Category — Chiropractic

Last weekend I had the privilege of training with one of the top chiropractors in the country, Dr. Mark Charrette. I had to fly out of the Philly airport on Friday, and everything was going as planned until I boarded the plane.

Our flight out of Philadelphia was delayed by an hour as there was a security “issue” on the runway. While our plane was waiting for around 30 minutes, I glanced out the window and saw a police officer unload a police dog and jog toward the terminal. Soon after, two police officers entered our plane and slowly walked down the aisle as they scanned each face and compared it to a picture they carried. They left the plane without incident.

I wasn’t happy for the delay, but was thankful for the top-notch security in place. Our flight was given the okay and we took off. From that point onward, the flight was uneventful and we landed safely at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

It was strange traveling alone, without Laura and our four children. But the next day I was soon surrounded by so many skilled doctors and kept so busy, that the time passed rather quickly.

The focus of our training was on whole-body adjusting - a holistic approach to patient care. Some of the time was spent reviewing anatomy, biomechanics, and neurology. But most of the time was spent practicing the whole-body adjusting techniques.

We reviewed the protocols for:

• the foot and ankle
• the knee
• the hip
• the jaw
• the hand and wrist
• the elbow
• the shoulder
• the ribs

As you may know, I’ve been doing whole-body adjusting for several years now. Even so, I was able to “fine tune” my techniques and really become more confident in the whole-body holistic approach to patient care. As many of you have experienced at Spectrum Wellness, we take an integrative approach to care. You may have experienced massage therapy, nutritional counseling, exercise rehab, and other natural therapies in your care plan.

Because of my additional training we are now better able to handle many different body conditions not typically handled in a natural way. We can help various conditions including:

• neck pain and headaches
• shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
• chronic back pain and instability
• chronic knee pain
• plantar fasciitis
• TMJ dysfunction and pain
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• tennis elbow
• leg length inequality and pelvic dysfunction
• postural abnormalities

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call any time. I set aside time each week for phone interviews, and would be happy to speak with you to discuss your condition and go over some of your options.

I had some free time on Sunday and had lunch in the hotel lounge, and was able to sample a variety of “Tex Mex” food. I was greeted by many friendly people, including several Dallas Cowboy fans wearing ten-gallon hats.

I was very thankful that the return flight went perfectly.  I was even blessed when our plane flew by Citizens Park at around 9:55 PM, and I got a bird’s-eye glimpse of game 3 of the World Series.  The Phillies ended up beating the Rays 5-4 that night.

I arrived home tired, both mentally and physically.  Overall, I had an enjoyable and very productive time. I can’t wait to see you in our center soon!

Can natural therapies such as chiropractic or massage help make headaches go away? While we can’t guarantee results, our practice can state that we have a high success rate with patients who get headaches and follow through with our recommendations.

Headaches range from mild annoying to extremely debilitating. Although fairly common, headaches should not be accepted as “normal”. There are also many varieties and causes of headaches. Regardless of the cause, when you get a headache, you want it gone as fast as possible!

Peoples’ desire for a quick fix for headaches has resulted in a huge market for medications that do little more than cover up the symptoms. These powerful drugs act to numb your nervous system and interfere with the signals of pain. Although convenient, this approach can have adverse effects on your kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Even so, they don’t get to the actual cause of your headache.

A tension headache is one of the more common varieties and is caused by excessive muscular tension in the head and neck area. Tension headaches are typically associated with dysfunction of the spinal bones in the neck. When these bones are misaligned and not moving correctly, your nervous system is adversely affected. This can in turn, adversely affect the muscles and blood supply to your head.

At Spectrum Wellness, we pride ourselves with performing thorough examinations and providing holistic and integrative care. We will do our best to find the root cause of the headache. As a chiropractor, I am highly skilled in locating areas of the spine and skeleton, where the bones aren’t moving properly. I will evaluate spinal curves and look at your posture. I will assess your supporting muscle tone. We will discuss sleep habits and daily activities that may be causing undue stress. I will be able to soundly determine if you are likely to benefit from the natural therapies we offer.

If you’re a good candidate, we will discuss an attack plan to eliminate your headaches. Your care plan may involve the following:

• adjustments of the spinal bones (vertebrae)
• adjustments of other skeletal joints (extremities)
• therapeutic massage
• dietary modification
• changing to a special “cervical pillow”
• learning new daily life habits and postures
• implementing targeted exercises in office and at home

Even though our treatment plan is multifaceted, our focus is to help normalize spine and body function, help restore proper posture, improve circulation, reduce nerve irritation, and provide muscular relaxation. Many of our patients report fewer and less severe headaches fairly quickly. And without the use of dangerous drugs or invasive procedures.

