Come Show Your Support!

I’m sure we all know at least one person who suffers from some form of arthritis, so here is a chance to show your support for those loved ones and help raise money to fight arthritis.  The Mankato Arthritis Walk will take place this year on May 1st at Spring Lake Park.  Registration will start at 9:30 AM and the walk will begin at 10:15 AM.

Discover Chiropractic will be helping with this year’s event.  If you would like to find out how you can help or make a donation, please call us at 507-720-0742.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis comes in many forms, but most of us think of it as a deterioration of the joints.  Some of the most common forms of arthritis are degenerative joint disease (also known as DJD or osteoarthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis.  Most people think of arthritis as a normal condition everyone gets as they get older, but this is not true.  Arthritis can be found in all age groups.  The Arthritis Foundation estimates that about 46 million Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis, including a staggering 300,000 kids under the age of 18.  With such numbers, it is no wonder that it is the number one cause of disability in America.

For more information about the Arthritis Walk, visit them online at letsmovtogether.org.

I just watched an interesting video regarding Anthem Blue Cross of California here, yet another one of the many health insurance companies out there.  In the economic and health care crisis our country is in, they reported a $2.9 billion profit just in the last quarter of 2009.  Before you say anything else, let me be clear that is not a typo.  Yes, we are talking about billions of dollars.  A lot of us seeing this are probably thinking that we wish we were in such a crisis that we were only making that much in a lifetime, let alone one quarter of one year.  But unfortunately, most of us are not in that position.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

If you are like almot everyone else, what you have seen over the years is that your insurance premiums have risen.  You would expect that paying higher premiums would get you better coverage, and yet somehow your coverage for care has become more and more limited.  The math just doesn’t add up.  From figures like these, I think we can start to get an idea where all our money really goes.

We keep waiting for that miracle day where our coverage gets better or costs go down, but that just isn’t happening.  But the thing is, it’s not completely out of your hands.  You can do something about it.  I am not proposing a revolt against these companies, or anything like that (though you have consider that temptation), but I have to continue to ask:  Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to keep throwing your money away to some insurance company?

What I do encourage is that you take your health into your own hands.  You have heard a lot about the things that you need to do to fix your messes, but there comes a time when you need to stop talking and start acting.  It won’t change the whole world overnight, but it can change yours.  You know about all the bad things you shouldn’t do, such as smoking and drinking too much.  Let’s not forget about all the things you should do to be more active in your health.  You can take care of your body properly so that it can take care of you.  I just spoke with a gentleman today that is retired and in his 60’s.  He was telling me how he’s never been in as good of shape as he is today because he now eats the right foods, sleeps well, exercises regularly, and enjoys life.  He was telling me how he could clean all the snow off his driveway and sidewalks and not have an issue with his low back.

I hear about stories like this all the time.  Unfortunately in my line of work, I also often hear about the stories that aren’t like this–and often times, these same individuals have been sold on the idea that there is an easy answer, and personal responsibility is not a part of it.  The gentleman’s story shines a glimmer of hope for everyone else.  It IS possible to live healthy and active at any age.  You don’t have to accept being in pain and suffering just because you get older, but you DO have to be active in taking care of yourself and your loved ones.

Our February newsletter is here!  This month features osteoporosis and tips.  You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.

You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.

In Loving Memory
Bernice Bobendrier
August 19, 1914 - January 10, 2010

The Bone-Breaking Truth About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a silent, yet dangerous, condition that affects millions of people in the United States.  Although most people think of this as a “women’s disease” — and it’s true that women are 4 times more likely than men to suffer from osteoporosis — about 20% of those affected by osteoporosis are men.

The basic physiology behind osteoporosis is that bones lose density, making them fragile and increasing the likelihood of them breaking.  Most of your bone density is acquired by age 20, and then they slowly start losing density from that point on.  This may make it seem like we are all doomed to have osteoporosis some day, but there are many measures you can take to ensure that your bones stay healthy all your life!

