A Change In How Many Are Running

This article was in this month's ChiroHealth newsletter put out by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). I thought this was an interesting topic and wanted to share it. I also included some additional links below for anyone wanting to know more:

Until recently, most of us considered athletic shoes an important and essential part of our athletic training gear. Every year since the mid-1970s, the big running shoe companies have introduced new product lines based on shoes with increased cushion and support. Today, however, there has been an uprising among subgroups of runners, cross-fitness enthusiasts and weight lifters: Less shoe is better, and no shoe is best.

The premise behind barefoot running is essentially that the intrinsic muscles, joints, ligaments and mechanoreceptors of the feet require stimulation to function properly. And this optimal function is inhibited by highly supportive and cushioned shoes.

If you’re interested in trying out barefoot running, consider this advice before you begin.

* Start with walking barefoot or in minimalist shoes, and gradually work into running.
* Progress to short runs. Begin running only five minutes per run, and gradually increase.
* Rather than going totally barefoot, use a minimalist shoe to protect your feet from thorns, glass, nails, stones and other debris.
* Stop barefoot running at the earliest sign of pain.
* Avoid running barefoot in freezing temperatures. Shoes protect us from frostbite if nothing else.
* Be prepared for blisters and calluses to form as you transition to barefoot running.


Additional Links:
Barefoot Running
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

Runblogger's Guide to Minimalist Running Shoes
http://www.runblogger.com/2010/07/runbloggers-guide-to-minimalist-running.html


2011 Minimalist and Barefoot Style Running Shoes
http://www.dailymile.com/blog/review/coming-soon-to-a-store-near-you-preview-of-new-2011-minimalist-and-barefoot-style-running-shoes

Something We Should All Know About Nutrition!

This is a video that I saw today and wanted to share (you can also find it on our facebook page). This video does a great job of illustrating some of the numerous reasons why our nutrition is so vital to our bodies and overall health. The knowledge you will find in this video needs to be widespread in our country before we are ever able to be healthier as a nation. Share this with someone that you care about and want to see have a better, healthier life.

Stressed?

Our latest Chirotoon takes a look at stress, which is something in today's society that we all must deal with. Stress has many effects on the body, one of the main ones being increased tension of the muscles in the neck, shoulders and spine. Even after the stress is gone the tension often remains. Luckily chiropractic treatments are great for this.

Subluxation Free

This video is a great tool in illustrating both the importance and power of chiropractic care. It has some great visuals that are used to show the wide spread effect the nervous system has on the human body. So keep in mind that chiropractors are not 'back doctors', instead we use the bones of the spine to ensure that the bodies' nervous system is able to function with out interference. Thank you and enjoy the video. [PS If the music in the video is not to your liking please turn it down and still watch, it is worth it.]

Study links vertebral misalignments with allergic diseases

I just wanted to share the following study that a fellow chiropractor shared with me. It is a research study called “Relationship Between Vertebral Deformities And Allergic Diseases” by Yasuhiko Takeda and Shouji Arai published in The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery.

This study shows a correlation between two types of allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma) and immune dysfunction that is secondary to vertebral misalignments. They found a common area for misalignment of the spine in the patients with these two types of allergic diseases to be the lower thoracic spine or mid-back. This study links the misalignments as a cause by pointing out that this area of the spine is what innervates the adrenal glands. It was shown that the patients they studied had chronic decline in the adrenal function that was impart due to the nerve compression (from the misalignments of the spine).

This study is quoted by saying:

“There is an expectation of alleviation, and prevention of development of symptoms by correcting the changes in the vertebrae caused by chronic vertebral misalignments, which is common in allergic disease patients.”

One can gather from this that not only do these researchers believe that there is benefit for patients with allergic diseases from chiropractic care but that by correcting these misalignments early in life there might be a prevention of the symptoms in the first place.

Chiropractors have known about the effect that a well functioning nervous system can have on the entire body now for decades, but it is great to finally see more and more studies like this one that confirm this.

