Preventative Chiropractic Maintenance Care

Here is a question I get weekly, if not daily in my practice… Trust me, being in practice for 26 years, I have had many great questions.

Here is the question…

“Hey Doc, why does this back pain keep coming back?” 

My typical response is: well, there are lifestyle activities that may contribute or help prevent relapses:

1.      Posture

2.      Body Mechanics

3.      Regular Exercise

4.      Nutrition and Hydration

5.      Sleep

I then remind my patients, that those lifestyle decisions are “FREE”. 

Many patients do all of those lifestyle activities very well, some not so much.  Regardless, relapses tend to continue. 

So, let’s talk about the next step - Preventative Chiropractic Maintenance Care

Chiropractic maintenance care is treatment received in order to prevent future pain or health problems, prevent a relapse, and to improve quality of life.  Maintenance care is elective, so that means that the choice is yours!! 

When it comes to receiving chiropractic care, patients can be divided into three groups. 

1.      The first group of patient’s recognizes the benefit of preventative care early on and elects to receive maintenance care after they are helped through their first episode of pain.  These patients take a proactive stance on their health.

2.      The next group of patients may decide that after experiencing three or four flare-ups of pain that they would rather not let their condition to get to that point again! They realize that they do not experience as much pain (or as many health problems) when they receive chiropractic care every 4-6 weeks (for example); regardless if they are experiencing pain at that point or not.

3.      The third group of patients never elects to receive maintenance care and typically stops care once they are feeling better.  They usually reserve going to the chiropractor only when they are in severe pain or when they are experiencing a crisis.  These patients take a reactive stance on health care.  While there is nothing wrong with this approach, it does limit the number of benefits that chiropractic care can provide.  They use chiropractic for pain relief only.  

With all this being said, it is still the patient's decision to receive maintenance care.  We cannot, nor do we desire to force anyone into receiving treatment that they do not want.  We let our patients benefit from chiropractic as long as they want.  However, our job is to educate patients on all treatment options so that they can make an informed decision about their health care.

Research shows that regular chiropractic treatment can prevent degenerative changes ("arthritis") from developing.  There are many other benefits that patients report (anecdotal evidence) from receiving chiropractic care on an occasional basis, even if they are experiencing little to no pain. They are as follows:

1.      Better sleep quality - many patients sleep longer and more soundly after an adjustment.

2.      Fewer muscle spasms and numbness - normal moving spinal joints improves muscle and nerve function.

3.      Better athletic performance- symmetrical joint movement ensures that muscles do not have to strain in order to move a joint.  Many elite athletes promoted regular chiropractic care during the peak of their career: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana to name just a few.

4.      Fewer headaches- many report less frequent headaches and migraines and if experienced, they are usually less severe.

5.      Less need for medication- Many chiropractic patients report using less medication after starting care. (Especially pain medication!)

6.      Fewer medical doctor & hospital visits- many of our maintenance patients consider us as the primary resource to manage many common musculoskeletal ailments.  Our Schubbe Resch chiropractors treat all the joints and muscles in the body. If more care is needed, a referral can be made when necessary. 

7.      Easier to Breathe- patients often report that after an adjustment they can take a deep breath again.  Mobilizing the mid back and ribs allows for as much as a 30% increase in lung capacity. Asthmatic patients often find that they have fewer attacks and use less medication when under chiropractic care.

8.      Better circulation- Older patients or sedentary patients report feeling like they have better circulation after receiving treatment

9.      Fewer Surgeries- I wish I could document how many patients have dodged a lower back or neck surgery as a result of regular chiropractic care.  Having said that, how many surgeries have occurred due to a decision not to have regular chiropractic care.  It’s like taking vitamins; we will never know what regular positive lifestyle decisions prevent…

     Fewer Health Care Costs- Let’s face it, medical care is expensive.  Being unhealthy is expensive.  Patients are facing higher insurance costs than ever.  High deductibles and co-pays are now the norm.  Relatively speaking, ethical quality chiropractic care is very affordable.  Maintaining your health and preventing future health conditions will save you money and improve the quality of your life.

As you can see, there are many benefits of receiving chiropractic care on a maintenance schedule.  However, the decision to receive preventative maintenance is always up to the patient.  Whatever you decide, we'll respect that decision.

Insurance companies may or may not cover chiropractic maintenance care.  It depends on your insurance plan and your diagnosis.  In the event your insurance does not cover maintenance, both Schubbe Resch offices have “Day of Service Payment Plans” to help make the care affordable.

Please consider Preventative Chiropractic Maintenance Care

Why I Became a Doctor of Chiropractic - Part 2

Though I had already entered my training to become a doctor of chiropractic in January 2000, I continued to be amazed at the new ways in which I benefited from chiropractic treatment as a patient.

