CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH WATCH

Healthy Holidays

2010-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone. It is important to keep your immune system boosted this time of year due to stress and eating more sweet treats.

3 Things you can do to boost your immune system naturally:

Add lemon juice to your water to help detoxify the body and assist the acid-alkaline balance.
Supplement with Vitamin C or echinacea.
Follow a balanced diet- protein, carbs, fiber and sugar. During the holidays we tend to increase our sugar and carbohydrate intake. This not only can add to weight gain but it lowers our immune fighting properties.

Pistachios and Cholesterol

2010-10-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania State University did a study of 28 men and women with high cholesterol and found if they consumed one ounce of pistachios 1-2 times a day for a month that is lowered their total cholesterol by 8% and LDL by 12%. Cholesterol levels are risk markers for heart disease.

According to the study, when you eat pistachios each day it helps lower the levels of oxidized LDL in the blood which is the culprit for cutting off blood flow to the heart and contributes to plaque build-up in the blood vessels.

IS YOUR CHILD'S BACKPACK LEADING TO PROBLEMS?

2010-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Backpacks are a popular way for our children to carry their books and supplies to school, but if worn incorrectly it can lead to neck and back strain as well as postural problems because of the strain on muscles and joints.

Have your child CHOOSE a backpack with:

Wide, padded shoulder straps
Two shoulder straps (and wear both of them)
Padded back
Waist strap when possible (I know it isn't cool)
Lightweight material
Alternative is a rolling backpack

TO PREVENT INJURY:

Keep the pack light- only 10-15% of the child's body weight- If they weigh 60 pounds -pack should weight loaded only 6-9 pounds.
Lift properly
Tighten the straps
Build muscle strength

Do not ignore any back pain in a child or teenager, have them evaluated by a chiropractor to prevent further pain and problems.

Have a great and healthy school year!

DO YOUR PART AND HELP THE BERKS COUNTY FOOD BANK

2010-07-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Do Your Part- Visit our office the week of July 26-29, 2010 for a complimentary spinal screening and we simply ask that you donate at least $25 to the Berks County Food Bank. It is a great way to see the condition of your spine and help a worthy organization feed people in our very own community.

Please give us a call at 610-944-5000 to schedule your appointment today!

Good Spinal Health-Key to Feeling Great

2010-06-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Proper Spinal function allows us to do things well and most of the time to be pain-free. Poor spinal function however, forces your body to work harder or not at all, and this can cause someone pain or distress.

MOVEMENT ENHANCES YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE!

As with all parts of your body, there are things you can do to help maintain a healthy spine. Here are four of the best:

1) Nutritional Supplements- Vitamins and minerals can help provide the essential nutrition necessary to assist in healing and keep your bones stronger for a lifetime. Ask a qualified nutritionist or doctor of chiropractic for a specific plan based on your body's needs.

2) Posture-How you sit, stand, walk and sleep does matter. Correct posture enables your body to function more effectively.

3) Flexibility- You should take time each day to stretch your spine in all four directions: forward, backward, side to side and twisting both ways. It is also important to stretch other muscle groups in the legs and keep your abdominal muscles strong to prevent weakness and injury to the spine.

4) Spinal Checkups- Just like your teeth, your spine needs to be examined to determine if spinal dysfunction is present, particularly after stressful events, accidents or repetitive movements from work activities or hobbies. Doctors of Chiropractic can perform specific spinal examinations to determine malfunction of the spine.

QUALITY OF LIFE is defined as your ability to do the things that make life a joy to life.
Choose to live a life of quality!

Ultra Simple Diet

2010-05-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

Join us for a free workshop based on the book, The Ultra Simple Diet. June 3, 2010 from 6:15-7:15 pm. Learn how to make better choices, beat food cravings, lose weight and have more energy in the process. It is truly a simple program but you have to be ready to make the change and be committed to a new discipline for at least 7 days. After that the rest is up to you.

Call us for more information, 610-944-5000.

ALLERGIES

2010-05-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

Tis the season for coughin', blowin', wheezin', and a sneezin'. Why is that? What is out of balance? Did you ever wonder what makes one child or adult allergic and another not? Why would one child be allergic to cats, dogs, grass, tree pollen, and certain foods? After all, we all live on the same planet!

