Surveys Indicate that 99% of Americans…

Everyone wants to be well and healthy. Surveys indicate that 99% of Americans list health as one of the two most important aspects of their lives. The Chiropractic profession and the staff at Maximized Health have embraced the concept of health promotion, asserting that what we really do in Chiropractic care is to optimize Health. Toward that purpose we have been exploring ways to optimize our health and the quality of our lives in relation to wellness.

Wellness can be described as the full living of a healthy life at all levels: physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually and spiritually, as these dimensions of ourselves interact synergistically. You'll need to develop a road map that provides the vision and direction to successfully navigate this domain while finding joy in the journey.

Personal wellness planning provides a powerful individualized method that helps us transform the quality of our lives and achieve optimal wellness. Dimensions of wellness that you may incorporate in a personal wellness plan include: spinal and neurobiological balance, physical fitness, optimal nutrition, intellectual development, emotional and social wellness and spirituality. Goals set in each dimension should be simple, clear and measurable.

To help illustrate this for you, I will share my personal wellness plan below (my escape plan from the “sick care” system):

My Personal Wellness Plan
For a fit, 34-year-old, very active American male chiropractor and wellness fanatic, who teaches health empowerment.

Purpose: To empower myself in wellness so that, by the grace of God, I can serve others to a higher level of healthy living.

Chiropractic/Neurobiological Balance: I get checked for spinal and structural alignment/balance weekly; get adjusted as needed. Perform my stretching daily for my spine and traction when necessary.

Exercise Activity: I average 30-60 minute workouts, 6-7 days per week. I incorporate strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination/integration activities. My specific activities include running up to 15 miles per week and/or using other cardio-machines, free-weight and machine resistant training and stretching exercises. I work core musculature (abs, back, glutes, thighs) intensively at least three times per week. Because I have a physically demanding job and plenty of people that rely of my level of physical fitness, I am dedicated to maintaining my body.

Diet: I try to make healthy choices daily. I keep healthy and fresh food available around the home and office, and discard foods that tempt me when I'm low on energy. Usually, my daily diet includes fruit in the morning, fresh vegetables in salad or steamed with lean meat for lunches and dinners. I also ensure that I take in one to one-and-a-half liters of pure water per day. I also take high quality supplements rich in Anti-oxidants and especially omega-3 Fatty acids. I keep low quantities of starches, such as rice, pasta and rarely eat bread and potatoes.

Rest: I try to average 7-8 hours of sleep per day. Some days I get 6 hours and others I get 9 for balance. I go to bed early. Since the mind is programmed in the early morning and late evening, I read great things during that time. I also avoid the news which is mostly negative and is what people do first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Intellectual Development: I explore new possibilities relative to health promotion ad self-improvement by reading newsletters, texts and journals or listening to thought provoking speakers and authors. Even with a busy day, I am able to incorporate about 20-60 minutes of reading and conducting research related to Chiropractic, wellness and health promotion.

Family: I affirm, love, honor and pray for my family members daily. I'll spend at least 1-3 hours of quality, one-on-one time with my wife daily.

Spirituality: I dedicate about 20-30 minutes toward my spiritual inspiration daily often times while getting ready for the day. I give thanks daily for the abundance that we have in this life. I live my purpose daily, helping others to achieve better health so that they can serve their life mission with better energy.

Try making a trial plan which fits you, uniquely. Go for it! Capture your own imagination, and then make it real. If you have any questions about wellness planning, e-mail me at drcraig@maximizedhealth.net

Speak Up and Educate Others,


Dr. Craig Burns

Read the 1st Page: " Will You Escape the Sick Care System?"

How Much Do You Really Want to Know?

The focus of this week’s newsletter is “how much have you changed, how much will you change?”

For the last couple weeks we have been focusing on what you know vs. what you don’t know about your body, and your habits. I know that many of you are concerned about how much your habits have changed your body, specifically those of you who sit for more than 2-4 hours per day.

We will be coaching all of you on a few key concepts when it comes to ergonomics in the office, car and at home. We are doing this in conjunction with our community outreach program “Healthy @ Work – Healthy 4 Life”.

For example… do you know if your sitting posture is helping you or hurting you? An important question that we hope all of you will be able to answer within the next several days.

The reason we are doing this is simple, yet profound. Research and experience is showing me that sitting incorrectly for more than 2-4 hours per day will cause your body to develop and age abnormally. This will in turn lead to symptoms and health problems that quickly become life changing conditions if left unchecked.

So, over the next several days my staff and I will work extra hard in helping correct your ergonomics and postural habits, thereby helping you avoid said problems in the future.

We are even going to take it a step further. We are going to work even harder to help those that are willing learn more so they can change more.

Over the next several days we will be offering you the OPPORTUNITY to take your health education and body awareness to a much higher level. This is strictly voluntary! What I mean is this… if you really want to know more about your body and how to care for it or “improve it”… we will coach you. But, again it is up to you to take the initiative and ask for help. We don’t want to force any additional knowledge or training upon you.

For example, it is a fact that prolonged sitting causes various parts of the body to shrink and shorten while other parts elongate and stretch out. Prolonged sitting (work, car, home – it’s all cumulative) will cause some parts to become weak while others become over developed. The point is… if you are not careful and proactive your body will change in a way that you DO NOT want it to.

Trust me on this one… it is this very simple concept that has brought many of you here looking for help, and it is this very same concept that will cause many of your friends and family to develop joint and muscle conditions as they age. All of these problems can be avoided or improved greatly. But, you must receive the right training and counsel. If I can do it – so can you!

At the bottom of this newsletter you will find a sample of the checklist we use. If you wish to “learn more so you can change more”, please meet with a member of Team Maximized Health (FYI: Tom is our ergonomics specialist). Next week, we will systematically fill out entire form for you and get you moving in the right direction.

