An Ounce of Spinecare

An Ounce of Spinecare

From my perspective, I think it's fair to infer that the general population's understanding of chiropractic is steeped in misinformation and ludicrous youtube videos.

However the chance to better educate, improve utilization, and delivery quality care doesn’t always propel chiropractors forward.

Definition by its opposite

Chiropractic is not roller tables, tens machines, kinesio tape and 5 minutes of popping with the doctor. It's not meant exclusively for infants, kids, adults, or geriatrics. While there are treatment protocols - chiropractic is not a one-sized fits all approach. In my opinion it’s not a room with five tables where five different patients receive the same five adjustments. When performed in line with a proper assessment and true to biomechanical concepts the risks associated with chiropractic care are very small.

So what is chiropractic

It is a health platform tasked primarily with holistic spine care, but responsible for integrative or coordinated care (in-house and referring out) that includes physiotherapy, massage, nutrition, mental health and other holistic constructs. At its core chiropractic is about assessing the spine and providing adjustments to decrease pain, increase function and facilitate the body’s capacity to heal.

Chiropractic may be medically necessary for infants exposed to birth trauma. You might be surprised to learn that the force used to adjust babies is comparable to the force one would use to check the ripeness of a tomato. I once had a parent ask me if it’s too soon to treat her son as he was only 16 years old. I was not that surprised because she had no prior experience with chiropractic. Kids, especially those participating in gymnastics, dance, marital arts, and all of the traditional sports (i.e. lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball, etc.) can reap the benefits of identifying an injury prior to pain,  quicker healing and injury prevention (both acute injuries and wear and tear from repetitive stress).

Most people do not think about the mobility of their spine or joints such as the hip or ankle. Spinal degeneration has become so common (due to our lifestyles -there are outlier circumstances) that your orthopedist or radiologist will refer to it as normal aging. In many ways chiropractic care is a way to realign and remove abnormal stress placed on the joints, muscle and neural tissues.

Should everyone see a chiropractor

Chiropractic comes at a cost that is both financial and psychological. The former mainly due to poor insurance reimbursement and the latter because most outcomes require some degree of patient accountability.  The cost leads to a large majority of patients accessing chiropractic care as a means to resolve pain. Pain truly is the great motivator and presents differently for each individual.

Pain can be simple or complex. It can be multifaceted and may involve the following components:

• neurovascular
• psychological
• neurological
• muscular
• mechanical

Here are 3 different scenarios and how chiropractic care could be used to correct the problem and prevent future injury.

Hip pain

A 45 year old female patient complains of intractable hip pain for the last 5 months. She believes that it began after a session of interval training with her personal trainer. The pain is sharp and she notes that now she has some numbness along the lateral portion of her thigh.

The pain makes it difficult to sleep. A thorough exam reveals that she has a rotated sacrum on the same side that she is having hip pain. In this case the patient was adjusted, underwent soft tissue release, and was prescribed a few exercises. The pain resolved after the first visit and has not returned over the course of 4 months. 

Wondering what is a "sacrum"

Sacrum in in Red

Upper back pain

A 37 year-old mother of 2 complains of pain where her neck and shoulder meet. At times the pain radiates up into the neck and down between the shoulder blades. Picking up her 2 year old gives a burning feeling and rotating her head to the left has become painful and more difficult. During our history taking she notes that she sprained her left rotator cuff while in high school (volleyball injury). We found a misalignment in her thoracic spine (T2) and a misaligned scapula on the left side. Both areas were adjusted and the patient had immediate relief (90 %) improvement. Over the course of 2 additional treatments the patient regained full range of motion in her neck and was free of pain. 

Picture of the thoracic vertebrae.

Jaw and shoulder pain

A 14 year old male lacrosse player complains of jaw pain and associated neck and upper trapezius pain. During a game he was kneed in the jaw. He was able to turn his head to the right, but only about 60 % compared to rotation to the left. Evaluation of his neck and upper back  revealed a misalignment of the first cervical vertebra. Once this bone was adjusted the patient regained full ROM and a decrease in pain of 50-75%. Moreover, if this patient had not addressed the misalignment in his neck there is a possibility that the abnormal alignment can lead to a handful of symptoms and changes in postural control down the line.

