Is a Fast Chiropractic Adjustment Good?

Does time inherently equal quality?  Another way of asking this is:  Does time and quality have a linear relationship when viewed on an X/Y coordinate graph?

Any quick pondering over these questions should logistically reveal the answer to be no.  You can spend a long time on some project, and still have a poor quality result.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, you can observe an expert spend a short amount of time on their craft, and get masterful, high quality results.

 https://www.thejoint.com/utah/salt-lake-city/sugar-house-45001

Sometimes I overhear patients complaining along the lines of… “Last time I was here, the other doctor that worked on me seemed kind of rushed.”

My first response to that is one of sympathy.  But at the same time, I feel the need to question them.  Do you not feel the adjustment was still accomplished?  Do you not realize that at The Joint Sugar House, we see around 130 patients per day?  And that second question isn’t brought up to say, “We don’t have time to see you for more than X amount of time…” (even though, generally speaking, this is true)… But rather, it’s brought up to help patients recognize that we’ve seen it all! 

There’s a saying that says after you’ve spent about 10,000 hours practicing your craft, you’ve become a master.  Well, our doctors at our clinic have spent at least that much time practicing chiropractic, and then some.  And once you become a master/expert, it doesn’t take time to get it done.  We don’t want to waste your time.  We understand you have places to be.

Within this same context, I’ll see patients (either myself, or on the other table with the other doctor) who ask for more attempts on an area that’s already been adjusted.  Why???  It’s like they’re fooling themselves into thinking more “pops” can happen if they have “more time” spent on an area.  It could be said that if a placebo experiment were done on some of these patients with this reputation, they’d get the same result.  In other words, if (and that’s a big if, as this is only hypothetical) we were to give a purposefully lousy adjustment on a patient, but spend a lot of time doing so, the patient would be equally satisfied as their other high quality visits (wherein they unnecessarily asked for more work on already adjusted areas).

Some may view this as a rant, or as Dr. Martin complaining about patient requests.  It’s not.  It’s a plea for more patients to trust in the expertise of the doctors.  The biggest reason for this plea?  The patients who DO trust, and have quick in and out adjustments, are the ones who appear to rarely have discomforts and pains, and who have a generally higher level of happiness upon seeing us.  Maybe there’s something to this after all…

How routine Chiropractic Care can help Salt Lake City Residents live a Healthier life

How routine Chiropractic Care can help Salt Lake City Residents live a Healthier Life.

I'm not a big time Facebook user. Yes, I have an account but I don't post much to it. Sometimes I do get on it to check out what's going on and see if there's anything interesting. Most of the time I find some video that catches my attention and the problem becomes that after I watch that video there is other similar videos that appear under the one I clicked on and I click on those as well. Before I know it, over an hour (maybe even two) has passed and I can never get that time back. Therefore, I try to not go on to Facebook very often.

During one of these times that I have got on, I have noticed a certain video that has appeared. I have seen two different versions of it, both with the same message. Maybe you have seen this video as well. It is a video that shows a guy dressed in warmer clothes. He walks out of his house and looks all around at the sunshine, green trees and lawn, and the warm weather. He gets really excited, runs back in the house doing the happy dance. Goes to his room and changes clothes. He puts on his shorts and a tee shirt and tennis shoes. He runs downstairs and goes outside, only to find it covered in snow and freezing. The person who posts these videos says something like, "only in Utah" or whatever state they live in to demonstrate how quickly the weather can change from one moment to the next. It's a funny video and we can find it true in many cases.

The weather is the only thing that can change in a blink of an eye. At The Joint Chiropractic in Sugar House, I get many patients that come in with pain and tell me that they didn't have this pain before yesterday or this morning. They say there was nothing that they can think of to cause this pain they are having. Even this morning, I had one of our regular patients come in with the help of a friend. She was in tears. When she first came to see us a few months ago, it was for pain in her neck & upper back. We aware able to quickly help her get out of that pain and she has been faithful in coming in regularly to strengthen her spine to keep it from coming back. This morning, she was laying on the floor & when she went to get up, she experienced severe low back pain. She was having trouble walking without help. I treated her three time today to speed up her healing and with each treatment, she improved a little bit each time.

What happened to her? I told her I suspected that she was one of the 60% of people that are walking around with an asymptomatic disc problem. That is when there is a problem but no symptoms show. Then one day they come "out of the blue". This is another big reason why we at The Joint Chiropractic Salt Lake City we tell our patients that they should get checked regularly with Chiropractic to improve the health of their spine. As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". For more information go to:https://www.thejoint.com/utah/salt-lake-city/sugar-house-45001

Best Chiropractor Utah - Salt Lake City Weekly 2015

The Votes Are In -  The Joint Sugar House was just voted Best of Utah 2015  by City Weekly.  