KNOW YOUR BODY - CHANGE YOUR HABITS – TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

Speak up and educate others,


Dr. Craig Burns

Patient name_____________________________ Date____________

Patient Specific Recommendations for Ergonomics & Rehabilitation
Based on our review of your personal needs we are prescribing the following:

Muscles to Stretch:
o Hip Flexors
o Hamstrings
o Quadriceps
o Low Back
o Anterior Chest
o Calves
o Glutes
o Neck Flexors
*** These muscle groups require stretching on a daily basis. Hold each stretch for 5-60 seconds (longer = better). Repeat throughout the day. If you have questions or concerns please consult with us. A simple internet search will help you learn more about stretching these muscles.

Muscles to Strengthen:
o Hip Flexors
o Hamstrings
o Quadriceps
o Low Back
o Upper Back
o Posterior Shoulder
o Glutes
o Neck Extensors
o Lower Abdominals
o Upper Abdominals
o Core Spinal Stability Muscle Groups

Ergonomics and Postural Recommendation:
o Mini-breaks (stretch) every 15 minutes while performing 30+ minutes of desk work
o Lumbar Chair Support
o Fitball for workstation
o Sitting Disc for workstation

Strengthening:
o The 4 Bridges Routine = 4 - 7 days/wk, 2 - 4 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Superman = 4 - 7 days/wk, 3 - 6 sets, 10 – 25 reps
o Swimmer’s = 4 - 7 days/wk, 3 - 6 sets, 10 – 25 reps
o Back Extensions (Fitball) = 4 - 7 days/wk, 3 - 6 sets, 10 – 25 reps
o V-ups = 4 - 7 days/wk, 3 – 6, sets, 10 – 25 reps
o Basic Sit-up (Fitball) = 4 - 7 days/wk, 3 - 6 sets, 10 – 25 reps

Core Stretching:
o Basic Neck Stretch = daily, 2 - 6 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Trigger Point Stretch = daily, 1 - 3 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Side Posture Stretch = daily, 2 - 4 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Forward Bend Stretch w/ Twist (low back) = daily, 2 - 6 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Cobra Pose = daily, 2 - 4 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold, other:
o Foam Roller (mid spine) = daily, 2 - 4 sets, 30 - 60sec. hold, other:
o Fitball (full spine) = daily, 2 - 4 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold, other:
o Lumbar Wedge (lower spine) = daily, 2 - 4 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold, other:

Additional Stretches Required:
o Corner Stretch (chest and shoulders) = daily, 1-3 sets, 20 – 60 sec. hold
o Hamstring Stretch = daily, 2-3 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Hip Flexor Stretch = daily, 2-3 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Quadriceps Stretch = daily, 2-3 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Glute Stretch = daily, 2-3 sets, 30 – 60 sec. hold
o Basic Hip Stretching Protocol = daily, 1-3 sets, 20 – 60 sec. hold

Web-based Video Education Counseling:
o Ergonomics and Lifestyle Modifications = the stretches and exercises for the muscle groups listed above are all posted in our Members Area of our website. If you have difficulty finding this information please see the Front Desk.

Additional Instruction:

What Can You Learn From A Dentist's Dilemma?

Excerpt from the book, "Practice Dentistry Pain-Free: Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Pain and Extend Your Career" May 28, 2008

More than 75 percent of adults in the United States experience back pain at some point in their lives. Low back pain is so common among dental professionals, that many have come to passively accept it as a necessary evil of their occupations.

The problem of low back pain in dentistry is a multifactorial one. However, a primary contributing factor to low back pain among dental hygienists is static, poor seated posture that directly impacts the health of the lumbar spine and musculature. Specific changes to work habits can have positive ramifications, not only for the low back, but for your entire body.

Attaining a healthy seated working posture can be surprisingly difficult for many dentists and their staff, and it can dramatically impact low back pain. It’s not at all uncommon to see these professionals slouching, perched on the edge of their stools or in other unhealthy working postures.

Passive sitting, which looks like slouching, is a common posture in the dentist office because it expends very little energy. In this posture the pelvis rolls backward causing the lumbar curve to flatten. Since nearly every curve of the spine affects the curve above or below it, the flattened low back curve causes a reciprocal forward movement of the head. Now the worker’s spine is in a C-shape, providing little support, and the body is literally hanging on the soft structures at the back of the spine. The flattened lumbar curve significantly increases the load on muscles and spinal discs. It can also stretch and permanently elongate the ligaments of the lower back, decreasing spinal stability.

Over time, ligaments and muscles may permanently stretch or shorten to adapt to a slouched working posture and hold the spine in unbalanced posture – even when the person is not at work. This is how a person’s health can literally be determined by their habits and postures at work. Muscle strains, headaches, and trigger points result from this unhealthy posturing as well as possible disc degeneration or herniation.

Remember your mother always telling you to sit up straight? While it is obvious that good posture is the key to injury prevention in dentistry, this advice is often given without context or specific instructions.

Dr. Craig’s Comments:
As you can see from this article, sitting for prolonged periods of time can be hazardous to your career and your health if you are not careful about HOW you are doing it. The secret to MASTERING your sitting habits is mainly due to your ability to answer the “7 basic questions”.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig Burns

UPCOMING EVENT!

March 23rd - April 3rd is “Healthy Back at Work – Healthy Back for Life”. Do you know someone who sits for more than 4 hours per day? Give them this newsletter. We welcome them to call us - to schedule a free 15 minute biomechanics and ergonomics consultation (free back support with every consultation).
Please, see the front desk for more details.

How Can A Picture Of Your Lower Back Predict Your Future?

The focus of this week’s newsletter is a continuum of the topic “how unhealthy habits can create an unhealthy body – and how this process will always affect your future”.

Last week we begged the question, “What does the shape of your lower body look like on the inside?” If you can not answer this question in great detail – YOU HAVE A PROBLEM! For example, here are 7 simple questions about your body that you should be able to answer with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY:

1. Have I developed too much curve in my lower back, too little curve, or do I have just the right amount?
2. Does my upper body weight favor a backward lean to it, a forward lean to it, or is it perfectly centered?
3. Does my upper body weight favor a lean to the right, a lean to the left, or is it also perfectly centered?
4. Does my pelvis regularly flex forward too far, extend backwards too far, or is it perfectly level?
5. Do I have a right short leg, a left short leg, or perfectly leveled legs?
6. Do I have a left high shoulder posture, a right high shoulder posture, or a perfectly leveled shoulder posture?
7. Does my pelvis rotate forward on the right, rotate forward on the left, or is it perfectly centered?

