Not your Grandpa's Bowling!

Dr. Skrien.

Were we practice good health naturally

Bowling and Your Back

 

            Did you know more people bowl in one week then watched the Super Bowl?

 

The pro bowlers we see on television and the amateur bowlers we meet at the local lanes may suffer from similar back problems, if to a different degree. Both show the same symptoms of overuse and under-conditioning, say the chiropractors who have treated them.

 

            Key to the problem is the fact that bowling is a one-sided sport. Though these athletes should use the whole body to transfer power from their legs to the ball, most bowlers use only one hand – and the neck, shoulders, elbow and wrist on that side – to perform. Depending on their individual style, bowlers may stress the external rotators of the shoulder and all the muscles on that side of the back. Handling the ball’s “hook” can cause wrist and elbow subluxations. Knee problems are also common.

 

            Chiropractic treatment can ease the discomfort that bowling can cause and, just as important, provide the training guidelines that offer bowlers the strength, flexibility and endurance they need to help avoid futures problems.

After Whiplash, What?

 

           

Most people today are familiar with whiplash; what happens in a rear-end collision when the body is subject to impact and thrown forward and back and whipped forward again. Officially it’s known as cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome, because the neck receives the worst injuries.

 

            Years ago whiplash was treated with rest, immobilization and medication for pain. Little wonder that only half the patients recovered fully. Modern chiropractic generally provides better results with early movement, rehabilitative exercise and spinal manipulation.

 

            Spasms and swelling may make is difficult to examine a whiplash patient immediately, and some injuries may not be recognizable for hours. With time the doctor of chiropractor can assess the damage and then initiate treatment first to reduce inflammation, then to help tissues heal and return to a full range of motion.

 

            In today’s legal environment your doctor not only has to be able to get you back in shape, they have to be able to document your injuries and your progress. In our office we have the latest in technology to help us diagnose and treat your injuries. We have surface EMG, computerized ROM, and x-ray facilities to document your care. We also have a complete rehab protocol and equipment that is needed to aid in your care. Dr. Skrien is also very compressive in his examination and care for automobile accidents. He keeps up on the latest research in this field, and also gives continuing education classes for attorneys on this legal matter. He is very qualified to handle your case.

Call today and set up an appointment if you are suffering from a whiplash injury and see the benefits of Chiropractic Care.

Can a Pregnant Woman Exercise?

 

            Yes, a mother-to-be can participate in a fitness program that will keep her in good shape for childbirth and healthier throughout her pregnancy. But because the health and safety of both mother-to-be and her child must be guarded, it’s wise to get the guidance of a health care expert, such as you chiropractor.

 

            Energy levels will fluctuate during pregnancy, and some women may find it takes more work to achieve familiar results. It’s wise to limit activities somewhat: keep heart rate below 140 beats per minute; maintain strenuous activity no more than 15 minutes at a time; avoid deep flexion or extension of joints; and take no supine positions after the fourth month.

 

             Experienced chiropractors usually recommend walking instead of jogging. Cycling is good, but a stationary bike may be better when balance becomes a problem. Swimming is an ideal exercise, as is yoga. Skiing and ice skating present the danger of falls and should be avoided.

 

As always consult your Dr. before exercising.

 

Dr. Skrien

“An obstacle is what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” BJ Palmer
What is your Goal???

Perry Dauer

Parrish has literally kept me up and running for years!! His ability to "listen" to my words of woe and translate that into spot on adjustments is amazing! He has gotten me through 4 marathons and is being challenged to get me through the next one this year! Thanks Doc!!! See you all on the running trails!

Start of running season

 

Perry Dauer

Parrish has literally kept me up and running for years!! His ability to "listen" to my words of woe and translate that into spot on adjustments is amazing! He has gotten me through 4 marathons and is being challenged to get me through the next one this year! Thanks Doc!!! See you all on the running trails!

 

Get in for a tune up before starting your marathon training!

 

 

Give Your Kids the Gift of a Healthy Spine

Fun Factoids

Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza everyday. The Sahara Desert stretches farther than the distance from California to New York. Honeybees navigate by using the Sun as a compass.