The first step is to recognize whether you have any risk factors that increase your likelihood of getting osteoporosis.  Some common risk factors include:

• Female gender
• Caucasian or Asian decent
• Increased age
• Small or petite body frame
• Family history of osteoporosis

These are risk factors over which you have no control.   The best thing you can do is to be aware of your risk and do your best to prevent accelerated loss of bone density.  True prevention of osteoporosis starts early in life; parents should teach their children healthy eating and exercise habits to not only encourage overall health, but to ensure healthy bones for a lifetime.  Preventive measures include:

• Weight-bearing exercise
• Dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D

These preventive measures are not unfamiliar to most of us.  It seems easy to do the right things to prevent osteoporosis; it’s not doing the wrong things that is more difficult.  Things to stay away from would be:

• Caffeine
• Smoking
• Inactivity (also known as laziness!)
• Alcohol abuse
• Certain medications
• Spinach
• Wheat bran

A few of these are surprising.  Caffeine, smoking, and inactivity seem obviously unhealthy, but what about spinach and wheat bran?  Aren’t those healthy things?  The answer is yes, they are healthy.  They are packed full of nutritious elements that are important for a healthy diet.  However, when talking specifically about osteoporosis and calcium absorption, spinach actually inhibits, or prevents, calcium absorption because it contains oxalate.  Spinach, contrary to popular belief, is not a good source of calcium because our bodies cannot absorb it.  Wheat bran also prevents calcium from being absorbed when eaten with calcium-rich foods.  Therefore, if you take a calcium supplement or eat yogurt for your calcium, do so two or more hours before or after you have your whole wheat products.

There is a long list of medications taken for various conditions that can also accelerate bone loss, so be sure to talk to your doctor about these risks before you begin any treatment.

Another condition that is common in older age is chronic pain.  One of the best forms of alternative treatment for chronic pain is Chiropractic care.  Often, elderly people believe that Chiropractic care is not an option because of their decreased bone density.  A spinal adjustment can be quite forceful if done manually, and it has been shown that a side effect can be fractures of bones where there is decreased bone density.  However, there are other ways to provide spinal adjustments that do not cause fractures.  The doctors at Discover Chiropractic are trained in Activator Methods, an adjusting technique that utilizes a small instrument that provides the adjustment without the twisting, popping, or cracking of a manual adjustment.  The Activator has been shown to be a safe and effective way to adjust those with osteoporosis, and is the only Chiropractic adjusting instrument that has been approved by Medicare.

You do not need to live in pain!  Fear no longer needs to hold you back from receiving Chiropractic adjustments.  With Activator Methods, you too can benefit from Chiropractic care!

Facts about Osteoporosis:

• Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women.
• 20% of men are affected by osteoporosis.
• You can control your risk factors by including weight-bearing exercises, having enough calcium and vitamin D, and avoid things like caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and certain medications.
• Eat calcium rich foods or supplements at least two hours after eating whole wheat foods.
• It is a myth that Chiropractic care is unsafe with osteoporosis. Activator Methods is a very safe, gentle, and effective way to treat even with osteoporosis.

Source:  National Osteoporosis Foundation.  www.nof.org

Our October newsletter is here!  This month features healthy choices and tips.  You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.

You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.

Don’t Negotiate With Your Body

As our nation continues to pursue the “magic pill” to our health woes, you may want to consider taking matters into your own hands.  The good news is that it does not require any picketing or persuasion of your local governmental representatives.  If we look at the leading causes of death and illness amongst Americans, it is no surprise that a great number of them are due to lifestyle habits.  You can make the difference yourself; it IS in your control.

Our bodies are well designed to work properly when they are given what is needed.  If you try to withhold that, your body will not respond well.  The old adage that you are what you eat, could never be truer.  We have a generation of people who skip breakfast or have coffee (loaded with all the good stuff) and donuts to start the day.  This is followed by a hamburger with a side of fried potatoes, chips, a cookie, and a large soda for lunch.  Then dinner is served with large servings of meat and potatoes, followed by a gluttony of dessert.

Down the road, we realize that we are putting on more weight than we would like and start to think that our weight is the problem.  The response may be eating things labeled “Low Fat,” “Sugar Free,” or “Healthy.”  If you think about it, things that are truly healthy do not need to be labeled as such.  Things that are sugar-free and low fat often contain substitutes that our bodies do not know what to do with.

When we realize that this is not working, we look around for the latest crazes in diet programs that overload our bodies with more protein than they need, or join an expensive club to be told that we can lose weight by expelling more energy than we consume.  We can see the problem with these crazes when we look at the temporary nature of these programs.  Once we have lost the weight we hoped to achieve, we “graduate” and do whatever we want as if our diets are only important on a short-term basis.

