Football, Chiropractors and Safety
August 19, 2010
Photo Credit: RonAlmog
The second week of NFL pre-season football is this weekend, which means college, high school and youth football is just around the corner. Do you have kids, husbands, brothers, dads or friends that like to play? There are a few things you should know.
First of all, chiropractic care is a huge part of football. All NFL teams offer players chiropractic services to help manage and prevent injuries. Running Back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints – last year’s Superbowl champions – has been receiving regular chiropractic care since he was in high school.
“I look at chiropractic care as important to keeping me healthy and at the top of my game,” said Bush, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time National Champion while playing for the USC.
He’s not alone. 2010 NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Jerry Rice, and former Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, credits his regular chiropractic visits for his performance. “I did a lot of things to stay in the game, but regular visits to my chiropractor made all the difference,” Rice claimed.
Regular visits to a chiropractor can help football players (and really all athletes) of any age. If you or someone you know plays on a team or scrimmages with friends on the weekends, here are five tips to keep in mind throughout the season:
- Keep your head up during contact (serious injury typically occurs when tackling with the head down).
- Avoid initiating contact with the head during blocking and tackling (do not to use the helmet as a point of primary contact).
- Stay attentive during tackling and blocking drills.
- Protect your neck.
- If you are injured or feel dizzy, disoriented, nauseated or have a headache, tell your coach, trainer or chiropractor.
“Why Aren’t You On My Insurance List?”
August 17, 2010
We have made a conscious decision not to participate in all the insurance networks for a number of reasons.
1. Insurance Companies are NOT interested in your long term health, but in the return to their share holders. We have chosen to keep the decision making about health care in our hands instead of theirs so YOU get the care you need!
2. We can help many more people if we are not consumed all day with report writing. Did you know that many companies require a pre-authorization report and then every 6 visits another lengthy report before more visits are approved? We did not become Doctors to be paper pushers, but rather to actually HELP people!
3. Delays,delays delays. When we submit a claim to an insurance company do you know that it can take MONTHS to get paid? Their main focus is not to pay your chiropractic bills but to keep the money in their bank accounts.
We would rather rely on our 20+ years of experience to make decisions about appropriate chiropractic care for you , instead of recommending what your insurance company will pay for.
As as service, we will both verify your benefits for you and send in the claims for you.*Please note, we are in network with Blue Shield-the only company that it made sense!
If you have any questions about if your policy covers chiropractic care please call us and Cate will be happy to verify your benefits for you!
5 Tips for a Better You
August 12, 2010
Earlier this week, we posted an article, 5 Fitness Myths You Need to Forget, on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We thought it had some great information, which is why we decided to compile our own tips for a better you:
- What you put in your body matters. This includes food, supplements and external products (shampoo, lotion, etc). A good rule of thumb is, “keep it balanced and natural.” Try to find food, supplements and external products that are organic and all-natural, and use a wide variety to maintain balance.
- It’s called “diet AND exercise” for a reason. You can have the best diet in the world, but if you don’t exercise regularly you won’t be as healthy as you could be. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand.
- What you do outside of workouts make a difference. Even if you work out every day, it’s still not good for your body to sit still for large chunks of time. Remember to stand up and stretch every hour.
- Schedule time with friends. Socialization is good for our sanity, and research shows it’s good for our physical health, too. Make sure you fit time with friends into your busy schedule.
- Sleep. Yes, it sounds basic, but most of us don’t get enough sleep at night. At least 7-8 hours is a good goal, although some people need more.
Bonus Tip: Have regular check-ups. Remember to see your chiropractor, dentist and any other health care professional you trust regularly. They will help you stay on track and catch early warning signs of a bigger problem.
What additional tips would you add to this list?
“Am I Going to Feel Better After You Adjust Me?”
August 10, 2010
The answer is “Maybe.”.
Why maybe? The answer depends on MANY factors including how long the subluxation been there, what your current level of discomfort is, and what lifestyle factors are involved that are contributing to the problem.
Research shows that the length of time you have had neck pain is directly proportional to how long that neck pain will take to resolve. If you continue to sit at your computer for 10 hours per day and don’t take recommended breaks, it will last longer.
The adjustment works with your body to unblock proper nervous system function so your body returns to a normal state of function. The adjustment does not work like a drug. The process of correction, healing and stabilization takes more time than the covering of symptoms with some chemistry.
Roughly 80% of our practice members feel better after their first adjustment. About 10% feel no change after one adjustment- this is perfectly normal as most people wait weeks to years before seeking care for their bodies and it takes time to repair these patterns. The remaining 10% of practice members may feel some soreness, this is nothing more that muscle soreness as if you exercised the muscles around your spine. This too is a normal reaction that goes away within the first few adjustments.
“Procrastination is the thief of health”- B.J. Palmer, Developer of Chiropractic
What are YOU procrastinating about? What can you do TODAY that will change the quality of your health?
If you are procrastinating calling us, do it now-before something else becomes more important- and there isn’t anything more important than your health!
Why Use Nutritional Supplements?
July 22, 2010
We recommend all our patients take supplements to provide their bodies with the nutrients it needs to repair itself. Although there are specific lab tests you can run for deficiencies of certain vitamins, most of us need these supplements for two reasons:
- We don’t eat enough fruit and veggies that are organic and local (11-13 servings per day).
- The amount of nutrition in our food is rapidly declining (you would need to eat 53 peaches today to get the same amount of vitamin c that was present in one peach in the 1950s).
Although the nutritional supplements world is confusing for most people, there are a few important things to know:
- Not all supplements are created equally.
- You should still eat organic and local fruit and veggies, even if you take supplements.
- Consistency is important (as with anything, sporadic usage won’t give you the same results that regularity will).