The difference is most often seen in how one child's body is able to adapt and another is not. An allergy is the inability of the body to handle something which is in their immediate environment: pollen, grass, peanuts, etc. These allergies cause a protective reaction thus causing the body to be hypersensitive.

How can you help the body become less hypersensitive? You can reduce exposure to irritants, boost the immune system with vitamin supplementation and chiropractic adjustments, and limit eating foods that irritate the immune system and can cause inflammation such as gluten, dairy, corn, nuts and yeast. Often times by eliminating these items from our diet for a week we can begin to see a change. It is best to eliminate the items for 90 days and then slowly reintroduce the item to see if your body is able to adapt without any adverse reactions.

For more information, call our office at 610-944-5000 or attend our upcoming workshop on June 3, 2010 at 6:15-7 pm were we will discuss the food elimination diet in further detail.

Dr. Dawn
Link Chiropractic Inc.

A Well-Seasoned Mind- Spices that are Good for your BRAIN!

2010-04-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Research shows that 5 Spices are good for your brain: Trying adding them to you diet and test it yourself.

1) Tumeric- A University of California study showed that the active ingredient in tumeric can help break up brain plaques of amyloid beta, the abnormal protein buildup that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

2) Garlic- Mostly known for it heart healthy benefit, but it may also help the body fight brain caner. A 2007 study in the journal Cancer noted that garlic compounds eliminated brain cancer cells.

3) Ginger- A recent study by Roger Cady, M.D, Headache Care Center in Springfield, Missouri found that migraine-prone patients with mild headaches who were treated with a combination of ginger and feverfew,
48 % were pain free after two hours, and 34 % of the patients, the pain stayed mild.

4) Saffron- University of Tehran study discovered that a dose of saffron twice a day can work as well as Prozac in helping with depression.

5) Cinnamon- Cinnamon helps regulate bood sugar levels and this can help you stay focused.

LOOK WELL TO THE SPINE (but start with the feet)

2010-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

The average person makes over 15,000 steps per day. Amazing! The amount of force that passes through your feet each time you take a step is equivalent to approximately three-and-a- half times your body weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, your feet absorb over 500 pounds of pressure with every step.

Foot imbalances, have been shown to have a direct influence on the mechanics of the knee, balance, and spinal posture. Excessive Pronation is shown to be present in nearly 95% of adults. No wonder your feet are aching!

So what can you do? You may benefit from a custom orthotic device that would allow your foot to move through its full range of motion while blocking excessive pronation. Many chiropractors can fit you for a custom orthotic and today they make them in all sorts of styles and thicknesses for dress shoes to athletic wear. It is a great addition to your healthy lifestyle.

TOXICITY AND INFLAMMATION

2010-03-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Many people struggle with weight gain and health problems due to a build up of toxins and inflammation in the body. In order to regain your health and achieve consistent and permanent weight loss you need to address the underlying cause of disease in your body.

A great way to do this is by taking away the foods that make you toxic and inflammed. The major sources of toxins include coffee, sugar, alcohol, processed food, fast food, junk food, trans fat, and high-fructose corn syrup. Eliminate these foods for one week and allow your body to renew and rejuvenate itself.

If you want to take the step to detoxify your body, I recommend the book, The UltraSimple Diet by Mark Hyman, M.D. It is not a diet, but a healthy program of eating and eliminating the toxins in you daily routine. This book guides you through the program and has great resources online. I am currently on the 7 day detoxification program and have not experienced any cravings except for coffee one day and I am not hungry because you have more than enough food to eat.

Take charge of your health and life. It is up to you and no one else.

Dr. Dawn

ASTHMA-SOLUTIONS TO CONSIDER

2010-03-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

WHY is Asthma becoming ever so common? Asthma can be triggered by allergies, stress, pollen, household pets, foods , etc. Why do some people develop asthma and others do not?

Some authorities feel that asthma is a reaction to a lack of proper hydration or simply, a lack of water. Some feel it could be related to a over-stimulated and over-sensitive immune system that causes the person to have an adverse reaction to certain triggers like pollen, dog hair, milk, grass, etc.