All this time, we had forgotten that weight was not the problem.  It was US all along.  It was our behavior, and the choices we made that got us to where we are.

The question we should be asking ourselves is, “Are we truly healthy?”  Being healthy is not just about looking good or feeling good, though it includes both.  Our bodies need a wide array of nutrients to stay healthy and prevent us from illness.  The choices we make in the foods we eat play an important role in that.  We cannot just choose to eat healthy temporarily or at certain times; the body will not compromise-it will not change how it reacts to poor choices.  However, making even just a few good changes now can have a significant impact.

Shop at the perimeter of the grocery store.
This is typically where you will find all the fresh produce and foods.  Avoiding the center aisles will keep you away from overly-processed foods that lack nutritional value.

Eat more fruits and vegetables.
We all knew this would be included.  Doctors have said this for years, and it was as true then as it is now.

Eat fresh produce.
If at all possible, get them when they are in-season at your local farmers’ market or directly from your own garden.  When they are out of season, try the frozen alternatives since they are typically more fresh and nutritious than their canned counterparts.  Eat them raw if possible, as there will be fewer nutrients cooked out.

Pay attention to colors.
When picking what fruits and vegetables to eat, try to keep a variety of the different colors of the rainbow.  The different colored produce contains different nutrients and antioxidants that are vital for health.

Supplements, not substitutes.
Remember that if you are taking your daily vitamins and supplements, they are not meant to be replacements to your meals.  Continue to eat a regular and healthy diet.

Avoid overconsumption.
Remember that not every meal is a Thanksgiving dinner.  Eating until engorged is not a healthy way to consume your foods.  It is recommended to eat moderate sized meals frequently throughout the day.  This will help maintain a healthy metabolism.

Avoid smoking.
Smoking has devastating effects on your whole body, not just your lungs.

Avoid fad diet programs.
Though these programs may help lose weight really quickly, they typically lack the nutritional substances your body needs to be healthy.  Most people who enter these programs end up gaining all the weight back, plus a few more pounds within a few months.  Putting your body through this roller coaster ride can be very devastating physically and psychologically.  Don’t let the TV ads and the media fool you.  Looking good does not equal feeling good, nor does it mean being healthy.  There is a reason why the same celebrity is on TV pushing a new diet fad every few months.

Balance your lifestyle.
Don’t forget about other parts of your life.  Make sure you get enough sleep and exercise, properly deal with stress, and enjoy your life.

Alignment.
Keeping yourself well aligned by seeing your Chiropractor for routine checkups can be very beneficial to a properly functioning body.  Remember that your nervous system controls how your body functions.  Keeping stress off your spine will allow it to work properly.

Remember that the most important part of these changes is that they become routine.  These small changes can have wonderful results.

How much can keeping your spine properly aligned help?  Watch this video to see how it has helped local children.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Happy Halloween!

It’s that time of year again, and we are not just referring to cold and flu scares.  Though it is important to make sure you and your kids take the necessary precautions to prevent infections, here are some other tips to help ensure Halloween is safe and fun:

Halloween Candy Safety Tips:

• Examine candy wrappers carefully.
• Do not let your kids consume any candy before you inspect it.
• Pay attention to any foods that your kids may have allergies to.
• Discard candy with any punctures or tears in the wrapper.
• Discard candy with any sign of being unwrapped.
• Discard candy with wrappers that are discolored or faded.
• Discard any unwrapped candy.
• Discard candy from unknown manufacturers or sources.
• Discard home-wrapped treats from unknown sources (cookies, popcorn, baked goods, etc.).
• Inspect fruits for punctures.
• Discard fruits that are from an unknown source since toxins may not be visible.
• Keep control of the area your kids do their trick-or-treating, staying out of unfamiliar neighborhoods.
• Don’t forget about the local businesses or malls that provide safe avenues for young trick-or-treaters.
• Make sure kids brush their teeth after eating candy to help prevent cavities.
• Be the parent.  Take control of how much and how often your kids consume candy as it contains high volumes of sugar and other chemicals that are not intended to be consumed in high volumes and frequency.
• Make sure your kids don’t go trick-or-treating hungry to decrease the temptation to gorge.
• Once candy has been inspected, ration out an appropriate amount to consume and place the rest in an area that is out of reach and out of sight.

