Quote of the Week

Exercise of the Week: Lumbar Stabilization - Plank

Topic of the Week: Chiropractic: Helping You Live Longer & Stronger

Chiropractic is healthcare approach dedicated to restoring and preserving optimal health. Your chiropractor is trained to assess all aspects of your health and make thoughtful suggestions about how you can live well throughout your entire lifespan. There is some debate in the healthcare community about whether chiropractic care does indeed improve longevity, so we will examine this question more closely in this edition of the Wellness Express in the hopes of finding a helpful answer (we will also discuss another, perhaps more significant question).

What is clear is that the health habits you form, and practice each day, have a profound effect on your long-term health and well-being. Through thoughtful interventions and personalized care, your chiropractor can help you achieve the healthy life you have always desired. Ask your chiropractor about an individualized treatment plan designed to keep you healthy and active well into old age.

What is Longevity?
Longevity, as it is usually defined, means life expectancy or the typical length of life, measured in years. Longevity varies from country to country and even within countries. Longevity also varies based on sex, with women usually outliving men by a significant amount. A 2006 article published in the journal Gender Medicine states that women have historically lived longer than men in almost every country and that this is so because they are more robust at every age (and not because women age more slowly). More active female immune functioning, the protective effect of estrogen, and reduced activity of growth hormone are all possible causes of this discrepancy in longevity between the sexes.

What Factors Affect Longevity?
Genetics and lifestyle are two of the most important factors that may affect life expectancy. The role of genetics in longevity is an increasingly popular research field and researchers are discovering interesting information. According to a 2006 study published in the journal Human Genetics, genetics do indeed appear to influence human lifespan, though the genetic influences on lifespan are minimal before age 60 and only increase thereafter.
Lifestyle factors play a large role in longevity, too. Lifestyle factors that may affect longevity (especially in men), notes a 2008 study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, include smoking abstinence, weight control, blood pressure control and regular exercise. Diet is another huge lifestyle factor affecting longevity. A 2004 study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention confirms that there is indeed sufficient evidence that diet influences longevity, especially as it concerns coronary heart disease and cancer.

Does Chiropractic Add Years to Your Life?
A 2004 study published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association concludes that chiropractic care may not add years to your life, though the mortality data examined in this study was limited, report the authors. This study did note, however, that chiropractic care may add life to your years, which is perhaps an even more important consideration. Chiropractic care can improve your mobility, musculoskeletal function and sense of well-being. It also helps relieve debilitating symptoms - all factors that can help you get the most out of your years.
Still, a strong case can be made that chiropractic care does indeed improve longevity. From a prevention standpoint, chiropractic is a standout in the healthcare field. According to a 2000 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the level of primary care, health promotion and prevention activities provided by chiropractors exceeds that of other physicians. In helping you successfully modify your health behaviors, your chiropractor is favorably affecting your longevity in a way that is difficult to assess using conventional research methods.

Why Being Healthy Matters
Remaining healthy and active throughout your lifespan is essential for realizing a high quality of life. Any therapy, including chiropractic care, promoting nerve, organ, and musculoskeletal health and function is important for achieving this health goal. Chiropractic care is particularly effective in restoring and preserving mobility, which allows you to engage in a physically active lifestyle, which itself confers numerous health benefits. Perhaps what is most significant though is the enhanced mobility and physical activity chiropractic care enables in seniors. The preservation of independent living in seniors is a major health positive attribute of chiropractic care and one of the key reasons you should maintain regular visits with your chiropractor throughout your lifespan.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM

Topic of the Week: Sweet Treats: How Sugar Consumption Affects Your Health

Excessive sugar consumption is a major contributor to health problems in our society. Sugar, in one form or another, can be found in many common food products, from breakfast cereal to salad dressing to ketchup. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that, on a per capita basis, Americans consumed about 130 pounds of sugar in 2011. In 2004, notes Statistics Canada, Canadians consumed about 110 grams of sugar (the equivalent of 26 teaspoons) each day. A 2008 study published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews may help explain these incredible numbers: Intermittent, excessive sugar consumption may lead to sugar addiction.