How can you assist your body in healing? One thing you can do is examine your diet and life to determine what contributes to your asthma. Are you doing things that build up your body or break it down? But the most important thing is to work on building up the immune system. The body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism and it is controlled by the nervous system. The nervous system works normally when there is no interference. But in life we subject our bodies to traumas, repetitive movements, and emotional stress that can cause interference in the nervous system and this can lead to malfunction. As a chiropractor, I look for areas in the spine where you may have subluxations that can cause interference to the nervous system. By correcting the subluxations, the body can begin to work better and repair damage.

As well as chiropractic care, there are some natural supplements that can help such as Vitamin B complex plus C which can stimulate the immune system and magnesium and calcium to help dilate the bronchi walls. It is important to pinpoint the nutrients your body needs and we can help by evaluating you through nutritional response testing. For more information about nutritional response testing, visit our website at www.linkchiropractic.com.

DO YOU HAVE A HUMP?

2010-02-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

A hump? Where? In many people a hump or rounded protrusion develops where the neck meets the thoracic spine (upper back). Is this of concern? It can be. In a "Normal" posture the head sits evenly over the shoulders, but when the head is slightly forward or anterior to the shoulders this causes the muscles to tighten as they try to pull the head back into proper alignment. Over time this tightness may go down the body and cause low back or hip pain.

Then as the head stays in a forward position, eventually a hump can develop because fatty tissue builds up to protect the spinal bones because they are closer to the surface making them more exposed or vulnerable to injury. In this area, the upper thoracic spinal nerves lead to the heart, lungs, thyroid, shoulder, arms, wrists and over time this misalignment can lead to dysfunction of these vital areas and organs.

Got a hump? Get a chiropractic evaluation. We can give you the tools needed to improve your posture for a lifetime.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SUCCESS?

2010-02-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

1) The Right picture of success
2) Right principles for getting there.

Success is:
Knowing your purpose in Life and growing to reach your maximum potential and sowing seeds that benefit others.

The very moment that you make the shift to finding your purpose, growing to your potential, and helping others, that is when you are successful right now.

Questions to Ponder:

1) For what am I searching? What is that something that sets your soul on fire.

2) Why am I here, what are my abilities?

3) Do I believe in my potential? Do what you can with what you have right now.

Our potential is a gift to us, what we do with it is our gift back to the world.

1) Concentrate on one main goal.
2) Concentrate on continual improvement.
3) Forget the past- don’t let the past prevent you from reaching your potential. Read a biography about Roosevelt, Hellen Keller, etc.
4) Focus on the Future- picture the journey. Something that is bigger than you are.
Where would I like to go?

We make time and set aside money for the things that are most important to us.

You need to identify and sail toward your destination.

A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.
- A dream gives us directions- our compass
- A dream increases our potential- your vision is crucial
- A dream helps us prioritize- gives us hope-expands your time and energy only on the things that bring you closer to your dream.
- A dream adds value to our work- A larger vision adds value to your efforts.

If you are at a crossroad, decide am I going to trade something, lose something, or gain something.

Key Principles:
1) Believe in your ability to succeed.
2) Get rid of your pride. It can keep you from asking questions or trying new things because you are afraid of looking stupid.
3) Cultivate Constructive Discontent- your must desire positive change. Constructive discontent will motivate you to find your purpose and grow to reach your potential.

FIND YOUR PASSION AND DARE TO DREAM. HAVE THE BEST YEAR EVER!

DAWN FICHTER, D.C.

TUNA OMEGA 3

2010-01-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

Tuna Omega 3 supplementation can be beneficial for most of us. It is important for us to include sufficient fatty acids in our diet because this helps support a healthy cardiovascular, nervous, and immune system. It also helps maintain healthy eyes and memory function.

If you are interested in learning more, contact me by email or stop in for nutritional testing. We help determine if you need supplementation and which vitamins and minerals you may be deficient.

Dr. Dawn Fichter
Link Chiropractic Inc.

Everyday Adventures

2010-01-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Everyday can be an adventure, but we must take a sense of adventure into our everyday activities. This year look for opportunities to embrace the attitude of adventure and make the mundane into something fun. For example: try cooking a vegetable you have never eaten, take a long walk and enjoy the sights, take a new class in art, music, writing, or exercise, or join a new group to make new friends or business partners. Enjoy and let me know how your sense of adventure brightens you day.

Dawn Fichter, DC
Link Chiropractic Inc.

Let's Get Healthy for the New Year!

2009-12-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

The U.S. ranks 3oth in life expectancy, and by 2025 it is predicted that half of the population will suffer with diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity. Many of these conditions can be controlled by changes in behavior.

