Congratulations readers, we made it through another winter. I am ready for some warm weather. As I write this, I am reading many golf magazines to learn how not to use my favorite clubs, my hand wedge and foot wedge. My husband will play preferred lies…he prefers the ball to be lying over there. Of course as the season progresses we will get more serious about our game.

Golf is a great sport, fresh air and exercise (as long as you walk) but it is a physically demanding sport as well. As a certified golf fitness instructor, I work with golfers with neck pain, shoulder pain, wrist and back problems. While I am not a pro (see first paragraph), I work with the golfers most important piece of equipment…their body and try to help them maximize their performance. Your pro will work with the other five aspects of the game…basic and advanced lessons, course management, equipment and the mental aspect of the game. And while I don’t like cook book warm up exercises I want to share a few ideas to help you prepare for the upcoming season.

Starting at the bottom, balance is most important in hitting a solid shot. To improve your sense of balance, stand in your bare feet and fix you eyes on a point in front of you. Imagine a bunch of balloons attached to your head pulling you up straight and tall. Lift one foot up slightly and hold it out in front of you. Try to maintain this position for 30 seconds with out putting your foot down or falling. Repeat on the other side. When you can accomplish this, try the same posture with your eyes closed.

Being able to have a good back swing requires many things one of which is to “disconnect” your upper torso from your pelvis. This will allow the proper transfer of power and achieve more distance. To improve this, stand in front of a mirror in a slightly bent forward position. Cross your hands in front of your chest and twist to the right. Keep your belt buckle facing the mirror…don’t let it twist with you. This will require some coordination and practice. Another way of thinking about it is to try to twist your pelvis to the left as your shoulder go to the right. Now you might understand why a lot of professional golfers have low back problems and there are always chiropractors in the trailers at tournaments.

Another exercise to help with power transfer is improving the flexibility in your wrists. Take a short iron and hold it at your side with your right hand. Hold your right elbow close to your side to keep it straight. Raise the club parallel with the floor without bending your elbow. Hold it for a count of 5 and repeat. Do the same with the opposite hand.

Remember your body needs good hydration during the round as well as energy. Bring a power bar with you. If you would like other exercises, it will be important to see where your challenges are. Call my office for more information or visit our website at http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com. Have fun, stay healthy and play well.

As a health care provider, whether it is an MD, DC, PT or anyone else licensed to provide care, we have the important job of making sure we listen to patients, administer the proper care and relieve patients’ pain so they start to feel better again. From a Chiropractic perspective, the goal is to help them perform as optimally as possible. This involves teamwork between the doctor and the patient. The Chiropractor guides the patient in healing, while they must in turn, do their home care and perform any exercises recommended.

Once patients are out of pain and discomfort, they may feel as if they have their life back again. I encourage my patients to perform their everyday activities like exercising, playing golf or going places with the family. We are extremely pleased when our patients begin feeling better, and eventually they tell us they feel “normal’ again. But our responsibility to the patient does not end there.

I believe in the importance of a relationship with my patients on the first day I meet them. I explain and educate them on their ailment, the treatment and what they are expected to do outside the office to help them get themselves better. This expectation I have of patients taking care of themselves follows them throughout their lives, even after we have stopped active care.

As much as I hope that the adjustment will hold forever and our patients continue to feel better, the reality is that, inevitably, the body will need check-ups every so often. Life circumstances often arise that can cause your spine and other joints of the body become stressed and thrown out of alignment.

This concept is so important that I compare coming to the Chiropractor on a regular basis is like brushing your teeth, changing the oil in your car, changing the filters in your furnace. What would happen if you didn’t do those things? How long would your teeth last, your car engine work or how efficient would your furnace be. Regular chiropractic maintenance can help patients avoid major problem before they happen. Unfortunately, today medical world has taught patients that they should only seek the care of a doctor when they are in pain. They don’t realize that healthcare providers can help them maintain a healthy lifestyle by being proactive and taking care of themselves. A true healthcare provider will talk with you about the “fun” things: diet, exercise and stress reduction. That is what Chiropractors talk about with their patients. And as always if we can be of service feel free to contact our office for more information. Visit our website at http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

Chiropractic care can have an immense impact on the wellness of a child. However, many parents are unaware of the benefits it can have on their children’s health. This unawareness can provoke apprehension, resulting in opinionated theories against the matter, such as: Children are fragile. Children are pretty resilient but chiropractic treatment is not the same for a child as it would be for an adult.   Another common thought:  Availability of medications that relieve pain and cover a vast array of diseases will be ok. Do you really want to drug your children if there was a safe effective alternative? Or this one: Children are simply too young for treatment. Our office has treated children as young as 2 months. A lot of parents have an unawareness of chiropractic methodologies and practices. If parents are unsure about the benefits of chiropractic care themselves, why would they send their kids there?