If you’re not sure if we can help your specific condition, feel free to give us a call. I would be happy to spend some time with you discussing any health concerns you may have. I am available throughout the week and provide complimentary phone interviews.

Give us a call, and discover the healing powers of natural therapy!

Whiplash has numerous possible causes including motor vehicle accidents, roller coaster rides, sports injuries, and slips and falls. Car accidents are the most common cause, as there are many thousands of motor vehicle accidents in the United States every year - resulting in injuries and death.

Injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents range from mild to severe. The most common type of spinal injury is whiplash. This occurs when the head and cervical spine (the neck) is accelerated and then suddenly decelerated. Most whiplash injuries occur when you are sitting relaxed in your stationary car and you are unexpectedly rear-ended.

The time immediately after the accident is of critical importance. If severely injured, hopefully EMTs will arrive on the scene quickly and you will get the care you need. We have some of the best medical professionals in the world. What you do about your injuries in the next hours, days and weeks can forever affect your health.

If you’re involved in an accident, try not to be misled if the damage to your vehicle is minimal. Your body reacts very differently than metal, glass and plastic! Upon a rear-end impact, your body presses deeply into your seat. Your head moves with your body backwards until they reach the limits of your seat. Then, your body quickly changes directions and moves forward to the limit of your seat belt. Next, your head starts moving backward in the opposite direction. Because your head is unrestrained by your seat belt, your head is jerked backward and forward beyond its normal limits.

You can reduce the severity of a whiplash injury by wearing your seat belt properly, and making sure your headrest is adjusted to prevent your head from snapping over the seat.

Try not to minimize your injuries. Just as a car can have internal damage beyond the scraped pain on your bumper, your body can have deep injuries to your delicate spinal structures. Pain and stiffness of motion of varying severity will result from whiplash injuries. Often headaches appear, but can begin a week or more after the accident. These injuries can’t be healed by pain pills, muscle relaxers, or cervical collars. At this point, an immediate chiropractic examination is essential.

In my interview with a patient, I will conduct a thorough case history and detailed examination. I will review any imaging films or reports done at the emergency room or from other physicians. If I determine that it is safe to receive care at our office, I will make recommendations for your optimal recovery. In many cases, treatment can begin immediately.

In our office we have found that the integration of chiropractic care and massage therapy to be extremely effective in proper healing. Chiropractic adjustments of the spine and extremities helps restore proper position and motion of joints. Massage therapy targets the injured muscles and helps reduce pain, tension, and spasm, and promotes relaxation. You may also benefit from adjunctive therapies we can perform such as laser therapy, electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, therapeutic taping, or therapeutic stretching. We may prescribe a TENS unit (a small portable electrical stimulation device) or a series of home-based therapeutic exercises.

Since starting my practice in 1992, I’ve had the honor of helping hundreds of clients with a variety of neck injuries including whiplash. I’m very pleased with our integrated approach to patient care at Spectrum Wellness. Our care is top-notch and personal. Our goal is to help you to achieve superior health… and we will do everything in our power to help you get well and stay well after the trauma of a whiplash injury.

Blood vs. Nerves
Traditional medical treatment relies on putting drugs into the bloodstream. Chiropractic care helps restore nervous system integrity by reducing subluxations. There is a vital difference between chiropractic and medical philosophy. These two very different approaches are summed up here:

The Mechanists
The established health care model in the Western world sees the body as a machine. This is called mechanism. The body is seen as a bunch of parts that wear out or need attention. It has spawned an army of specialists who see you as merely the sum of your parts. Examples of these disciplines include:

* Internists
* Urologists
* Cardiologists
* Orthopedists

Intervention usually involves drugs to change the function of the body by artificially changing blood chemistry.

The Vitalists
The emerging model is more holistic and recognizes the interactivity of the mind, body and spirit. This is called vitalism. Because you are self-healing, vitalists see you as greater than the sum of your parts. Examples include:

* Chiropractors
* Acupuncturists
* Homeopaths
* Naturopaths

Care is designed to help restore body balance and integrity. Aches or pains are merely signs of some other underlying problem.

Our Approach
In our office, we observe the mechanics of the body, but see the whole-body effects of a compromised nervous system. We believe that when you take proper care of yourself, you can achieve superior health. Then you will feel great and be your best. I specialize in treating the whole person by using whole-body adjusting techniques, supportive methods (such as orthotic arch supports or nutritional counseling), and therapeutic exercises. Through the integration of chiropractic, massage, and exercise, our team of wellness practitioners can truly help you stay active and enjoy life!

Discover how our patient-centered approach to health care can help you naturally, without drugs or surgery. If you’re not yet a client of ours, we would welcome the chance to speak with you about your health.

If you are already a practice member, congratulations on getting involved in a vitalistic approach to health!

I just finished a 12-hour seminar focusing on whole-body adjusting. It was held in the heart of Philadelphia, just 2 blocks from city hall. The seminar was taught by a veteran chiropractor, Dr. Mark Charrette. He always has excellent and practical information to share, and delivers it with lots of energy and a “spicy” sense of humor. I have been a student of Dr. Mark Charrette since attending one of his seminars nearly a decade ago.

Over the weekend, we covered treatment strategies and extremity adjusting protocols for the whole body. During the lectures, I learned some amazingly simple, yet powerful strategies for patient care. I even had several opportunities during the hands-on sessions to practice and fine-tune my techniques.

Dr. Charrette detailed the ASR strategy for patient care. This stands for ADJUST - SUPPORT - REHAB. Over the years, I’ve learned that by following this simple strategy for patient care, I can help my patients achieve superior health faster and with fewer setbacks. The following example may help to illustrate this…

Sally, a 45-year old woman, comes in to see me with lower back pain and hip-area pain. I would start with a detailed case history and exam. I gather a great deal of helpful information here and can then determine if care is appropriate and safe, and what course we should take. I typically start with ADJUSTments of the spine and then the extremities. In Sally’s case we would focus on her lower extremity - the feet, ankles, knees, and hips. We may do other therapies such as ice, electrical stimulation or massage therapy. To SUPPORT Sally’s body, I may wrap the area (foot, ankle or knee) and determine the need for arch supports (orthotics). I would then design a program (for office and home) of targeted REHAB exercises for Sally, that would help provide long-lasting relief and improved body function.

I hope that example gives you a better idea of how I “give life” to the ASR strategy in my practice. By hitting all three components and focusing on whole-body balance, I provide the best care possible. You can see that if one of the components is neglected, you have a reduced likelihood of a good outcome.

As you may know, I have been doing whole-body adjustments (foot, ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, shoulder and jaw) for many years now. Many chiropractors don’t address whole body balance. Perhaps due to lack of training, or different philosophies, or not wanting to spend the time with each patient. But when I first started focusing on whole body balance, I began to get great results. Now the research keeps coming in and continues to validate this “style” of chiropractic wellness care.  I’m hooked!

I can’t wait to share some of the incredible things I learned at the seminar. If you have any questions about my whole-body adjusting technique, feel free to call me or email any time.

Sleep has a huge impact on your health and wellness. Getting enough good sleep is essential for the refreshment of the body and mind. During sleep the body heals, boosts the immune system, rebuilds and recharges. Everyone is different, but most adults need around 7-8 hours of good sleep per night. To have superior health, you should strive to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.

Your pillow is probably one of the most important parts of restful sleep. Your pillow should do a good job cradling your head and neck for many hours. When looking at your cervical spine (your neck) from the side, it should have a “c”-shaped curve (like a banana). Your pillow should support this natural curve of your neck. Your pillow is the least expensive and most immediate solution to a bad night’s sleep, and can help reduce headaches, tension and neck pain.

Quick tests to see if you need a new pillow:

• Does your pillow support your head and neck?
• Do you need to use more than one pillow or fold your pillow to get comfortable
• Are you in discomfort when trying to sleep?
• When you awake, are you in discomfort?

If you answered “yes” to any of the following questions, you could use a new pillow. We recommend a pillow called the Chiroflow. It is suitable for almost all of our clients.

This same pillow is also sold in the medical community and is called the “Mediflow”. It’s water-filled pillow that’s well-designed, durable and very affordable. It’s quick and easy to fill with water. Because you’re the one who fills the pillow with water, you determine the level of support.

Many of our patients report an immediate improvement of the quality of their sleep when switching to the Chiroflow pillow. I’ve found that it provides better support and a more restful sleep than even the top of the line memory foam pillows. I’ve seen memory foam pillows start packing down in just a few months and lose their supportive qualities. But unlike foam, the supportive nature of the Chiroflow doesn’t change because water doesn’t compress over time. I’ve been personally using and prescribing the Chiroflow water-filled pillow now for years and have been extremely satisfied.

Please call me or stop by for more information about the Chiroflow pillow and how you can improve the quality of your sleep.

Our center’s mission is to promote superior health through natural therapy. And it’s amazing how powerful natural therapies can be… with the right knowledge backing it up.

Many of my clients have serious complaints that can be corrected rather quickly. In many cases our clients need to rely on our professional expertise to solve the problem. Sometimes it’s a matter of a series of adjustments or trigger point massage therapy. Sometimes it involves a course of laser therapy.

In other cases it’s just a matter of making changes to their lifestyle. This could involve tweaking an exercise program and eliminating harmful exercises. It could mean getting more sleep. It could mean learning how to activate the core muscles (which we teach in our center). It may involve learning how to better manage stress.

In the cases involving complaints in the lower extremities (the feet, ankles, knees, and/or hips), many times the solution can be found in proper support and balance.

I’ve found that excessive pronation is one of the most common problems that’s at the core of many lower extremity complaints. Excessive pronation is a condition where the medial arch of the foot is not doing it’s job in supporting the foot. It begins to drop too far upon weight bearing.

This means that every time you step down, the medial arch drops too far. This causes a cascade of problems working their way up the chain of joints. Foot problems have been shown to cause problems all the way into the spine and up even to the jaw.

Excessive pronation, poor support, and disturbed balance can cause these common problems:

• foot pain
• plantar fasciitis
• bunions
• hammer toes
• ankle pain or instability
• shin splints
• sciatica and piriformis syndrome
• knee pain
• hip or sacroiliac pain
• poor posture
• back pain

If you have any of the previous problems, please schedule an evaluation to have your feet checked by me or someone at our office. It only takes about 5 minutes to do a thorough evaluation, which could possibly uncover a problem that has an easy fix.

This small investment of your time could save you incredible amounts of pain and suffering. And if your lower extremity problem is interfering with your activities, we may be able to help you get back to enjoying an active lifestyle again.

In cases of excessive pronation or instability, I will almost always recommend these two things:

1. Start using custom-fit arch support

The ones you can buy at the neighborhood pharmacy, can add a little padding but don’t support the arches properly. We fit people for the custom-fit arch supports right in the office. I use a specific balance test during the fitting process to make sure it’s the perfect fit for your specific arch size. The arch support I prescribe is an excellent product by a company called Symmetry. It provides support for all three of the arches of the foot, while remaining flexible to allow the foot to move normally. The style of arch support is determined by the use. For example, athletic shoes and dress shoes require different styles. They even make a style that accommodates sensitive feet. I’ve been using Symmetry arch supports for around 7 years now. I’ve found them to be inexpensive, very durable and comfortable… and they do the job very well.

2. Start wearing a good motion control shoe

The motion control shoe I recommend is the 1123 by New Balance. You can check them out online. It’s an excellent shoe that provides motion control, stability and cushioning. It’s a bit expensive, but it is very durable. I’ve heard that it can last twice as long as the typical running shoe. I just bought my first pair this week, so I don’t know first hand yet.

Focusing on body support and balance is a wise investment of your time and money and could save you a great deal of pain and suffering. Taking care of your problem now may enable you to get back to enjoying an active lifestyle again. Even if you don’t have any substantial pain, you may have a significant problem developing. If you suspect that you have a problem with support or body balance, give us a call today.

It is always easier to stay well than to get well.

Your body parts are linked together by muscles and joints. Joints are the anatomical part of the body where two bones are fitted together. They are joined by tough ligaments, lined with cartilage, embraced by muscles, surrounded by a capsule and filled with synovial fluid for lubrication. They’re an amazingly designed and useful part of our bodies. Without them we wouldn’t be able to get around very well!

However, in our less-than-perfect and stressful world, our joints frequently take a pounding. Joints can be injured by sudden and severe stresses (slips, falls, or accidents) or by smaller continual forces (repetitive motions, improper posture, or overexertion). Either way, when joint function is impaired, you have problems.

The term joint dysfunction describes a joint condition that involves reduced motion, abnormal muscle tone, inflammation, calcium buildup, and scar tissue. Some more well known joint dysfunctions have names like “tennis elbow”, “frozen shoulder”, “carpal tunnel syndrome”, and “runner’s knee”.