Let's start today, make one positive change towards becoming stronger and healthier, if not for yourself, for your loved ones.

The top three products sold in drug stores are pain relievers, digestive aids, and allergy relief medication. All three are basically a result of inflammation in the body. One change that can be helpful is to make sure you are eating the right foods and reducing the amount of foods that can contribute to your health problems. For example, Omega 6 acids are natural inflammatory fatty acids and are contained in the top eight food allergy producing foods: dairy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts(walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc.), seafood, shellfish, and soy. Most nuts are higher in Omega 6 than Omega 3. If you have allergies, you want to limit these foods as much as possible and increase your Omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation. Omega 3 acids are found in fruit, vegetables, cold water fish(salmon, tuna), and flaxseed or wheat germ oil.

Another problem is that we live in a fast paced society, and many of us eat too quickly which short circuits the digestive process and increases heartburn, inflammation and an upset stomach. Slow down, chew you food more and see what happens. You may even lose weight because you give your body time to register what you consume and therefore eat less.

Have a Healthy and Happy Holiday! Dr. Dawn

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

We live in a busy world and sometimes it is hard to slow down. I hope that this Thanksgiving that you can take time for yourself and spend quality time with the people that mean the most to you.

Start a new family tradition, a Thanksgiving journal and write about all the blessings that have happened this year, it is always fun for me to look back and read what I wrote last year and what ours daughters wrote or the pictures they colored in the journal.

Many blessings to you and your family.

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMJ)

2009-11-18T05:50:00.000-08:00

Do you have pain, limited mouth opening, and a clicking sound? These are symptoms of temporomandibular joint disfunction. More than 15 percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, headaches and neck pain.

Two joints and several jaw muscles make it possible to open and close the mouth. They work together to allow you to chew, speak, and swallow. Some temporomandibular problems result from arthritis, misalignment of the joints, and injury to the ligaments or muscles.

There are several ways that TMJ disorder may be treated. A good place to start is to visit your dentist who will check your bite to see how it fits together. Sometimes a night guard may be recommended. Often times this can help address the problem. However, if you are still having problems, then you may want to visit a chiropractor for further evaluation.

As a chiropractor, we evaluate for misalignment in the jaw when the jaw is in motion, especially opening and closing the jaw. We address this with light force adjustments using a instrument called the activator and we look at the soft tissue around the joint. Typically, we see inflammation and trigger points in the surrounding muscles and teach you techniques to help lesson that strain around the jaw.

We want you to be free of pain and enjoy the best quality of life.
Visit us today, Link Chiropractic Inc. in Fleetwood, PA. 610-944-5000

Supplement with Vitamin D in the Winter Months

2009-11-11T05:10:00.000-08:00

In the winter months, we do not get adequate amounts of sunlight and this can lead to depression, fatique and a weakened immune system. Our body produces more Vitamin D when we are out in the sun during the summer. How can we improve this?

Research suggests that we should supplement Vitamin D to our diet during the winter months, because research is showing a connection between individuals with lower levels of Vitamin D and an increase likelood of getting flu symptoms and even depression.

If you need help finding the right products, give us a call at 610-944-5000, we can help.

Dawn Fichter, DC

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THE FLU

2009-10-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

10 Things that will help keep your immune system stronger during the winter months..

1) Optimize your vitamin D levels, this is a great strategy to avoid all kinds of infections. Vitamin D deficiency is thought to be the true culprit behind the seasonality of the flu. We make vitamin D when we are in the sunlight and during the winter months there is less sun, so this can cause a deficiency.

2) Reduce your intake of sugar and white flour- these lower the function of your immune system and this then lowers your bodies ability to fight off viruses.

3) Get 8-9 hours of rest. This is the average amount needed to prevent fatigue.

4) Have tools to help reduce stress. It can be a hobby, getting a massage, visiting your chiropractor, taking power naps, visualization, or deep breathing (not hyperventilating).

5) Take an Animal Based Omega-3 Fat - Example Tuna Omega 3 Oil - This helps reduce the damage of omega 6 oils that are trans fats and found in many processed foods.

6) Wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

7) Use Natural antibiotics- Oil of oregano, garlic, and Standard Process supplement Congaplex.