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK  - NO APPOINTMENTS NEEDED - AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

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Everyday Life Does a Number on Your Body
Eight out of ten people experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. Whether it’s too much twisting and turning on the golf links, overdoing it at the gym or yoga studio, bending over while gardening, lifting something with your back instead of your legs or even just sitting in an awkward position for too long, sooner or later you may pay the price. When your back aches, or if your neck is stiff or you have a headache, it can affect your day. It may be harder to concentrate at work, to hit that ball over the net, or to be there for your family.
Chiropractic Care on the Rise
Based on this need for pain relief and prevention, chiropractic care has grown remarkably over the past three years. A new Gallup report shows that 34 million U.S. adults now seek chiropractic care each year, a marked increase over the 2012 National Health Interview Survey that measured chiropractic use at 21 million U.S. adults.
The Joint® Chiropractic is Leading the Way
One of the leaders of this growing trend is The Joint® Chiropractic, a network of clinics that provides convenient, affordable chiropractic care that not only delivers pain relief, but more importantly, the ongoing wellness care that will help Americans of all ages remain healthy, active and symptom-free.
The Joint’s patient-centered model is very different than the norm. Patients can choose from several options, including a membership plan that covers up to four visits a month. And, after an initial consultation, exam and adjustment, visits take about 10 minutes—less than the time it takes to get a cup of coffee.
The Joint Chiropractic’s Patient-First Approach Offers:

• Personalized treatment plans with a focus on pain relief and ongoing wellness
  
• No appointments required; patients can walk in for treatment anytime the clinic is open, including evenings and weekends
  
• No insurance hassles; affordable packages & membership plans
  
• Ability to receive treatment at any of The Joint’s 280+ clinics across the country
  
• Warm and inviting clinics, located in convenient high-traffic retail areas rather than sterile medical complexes—making it easy to work spontaneous visits into busy lives. 
  
  The Joint Chiropractic accepts cash, credit/debit and FSA/HSA cards at all of their 280+ clinics,
  Invest in yourself, and your future, with preventive screenings, regular physical activity, healthy food choices, and weekly visits to the chiropractor. To learn more about the health benefits of chiropractic or to find a clinic near you, visit thejoint.com.
  

How Salt Lake City Chiropractors are like Dentists

Humor me a little bit and come with me into a conversation that I have over and over again.  Whether it is with a patient in our office, or with someone I meet in my personal life.

Upon hearing that I am a chiropractor, there is almost invariably a statement like:

Other person:  Yeah, I saw a chiropractor a few years ago.  He helped me a lot.

Me:  Great, so do you still see him?

Other person:  No, he fixed me all up.  I haven't needed to go back.

Me:  Oh... That's awesome.  By the way, did you brush your teeth this morning?

Other person:  (After giving me a slightly dirty look)  Yeah.

Me:  Did they hurt when you woke up this morning?

Other person:  No...

Me:  Well then why did you brush them?

Other person:  (silence...)

Me:  If they didn't hurt, why did you brush them?

Other person:  (slowly and starting to understand what I am getting at...)  Well...to keep them from hurting.

Me:  Oh, so maintenance care and prevention is OK for your teeth, but not for you spine?

Other person:  (silence...)

Typically at this point, I let them off the hook and make a joke so as to lift the building tension.  As you can guess, I am a hoot at parties.

Again, I have this conversation ALL THE TIME.  Seriously...your teeth chew your food and (hopefully) look good when you smile.  That's about it.  Your spine controls EVERY SINGLE THING that happens in your body.  From cell reproduction to movement to healing processes to immune response.  It all happens through your spine.  Teeth...they chew up your meat.

So, why do you think people devote around 5 minutes a day (maybe more) to their teeth and do so very willingly...yet they put up such a fight when it comes to maintaining the health of their spine?

My best guess is that it all comes down to money.  Maintaining the health of your teeth my cost a couple of bucks a month.  Regular chiropractic maintenance care can be expensive when you're seeing the chiropractor once a week and you're paying an average of $55-$70 per adjustment.  That's why we are trying to change that.  At The Joint Salt Lake City, we have programs and plans that can provide a regular maintenance care adjustment for as low as $14.75 per adjustment.  There is no long term commitment needed and you get the care that your body needs.

Maintenance care is not a new thing for health care...Seriously, when was the last time your dentist said, "OK, you're done.  Come back the next time your teeth hurt?"  Yet, that's what is expected from a chiropractor?

Come see us and we will help you maintain the most important functions in your body

How Salt Lake City Chiropractors Can Help You Sleep

With the weather quickly shifting to the blustery cold of winter, I could probably write a blog about winter sports and how to keep your body functioning at its optimal level and lower your back pain through routine chiropractic care.  