The health of a child’s spine needs to be taken very seriously. A healthy spine will decrease their chance of injury, improve their posture, improve their overall health and help to avoid spinal problems such as scoliosis. in fact, studies have shown that children who receive regular chiropractic care are less frequently sick, are able to concentrate better and are generally healthier. As parents, this is what we want for our kids, right?

Here are three things that you can do today to help improve your child’s spinal health:

• Regular chiropractic care. Just as children need good hygiene, dental care and sound nutrition, they also need regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic care will help to restore and maintain normal spinal function, allowing a child’s body to develop optimally.
• Limit backpack weight. One common source of spinal injury for children is their heavy backpacks. Limit the weight of their backpacks to 10% - 15% of their body weight. For example: A child weighing 50 lbs. should carry no more than 7.5 lbs, and a child weighing 80 lbs. should carry no more than 12 lbs. If children carry more than this, they have an increased risk of injuring themselves.
• Keep kids active. There is an epidemic of childhood obesity in this country as more and more children spend their day in front of the television and playing computer games. This not only increases their risk of developing diabetes and heart disease early in life, it is also very stressfull on the spine. More and more children suffer from back pain and headaches simply because they don’t get enough exercise.

Every child is different and has unique needs. Doctor Skrien is trained in evaluating and treating the spines of all ages. Give your kids the gift of a healthy spine by getting them regular chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Care Can Help...
Our goal is to adjust the spine and help stimulate your body's natural healing process

Taking Care of Your One And Only Body!

Forever Young

Chiropractic Care and the Fountain of Youth

There is no fountain of youth, of course, but there does exist a fountain of youthfulness. Anyone can gain access to this fountain by following a consistent plan of healthy nutrition, regular vigorous exercise, and sufficient rest. When you add regular chiropractic care to your long-term program, all your activities provide a greater yield. Chiropractic care works by optimizing the functioning of your spinal column. The spinal column houses and protects spinal nerves, branches of your central nerve system that carry messages to all the other parts of your body. When the various parts of your spine - the vertebrae - are working well together, messages can flow freely back and forth along the spinal nerves. By helping ensure this free flow of information, chiropractic care helps you get the most out of your nutrition, exercise, and other healthful activities.

Most of us like to think of ourselves as young: young in heart at least, if not actually young in years. But is it possible to stay "forever young" in terms of health and wellness? Of course, probably no one would want to remain forever young in terms of life experience. Our experiences give us character and contribute to our growth and development as persons.

As we get older, though, gaining skills and possibly wisdom, is it really necessary to suffer physical breakdowns along the way? Holding on to youthful bloom may not be feasible in all aspects, but there are a few critical tips and tricks to retain much of that glow and vigor as we get older. We may not, in reality, stay forever young, but we sure can give meaning to the notions that "50 is the new 30" and "60 is the new 40". Here are two key tips. They may seem obvious, but the power is in actually implementing these tips consistently over time.

Tip #1: Eat less. Each person has his or her own caloric balancing point beyond which extra food will be retained as fat. If your average daily calorie consumption is right around this critical value, all the energy in the food you eat will be used to support your physical functioning. But extra calories will not be burned up and this unused energy will be stored as fat. Over time, increasing fat stores frequently lead to chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. So with respect to long-term health, it's a very good idea to avoid overeating. Of course, we want to have fun, too, but that's what a "free food day" is for. If you eat within your caloric range on six days of the week, the seventh can be a "free day" when you can eat whatever you want. Such a system works very well for ongoing optimal weight management (which, of course, means ongoing health and well-being, contributing to our notion of "forever young").¹

Tip #2: Exercise more. Did you ever see a gymnast, competitive swimmer, or professional dancer who didn't look absolutely terrific? These young men and women are in such good shape owing to the high volume of exercise they do every week. Do you know an older adult who was on a high school or college gymnastics team or was a professional dancer long ago? Isn't that person still really healthy and fit? Such long-term fitness results from a lifelong habit of exercise. The very good news is that even if you haven't exercised in many, many years, you can still derive benefit for years to come from starting to exercise, right now.^2,3

You get fit by doing the work. Not all at once of course, but gradually, steadily, building up strength and endurance, starting right where you are. The secret is to begin. And after not too long a time, you'll find that your new habit of exercise is providing all kinds of surprising benefits, including deeper, more restful sleep and increased energy and exuberance. Not to mention weight loss and a slimmer waistline.

