I recently saw a television show that spoke of 10 myths that were untrue. One of these was that shoes wear out and need to be replaced in 6 months with regular wear. The show demonstrated this with a machine that pounded on the shoe to equal 6 months of regular wear. The result: shoe is fine.
There are 26 bones in your foot with 33 ligaments. We have caused problems with our feet over the years by wearing unsupportive shoes, shoes that are too small for our feet and worn out shoes. We wear out the shoes because of the way we walk, not necessarily a perfect gait pattern, and our weight. Those poor feet!
I believe if you are athletic and wear your shoes daily for running and/or working out, they need to be replaced within 6 months. If you work on your feet and wear the same shoes every day, you probably need to replace those shoes in 6 months. If you start to get ankle, knee or lower leg problems, try changing your shoes.
If your shoes are too soft and comfortable, they are not helping your feet and your body. You need support and stability. I know from experience, that if you try replacing your shoes, you will have fewer aches and pains, and your back will thank you too.
Healing Tip of the Week
Are your feet hurting? Is your back hurting? If so, ask yourself when you bought those shoes you wear all the time. If it was longer than 6 months, replace your shoes. You may find your feet and back feel better fast!
Carpal Tunnel is a wear and tear injury. It’s what is categorized as a repetitive stress injury. When tendons and muscles become overused, they often develop scar tissue and inflammation as an adaptation. As the tendons and muscles tighten, they become more and more inflamed, even beginning to impinge on nearby nerves, blood vessels or ligaments. Especially in the case of carpal tunnel, entrapment is the key word. Looking at the anatomy, the nerves of the wrist literally run through a “tunnel”-like opening made up of the flexor tendons, the carpal bones of the wrist, and the median nerve.
Carpal tunnel is often accompanied by tingling, or paraesthesia, and hand pain. What’s often overlooked in carpal tunnel is the BIG PICTURE! Local surgery to the carpal tunnel often needs to be repeated soon after, and the pain often does not cease. Exercises alone often do nothing to deal with tissue inflammation and scar tissue. Icing alone, or anti-inflammatories, never fix the movement, muscle and joint dysfunction.
Carpal tunnel often begins in the neck. The phenomenon of triple crush syndrome means that the median nerve is entrapped initially as a nerve root at the neck (C5-T1); thus, if the neck has chiropractic vertebral subluxations or misalignments, the impingement can actually begin here.
Thoracic Outlet Impingement: The muscles of the front of the neck and shoulder can impinge on the brachial plexus as it exits the shoulder, inflaming the nerve as it transits down to the carpal tunnel and hand.
Pronator Teres Entrapment: A muscle deep in the forearm can actually be the hidden cause of hand pain and tingling sensations (paraesthesia).
Some more nasty and serious causes that are more rare, include diabetic neuropathy, cervical disc syndrome, and cervical rib syndrome (true TOS). The number one key to experiencing relief is to see someone who specializes in this subject.
Healing Tip of the Week
Carpal tunnel often comes from an area you would not likely expect that is away from the area that you feel pain. Chiropractic and Soft Tissue Adjustments are extremely successful at managing carpal tunnel.
I cannot go a day without eating an egg. I love them. But when I go to the grocery store, I never know which ones to buy. Which type of egg is the best choice?
The labels they put on eggs can be deceiving. When I first realized what all of them actually meant, I was shocked! There are 5 typical classifications: organic, vegetarian-fed, cage-free, free-range, and pastured (not pasteurized).
The first, organic, seemingly would be the best for you. However, this only means that the chicken’s food is free of harmful chemicals. It speaks nothing to how the chickens were raised. Vegetarian-fed chickens are only given grains for their diet. This seems like it would be healthy except for the fact that chickens need to get protein from grubs and bugs. So, this term also means that the chickens do not have access to the pasture. Next up are the cage-free hens, which sounds very humane. Unfortunately, these chickens are not confined to their cages, but usually are left in a dark barn. Not a very good place to roam and find nourishing things to eat. A step up from cage-free is the free-range chicken. These lucky birds not only get access to roam around the dark barn, but also can go out to the yard, where they can stand on a fenced-in piece of dirt or cement. This was definitely not what I thought free-range meant. Lastly, the pastured chicken makes its appearance. I didn’t even know this was an option until recently. Pastured means that the chickens are free to roam through the pasture, so they’re grass fed. They can eat the grubs and bugs they were meant to, in addition to the food they are given. This type of egg usually comes from small farms that sell their product at local farmer’s markets.