Your chiropractor understands how sugar interacts with your body and can counsel you on how to limit your intake of sweets. Ask your chiropractor how you can overcome sugar addiction and take control of your health.



Obesity & Diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are two (often related) health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption. Sugar is commonly consumed in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks, energy drinks and other beverages. These drinks frequently contribute to weight gain and obesity. According to a 2001 study published in The Lancet, sugarsweetened drink consumption is associated with childhood obesity.

Another study, published in 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reports that increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages causes weight gain and obesity and that public health measures should be implemented to discourage the intake of sugar-rich drinks as part of a healthy lifestyle.



Excessive sugar consumption (especially in the form of sugarsweetened beverages) leads to metabolic syndrome - a set of unfavorable health symptoms - and type 2 diabetes in many people. A 2010 article published in the journal Diabetes Care confirms that, in addition to weight gain, greater intake of sugary drinks is indeed associated with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Another study, published in 2004 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports that the excessive calories and large amounts of rapidly absorbable sugars associated with sugary drinks are linked to a greater degree of weight gain and a heightened risk for type 2 diabetes in young and middle-aged women.



Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a common health problem - and a leading cause of death - in our society. However, does sugar consumption play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease? The answer is yes, according to one study published in 2010 in the journal Circulation. The authors of this study report that intake of added sugars among American adolescents is positively associated with several measures or markers known to boost cardiovascular disease risk. Another study published in 2009 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that regular consumption of sugar- sweetened beverages in women leads to a greater risk of coronary heart disease in this group, even after other dietary and lifestyle factors are accounted for.



Tooth Decay

Sugar consumption, including the consumption of soft drinks, plays a significant role in tooth decay. According to a study published in 2009 in the Journal of Zhejiang University, the acids and sugars found in soft drinks may cause both dental caries (i.e., cavities) and enamel erosion. A study published in 2001 in the Journal of Dental Education states that controlling sugar consumption is one of the - if not the - most important aspects of preventing dental cavities.



Depression

Depression is a complex health *problem that may be caused by many factors. One often overlooked factor may be excessive sugar consumption. According to a 2002 study published in the journal Depression and Anxiety, sugar consumption may directly affect the prevalence of major depression – a disorder characterized by bouts of low mood, low self-esteem and reduced interest in normally enjoyable activities.

Your chiropractor can counsel you on how to use diet and nutrition to help balance your blood sugar levels, reduce your sweets cravings and reduce your risk for the health problems commonly associated with intermittent, excessive sugar consumption.



Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM



Exercise of the Week: Lumbar Stabilization (Dead Bug)

The Problem of Radiating Pain

Many people experience radiating pain as a component of neck pain or low back pain. A person with neck pain might have pain that radiates down her arm, possibly into the hand.1 A person with low back pain might have accompanying leg pain, possibly traveling into the foot. Such arm/hand pain or leg/foot pain can represent a serious underlying health problem. However, not all types of radiating pain are of equal importance. The key is to be able to identify which patterns require prompt attention and which merely appear to be significant but are not.

(This newsletter issue for July 2013 is brought to you by Life Wellness Center)

Authentic radiating pain is most often caused by pressure and/or irritation of a spinal nerve root.2 The spinal nerve becomes inflamed and sends pain signals to the brain that are interpreted as pain in the region of the body supplied by that nerve. Inflammation of a certain spinal nerve in the neck region will result in the experience of pain down the outside of the arm and forearm and into the thumb and possibly index finger. Inflammation of a certain spinal nerve in the low back causes the person to feel pain traveling along the back of the thigh and calf and into the fifth toe.

Specific patterns of radiating pain are associated with inflammation of specific spinal nerves. Such inflammation may be typically caused by pressure from a herniated intervertebral disc. Other disorders which may create local space-occupying pressure need to be considered as well. A thorough history and physical examination will help to identify the cause of the problem. X-ray studies may be needed, as well as an MRI scan. The underlying problem, including the pattern of pain radiation, may be termed a radiculopathy or radiculitis.