During my class training in rehabilitation and manipulation techniques for the extremities (arms and legs), I fully recovered from a chronic tennis elbow injury after 1-2 mobilizations to the left elbow joint and 1-2 soft tissue sessions to break up the scar tissue in the local tendons surrounding the elbow joint.  The chronic pain that remained for 2 full years of competitive tennnis during middle school, led me to my decision to turn down a full scholarship to a prep high school in the Twin Cities to play tennis for my freshman year of high school. I was ranked in the top 20 for junior tennis players in the Twin Cities region at the time from playing local tournaments.   However, after taking the maximum dosage of ibuprofren each day for two solid years, I gave up playing tennis competitively due to the constant pain in my left elbow that resulted from the cumulative impact of playing tennis. Today, I am able to play competitive tennis with friends and family without experiencing this once debilitating left elbow pain.

The other concern that arose during my chiropractic training years was a diagnosis of "reactive airway disease" that was confirmed from new cutting-edge respiratory testing at a local hospital in the Twin Cities. I was prescribed a steroid inhaler and told that this was a chronic condition that I would have to learn to manage to deal with the rest of my life. I was aware from my training in chiropractic that it had been regularly reported that patients who received chiropractic manipulation in the neck and upper back frequently reported improved respiratory function and sometimes reversal of respiratory symtoms. After seeking assistance from our student health clinic and receiving a short course of manipulation in the neck and upper back, I was able to discontinue my inhaler and return to running in hot or cold conditions without requiring the use of my inhaler. I have not had to utilize an inhaler to this day. What was even more impressive is that the student intern was able to show the improved respiratory function with pre and post treatment V02 max testing.

My experience as a chiropractic patient has taught me that doctors of chiropractic are gifted with an ability to easy pain and suffering from spine and extremity conditions quickly and cost-effectively, and are able to address many systemic problems with nutrition and lifestyle changes in order to create health and wellness for many non-musculoskeletal issues.

Baseball Star Teixeira Uses Chiropractic, ART, and Graston to Stay in the Game

Yankee first baseman, Mark Teixeira, has a lingering calf injury.  He also has the goal of playing for 8 more seasons.  To reach that goal, he has committed to weekly, two hour sessions with Chiropractor Gil Chimes for chiropractic care and soft tissue work.  Chimes uses ART (Active Release Techniques) as well as Graston to help the calf muscle grow more supple to absorb and disperse force.  ART is a targeted deep muscle massage and Graston breaks up scar tissue.

To read more about this story, go to the April 2013 issue of Men's Journal.  Dr. Nathan Zachor is certified in ART and a number of our chiropractors are certified in the Graston Technique.  Please call our offices at 920-738-0200 (Appleton) or 920-720-0660 (Neenah) if you are interested in learning more.

Preventing Common Lower Leg Injuries

Preventing Common Lower Leg Injuries through Preventative Strengthening Exercises:

                As the Fox Cities Marathon draws near, your training program intensity is beginning to peak.  Longer training runs may cause overuse injuries from cumulative stress on your lower leg tissues.  Overuse injuries that are typical in the lower leg include hip strain,  IT band syndrome, inner and outer meniscus (cushion between the knees) swelling, inner knee ligament soreness, kneecap tracking problems, soft tissue pain and strain on the front or side of the shin bone, foot  and inner arch pain, Achilles tendon strain, and plantar fascia inflammation, pain, and thickening.  A common breakdown in alignment of the lower leg due to weakness in specific muscles leads to many of the overuse injuries indicated above. 

                A good test to see if one’s lower leg alignment is normal is to perform a single leg squat in front of a full-length mirror.  If your hips are not level or if your knee caves inward of your second toe, then your muscles are probably not maintaining proper alignment.  This may suggest your outer hip stabilizing muscles are weak or fatigued.  If you see your foot arch falling during a single leg squat, then your front shin muscles are likely weak or fatigued.  Another common finding is that your knee may extend forward beyond your toes, which commonly suggests weakness and tightness in the posterior gluteal region. 

                See the following YouTube links for exercises to counteract these muscle weaknesses, improve your lower leg stability and alignment, and to prevent and stay injury free.  Try to perform the exercises below for 2-3 sets, 10 repetitions per set, 3-4 times per week for a minimum of 12 weeks .  Good luck everyone as you train and race this fall! 

Shin strengthening video             Hip strengthening video

              Buttock Strengthening video

About the author of this article:

                Dr. Nathan Zachor, DC is a chiropractic provider at Schubbe Resch Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in Appleton.  He is board certified in both functional rehabilitation and chiropractic.  Dr. Zachor is certified in multiple soft tissue techniques to treat athletic injuries including Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique (GT), Kinesiotaping Technique (CKTP), and Cold Laser Therapy.  He may be reached at Nathan.zachor@schubbeappleton.com or 920-738-0200 for any additional questions or concerns you may have related to the content of the above article.

Strength and Flexibility Assessments

Strength and Flexibility Assessments

“Put Spring back into your step and your activities by taking advantage of our Strength and Flexibility Assessment at Schubbe Resch. This personal evaluation will be performed by one of our therapists to isolate problem areas and to discover possible trouble spots which prevent you from enjoying your everyday activities and special outings.  Whether it is gardening, golfing, walking or watching your young athletes on the baseball or soccer fields. This assessment will be time well spent so you can spend your time well. After your assessment, your personal therapists will show you posture, stretches and specific strengthening ideas.” Dr. James McRae, DC

“Many of our patients get hurt doing everyday tasks that they have done many times before, such as bending over to pick up a golf ball or tie up the dog. Although it may not make sense at first, these incidents are the result of changed movement patterns over time. This change is often a result of the body compensating for a loss of flexibility or strength somewhere in the body. The body will always find a way- but the results often aren't pretty. A flexibility and strength assessment will help find and address the underlying issues that may have led to poor movement patterns. For example- tight hamstrings will make it increasingly difficult to use your legs when bending. This will result in an over utilization of the back. Injured low backs usually aren't weak backs- They are tired backs!! Anyone who wants to get to the bottom of why their back hurts and try to uncover the clues will benefit from this service.” David Gunderson, BS

Our therapists will test your muscle strength by doing a table top muscle assessment. Many times when the muscles aren’t doing their job, another muscle group will compensate, leading to muscle imbalances and pain. They also address core strength and the most effective ways to strengthen those core muscles. A strong core is very important for preventing many aches and pains in the low back and neck, as well as other areas of the body. The therapist will give you a personalized program based on their findings and the equipment you have available at home.

Once you are through the assessment phase, your therapist will use their findings to take you through different types of functional workouts. Each workout is designed for your specific needs. Based on the therapist’s evaluation, they will create a customized home workout program for you.

Benefits Include:

·         Improved posture and balance

·         Faster recovery from injury

·         Injury prevention

·         Complements chiropractic adjustments

To learn more, call the Neenah office at 920-720-0660.

Even Chiropractors Have Training Pain!

Going through pregnancy, labor and raising a 1 year old son made it difficult to find not only the time, but the energy for a one of my passions, running. It took setting a goal of completing the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon in May to get me back to lacing up my shoes and hitting the pavement! 

 

I am among many who set lofty goals for themselves and jump right into training.  Whether it's a full marathon or 5K you aspire to complete, injuries can crop up and prevent you from crossing the finish line.  Running injuries are most commonly caused by overuse... too much, too fast, too soon.  They hit both beginners as well as those more experienced.  Being a chiropractor, I was not immune to minor aches and pains from training and was chronically dealing with an achy hip after long runs.  The longer distances were becoming difficult and sometimes not even possible.  After getting adjusted and doing corrective pelvic stabilizing exercises the hip pain is improved and is no longer preventing me from going the distance.   

 

Getting early treatment is by far the best option in order to get back to training asap.  Most running injuries can be prevented.  Here at Schubbe Resch Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Centers we work to keep your body functioning to its best capacity and keep you doing the things to you love!

NEW! Technique Demos at Fleet Feet Sports of the Fox Valley

Dr. Nathan Zachor will be providing Active Release Technique (ART), Kinesio Taping, Graston, and Functional Movement Screens (FMS) demonstrations at Fleet Feet Sports of the Fox Valley, 3404 W. College Avenue, Appleton.    The first one is scheduled for Thursday, November 29th from 5-7 pm.  Subsequent demos will be held the 4th Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm.

Call the store at (920) 830-7867 to schedule your FREE 15 minute assessment.

Flexibility Training

Attention coaches, parents and athletes!

We want to share with you one of the best approaches to functional flexibility that we have experienced in over 20 years of clinical practice in physical therapy. We have worked with many athletes from a preventative and post injury status. We are truly amazed with the results and compliance we have observed using flexibility training. Most athletes hate to stretch, however if they understand that the greater range of motion available means a greater range to be strong in, their eyes light up!!!

Schubbe Resch Chiropractic & Physical Therapy is now offering individual, small group and team flexibility training. Please contact Kari Resch, PT for pricing and scheduling at resch.kari@yahoo.com.

This video will show you some examples of what this flexibility program includes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okb96N5PJBY&feature=share

Protein Drinks and the Teen Athlete

You don’t need to guzzle protein shakes or consume massive amounts of protein powder in order to gain muscle. The amount of protein the average American eats is sufficient for the body; the rest of the work in muscle building comes from strength training. A recommended guideline is about one to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram in body weight each day (a kilogram is equal to approximately 2.2 lbs).

One thing athletes do have to worry about more than anyone else is getting enough iron to prevent fatigue and enough calcium to maintain strong bones and muscles. The recommended daily amount of iron—which you can find in red meat, beans and leafy greens—is 15 milligrams per day for women and 10 for men. Young women need about 1,200 milligrams of calcium, which can be found in dairy, per day.

For workouts of one hour or less in duration, water is the best choice to drink to maintain your body’s fluid level. Sports drinks that replenish electrolytes are best left to workouts that last over an hour. Make sure to keep drinking fluids before, during and after the workout or event to stay hydrated.

Protein can help decrease muscle damage and soreness, but the best sources are probably already in your refrigerator.  Cottage cheese and chocolate milk are great ways to get protein in your diet, are inexpensive, and can be readily purchased at the grocery store.

Some cautions to note:

• Some protein drinks and shakes contain substances that may be considered illegal if you are a competitive athlete.  Check WIAA, NCAA or other guidelines. 
• Creatine is not recommended for athletes under the 18 years of age because of significant side effects that may include cramping and dehydration, nausea, diarrhea and kidney problems.

Please make sure to be aware of all side effects before taking this type of supplement.