Saturday, June 15, 2013

Can a Chiropractor Help Your Neck Pain?


Your neck consists of seven very small vertebrae and supports the entire weight of your head. The average weight of the human head is 10 to 12 pounds, which isn't very light when you consider the neck is constantly supporting it!

Add in how much neck strain is incurred when you sit for long periods in front of the computer and you steadily increase the amount of work and strain you are expecting of your neck.

The neck also allows your head in nearly all directions which adds even more stress to your neck. With all of this responsibility, the neck is subject a great deal of stress, which often results in chronic pain and stiffness.

Once neck pain has been persistent for any period of time, you may begin to develop neurological symptoms. These may include numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling. Usually these complaints are in the neck at all, but can be felt in the fingertips or up and down the arm.

If you begin to experience any of the neurological symptoms, this is usually an indicator that the neck problem is becoming worse. The early phase of pain is just stiffness, then it moves to real pain that can be sharp in nature. The pain will continue to get worse until the radiating symptoms begin.

Many people have neck pain and it is often extremely bothersome. Medical doctors cannot do a whole lot to permanently relieve neck pain. They can prescribe medications to mask your neck pain and they can do x-rays and other tests to see where the pain is coming from.

When they do find something wrong with the neck they will probably want to schedule surgery, which can prove to be a painful procedure with a long recovery. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, really should be considered a treatment of last resort. You can always do the surgery, but if you do the surgery first, you eliminate many other effective and conservative options.

If you have neck pain it may be wise to consult with a chiropractor before going to the extent of something much more serious such as surgery. Some of the first things that a chiropractor will do on your first visit will be to ask you questions about your neck pain.

Some questions they may ask are:

- When did your neck pain start

- What have you done to try to ease your neck pain

- Are there any other parts of your body that your neck pain stems to or from?

These are a few questions that your Chiropractor will most likely ask. After the initial consultation they will then perform a physical examination. The examination will consist of chiropractic tests, orthopedic tests, and a neurological examination. This entire process will allow the chiropractor to get to the root of your problem and allow him or her to come up with a solution to your pain.

A common practice of chiropractors is to perform a neck adjustment. A neck adjustment is a form of spinal manipulation, and is very specific in nature. This is a very precise technique and is usually very effective in alleviating neck pain.

7 Key Reasons To Seek Chiropractic Care


Chiropracticis a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. Those that use chiropractic care regularly recommend it highly for a variety of reasons. Here are the seven best reasons to find a chiropractor when you aren't feeling your very best.

1. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Safe

Chiropractic is one of the safest therapies available if you are suffering from any neuromusculoskeletal issues such as back, neck, joint, or head pain.

What exactly does safe mean? If you want to talk numbers, then the risk of injury is 1 in 286,000,000, or 0.0002%. Compare that to standard treatments such as medication and surgery where the risk of injury is 1 in 1428. That's right - chiropractic manipulation is that much safer, and as you'll learn later in this report, more effective as well.

The most common issue involving chiropractic isn't an injury at all. It is simply some mild soreness after adjustment. Think about how your muscles feel if you've done something you don't normally do. You feel sore because your muscles, bones, and ligaments have moved in ways they are not used to moving. This is what happens during a chiropractic adjustment but on a minor scale. Any soreness you feel will be gone within 24 hours and most patients feel immediately better with no soreness whatsoever.

Why is chiropractic so safe? There are four main reasons:


  1. Chiropractors have years of schooling with coursework that includes classes on all aspects of the spine.

  2. Chiropractors have been trained, doing clinical work long before becoming licensed.

  3. Chiropractors continue their education long after graduation, completing courses yearly in order to maintain a license to practice.

  4. Finally, and most importantly, a chiropractor's basic philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself. The purpose of a chiropractor is simply to remove the subluxations, or blockages, that occur in spine so that the body can do its job.

Chiropractic is so safe that agencies unassociated with chiropractic tout its benefits. For instance, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, found that complications are rare. Not only that, they suggest that chiropractic should be used before surgery is considered. And finally, they state that prescription drugs are not recommended for most back pains.

2. Chiropractic Has Been Proven Effective for Pain
If you have pain, chiropractic may be just what you need. Studies in the United States and other parts of the world show that chiropractic manipulations are effective. One study in California found that chiropractic was effective 86% of the time for general lower back pain.

But what of acute lower back pain? A report released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommended chiropractic as the best treatment for this ailment. A study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Jefferson County (Missouri) Rehabilitation Centre showed that there was immediate improvement when chiropractic was used to treat acute low back pain.

Study after study has been conducted and study after study has concluded that spinal adjustment is superior to other treatments for acute pain. But chiropractic is beneficial to more than just general, chronic, or acute lower back pain.

Patients of chiropractic seek help for neck pain or discomfort as well. In fact, 19% of patients report neck pain at the first consultation. This pain is usually caused by accident or injury but can also be brought on by every day living.

The modern medical treatment for neck pain is either immobilization or physical therapy. However, studies have shown that spinal adjustments are more effective. For instance, a study done in the Netherlands observed patients receiving one of the three treatments. They found that spinal adjustments improved overall physical functioning more than the other treatments.

Beyond the back and neck, patients often seeks chiropractic care for headaches, including migraines. For chiropractic patients, migraines are often reduced or resolved without using pain killers or other prescription medications. A study was published by chiropractic doctors at University of Odense and the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and clinical Biochemist in Denmark showing that spinal adjustments and soft tissue therapy allowed for steady improvement.

Many people understand the role of chiropractic in the back, neck, and head because chiropractors are seen as "back doctors." However, chiropractic has proven effective for many other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, infantile colic, and much more.

For pain associated with a variety of conditions, chiropractic is proven effective, often more effective than modern medical treatments. Coupled with the safety of chiropractic, it should be your first choice when dealing with pain.

3. Chiropractic is Less Invasive and Drug Free

If you go to a medical doctor due to neck and back pain, you are likely to be given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDS. Although these drugs are given out regularly, they do have significant risks t hat are far greater than the typical issue, soreness, seen with chiropractic.

NSAID risks include:


  • Allergic reactions, some of which can be life threatening

  • Hives or rashes

  • Increased risk of heart attack

  • Increased risk of stroke

  • Gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding or ulcers

  • Cancer

Another typical treatment is bed rest. But this, too, can cause problems such as muscles atrophy, heart and lung weakness, bone loss, and blood clots.

Let's not forget surgery. Surgery is used for neck and back pain whenever painkillers and bed rest don't work and the risks of surgery are great. They include:


  • Breathing issues due to anesthesia - a patient can quit breathing entirely

  • Blood loss leading to transfusions

  • Cardiovascular risks such as heart attack or stroke

  • Scar tissue

  • Pain

  • Infection

  • Blood clots

  • Lung collapse

  • Injury to other areas of the body

  • Paralysis

  • Numbness and tingling of parts of the body

  • Swelling and bruising

  • And even death

Chiropractic has none of these risks because it is not invasive. There is no cutting on the body and there is no medication prescribed. To avoid the risks associated with NSAIDS and surgery, chiropractic is an excellent choice.

4. Chiropractic is Less Disruptive to Your Lifestyle

Chiropractic is done on an outpatient basis and has easy recovery, often less than 24 hours of minimal soreness. Consider this in comparison to the recovery of surgery.

After any surgical procedure, the body needs time to repair tissues damaged during the surgery so that the body can return to normal. Surgical recovery is a process that can take time, often long periods of time requiring medication and bed rest. In fact, pushing yourself too hard after surgery will cause setbacks and make your recovery time longer.

Chiropractic, on the other hand, has limited recovery time. At most, chiropractic patients may feel some mild soreness in the area of the manipulation. This soreness is typically gone in a matter of hours, not days or weeks as with surgery.

Additionally, surgical patients that are older, out of shape, overweight, or generally in poor health will take far longer to heal and be ready for every day life. Although different factors will dictate how quickly you are pain free, the ability to resume your lifestyle happens quickly with most patients, often with as little as one manipulation.

5. Chiropractic is Less Expensive

In August 1999, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) of Kansas presented a study titled "Lumbago Treatment." When viewed per treatment episode, chiropractic was shown to be more cost effective than anesthesiology, neurosurgery, neurology, registered physical therapy, orthopedic reconstructive surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and rheumatology.

Why so cost effective? Medical doctors and physical therapists rely on:


  • Referrals

  • Prescriptions

  • Surgery

  • MRIs

  • CT scans

  • Hospitalization

Over 50% of the charges are simply for diagnostic procedures and not for actual pain relief.

On the other hand, the majority of chiropractic expense comes from office based treatment with less than 10% of costs arising from diagnostics, typically in the form of spinal x-rays.

A study in the May 2007 Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that chiropractic resulted in a 60.2% reduction in hospital admissions, 59.0% reduction in hospital days, 62.0% reduction in outpatient surgeries and procedures, and 83% reduction pharmaceutical costs when compared with conventional medicine.

By reducing these items, overall costs associated with chiropractic care are significantly less than that of traditional medical care.

6. Chiropractic Helps With Injuries Due to Accidents

Chiropractic is beneficial in treating various injuries such as sprains, pulled muscles, and joint problems due to auto, sports, work, and everyday injuries. The most common injuries due to accidents are:


  • Whiplash

  • Lower back misalignment

  • Upper back and neck misalignment

  • Repetitive motion injuries

Whiplash is the sudden movement that causes distortions to the neck. This type of sudden movement often happens during a car crash, even one at very low speeds. Although you may not initially feel any pain, the vertebrae that move out of place will eventually cause problems with the nerves and cause you pain from misalignment or subluxations. Medical doctors prescribe pain meds and bed rest for whiplash, which may be good for a day or two, but not for the long run. There is no way to remain in bed indefinitely nor is it possible to function regularly on pain medications. A chiropractor will help you with the cause of the problem rather than help you manage the symptoms.