First cervical vertebra (green) aka "atlas"

Summary

What’s the goal of chiropractic?

Zero in on the primary cause of pain and implement a treatment plan so that it does not return. This is predicated on a proper evaluation of the spine and neuromuscular system. 

Who should see a chiropractor?

All ages infants to geriatrics

Athletes across a wide spectrum

Those with pain or those looking for a holistic wellness approach

If you have a spine it can be evaluated.

Why do I have pain and what should I do?

Start with the least invasive therapy first. If you have muscle and joint pain or headaches find a well-reviewed chiropractor and have them perform an evaluation. That information will help you make an educated decision and understand your options. (Disclaimer: pain related to cardiovascular problems, stroke, cancer, etc ay require emergency medicine or the immediate attention of a medical specialist.)

What sort of commitment should I expect if I undergo care?

By and large true health is becoming increasingly collaborative. You may be asked to return for several visits, undergo additional diagnostic tests and follow a tailored treatment plan. Corrective care exercise may be prescribed and you may be asked to make specific changes in your behavior i.e. postural control, activity levels, nutritional choices, etc.

The Conscious Professional Series: Fernanda Mello

I had the pleasure of meeting with Fernanda Mello, a Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition (ISSA) in Orange County. She is a business owner, traveler, surfer, jiu jitsu competitor, cook, photographer and abides by the tag line “healthy choices with real food” Trust me when I say that you need a mobile spine to be effective and injury proof while training Brazilian jiu jitsu.

As a non-native orange county resident, it never ceases to amaze me the quality and number of health conscious professionals in our OC community. I'm finding that the area is rich with those seeking and helping others live a healthier lifestyle. 

From what I can tell Fernanda has a unique approach and wisdom when it comes to health. Even more she brings passion to her work, with emphasis on awareness and smart dietary solutions.

Check out her answers from our min-interview.

At what point did you decide to prioritize your own nutrition? 

I decided to prioritize my own nutrition around the time that I finished my bachelor's degree . However, I began to fully understand the power of nutrition when I started to cook all my meals and this happened when I moved to California, 5 years ago. 

You have a great list of principles that guide your overall philosophy. Of the 8 principles which one do your clients grasp first and which can be more difficult to sustain? 

My clients are usually really good at getting active, not all of them can easily stick to an active schedule, but most of them can. I guess the most difficult thing to sustain is making their own meals at home, because people tend to overthink making food at home and end up eating out in restaurants too often. I try to teach my clients that they can create easy and healthy meals without being a chef! I help with grocery shopping guides, grocery shopping lists and some tips such as good brands, places to purchase such as local farmers markets and healthy food stores.

If I’m not mistaken, you have experience recognizing and treating clients with Candida overgrowth? In your experience does a recent round of antibiotics set off your alarm? Or is there more to it and what can you share with people unfamiliar with this condition?

Yes I have experienced a lot of clients struggling with candida overgrowth and I believe it is a combination of both: use of excessive antibiotics and unbalanced lifestyle. Antibiotics kill not only disease-causing bacteria; they also kill beneficial bacteria that control our inner ecology. Friendly bacteria are so important to our immune system, ensure absorption of nutrients from the food we eat, help our mood, and many other heath benefits. Candida is a pathogenic yeast or fungus normally present in our inner and outer body, in small quantities along with good bacteria. The problem is when candida starts to thrive due to a high-sugar, low-nutrient, and low fiber diet. Fungus is an opportunist microorganism and they can spread fast if we don’t control them. A balanced diet and controlling stress can be a really successful and low invasive treatment to prevent candida.

It’s pretty clear that you practice what you preach in terms of life balance and activity. Is food the source of your activity levels or does getting out (surfing, jiu jitsu, yoga) act as a catalyst for eating healthier?

For sure!! Eating real food is always a good way to keep my energy levels steady, provide enough vitamins, mineral, and phytochemicals to help better recover results and performance! Eating natural food is also an amazing self-care practice and keep us more in tune with nature!