How did you do? If you could not answer all of the above questions with absolute certainty YOU ARE IN DANGER of growing and aging abnormally. If so, you will most likely develop what is now known as degenerative disease. This condition is brought on by abnormal wear and tear on the body, which is CAUSED BY a physical imbalance of core body structure.

Often times this will lead to frequent discomfort, which most people ignore or pass off as “getting older”. But in fact, the discomfort is your body’s way of alerting you to an imbalance. Unfortunately, many people can have an imbalance or impairment and NEVER EVEN KNOW IT!

So what do you NEED TO KNOW to maintain your body and prevent problems in the future? First, you NEED TO BE ABLE to answer the 7 questions with absolute certainty! If you have any of the above mentioned structural imbalances or physical impairments you NEED TO BE ABLE to fix them as quickly as possible. In both cases; knowledge and understanding is the key. Second to that is an accurate plan of attack!

As a patient of The Maximized Health Wellness Center you have the opportunity to accomplish both goals. If you feel as though you need help in answering these questions or better understanding your plan of attack – do not hesitate to ask! If you are not an active patient and can not answer the 7 basic questions… getting a picture of your lower back is “as easy as 1, 2, 3”.

In any given day, the majority of everyone you encounter is aging passively. What I mean is this… if any physical imbalance or impairment exists and they are not aware of it – they are doing NOTHING to improve it! On the other hand, if a person IS AWARE of their imbalances or weaknesses they can engage in activities that will significantly improve how their body ages, i.e. AGE ACTIVELY.

With this knowledge we can accurately predict a person’s future well-being, and thereby alter it if need be. KNOW YOUR BODY, change your habits, and take control of your life! We are here to help people do just that.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig Burns

What Do You Know About "Non-Accidental Back Injury"?

On a recent survey of over 2,000 office workers, 70% of the poll respondents said that their backs felt significantly worse at the end of their work day as compared to the start of their day.

“It should come as no surprise that sitting for long periods in an office chair can cause low back pain. Sitting adds large amounts of pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs (even more than standing), and often people with desk jobs don’t move around much and/or they slouch, causing even more strain on spinal structures,” says John Triano, DC, PhD, a chiropractor in Plano, Texas. “However, the poll results do suggest that ‘ergonomics’ is not yet well understood or applied correctly in the office environment. Just having an office chair, key board or mouse labeled as ‘ergonomic’ isn’t enough by itself to prevent low back pain.”

According to experts, what matters most when selecting an office chair isn’t price or if the chair is labeled ‘ergonomic’ but more importantly how well educated its user is about correct body position and biomechanics. When setting up an office chair, the single most important step is to support the lower back curve. Then, additional modifications can be used to adjust the office chair according to the individual’s unique physical proportions.

Throughout each work day, people with desk jobs should avoid slouching or leaning forward. This can lead to permanent changes in normal body structure.

Another important point: avoid static posture while sitting. “Even if you use your office chair properly, sitting for prolonged periods will usually cause fatigue and discomfort – especially if the person already has an unhealthy back. My best advice is to find a specialist or health care provider that can get you headed back in the right direction,” adds Dr. Triano.

Prolonged static posture is the enemy. The healthy body can only tolerate staying in one position for about 20 minutes. That is why sitting on an airplane, at a desk in an office chair, or at a movie theatre becomes uncomfortable after a short time. Standing in one place, such as standing on a concrete floor for extended periods of time tends to cause back pain. Holding the same position slowly diminishes elasticity in the soft tissues (muscles ligaments and tendons in the back). Then, stress builds up and causes back discomfort and/or leg discomfort.

An unhealthy body will begin to breakdown and fail in even less time. These changes often go unnoticed while a degenerative process continues to take place. By this point, the damage is already being done!


Speak up and educate others,


Dr. Craig Burns

UPCOMING EVENT!

March 23rd - April 3rd is “Healthy Back at Work – Healthy Back for Life”. Do you know someone who sits for more than 4 hours per day? Give them this newsletter. We welcome them to call us -to schedule a free 15 minute biomechanics and ergonomics consultation (free back support with every consultation).
Please, see the front desk for more details.

Work Habits Linked to Abnormal Aging Process

Rachel stretched back in her chair and shut her eyes. She put down her glasses and massaged the tight muscles
in her neck. She noticed that the nagging pain in her neck had spread to the middle of her back. She sighed as another day ended with stress, soreness and fatigue.
Sound familiar? This probably describes how most of us who spend long hours sitting in front of the computer feel at the end of the day. We are slowly waking up to the fact that our stressful work habits may be the cause of the constant discomfort we feel, but can’t put our finger on.

This awareness has given rise to what we call the Work-related Physical Stress Phenomenon. In short, I am referring to one key principle: How the body can age and literally degenerate in response to unhealthy work habits.

"Health problems caused by long hours sitting in front of a computer are jeopardizing the health of the work force and affecting corporate America's ability to compete in the global economy," said Dr. Peter F. Ullrich, medical director of Spine-health and an orthopedic spine surgeon.

It is true! The body ages and degenerates in response to the stress that we consistently subject it to, i.e. work-related stress. We have medical laws that support this principle. Do a Google search for Wolff’s Law (bone), Davis’s Law (muscle), Laplace’s Law (nerve) and you will see that the human body will grow and develop normally or age and degenerate abnormally all based on the quantity and quality of physical stress.

Think about it this way. What happens when a person goes to the gym to lift weights? They stress their body in order to change it, right? When the stress is normal and healthy the body will grow and develop in a positive direction. However, when the stress is abnormal and unhealthy the body will grow and develop in a negative direction. We usually see this in the form of injury, strains and sprains, bad postures, sore muscles, flexibility problems, etc.

