiveness of my adjustments over the years.  I believe I am giving better adjustments today than I gave 5 years ago.  I see the same thing in my associate doctors.  They are becoming better and better with constant practice.  The more adjustments they give, the better the adjustments they give. 

I'm moved to reflect on the importance of mastering the difficult skill of the chiropractic adjustment because of a growing trend in the chiropractic profession.  There are groups of chiropractors, even here in Alberta, who are pushing to have chiropractors prescribe drugs.  Now there is a time and place for drugs to be used, but that should remain in the hands of those who's focus is medication - the medical profession.  There are real dangers for chiropractors being able to prescribe pain killers and muscle relaxants.  One such danger is that it is too easy.  Young chiropractors who have not yet mastered the chiropractic adjustment will be drawn to prescribe drugs to make up for the deficiency in their adjusting skills.  As a result they will prescribe more and adjust less never becoming masters and their patients will be worse off for it.  The default for most people, including professionals, is to take the easy road.  Sadly, when chiropractors are not masterful adjustors, patients usually don't get the results they were seeking and think chiropractic doesn't work.  Even more significantly the powerful effects of chiropractic on overall health are missed.  The great potential for these people has been denied because of the failure of the chiropractor to give the patient a great adjustment.

It has been fortunate for the chiropractic profession that we have not been able to prescribe drugs.  It has forced us to refine and master the chiropractic adjustment.  The result is that chiropractic has developed an enviable record of both results and safety.  This has not been an easy road for my profession, but it has been the right road.  The beneficiaries of taking this difficult path are the many patients who have had life changing experiences because of masterfully delivered chiropractic adjustments.  I pray that my patients are among those people.

AN ANTIDOTE TO SITTING ALL DAY

Sitting all day at work, school and often at home has become the prevalent posture in our society.  Increasingly, all this sitting is being attributed to a host of health problems including back pain, neck pain, headaches, diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular problems.  Indeed those who sit all day have higher mortality rates than those who don't.

To counter all the sitting we do, exercise is vitally important. Almost any exercise will be beneficial to help counteract sitting.  Walking, swimming, weight training and stretching will help.  Some exercises can be more effective and efficient than others.  Because time is often such a tight commodity, a good anti-sitting exercise should be able to be done in a short period of time.  Then it can easily be done daily or better yet, for people who spend their day sitting, twice a day.

I was reminded this past week of one exercise that is a fabulous antidote to all the sitting we do.  That is a back stretch over an exercise ball.  This short YouTube video demonstrates how easy it is to do.

I would like to add a few additional instructions for safety and maximizing the benefits.  

• Wear shoes or go with bare feet.  Socks can be too slippery and dangerous if you lose your balance.
• Only attempt this stretch if you can balance well on the ball while sitting.  If you are new to working on an exercise ball, have someone spot you until you are comfortable using the ball.
• Always move slowly and maintain complete control.  If you are wobbling on the ball, return to sitting and begin the stretch over again.
• When going from the sit to laying back on the ball, do a slight pelvic tuck to engage the abdominal muscles.  This will increase stability.
• Before raising the arms overhead, make sure the head is contacting the ball.  Keep the head against the ball during the entire stretch.  This will minimize the chance of neck injury.
• Hold the stretch for 5 slow breaths.  Breath into the abdomen rather than the chest.
• Don't over stretch!  The more often you do this stretch the further you will be able to stretch.  Just be relaxed and let the weight of your arms provide the stretch.
• When coming back up, again do a pelvic tuck and come up slowly.  Keep the head on the ball until the arms are again along the body.
• Repeat.
• Regular chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy will help this stretch to be more effective.

I don't know about you, but it seems that things that are good for me are easily dropped.  This ball stretch use to be a part of my regular routine and I've let it slip for months.  Well I've put it back into practice  this week.  Even though I don't sit all day, working on patients all day still puts me into flexion and this stretch is a great antidote.

If you sit a lot or spend time flexing forward this stretch is a simple and very effective antidote.  It only takes a few minutes to do.  Add it to your daily routine and you will appreciate how much better you will feel. 

Does Everyone Need to See a Chiropractor?

When people first find out I'm a chiropractor, there are two common responses.  First, is that they have been to a chiropractor and want me to "crack" their back or neck for them, often implying I should do it right there in the restaurant or wherever we may be.  Second are people who say, "I don't need to see a chiropractor.  I don't have back pain."  Should people who don't have pain go see a chiropractor?

It wasn't all that long ago that people only saw medical doctors when they were sick.  They only consulted a dentist when they had a tooth ache.  I'm old enough to remember those days.  The idea of consulting a health professional for prevention of problems is a fairly recent phenomenon.  Most of our society now sees the logic in seeing an MD, dentist, or optometrist before problems arise for either prevention or early treatment.  Using the same logic, it also makes sense to see a chiropractor before back pain, neck pain or headaches become problems.