Halloween Safety Tips:

• Make sure your kids can safely walk through neighborhoods, especially when it gets dark.
• Carry a good flashlight; attach glow sticks or reflective lighting to kids’ costumes.
• Plan ahead and know the neighborhoods and routes before trick-or-treating.
• Travel in groups and do not walk in between parked cars.
• Never let kids go to the door alone.
• Never let kids go inside a home alone.
• Stay in well-lit areas, as opposed to dark lawns or alleys.
• If crossing the street, cross at the crosswalks.
• Make sure masks are big enough to allow for as much peripheral vision as possible.
• Costumes should not be too long or big to prevent tripping and stumbling.
• Try to use flame-proof materials for costumes; if homemade, make sure kids are careful around pumpkins or anything with candles.
• Be especially careful around sharp objects.
• Props such as displays with fake swords, pitchforks, knives, etc. should be made of a safe soft material.
• Keep your yard safe for other kids by keeping it clean, putting away bikes and toys, and keeping it well lit.
• Drivers should be cautious and drive slowly, especially through residential areas.
• Don’t let kids carry large bags, as the tendency is to carry more candy than they should.  Kids are susceptible to sprain or strain injures as well.  If you are concerned that your child may have been injured, don’t wait. See your doctor right away.

Our July newsletter is here!  This month features back pain tips.  You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.

You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.

The Silent Killer

Is Stress Real?

We often hear this question because stress is not something tangible for us to wrap our hands around - to feel it, measure it, listen to it, smell it, or look at it.  When you go to the doctor, you can measure your health in a multitude of ways.  We have scales to measure our weight, clocks to measure our resting heart rate, lab exams to measure our cholesterol, etc.  We can put substantial numbers on almost anything to compare ourselves to our healthy ideals.  But how do we measure stress?  How much is too much?  Unfortunately these are questions that have no easy answers; we are not fortunate enough to have stress meters, like the one pictured.  But stress is very much real and very dangerous.

Our bodies are designed with a fight or flight response during acute stressful situations.  During these situations, we must decide whether we stay and prepare to fight, or if we need to run away from the situation.  Though we do not face as many wild animals or other dangers as our ancestors faced, this response is still an important defense mechanism for us today.  This mechanism can be instinctually helpful, such as knowing when we are in danger and need to flee, in performance sports to give us the extra boost we need, or even to the extreme of landing an airplane pummeling toward the ground.  These situations all have a performance and time component in common.

Performance
When having to flee from a predator, survival is the most important function.  Our nervous system kicks into high gear to provide a quick boost of energy to our muscles, open our airways to supply the higher demand for oxygen, as well as dilating our pupils and relaxing our lenses to focus on what we need to see.  During this time, we do not need to worry too much about other functions, so the body stops digestion of food and even relaxes sphincters that typically retain urine and feces from expelling uncontrollably.

Time
As you might have noticed, acute was a key word for stress to be a natural defense mechanism.  However, when stress becomes a chronic problem, it can cause a multitude of problems or make the problems we already have worse.  It can trigger emotional problems such as anxiety, tension, nightmares, loss of sleep, depression, and anger.  It can also have devastating physical manifestations such as headaches, body aches, fatigue, digestive problems, obesity, tobacco cravings, and increased blood pressure.  If you take a closer look at that list, you might notice that some of those signs and symptoms are high risk factors for heart disease.  Heart disease is the number one cause of death for Americans, but we are fortunate to know that it is preventable.

What Does Stress Look Like?

Stress can look different in every person.  Things that may be stressful to one person may not be stressful for another.  People often experience signs and symptoms of stress and are not even aware of it.  It is no wonder we call it the silent killer.  To help you manage stress, be sure to see your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Tension
• Anxiety
• Loss of sleep
• Depression
• Anger or impatience
• Back pain
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Mood swings or crying spells
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Neck pain
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
• Weight loss/gain
• Smoking or drug use

What Should You Do About Stress?

Two of the biggest causes of stress include work and money.  It is no coincidence that they go hand-in-hand.  So the obvious thing to do is to get rid of work and money, right?  If only it were possible for most of us.  If you have been following our articles, you may have started picking up that the prevention theme is prevalent.  But with stress, we are going to take a different approach, and give tips to manage it.  Finding ways to relieve stress is much more efficient than trying to eliminate it in our fast-paced society.