These two tips, eating less and exercising more, have been known for decades. But in order to reap the many benefits, what's required is to actually do these things. We can be forever young, relatively literally, by taking these simple actions on our own behalf.

¹Campbell KL, et al: J Clin Oncol Reduced-Calorie Dietary Weight Loss, Exercise, and Sex Hormones in Postmenopausal Women: Randomized Controlled Trial. 2012 May 21 [Epub ahead of print]

²Umpierre D: Physical activity advice only or structured exercise training and association with HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 305(17):1790-1799, 2011

³Betof AS, et al: Effects and potential mechanisms of exercise training on cancer progression: A translational perspective. Brain Behav Immun 2012 May 17 [Epub ahead of print]

Smarter Body

Proprioception - Making Your Body Smarter

Chiropractic Care Helps Your Body Be Smarter

Your body's awareness of where it is in three dimensions is critical to your ability to function effectively in the world. This awareness depends on proprioceptors. These specialized nerve endings are part of your nervous system - your body's master system. Nerve signals are transmitted from proprioceptors in joints and muscles, along nerve pathways, to spinal nerves. Spinal nerves connect to the spinal cord, and from there signals are transmitted to the brain. But spinal nerves are a potential bottleneck to the free flow of information. These nerves may become irritated or inflamed, blocking accurate information from reaching the brain and accurate instructions from reaching the rest of the body. Chiropractic care helps keep your body free of nerve interference. By correcting spinal misalignments, chiropractic care helps remove nerve interference and ensures a free flow of information from the brain, to the spinal cord, to all the body's cells, and back again. Optimal health and well-being are the result.

We usually don't think of our bodies in terms of their being "smart." For example, we walk to the corner store without giving a single thought to the complex mechanics involved in getting there and back. But behind the scenes there's plenty going on and your body's "IQ" has a lot to do with your success in accomplishing everyday tasks.

Proprioception is one of those background physical processes that make up your body's total IQ. Proprioceptors are specialized nerve endings located in your muscles and joints that inform your brain about your body's position in three-dimensional space. You're able to write legibly because proprioceptors are sending instantaneous data about the angles of the small joints of your fingers and wrists as your pen moves across the page. You're able to run on the beach because proprioceptors are continuously sending signals to your brain about the changing shape of the uneven surface of the sand.¹

Without these specialized nerve endings, we'd never be able to hit a baseball, throw a Frisbee, or drive a car. But proprioceptors can be smart or less than that. It all depends on how well-trained they are. One person out for a stroll might trip over a crack in the pavement and suffer a badly sprained ankle. Another person might trip over the same crack, even badly turning over their ankle in the process, and keep on walking without even a trace of a limp.

The difference between injury and non-injury is the level of proprioceptor training, and this level usually is related to whether you're doing regular exercise.² Exercise trains your muscles and joints to adapt to varying kinds of stresses (weight-bearing loads) throughout a variety of positions (the full range of motion of those joints). As a result, trained proprioceptors can withstand a high degree of stress (such as a sudden twisting of an ankle). The untrained ankle, possibly the ankle of a person who hasn't done much walking, running, or bike riding in the last 5 years, will be damaged by an unusual and unexpected stress. The result is an ankle sprain of varying severity and possibly a broken ankle.

Similarly, it is well known that older adults experience more frequent falls than do younger adults. Part of the explanation involves proprioception.³ Many older adults don't engage in regular exercise. Proprioceptive function decreases, changes in level or surface aren't recognized quickly by the person's feet and ankles, and the person falls.

It's easy to see that the effort to maintain your body's IQ is time very well spent. The fastest way to boost this skill set is by doing regular exercise. All kinds of exercise provide benefit, so the best exercises are the ones that have some interest for you personally. Optimally, a person is doing both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. As always, the key to long-term health and wellness is consistency.

¹Wong JD, et al: Can proprioceptive training improve motor learning? J Neurophysiol 2012 Sep 12 [Epub ahead of print]

²Ferreira ML, et al: Physical activity improves strength, balance and endurance in adults aged 40-65 years: a systematic review. J Physiother 58(3):145-156, 2012

³Howe TE, et al: Exercise for improving balance in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Nov 9(11):CD004963.