Since every person has a spine, everyone has the potential to develop spinal problems.  Statistically, 80% of Canadians will experience back pain over the course of their lifetime.  For many of those people it will be debilitating; interfering with their ability to work or perform activities of daily living.  But the effects of spinal problems are not limited to pain.  Abnormal function of spinal joints results in irritation to adjacent spinal nerves.  This produces alteration of nerve function through the entire path of that particular spinal nerve.  The result can be health problems distant from the spine itself.  A person can suffer detrimental effects of spinal problems without actually having pain in their spine.

Chiropractors use the term, Vertebral Subluxation, to describe abnormally functioning spinal joints with associated nerve irritation.  It may or may not be accompanied by pain.  Chiropractors are uniquely trained to detect and correct Vertebral Subluxations.  Like most conditions, Vertebral Subluxations can be most effectively treated when they are detected early.  Once abnormal spinal joint function becomes chronic, associated muscles adapt patterns where they are either too tight or too lax.  The ligaments of the joints are weakened.  Blood supply to the joints is altered as well.  It's also significant that chronically irritated spinal nerves heal very slowly.  Consequently detecting and correcting Vertebral Subluxations early, even before there is associated pain, makes a lot of sense.  Seeing a chiropractor when you don't have back pain, neck pain or headaches is as logical as seeing a medical doctor when you aren't sick or a dentist when you don't have a toothache or an optometrist when you can see well.  

If you are the type of person that only consults a health professional when they have an obvious problem, you likely won't grasp the logic of seeing a chiropractor when you don't have pain in your back, neck or head.  But that doesn't mean that you don't have spinal problems.  Waiting until you have pain can result in much more damage to the tissues and prolonged treatment.  As well when treatment is delayed the outcomes are often much less desirable.

As always whether you choose to see a chiropractor when you don't have pain is up to you.  But the logical approach is to get checked and assure your spine is working as well as it can so you don't end up with debilitating or chronic spinal problems.  Regular chiropractic adjustments should be part of your healthy lifestyle.

Demon Sugar

The feature article in the May 12, 2014 issue of Maclean's is "Sugar Overload" by Kate Lunau.  The author reviews not only the health consequences of consuming too much sugar but also the strategies of the processed food industry to sell us sugar laden foods.

Ms. Lunau implies in her article that the link between sugar and health problems such obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and perhaps even Alzheimer's is a relatively new finding.  The reality is that this link was proposed in the 1970's.  William Duffy released his ground breaking book "Sugar Blues" in 1975.  Duffy argued that refined sugar is an addictive drug that is unnatural and leads to a host of physical and mental health problems.  Duffy was highly criticized and marginalized by the food industry.  Only those who were serious about natural health really took note.

"Sugar Overload" explores how mainstream science is now validating sugar's detrimental effects on human health. Take the time to read the article.  I'm not going to recap it.  Then get Duffy's book.  It will be an eye opener for you.  Although it is almost 40 years old, it is still very valid and is being verified by current science.

As you read this information also be very aware of the processed food industry's methods to have you buy and eat more and more sugar filled foods.  Food processors have a history of using whatever methods they can come up with to get people to buy their creations regardless of nutritional value. Think of their low cholesterol, low fat products which have turned out to be real health robbers.  (Don't hold your breath that their new gluten free products are going to be that healthy either.) 

The demon sugar can be beaten.  The answer is to eat unprocessed foods.  Whole foods with naturally occurring sugars do not affect the body the same as added sugar in processed foods. Shop the outside of the supermarket and avoid the middle aisles.  Real foods are found in the produce, meat, and dairy sections of the store.  Products in the center of the grocery are more likely to be processed with high sugar content along with other potentially harmful additives.

Eating wholesome, natural foods is an essential part of a healthy chiropractic lifestyle. 

Buyer Beware

This past weekend news outlets around the world reported on research out of the University of Guelph that found a significant portion of herbal supplements tested either contained or didn't contain the products listed on the label.  A typical sample of these reports was published in the Vancouver Sun, "'CSI'-like DNA study finds herbal products don't always list all contents on the label."  The findings are not a surprise to me.

Patients in our office have often asked us why they can by a certain supplement at a big box store so much cheaper than for what we sell products at our office.  My answer has typically been that I know what is in the products I carry.  I do not know what is or isn't in the supplements carried at the big stores and likely no one at the big store does either.  These companies, and many smaller natural product companies, buy their ingredients from wherever they get the best price and simply put their label on it.  They do not maintain the laboratory facilities to assure quality control.  They accept the assurance of the supplier for the quality of the ingredients.  Sadly many of these suppliers lack quality control facilities as well.  It is thus common for supplements to contain toxins, contaminants, and ingredients that do not have the potency they should have.

On the other hand, I do know that by carrying the professional grade supplements we have in our office I am assured that what is on the label is in the product.  Both Metagenics and Douglas Labs maintain their own research, quality control, and manufacturing facilities.  Their products are produced to pharmacutical standards to assure there are no toxins or contaminents.  They produce many of the raw materials themselves and all ingredients are analyzed for potency.  This assures that the products consistently produce the desired biological effects in the body.

There are significant costs to establishing, staffing and maintaining the facilities necessary to assure high quality products.  Although the products sold in our office are often higher priced, patients usually get better results than when they use discount brands.  Many, many times patients will tell me they have tried a specific supplement with no positive results and then they have gotten great results when using our high quality supplements.  The end result was that the quality product was actually more cost effective because the desired results were obtained.