Do you know how to control how much abnormal, unhealthy stress your body is subjected to in any given day? If you don’t know how to calculate and control this - you better learn how to figure it out. For this could be the single largest determining factor in how healthy your body will be by this time next year, 5 years from now, and especially 10-20 years from now.

Ergonomics is more than just having a fancy chair, mouse or keyboard to play with. You must learn how to control and positively influence your body mechanics at work and at home. You can take control of your work-related stress. In fact, health statistics say you better figure it out before it is too late.

Your habits dictate how you age. Don’t let work-related physical stress affect your health and your well being any longer. Learn and share the principles and teachings we offer in this office.

NEW – COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT:

The first 2 weeks in March (2nd - 13th) is “Healthy at Work – Healthy for Life”. Do you know someone who works at a desk all day? Give them this newsletter. Tell them to receive a free ergonomics and wellness evaluation. See the front desk for more details.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig Burns

As good as you can be, or not?

When people think about their current level of health and fitness most are not happy. Most people would prefer to be better than they are now, but don’t know how to get there.

Did you know that your body can regenerate many of its parts within a seven year period? Our blood cells renew every 120 days; our skin cells take 2-4 weeks; the liver takes 6 weeks and the skeleton takes 2 to 7 years to totally regenerate. It is amazing how the human body can maintain and heal itself. This is not a process that occurs by chance. It is an orchestrated event, and you get to play the role of maestro or conductor.

That means that the body you have now will not be the body you have in seven years. Obviously, right? But, will your body in seven years be as good as it can be or will it be a weaker, lesser version of what it can be?

I have found that most people can not answer that question with confidence. They are hoping they end up healthy. They are hoping they don’t get sick and ill or require surgery and drug therapy. They are not certain about what steps they must take to ensure that they become as strong and as healthy as they can be.

In most instances, health and disease are not mistakes that just happen – they are caused and created events! For the most part, our way of thinking and our actions greatly dictate how our body will age over a seven year period. Will we stay healthy or not, will we become stiff and arthritic, will we have headaches forever, will we become weak and disabled… these are not issues that are independent of our actions, but more a direct reflection thereof.

When I learned how well the human body can repair, regenerate and heal itself when the conditions are right for it to do so, I was very excited. I gained a tremendous sense of empowerment. I could be a participant instead of a spectator when it comes to the fate of my own health and aging process.

I began learning everything I could about how to properly manage my own health. In doing so, I found that we need more than the 1,2,3’s and a,b,c’s of personal health care, we need to find the motivation within ourselves to make the right decisions, to become responsible, to be consistent, and to stick with it.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic I feel as though I have a responsibility to all of you to share what I know.

I am happy to announce that we have scheduled a very important event June 3rd. We will be conducting a new Health Seminar entitled Stress Management and Anti-aging. I will be sharing with you how stress (chemical, physical, and emotional) can be your greatest enemy. It is a medical fact that stress, in its many forms, is the single largest determining factor of health and aging. This is perhaps the most important health seminar that we will conduct this year. From which, you will see the BIGGER picture and get what is called the BIG IDEA.

You CAN get a handle of how your body ages, heals and regenerates. You CAN play an active role in what will be your future health status. You CAN be… as good as you can be.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

P.S. for more details on the upcoming seminar, see any member of the MHC Team.

Maximized Health “tip of the week”

MED PAY, WHAT IS IT?

Coverage on Colorado automobile insurance policies took a steep curve after July 1, 2003. Colorado changed from the former “no-fault” system to a tort system. This is a system where the driver who is at fault for causing a traffic accident is responsible for paying the victim’s medical expenses and compensating for additional damages, such as loss of wages and “pain and suffering.”

You will want to educate yourself to make sure your coverage fits your needs in the event of an accident.

There are mandatory and optional coverages available such as:
-Bodily Injury Liability Coverage (BI) (mandatory)
-Property Liability Coverage (mandatory)
-Collision Coverage (optional)
-Comprehensive Coverage (optional)
-Uninsured & Underinsured motorist coverage (optional)
-Medical Payments (Med Pay) (optional)
-Essential Services and rehabilitation (optional)

Consult with your insurance agent to fully understand your policy and coverage.

We wanted you to be aware of the changes in the law and how they affect your medical coverage in the event you are in an auto accident. Medical Payment Coverage (Med Pay) is something that should be considered mandatory, let me explain… Med Pay pays for reasonable expenses you and your passengers incur because of injury in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of fault. Be sure the Med Pay you purchase covers the care you may need in the event of an accident, such as chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. Even if you have health insurance, there may be limitations on what types of health care are covered and various exclusions. Your health insurance may not cover resident relatives and will definitely not protect other passengers or people who borrow your car. Med Pay is a necessity if you consider these factors. Ask about the monetary levels offered by your insurance carrier and select mid-to-high levels of $5,000 to $25,000 or more. If your auto insurance DOES NOT offer Med Pay or the limits are too low, choose another insurance company that offers what you need to protect yourself.

Why do you need Med Pay? We have seen patients pay out of pocket for their medical expenses and then wait in excess of 2 years to be reimbursed only after retaining an attorney. Worse yet, we have seen people pay out of pocket and have the “at fault” insurance company deny payment completely.

The patients that have had Med Pay do not pay medical expenses out of pocket. We are able to bill the insurance company directly for the patient, and we handle all of the paperwork. By state law the insurance company must pay the claim within 30 days, eliminating the financial risk for the patient.

We have seen first hand that Med Pay allows the patient to focus on returning to health and not worrying about how to pay for their necessary medical procedures.

This can be confusing, but it is important that you know how to protect yourself!

Do You Believe in the “Fountain of Life”?

The Fountain of Life was a spring that Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, according to legend, went looking for in Florida in 1513. It was said that anyone who drinks from the Fountain would have his or her youth restored. Long story made short… he never found it.

In many ways we are still looking for the Fountain of Life. Researchers and drug companies are always searching for medications to make us live longer. “Someday, we will find or create the cure for all disease.”