But most cases of what appears to be radiating pain are not, in fact, related to pressure on a spinal nerve. Most patterns of radiating pain are not associated with a radiculopathy or radiculitis. Rather, the large majority of pain patterns involving the arm/hand or leg/foot are caused by normal, everyday aches and pains. Our run-of-the-mill physical problems involve relatively large muscles such as the trapezius (overlying the upper back, shoulder, and mid back) and relatively small muscles such as those that overlay the spinal bones themselves and help move the spinal column. Ligaments that hold bones together and tendons that attach muscles to bones may also be involved in these everyday ailments.

Irritation and inflammation of muscles, ligaments, and tendons may cause more difficulty than mere soreness and tightness. Such inflammation may also cause radiating pain, but in broader, more diffuse patterns than those caused by inflammation of a nerve root. A person might experience neck pain with arm and hand pain, or back pain with leg and foot pain, but in a broad pattern not associated with a spinal nerve. This is actually good news for the patient, as such forms of radiating pain (known as scleratogenous patterns), are usually more easily treated than those associated with a radiculopathy or radiculitis.

The bottom line is that your chiropractor is experienced in the diagnosis and care of such problems. Your chiropractor will be able to determine if your radiating pain is associated with muscles, ligaments, and tendons or if it is related to pressure on a spinal nerve.3 Your chiropractor will make specific recommendations for care of your specific health problem and help guide you in the process of returning to good health.

1Caridi JM, et al: Cervical radiculopathy: a review. HSS J 7(3):265-272, 2011

2Magrinelli F, et al: Neuropathic pain: diagnosis and treatment. Pract Neurol 2013 Apr 16 [Epub ahead of print]

3Mena J, Sherman AL: Imaging in radiculopathy. Phys Med Rehabil Clin North Am 22(1):42-57, 2011

_______________________________ Chiropractic Care and Radiating Pain
Although a few problems involving radiating pain require further investigation, the large majority of cases involving neck pain with arm/hand pain or low back pain with leg/foot pain can be addressed by your chiropractor. Your chiropractor will take a thorough history, do a detailed examination, and order tests if needed, with the overall goal of designing the most effective care plan to help solve your specific problem.


Chiropractic adjustments may be part of the care plan. Chiropractic care may also include a rehabilitative stretching and exercise program, as well as recommendations for improved posture, safer lifting habits, and ergonomic enhancement. Your personalized comprehensive chiropractic care plan will help you return to improved health as quickly as possible.

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Topic of the Week: Chiropractic Care for Failed Back Surgery

Back surgery - surgery to correct a problem in or around your spine - is a common treatment approach for back pain or discomfort. According to the Mayo Clinic, your physician may prescribe surgery for back problems caused by trauma, aging, poor body mechanics or normal wear and tear. However, back surgery does not always eliminate pain or promote a return to normal work and leisure activities. In fact, a 2010 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that a commonly performed back procedure – spinal fusion - was associate with a heightened risk of major complications and rehospitalization within 30 days.

Back surgery may be necessary in some cases but a less invasive (and less costly) treatment method is often a good first approach to back pain or discomfort. Your chiropractor can counsel you on conservative strategies to try before undergoing back surgery or help you recover from failed back surgery syndrome.

What is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is the name some practitioners use to describe the symptoms you may experience following unsuccessful back surgery. According to a 2011 study published in the journal Pain Medicine, FBBS can cause severe pain and disability and the rates of failed back surgery have not declined over time. Chronic back and/or leg pain are the two most common symptoms associated with FBSS. Other FBSS symptoms may include stiffness and restricted mobility (due to pain and scar tissue), numbness, back spasms and even anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.

Why Does Back Surgery Sometimes Fail?
Back surgery fails to produce the desired health outcome in many cases. A 2012 article published in the British Journal of Pain reports that the frequency of FBSS following spinal surgery for disc related problems is somewhere between 10 and 40 percent. Back problems are often complex, and back surgery may fail because identifying the true underlying source of your pain can be extremely challenging (i.e., the wrong structure gets operated on). Factors that may increase your chances of experiencing FBSS include diabetes, autoimmune disease and vascular disease. A history of smoking is a major factor in failed back surgery.