With supplements, as with anything else we buy, we get what we pay for.  No where is quality more important that dealing with our health.  Beware when buying supplements.  Buy quality if you want consistent results.  

Healthy Lifestyle Really is Anti-Aging

For some time now I've tried to emphasize the importance of living a healthy chiropractic lifestyle.  There are many outward benefits that can be seen in people who live such a lifestyle.  They are able to do the things in life they both need and want to do.  They are resistant to disease and injury.  They feel and look good.  But what is happening on the inside of these people?

True health occurs at the cellular level.  When a person's cells are healthy, they are overall healthy.  A person's age is determined by how well their cells are working.  Recent news reports such as this one from Businessweek, "Veggie-Heavy, Low Stress Regimen Shown to Modify Cell Aging", reveal how a healthy lifestyle improves the health of cells.  Click and read the article.  It explains in a clear, simple manner the complex changes that occur in the telomeres within individual cells when lifestyles are improved.  The improvement is significant enough to be able to label the cells as being younger.  The lead researcher is quoted as saying, “Our studies are showing that simple changes in our lifestyle have powerful impacts in ways that we can measure.” Having younger cells is truly anti-aging at its finest!

The abstract from this study is found at the The Lancet  "Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study".


Want to live healthier and longer?  Adopt a healthy chiropractic lifestyle.  Eat nutritious food, take nutritional supplements when indicated, get regular exercise, sleep soundly, manage stress, avoid toxins, protect your mental health, and keep your spine and nervous system healthy with regular chiropractic adjustments.  The take-a-way good news is that wherever you are now you can be healthier and younger by improving your lifestyle.

I Have Algorithms In My Head

When I'm consulting a patient for the first time I often tell them they are just like a jigsaw puzzle and I'm trying to put the pieces together so they make sense.  All the questions my staff ask and that I ask are designed to reveal glimpses of who this person is and what their condition really is.  Each examination procedure also reveals more pieces to the puzzle.  But just having all the pieces of the jigsaw on the table doesn't show you what the whole picture is.  The pieces have to be put together.  Each piece contains clues.  In a picture puzzle this includes shape, colour and pattern.  Every interconnection reveals more of what the whole will look like.

This is not dissimilar to the way I need to evaluate a patient.  Age, sex, family history, occupation, diet, physical activity, injuries, illnesses, and many other factors need to be probed.  Depending on the answer given to a particular question, it leads to the next question that needs to be asked.  The examination is then formulated from what has been gleaned from the history and consultation.  Each positive or negative finding leads to the test that should follow.

Over the years of evaluating many, many patients, I have developed algorithms that run through my mind to help me quickly and accurately assess what is going on.  An algorithm is defined as a formula or set of steps for solving a particular problem. To be an algorithm, a set of rules must be unambiguous and have a clear stopping point.  For example you can have an algorithm for baking a cake.  It might look like this:

 

Evaluating a patient is certainly more complex than baking a cake and instead of a simple algorithm, algorithms often need to be combined to get valid results.  If a patient has just one simple complaint, say a sprained ankle, there are few steps necessary to make the diagnosis and develop an approach for rehabilitation.  Few people present with such a simple situation.  Although a person may have one complaint, perhaps low back pain, there can be many factors which lead to the condition and usually involve more than just the lower area of the spinal column.  By having a logical sequence to follow, an algorithm, clues don't get missed and the best possible conclusions can be determined.  During both the history and examination of a patient with low back pain, algorithms for evaluating the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hips will likely be combined.  The knees, feet, and even the neck may be added depending on what is revealed.  

Activator Methods, my primary chiropractic technique, is based on a series of algorithms that allows for very efficient and thorough evaluation and adjustment of the spine and extremities.  The Activator Methods basic scan for the lumbar spine looks like this:

This basic algorithm covers most low back conditions.  Should a patient present with a more complicated situation there are advanced algorithms that can be applied to evaluate the lumbar spine more thoroughly.    Following the algorithms leads to effective care of low back conditions.  There is less likelihood of missing pieces to the low back pain puzzle.

Whether I'm work with a new patient or during a routine office visit, I have algorithms constantly going through my mind.  As a result I can quick evaluate the spine and extremities for subluxations and determine the best chiropractic adjustments for a given patient.  By putting the pieces together I know where, when, and when not to adjust.  This is crucial to being an effective chiropractor. 

  

Activator Methods Upgrading

Last weekend I participated in an Activator Methods Seminar.  The technique requires that in order to maintain my Advanced Proficiency status that at least once every year I attend a seminar to assure my competency in using the procedures.  This is something I really appreciate about Activator Methods.  They assure that all the doctors who are rated to use the technique, continue to maintain their competency.  This is important for patients and also for practitioners.

During the weekend our instructor, Dr. Rebecca Fischer, walked us through relevant research and showed us how to apply it in our practices.  Something that is not always easy to do is to take research and make it practical in a clinical setting.  In the rapidly changing health care world this is very valuable.  This year's focus was on osteoarthritis.  I appreciate not only the ongoing research that Activator Methods does but how they utilize research from many, varied sources to continually refine the technique.  There are few techniques that are so diligent.