Lower back misalignment can happen suddenly or over a long period of time. For instance, you can improperly lift something heavy resulting in immediate back pain, or you can simply have poor posture that results in back pain over time. The misalignment causes subluxations that can be corrected using chiropractic.

Lower back pain is made up of several different low back problems including:


  • Vertebral subluxations

  • Injured discs

  • Muscle strain

  • Ligament sprain

  • Scoliosis

  • Sciatica

  • And more.

The ability to correct injuries holds true for the upper back and neck as well.

Repetitive Motion Injuries are a fast growing source of pain in the United States often associated with the workplace, particularly sitting at a computer terminal for long periods of time. Repetitive motion injuries cause less oxygen to get into the muscles and this causes scar tissue to develop. Chiropractic releases the subluxations causing the pain.

So, whether your pain is from a car accident or merely sitting incorrectly at work, chiropractic is a way for you to feel better fast.

7. Chiropractic: Because You Live, Move, and Breathe

Because you are alive and move about, you are sure to cause a misalignment of your spine at one time or another. Simple movements such as sitting or bending can cause problems. So can walking, running, stretching, and lifting. In fact, any movement can create a subluxation and subluxations cause pain when left alone. So, if you move, then you can benefit from chiropractic.

Whether you are out running every day or see yourself more as a couch potato, chiropractic can be beneficial to you. It is the most effective natural healthcare available. And, as you've learned, it is safe, effective, non-invasive, inexpensive, and great for any injuries you may have. If you live, move, or breathe, you should have a doctor of Chiropractic as a member of your personal health care team.

How Foods Rank by Glycemic Index


Glycemic index refers to relative ranking of carbohydrates, compared to glucose, based on their ability to raise the blood glucose level after consumption. Glycemic index is a relative scale and not dependent on the amount of food consumed. Glucose is assigned a glycemic index value of 100 and rest all foods are compared against this reference value. Almost all foods will have index value below 100.

For better understanding, consider the following hypothetical example in which on one morning after an overnight fast, a person consumes 50 g of glucose and the next morning after an overnight fast, he consumes some other food with 50 g of carbohydrates. The effect of the two on blood glucose levels will be different. This difference arises because of different rate of digestion and absorption of different foods. Glucose, which has a very high index, is rapidly absorbed (no digestion needed) and results in a rapid increase in blood glucose level, and the peak value is also higher. However foods with low index are slowly digested and absorbed, thus producing a gradual but prolonged rise in blood glucose levels, and the peak value of blood glucose is also lower in this case.

So why to bother with glycemic index if one consumes equal amount of any food, thus providing with the same amount of total calories? It is important because foods with lower index have proven health benefits. Diet containing higher percentage of low index foods improves both glucose and lipid levels in the blood. They also aid in weight control by controlling appetite as they increase blood glucose levels for a longer period of time. Recent studies also indicate that they reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and obesity.

The foods are classified as having a high index when their glycemic index value is 70 or above. Examples include white bread, glucose, fruits like dates and watermelons, white rice, etc. Medium index is defined as the glycemic index from 56 to 69. Foods having a medium index are whole-wheat products, fruits like peaches, raw apricots, papayas and pineapple, basmati rice, sweet potato etc. Foods with glycemic index value of 55 or less are classified as low glycemic index foods. Most of the fruits and vegetables are included in this category. Also included are dairy products like milk and yogurt (without added sugar), legumes and pulses, nuts, most of the beans like white beans, soy beans, red kidney beans, etc.

Problems Treated by Chiropractors


Chiropractic treatment helps in eliminating pain from nerves, joints and muscles. All those who suffer from severe neck pain, headaches, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and whiplash injuries will benefit from this treatment. Even injuries after car accidents can be treated through chiropractic treatment. If you want to know about a good Chicago chiropractor rehab, you will have to contact HealthSource of Chicago . Like all treatments, there are some unavoidable side effects. But this has been considered as an effective treatment for muscle and joint pains.

Before you go to any physical therapy rehab, you must contact a doctor to know about the chiropractic treatment in details. When you visit the doctors in Healthsource, the doctors will talk to you about the history of pain and note down the details. This is a way of identifying the exact nature of the problem. You will have to answer all the questions regarding the past and present situation. Once the doctor is confident that he knows all that he needs to know, he will explain elaborately about the chiropractic treatment. It is a safe method and you need not worry about anything.

Chiropractic adjustments are done to ensure that the joints have a flexible movement. It is a kind of adjusting tool so that the joints and muscles can resume their normal position and proper movements of the joints are possible. As the vertebrae and bones resume their normal position, the spinal cord is no longer irritated. And the pain in the nerves soothes down. The nervous system starts working properly and the body movements are no longer strenuous. There is no irritation in the spinal cord or in the nerves. You will feel string and healthy. You can go for chiropractic treatments in any physical therapy clinic.

If you hear a noise during treatment, you should not be worried. It is not the sound of cracking of the muscles, but the sound of adjusted joints being released so that the muscles and joints resume their normal positions. This is nothing harmful and it is not going to cause any damage. Even if you have spinal injury or disease, the chiropractic adjustments can do wonders. The doctors will examine if the treatment is right for you or not. X-rays will be performed at the affected areas. This is done as a precautionary measure to see if there are any hidden fractures, scoliosis or arthritis. If you are looking for a good foot rehab, you can simply contact the doctors or physicians in Health Source of Chicago.

Dealing With Joint Pain? Chiropractic Treatment Can Help


Joint pain may well be a fact of life. At some point in life, nearly everyone will experience pain in the area where two or more bones meet.

Joint pain often brings discomfort, stiffness, inflammation, and soreness to one or more joints of the body. It may accompany diseases and conditions such as infections, traumas, and immune system issues. Whether the pain results from injuries, age-related ailments or disease, joint pain presents a range of cumbersome problems. Movement, after all, depends on the proper functioning of joints.

In the case of injuries, it can present itself suddenly and severely. Injuries can include tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, a torn cartilage, ligaments, and a sprained ankle. Bruising or swelling usually follows dislocations, muscle strains, fractures, and injuries to the ligaments and joints.

Tennis elbow (also known as epicondylitis) is a very common muscle and soft tissue condition. It is caused by inflammation of the soft tissues, often resulting from repetitive activities (such as lifting, swimming, carpentry, and playing tennis). Common forearm and elbow pain are usually worsened by extending and flexing the wrist.

In some cases, joint pain may stem from a moderate condition or disease, such as a mild dislocation, bursitis, or ankylosing spondylitis. It can also be caused by more serious conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or bone cancer. It can appear suddenly and disappear just as swiftly, showing up after prolonged periods of rest and going away when the patient moves around a bit.

Regardless of the condition or disease, joint pain often accompanies other symptoms. These symptoms can come in the form of swelling, edemas, inflammation, and fevers. A pinched nerve may also induce swelling, elbow pain, and the like.

No matter what type of joint pain afflicts you, there are some ways to alleviate the pain. Here are some tips that will offer relief:

Seek the expertise of a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment will address your joint pain with gently effective methods. Chiropractic care has proved effective in a variety of joint pain cases, and research findings have corroborated its rightful place as a solid treatment option. For example, a study by the National Institute of Health objectively supported the use of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the management of ankylosing spondylitis.

Look into massage. It can provide instant relief.

Use forms of heat therapy. Heating pads, hot baths, and saunas can ease the pain. Heat therapy increases circulation and accelerates healing.

Conversely, you should make use of ice therapy to reduce swelling, as swelling is known to cause joint pain. A doctor of chiropractic may also suggest the employment of electro-stimulation to aid the healing process between hot and cold treatments. Electrical stimulation is linked with releasing endorphins that counteract pain receptors.

Exercise. An effective exercise routine can help keep joint pain at bay while strengthening your whole body, including your joints. However, make sure to discontinue strenuous activities if the pain persists. Exercises, such as dance, stretching, and Tai Chi, help maintain regular joint movement and stimulates overall joint flexibility. They can be done on a daily basis, or at least three or four times a week. In any case, seek the guidance of your chiropractor to design an appropriate exercise routine for your condition.

Maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight can lay stress on your knees and feet, adding considerable pressure to your joints.

If you smoke, quit. Smoking negatively affects your whole body, weakening muscles and tendons. It also prevents you from getting an adequate supply of oxygen running through your blood.

Take supplements of fatty acid in the form of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Tuna, salmon, halibut, and herring offer natural sources of and DHA and EPA. Studies show that these fatty acid supplements lessen joint swelling and pain, reducing the need to take corticosteroids. However, speak with you primary care doctor or chiropractor before taking supplements. Some supplements may aversely interact with medications.

Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, holistic way to promote overall health and manage a wide range of conditions. Physical manipulation and alignment of the joints can reduce pain and stiffness. In addition, chiropractic care can tailor the right exercise program for your needs, and offer comprehensive nutrition and supplement advice.

Chiropractor Vs. Osteopath Vs. Orthopedic Doctor - Who Should I See?


There are many medical fields that deal with body pain, and many patients often ask if they should visit a chiropractor, an osteopath or an orthopedist. While these professions seem related to each other, they are actually different health practices, each with their own specific specialties.