Spinal muscle deconditioning, scar tissue formation, recurrent disc herniation, persistent pressure on your spinal nerve roots (i.e., branches of your spinal cord) and spinal joint instability or hypermobility are all possible causes of FBSS.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractic care is a conservative, noninvasive therapy that is capable of treating many cases of FBSS. Indeed, your chiropractor is perfectly poised to help reduce your FBSS-related pain and other symptoms. According to a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, a multifactorial treatment approach - including passive care and active rehabilitative exercises - may be effective in treating chronic low back pain associated with FBSS. This study also notes that chiropractors who employ rehabilitation techniques are well prepared to provide comprehensive care to FBSS patients.

Your chiropractor can use a combination of joint manipulation, soft tissue mobilization and rehabilitative exercises to address possible causes of your FBSS. Your chiropractor can also address other musculoskeletal factors - poor posture, leg length discrepancies, scoliosis – that may be contributing to or worsening your FBSS symptoms.

Considerations
Back surgery plays an important role in certain health situations or circumstances. Back surgery may be necessary if you:

• Have a condition that compresses your spinal nerve roots.
• Suffer spinal bone (i.e., vertebrae) fractures that cause spinal instability.
• Experience vertebral fractures and spinal instability secondary to osteoporosis.
• Have exhausted all conservative care measures in your attempt to relieve your back pain.

Your chiropractor can counsel you on the best possible care strategy for you or explain in greater detail how he or she can address any lingering pain or other symptoms following failed back surgery.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Quote of the Week

July Exercise of the Week (week 1): Pelvic Tilt

Topic of the Week: The Spices of Life: Spices That Improve Your Health

A spice is any dried part of a plant (except for the leaves) used for flavoring, coloring or preserving foods. Dried seeds, fruits, roots, berries and bark can all be used for these purposes but spices can have a profound effect on your health, too. According to a 2006 article published in the Medical Journal of Australia, spices (as well as herbs) deliver antioxidants and other important bioactive components and can be used in recipes to replace less healthy ingredients, such as sugar. Spices can have specific or wide-ranging health effects on your body. Spices can help protect you from disease or help with your overall health maintenance. Ask your chiropractor what spices may be most appropriate for you and your unique health needs.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon has historically been used to help relieve diarrhea and nausea, boost blood flow to the extremities, warm the body and improve digestion (especially fat metabolism). This spice also helps combat fungal infection and it has been used for weight loss and diabetes management. A 2006 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation states that the cinnamon extract may have a moderate effect in lowering fasting plasma glucose concentrations in diabetics with poor glycemic control. Another study, published in 2010 in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, notes that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties, as well as beneficial cardiovascular effects.

Ginger
Ginger is one of the most commonly used spices for cooking purposes and the list of health benefits associated with this spice is impressive. Ginger has been used by various cultures around the world for the following medicinal purposes: reducing inflammation, stimulating circulation, reducing spasms and as an antimicrobial agent for wounds and sores. A 2008 review article published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology notes that ginger is a safe and powerful antioxidant substance capable of preventing free radical formation, has anti inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-tumor actions and is capable of favorably regulating immune functions. Morning sickness, motion sickness, indigestion, hot flashes, headache and muscle pain are all health problems that ginger has been used to treat.

Garlic
Garlic has historically been used to stabilize blood sugar levels, enhance immune function and improve cardiovascular health (by lowering blood pressure, improving circulation and treating arteriosclerosis - hardening of your arteries). According to a review article published in 2002 in the Nutrition Journal, the scientific literature supports the idea that garlic is a powerful agent for preventing and treating atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Another review article, published in 2008 in the journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, states that garlic preparations are better than placebo for lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension. Garlic may also be helpful for sinusitis, colds and flu, digestive problems, insomnia and ulcers and contains the following nutrients: vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C, selenium, zinc,

Turmeric
Turmeric, a spice grown in India and other tropical regions throughout Asia, has long been used in the ancient healing traditions of India and China for a variety of health purposes. Turmeric, notes the American Cancer Society, destroys or slows the growth of cancer cells in laboratory dishes, slows the progression of several types of cancer in lab animals and shrinks animal tumors. According to a review article published in 2008 in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, turmeric helps boost detoxifying enzymes, prevents DNA damage, enhances DNA repair and reduces tumor formation in animals. This spice has also been used in India for healing wounds, treating rheumatic disorders and addressing gastrointestinal symptoms.