Probably more important than the research however is the time spent on practical application over the course of the weekend.  Doctors are divided into basic, intermediate and advanced classes depending on their experience using Activator Methods.  In the advanced class with Dr. Fischer that I attended we spent a great deal of time refining our ability to use the technique.  That included hands on workshops, small group case studies, and a review of both old and new advanced procedures.  Nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle issues were integrated into the presentation and workshop.  This year the emphasis was on evaluating and treating the lower extremity.   Dr. Fischer and her helpers evaluated each attendee on their competency in using the Activator analysis.  It is wonderful to have this done every year.  It's amazing how many bad habits a person develops and this seminar always helps to bring back my focus.  There are also those, "Man I totally forgot about that test!" moments.

Not insignificant is the opportunity to connect with other like minded doctors.  This is often the only occasion where I get chance to see these people, may of whom are not from Alberta.  Time is spent sharing good and bad things that happen in our practices.  There is great value in this time of informal exchange.  I come away with a great confidence in many of the doctors I want to refer to and also recognize some I don't want to send patients to.

I commend Activator Methods for maintaining a system of quality control through their annual seminar requirement.  It's good for me as a doctor and also good for my patients.  For me it is not a burden, but a privilege to maintain my proficiency with Activator Methods.

Light and Health

Here in Medicine Hat we have enjoyed an exceptionally mild winter.  The same cannot be said for many of our patients we live to the north and east of the city.   Although the calendar says it is spring looking at the thermometer and the snow on the ground this past week, we know that spring has not yet come to our part of the country.  When the sun does shine however it lifts our spirits with more than just the expectation of warmer weather to come.

Sunshine has a very positive effect on our physical bodies.  After a few cloudy days going out into the April sunshine just seems to energize a person.  The energy does more than just lift our mental spirits.  Did you know that every cell in the human body gets energy from light?  Each cell has receptors that absorb the energy from light and convert that energy into the energy which runs the cell.  So when light shines on the cells of our body, they have more energy to do what they need to do.  They grow better.  They heal better.  When individual cells function better and are healthier, the tissues that are made up of those individual cells are also more functional.  Ultimately the whole person is healthier.

While sunlight is very beneficial it is not always possible to expose tissues needing light stimulation to the sun.  For instance injured joints or an injured spine may not be practically exposed to enough sunlight to have a therapeutic effect, particularly during a Canadian winter.  The full spectrum, scattered waves of sunlight only penetrate a maximum of 1/2 inch into the body.  Most times injured tissues are much deeper.  So although sunlight has a therapeutic benefit, it is very limited.

To practically use light to stimulate healing in the body, requires the light to be focused rather than scattered and of wavelengths that can effectively penetrate deep into the body.  The most effective sources of such light are lasers.  Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been developed specifically to stimulate the healing of the body.  It uses specific wavelengths and powers that are most effective at energizing the cells of injured tissues.  At the same time LLLT produces no heat and it does not damage any healthy tissues.  Shining laser light on injured tissues is almost like plugging the cells into a power source to get them working.  Once the cells are energized the injured tissues can quickly return to their normal function.

In our office we have found LLLT to be a very valuable adjunct to chiropractic adjustments.  It speeds the healing process significantly.  It reduces the sensitivity of irritated nerves.  It improves circulation.  It reduces inflammation.  It normalizes the function of the body's healing cells.  Chiropractic works with the natural ability of the body to heal and LLLT simple enhances the process. 

Even though going out into the sunshine can have a very positive effect on the body, when it comes to stimulating healing, laser light is far superior.   

What Makes Chiropractic Adjustments So Powerful?

A chiropractic adjustment is a very simple procedure.  The chiropractor analyzes a patient's spine for an area that has lost its proper position and motion.  Then a very quick, light thrust is applied in a specific direction to this area.  This may be done to one or several areas of the spine and the patient's spine has been adjusted.  Both the analysis and the procedure are quick and simple.

Most people visit chiropractors because of pain in the back or neck.  It's easy for them to make the connection between pain in the spine and the benefits of adjusting the spine.  But many of these people, who've come for relief of back and neck pain, find other positive things happen after receiving chiropractic adjustments.  Some examples from my practice over that past few weeks are:

• the child who is no longer constipated
• the man who no longer gets heartburn at every meal 
• the lady who now sleeps comfortably through the night
• the gentleman who no longer has constant hiccups
• the baby who nurses without vomiting everything back up
• the woman who can walk with her friends again without discomfort
• the fellow whose jaw no longer "cracks" so loudly that it annoyed his family
• the boy who no longer has chest pain and shortness of breath when he runs

There are many more examples I could list of positive, unexpected benefits patients in my office have experienced recently.  In each case, the person was analyzed for spinal problems and given simple chiropractic adjustments.