So why eat pastured eggs? What difference can there really be? Well, Mother Earth News conducted an egg experiment in 2007 to see what the differences really were. In comparison to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data for commercial eggs, pastured eggs contained: ⅓ less cholesterol, ¼ less saturated fat, ⅔ more vitamin A, 3 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, and 7 times more beta-carotene.
Personally, I’d rather get more bang for my buck. I’ll be making my next egg purchase at my local farmer’s market.
Healing Tip of the Week
Pastured eggs are a healthier, more humane choice. If you love eggs like I love eggs, try pastured eggs. You can usually find them at local farmer’s markets. And, while you’re there, you can pick up some fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits.
Autumn is the time when the extreme yang of the summer sun and long days give way and transform into a cooler/yin season with longer nights. It is the time to slow down and gather energy to be stored for the colder winter months. The ancient Chinese medical text, “The Huang Di Nei Jing” (“The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon”) states, “Those who knew the way of keeping good health in ancient times always kept their behavior in daily life in accordance with nature.” Just as the changes occur on Earth, our choices of food, length of sleep and level of activity should be attuned to ensure proper immunity and health.
In Chinese medicine, the element associated with autumn is metal, and the organs related to this element are the lungs and the large intestine. The lungs function to breathe in fresh air, delivering oxygen to our body and exhaling carbon dioxide. The large intestine gathers nourishment and eliminates the waste. Some conditions of the lungs and large intestine that may be more prevalent during the three months of autumn are: colds and flus, psoriasis, dry/itchy skin, asthma, sadness/depression, constipation and bronchitis.
Symbolically, this is a time to gather our thoughts, feelings and emotions and consciously let go of the old, useless aspects of our lives that may be in the form of harshness, grudges, or fears which inhibit our spiritual growth. Letting go of the old makes room for the new. What new thoughts and behaviors can you harvest to renew your focus in life?
Observing the external environment, what we see in nature, can help us learn how to keep our internal environment in harmony. Visit the local farmer’s markets and add a variety of seasonal foods to your diet. Transition from eating cold raw salads and foods right out of the fridge to foods that are more warming in nature or cooked. Your body will appreciate it!
Healing Tip of the Week
Steamed Asian pears are considered beneficial for the lungs. It’s a tasty way to help resolve dry coughs, soothe soreness in the throat and resolve phlegm.
We are excited to announce a new opportunity for you and your family to reach your optimal health: VIP Wellness Membership.
This new membership emphasizes our team approach to healthcare and allows you to experience our Center in a new way. Many of our practitioners are offering unique services, free to program members and their immediate families. Other services and goods are being offered at reduced rates.
For only $14.95 each month, you and your family can enjoy all of the offerings listed below. You’ll get the chance to meet each of our practitioners and experience their diverse specialties.
Massage Discounts
Get $5 off 30-minute massages and $10 off 60-minute massages (cash customers only).
Free Oriental Medicine Consultation — up to $135 value
Oriental medicine techniques have been practiced for centuries to improve health the natural way. Meet with the professionals in our Oriental Medicine Department for a free one-hour consultation. Experience the healing power of acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
50% off for Cardholder Friends and Family
This discount covers first-time, out-of-pocket costs for members’ friends and family initial visit with any practitioner (excludes massage).
Free Use of Traction Tables (Every Thursday) — $35 value
With regular use of our traction tables, you can maintain optimal spinal health between appointments.
Supplement Discounts
Get 5 percent off all your supplement purchases.
Free Body Fat and Cellular Health Evaluation — $25 value
Rebecca Rebmann, CTN, an expert in our Nutritional Therapies department, will conduct this evaluation to determine your cellular health and provide you with a detailed print out.
Free Perfect Posture Check — $70 value
Michael Day, DC, designed this 30-minute evaluation to aid those who have existing poor posture or are concerned about their posture. Dowager’s humps, excess lumbar curve and high shoulders or hips can lead to degeneration and decreased function.
Free Performance Examination — $70 value
For the athlete and active individual — work with Michael Day, DC, for 30 minutes to make sure your body is balanced and ready for your sport by getting a functional exam that includes movement screens, strength testing and sport specific analysis.
Free Healthy Baby Evaluation — $58 value
All babies can benefit from a screening for imbalances, which can easily occur from the stress of the birth process or other experiences during the first months of life. If your baby is not sleeping or feeding well, or exhibiting fussy or colicky symptoms this can be a sign of imbalance. Barbara Shur, DC, will examine and advise as to any presence of imbalance.
Free K-Laser Therapy Session — $70 value
K-Laser energy increases circulation to draw water, oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas. This reduces inflammation, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. During this 15-minute treatment, Bryan Ales, DC, will work with the injured area to restore normal function and relieve pain.
Free Step Analysis — $70 value
Drs. Ales and Sese Novas work with the Orthotic Group’s state-of-the-art GaitScan system to provide a detailed step-analysis and orthotic recommendation. As you walk onto the GaitScan mat, more than 4,000 pressure sensors analyze your step and provide a detailed print out with information about your unique foot mechanics and suggestions for orthotic solutions.
Free Myofascial Exam — $70 value
Certain muscles and their supporting tissues have a tendency to become tight and irritated as a result of our hectic modern lifestyles. Paul Fuhrman, DC, will assess these key muscles and identify which would benefit from a stretching program.
Free Golf Exam — $70 value
When driving a golf ball, amateur golfers achieve the muscle activity equivalent of picking up a weight that can only be lifted four times before total fatigue. Very few golfers attempt any conditioning at all. Dr. Fuhrman will perform a golf specific exam focused on getting more yards out of your drives on the golf course while avoiding injuries.
Taking advantage of some of these services could open up new avenues for you to reach optimal health. Posture analysis, body fat evaluation, supplement and massage discounts – who doesn’t want a massage at a reduced rate?!
Make up for all those years of broken resolutions to become healthier and feel better. Commit to achieving optimal health for both you and your family. Join the Proactive Health Program today and take that first step toward being your healthiest self.
We talk a great deal on the blog about the importance of keeping proper posture while driving, sitting on the computer, or watching television. Most recently, one of my patients brought to my attention one activity that I had totally overlooked: texting.
This patient was having neck and mid-back pain typical of poor upper body posture and was trying to work out what activities were causing the symptoms to worsen. After some searching, he realized that the main contributor to his pain was not his computer work or car time; it was text messaging on his cell phone.
A recent chiropractic publication confirms what he intuitively deduced. “These days, people are constantly ‘connected’ to their hand-held devices, whether it is their cellular phones, portable video games like Nintendo DS, e-readers such as Amazon Kindle, or they are just using apps on an iPhone.” In fact, a recent survey found that 8-18 year olds spend in excess of seven-and-a-half-hours a day using some form of mobile media.
Be aware of your forward head posture or “text neck,” and use the strategies written in many articles throughout this blog to correct them. Small corrections over a long period of time add up to big changes in your body.
Healing Tip of the Week
Get that head back on top of your shoulders! Your head is like a bowling ball, for every inch that your head migrates forward, the force it takes for your neck muscles to keep it upright effectively doubles.
I came across the following quote by author Daisaku Ikeda: “No matter how strong the hostility another person may feel towards you, if you approach them in an attitude of sincerity and truth, they will invariably abandon their ill will and respond with friendliness. A sense of sincerity is the one thing that somehow, in a very subtle way, gets across to others. Human beings perhaps possess some deep inner power that allows them to sense sincerity instinctively. Whatever the case, the degree to which they can do so is almost frightening.”
When I read this quote, the first thing that came to mind is that sincerity is one quality you get from the doctors at the Advanced Wellness Center. They are all motivated by the sincere desire to help their patients achieve a healthier life.
Healing Tip of the Week
Approach everyone with an attitude of sincerity and truth and see if you receive different responses or feel differently each day.
Have you ever experienced the infamous “food coma”. Most of us have. This is the feeling of fatigue and the need for a nap after a big meal. Or have you ever had weakness or “the shakes” after forgetting to eat, which promptly goes away after eating? Truth be told, both of these experiences are not normal and are in fact an indicator of less than optimal health.
Large changes in energy after eating is a sign of poor blood sugar stability. Blood sugar stability is a crucial aspect of health. It affects everything from your risk of developing Type II Diabetes to the promotion of inflammation and auto-immune disorders within your body. The bottom line is that any drastic change in your energy, whether it be fatigue or increased energy, is not healthy. You want to work toward steady, constant energy levels throughout the day instead of experiencing that post-lunch, 3 o’clock crash.