Citation: Y. Takeda & S. Arai : Relationship Between Vertebral Deformities And Allergic Diseases . The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. 2004 Volume 2 Number 1.

Body Talk

Here is the latest Chirotoon for the first week of April. I really think this might be one of my favorite Chirotoons so far. It is funny and is something most of us can relate to from time to time. I am a believer that once we take the time to slow down from our busy schedules and listen that it is easy to notice the subtle ways our bodies use to tell us we are in need of an adjustment.


As always you can check out this blog for the latest Chirotoons or find them twice a month in the Dyersville Commercial.

Sleeplessness

There have been numerous patients that have had complaints of sleeplessness as of late, so it seems that our latest Chirotoon is very fitting.






If you can relate to this call us for an appointment today and also check out our previous post that has plenty of helpful sleep tips: 'A Better Night Sleep'.

Never mind the trophy...

This is appropriate as the Gaelic Gallop is just around the corner. Good luck to all the runners and if you don't want to feel run down after the race come in for a visit before hand.

Treatment of Ear Infections

There has been numerous children and young adults in the office recently which is great to see. The problem is that many of them are coming in due to chronic ear infections that many have been dealing with over the course of the winter. Luckily we will be able to help most of them. Because of this recent raise in ear infection cases I thought this would be a great video to share.






It is great that we as chiropractors are able to help our young patients that suffer from chronic ear infections, however, it is even better that children that get adjusted routinely are less likely to ever have ear infections in the first place. So if you would like your child to be less likely to have ear infections or other common illnesses then give chiropractic a try. Chiropractic is truly meant for all ages and is more effective the earlier you start.

Effects of Chiropractic

This is a short video on the effects of chiropractic care that was put out by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Rosen talks about the important role that the nervous system has and how chiropractic works with that system. Basically stating that how we as chiropractors don't have the goal of curing patients of diseases or treating symptoms but instead removing the imbalances and interferences that are on the nervous system that the body can't correct itself. This allows the nervous system to work at its full potential and impact other problems the body might be experiencing (Dr. Rosen uses the example of children with ADHD).

Another topic in the video answers a question that most chiropractic patients have, which is how and why do subluxations (spinal misalignments) occur? Dr. Rosen answers that question and links many of the spinal issues we have as adults with thing that happen to us as children.

A Better Nights Sleep.

I just wanted to share a few points of interest and tips about sleeping that are in the March issue of Consumer Report. There is a short article entitled "How to get a good night's zzzzzzzz...", that points out some alarming new studies that have some new findings on sleep deprivation.

Some of the studies pointed out that it only takes a loss of 30 minutes of sleep to impair your problem-solving and verbal skills, reaction time and stamina. Also found was that individuals that get less than 7 hours of sleep per night are at and increased risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Finally there was evidence to show that dieters that get a lack of sleep have a harder time losing weight, because it is believed that lower levels of sleep alter hormones that regulate sugar and appetite.

This article goes on to list several sleeping tips that you can do to ensure you get a better night's sleep. A few of the tips are to avoid large meals and caffeine late in the day, go to sleep and wake up at the same times each day, set a cut off time for watching TV, texting, and computer usage, and try a new mattress (they add that 78% of problem sleepers said that a new bed helped them get a good night's sleep).

This entire article, including additional tips on sleeping and some myths about sleeping that they correct, can be found in the March, 2011 issue of Consumer Reports.

The one thing I would like to add that this article left out if you are experiencing some troubles with sleep are chiropractic adjustments. Having a body that is in alignment will cut down on the feelings of uneasiness, stiffness, and achiness that make it hard to get comfortable in bed or disrupt us from our sleep.

Ask the Professional February

Here is an early look at the upcoming Ask the Professional in the Eastern Iowa Shopper.

More activity to come.

I have not been using this blog or our facebook page much as of late. I am hoping to change all that in the coming days. To get things started I would like to share this video with all of you. It is perfect for any of you that still have football on the brain even after the season officially ended this last weekend. Enjoy!