That a chiropractic adjustment can produce such a wide range of positive effects can seem amazing.  The power in the adjustment is not in the technique the chiropractor uses or even in the force that the chiropractor puts into the spine.  The power comes from what the body does with that force.  When areas of the spine have lost their proper position and motion it means that a Vertebral Subluxation is present.  Vertebral Subluxations also involve irritation of the adjacent spinal nerves.  Once the nerves are irritated, all areas of the body that depend on those particular nerves are negatively affected.  A chiropractic adjustment applied to a Vertebral Subluxation restores normal position and motion which then results normalization of the spinal nerves.  Once nerve function returns, truly amazing things can happen in the body.  The body can again function the way it was designed to.  The chiropractic adjustment can be likened to turning on a switch that gets the body working again.  Chiropractic adjustments turn the nerves on.  It's that simple.  That's why chiropractic adjustments are so powerful!

Forgetfulness

It's very frustrating that as a person gets older, it gets hard to remember even simple things.  Where did I put my keys? What did I come into this room for?  What did I have for lunch yesterday?  The list of what I forgot just gets longer and I'd tell you all the things that are on it, if I could just remember where I put it.  It's frustrating.

However, our memories don't have to get bad with age.  There are things that can be done to prevent, slow and even reverse age related memory loss.  Like so many problems that show up as we age, memory issues are best dealt with when we are young and before there are any signs of forgetfulness.

Memory is dependent on the proper functioning of a series of complex chemical reactions in the brain.  These reactions occur within the nerve cells and between the nerve cells.  First these reactions need to take place in order for the memory to be encoded.  Then there needs to be another series of reactions to retrieve the memory.  Any disruption in either process and we cannot remember what we wanted to.  As we age there is a tendency for the brain to produce memory related neurotransmitters which allow one nerve cell to communicate with other nerve cells.  There can also be a decline in the chemical make up of the cells themselves resulting in less efficient processing of information.  Memory is an indicator of not only how well the brain is working, but the entire nervous system.  Nervous system health is the primary focus of chiropractors.

In his book, "Brighter Mind", Kyl Smith D.C. has a four step program to prevent mental decline or to improve mental performance in those already experiencing problems.  Dr. Smith uses many scientific studies to illustrate his approach to boosting brain function.  He references over 1500 peer reviewed scientific studies.  The bottom line is that there are simple action steps that anyone can take to improve their mental capacities, including memory.  I like Dr. Smith's approach because it fits in with a healthy chiropractic lifestyle that I think is beneficial for everyone.

The four steps are to nourish, support, improve, and protect your mind.

1. Nourish -This means to feed, maintain and support.  To function properly it is absolutely essential that the brain has adequate amounts of all the B-Vitamins, Vit. E, Vit. C, Vit. D, beta carotene, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, essential fatty acids, and CoQ10.  The best way to get these nutrients is from a diet consisting of unprocessed foods with an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts.  Wild fish, free range poultry, and grass fed animals are also recommended.  While it is necessary to consume foods which contain the necessary nutrients, it is equally important to avoid foods which deplete those nutrients.  In the simplest term, this means no processed foods.  Processing destroys essential nutrients while adding many chemicals which interfere with brain function.  Dr. Smith says, "A diet high in processed foods can literally starve your brain."  Inadequate brain nutrition results in poor concentration, mental fatigue, depression, learning disabilities, disturbed sleep, and loss of memory.
2. Support - This means to assist, help and maintain.  Closely related to nourishing, supporting the brain means selecting slow release carbohydrates over sugars or carbs that are quickly converted to sugar.  Most refined grains fit into the latter category.   Consume  good quality amino-acid rich protein. Such proteins are best found in whey, dairy, eggs, fish, and beef, Yes, red meat is good to support brain function.  Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to support the brain.  These can be either plant derived or marine derived.  Those from marine sources are better because they are already in the form your brain utilizes.  A healthy cardiovascular system also supports the brain.
3. Improve - This means to enhance or make better.  There are naturally occuring substances that will actually improve the function of the brain and they have no side effects.  These include phoshadylserene (PS), GPC (L-alpha-glycero-phosphorylcholine; yikes! Just call it GPC.)  ALCAR (acetyl-L-carnitine), and DMAE (dimethyl-aminoethanol),   Of these supplementing PS and ALCAR show the most brain improvements.  Exercise, both mental and physical, is very beneficial for improving the mind.  Good sleep is also essential.
4. Protect - Means to guard, shield and defend.  The brain is particularly susceptible to damage from toxins and oxidation.  Oxidation is a product of metabolism in the body and is amplified by stress of all kinds.  Nutrients which protect the brain include: CoQ10, Vit. C, Vit. E, R-Lipoic Acid, ALCAR, resveratrol, grape seed extract, anti-oxidant rich berries and beans, vinpocetine, ginko biloba, rhodiola, and green tea,   This is a long list and not every person needs to consume all of these.  It is best to get most of them from a diet consisting of natural foods and then supplement with those that will specifically address an individual's situation.

The bottom line here is to improve one's diet by eating less processed foods and more vegetables and fruits, supplement to get hard to obtain nutrients and omega 3 fats, and exercise both the mind and the body.  Do this and your mind will work better.  You won't be as forgetful. 