8) Get adjusted regularly. After one adjustment, your immune system is 7 times stronger, because it helps increase the production of T-cells that fight against infection. This has been documented over and over by research studies, especially on immune supressed individuals.

Stay Healthy this season and Enjoy Good Health!

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST H1N1 OR ANY FLU

2009-09-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

As the H1N1 Flu or Swine Flu is heightened, we want to give you tools on how to boost your immune system to help protect yourself naturally.

"Stress conditions lead to altered measures of immune function, and alter susceptibility to a variety of disease. Many stimuli act on the central nervous system and this can profoundly alter immune function responses. One of the most important studies performed by Ronald Pero, PhD, chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute at New York University; showed the positive effect that chiropractic care can have on the immune system and general health. Dr. Pero studied chiropractic patients who had been under care for 5 years and found they had a 200% greater immune competence than those who did not receive chiropractic care. They also had a 400% greater immune competence than those with cancer and other serious diseases.

Below are some Nutritional Support Recommendations to help support a strong immune function:

Echinacea- This helps promote healthy white blood cells, and helps the body respond to stress, encourages healthy respiratory tissue, and lyphatic system drainage. We recommend the brand Standard Process, a whole food supplement because of it's quality and affordability. It is available at our office and other healthcare professionals.

Congaplex- Contains essential vitamins, minerals, antioxident protection and it helps produce and protect immune cells. Our patients rave about the benefits of this product. Try it out for yourself. This product is safe for children and is available in a chewable form.

HEALTHY CHOICES ON THE GO

2009-09-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

Strategies for achieving a balanced diet even in a fast-food, processed world.
Healthy Substitutions:

Next time you are in a hurry and hit the drive-thru, think about these healthy substitutions to make a quick meal healthier:

Instead of/ Choose:
Soft Drinks / Water
Double Burger patty/ Single burger patty, or chicken
Salty sides /fruit or vegetable sides
Foot-long sub /6-inch sub
White bread/ Whole Wheat
Sandwich bread /tortilla wrap
dressings /plain, or on the side

These simple changes can save you a lot of added fat and calories. Making healthy food choices is a compromise between busy lifestyles and our health. We can do it if we make small but meaningful changes. Make one small change this week and you will be amazed at how simple and rewarding it can be.

A CHIROPRACTIC MIRACLE STORY MUST SEE!

2009-09-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Visit Youtube.com and see "A chiropractic miracle story must see." It shows how chiropractic helps a newborn recover from a traumatic birth. It again proves the miraculous ability of the body to heal especially when there is no nerve interference.

If you are skeptical about chiropractic for yourself or for children this is a great video to watch.

7 POINTS TO SELF IMPROVEMENT

2009-09-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

1) Nutrition- Be Concious of the food you put in your body. Make better choices, eat more fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. Make one simple change this week.

2) Exercise- The key is to move every day so you will look and feel younger. If we want to change our body, we have to change what we are doing. Find ways to add exercise into your daily routine. These things will help strengthen you body and keep it stronger and active.

3) Postive thinking- Think great thoughts and surround yourself with positive influences- Be careful of what you read, what you say, and who you spend time with each day.

4)Good Habits-Replace one bad habit with a good habit.

5) Smile- It is infectious- Learn to laugh more, life can be quite amusing if we find the humor in it.

6) Good Posture- Hold in your stomach when standing and walking. Be aware of how you sit at the computer or on the couch.

7) Relaxation- When under stress, take a few deep breathes from your stomach. This will help release tension. It is amazing how increasing your oxygen and slowing down your breathing helps to calm down your mind and body. Try it today when you feel any tension in your neck or back.

This week make an extra effort to improve the quality of your life and health.

Dr. Dawn Fichter
Link Chiropractic Inc.

INJURY RECOVERY WITH NUTRITION AND CHIROPRACTIC

2009-07-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

When you incur a strain or sprain injury due to a fall or car accident, your spine and extremities along with ligaments, tendons and cartilage can be affected. The ligaments are flexible structures that hold adjacent bones together. During a fall, lifting or even a sudden incorrect movement, a ligament or joints can easily become torqued or thrown out of alignment. This can result in overstretched or torn ligaments, tendons and/or muscles.