Here are some key things to look for when monitoring your blood sugar stability:
Fatigue after meals
Sugar cravings after meals
Difficulty falling asleep
Or
Energy after meals
Sugar cravings before meals
Inability to stay asleep
Crash and crave sweets between 3-5pm
So how do you attain this nice, steady energy? As always, it starts with the basics. Eat every few hours. Focus on meals and snacks that increase your fiber and protein intake and decrease your sugar and starch intake. Good snacks include nuts, seeds and veggies. Avoid going more than 12 hours without eating. This may mean that you may need to eat dinner a little later to shorten the fast between dinner and breakfast. Also start exercising. Any exercise that you look forward to doing and enjoy is beneficial. If this does not calm your symptoms down, you may need to see a professional at AWC who can prescribe a supplement to modulate the systems responsible for blood sugar stability.
Healing Tip of the Week
Always have a healthy snack at the ready in your purse or glove compartment. Getting hungry and being far from home can lead to unhealthy eating, such as fast food or gas station snacks. Having a bag of nuts or a healthy bar can help you stop your hunger just long enough to get you home to a healthy meal.
Most people will say they’re healthy, because they don’t have any “dis-ease” limiting their daily lives. Does this mean we should sit back and wait for disease to happen? No way! Take a moment and ask yourself the following questions:
What level of health do you really desire?
You may be feeling OK, but are you waking up full of energy and maintaining any amount of that energy as you work through your day? If your answer is no, but it sounds like a pretty good way to feel, then raise your standard of health to include a sense of quality of life. This means you not only pass all of the tests on your physical exams, but you also have enough vitality and energy throughout the day. It means your emotions, or spirit, are lifted and stable, which you can use to live in a meaningful and rich way.
How do we get to that point if we’re not already there?
Only YOU can achieve health for yourself. No one can do it for you. There is so much we can do to increase our quality of health and life. Eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough rest are the basics to having good health. To increase your health to a higher level, do whatever helps to keep the vast majority of the trillions of cells in your body working properly. Oriental medicine is one great way of working with the energy systems and treating on that cellular level. Everything from reproduction to infections to repairing broken bones happens on a cellular level. Chiropractic treatments, meditation/prayer and all forms of massage can also help keep us in tip-top shape. That’s one reason the Advanced Wellness Center has a variety of treatment options. When you’re ready to include overall quality of life and vitality in your definition of good health, we’re here to support you in your growth!
Healing Tip of the Week
Spend some time answering the following questions for yourself: What is my definition of good health? Am I feeling as good as I want to? If not, what do I need to add or subtract from my health regimen to achieve my desired level of health?
Many of us in Long Beach drive long distances to work in Orange County or Los Angeles, and some also spend a great deal of time flying for business. This can lead to poor posture and spinal mis-alignments overtime. Regular spinal adjustments do wonders to prevent the detrimental effects of long-term driving. I’m asked often what you can do to lower your stress while in the car and prevent back and neck pain from creeping in when you’re away from the treatment table.
So here are a couple simple tips to keep your body in tune while on the road to and from Long Beach.
The Progressive Relaxation:
Start at your feet and gently squeeze all the muscles throughout your foot for 3 seconds followed by a complete relaxation for 3 seconds with an exhale from your belly.
Work your way up your entire body. Ankles, legs, knees, thighs, hips, back etc. 3 seconds squeezing, 3 seconds releasing with a deep exhale (the exhale is very important)
If there is a tight area in particular, spend a couple reps of 3 seconds on that area to allow it to relax.
This works great in the car, on the plane, or before bed for complete relaxation. It helps by reducing muscle spasm and increasing blood flow while slowing down your breathing.
The Sternum Lift:
When you feel your posture begins to slump, simply lift your sternum or “breastbone” 1 inch.
A light lift brings the shoulders back and the head up.
Your posture is very important for cognitive function and energy throughout the day. “90% of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body to gravity,” according to Dr. Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize Recipient for Brain Research.
The Stop Light Shoulder Roll:
At a stop light, make it a habit to roll your shoulder slowly with deep exhales.
Repeat 10 times in both directions.
Do backwards rotations last as it will reinforce the need for the shoulder blades to be sitting gently back with driving posture.
Healing Tip of the Week
Remember to breathe! Inhale smooth, slow, even and deep so the chest, diaphragm and abdomen expand. Exhale smooth, slow, even and deep, letting all the breath leave the body, slightly tightening the chest, diaphragm and abdomen. Deep breathing is the key to deep relaxation, and it can be done anywhere at any time. Practice several times per day for improved health!