Co Q10

There are a few supplements that I think just about everyone can benefit by taking.  One of them is Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10), also called Ubiquinol in it's active form.  Co Q10 is a fat soluble anti-oxidant and micro-nutrient.  It protects cell membranes from oxidative damage.  It is also absorbed into cells where it is a vital component in the production of cellular energy in the mitochondria.  A properly functioning body produces the Co Q10 that is needed.  However due to increased demand, illnesses, interference from medications, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and inadequate intake of Co Q10 building blocks, a huge segment of our society is Co Q10 deficient.

Without adequate Co Q10 people tend to have low energy levels.  They are also more likely to suffer from heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, periodontal disease, Parkinson's Disease, Type 2 diabetes, and a depressed immune system.  They are also unable to properly recover from physical stress. Heart muscle has a particularly high need of Co Q10. That's a pretty extensive and varied list of conditions.  Most of the conditions listed are ones I personally want to make every effort to guard against.   

The best dietary sources of Co Q10 precursors are organ meats, red fleshed fish, sardines, soybean oil, olive oil, and grapeseed oil.  They are found to a lesser extent in dark green vegetables and nuts.  Unfortunately these are not foods that we consume in large quantities so many people simply don't have the necessary elements to make adequate amounts of their own Co Q10.  A further complication is that as we age our bodies become less efficient at producing Co Q10.  Some studies indicate that Co Q10 production starts to decrease in people in their 20s.  That's not good news for someone my age.

A very significant problem in that past couple of decades is that a number of medications interfere with Co Q10 production and absorption.  These include some beta blockers, blood pressure lowering medications, and statins.  Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering drugs that include Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, and Livalo.  These statin drugs are known to produce many side effects and one of the reasons for these is the great interference they have on Co Q10.  Many specialists believe all people taking statin medication should be supplementing with Co Q10.

Supplementing Co Q10 is not straight forward.  It is fat soluble and not easily absorbed.  Unfortunately many people are simply wasting their money by taking Co Q10 supplements that they simply aren't absorbing.  It doesn't matter how low the price on the bottle is, it's expensive if your body can't utilize it.  The supplement should be all natural and free of toxins.  The product we most often recommend in our office is Nanocell Q from Metagenics.  This is a nanomicellized form of Co Q10 which converts the fat soluble product to become water soluble.  Once water soluble it is easily absorbed.  It is also in a great tasting liquid form which makes it easy to take.

Co Q10 is absolutely essential to be healthy.  Supplementation is the best answer for most people to help prevent many serious degenerative diseases.

3 Day Diet

Loss 20 pounds of fat!  Boost your metabolism!  Gain more energy!  Fast, efficient, effective!  Minimum work for maximum results. There is nothing like the 3 Day Diet!  Read on.

Sound too good to be true?  It is!  The scale may show a loss of a few pounds after a couple of days.  But no one really believes that being on a diet for 3 days can be effective.  There is simply no way that years of poor eating and lifestyle habits can be overcome in such a short period of time.  A person gains weight and loses their health over a long period of time and a takes time to both take weight off and restore health.

So why is it that people think that 3 chiropractic adjustments will remove the pain and restore the health of their spine?  That makes no more sense that a 3 day diet.  In most cases spinal problems are months, years and even decades developing.  Although, chiropractic adjustments can be very effective in relieving pain, to truly restore the proper functioning of the spine takes time.  Often a considerable length of time.

Changing your lifestyle to eat better and exercise more to loose weight and become healthier takes effort.  It also takes commitment to sustain the changes over a long period of time.  It is an established fact that crash dieting doesn't work and unless there are permanent changes in a person's life the weight and health problems return, only worse than they were before.  Correcting spinal problems, known as vertebral subluxations, is just the same.  Simply getting rid of the pain, with chiropractic or drugs, is just a short term fix.  The problem inevitably comes back ... only worse.

To successfully correct vertebral subluxations, and restore spinal health, repeated chiropractic adjustments are need.  As well exercise, nutrition and lifestyle changes are usually required.  A healthy spine is needed to have a healthy body and a healthy body is needed to have a healthy spine.  This takes time and effort.

Forget about 3 day diets.  There is no way they can work.  Forget about trying to get a healthy spine in 3 visits.  It simply can't happen.

Thanks

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.  We celebrate this holiday a month and a half earlier than our American friends, probably because we need to be done our harvesting earlier than they do.  Certainly the farmers around Medicine Hat have gotten their crops in.  Other than carrots to dig, our garden has given up it's abundance for this year.  The frost and even snow that we've had has made sure that the growing season has come to an end.  So we give thanks this weekend for the blessings the land has provided this summer.

But Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for more than just the produce of the land.  It is a time to reflect on the all the good things we have and we are certainly a people who have truly been blessed with great abundance.  Compared to most of the world our society has material wealth and possessions that the majority of earth's inhabitants can only dream of.  But we need to be thankful for more than just our bank accounts and stuff.  There are the things we cannot buy: family, friends, health, peace, freedom and life itself.

There is something very powerful about taking time to reflect on what a person has as opposed to what we don't have.  To give thanks for the blessings that are ours today.  It helps us to live in the present; to be more content with our lives knowing what we really have.  