Your body's protective response is to increase the special cells and fluids of the immune system. This causes the natural responses of swelling and redness(inflammation). When you are recovering from an injury, nutritional needs are greater for certain key nutrients, including vitamin C, zinc, manganese and silicon. Research shows that these nutrients along with bromelain, can help in reducing inflammation, and heal faster. It is best to take a whole food supplement to receive the most natural and beneficial form that your body can utilize. We recommend Standard Process and Nutrition Response testing that can help evaluate your body's specific needs, so that you only take what is necessary for your body to recover. If you are interested in finding out more, give our office a call at 610-944-5000.

You should also have your spine evaluated by a Chiropractor after a fall or car accident, even if you do not have any symptoms. Many symptoms do not show up for weeks or months following an injury and then degeneration and weakness has already began to develop. Stop the problem from progressing, early detection is the key to the best recovery possible.

COMPUTER USE CAUSES HARMFUL EFFECTS FOR CHILDREN

2009-07-16T11:16:00.001-07:00

Children learning to use computers are being put at risk of injury from neck, back and repetitive injuries. Prolonged use and incorrect posture effects children as well as adults.

This is the first generation of children using computers for long periods of time while their muscles and bones are developing.

This is why it is important to modify the desk to fit the child, especially if they are using it for more than 30 minutes at a time.

One 14-year old child experiencing neck and back problems that was worse after prolonged periods of computer usage received chiropractic care and noticed improved.

Please have your child or children checked for developing postural problems, Chiropractors are the best in evaluating the spine. For the month of August, we are offering a free spinal evaluation for any child. Call our office, Link Chiropractic at 610-944-5000.

The Four Essentials of Health

2009-06-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Health is something you are given at birth and it is a journey to maintain health throughout our lifetime. We are all born with a genetic health potential and we need to understand what can interfere with that potential and avoid those things.

There are four basic physiological essentials for survival and they are food, water, oxygen and nerve impulse.

Food is the fuel and building block for growth and reproduction of cells and tissues. It consists of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If any of these were to stop you would die. If their balance is interfered with your health potential is not optimal. For example, if you eat high fat foods, no vegetables, what would be the possible condition of your arteries in 10-20 years?

Water- Our body is comprised of up to 75% water and it is used in almost every body reaction. Did you drink any water today? You may say yes, in my tea, coffee, or juice. We can drink some of those beverages, but we need to make sure that we are drinking water by itself. Take your body weight divided by 2 and that is the number of ounces of water we need to drink each day, then we can add other beverages.

Oxygen is also used in almost every reaction of the body and is carried by the pulmonary (lungs) and circulatory (blood) systems. We need to exercise and breathe deeply to increase our oxygenation to cells. Researchers say that oxygen deprivation can cause almost anything from fatigue to cancer.

Nerve impulse is the most commonly overlooked essential for life and health. Nerve impulse is an electrochemical charge transmitted by the brain through the nervous system to the body. All body function is dependent on this life force or brain impulse. If you severed the nerve to your heart, would it stop? What if you just interfered with the normal nerve transmission? One major cause for such nerve interference is a misalignment of the spine commonly termed by chiropractors as a subluxation. Subluxations can interfere with the nerve, the spinal cord and reflex nerve pathways resulting in abnormal function and a lower health potential. If your spine is subluxated your health potential is going to be effected because it is one of the essentials of health. It could be the answer you have been searching for.

Are Your Shoes Setting You Up For Injury?

2009-06-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

Foot-related injuries are often triggered by improper footwear and this can include plantar fascitis, bunions, Morton's neuroma, achilles tendonitis, calluses, and blisters. Shoes that don't provide adequate support not only effect your feet but can throw your entire skeletal system out of balance and this will effect your posture and over well-being.

When the foot is held in an improper position, excessive force is placed on the knee and this can lead to weakness and injury to the knee joint. Misalignments of the knee then trigger a shift in the placement of the pelvis and spinal column.

High heels top the list of features to avoid when shopping for shoes. Study after study confirms that towering heels upset the body's natural posture. If you are unable to dump your pumps, at least limit the number of hours you wear heels or wear them on days when you won't be walking a great deal.

Women aren't the only ones who need to be concerned with high heels. The half- to three-quarter-inch platforms on many male dress shoes predispose men to heel-related injuries. Chunky style shoes are no less damaging than stilettos. One recent report revealed that broad-based heels cause a more dramatic shift in posture than some narrow heels, resulting in a heightened risk of knee and hip arthritis(The Lancet 2001;357:1097-8).