Chiropractors, osteopaths and orthopedic doctors specialize in different things, thus the best health provider for you will depend greatly on your condition or injury. Before making a decision, it is important to understand what chiropractors, osteopaths and orthopedists do and what makes them different from each other so you can easily choose the right health care professional.

Chiropractors

Chiropractors are individuals who treat conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. They are also called D.C.s or Doctors of Chiropractic. D.C.s deal with pains and discomfort relating to the bones, muscles, ligaments, joints and nerves. Most of them treat pain conditions in close proximity to the spine. However, they also specialize in musculoskeletal pain on the various extremities of the body.

The profession is well established in the United States and is the third largest health profession field after medicine and dentistry.

What Do Chiropractors Do? The chiropractic approach is non-pharmacological in nature. Professionals make use of their hands or various instruments to manipulate joints, muscles, ligaments and other affected area. Most treatment plans involve several sessions of manipulation.

Aside from manual adjustment and manipulation, they may also provide counseling to their patients. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication, but may usually recommend nutritional supplements or give suggestions on exercise and positive eating habits.

Chiropractor Training. To practice the profession, an individual needs a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Achieving this requires 4 years of post-graduate education after obtaining an associate's degree. They will also need at least 500 hours of hands on experience and training for manipulations and adjustments.

Osteopaths

An osteopath or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is a medical professional who puts emphasis on the body's self-healing ability. Osteopaths advocate a care approach that focuses on the "whole person." They believe that physical problems and abnormalities affect the whole body. To help facilitate the healing process of the body, they make use of manipulative and manual therapy.

What Do Osteopaths Do? Like chiropractors, osteopaths also follow a natural approach to healing. They use a technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment or OMT. This technique allow them to use their hands to diagnose and treat injuries and painful conditions on the joins, ligaments and muscles.

D.O.s usually employ gentle forms of manipulation such as stretching and application of mild pressure on the affected areas. What makes the practice different from chiropractic is the fact that osteopaths can write prescriptions and do surgical procedures.

Osteopath Training. Obtaining a D.O. degree also requires 4 years of post graduate study after finishing a 4-year undergraduate degree.The degree requires students to go through at least a year of internship and rotations in hospitals. They can practice, prescribe medication and perform surgeries anywhere in the United States.

Orthopedics

Orthopedists are surgeons that specialize in the musculoskeletal system. While they are surgeons in nature, they do not necessarily use surgery every time. They also employ nonsurgical means to treat muscle and trauma and injuries, degenerative diseases, tumors, infections and congenital disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The labels orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are often used interchangeably and mean the same thing.

What Do Orthopedists Do?Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat various musculoskeletal problems. They diagnose conditions through physical exams, X-rays and other laboratory tests. Majority of the conditions are usually treated with non-surgical procedures like physical therapy, exercises or even pain management methods. In severe cases of pain disorders, orthopedists perform surgical treatments like joint replacement, soft tissue repair and arthroscopy.

In cases that do not require surgical procedure, orthopedists may recommend patients to see physical therapists or osteopaths for therapy or manipulation. Because orthopedic surgeons are Medical Doctors (M.D.s) by profession, they can write prescriptions for their patients.

Orthopedic Training. Orthopedic surgeons are required to complete a four year undergraduate degree and four years of medical school. Medical school graduates then have to undergo a five-year residency training to specialize in surgery. The five-year training consists of one year for general surgery and four years for orthopedic surgery.

Who Should I See?

Finding the right health care provider can be confusing for first time patients. Who you choose to see will greatly depend on your condition and the kind of approach you prefer. An osteopath is a good choice if you want holistic treatment. If you have acute back pain or pain caused by injury or trauma, a visit to a chiropractor may be a good idea. An orthopedic surgeon, on the other hand, may be recommended for extreme cases of pain or those caused by other underlying physical conditions.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Why Do You Want to Be a Chiropractor?


One of the first things I ask chiropractors who call me for advice as they go through a spot of difficulty is, "Why did you become a chiropractor?"

This usually isn't the type of question that struggling chiropractors expect after pouring their hearts out about their lack of patients, inability to pay their bills or their fear of losing their house. Deep in their pity party, they rarely see the connection.

"I wanted to help people."

"I'm good with my hands and I've always been interested in health."

"It seemed like an easy way to become a doctor."

"I had a positive chiropractic experience and it seemed interesting."

I could go on. Not a single one has observed, "I've always wanted to run my own small business and the getting and keeping of chiropractic patients seemed like a profitable way to make a living."

Strip away the emotion, the philosophy, the "big idea," and the do-gooder mentality of helping those who are hurting, and you have a small business. If you don't run a profitable small business, you'll find the ability to "help people" and all the other Hallmark card intentions disappear. This is often when I get the phone call or email. What appears to be a lack of new patients is no different than a struggling restaurant without hungry diners, a pet groomer without pets or a hair salon without people who want their hair styled.

In the short term, I have to assume the struggling chiropractor has adequate technical skills. I know this is a huge assumption, but it's something unlikely to change or improve in the next critical weeks and months. What else can we work on?

Win an Oscar. First, realize you're not able to hide your doubts and distractions from patients. I know, you're trying, but most patients can see through your pathetic performance. You'll need to be considerably more convincing if you have any hope of extricating yourself. One way is to...

Stay present with patients. When times are tough you're inclined to leave the patient (in your mind) and do some math. Patients may not know you're multiplying the number of patients on the book for the rest of the day by the likely fee you'll be getting. But they sense you're energy isn't focused on them. Follow Kenny Rogers's advice, "There'll be time for counting when the dealing's done."

Count your blessings. When you lack patients, money or confidence it's tempting to think you have few resources and even more tempting to forget the gratitude you should be feeling for what you do have. You may be cash poor but knowledge rich. Ask yourself how you can turn your knowledge into cash (new patients).

What is the lesson? What is a lack of patients telling you? What meaning are you attaching? If you were a restaurant, pet groomer or hair salon, what would is the marketplace saying? Find the lesson. That's where the solution is.

Stop worrying. Worry is merely is praying for what you don't want. Which takes place in the future. You must remain in the present because the present is the only place you can do anything about your circumstances. Ask yourself dozens of time each day if you must, "What could I be doing right now to help get and keep more patients?"

Apologize. Take out the file folders of inactives that you shortchanged because you were too busy thinking about yourself. Sequester yourself in your office and pray. Apologize. Visualize the patients and how you might be a better servant in the future. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for another chance.

If all goes according to plan, every successful practice will go through a time or two of struggle, frustration, crisis and resolution. Chiropractors who start up and achieve success (however you define it) without the painful doubts and confidence-shattering difficulties are not only rare, but rarely appreciate the fundamental truth that they run a small business first, and a healing center that helps people second. Because if you can't do the former, you won't get to do the latter.

Chiropractic Treatments Get You Back Into Competition


Chiropractic care concentrates on keeping the body in tune with itself by maintaining alignment of the spine and joints. A chiropractic treatment might consist of a chiropractor massaging the muscles and soft tissue along the spine searching for subluxations, which are misalignments of the bones in the joint. When they find a subluxation, they manipulate it back into line. This is called an adjustment. Subluxations can pinch or block nerves, causing pain and poor communication between brain and muscle.

While it is obvious that a vertebral subluxation would cause pain, a chiropracter would believe that all physical maladies originate in these subluxations. Their belief is that if the vertebra is kept in alignment, the body will regulate itself and maintain health on its own, naturally. If you interrupt the flow, bad things will happen.

Sports chiropractic works in two ways. First, it is a preventive treatment. Regular adjustments and massages enhance the flow of blood, oxygenating all the muscles. This might be the most important use of chiropractic for athletes, as a proactive treatment to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. When incorporated into a training regimen, chiropractic boosts the results of training and helps to prevent injury by increasing joint health and range of motion.

Famous professional sports superstars turn to chiropractic because it is non-invasive and does not include drugs. Tiger Woods, Martina Navratilova, Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong had chiropractors who traveled with them for treatments before and after competition. When an athlete does suffer an injury, adjusting any subluxations that occurred during the injury will help speed the body back to its normal, healthy state.

Studies have shown that injured athletes treated with chiropractic recover faster than those who healed on their own. Football superstar Joe Montana said he recovered from a possibly career-ending injury to his back thanks to chiropractic treatments. In fact, before winning the 1990 Super Bowl, seventy-five percent of the San Francisco football team had chiropractic treatment.

Additionally, continued chiropractic treatments will keep the vertebra aligned and improve posture. Good posture has numerous health benefits itself, several of which overlap the benefits of chiropractic, so you get double the rewards. Chiropractic treatments will strengthen the immune system and increase concentration and focus. There is a reduced chance of injury and increased flexibility in the joints with continued chiropractic treatments and overall health is improved, since the body can efficiently regulate itself.

Find a sports chiropractor who understands that athletes want to recover and continue toward their goals. Find a chiropractor who knows that athletes want advice on keeping their body in top condition, ready for the challenges of competition. Work with your doctor to establish good training habits. Your body will give it all back to you, if you give it some preventive care.

Alternative Scoliosis Treatment


The success of alternative scoliosis treatment is controversial and confusing to say the least. I guess you could say that almost any alternative treatment, "alternative" meaning not prescribed by a medical doctor would be defined this way. I am certain that we as a culture have a preconceived idea of what a healthcare provider is, does, and represents. The notion that alternative treatments exist for many diseases, to some or perhaps most Americans is likely to be considered risky, unsubstantiated, or even a hoax. Since we were very young we were taught through experience, television, and our parents that medical doctors are the only real source of trust when treating diseases. Television portrays them as elite, sexy, smart hero types. The question becomes is this reality?