I know from personal experience that when my life and circumstances have been difficult, reflecting on what I have that is good has been very beneficial.  Even more so when I have specifically been thankful for those blessings. The Bible tells us "... give thanks in all circumstances ..." (1Th 5:18).  It doesn't tell to give thanks for the circumstances we find ourselves in, but to look for the good in the circumstances.  Even in difficult times there are almost always some bright spots or some valuable lessons we are able to learn.  Some of our greatest personal growth takes place in our toughest times.  We need to be thankful for that.

Thanksgiving is not just about the turkey and fixin's.  It's about reflecting on what we have been blessed with, material and more importantly non material. 

Something that we are very thankful for at Powers & Jans Centre are the loyal patients who have entrusted us with providing chiropractic care to them and their families.  We know what a great blessing it is to be able to serve the needs of others.  Thanks!  

Habits

A habit is defined as an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.  Habits allow us to do the majority of our actions without putting a lot of mental effort into them.  This is a good thing.  We don't have to put effort into how we are putting our clothes on or each step that needs to be done to start the car to go to work.  Instead we can put our mental energy into picking an outfit with colours that don't clash or what our day's activities are going to be.  By committing the many little things we do over and over to habit allows us to perform activities while freeing our mind to focus on other things.  Consequently, if the habits we develop are "good" habits, we become more efficient and effective.  If however we develop "bad" habits they will cause us to be less effective and even self destructive.

Each person has developed both "good" and "bad" habits.  We can be happier and more successful in life by changing our "bad" habits to "good" habits.  Sounds simple doesn't it?  But just ask someone who has an alcohol habit, or a sugar habit, or a procrastination habit if it's easy to change the habit and they will tell you it is not.  Even changing a small habit can take a tremendous amount of effort.  In order to change a habit a person needs to understand how habits work.

There are three components to each habit: a cue, a routine, and a reward.  I'll let Charles Duhigg explain how these habit components work together.  Take a look at his video "How to Break the Cookie Habit" posted on the New York Times website.

Changing a habit requires that a person recognized all three components.  That's easier said than done.  Personally I think determining the reward is the hardest part.  What we truly gain from our bad habits is usually not obvious.  In many instances a person really needs to be a sleuth to pin down the reward and sometimes the cue as well.  

This is a very brief overview of habits.  If you are serious about wanting to change your habits please read  "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg.  This very readable book will give you a comprehensive understanding of how habits work, how we develop them, and very importantly how we can change them.

A Time for Resolutions

Around New Year's there is usually a lot of talk about resolutions for improving oneself.  September is perhaps a better time to be looking at making changes in one's life.

Here in Southern Alberta, summer is fast and furious.  We try to do as much as we possibly can in the weekends of July and August as well as during the long summer evenings.  It's the time when everyone goes on holidays to see and do something new.  While we endevour to experience so much of what the world around us has to offer, we often neglect the things that are really important to our health.   Routines for healthy eating, exercise, and rest are often cast to the side.  Frequently people neglect their spinal care as well.

Then September arrives.  Back to school; back to routines; back to reality.  The lazy (or not) days of summer have come to an end and it's time to return to normal activities.  It's also time to return to healthy routines.  Because September is a time when we are changing from summer mode, this may be a more logical time to make healthy lifestyle changes than the beginning of January.  So many of the routines people are returning to are healthier than what they have been doing over the summer.  (Think about that old song about "sodas, and pretzels and beer" during "those lazy, hazy days of summer".  That's a description of many people's summer.)  While people are already making changes, perhaps they should take it a step further and make some real significant lifestyle changes.

September is a great time to make healthy diet changes.  There is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, many of them locally grown.  A commitment to ditching the simple carbohydrate foods and drinks for good would be a wonderful step to take.  Eat enough of the good stuff and you'll want less and less of the bad stuff.  Fortunately quality fruits and vegetables are now available year round, so a habit started now can continue through the winter.

Because the weather is still warm, but no longer swelteringly hot, September is a great time to get outdoors to exercise.  Exercising in the fresh air is good for body and spirit.  Get in the habit of exercising now when it's easy to do and you'll be more likely to continue even when the weather becomes less than cooperative.  It takes much more effort to start an exercise routine in January.

As you get back to routines, it's important to once again commit to getting regular chiropractic checkups.  Or if you haven't done so in the past this is the time to start.  Vertebral subluxations can creep up silently and have a profoundly negative impact on a person's health.  The best time to have them corrected is before they become symptomatic.  Regular visits to a chiropractor will assure that your spine is working as well as it can be.

This fall don't just get back to the same routines of spring but add some new, better ones.  Improve your sleep routines. Commit to taking high quality supplements on a regular basis. Embrace techniques to reduce stress. This may be the ideal time to start a new hobby. Rather than watching more TV this fall, look for more active ways to spend your time that will benefit you both physically and mentally. This time of year many organizations are looking for volunteers and committing some time and effort to helping others is very rewarding.

Take advantage of the season and make some resolutions to be a better you.