Considerations
It is important to talk with your chiropractor before using any spice for medicinal purposes. Your chiropractor can counsel you on what spices may be most helpful for your specific health needs as well as provide you with relevant information about safe and effective dosage.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright© - The Wellness ExpressTM

Quote of the Week

Exercise of the Week

Ten Minutes of Stretching Can Make All the Difference

Should I stretch before or after I exercise?1 Should I even bother to stretch at all? These are the questions that every busy adult asks whenever he or she is planning to begin an exercise program. The correct answer to the first question is "do whatever is right for you." Some people need to lengthen their major muscle groups, such as the quadriceps (front of the thigh), hamstrings (back of the thigh), and calves, before they run, walk, swim, and/or lift weights for exercise. For others, it's best to stretch at the end of a workout, re-lengthening the major muscle groups so they'll be ready to help you move through the rest of your day.


The answer to the second question is "yes, stretching is important for everybody and is often the missing link in trying to understand why you injured yourself when you were exercising." Stretching helps you either warm up or cool down, whichever is needed for you to get the most out of your exercise. Not stretching in the way that you need puts you on the fast track to sustaining an exercise-related injury. As always, prevention is the best policy.

A dynamic warm-up is a fun and entertaining supplement or replacement, at times, to stretching if you're a stretch-first person.2,3 In a dynamic warm-up, you take important joints such as your hips, shoulders, and lower back through complete ranges of motion, using large muscle groups for support. Dynamic warm-up activities are similar to core strengthening exercises and have unique names such as scorpion, hip crossover, drop lunge, and quad circles. You can mix-and-match a variety of dynamic warm-up activities on different workout days, creating ongoing interest that helps you maintain your exercise routine.

A dynamic cool-down can serve as a similar supplement or replacement to stretching, at times, if you're a stretch-after person. If you've been walking or running, rather than simply completing your walk or run, spend an additional few minutes walking or running with shorter strides and/or at a slower pace. Walking backward at a slow pace is another method for achieving a dynamic cool-down. If you've been lifting weights, a series of deep-knee lunges will stretch your lower back and hips. A yoga-style downward dog will lengthen your spine, hamstrings, and calf muscles. Moving your arms through big circles, both clockwise and counterclockwise, will open up your shoulder girdles and lengthen the muscles of your rotator cuffs.

Regardless of the method you choose, stretching is an important part of your regular exercise activities. The extra few minutes spent either warming up or cooling down will help you maintain your exercise program achieve long-term health and well-being.

1McHugh MP, Cosgrave CH: To stretch or not to stretch: the role of stretching in injury prevention and performance. Scand J Med Sci Sports 20(2):169-181, 2010
2Morrin N, Redding E: Acute effects of warm-up stretch protocols on balance, vertical jump height, and range of motion in dancers. J Dance Med Sci 17(1):34-40, 2013
3Behm DG, Chaouachi A: A review of the acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 111(11):2633-2651, 2011
  Chiropractic Care Is Part of Your Exercise Program


We all want to be healthy and well. Achieving this goal requires some time and effort, but the payoff is well worth it. Regular exercise helps lower blood pressure, helps slow your heart rate, and helps you sleep better at night. Regular exercise often helps people lose weight and puts a spring in their step. Regular exercise puts color in your cheeks and gives your skin that certain glow. Exercise is a very good thing.

Chiropractic care helps us get the most out of our exercise by making hidden reserves available for peak performance. Regular chiropractic care removes nerve interference and keeps the joints of our spine moving freely, eliminating roadblocks to full mobility and full function. By helping optimize our nerve systems and musculoskeletal systems, regular chiropractic care helps get our bodies in shape so that we can do the exercises needed to keep our bodies in shape.

Exercise of the Week

Quote of the week

Topic of the Week: How Chiropractic Supports Your Athletic Goals

An athlete is anybody who participates in sports or other kinds of physical activity. Most of us are athletes, then, in one form or another. Striving for athletic accomplishment – however you define it - is a great goal but striving for optimal health is an equally important aim. As an athlete, your body’s health is crucial to your performance and your enjoyment of the athletic experience. According to a 2009 study published in the journal Chiropractic & Osteopathy, a chiropractor who uses multimodal treatments (including both active and passive therapies) may be most well suited to managing your athletic condition and health needs.