Alternative scoliosis treatment would then be considered anything used to treat scoliosis that is not medical. Since medical doctors, primarily orthopedic surgeons, treat scoliosis in only one fashion using rigid braces or fusion surgery then all treatment outside of bracing and scoliosis surgery would be considered alternative. I would like to focus this conversation on alternative scoliosis treatment performed by a chiropractor. There are no medical doctors that currently support chiropractic as a legitimate treatment method for scoliosis and for good reason chiropractic colleges, state associations, or state licensing boards do not support or recommend that chiropractors treat scoliosis as a primary care doctor would but rather only as an adjunct for pain relief.

It is very important to acknowledge that chiropractors that claim to be able to treat scoliosis from a corrective perspective are not supported by their profession unless they have received a minimum of 100 hours of post-graduate course study and are doing so with an orthopedic specialist as the primary care physician. The importance of understanding the difference between an appropriate alternative chiropractic choice and an inappropriate chiropractic choice can be simplified into first and foremost training. If a chiropractor has legitimate certification and appropriate post-graduate training directly related to the alternative scoliosis treatment then and only then is the chiropractor qualified to work with the primary care physician in attempting to reduce and stabilize scoliosis curvature. If not, the chiropractor should only be providing symptom care as needed and should not be communicating that the primary goal is to treat the scoliosis.

There are three primary post-graduate programs available for alternative scoliosis treatment performed by a chiropractor, CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment, Spinecor Bracing, and the Schroth method. CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment performed by CLEAR Scoliosis Institute's highest certification level termed "intensive certified" reaches the 100 hour requirement. The official Schroth certification list has only 4 chiropractors in the U.S. who are certified to provide this method and three of the five are also certified in Spinecor bracing techniques. To be Schroth certified the chiropractor would need to go to the clinic in Germany for official training. Spinecor certification require only 2 days of classroom and 4-6 patient fittings each 2 hours in length before certification is granted. So when considering alternative scoliosis treatment from a chiropractor in the United States be sure to check their credentials thoroughly.

In conclusion it is important to acknowledge that alternative scoliosis treatment does exist and it is legitimate when provided by a trained practitioner. The results may vary and it would be wise to also include the primary care physician when seeking alternative treatment for scoliosis and especially adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Chiropractic Treatment And Feet And Ankle Pain


Problems may persist for a long time and even weakness in case you have twisted your ankle anytime. The most common problems in ankle injury is when you turn it in when you wear high heels or when you turn it over when stepping on a stone or the edge of something. This is commonly known as ankle sprain. The conditions that result in a lot of bruising and swelling are when the end of the bone on the outside of the ankle breaks or when the ligaments of the ankle towards the front side tear off.

Usually, it takes around a few weeks to recover from the injury but the ligaments do not heal or repair completely and are often left with scar tissue. This keeps the chances of rolling over again and cause more sprains. This not only alters and affects the working of the ankle but also results in problem with the working of the joints of the knee and spine. This happens while taking long walks or jogging on uneven surface. The symptoms might be in any of the joints and so it is not necessary that the origin of this is the old injury in the ankle. You can avoid any suck kind of chronic pain and recurrent problems with the help of chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractors analyze and can recognize if the problem is cause due to a weakness in the foot or calf muscles. It can result into hammer toes, bunions, widening of the fore foot and flat fee. Pronation occurs due to ankle instability and its causes can be bad shoes, inherited tendencies and prolonged standing.

For correct propulsion, the feet consist of two arches; one on the outside and the other one on the inside. The arches of the feet are not used to shock absorbance if you wear shoes on even surfaces. It results in the weakening of the muscles and gradually the arches drop. This results in pressure on the inside joint of the knee and can also cause cartilage and arthritis problems. If you consult your chiropractor, you can find out if the arches have dropped or not. In case they have, there are exercises that can help to strengthen the muscles and arch support. Another reason of weakness in the legs can be nerve irritation. Your chiropractor will also analyze the spine to specifically determine the cause of the problem.

7 Steps to Finding a Good Chiropractor - A Patient's Opinion


I love chiropractic care and really couldn't imagine my life without it. I've been blessed to be under some form of the care for most of my life. I've lived in many different places, and suffice to say, I've gained valuable experience in finding the right (and sometimes wrong) chiropractors everywhere I go. So I've created this article to help anyone searching for a good chiropractor. I hope you find it beneficial.

1. Ask around. Word-of-mouth referrals are the backbone of great small businesses, including chiropractic offices. When choosing a restaurant, vacation spot, hotel, etc, it helps to know that other people have good things to say about it. The same holds true for chiropractors. Start by asking friends, co-workers, family members, and neighbors who they recommend. They could steer you in the right direction, or at least prevent you from going down the wrong road.

2. Internet search. After getting a few word-of-mouth recommendations, type their names into the Google search bar. You'll be able to find (or not find) their clinic website, blog, patient testimonials or even reviews from more people who've experienced care in that office. Today's Internet is far more informational than an advertisement in the phone book.

3. Look beyond the network. While it might be helpful if your insurance covers a portion of your chiropractic care, you might be better off visiting a doctor who is "out-of-network." Consider this... there are doctor's offices who need to accept insurance to stay in business, and there are doctor's offices who don't need to accept insurance to stay in business. While it's unethical for doctors to claim professional superiority, the unspoken truth is not all doctors are created equal. It's no secret that some doctors are just plain better than others. In my humble opinion, doctors who can build reputable practices without insurance-dependency are doctors worth seeing! Would you rather pay out of pocket for care from a chiropractor who achieves good results, or get insurance-covered care from a chiropractor who doesn't? Now there are plenty of outstanding in-network providers, and I wouldn't dare discourage you from seeing them. I'm simply suggesting that you don't go looking for the cheapest doctor in town. That mentality is fine for Wal-Mart, but it's not advisable for health care.

4. Make a list of favorable prospects and call each of them. After you find 2 or 3 chiropractors who seem like good choices, call their office and speak with each of them for a few minutes about your health problem. Not their staff; them. What better way to "test the waters" with a doctor than by speaking to him/her personally? You want someone with not only clinical expertise, but also good communication skills and a friendly disposition. If the doctor doesn't return your call, is short with you over the phone, or can't answer your question, he's not going to be any better in person. Ask if they've had personal experience treating conditions like yours, and what the outcomes were.

5. Ask the doctor how often they personally get adjusted and by whom. This is a very telling question. First, it will reveal to you how often they will expect you to make appointments. If they say "every week" or "every month" then you can bet that you too will be on a similar schedule. The type of response that I look for is, "Whenever it's necessary." There's a key difference - getting adjusted "every week" just because seven days have past is very different than getting adjusted when it's appropriate. That may be seven days or seven months - the point is, it's not cookie-cutter. Also, when you ask who adjusts them you may be able to spot a trend. If you speak to 2-3 different doctors who all get adjusted by the same person, there's likely something noteworthy about the "doctor's doctor."

6. Stay away from desperate doctors. You can usually tell the seasoned/successful chiropractors from the rookie/needy ones. Veteran doctors have an established patient base and comfortable lifestyle. They're not pushy, so with or without you, they'll stay in business. Needy doctors practically beg you to come in - not just because they can help you, but because they need the business. While they may be clinically competent, it's ill-advised to see a doctor who needs you more than you need them.

7. Go with your gut. If that little voice tells you to see a particular doctor over another, don't ignore it! We can't put a price on instinct - it's priceless, and often times the best advice one could ever receive.

A Chiropractic Approach to Restless Leg Syndrome


Restless Leg Syndrome is a condition where people have an irresistible urge to move their legs and feet, especially when they go to bed at night. It is also classified as a sleep disorder because people have difficulty sleeping because of the symptoms and irritability associated with it. People describe it as an uncomfortable, creepy crawly feeling in their legs. They also often describe having numbness and tingling in their legs and feet.

It is believed that irritation to the nervous system may be the main cause of this syndrome. Certain diseases that include irritation to the nervous syndrome such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy often include restless leg syndrome.

There is no specific test to diagnose restless leg syndrome. Diagnosis is usually made from the patient's answer to questions relating to their symptoms, family history, sleep deprivation and medication use. Other diseases or conditions are usually ruled out first.

Lifestyle changes have been found to be beneficial in helping those with restless leg syndrome. These include a regular exercise program including muscle strengthening and exercises. It is especially important to do stretches and strengthening of the low back and pelvis as these have found to be the most helpful.

Since sleep deprivation is correlated with restless leg syndrome, helping people to establish regular sleeping patterns has been shown to be beneficial. It is important to go to bed at the same time each day as much as possible. Avoiding caffeine, tobacco and alcohol has also been shown to be beneficial.

Chiropractors have specific training in the biomechanics of the body and the nervous system. People with restless leg syndrome report great improvement with chiropractic care. Chiropractors help by performing specific adjustments to help stabilize the pelvis and low back. Chiropractors can also prescribe stretches and strengthening exercises for the low back and pelvis.