Truth is, I do believe in a Fountain of Life concept. But, the difference between my perception of its existence and that of folklore is its location. I think this mystical source of health and healing is something that we are actually born with. It is not a matter of traveling to another part of the world, but we do have to “discover it” in order to benefit from it.

Too many people are unaware of their true potential to be healthy and happy. Somehow main stream media and western medicine has stepped into the acting role as the people’s Fountain of Life. Somehow we allowed ourselves to become disillusioned with the belief that health and disease are chance encounters, and that doctors will be there to pick us up every time we fall down sick?

What happened to the mystical belief that we are powerful beyond measure? From the Developer of Chiropractic to Nelson Mandela, many have cried out for us to foster and live by this “power within” concept.

What keeps the sick person from radically changing their lifestyle in an effort to restore balance and health? I think it is a belief system that has disempowered them to the point of paralysis. Too many people have been led to believe that the Fountain of Life is out there somewhere – it is an external entity. If they, their cardiologist, oncologist, or whatever ‘ologist can not find it in time… “well, then that’s life”.

Even before I became a Doctor of Chiropractic, something inside me told me that this way of thinking was not right – there had to be another way. From that point on, I have committed my time and efforts to the process of discovering that internal source of health and healing… our God-given Fountain of Life.

Sad truth is, for many people their Fountain of Life is either plugged up or running at the pace of a slow drip. The ability for health and life to flow freely has been diminished as a result of neglect, bad habits and poor decisions. Their situation is further cemented by the fact that their belief system has paralyzed and disempowered them.

Make no mistake about it - I do not believe that one chiropractic adjustment is the answer. However, I firmly believe that the Chiropractic Lifestyle, all that it represents and stands for, is a path to the discovery of this Fountain of Life. I have traveled that path and can attest to its destination.

Our mission and goal in this office is to lead as many people as possible in the same direction. For some, the journey has already forever changed their life. For others, it is just beginning. For all, it will be a journey that is worthy of your greatest effort… for the destination is more than legend – it is a God-given potential to express health and life.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

Maximized Health “tip of the week”

Why workout?

Most of us exercise to keep from tipping the scales, relieve stress or simply because we enjoy it. Researchers from the University of South Carolina are giving us a better reason to stay active – a longer life. Despite how much you weigh or how large your waist measures, if you are active you have a lower risk of dying compared to someone who is at a normal weight, but is inactive.

The Fountain of Youth

We all know that weight training will improve your muscular strength and endurance, but it may also be the key to unlocking your youth. A recent study out of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, has shown that seniors who participate in one hour of weight training twice a week for six months can reverse the signs of aging at the cellular level by as much as 12 - 45 years.

Healing Effects of Exercise

We all know that leading an active lifestyle, at any age, offers endless benefits – from better brain function to improved immune responses. A new study from the University of Illinois has discovered a link between exercise and decreased inflammation.

If you are experiencing chronic aches and pains, whether in the joints of the spine or any muscle for that matter, you are likely experiencing these symptoms due to inflammation. But, how do you overcome it – through movement and exercise of course!

Your body is designed to move and when it does not move properly, i.e. bad posture, injury, sedentary work and/or lifestyle, etc. your body will become problematic. This is a fact of life! Another fact of life is that every person must continue to exercise on a regular basis for their entire life. Chiropractic can help restore normal movement to the body, but just like any medical intervention, it is not a “cure all” or “substitute” for exercise and other health lifestyle choices.


“The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a person’s determination” Tommy Lasorda

Does your spine need a root canal?

Remember the last time you went to the dentist to receive a filling for a cavity… why did you go? Was it because you noticed some pain or discomfort in a tooth, or did your dentist catch the cavity forming on an x-ray and decide it needed to be fixed before it got any worse?

If you are like most people who go to a dental professional on a regular basis, early cavity formation can be detected via x-ray and the tooth can be rescued before the problem becomes severe. After all, what is the alternative… root canal, crown, bridge, extraction… the problem simply evolves into a more painful, more expensive situation!

We all understand and appreciate the act of preventing tooth decay because our mom and dad taught us that this is the responsible thing to do, right? To take it a step further, we were taught that we should not simply rely on the dentist to CURE us in time of need, but instead we should take care of ourselves (brushing, flossing, rinsing, regular checkups, etc). How easy it is to understand this concept. It is as if we always knew it, and there is no other logical way to behave - anything else would be ridiculous and irresponsible!

Imagine for just a moment… if we all behaved in the same manner when it comes to the rest of our body.

Would we have the same incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, etc? No, I am sure we would not.

How is it that PREVENTION can be so well understood for teeth, and yet people are okay with the fact that their spine and joints are decaying and degenerating day in and day out from pure neglect? Is it poor education, a lack of concern for something that does not hurt at the moment, a belief that a doctor can cure it when things get bad enough? How is it that such insane behavior can persist?

If you get the sense that I am emotionally charged by this topic, you are right! I recently had to look not one, but two patients in the face and tell them, “your spinal problems are so severe that I can not help you anymore”. The pain of having to tell someone that is indescribable. Especially when I know things did not have to end up this way for them. Their spine needed more than a ”root canal”. It needed to be replaced like dentures, but that is not possible.

The truth is… our commitment to our teeth dictates how long we will have them, and how much discomfort they may or may not bring us. The same is true for the rest of your body… muscles, joints, discs, nerves, brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. Your future is determined by your commitment to it. Do you “get it”?

There is a way to live and behave whereby our bodies will age as they were designed to, and the joy of living in this vessel lasts right up until the end. But, the intelligence and physical effort required for such an outcome rests more so with the individual than with the Doctor. Personal commitment and responsibility is the key to healthy teeth, and everything else in your body.

Your commitment to the health of your body should be top priority – not an inconvenience! Exercising it and feeding it properly should be top priority in your life – not a matter of “when I have more time” or “I’m too busy”. Your appointments with your dentist and your chiropractor are a commitment to your future, and they are truly invaluable.