Proper Spinal Alignment
Restoring proper spinal joint alignment and function is one important way that chiropractic care supports your athletic goals. A study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research reports that a group of baseball players treated with upper cervical chiropractic care showed favorable changes in athletic performance (muscle strength and long jump performance) and physiological measures (increased blood capillary counts, decreased resting blood pressure and pulse rate) compared to a control group who received no chiropractic care. In addition to improving your posture and musculoskeletal function, proper spinal alignment and chiropractic care may help strengthen some of your other body systems – a big advantage for athletes.

Pain Relief
Chiropractic is an effective treatment method for resolving acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain and countless athletes - from professionals to weekend warriors - use chiropractic care for this important purpose. Most athletes experience at least some pain or discomfort from time to time, due to trauma sustained during training or competition, repetitive strain injuries or inappropriate footwear. According to a 2010 article published in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports, in the absence of serious spinal problems, or neurological deficits, spinal manipulative therapy may be one of the most effective treatment methods for short term pain relief in active individuals with low back pain.

Improved Circulation
Achieving optimal circulation, or blood flow, is something every athlete should strive for. Boosting blood flow throughout your body, especially to your injured areas, helps bring key nutrients to your damaged tissues and removes harmful metabolic byproducts from these areas. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research notes that study participants who received a cervical adjustment experienced a temporary increase in blood flow through the middle cerebral artery for up to five minutes post-adjustment. Other chiropractic techniques (especially soft tissue mobilization) and physical therapy modalities also improve circulation to key tissues and areas within your body.

Lifestyle Counseling
Lifestyle counseling for athletes is an area where chiropractic really excels. A defining feature of sports medicine, notes a 2008 study published in the journal Sociology of Health & Illness, is an emphasis on performance, which is best achieved by a client-centered practice model - one of the key reasons why chiropractic is used by so many athletes. The individualized care and attention you receive from your chiropractor, for all aspects of your health and performance, can give you a competitive edge, help you prevent injuries and help you lead as healthy a life as possible outside your competitive venue.

Your chiropractor is a healthcare professional with a deep understanding of sports nutrition and how hydration, sleep and the environment affect your performance and your ability to recover between competitive bouts. The nutritional advice your chiropractor may impart takes into consideration several factors that are relevant to you, the athlete, including the type and quantity of food and fluid you consume, when you consume food and fluid, what nutritional supplements may be most helpful for you and how your specific sport or activity influences your body’s metabolic demands. Your chiropractor may also offer you training advice that includes strategies on how to optimize your longevity in your sport or activity. Ask your chiropractor about specific training errors to avoid and how to maximize your sports performance while maintaining optimal health.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM

The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

(This newsletter issue for June 2013 is brought to you by Life Wellness Center)


Whether you live in the United States, Canada, or Western Europe, your health care decision-making is impacted by the type of health insurance available. In the United States, a fee-for-service system implies that you will be paying for some or all of the costs of every service used on your behalf. In Canada patients receive health care through a publicly funded system. Costs are funded via income taxes, so Canadian patients pay indirectly for their care. The majority of Western European countries have national health care systems in place. In France, for example, the national insurance program pays 70% of costs and much of the remaining 30% is paid by supplemental private insurance (most of this is paid by the patient's employer). Regardless, for any given person, more health problems mean more costs. Thus, preventing health problems in the first place is a strategy that will save families stress, anxiety, and financial resources in the long run. In health care it can be said that the best defense is a good offense.


What constitutes a "good offense" in health care? Being proactive in terms of lifestyle choices helps you put together a health care program that works. Your health care "offense" includes a healthful diet supported by sound nutritional principles, regular vigorous exercise, getting sufficient rest, and regular chiropractic care. All these elements are needed to enjoy long-term health and well-being. Each element provides critical value and helps support the benefits you get from the others. Good food helps you build strong muscle in response to regular vigorous exercise. Doing regular exercise helps you sleep better at night. More sleep helps you have more energy, so you have more strength and endurance when you're exercising. Regular chiropractic care helps your nerve system function at peak level, helping all your body systems work well together.