Traditional medical care for these problems can involve therapeutic bracing the injured joint, medications for pain and inflammation, muscle relaxers, injections, physical therapy and surgery.

In our practice we take a natural and common sense approach. We use extremity adjusting as an integral part of our wellness programs. Extremity adjustments are a type of joint mobilization similar to spinal adjusting. We use extremity adjusting to care for shoulders, feet, ankles, hips, knees, fingers and wrists. The key in any joint adjustment is to help restore normal motion to joints that have become “locked-up”, “jammed”, or injured. This reduces pain, improves motion, relaxes muscles, reduces nerve interference, and promotes healing.

Extremity adjusting is a safe and very useful natural therapy, and can be an integral part of your wellness program.

Click here for more details on our extremity adjusting techniques.

This is a deep question. And it needs to be addressed because many of our clients ask this question of us early on. We usually try to explain everything on the first to our center. To handle this question we need to begin by establishing a foundation…

True Healing

First, it may surprise you to learn that doctors and drugs don’t heal. They can’t form the new tissue to mend a broken bone or heal a cut. Only your body can do that. I believe that each of us is a masterpiece, that has the miraculous ability to heal. True healing comes naturally from within.

At Spectrum Wellness we respect the natural healing process of the body. And because healing is a process, it take time. In some, healing takes longer than in others.

Children often see results quickly. Adults and seniors with long-standing problems can take much longer. Each person is unique and responds somewhat differently. When involved in natural healing, patience is a must.

What are Your Goals?

To reasonably answer the question of “How long will my recovery take?” we’ll need to uncover our client’s health goals. What are your health goals? We will always work with you and honor your goals.

If your goal is only pain relief, then your program with us will be relatively shorter. Now, if your goal is to recover as well as to prevent a relapse then we’ll need to focus on restoring full function. We’ll likely focus on core strength, balance, and muscular endurance. And if your goal is comprehensive care & wellness, then you’ll soon realize that attaining superior health is not a destination… it’s a journey.

At Spectrum Wellness, we get great results because we take a multi-faceted approach to healing. We’re a fusion of chiropractic, massage and exercise therapy. We work one-on-one with our clients to design personalized programs to produce the greatest results in the shortest amount of time.

If your recovery doesn’t progress as expected, we’ll change what we’re doing. Or, we’ll refer you to another health and wellness practitioner. You and your health are our primary concern.

With all this talk about pursuing a lifestyle of wellness, I want to address the number one reason people consult our office. Pain.

We, at Spectrum Wellness, accept clients with big pains or little ones. We handle acute or chronic conditions. Sport or work-related injuries. Even motor vehicle accident injuries. We welcome clients ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other.

What is pain anyway? Does it have a purpose?

Pain is a warning sign. It’s your body’s way of telling you that a limit has been reached. Like a smoke alarm, it’s not the alarm that’s the problem. The alarm has a cause, just like nearly every ache or pain has a cause. Some people choose to just cover up the pain instead of correcting the true cause. They end up believing that they’re totally fine because they feel fine. Unfortunately, the problem that lies below the surface of the pain still exists.

What’s your approach to dealing with pain?

Drugs?

Choosing to numb or cover up the pain with a chemical. Drugs can offer temporary relief, but they can’t correct structural or functional problems - such as spinal joint dysfunction (subluxation) or muscular problems. Just covering up the symptoms of a problem can be dangerous. Imagine if you were driving your car and a red flashing light appeared on the dashboard. Would it be wise to take a black marker and scribble over the light so that it wouldn’t shine in your eyes? Also, many drugs have dangerous side-effects and also have a long-term toxic effect on the whole body… just check out the back page of a drug advertisement in a magazine.

Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is an option that many people choose. However, exercising spinal joints that are misaligned is like continuing to drive your car with misaligned wheels! Some physical therapy facilities do adjustments like us.more than guide patients in an exercise program, but none offer the combination of natural therapies that we have.

Surgery?

This is the most drastic of all measures. Cutting through layers of skin and muscle tissue to cut, scrape, fuse, remove or alter body parts. While there may be times when surgery makes sense, they are risky. When it comes to emergency care, nothing beats Western Medicine. If I had a serious knife wound, I wouldn’t drop in to a fellow chiropractor’s office to get an adjustment! I’d get to an ER stat. Go to a hospital for sickness care… come to us for health care.

Natural Therapy?

Even better, Natural therapy is safe. The combination of chiropractic, massage and exercise therapy is the wise choice. Our focus is to find and correct the underlying cause of your problem.