In some cases, simply choosing quality footwear isn't enough. Certains foot types and posture imbalances benefit from custom-molded orthotics. If you would like to be evaluated for orthotics, visit our office or see our website www.linkchiropractic.com for more information on orthotics.

SCOLIOSIS

2009-06-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

When the spine curves or twists excessively it can be abnormal and it is called scoliosis. In most cases of scoliosis, the cause is unknown, but it can be caused by conditions such as muscular distrophy, tumor, infection, cerebral palsy, a birth deformity or disc problems. In severe cases, scoliosis sufferes can have breathing or heart problems if the curve is very severe.

According to Clinical Orthaepedics and Related Research, 1988,a contributing factor to scoliosis can be a disturbance or defect in the area of the nervous system that controls posture, body balance and postitioning.

This is why Chiropractic care can be beneficial, because the purpose of chiropractic is to reduce any interference of the proper functioning of the nervous system that is caused by spinal misalignment.

Case Studies
A 10-year-old girl with severe scoliosis of 48 degrees began chiropractic care. After 10 adjustments her mother reported a happier child, with greater resistance to disease and her scoliosis reduced to 12 degrees. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter. Jan. 1994

In our office we have worked with several individuals diagnosed with Scoliosis, ranging in age from 10-75 and have seen great results. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact our office at 610-944-5000.

POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

2009-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

I am listening to tapes by Norman Vincent Peale on the Power of Positive Thinking and it is a wonderful series and they can be found at your local library.

Everything we do starts with an idea, but it is up to us to decide if the idea is of a postive or negative nature. Now this doesn't mean that just because we have positive thoughts that everything in our life will work out perfectly. But it is important to live with a focus on the positive and the possibility because this can help lift us above our difficulty.

Norman Vincent Peale recommends that we spend time each day quieting our mind and this will allow inspiration to flow. He says to have faith and believe that God is helping you through any challenges and successes. Believe in it and work at it. That is the key. Many times people believe in it but do not back it up with action steps and without action we cannot get closer to our goal.

Believe and Succeed. We want to see you live a life of health and prosperity. Visit our office and we will be happy to help you along your journey to healthier living.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Dawn

What is the Swine Flu?

2009-05-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Swine Flu is the newest form of influenza that everyone is worried about. Influenza is a viral infection that can be easily transmitted from person to person. We are hearing a lot of information in the media on what causes it but we want to give you some practical things you can do to protect yourself and your family.

How can I protect myself from getting the swine flu? You need to build up your immune system. A few ways to boost your immune system include taking whole food vitamin supplements such as echinacea and vitamin C, drink more water, and avoid sugary foods because sugar depresses the immune system. Another important way to boost your immune system is with Chiropractic Care. Research has proven that is increases the T-Cells which fight viruses.

You can also use natural disinfectants like essential oils to fight viruses. To disinfect a room, take a new plant sprayer and fill it with warm water and add 4 drops of essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus lemon, or tea tree oil) per one cup of water, shake and spray in the air and on hard surfaces in your home or work area.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2009-04-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Earth Day makes me stop and think about all the miraculous things about the world around us and things that I take for granted. I think it is important for each of us to live a more peaceful life by spending time outdoors and enjoying the beauty of the earth. This always helps me relax and it helps relieve stress.

One way we can help reduce our wear on the earth is by recycling items when we are done using them, recycle our trash and use earth friendly products. The best part of using earth friendly products like detergent, paper goods, dryer sheets etc. is that it is also better for our health . If you are concerned about cost, don't be, some of the discount grocery stores have natural products and they are priced comparable to other brands.

Immune function, health and quality of life

2009-04-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

A study in the July 5, 2006 issue of the peer reviewed Journal of Vertebral Sumbluxation Research finds that new chiropractic patients experienced improvements in the function of their immune system, quality of life and other aspects of health after being under chiropractic care.

The 11 subjects were followed for over a nine month period while under chiropractic care. A complete blood workup was done at the beginning of care, at 3 months, and again at nine months. Their blood values stayed within normal range for healthy adults during the study, leading the researchers to conclude that regarding chiropractic care, there are " possible links to immune status and improved aspects of health and quality of life."