Such a lifestyle program goes very far toward restoring good health and reducing the costs of using the health care system. For example, regular vigorous exercise is an important part of all lifestyle programs aimed at lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.1 A healthful diet and regular exercise help lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes and assist overweight and obese individuals, children as well as adults, in returning to more optimal levels of health.2,3

Many self-help books, DVDs, and television infomercials target those who wish to improve their overall health status. These materials and programs may have some use, but professional advice and guidance is the key to developing long-term, successful health strategies. Your chiropractor is experienced in nutrition, exercise, and health maintenance and can help you design a "good offense" for health care that works for you and your family.

1Williams PT, Thompson PD: Walking versus running for hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus risk reduction. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 33(5):1085-1091, 2013

2Clark JE: An overview of the contribution of fatness and fitness factors, and the role of exercise, in the formation of health status for individuals who are overweight. J Diabetes Metab Disord 11(1):19, 2012

3Wilson V: Type 2 diabetes: an epidemic in children. Nurs Child Young People 25(2):14-17, 2013

Exercise of the Week: Lumbar stabilization (Stage 1)

Quote of the Week:

“To succeed in life you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone”~ Reba McEntire



Topic of the Month: The Importance of a Chiropractic Spinal Screening

Your spine is a column of 24 bones, or vertebrae that surrounds and protects your spinal cord and is held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Discs between and joints at the back of your vertebrae allow your spine to flex, twist and extend. Your body’s framework, including your spine, allows for a broad range of movement and function. Maintaining excellent spine health and function is critical to ensuring proper, pain-free range of motion throughout your lifespan. A chiropractor may use spinal and postural screenings as a way to gather important health information about your body and better assess your specific care needs to help you avoid unnecessary musculoskeletal problems.

What is a Chiropractic Spinal Screening?
A chiropractic spinal screening often involves several key assessment procedures and is designed as a step by- step process to determine if you have problems or conditions that may benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractic screenings are often performed at health fairs or other events and they range in duration and complexity, depending on the comprehensiveness of the screening protocol. The goal of a chiropractic spinal screening is to let you know if there are any musculoskeletal problems in your joints or soft tissues that could be helped with joint manipulation, soft tissue work or other chiropractic treatment methods.

How Are Spinal Screenings Performed?
Every chiropractor has a unique spinal screening procedure but in most cases a chiropractic spinal screening will involve at least one of the following to assess your spine health and function: spinal range of motion tests, palpation of the muscles that support or act on your spine or an evaluation of your intervertebral joint range of motion. These procedures assess the functional health of your spine, the tone and balance of your back and neck muscles and areas of joint fixation or restriction, respectively.

Who Needs a Spinal Screening?
Spinal screenings are particularly important in children and early teens, as this is a period of rapid growth and a time when scoliosis - a sideways curve of the spine - often appears. Early detection of scoliosis may be helpful in treating this problem or preventing a progression of the curve. According to a 2008 case study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, chiropractic treatment was associated with a decrease in the degree of curvature of adolescent idiopathic (i.e., of unknown cause) scoliosis in this particular case and chiropractic manipulative therapy (among other chiropractic treatment methods) may reduce the need for surgery in patients with this problem.
Another study, published in the journal Spine, reports that spinal screening procedures do appear to be effective in reducing the need for surgical intervention in scoliosis patients.
Chiropractic spinal screenings can benefit people of all ages and occupations. Office workers, construction workers and expecting mothers are just a few of the many types of people who experience unique demands on the spine and its supporting tissues but almost everybody can benefit from an assessment of spine health and function. A spinal screening may help detect potential problem areas even before you notice any symptom, and it can help prevent chronic back and neck pain by identifying the true underlying cause of your musculoskeletal problem.

What Happens After the Spinal Screening?
After your spinal screening, the chiropractor will present his or her findings to you and make helpful suggestions about how chiropractic care can help you achieve optimal spine health and general well-being. This is an excellent time to ask the chiropractor about upcoming health talks he or she is offering and what an initial visit to his or her clinic entails.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM