Feeling vs. Function

A common question I hear as a Chiropractor is, "I feel good; why would I need to get adjusted?" The reason why someone would continue to get adjusted even though they aren't feeling pain is really two-fold. First off, let's start off by looking at how the body is made. There are 3 types of nerves in our body: sensory, motor and autonomic. Sensory nerves are those that "feel"--pain or pleasure--and they only make up 10% of all the nerves in our body. Motor nerves go to the muscles, autonomic nerves go to the organs, blood vessels and glands. Motor and autonomic nerves each make up about 45% of the nerves.

So, what does this all mean?

Chiropractors look for subluxations. These are misalignments that interfere with the nerve signal. When these subluxations interfere with the sensory nerves, you might feel pain, pressure, or tingling sensations to name a few. But, what happens when the sensory nerves aren't the ones involved?? You might not feel anything! For example, if the nerves going to the stomach (which are autonomic nerves) are being interfered with, a person might experience different symptoms such as acid reflux or upset stomach.

This is why it is so important to get your spine and nervous system professionally evaluated by a Doctor of Chiropractic. We are trained to detect and correct these "hidden" subluxations.

The second part of the reason to why you would want to get your spine checked/adjusted when you aren't feeling symptoms deals with being pro-active instead of reactive. In America, we are ingrained with a mechanistic model of healthcare all day long. When we turn on the TV, we see commercials for drugs that will fix any ailment you can think of. Have you opened a magazine lately? They are plastered with ads for drugs. These are all feeding on that reactive mind-set. If or when I have a problem (i.e. high blood pressure, high cholesterol), I can just go to my doctor and get a prescription for it.

But, wouldn't it be a better idea to never have to experience those problems? (And don't forget about all the chances of potential side effects from those drugs)!! Getting your spine checked on a regular basis is just like drinking clean water, eating balanced meals, and exercising regularly. These things are all pro-active and allow you to stay healthy.

What are you waiting for? Schedule your appointment to get your spine checked today before you start feeling symptoms.

2011--Starting Fresh

We are nearing the end of January now...so how are you doing with those New Year's Resolutions? If you're anything like the rest of Americans, you started out strong, determined to change or improve some aspect of yourself. Then comes life. We get busy with out families or with our careers, and those resolutions or goals of the new year start to get pushed aside. Now is the perfect time to sit down and analyze. Here are a few questions to ponder:

1. How have you done thus far? Don't get discouraged if your haven't obtained your goal in 3 short weeks. We need to look how far we have came and focus on that. For example, if you resolved to quit smoking, compare where you were at the end of 2010 to where you are now. Even if you are smoking just 1 cigarette less a day, that's an improvement! Don't beat yourself up if you're not completely done, just know there is still work to do.
2. What have you done to follow through with your resolution and how are these things working? Think about each step you've taken and where it's gotten you. Know that it's okay to change the plan. If there is something that doesn't seem to be working or helping, adopt a new strategy. A common definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So you might need to change it up a little.
3. What's my plan from here? Once you've analyzed where you are at and how you've gotten there, you can now look to the future. Make small goals (daily, weekly, monthly) for the future and create an action plan to accomplish the task at hand.

Now you are ready to rock! Be proud of what you have done thus far and keep your eye on the prize.

Welcome

Hello and Welcome to My Blog! You will find a variety of topics including health, chiropractic, nutrition, fitness, and the mind-body connection. I hope you find it informative and entertaining. I look forward to hearing your feedback as well.