In order to keep your children well and  obtain chiropractic care, encouragement is key for parents that are apprehensive. They should be fully informed of the benefits, the safety factors, and the positive outcomes that come from chiropractic care. It is important to explain how children can be highly vulnerable to long-term injuries from daily activity. As children are constantly growing and adapting to the natural transformations, they become prone to long-term injuries, or developing musculoskeletal disorders that can last for many years.

Regarding Chiropractic and children the Dynamic Chiropractic magazine states: “children’s bones and muscles are more elastic and heal faster. At the peak period of adolescent linear growth, the musculoskeletal system is most vulnerable because of imbalances in strength and flexibility and changes in the biomechanical properties of bone.”[1]

As a chiropractor, I encourage patients to have their children receive treatment. Chiropractic care can help prevent children from developing: Long-term musculoskeletal dysfunctions, imbalances in the body and/or dependencies on medications.  In a To Your Health article, “The same treatments we administer to adults are just as safe for children. Ailments that adults commonly come into our offices with happen to children as well. Chiropractic techniques performed on children are modified so the procedures are gentler for the child’s particular body type.”[2]
Another way a chiropractor can help prevent children from the development of postural and musculoskeletal disorders is by ordering them orthotics. Many children suffer from pronation and the low arches in their feet can disrupt normal gait patterns and create postural imbalances later in life.

In an article concerning children’s foot health, Dr. Brian Jensen states, “Foot problems from childhood can interfere with adolescent (or adult) spinal function, which can result in poor biomechanics and accelerated degenerative changes in the knees, hips, and spine.”[3]
Children that are monitored and treated by a chiropractor can reduce the risk of developing postural disorders and other ailments that typically go unseen. Parents should be encouraged to have their children routinely examined. A few steps towards prevention can make a great difference in long-term postural stability in a child.

If you would like more information regarding children and Chiropractic visit our web site and click on the “Kids and Chiropractic tab.  http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com

1] Pate, Deborah. (October 21, 2010). Musculoskeletal Development and Sports Injuries in Pediatric Patients. http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?t=34&id=54950

Greatest Player in NFL History And “Dancing With The Stars” Standout Says:  “Chiropractic Was The Key
To Keeping Me In The Game.”

If the greatest player in the history of the National Football League said, “Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game,” do you think Chiropractic care could help you with your back pain and other aches and pains?

Well, that’s exactly what happened.

Jerry Rice, who on November 4, 2010 was named the greatest player in NFL history by NFL Network’s NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players, said:  “I believe in Chiropractic and I know that it works.  You probably know about my long and successful career in football. I’m flattered by the testimonials to my durability.”

“Football is a very rough and vigorous sport. Many of the pass patterns in a game either long or short require a maximum effort.  I took some viscous hits from players nearing twice my size. Thankfully, I had the durability to withstand these tackles – or I never would have succeeded or lasted for as long as I did.”

“Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game.”

“My first experience with Chiropractic care was right before the Bengal were to play the Bengals in Super Bowl 23. A couple of our players were injured and a Chiropractor turned thing around.  I quickly became a believer and very since I have had the benefit of Chiropractic care.”

“Dancing with the stars was every bit as exhausting and challenging – though not nearly as brutal as football – it required many hours of practice… I had aches and pains that I never had before. Again, Chiropractic made the difference and kept me dancing and in the competition.”

The average NFL career is extremely short… lasting only 2-4 years. Injury prematurely ends many young player’s hopes and dreams. Jerry Rice played an astounding 20 years in the NFL.

If Chiropractic can help Jerry Rice play for 20 years in the NFL… just imagine what it can do for you.

If you would like to see Jerry speak about the benefits of Chiropractic… go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CAsGNlQEnI.

No one would claim celebrities have all the answers. However, it would seem that with all the options celebrity affords them, the fact they seek chiropractic care to meet their healthcare needs says something about the value of chiropractic for optimum health!  If you would like to find out if Chiropractic can help you, visit our website at http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

Now that we are in the middle of summer, many of my patients ask about outdoor activities like walking and running and what they should and should not do. I usually instruct our patients to warm up a little with some walking and some simple range of motion stretches involving the major muscle groups before starting their outdoor projects . for more sedentary patients, I tell them to take time every 20-30 minutes to stand up and stretch after they have been in one specific posture for a period of time.

There are 6 areas that I talk to people about as they start walking or running.  Besides recommending specific stretches to my patients, there are other concerns I discuss with them to help support them as they exercise. While these may seem like common sense, these tips are a good reminder to be safe and healthy as you exercise.