The first step in managing stress is recognizing it in yourself or your loved ones.  The second thing you can do is to find ways to deal with stress and expel all that pent-up energy.  Listed below are some common ways to help alleviate stress.

Exercise
This is absolutely crucial in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  The great news is that it is often the number one way to relieve stress.  Remember that exercise does not have to be something you dread.  Keep it simple, keep doing it on a regular basis, and keep it fun.  Doing something as simple as adding a 10-minute brisk walk to your day can add years to your life and reduce your stress levels.

Relaxation Techniques
Activities such as meditation, yoga, Pilates, prayer, biofeedback, and even taking a deep breath can be extremely helpful.  They are not only good exercise, but help with your state of mind, which is very important in dealing with stress.

Sleep
Sleep is crucial as it is your body’s time for regeneration and rest.  It is recommended that you get a full night’s rest — between 6-8 hours of sleep a night.  Caffeine, sugary foods before going to sleep, and even sleeping pills can disturb your sleep.  As always, we recommend as natural a sleep as possible.  Taking daily naps can also do wonders for you.

If you happen to work during the night, be sure that the room you sleep in is dark.  Recent studies have found that sunlight plays an important role in our sleeping patterns, so be sure to wear eyeshades if you sleep in a well-lit room.

Diet
There is no big secret here: diet plays an important role in your health.  There is no secret potion, or a new wave program to begin.  Your diet is what you eat every day, and it should be well balanced.  Your diet should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The more colorful the variety the better, as the colorful plants tend to be more nutrient-rich.  Providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function will allow it to be more efficient in dealing with environmental stresses.

Enjoy Life
This is an easy concept to say, and more difficult to practice.  But there are things in life that you can control, and things that you cannot control.  As much as a burden as these things may be, learn to let go of the things you cannot control.  Keep control of the things that make you happy, such as hobbies you enjoy.  Do not forget about your friends and family.  As busy as you may become, you still need time in your life for your loved ones.  YOU NEED THEM.  Studies have shown that people need human interaction, and that having these people around improves the quality of your life.

Get Help
Your body gives you warning signs when something is wrong.  Do not ignore them.  If you are having trouble coping with stress on your own, it is okay to seek help from others.  Professional counseling can be extremely beneficial in dealing with high stress.

Keeping yourself well aligned is also very beneficial.  The purpose of Chiropractic care is to help your body make sure that it is healthy and able to function as it was meant to.  Seeing your Chiropractor in stressful seasons (accountants, we are looking at you!) will not only help with those tense muscles, but will also allow your body to manage your stress properly so you can function more efficiently.

Did you know?

• Our “Fight of Flight” response is meant for short term stressful situations.
• Your body expresses warning signs when under stress, both emotional and physical signs and symptoms.
• Stress can be a trigger or amplifier of serious illnesses, including heart disease.
• Managing your stress is a must in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Regular exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress.
• Professional counseling and Chiropractic care are very effective in managing stress.

Our June newsletter is here!  This month features back pain tips.  You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.

You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.

Our Ancestors Invented The Wheel, We Made It Better

A Look Back
It has been more than a century since Chiropractic was introduced to the world.  D.D. Palmer (the founder of the first Chiropractic college, Palmer College of Chiropractic) performed the first adjustment on Harvey Lillard in 1895.  As one account of the story goes, Lillard was partially deaf.  Following an adjustment by Palmer, Lillard’s hearing was restored.  This single story raised many questions about the vast possibilities of the human nervous system.

The Healing Nature of Your Body
The more research that is done, the more we learn how much untapped potential our bodies contain.  A simple task such writing involves such complicated communication and coordination from our bodies, and yet we are able to do it so efficiently.  Our initial thought of the movement to the movement itself takes a fraction of a second.  Yet in that time, our body communicates with itself from multiple areas with all sorts of different chemicals, electrical transmissions, neurotransmitters, and cells that must be involved.  This simple example alone shows how our bodies are more powerful than we could have ever imagined.