Ladies and gentlemen… I have had my share of aches and pains prior to learning this lesson. I am in the same boat as all of you… trying to figure out how to live the best life possible. One thing I have figured out is this… our health and our life impacts those we love and care about. How well we live it (what we learn, what we practice, what we preach) will dictate how many “root canals” they must have before they “get it” too.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

Maximized Health “tip of the week”

BODY MECHANICS 101
Taking care of your back is a life long project. With the prevalence of back pain at an alarming 60% among U.S. adults, preventive measures are needed. The use of proper body mechanics is an effective way to prevent back problems. When incorporated into activities of daily living, body mechanics help decrease the amount of stress on the spine. Education in body mechanics is therefore essential in prevention and recovery.

The goal of body mechanics is to learn how to move and position the body so as to prevent further injury to the spine. Awareness of common mistakes and proper principles can only help to achieve this goal.

The most common insult to the spine and posture is poor sitting mechanics. Most of us have all tried to sit up straight and not slouch, but that technique doesn’t seem to last more than 10 minutes. What about the other 7.5 hours left in the workday?

The lumbar roll is something I now use for my own back, and believe you can benefit from it as well.

THE MCKENZIE LUMBAR ROLL
For a simple way to maintain a healthy back posture, the McKenzie Lumbar Roll is perfect for use in the home or the office. It has an adjustable strap and a removable washable cover. When correctly positioned on a backrest at waist level against the lumbar spine, it can prevent the onset of pain and reduce pressure in the discs.

The McKenzie Roll is a very popular back support to ensure proper posture. It not only improves posture but also ensures correct and natural positioning of the lower spine while sitting.

If you would like to try the McKenzie Roll in your office or home, please ask a member of the Maximized Health Team. We will help you find one that is inexpensive. We will also teach you how to properly use it.

NEW VIDEO ON PROPER SITTING MECHANICS

On our website, http://www.maximizedhealth.net/, you will find a tab in the Member Wellness section entitled Video Education Library. Here you will find 4 instructional videos regarding lifestyle / habit modification. Please view the video on proper sitting mechanics ASAP. If you need help finding these videos, please ask a member of the Maximized Health Team.

READ OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:

January 15, 2008 - "Sit up straight, stop slouching"

January 14, 2008 - "Desk & Driving Posture"

January 7, 2008 - "Active Sitting - what is it and why should you do it?"

Your Body, It’s Posture, and a Bonsai Tree…

The ancient Japanese art form of growing Bonsai trees is fascinating. Bonsai trees are essentially normal shrubs that have been consistently stressed in a particular way for a long time to create a posture which would never be found in nature. Depending on how the tree is stressed while it grows, it may end up looking like a miniature version of a full-sized tree (normal spine), or it may end up looking like a wild tangle of branches with twists and loops (abnormal spine).

To most people, "good posture" simply means sitting and standing up straight. Few of us realize the importance of posture to our health and performance. The human body craves alignment. When we are properly aligned, our bones, not our muscles, support our weight, reducing effort and strain. The big payoff with proper posture is that we feel healthier, have more energy, and move gracefully. So while the word "posture" may conjure up images of book-balancing charm-school girls, it is not just about standing up straight. It’s about being aware of and connected to every part of your self.

Posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. It is as important as eating right, exercising, and getting proper rest. Good posture is a way of doing things with more energy, less stress and fatigue. Without good posture, you cannot really be physically fit. Without good posture, you can actually damage your spine every time you exercise.

Ideally, our bones stack up one upon the other: the head rests directly on top of the spine, which sits directly over the pelvis, which sits directly over the knees and ankles. But if you spend hours every day sitting in a chair, if you hunch forward or balance your weight primarily on one leg, the muscles of your neck and back have to carry the weight of the body rather than it being supported by the spine. The resulting tension and joint pressure can affect you not only physically, but emotionally too.

Poor posture distorts the alignment of bones, chronically tenses muscles, and contributes to stressful conditions such as loss of vital lung capacity, increased fatigue, reduced blood and oxygen to the brain, limited range of motion, stiffness of joints, pain syndromes, and reduced mental alertness. According to the Nobel Laureate Dr. Roger Sperry, "the more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for thinking, metabolism, and healing."

The most immediate problem with poor posture is that it creates a lot of chronic muscle tension as the weight of the head and upper body must be supported by the muscles instead of the bones. This effect becomes more pronounced the further your posture deviates from your body’s center of balance.

To illustrate this idea further, think about carrying a briefcase. If you had to carry a briefcase with your arms outstretched in front of you, it would not take long before the muscles of your shoulders would be completely exhausted. This is because carrying the briefcase far away from your center of balance places undue stress on your shoulder muscles. If you held the same briefcase down at your side, your muscles would not fatigue as quickly, because the briefcase is closer to your center of balance and therefore the weight is supported by the bones of the skeleton, rather than the muscles.

In some parts of the world, women can carry big pots full of water from distant water sources back to their homes. They are able to carry these heavy pots a long distance without significant effort because they balance them on the top of their heads, thereby carrying them at their center of balance and allowing the strength of their skeleton to bear the weight, rather than their muscles.

Correcting bad posture and the physical problems that result can be accomplished in two ways. The first is by eliminating as much "bad" stress from your body as possible. Bad stress includes all the factors, habits, or stressors that cause your body to deviate from normal. Bad stress can result from a poorly adjusted workstation at work, from not having your seat adjusted correctly in your car, or even from carrying too much weight around in a heavy purse or backpack.

The second is by applying "good" stress on the body in an effort to move your posture back toward your center of balance. This is accomplished through a series of exercises, stretches, adjustments, and changes to your physical environment, all designed to help correct your posture. Getting your body back to its center of balance by improving your posture is critically important to improving how you feel, and how your body ages.

Speak up and educate others,


Dr. Craig

Maximized Health “tip of the week”

Your habits dictate how you age

Most people do not seriously consider how simple lifestyle habits affect their lives. In fact, they can play a major role in determining longevity and health status. But, it is true! Simple habits like how you sit at a desk, on a couch, in a chair or what your posture is like in the car or at work… can literally be quite destructive to your health.