To gauge how effective and complete a supplement is and make sure we provide our clients with solid advice regarding supplements, we use a guide called The Nutrisearch Comparative Guide for Supplementation. This private company has researched and compared over 1500 multivitamins and analyzed them to measure:
- Absorbability
- Completeness
- How well it supports bone health, eye health, cardiovascular health, etc.
Each supplement is rated from 0 stars to 5 stars. We carry the Creating Wellness/Purpose Nutrition brand in our office as it’s one of only 3 brands that carry the 5 star rating.
For more information about supplements call (408) 979-9999.
The Gulf Oil Crisis and Your Health
July 8, 2010
Nature Needs No Help, Just No Interference. This statement is a very relevant statement regarding the environment and your health. Let’s begin with the environment.
The beautiful Gulf of Mexico was in a state of homeostasis, harmony and balance before this horrible oil leak, interference, wreaked havoc on the system. What needs to be done to solve the problem? You have to stop the leak. It would not be enough to merely skim off the beaches, which in this case must be done. You have to remove the cause, the interference. When does nature need help? When there is interference.
Massive Interference
Sudden, massive interference is the kind that is so severe that it causes immediate damage. We see this happening now in the Gulf of Mexico as the oil overtakes the region, causing such an immediate and severe disruption to the harmony and balance of the system that it has become instantly sick and will stay that way for decades.
Sadly it may never be the same and it has created a wake up call that requires massive action. This is like a heart attack, stroke or diagnosis of cancer. Are you or your loved ones waiting for this wake up call?
It is absurd to think that the answer for this oil crisis would be to merely lay new sand on the dirty beach while the oil keeps leaking and ignore the cause. Do not treat your health like this.
You were born to be healthy and express your full potential from the time you were born through your last breath of life. If you keep your body and mind free from interference, subluxation free, and at the same time nourish it, keep it fit, and keep your nervous system functioning without interference, health will be your natural state. You deserve it.
*Courtesy of The 100 Year Lifestyle
5 Ways To Stay Healthy on Vacation!
July 7, 2010
Summer is such a great time to travel! Often, traveling can get us run down and take a toll on our health, no matter how much fun we intend to have.
AAAHHH, the life....
These 5 tips will help you make the most out of your vacation and not come back feeling like you need ANOTHER vacation!
I love the tips except for the part about the sleep medication- you can always try something natural like melatonin instead. You will have fewer side effects and feel better for it!
How We Do It: Tracking Down Subluxation
June 24, 2010
Ever wonder how we know where to focus efforts to decrease subluxation? Beyond the specialized training, our office has a very handy tool that makes the job even more accurate: The Insight Subluxation Station (certified by a branch of NASA). This state-of-the-art technology detects the source of problem areas so we can alleviate pain effectively.
With our Space-Certified Insight Subluxation Station, we’re able to establish a reliable, scientifically valid, quantitative, multidimensional representation of a patient’s condition – something never before possible. This insight enables us to:
- Analyze a patient’s condition more accurately.
- Communicate findings more effectively.
- Track the effectiveness of treatment more precisely.
As one of the few offices in the Bay Area utilizing this technology, we see the value in taking advantage of available technology to serve Silicon Valley as effectively as possible.
For more info about additional techniques and tools we use, feel free to call our office at (408) 979-9999.
Man Up, Stand Strong!!
June 21, 2010
If you are a man and you are reading this, then I am glad we got your attention. The term “man up” is the expression used by many men that describes taking on challenges, facing fears and accepting responsibility. “Stand strong” implies overcoming adversity and promoting and defending your beliefs. In this context, to ensure that you can “man up” and “stand strong” for a lifetime, it is critical that you make your health a priority.
Too many men are crisis motivated only. They wait and wait and wait until their pains or illnesses become debilitating. Rather than manning up and standing strong on their own accord, they do not take action on their health until they hear their family and friends screaming the wake up call, “man down!” Don’t let this happen to you.
Now is the time to man up, stand strong and make your health a priority. Chiropractic care is a great place to start because with a healthy spine and nervous system, your entire body can function better.
Call us today so we can help you Stand Strong!!
The Doctors of the Future are Here
June 8, 2010
Over 100 years ago, Thomas Edison said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” It appears he was right.
According to the American Academy of Physicians, there is a severe shortage of primary care medical doctors. This shortage is expected to reach 40,000 within the next ten years and climb to 124,400 by 2025 according to The Associate of American Medical Colleges. There are multiple reasons for this shortage, including a shift in consumer demand towards drug free primary health care, the type of care provided by doctors of chiropractic.
Over the past 30 years, chiropractors have gradually become the primary health care provider for millions of individuals and families. Thinking about Edison’s words of wisdom, chiropractors appear to be right on target.
To begin with, chiropractors definitely care for the human frame. The alignment of the spine is critical to good health because of its intimate relationship with the nervous system. Basic anatomy teaches that the nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue and organ of the body. This vital and delicate system is protected by the spine and requires proper alignment to function normally. Good alignment and spinal function make it possible for healthy communication from the brain to the body as well as the body to the brain. Keeping this pathway clear and strong, which is one primary goal of a chiropractor, is essential for good health.
People of all ages are realizing the importance of staying well, and the role that a healthy frame plays in accomplishing this. Many doctors of chiropractic also provide nutrition, fitness and drug free health education to their patients and community as a way to be proactive and make a healthy lifestyle a priority. With the recent problems at the FDA, highly publicized drug side effects, and growing mistrust in our country’s drug culture, people are trusting their bodies more and making choices which include chiropractic care.
Regardless of age, it is never too late to care for your frame, eat healthy, exercise and minimize or eliminate drugs from your life. Learn more by calling our office at (408) 979-9999.