When we look at its ability to heal, it is just as complex.  Let us look at something as simple as cutting your finger.  In the initial stages, you get signs and symptoms such as bleeding, redness around the wound, swelling, and pain.  Looking at this from the body’s point of view, it has released several chemicals such as histamine and prostaglandin to help mediate the inflammation of this wound.  The purpose of this inflammation is to cause congestion in the area of the wound so that your body has a chance to fight off any infections that may set in.  Meanwhile, this inflammation also irritates the tissues, causing pain.  The purpose of this pain is so that you are conscious of the injury and you will resist putting yourself in situations that can cause further injury.  As your body starts the healing processes, there is interaction from other chemicals such as fibrinogen and thromboplastin that begin to build a scar over your wound to stabilize and heal it.  It works like a well orchestrated machine.  All of this occurs without us even having to think about it.

Everyday life is very strenuous on our bodies.  We face illnesses and injuries on a daily basis that we are able to overcome.  However, we all reach a certain point in our lives when we face something that our bodies are unable to repair on their own.  During these crises, we need outside intervention for our bodies to recover. When we look at a broken bone, your body would be able to heal this wound itself.  But without seeing your doctor to set the bone, it will take much longer if it is to ever heal properly.  We could even look at severe cases of infection in which the invaders overwhelm our bodies, and without the use of antibiotics or antivirals, we would not be able to recover.

The Role of Chiropractic’s Intervention
Through everyday stresses and injuries, the joints of our spine and body may become subluxated.  This occurs when they become misaligned and compress surrounding tissues, which limit their ability to move.  Often times, the body is able to correct itself.  But many times, they reach a point where they are unable to correct themselves, thus interfering with your body’s natural healing capabilities.  At that point, they need intervention from a Chiropractor.

A Chiropractor corrects these subluxations by providing an adjustment. The traditional method for providing this adjustment is to do it by hand, providing a quick shallow thrust to re-align the joints and thus increasing motion and function.  The number of times the adjustment is needed will vary on the severity.  As we know, injured tissues can take several weeks to heal.  During that time, the joints can subluxate repeatedly due to the compromised tissues and may need to be corrected more than once.  As these corrections are made to remove interference, your body is able to heal properly and quickly.

What’s All That Clicking?
Often times with the adjustment, there may be some “popping” or “cracking” sounds that arise from the joints.  These noises are called cavitations, which are indications of gases being released from the joint capsules.  These cavitations may ordinarily occur with an adjustment, but do not indicate the adjustment itself.  The noise of the cavitation causes a local neuromuscular response that temporarily numbs pain, thus patients may report liking the cavitation with an adjustment.  But do not get hung up on this idea, as the joints do not always cavitate.  The real power in the adjustment is restoring the alignment and motion of that joint.  With some time, the tissues of those areas are able to heal, thus making the injury better.  This is also an important concept to remember because we are all guilty or at least know of someone who is guilty of “self-adjusting.”  The cavitation can be caused in joints that are NOT subluxated.  It requires years of training and skill to locate and correct subluxated joints.  Twisting or turning your own neck or back to cause these cavitations is not recommended and is a very dangerous game of Russian roulette.

Since Chiropractic first started, it has been constantly evolving.  One area in its evolution is the method in which the adjustment is provided.   In the 1960-s, Activator Methods was created as a way to provide a Chiropractic adjustment by using an adjustment tool, which has many advantages.  Using this method is very safe, gentle, and controlled.  There is no twisting or bending at the neck or back.  Patients remain in a relaxed neutral position when adjusted, thus there is little to no concern about muscles that tense up prior to the adjustment or the risk of stroke.  For those who have a phobia of their neck “popping,” it is an added bonus.

The Activator was invented right here in Minnesota and remains the most widely studied and used adjusting tool.  There have been other similar adjusting tools invented, but the Activator is the only adjusting tool approved by Medicare.  Since it is so gentle and safe, many doctors use the Activator tool with infants and the elderly.  However, it is very effective in people of all ages.  Doctors who specialize in Activator Methods require training beyond school to become certified.

Dr. Bobendrier and Dr. Huynh remain annually certified as Mankato specialists in Activator Methods.  To learn more about Activator or to find a specialist near you, visit http://www.activator.com.

Did You Know?

• Your body sometimes needs help to heal.  Chiropractic provides that assist when you cannot do it yourself.
• “Popping” your own neck or back is very dangerous.
• Specialized training is required to provide a proper adjustment.
• The “popping” or “cracking” noise does not always occur with an adjustment.
• Activator was invented in Minnesota.
• The Activator tool is approved by Medicare.
• Activator specialists require additional training and annual certification.
• Preview videos about Activator on Dr. Weil’s website at http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/activator/.