What sort of nutrition programs do you employ with your clients (duration, macros, elimination, etc.) 

I mostly encourage more real food consumption and minimize industrialized food. I focus on quality rather on quantity. It depends on people’s body type, energy levels, lifestyle, and regular schedule. I don’t focus only on what people eat, but how they manage their stress, self-care, etc.
I try to keep track of food intolerances or allergies as well, so sometimes elimination diet can be super helpful.

Okay, on a serious note. Favorite yoga pose and Jiu jitsu submission?

I love crow pose and child’s pose (amazing reset and resting pose)
Jiu Jitsu submission: cross collar choke. 

Finally, can you speak to what your ideal client looks like from a mutual fit perspective.

I believe that being healthy can have many definitions! It depends on each person and their lifestyle. But most importantly, being healthy is a constantly practice of self-care. Food plays a huge role in how we balance our inner ecology and overall energy levels, but it also important to balance other important aspects of life (physical activity, spirituality, personal relationships, work environment, increasing nature contact, and more). I love to see my clients having healthier choices, feeling more energized, sleeping better, having more energy, and loving themselves for what they are.

Why the Adjustment May be Your Ticket out of Pain

Everybody has experienced joint discomfort, muscle aches and pain, or an injury.

A common culprit is neuromuscular imbalance. It happens for a host of reasons. A few of these reasons are poor posture, dysfunctional movement patterns, imbalances created during exercise/sport, and injury.

Chiropractors use adjustments to help clear these neuromuscular imbalances. Take this crude analogy. In the 90’s the federal government required sensors on garage doors to prevent accidents. The sensors serve as a binary safety feature to reverse the motorized trolley in case anything is blocking the path of the door. If there are obstructions to the sensors the doors will reverse direction or malfunction. Lights will flash and the doors will not open and close properly.

In the case of the body, lets take an injured hip joint, if the sensors/nerves embedded in the joints (hip, pelvis, sacrum) and muscles surrounding the hip send abnormal information to the brain and spinal cord the brain may choose to alter "normal" control. It will find a different way to keep you upright and provide the movement that a person requires to function. Unfortunately, there are no alarms alerting us to the specific problem and respective adaptation(s).

The potential results: 

• decrease in spatial awareness
• muscle weakness
• asymmetric muscle stiffness or splinting
• reduced range of motion
• overall changes in body mechanics
• changes in spinal curvature.

Depending on the duration of the injury or misalignment, the body may begin to compensate and deviate from a more natural movement pattern. This may continue until the sensory and motor dysfunction (referred to as dysafferentation) is removed.

Evaluating the body is a multilayered task. In my approach, the first step is to ensure that we do not impose movements or posture on top of cumulative compensations (joint misalignments and abnormal muscle tension), but rather gradually restore the neuromuscular function through evaluation and specific gentle adjusting.

12 Ideas On Why You Should Have Started Chiropractic 10 Years Ago.

1. Health is simple disease is complicated.
2. Spine-related disability is on the rise, and low back pain is now the leading cause of global disability
3. Disability from other musculoskeletal disorders has also increased nearly 50%
4. Life with pain interferes with work, financial stability, family, sleep, activity, etc.
5. Drugs and surgeries should be avoided unless it’s an absolute emergency
6. You want to function at high-to-normal levels with your healthiest years ahead of you
7. When the spine is not aligned it can impact the function of the nervous system.
8. Chiropractic looks to eliminate the root cause and can help co-manage a variety of conditions.
9. Degeneration and an inflexible spine is not due directly to aging, but occupation, lifestyle, nutrition, and daily movement patterns.
10. Research supports the notion that chiropractic is effective for prevention and as a first-line treatment for neuromuscular pain
11. It’s an investment in your health and opportunity to learn how to interact with your nervous system.
12. Adjustments and soft tissue manipulation may promote range of motion, sensory and motor control, and overall joint health.

The Conscious Professional Series: Britt Martin

There are endless variations of health philosophy. Each of us need to develop a personalized total health philosophy that fits our goals and motivations. The more that we can learn about how our bodies work the more incentive we have to shift our lifestyles accordingly. Many of us stick to what we know and the habits that we have conditioned.