The link between habits and health status is POSTURE. Your body posture is capable of changing in a negative way, and it is also capable of changing in a positive way. The determining factor here is STRESS. Good postural habits help minimize stress, and in turn will promote good posture in the future. Bad postural habits can significantly increase physical stress in the body, and in turn will promote even worse posture in the future.

Trust me, living with bad postural habits long enough will lead to failure and dysfunction in the body - not to mention discomfort. Learning how to identify and correct your postural habits is essential to success here in the office.

Your future health status and ability to function normally depends on your desire to understand this concept!

Going the extra mile in patient education

Due to the serious nature of lifestyle / habit modification, I have decided to do an early launch of our video education library. On our website, http://www.maximizedhealth.net/, you will find a tab in the Member Wellness section entitled Video Education Library. You do have to create a Member Login to identify your active status with Maximized Health Chiropractic. Once you have done this you will be able to access all of our Instructional Videos. At the moment, we only have 4 instructional videos regarding lifestyle / habit modification. In the future, there will be dozens more, from advice while traveling to abdominal exercise routines. So, if you are not a member already… you might want to become one ASAP.

INSTRUCTIONS:

LOG ON TO: http://www.maximizedhealth.net/

LOOK: Lower left hand side of the website "Member Login" click on "register"

FILL IN: All your contact information/login/password, etc.

CLICK: "Submit"

WAIT: for email verification from Maximized Health Chiropractic (weekdays within 24 hours)

Congratulations, you are now a Member!

I strongly urge you all to check out the 4 instructional videos regarding lifestyle / habit modification. I guarantee that YOU WILL learn a few things that could make a huge difference in how you are living!

Sit up straight, stop slouching!

Does this phrase bring back childhood memories… find yourself repeating this phrase to your children as your parents did? How often do you repeat this phrase to yourself nowadays- that is the question!!! Another question… could bad, unhealthy sitting habits contribute to a person’s level of pain and discomfort, fatigue, weakness, abnormal posture, and even poor health? Science says ABSOLUTELY YES!

Sitting for prolonged periods is taxing enough on the human body, but sitting with bad posture is even more harmful. In fact, science says it can be quite damaging! So, let’s explore this topic a little further and figure it out together.

One thing we all need to be mindful of is… our habits literally dictate how we age, i.e. how we will look, feel and function in the future. What I want you to think about while sitting is this, are my sitting habits helpful or harmful to my body and overall health? It is true- your body will suffer by neglecting to understand this concept. On the contrary, you can dramatically improve your condition, or state of health, by correcting your sitting habits as much as possible.

So, where do we start? Think of at least 3 areas in your life where you could improve your sitting habits. I will give you a personal example: Sitting at home in a chair or couch, sitting at work, and sitting in the car.

Lounging at home: 2 things to think about here… back support and resting head position. Most people slouch back into the chair or couch (loosing their low back curve) and then let their head come forward to watch TV or read (loosing their neck curve). The solution is simple. Roll up a blanket or grab an extra cushion and place it down low behind the back to offer support (maintaining the low back curve), and then let the head rest in the seat back (maintaining the neck curve). At first it may seem awkward, but trust me… it is very comfortable and relaxing. Try it!

Sitting at work: one concept here can go a long way, “sit tall”. By this I mean sit as tall as you can. In doing so, it is very difficult to lean to the right or the left. It is also very helpful advice for those people who tend to lean backwards into their chair or lean too far forward into their workstation. Sit tall. Try it!

Sitting in the car: This one is easy. First, set your seat controls to promote an upright posture. Don’t let your seat recline too far back. Don’t set your seat to a position where you have to lean into the steering wheel or the foot pedals. This will cause you to shift and twist abnormally during your driving time. Next, set your mirror controls to a setting that reminds you to sit tall. If they are set properly, you will constantly correct your posture every time you try to use your mirrors.

Believe it or not, you can make significant changes to your sitting habits. If you chose to do so, you’ll notice that your body will respond favorably. If you chose not to improve your sitting habits you can surely expect to remain the same or worsen over time. Remember, how you age is a function of the decisions you make. If you have more questions about sitting habits or seated posture please ask a member of the Maximized Health Chiropractic Team. We would be happy to help you improve your understanding of this topic.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig

Maximized Health Tip of the Week

DESK & DRIVING POSTURE

Active Sitting - what is it and why should you do it?

As we continue to hyperspace into the future, technology keeps finding new ways to lower our daily levels of activity. Our day has become an accumulation of non-active events and the biggest of those non-active events is the time we spend sitting (work or hobby). A typical 8-hour workday represents one half of our waking time! For many of us, this huge chunk of our day is spent in an office environment sitting in a chair and clicking a mouse. Perhaps you have a hobby or other activity where prolonged sitting is required. If so, the following applies to you:
The chair is one of mankind's worst inventions. From a human engineering standpoint, mankind is not designed to sit. There is actually more strain on our back when we sit than when we stand! Also, since a chair supports our spine, we are not required to use our postural muscles - muscles that stabilize the segments of the spine that are essential to the foundation of our body. If we are not using them for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, they will shrink and become weak, which places our spinal stability in jeopardy. Imagine what would happen to the muscles of your body if you were to lie in bed 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. They would deteriorate, and this is exactly what happens to your postural muscles when you sit in a chair! With our spinal stability in such a wobbly state, back injuries are inevitable.
Have you ever wondered why your back is so stiff after sitting for a period of time? A chair is a rigid structure, and when we sit on it, it does not allow any movement to occur in our pelvis and back. This lack of movement creates a lack of blood flow to the area so that the joints and muscles become stiff. We are finally starting to realize the detriments of sitting in a chair and how it has become a liability to our long-term health. This has created a paradigm shift in the way we approach sitting. We are now trying to find ways to create office environments that are an asset to our health and well being and not a liability.
'Active Sitting' has provided a phenomenal solution to the problems that were created with traditional passive chair sitting. As this paradigm shift changes our thinking, more and more people are sitting on active sitting surfaces such as FitBalls and Swiss Balls or the FitBall Disc (featured on the back of this newsletter). By sitting on something that is unstable, it forces us to activate our postural muscles while we sit. This prevents the postural muscles from deteriorating so that we are able to maintain strong spinal stability. Because we are able to move while we sit, our joints are never stuck in one position. The ability to move while we sit maintains blood flow to the muscles and joints, thereby allowing us to sit for 8 hours without back stiffness occurring.
Sitting up straight is important. Perhaps even more important than sitting posture is being able to move subtly while you sit up straight, thereby activating muscles and stimulating blood flow. The two concepts should actually go hand in hand.
As far as the act of sitting goes, think of it this way… how you feel at the end of the day is a by-product of 3 key factors: how long you sit, how healthy your seated posture is, and how much you move while you sit.