They can also perform therapeutic modalities to help relax muscles in the low back and legs which are often affected with restless leg syndrome. These modalities might include electric muscle stimulation, Vibromassage or ultrasound. Electric muscle stimulation works to fatigue tight muscles in the low back or other areas of the body. Ultrasound can help to decrease inflammation. Vibromassage is often used to help relax the muscles and help to stimulate blood flow to the area. Cold laser therapy is a newer therapeutic modality which has also shown to be effective. Chiropractic should be considered as an effective approach to restless leg syndrome.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Don't Let Chronic Back Pain Slow You Down (Or Catch Up to You)


One of the most common health complaints suffered by millions of Americans over virtually all age demographics is back pain. Since the back (spine) is so relied upon for virtually all actions, motion, and stability, this type of chronic pain negatively affects virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Your chiropractor in Chicago is specially trained in helping alleviate your chronic back pain but, as with all health conditions, a little prevention goes a long way. Past back pain issues are likely to recur again without due diligence. Here are some chiropractic preventative tips:

•Get exercise: Any intensity of activity is better than no activity. Go for a walk, jog, or run. Play your favorite sport, swing the clubs or lift light weights. Whatever you do, make sure to also include plenty of stretching and exercises that are specifically geared toward strengthening your back muscles. Yoga and Pilates are amazing for this. In fact, I recommend both in my rehabilitative regimens for my patient's recovering from injury. It acts as a preventative measure, too!

• Watch your seated posture: Most of us tend to hunch or slouch while sitting without even thinking about it. Make a conscious effort to sit up straighter. If your job requires prolonged periods of sitting, keep your shoulders back and make sure you are using a chair that provides adequate back support. Get up and move around regularly, too.

•Practice proper lifting techniques: You've been hearing this piece of advice for years probably, but if you are getting older it's even more important to lift heavy objects the right way - or better yet, don't lift them at all if it can be avoided! Too many of us are still bending over to lift: and it only takes one bad incident to send our backs out of whack. If you must lift something heavy, bend your knees and keep your back straight.

•Rethink your footwear: Yes, those high-heels are fashionable but they are probably wreaking havoc on your back. Low-heeled shoes that provide excellent support are a much more sensible option. In addition, customized orthotics can support bad arches which can also be the cause of back pain.

If you tend to have back problems, your Chicago chiropractor is your best resource for helping to alleviate that pain naturally and without the need for invasive surgeries or pain killers which merely mask the pain. Recall that age-old chestnut: a little prevention goes a long way.

6 Super Cool Chiropractic Marketing Ideas to Increase Patient Appointments This Summer


Good ole summertime is here and so begins the summer slump (no pun intended) for chiropractic practices. Several times throughout the year chiropractors face the challenge of keeping patient flow consistent, but it's a fact, patient appointments always seem to decline a little more during summer season.

Reasons vary; but the biggest reason is people just get busy and their routines have changed. When the normal school routine has ceased for the summer months, another routine starts up and what happens is the trip to the chiropractor gets left out of the summer routine.

I guess it's easy to do. Sports and other activities take a break and summertime activities take over. During the school year, many families will schedule their chiropractic appointments after school; they swing by on the way home. When you remove "picking up the kids from school" from a mom's daily schedule, you also remove that convenience factor of already having everyone in the car and already being out of the house.

So what is a chiropractor to do? How can one compete with the thrill of summertime fun and get squeezed back into a mom's busy daily routine? This is when you have to get creative in your chiropractic marketing.

First of all you have to think like a kid and you have to think like a parent. Not so hard to do with a little help.

Below are six seasonal ideas to boost your chiropractic marketing and keep those patients from falling off their chiropractic routine. These ideas are simple and the cost is minimal. One day a week of throughout the summer months, have a theme day. I've listed a few ideas below;

Beach Blowout Day- Let your patients know that on this special day summer, kids can come in dressed for a day at the beach. Bathing suits, flip-flops, beach towels, hats, sunglasses. Let them choose how over board they go. Purchase a cheap plastic pool fill it with sand, not the whole pool, just enough to cover up some trinkets you buy from the party store. These are usually sold in large bags. Bury the trinkets in the sand and let the kids dig for one or two trinkets.

Fill the Food Bank Day- This one is great for kids as they love to give to others. Summertime is a slow time for area food banks. On this day, you can have your student patients bring in a can or boxed food item.

Creative Writing or Art Contest- Have your student patients write something about why they come to the chiropractor and how it helps them. Or have them draw a picture showing what they do at the chiropractor. Have a wall dedicated to displaying these works. You can even have the works judge by other patients as they come in. The works can be numbered and your patients can vote for their favorite. Have a coupon for a snow cone as a prize for the winners.

The Chiro Shop- Set up a mini store with affordable toys and items that kids can look at throughout the summer. Give each item a cost in tickets. Each time kids come in they get a ticket to save up for something they see in the shop. You can also give tickets when they have participated in any of the events already mentioned. Give a ticket for bringing a friend. Give a ticket for being on time. Encourage the kids to tell you what they are saving up for.

Popcorn Mania- Rent a popcorn machine for a day and serve fresh popped pop corn in paper cups.

Where's Chiro Waldo- Find Waldo stickers and place them in odd places all over your office and waiting room. Tell the kids to see how many they can find. Maybe they should get a ticket for each one they can point out. Don't forget to include the wee ones in this activity. Make some easy to find.

This is also a great way to get your staff involved with the chiropractic marketing, interacting with the patients and enjoying their time at work during the summer months.

Plan your activities, type them up on some bright summer colored paper and set them out at the front desk for your patients to see. If you collect patient emails, send the activity calendar in an email to all of your patients. Are you on Facebook? Post the activities there too and your patients can follow along via your status updates.

Sounds like super summer fun at the chiropractor's office. You might even gain some new patients when you become the coolest chiropractor in town.

Tension Headaches and Chiropractic Care


A tension headache basically refers to the pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck that is usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas. It is the type of which it occurs in relation to constant or periodic emotional conflicts. This condition is highly prevalent which can be disabling. Publish estimates of the prevalence of tension headaches vary over a wide range from 1.3% to 65% in men and 2.7% to 86% in women. They may occur at any age, but they are most common in adults and adolescents.

It tends to occur on both sides of your head. They often start at the back of your head and spread forward. The pain of tension headache is usually described as a feeling of heaviness, pressure or tightness which is steady rather than throbbing. If it occurs 15 or more days in a month for several months, they are considered chronic tension headaches. Chronic types feel more like throbbing in the head with more severe pain that is felt most of the time.

Muscular tension and contraction in the shoulders, neck and head are involved with tension type headaches. Usually this tension is an outcome of emotional stress, though injuries can also become a factor of muscle contractions. It is normal for muscles to contract when you are threatened, irritated or angry. Although, if work or home life creates a constant source of stress which you cannot counter, the muscular tension can become chronic which can lead to uneven stresses on the skeletal structure of the body, and changes in normal posture and movement to compensate. These misalignments result in more muscular tension and contraction which can cause headaches.

Tension headaches may be a sign that you may be doing something in your daily life that is causing stress to your body such as not eating enough, dehydration, poor posture, or eyestrain. Physical stress may also cause tension headaches. This includes activities such as prolonged manual labor or staying in one position for a long time like sitting at a desk or computer, reading, or playing video games. Staying in a cold place or sleeping in an awkward position can also be some of the triggers. Physical activities, however, do not usually worsen the pain.

Although tension headaches can be painful, they are not associated with structural changes in the brain and they are rarely a sign of more serious illness. Pain killers may help but overuse of them can cause complications such as rebound headaches which are headaches that keep coming back. A combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and traditional and complementary therapies such as chiropractic can help reduce the pain you have.

Chiropractic care uses a holistic approach that can successfully provide permanent headache relief. It has been proven to be highly effective in treating tension and migraine headaches as well as other musculoskeletal problems.

Chiropractic adjustments if combined with other therapies such as trigger point therapy and massage can relax stressed muscles and correct misalignments. Patients with chronic headaches often get relief with just few chiropractic visits.

Even if your headache has gone, continuing to receive chiropractic adjustments is essential to help keep your body function more efficiently. In time, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and visiting your chiropractor will help you stay healthy and enjoy living life free from pain.

Why 70% of Chiropractors Struggle Or Fail


This should be a real eye-opener for every chiropractor. According to Dunn and Bradstreet... which keeps records on over 140 million businesses, and has been doing so for over 167 years... "Of the small businesses that fail, 90% do so because of a LACK OF SKILLS and knowledge on the part of the owner."

And, according to SCORE and U.S. Bank... "In 70% of small business failures, a key factor was the owner not recognizing or IGNORING WEAKNESSES and then NOT SEEKING HELP."

Fact is: the research proves entrepreneurs in all categories - chiropractors included - struggle and even fail, because they're either doing the right things wrong, or they're doing the wrong things and don't even realize it.

As an entrepreneur, who also happens to be a chiropractor, there are certain mandatory skillsets you must possess (i.e. management, leadership, marketing, sales, etc.). These are non-negotiable.

According to the research, lacking one or more of those critical skillsets is the cause of 9 out of 10 failures. Are you lacking in any of those areas?

Be honest. According the SCORE research, ignoring a weakness in one of those critical skill set areas... and not seeking help or guidance... is the cause of 7 out of 10 failures. Are you ignoring a weakness in one of those critical skill set areas? Again, be honest.

Look, fact is... success in business as a chiropractor, especially in 2010, is *NOT* about simple common sense. It's about recognizing the mandatory need for certain skillsets, never ignoring weaknesses, and getting the right assistance and/or guidance where and when needed.

And, that's why a majority of practicing chiropractors, unfortunately, experience the exact opposite of what they were hoping and dreaming for when they were going through chiropractic school.

Because, many either don't recognize they lack one or more essential entrepreneurial skillsets, or they do in fact recognize an entrepreneurial weakness, but they're ignoring it, believing it won't have a negative impact on their practice, cashflow, and income.

Unfortunately, research proves the opposite. Point is just this: To thrive as a chiropractor in 2010 you must... MUST... possess all of the mandatory skillsets needed as an entrepreneur.

And, you must never... NEVER... ignore a weakness or inadequacy in any of those skillsets. But, instead, should seek out assistance and/or direction.

[Note: I understand this essay is a bit self-serving since my company provides that entrepreneurial guidance and business training for chiropractors. But, don't let that take away from the truth and power behind the message.]

2 Critical Chiropractic Marketing Metrics


Without a doubt, I can quickly look at 2 different chiropractic marketing metrics (numbers) within your chiropractic practice, and predict - with relative accuracy - your future level of profitability as a chiropractor.

The two metrics I'm referring to are: Cost of New Patient Acquisition (COA) and Lifetime Patient Value (LPV).

COA tells us the average amount of money it currently costs you to acquire a single new patient. Whereas, LPV tells us how much the typical patient is worth to your practice over the lifetime of their care with you.

When COA is subtracted from LPV we can quickly see the average amount of gross profit your office is generating per patient.

For example, if you spend an average of, let's say, $1,000 per month on marketing... and, on average you acquire 5 new patients... your COA is $200 ($1,000 divided by 5). If the average patient in your office is worth $700 over the life of their care with you... your gross profit per patient, in this case, would be $500 ($700 LPV minus $200 COA). In this case, acquiring $700 new patients at a cost of just $200 each is well-worth your time. It's a highly profitable marketing process.

But, for most chiropractors their numbers are no where near the above example. Really worse; most chiropractors don't even know their numbers. Or, at a bare minimum, most only know LPV without knowing their cost to acquire a single new patient.

Without intimately knowing both of those crucial chiropractic marketing metrics, how can any chiropractor make an educated marketing decision? They can't. Just like an investor can't make an educated decision about a rental property without knowing the cost of the property and how much the tenants are worth to them. Even if they know one of those numbers it's still not good enough. They need both. Just like you.

Armed with both metrics you can easily make decisions about whether you should continue, or forgo, a particular marketing campaign. You'll be able to look past response rate - a poor assessment of a chiropractic marketing campaign's profit value to your office - and see whether you're losing money, breaking-even, or generating a profit, irregardless of response rate.

Response rate only tells you what percentage of people responded to your chiropractic marketing and became a paying patient. It doesn't tell us whether that response rate - good or bad - produced a loss or a profit. Only knowing COA and LPV does that.

So, make a commitment today to review your LPV every month. And, anytime you spend money on chiropractic marketing or advertising, be sure you calculate the COA for that campaign. If you're running multiple campaigns (i.e. advertisements) in a single month, be sure to calculate the COA for each campaign separately. Lumping them together dilutes the accuracy of the numbers significantly.

A Complex Explanation of Chiropractic Care


Chiropractic is a type of treatment that was used thousands of years ago by the Egyptians and Greeks which was later founded by Daniel David Palmer in the U.S. Chiropractors nowadays are especially trained in treating muscles and joints in the body. Prior to the treatment, the patient will go to a thorough examination. The examination will decide if the patient is qualified for a chiropractic treatment as well as the precise diagnosis of the patient. The chiropractor will ask for the patient's history to get a precise picture of the problem. The chiropractor may ask the patient's working condition, medicine taken, operations, previous diseases, and other relevant questions pertaining to the patient's lifestyle.

The patient will undress prior to the examination so that the chiropractor may see the whole body. Pulse and blood pressure will also be taken as well as lung and heart conditions. A chaperone may be offered in case the patient is of opposite gender to the chiropractor because some private parts like breasts will be exposed although this is not compulsory. The chiropractor may also recommend the patient to undergo x-ray if necessary.

Chiropractic treatment is painless and the chiropractor will select that most applicable treatment for a patient. Chiropractor uses a manipulation technique in treating patients. The purpose of this technique is to bring back to normal the functions of the muscles and joints and to remove or ease pain. Chiropractic treatment also teaches the patients on how to treat their body carefully. He may be advised to do some exercises at home. Special training supervised by a professional is important for patients with constant neck and back pain. This treatment is performed by chiropractors for patients with extreme back and neck conditions.

There are common ailments that a chiropractor administers frequently. These are headaches, back aches, scoliosis, sciatica, stress, whiplash, pregnancy, disc problems, and neck pain.

  • Headaches. There are many causes and types of headaches but whatever type of headache do you have, you surely would want to end your suffering really fast. A lot of medicines have been discovered to cure this common condition. These medicines can remove sensations in your nervous system so you won't be able to feel the pain. The effects can be convenient but it may cause harmful effects and damage to liver and kidney. Much worst, they do not cure the cause of the headache. Neck has spinal bones which may not support the head properly and cause headaches. Because of this, the head may not move properly causing nerves and muscle failure and affects the supply of blood in the head. Chiropractic care finds the areas in the spine that are not properly moving. They will observe your posture, spinal curves, and your capacity to bend and turn. This observation plus some tests will determine if you will improve in chiropractic care. If you are qualified for chiropractic care, you will go through adjustments that will help stabilize the function of your spine and restoring spinal curves. You will also feel less nerve irritation and enhance circulation. Patients of chiropractic care said they suffer fewer headaches.

  • Neck Pain. The neck is a part of the spine that is the most sensitive. Neck supports the head, allows rotation of the head, and keeps a moderate frontward curve. A more important function of the neck is to permit nerve impulses towards the head, hands, face, and other parts of the body. A recurring pain in the neck signifies that something is not okay with your neck, aside from the fact that it gives annoyance and discomfort. Daily activities such as watching TV, reading a book, using a computer or simply sleeping on a couch or plane can cause neck pain. This type of neck pain heals by itself especially if you stop what you are doing.

  • Pregnancy. Low back pain is very normal for expectant moms. This is due to hormonal changes, rapid development, and many others. Chiropractic care is very beneficial for pregnant moms. It helps relieve the discomfort and normalize functions of the nervous system. This gives a complete wellness and good health for expectant mothers. Chiropractic care can also help on the delivery of the baby. Deliveries are usually comfortable and faster for chiropractic patients. Chiropractor will provide you with precautionary measure while you are pregnant.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

For Chiropractors - Great Artery Age Verbiage


Saw this and thought of you...

It gives a great example of how to most-effectively describe, to a patient, the current "status" of their spine so they instantly understand the real value of on-going chiropractic care with you.

Ironically, it's from an article about "vascular age", of all things, in a recent Wall Street Journal article.

The article is entitled "The Age of Your Arteries".

According to author, Ron Winslow, "Several tools are available that enable doctors and patients to calculate vascular age. These suggest there can be a substantial difference between how old you are and how old your blood vessels are."

The article goes on to say, "Typically, results of these tests are expressed in percentiles and risk probabilities, which 'human beings don't understand at all,' says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a preventive cardiologist at Northwestern University, Chicago."

"For instance, a Framingham score may indicate someone has a 7% chance, or low risk, of having a heart attack in the next 10 years.

If I say you are 45, but you have the risk of an otherwise healthy 67-year-old,' that somehow gets in our brain better' than a percentage risk, he says."

"Such a calculation 'gives a sense that your risk-factor burden is making you age faster than you think you are,' says Donald Lloyd-Jones.

'The more you can make it concrete, the better you can impart information about risk.'"

And, right there is a great tip for every chiropractor.

To repeat: "The more you can make it concrete, the better you can impart information about risk".

So, what does that mean when speaking with chiropractic patients and prospective patients?

Maybe, when reviewing x-rays and speaking of curvature... you can speak in terms of a spine of a certain age.

Or, you can speak of having a spine potentially functioning as that of someone much older.

The point is just this: percentages, statistics, numbers, data, etc., don't work nearly as well at getting patients emotional about their need for on-going care with you as giving them a clear and easily recognizable reference point they can picture in their mind.

Here's a simple example that proves this point.

Which can you picture in your mind easier?...

300 yards...

...or...

3 football fields?

The football fields. Right.

Because the mind can't process abstract things like numbers.

So, make it concrete for patients when speaking of risk.

Give them a clear picture of what that risk looks like.

Chiropractor Salary: 4 Important Considerations


Chiropractor salaries are extremely variable. I know some Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) who make very little, and I know some who make millions, and I know many that make the average which according to 2 good sources is between $94,000 and $120,000 per year.

Why the extreme variation?

#1) This is common amongst professions that have a high percentage of self employment. The same variability occurs in the fields of dentistry and law. The harder the professional works the more they make.

#2) The doctors overhead expenses are also variable. Some DCs run a high overhead practice, perhaps with multiple staff, multiple doctors, and large office spaces, while others practice solo with perhaps 1 or 2 staff in a small setting.

#3) Some DCs offer multiple services to their patients while others have a more simplistic and uniform billing system. This "case average" varies tremendously also and has a profound effect on income.

#4) Many DCs continue to practice a few hours per week long into typical retirement years and earn very little, mostly because of their love for the profession. This skews the average salary lower.

I assume there are 2 types of readers of this article. One type is perhaps a student considering chiropractic as a career. The other type is an established DC looking for information to either compare their own salary to others or are looking for ways to boost their salary. I have advice for both below.

If you are a prospective chiropractor you must first understand what chiropractic is. It is a science art and philosophy of things natural and holistic specifically focusing on the human body's inborn ability to get and be healthy. Chiropractor's understand that the nervous system controls and coordinates all body systems and functions either directly or indirectly, and that misalignment of spinal structure causes interference or blockage of the nerve inpulses. This is called vertebral subluxation. chiropractors correct this with adjustments. The safety, cost effectiveness and high patient satisfaction is well established.

Because of the high level of art in the profession, particularly the hands-on aspect of the detection and correction of the subluxation, there exists a high variability of the services and charges. To me, as a DC for over 25 years, this "high level of art" and it's complications are an attribute. The art has been virtually minimized if not eliminated from conventional medicine, much to their demise.

Thus, prospective chiropractors should not be dismayed by the variability of chiropractic salaries, as it is very justified.

For those of you readers who are comparing salaries with peers or seeking to improve their own salary, I offer the following:

1) Compare and despair. Because of the high variability in practice styles, billing, sizes, etc it is near impossible to get an accurate comparison. Likely, one will find disappointment in comparing, especially with inaccurate information. So, realize that it does not mean much. Do not let it discourage you.

2) Most of the DCs that have much higher than normal incomes have several common characteristics. They generally do a lot of marketing to attract large volumes of patients. They generally employ multiple doctors and profit from them. They generally are sincerely dedicated to helping others, and love people. All of these characteristics can be improved upon if you are lacking them.

3) It's nearly impossible to be both a busy, loving, caring doctor and good manager. The 2 conflict with each other. So most of the highly successful DCs have management either in the form of an employed manager or they subscribe to coaching/management services so they can focus their efforts on being exceptional doctors.

Patients want doctors that enjoy what they are doing.Therefore, doctors seeking to improve their incomes can do so by improving themselves and reclaiming the joy of practice, particularly by focusing on being an excellent doctor, and let somebody else focus on the chiropractor's salary.

Chiropractic Billing and Physical Therapy


THE GRATUITOUS DISCLAIMER
This article is not intended as a replacement for authorized chiropractic billing educational programs. The author is a Medical Biller and speaks mostly from practical experience as opposed to organized theory-based resources and materials. Certainly it is up to the reader to research the topics discussed with their individual insurance carriers.

ARE YOU LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE?
Most chiropractors add physiotherapy to their study courses while training for Chiropractic. Regular Physiotherapy. Unfortunately, many chiropractors do not take advantage of their Physiology licenses and therefore leave money on the table as far as insurance billing is concerned! Although some insurance plans will not cover Physical Therapy performed in the chiropractor's office (such as Medicare), there are plenty that do. If you find yourself too busy to perform therapy for your patient, hire a CA certified in Physiotherapy to handle the Physical Therapy part of their treatment.

More insurance money for you, but WHO ELSE BENEFITS?
Your patient benefits also from PT being performed in your office. It will facilitate their healing process, and if they complete their at home exercises, your patients will be less likely to re-injure themselves. So if you are not performing PT for and on your patients, you are doing yourself and them a disservice.

Check your PT coverage
When you, your staff or your billing service verify Chiropractic Insurance benefits, be sure to specifically ask for Physical Therapy benefits. Ask if Physical Therapy can be performed by a Chiropractor. If so, then ask if there is a separate deducible. Normally there is not, but you want to be sure. If you are contracted with the insurance carrier, ask what PT codes are covered. List the ones you are likely to perform in your office. If you are not contracted with the insurance carrier and do not know what specific codes are covered, bill out the PT codes you perform and see if they are covered.

Some of the most commonly paid and widely used Physical Therapy codes:

97010: Hot/cold packs (of late, BCBS and UHC does not pay for this procedure, but some ins companies do). Billed as one unit, not timed.

97110: One-on-one. Exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion and flexibility, one or more areas. Therapeutic exercise incorporates one parameter (strength, endurance, range of motion or flexibility) to one or more areas of the body. Examples include treadmill (for endurance), isokenetic exercise (for range of motion), each unit is 15 minutes. You can bill up to 3 units. Depending upon your location, you can charge up to $50.00 per unit. Basically, 97110 is any exercise your patient performs while he is in your office. These include and are not limited to assisted stretching, exercises on the ball, hip roll, seated roll, etc.

97112: One-on-one. Neuromuscular re-education of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities, one or more areas. This code is intended to identify neuromuscular re-education, designed to re-educate the muscle for some function it was previously able to do (not intended to identify massage to increase circulation, etc). This will usually be in the form of some commonly performed task for that body part. 15 minute units. (Examples: feldenkreis, bobath, bap's boards, desensitization techniques...) Sometimes you will be asked for notes proving medical necessity if you use this code., so be sure it is medically necessary!

97140: One-on-one. Manual therapy techniques - myofacial release, mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, trigger point - one or more regions, 15 minute units, charges can be up to $50.00 per unit, and a good average is from 1 to 3 units.

97140 is used to describe therapy which increases active pain-free range of motion, increased extensibility of myofascial tissue and facilitates return to functional activities. This code is reported in units of 15 minutes. It would include neuromuscular therapy, positional release, stretching and nearly any therapeutic technique performed manually for the purposes mentioned above. This therapy is to be performed on an area separate and apart from the area of main complaint in order to successfully bill to insurance. Append the 59 modifier to this code.

97124: One-on-one Massage, including effleurage, petrissage and/or stroking, compression, percussion, one or more areas, each 15 minutes

The main difference between 97124 and 97140 is the intention of the therapy.

If the therapist is performing therapeutic massage in order to increase circulation and promote tissue relaxation to the muscles, then use code 97124. If treatment is based on or consists of a basic relaxation massage, this is the code to use. If, however, your intention is to increase pain-free range of motion and facilitate a return to functional activities, use the code 97140. And don't forget the modifier!

97535: Activities of daily living - self-care, home management training - direct one-on-one contact with the provider, 15 minute units. This can consist of giving the patient exercises that he/she can perform at home. You can demonstrate the exercises and give them a print out with diagrams and directions on it. Some insurance companies pay, some don't. One small insurance company I know of allows 25.00 for 1 unit. Depending upon location, a DC can bill up to $50.00 per unit, and not normally over 1 unit. Perform this service and bill this code only once every 8 weeks or so.

A WORD ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
DCs are on the hot seat these days with insurance carriers because of their lack of proper documentation. If you don't write it down, you didn't perform the therapy! Record the type of exercises performed, and if the code is a timed unit, record the start and end times of your therapy.

Why You Don't Trust Natural Medicine


Let's be honest... If you're like most people you get a little twitchy, roll your eyes or furrow your brow at the mere mention of terms like Natural Medicine or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You envision lotions, potions, chanting and rubbing stones or crystals. I swear that half my new patients are shocked to come see me and find that I don't have a bone through my nose. If you aren't part of the medical mainstream then you have likely had to endure labels like voodoo doctor, witch doctor, pseudoscience, or quack. C'mon... Admit it. You have had those thoughts. I know because even though I'm a chiropractor I've had them too. So what gives then? Why the stigma around natural healing arts? There are some definite reasons which may be surprising why you feel the way you do.

First let's talk about your upbringing. Since the 70s medical dramas have always been big on TV. Actually some of the most successful series of all time are about medical doctors. Quincy, General Hospital, E.R., M.A.S.H., Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, House, Dougie Houser, MD, Chicago Hope, and the list goes on. The doctors are witty, beautiful, smart and usually manage to produce a life saving conclusion within 30-60 minutes. You and I were raised learning that we could trust the doctor, especially if he or she had a white coat, stethoscope, scalpel and a prescription pad. These doctors never say sorry, they rarely lose and heaven knows they have never told anybody their problem could be fixed with a vitamin. They are the difference between life and death with beautiful tans and lavish sex lives.

What about other practitioners? Usually a Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, or Massage Therapist is a punch line. The Simpsons aired an episode where chiropractors pulled up in a truck one night and demolished Homer's spinal alignment tool (a trash can) using model spines. Of course they all had ponytails. Phoebe on Friends was a massage therapist and was the odd one of the bunch, famous only for her ditzy remarks. One of the main characters on Two and a Half Men is a chiropractor but is portrayed as a nerdy loser. People who use acupuncture or similar techniques in movies or TV are typically perceived as desperate or eccentric.

Why do networks want a successful medical drama? You only need to look at commercials to find the answer. Pharmaceutical firms pay big bucks to advertise their drugs and products during these shows. Believe me... Networks are eager to receive them.

All this is not to say that the media is the only reason you have trouble trusting natural medicine. Science is to blame as well. Maybe you noted the quotes I just used there. Medicine would have us believe that all of their practices are based on cold, hard, unbiased, emotionless science. In fact they call just about everything else pseudoscience or unscientific. The truth is that many of the practices in medicine (conventional, alternative or otherwise) are not based on hard science. There are various reasons for this. For example, we may not have the technology to evaluate claims made by chiropractic or acupuncture to our satisfaction therefore we don't have hard science to validate some theories. For medicine the biggest obstacle is the dominance of pharmaceuticals over the profession. Most health research studies are funded by pharmaceutical corporations either directly or indirectly. This is a problem because it introduces multibillion dollar bias into the body of research. Studies are designed to make the drugs being developed or tested look good. Maybe they exclude test subjects who are more typical patients but might not respond as well to the treatment. Other times they will test it against treatments that are administered in the wrong way such as a low dose of vitamins or the wrong chemical form of a mineral. What ever the tactic may be these studies are usually set up to give drugs the best chance of prevailing. That is not science. Science is about disproving and the burden is always on the treatment being tested. It is not science when the deck is stacked so that we can sell a drug. According to Robert K. Merton's norms which help us identify real science the party conducting the research must be detached meaning they have no other reason for conducting the study other than the expansion of knowledge; other reasons liiiiiiike... $100s of millions. Also drug companies often bury studies that have negative results making it look like all available studies show a working drug with few or no side effects.

I'm not trying to say that you can't trust science when it comes to healthcare. It helps us move away from treatments that are dangerous and ineffective (real science that is). However, its value in a clinical setting is limited. Scientific research tends to apply to a narrow group of specifically selected people and it might have greater implications for the rest of the world. That is why doctors of all disciplines are moving toward practicing Evidence Based Medicine and not Science Based Medicine. Science Based Medicine would only work on lab rats or monkeys or a select group of people trying to make some extra cash by being test subjects. Evidence Based Medicine takes into account the best and worst designed studies to help guide decisions. Guess what? There is evidence out there that medicine works! But guess what else?! There is evidence out there that Medical medicine isn't the only thing that works or even the best thing in some situations.

Why else might you not trust Natural Medicine? How about the way it is categorized? Alternative? Complementary? What do these name suggest? Non-Medical approaches are for eccentrics and people who are on the fringe? We only fix weird problems that hippies get? Or if I am a Complimentary care provider is it only OK for me to treat people as long as they are taking their pills? Why don't we just call Medical care Medicine and call everything else Health care? Whaaaaat? That would make people think that Medicine doesn't help people get healthy? Of course that isn't true but see the value of a label?

How about the government? Do they teach us anything about Natural Medicine? While most of the research that actually shows the efficacy of more natural approaches are funded by governments, there is another edge to the sword. Take for example the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their labeling policies prohibit any natural supplement and even vitamins from indicating to the average consumer the proven benefits of these products. For example Vitamin D can only be labeled as being important for contributing to bone health. REALLY? Vitamin D (according to Science) treats and/or prevents Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Osteoarthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Depression, Epilepsy, Migraine Headaches, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Muscle and Joint Pain, Autoimmune disease, Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, and even Cancer. The research is out there and the evidence is clear but the FDA only says we can make bone health claims. Why? Because they said so (read: bureaucracy). Basically, here is how it works... if they think that your product can save lives then it is a drug. That is unless it occurs in nature and can't be patented by a pharmaceutical company thereby making billions, in which case it should be discredited and ignored.

Finally, there are the Natural Medicine providers themselves. I have to admit we have some crazies. We have every type of quack that Medicine has. We have people who burn candles in your ear to cure ear aches. Medicine has quacks who prescribe prophylactic anti-biotics for ear aches. We have chiropractors who tell people they need to be adjusted 5 times a week for months in order to be healthy. Medicine has quacks who tell people to take ibuprofen every day to fix their arthritis. The difference between our quacks and their quacks is the stakes. Our quacks cost you money. Their quacks can cost you your life. There are about 20,000 deaths per year from prescription drug overdose. (CDC 2008). Ok... Ok.. To be fair that is probably from drug abuse. What about adverse reactions to drugs properly prescribed and administered? The estimates are that about 5-9x more people die this way (Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA . 1998 Apr 15;279(15):1200-5.). What about drugs like Ibuprofen, Advil and Aleve? About 16,500 deaths per year from internal bleeding (Byron Cryer MD. NSAID-Associated Deaths: The Rise and Fall of NSAID-Associated GI Mortality. The American Journal of Gastroenterology (2005) 100, 1694-1695). In fairness we should look at the deaths that Natural Medicine is causing. There are 2.68 deaths per 10,000,000 adjustments. (Gouveia LO, Castanho P, Ferreira JJ (2009). Safety of chiropractic interventions: a systematic review. Spine 34 (11): E405-13) That means after about 61.5 billion adjustments we would just be catching up to Ibuprofen. Most years there are 0 deaths reported from Vitamins and Supplement use.

So what's the point here? Am I just trying to crack on Medical Doctors? NO! They aren't villains. They save more lives than they cost. They entered the health care arena for the same reason I did, to improve the quality of people's lives. Heck! I go see a Medical Doctor! The fact is that here are many, many brilliant practitioners (some of them even have MD after their name) of what we call Natural Medicine. Our species has thrived on nature for thousands and thousands of years. Our disdain for it is only recent. It is our synthetic world that has made us sick with additives, pesticides, pollution and even pills. A return to the natural may be the best thing for us.

In conclusion, consider the work of another great doctor: Dr. Seuss, to drive my point home in his classic tale: Green Eggs and Ham. (Paraphrasing of course)


Say!
I like [Natural Medicine].
I do! I like [it] Sam-I-Am.
And I would [try it] in a boat.
And I would [try it] with a goat.

And I will [try it] in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
[It is] so good so good you see!

So I will [try it] in a box.
And I will [try it] with a fox.
And I will [try it] in a house.
And I will [try it] with a mouse.
And I will [try it] here and there.
Say! I will [try it] ANYWHERE!

I do so like
[Natural Medicine]!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am

The Extent of Chiropractic Care


It may be that chiropractic care has been synonymous to back and spine problems but if you are to dig deeper, you will know that it encompasses more than that. It is more extensive that it actually addresses other medical and health issues. The fact that chiropractors had a rigorous training to hone them the skills and understanding on how to manage various diseases should placate whatever fears you have. Chiropractic also has different specialties making a chiropractor to have more knowledge to treat specific patients like children and pregnant women.

Back pain. This ranks as the most common reason why patients seek the help of a chiropractor. Chiropractors treat approximately 65-70% of patients with back pain concerns.

Neck and head pain. Second in rank, neck and head pain are usually simultaneous where adjustments are done on the cervical spine.

Migraines. Spinal manipulation is performed for this illness. Unlike other doctors, there are no medications prescribed for migraine sufferers. Brought by subluxations in the neck and spine, manual manipulation is performed to help the patient achieve equilibrium in his neck and spine.

Blood pressure. Mild manipulation is given to patients suffering from high blood pressure. The slight pressure make the pressure of blood to rest and the outcome is more visible to older people.

Upset stomach. This requires manipulation of the back to reclaim a person's normal digestive tasks.

Colic among babies. Is it not a pity to hear a baby crying all night and all because of colic? Babies who received chiropractic treatment had a restful sleep, as their colic was eliminated.

Children's Bed Wetting. Most children were cured of their bed wetting problems. There are those who eliminated this issue after two treatments while others improved after a month. Nevertheless, it is suffice to say that kids were relieved of this problem, which is a truly embarrassing one.

Asthma. A result of physical limitation or neurological discrepancy, asthma can also be relieved by chiropractic treatment. The body's over-sensitivity is relieved by adjusting the spine.

One cannot deny the fact that chiropractic care is a big help. It does not compete, however, to other branches of medicine. A chiropractor will still refer a patient if the illness was found to be beyond his extent of expertise.

The number of patients seeking chiropractic care has tremendously increased for the past years. This is a good sign, as it only signifies that people have matured and have accepted this branch of alternative medicine, which is affordable and painless and yet assures a patient of being cured.

Back-To-School Tips for Teachers and Students From Your Chiropractor!


Summer vacations are filled with activity, but back-to-school can mean long hours in a desk for students and equally long hours on the feet for teachers.

Teachers and students returning to the classroom after summer vacation can better prepare for the school year ahead with the following chiropractor's tips.

Chiropractors recommend to avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time, if possible. For teachers, this means being conscious of how long your students are sitting in a desk, often made of hard wood or plastic, as well as how much time you are spending standing on your feet. For classes longer than 45 minutes, provide a five-minute classroom break for your students to get up and stretch, and for you to take a break and sit if you have been standing. Not only does this help keep the muscles agile and help avoid overuse injuries or pain, but it also helps stimulate and energize the mind, making learning more productive when you return.

Teachers often have to stand in the front of the classroom, lecture -style, and teach for extended hours during the day. Standing in place for extended periods places an extra burden on the low back and legs. Poor postural habits are easy to form in this situation. Chronic poor posture can lead to additional pain and dysfunction including headaches, fatigue, tension, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, to name a few. To avoid falling into poor postural habits while teaching, practice correct posture. Correct standing posture is straight yet relaxed. Stand tall and lengthen your spine comfortably. Do not become rigid or try to flatten your back Keep your knees soft, not locked. Use the space in front of the room to move around instead of standing in a small area.

Further, if you teach lecture-style, try to schedule your classes so that you have ample time between classes to walk, stretch, and sit a bit with your legs elevated to relax your back and leg muscles. If your class times are scheduled for you, make a conscious effort to maximize your time between classes to walk, stretch, and/or sit. The better care you take of your body now, the healthier you will be when you are ready to retire and dash off and do all of those great things that you have been saving for.

Students are also at risk of developing poor postural habits due to sitting for extended periods of time. Students spend hours on end in a desk and in front of the computer. Unfortunately, very few students have correct posture while sitting. Most slouch forward with hunched shoulders or either lean back out of alignment. The proper sitting posture is feet flat on the floor with the back naturally against the chair and shoulders back and down. Remember to allow regular breaks from sitting to walk and stretch.

Chiropractors are advocates of prevention and regularly provide injury prevention awareness, helping people lead healthier lifestyles. Practicing correct posture can help prevent a lifetime of chronic pain and dysfunction. Consider asking your local chiropractor to volunteer to come speak to your students about injury prevention, posture and leading a healthier lifestyle.