Massage

(Truth vs. Trend)

We are a 'trend' society.  Did you ever wonder if wearing Polo made you cool or if the "Abdominizer' really works?  The truth is, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is!  Massage is now 'in fashion' because of one thing, insurance reimbursement with a doctor's referral.  This usually benefits the person billing for the services!  Conflict of Interest and Billing Fraud is rampant.  As a result, legal change is likely!

                         RULES:                  

•  Muscles move bones, hence,    they move us around.                 
•   Muscles support us so that we can sit and stand.                       
•   Muscles 'spasm' to protect us after trauma.  When they spasm, they 'move bones'.

Physical trauma creates structural imbalance due to protective spasm.  This imbalance causes pain and joint breakdown.  Specific STRUCTURAL correction is required.  

Massage may 'feel good' when lying still and immobile, but what do you think happens when you stand up, become weight bearing against gravity and try to move?  That's right,  SPASMING!  That is what is supposed to happen until the injury is stable.  

Massage has benefits for sensory stimulation and micro-circulation, but the benefits are questionable when an underlying problem exists.  

You can't 'rub' the problem away!

                                           Posture

We have all been told at some time in our lives to "Stand up straight" or "Hold your head up and watch where you are going".  The fact of the matter is that some people can't!  That's right!  Their body structure may be impaired from birth, from a disease process or even plain old 'wear and tear' arthritis.  

Posture is not just something that we look at from the physical appearance aspect, it also plays a direct part in how our body functions.

Improper weight-bearing along the planes of spinal joints affects nerve flow, both good and bad.  The resulting function or dysfunction is often determined by one thing, GRAVITY!  Gravity pulls straight down at all times.  It never deviates and never 'gives up'!  Gravity's downward pull causes the body's imbalances to compensate, much like a teeter-totter, back and forth, 'up' the spine to the skull.  It is not uncommon for someone to enter my office complaining of headaches only to find that the 'imbalance' was in their knees or pelvis.

By treating the body as a whole unit and not 'just where it hurts', I detect and eliminate the imbalances from the ground up.  Good chiropractic care should include 'full body analysis' each time you are treated.  

There are, however, some conditions that have resulted in serious joint damage.  This makes long-term stability more difficult.  One effective treatment is custom foot orthotics.  They give support to all three base arches as well as cushioning and balancing your walk.  We form the molds while you are standing to insure proper weight-bearing biomechanics.  Not everyone needs orthotics, but they are effective when required.  "Give the body what IT needs, not what you feel like giving it!"

• Posture affects nerves.
• Nerves affect function.
• Impaired function leads to injury and arthritis.
• Chiropractic can help!

    Triple Chocolate Torte

1 package (1lb-3.8oz) Betty Crocker     fudge brownie mix

1 1/4 cups milk

1 Package (4-serving size) white    chocolate pudding & pie filling    mix

1 container (8oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed. ("light" is ok)

1/3 cup mini-semisweet chocolate       chips

1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees.  Spray bottom only of a 9x13 springform pan with cooking spray.  Make the brownie mix as directed with water, oil and eggs.  Spread in the pan.

2. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a center toothpick comes out clean.  Cool completely in the pan.

3. Beat the milk and pudding in a large bowl with a whisk until thickened. (about 2 min)

4. Fold the whipped topping and chips into the thickened milk and pudding mix and the pour over the cool cake.

5. Cover the pan and put in the freezer for 4 hours to 'set up'.  When set, remove the pan sides.

HINTS:

1. Use applesauce instead of oil for less calories and a moist flavorful cake.

2. 'Thaw' the cake in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting and serving.

3. Serve with fruit topping and/or drizzle chocolate over the slices before serving.

             ( 16 servings)

     (This recipe is a 'keeper') (GF)

               LINKS

www.activator.com

     Activator Adjusting Technique™

All chiropractic techniques are not created equal!  The Activator Technique™ has constantly evolved over the past 40+ years.  It began, initially, as a clinically-based technique and has 'grown up' into a research-based technique that is used in clinics by doctors.  This transformation offers distinct benefits.

The Activator Technique™ uses:

• High-speed, low-force, painless care
• Specific 'line-of-drive' adjusting
• Objective reproducibility each visit

                         What Does This All Mean?

Chiropractic has made significant advances in patient care, specifically, with the Activator Technique™.  The manual 'pop and crack' style of chiropractic has benefited many people over the years, but like everything else, forms of treatment improve with knowledge and experience.  Considerable thanks should be made to those pioneers who helped bring the profession to where it is today.  The Activator Technique™ developed and evolved from that knowledge base! 

The latest research available proves that an effective chiropractic adjustment needs TWO very important components:

• The Mechanical Thrust of the Activator instrument is more precise and accurate.  Multiple, directive thrusts can be made to a single joint level without inducing further trauma to the injured area.  There is no pain during the correction due to a thrust speed of 5 milliseconds (that's fast).  The body can't reflex fast enough to 'fight the fix'.

• The Vibration Frequency of the thrust is 'tuned in' to the same frequency at which your nervous system 'learns' and sends signals around your body.  This means that we are literally 'teaching' the brain and nervous system what proper joint position and motion should be.  This is incredible research!  It means that the Vibration Frequency of the adjustment is likely more important to injury correction than the adjustment itself! WOW!  This research is likely to be unpopular with chiropractors who resist change, in spite of accurate and honest research.  To deliver the best care possible, however, personal doctor bias needs to be eliminated.  The emphasis should be on patient education and what the 'adjustment' is and what it does for them!

                            Until next month, take care and be well!

                                                Dr. Frisch