Speak up and educate others,

Dr. Craig


Featured Product – FitBall Active Sitting Disc
Who would like it?
Ideally we would all be active in our home and work environments and we would not need to worry about active sitting. But if your profession or daily activities require you to sit for long periods of time you may want to consider a Fit Ball sit disc for your office or home. Even though the level of core and back conditioning you will get is lower than traditional exercises, it will assist you in bringing some core conditioning and low back mobility into your everyday routine. As most of us find ourselves sitting more than we would like for good health, the sit disc can improve posture, strength and mobility of the core.
Additional benefits to 'Active Sitting':
Provides a fun, energized experience
Strengthens core muscles of the back and abdomen
Enhances your balance and overall relationship with gravity
Improves circulation to the lower extremities
Improves nourishment to the intervertebral disks
Assists lymphatic flow
Provides relief from back pain
The bottom line
A sitting disc is a small investment that can make a big difference to your spinal health. It is a simple tool to learn how to use and can be used in everyday life.
Where do I get one? Please ask a member of the Maximized Health Team.

Vitalism vs. Mechanism, Healing, and Belief Systems

All throughout God's word, we see people healed and overcoming their
circumstances through faith and/or by changing over to a godly lifestyle. As
a result we realize that human beings are far more then just merely $1.96
worth of raw materials and that what we sow into our bodies radically
affects the results we reap in them. Sadly, "modern" medical science doesn't
look at the spiritual part of our makeup or fully appreciate the impact that
lifestyle makes in our physical and emotional health. This philosophy views
your body as merely a frail biochemical robot controlled by genes and
predestined to either; fail or succeed, be happy or sad, be ill or be well.
While this type of health care can be of great benefit in extreme
circumstances, because it is not considerate of natural, God-given function-
there are always dangerous "side effects."

Different than medicine, new age dogma recognizes the spiritual truth that
life cannot be explained solely by materialism. The new age term "Vitalism"
is the metaphysical doctrine that living organisms posses a non-physical
inner force or energy that gives them the property of life. New agers also
acknowledge the important role of natural living in determining wellness.
Unfortunately, because Christ is not at the center of this thinking, they
place the power of healing in finite, limited things like people's energy,
natural remedies, and crystals rather then the infinite, unlimited power of
God.

The Bible shows us that you are not weak or pre-programmed, but vital and
powerful beyond what you can ever fully fathom. There is something
supernatural about you and your body that goes far beyond material DNA,
chemistry, biology, and physics. Your genetics are a tendency, not a death
sentence and in fact science shows us that only 2% of any conditions have to
do with a single gene disorder. Therefore we know, 98% of the time, you have
something to say about your future by how you believe and live your life. As
a Christian-based Doctor of Chiropractic, I know that the moment you fail to
give God the credit, you eliminate the true source of this vitality. Any
time you put the focus of health and healing in someone or something (MD's
and drugs) that comes from outside the body and away from God's working
power inside the body, you've missed the mark and consequences will occur.

Research on natural health as well as common sense tells us that when you
line up your lifestyle and the environment within your body with God's
natural intentions, well-being is the result. When there is harmony inside,
health is expressed outside. On the other hand, when disharmony exists, it
will show up as pain, depression, disease, and generally a failure to
thrive. Throughout history, it has been the tendency of people to turn
towards the outside as a means of treating the condition using drugs,
surgery, herbs, vitamins, idols, etc. However, these things don't bring back
order or establish health. While some may treat symptoms, patch dysfunction,
or supplement an inadequate diet, only God heals. It's His life power alone
that's keeping you alive.

For example; if paramedics arrive at the scene of an accident and find two
victims, one who is dead and one is barely hanging on, and then begin
surgically sealing all of the wounds, administering vitamin C, and pouring
massive amounts of medication down each of their throats - who's got the
only chance of making it? Obviously, barring resurrection, the one who is
hanging on is the only one with a chance because he still has the divine
spark of life given him by the Creator.

The example above is obvious in nature. A less obvious interpretation would
be situations that are not so black and white, life or death. In other
words, who will have the greatest chance of healing and becoming/staying as
healthy as possible? The one who does what it takes to ensure that their
life force / health / God-given potential is fully present, or the one who
does very little or nothing at all. Not so obvious a situation, but the
answer remains obvious!

Through Maximized Living, we understand that there is more to life than
physical law yet also distinguish between "Vitalism," man-made treatments
from the outside, and God-given intelligence from the inside. It really is a
"Body by God." As a Christian, I believe the modifications that need to be
encouraged are ones that allow the healing process to take place naturally
by respecting the normal way God created the body to function. When
adjustments are made to the body or nutrition and lifestyle changes are
utilized, it's not for the purpose of treating symptoms, but for restoring
balance and establishing or maintaining health. In this way, when health and
wellness prevail over sickness and despair, we glorify the natural law and
the innate wisdom inside every living being.

Health and vitality is the inherent consequence of living a natural
lifestyle that respects your body and falls into alignment with the ultimate
intent God has for your life. Remember, health and happiness is your choice
98% of the time.

Your Maximized Health Mentor,

Dr. Craig