I've found that one of the best ways to break free from the comfort zones and unconscious mandates is to listen to a new perspective with an open mind. Britt Martin is a holistic nutritionist and alignment-based yoga teacher in LA. Our digital paths crossed and it was clear that she has a unique perspective and approach. I asked her if she would answer a short series of questions and that brings us to our micro-interview.  

Can you share a “little known fact,” about you?

I grew up playing roller hockey. I was a good + tough player and even played on travel teams. Of all the sports I played, it was the one that most resonated with me. I played all the way into high school. 

There are a bunch of exercise modalities out there. Why did you choose to pursue yoga teacher training? What is alignment-based yoga? How do you incorporate alignment-based yoga therapy as part of lifestyle medicine?

As a Holistic Nutritionist, I find yoga to be an essential component to having a holistic lifestyle. The more I studied holistic nutrition, the more I realized how beneficial it could be to offer it to my clients. I love that it is so much more than just a physical practice. It provides stress management, a spiritual connection, soul nourishment, stretching and more. 

Alignment-based yoga focuses on the body being aligned while in various asanas {poses} and I love that this style puts an emphasis on the importance of posture + proper alignment. 

I think yoga is for everyone and should be practiced by everyone as part of a healthy lifestyle since it is able to bring balance into many areas of one's life. I always encourage my clients to try it with an open mind and try a variety of classes, studios, and teachers until they find one that's right for them. 

Managing stress is an important aspect of health for all of us. Can you share one short-term and one long-term strategy that have been effective for your clients?

One of my favorite topics! I think when managing stress it is important to find what works for you, and then make time for those practices in your life...

As far as a short term strategy, taking 10 deep breaths when you need to manage stress quickly and on the fly can be very powerful. I also love tapping {or EFT}, it may sound "woo woo", but I have found it to truly work for myself and my clients. Brad Yates has a ton of amazing tapping videos on YouTube, and most of them are under 10 minutes. I always encourage my clients to rate how they are feeling before tapping and then again, after they tap. It's a great way to recognize the shift that happens to one's nervous system from this easy and accessible tool.  

As far as long term, I like my clients to create daily habits that help support and manage their stress levels. One of my favorites is having them cultivate a morning and nightly routine that gives them space to tune inward and check in with themselves. They may do this through meditating, journaling, reading and so on. Spending time in nature on a regular basis can also be very powerful and supportive. The most important part of stress management is consistently making time for it and doing what works for YOU. 

How would you define community? In your opinion how important is community for overall health and well-being?

Community is your tribe of likeminded people you can always count on that offer support, motivation, safety, a sense of belonging + connection, and more. I have 8 branches of a Holistic lifestyle that I teach my clients {an acronym for the word, HOLISTIC} and the C stands for community. So with that, I believe it is essential to one's overall health, and also important to know it is never too late to find your community. 

As a holistic practitioner, what are your thoughts on the current healthcare landscape? How do chiropractors, nutritionists, instructors, and other types of therapists increase our influence and utilization in the community?

I wish healthcare focused on diet and lifestyle more and getting to the root cause of people's health concerns instead of subscribing to prescription medicine that only addresses the symptoms one may be experiencing, and not the root cause of those symptoms. But I do think it is an exciting time to be in the wellness space, and that the general population and businesses are starting to focus more on health. 

I think it's important that we support one another and find fun, collaborative ways to work together in promoting alternative, more holistic approaches to managing one's wellbeing. I love that I'm seeing more wellness centers that offer an array of healing modalities under one roof. I'd like to see more of that, and would even love to open my own wellness center one day. 

If there anything else on your mind at the moment, please tell.

I think it's important to remember that your body is your only home {aside from Earth}, and to start living from that mindset. Honor your body and always treat it from a place of love. Pay attention to how foods + lifestyle habits make you feel. The more you take care of your body, the better it can take care of and provide for you. It's a win-win.

You can learn more about Britt Martin and  Fitbrittnutrition by visiting her website or following her on Instagram. I want to thank Britt for a quick snapshot on a few of her ideas around wellness.