Stay hydrated. A safe recommendation is drinking at least 50 percent of your body weight in ounces over a given day. Wear appropriate workout clothing including reflective cloths if you are exercising in dim light. Use adequate sunscreen or wear a hat when appropriate. Have good shoes.

I like to keep most of the focus on what is called the 6 S’s of running/walking. These include stretching, speed, strength,

With the summer here, many people with back pain underestimate the importance of good shoes.  Most want to wear the flip flops or other poor choices.  Look around any crowded city street, and you’ll see plenty of footwear— from stiletto heels to platform shoes— that is more than a little unkind to our feet. It’s no wonder that foot pain is such a common complaint. But it’s not just our feet that are hurting. Improper footwear places strain on the knees, hips and back. I try to explain to patients that your feet serve three purposes: support, locomotion and shock absorption. So, support your body by following these guidelines for proper footwear.

Leave the High-Heels behind as they are not considered good shoes.  The higher the heel on your shoe, the greater the amount of stress placed on your forefoot. High-heeled shoes can contribute to the collapse of one or more of the foot’s three arches. These shoes also place undue stress on the ankle, which can lead to ankle instability and sprains. Plus, when you wear high-heels your calf muscles shorten. Then, if you alternate between high heels and flat shoes, your calf muscles go through a shorten/lengthen cycle that can lead to pelvic imbalances and low back pain.

Consider Orthotics  to improve the shoes you have.  Many chiropractors do the same that I do which is recommend orthotics. There are two kinds of orthotics: the simple, commercially-made insoles that are available at outdoor sports or shoe stores, and custom orthotics. Custom orthotics are superior since they are tailored to your individual foot and are designed to correct for your particular imbalances. These are created by making an impression of each foot called a cast, and then correcting for specific misalignments. Custom orthotics help to prevent dysfunction of the lower body and legs, and decrease spinal stress.

Avoid the flip flops so you don’t take a flop.  For more information visit http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com

As is typical this time of year, people doing yard work end up in my office with back pain.  As springtime turns to summer, the weather warms up and leaves turn green, many people will spend more time outside planting bulbs, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Gardening can provide a great workout, but with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling, your body may not be ready for exercise of the garden variety.

Gardening can be enjoyable, but developing back pain while doing the yard work isn’t.  I constantly remind my patients how important it is to stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools. The back, upper legs, shoulders, and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb.

I found this great information to help people prevent back pain while doing yard work.  A warm-up and cool-down period is as important in gardening as it is for any other physical activity,” said Dr. Scott Bautch of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. “Performing simple stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness.”

To make gardening as fun and enjoyable as possible, it is important to prepare your body for this type of physical activity. The following stretches will help to alleviate muscle pain after a day spent in your garden.  But remember if your pain persists, call our office to get fast and effective help.  We can be reached at 860-620-9523.

Frequently in my office I will see patients that complain how their household chores can be a pain in the back…the sacroiliac back that is.   I tell them that unless you’re careful, routine activities around the home— washing dishes, vacuuming, even talking on the phone— can strain your back, including the sacroiliac area near the tailbone, and result in debilitating discomfort.

I also tell them that you can protect your back from housework by knowing the right way to go about such activities, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).  Consider lifting. It doesn’t matter whether you’re picking up your child or a heavy bucket of water, you need to do it the proper way to avoid injury.

Do you think that if you have no pain, you have no problem? Nothing could be further from the truth. How long does it take to develop heart disease or cancer or a cavity?

It takes years to develop these problems but there is no pain or symptoms until the problem is quite advanced. Yet the person developing these problems are pain free, able to do all the activities they want. But are they healthy? No.

So if pain is not the problem, what is? I can’t answer that for you in this column. It would require a through consultation, examination and even x-rays to determine what the problem is if you have back pain, neck pain or headaches or any number of problems that Chiropractors treat.

Visit our website to find out more about what Chiropractors treat. http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

In our Chiropractic office, we use several tools to determine how to treat someone, to know what to do. Some of these tools are subjective, meaning I have to make a decision on what is normal or not but other tools are objective which I have no say in what is determined.

The objective tools we use to determine what to do are x-rays and a computer program called Myovision. X-rays provide an actual picture of what the spine looks like. It will show me if there are any life threatening problems I should be concerned with.

The Myovision shows me what the muscles are doing. The sensors pick up electrical activity and interpret as a color. I look for balance and the same color on each side. The program shows tight muscle or normal ones or even weak muscles and that helps me make a decision on what to do.

If you would like more information on what other tools we use here at Grant Chiropractic health center, visit our website at http://www.southingtonchiropractor.com