A PEBBLE IN YOUR SHOE

I've heard stories of monks who would deliberately put a pebble in their shoe so they would constantly be reminded of the suffering of Christ. A pebble in one's shoe is certainly an irritation. The pebble is felt on every step and the foot soon becomes irritated to the point that even when resting the foot is sore. It becomes impossible to step properly on that foot. Soon the knee, hip and low back become sore as the body compensates for the foot that isn't working properly. Even the mind is affected. Where does your mind go with every step you take? To the pebble of course. You just can't wait for the opportunity to take your shoe off and get rid of that pebble. The pebble doesn’t have to be very big either.  I can't imagine deliberately putting one in my shoe!

Even though a pebble in your shoe is a small thing, it can affect your entire body.  There is another even smaller thing that can affect your body.  That is a vertebral subluxation.  A vertebral subluxation is when there is a loss of proper motion between the joints of the spine which is accompanied by nerve dysfunction.  There is usually associated swelling and muscle spasms as well.  Pain may or may not be present, but there will be loss of function whereever the associated nerves travel.  A vertebral subluxation is such a small, subtle lesion that it takes a great deal of training and practice to accurately detect it.  Finding and correcting vertebral subluxations is what chiropractors specialize in.

Physical, emotional or chemical stresses can all cause vertebral subluxations.  Once a vertebral subluxation is present it is much like a pebble in a shoe.  It is a constant irritation to the body.   Even though no pain may be present when the subluxation first occurs, the longer it exists the more severe the associated problems will be.  Initially there may only be stiffness.  Later muscles will spasm.  Pain may occur early in the process or may never be part of the symptoms.  Common symptoms include back pain, neck pain, headaches, pain in the arms or legs, numbness, tingling, and weakness.  Even the internal organs can be affected when the nerves going to them are not functioning properly.

Chiropractors are specially trained in the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations.  The only solution for a pebble in a shoe is to remove the pebble.  The only solution for a vertebral subluxation is to restore normal spinal joint and nerve function with specific chiropractic adjustments.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition in which there is numbness and possibly pain in the thumb, 2nd & 3rd fingers, and part of the ring finger.  There may also be a loss of sensation, swelling, and weakness in the hand.  True CTS is the result of the median nerve becoming trapped in the wrist.  Normally a "tunnel" is formed by the bones and ligaments of the wrist which allows the nerve to pass through uninhibited.  If this tunnel collapses due to weakening of the tissues or is compromised by inflammation, the median nerve is affected and CTS results.  Vascular disorders and diabetes can also produce CTS symptoms.

People with CTS find that they drop things easily, have trouble wringing a cloth, and have to shake their hands to get them to "wake up".  The symptoms are often worse at night.   Pain without numbness is usually not CTS.  Contrary to popular belief, studies are showing that it is probably not the result of repetitive strains such as extended periods of using a computer keyboard.

Not all numbness or pain in the hand is CTS however.  If only it was so simple!  Nerves can be irritated or entrapped in the neck, thoracic outlet (muscles at the side of the neck & collarbone), shoulder girdle, and elbow producing the same symptoms.  It's important to determine where the nerve irritation is coming from in order to apply the best treatment.  I have seen numerous cases over the years where patients have had CTS surgery which did not improve their symptoms.  That was because the problem did not originate in their wrist.

There are a number of simple tests that can pinpoint were the nerve is being compromised.  This can, and frequently does, occur at multiple sites at the same time.  Once the site of the problem is determined, appropriate treatment can be applied.  Chiropractic adjustments, low level laser therapy, natural anti-inflammatories, nutritional supplements (B6, Vit. C, Omega 3 fatty acids, MSM & magnesium), therapeutic massage, exercises, and night splints can all be used in treating CTS.  Surgery should be performed if conservative treatments fail.  Once the tissues are cut they cannot be uncut.

The chiropractic approach utilizing combinations of the therapies listed above is very effect in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Because we look at the body as a whole rather than just individual parts and symptoms, we are able to locate and treat the cause or causes, not just the symptoms.  As with any condition, the sooner treatment begins the better the outcome usually is.  If you have numbness and/or pain in your hand, have it checked by a chiropractor.

Fighting Gravity

One of my sons has a t-shirt that says, "Obey gravity - It's the law".  Gravity is a force that is constantly pulling on our bodies.  In order to walk up right we are literally fighting gravity.  To be successful we need to have both good balance and good posture.  If we don't we will be prone to muscle and joint problems, falls, nervous system problems and stress on all our body systems.  Balance and posture play a big role in our health.


Fortunately there are a couple of simple exercises that can help improve a person's balance and posture.  These exercises can be performed by anyone regardless of age.

The most basic balance exercise is the One Leg Stand.

The One Leg Stand should be done three times every day.  Note that if you are very unbalanced or have vertigo, have someone with you to make sure you don't fall.  If you have hip or joint problems, only bend the joint as far as you comfortably can.
 
Posture problems are the first things to happen when gravity starts to get the best of us.  The basic posture exercise is the Wall Pelvic Tilt. 

Wall Pelvic Tilts should be performed twice daily.

When doing either of these exercises it's important to get your form as perfect as you can.  To get the most benefit focus and concentrate on the muscles and movements.  Most people notice very rapid improvements in their balance and posture when they do these two simple exercises regularly.  They are a great way to counteract the negative effects gravity has on the human body.