As we are currently right in the middle of the best time of year (football season), I could probably write a blog about how chiropractic care helps athletes in Salt Lake City function to their bodies utmost and prevent injuries through chiropractic care.

I could probably write about how chiropractic care will help to keep you healthy as colds and flu's seem to be starting to overcome the masses.

But, I've already done all that.  Over the past year or so I have written blogs that have covered all those subjects.  So, I think I should write about something that i haven't written about yet.  This is one of my favorite things to do...ever.

Lets talk about sleep.  I can't tell you how many times I hear the phrase, "I didn't do anything, I just woke up with it", when people are talking about a new pain they are experiencing.  

You spend a third of your life asleep.  The position that you sleep in can have a huge effect on your health and the well-being of your body and your joints.

So, what is the best way to sleep?

According to my teachers in school....on your side.  According to many "experts"...on your back.  No one says to sleep on your stomach because that is pretty much one of the worst things you can do for your back or neck.  Very rarely do I ever tell anyone to quit doing something immediately.  One of those things is doing squats...DON'T EVER DO SQUATS...You will hurt yourself.  Another thing I tell people that they should NEVER do is sleep on their stomach.  You've got your head turned to the side for 8 hours and your lower back is put into a position of extension (leaning backwards) all night.  Horrible for the joints...DON'T EVER SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH!!!

Based on my experience, sleeping on you back or your side can be equally good (or bad) for your spine.  

Here are some principles to remember when finding a position to sleep in:

1.  Try to look at your spine when you are standing up.  Keep your spine in that position when you are laying down.  Whether you are on your back or your side, you want to keep your spine in a straight position while keeping the natural curves of your spine supported.  

While on your side, you should have your knees slightly bent with a pillow between the knees to keep the hips in a natural posture.  NO ROLLING YOUR TOP HIP FORWARD!!!  Your shoulders should be square (do not tuck your bottom shoulder forward either, this creates torque in the spine and strain to the muscles of your shoulders).  Your head should be supported in a way that keeps the neck and shoulders in a straight line with the rest of your spine.  No flexion of the head (fetal position).  Keep the head upright.

While on your back, put a small support under your knees.  Position the pillow so that your head will stay straight (looking up at the ceiling).  DON'T USE A VERY THICK PILLOW.  A thin pillow under the head and a slightly thicker pillow under the neck (or 2 layers of pillow under the neck) should provide the right type of support for the head and neck.

2.  Illustrated below are some positions NOT to sleep in:

Take care, and sleep tight.

  1 Attached Images

What are your chiropractic goals? Treatment plans in Salt Lake City

 A few weeks ago I found myself really hungry. I didn't want just any food. I wanted a good meal. So I went to a new restaurant that I have never been to but was told by some friends that this was the best in Salt Lake City. As I sat down, I noticed they hadn't given me a menu. The waitress comes over to me, and I ask to see the menu while she gets my drink. She proceeds to tell me that they don't have menus, but rather the chef will decide what he thinks is the best for me. I think to myself, this is different. I'm reluctant, but my friend recommended this place to me so I figure I'd give it a try. I mean, the chef is the expert, right? If anyone would know what I would want, it would be him. Right?

Well, I sit there in anticipation for what delicious surprise will be coming out that was specially made for me. 15 minutes later, I see my waitress headed toward me with my uniquely prepared meal. As she sets it in front of me, I notice that my heart is beating faster. Working as a chiropractic physician can really build an appetite. She sets down the plate in front of me to reveal a beautifully laid out salad. The problem, though, is that I'm a little weird in that I like to eat my salad last. I ask the waitress if I can save the salad for later, but she says that's not how they do things here. The place is packed, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, so I reluctantly begin to eat the salad.

Next, they bring out a juicy ribeye steak with a side plate of mac and cheese. Now, I love me a good ribeye. But I am not a fan of mac and cheese. I mean, if that is all I had to eat, I could live on it but it certainly would not be my first through tenth choice of side dishes. As I cut into the ribeye, I notice that it is cooked very well done. I ask the waitress if I could get a ribeye cooked to medium rare. She refuses and says that is not good for my health and that the way the chef cooked my steak is a much better choice for me.

By this time, I'm a little frustrated. I'm hungry so I suffer through it and begin eating the burnt steak. Soon desert arrives and I find myself staring at a perfectly cut slice of cheesecake. It looks perfect. The only problem? I do not like cheesecake! Again, the waitress informs me that is how it done here. I leave the restaurant wishing I had just gone to Burger King where I could have had it my way.

By now I'm sure you have realized that this scenario is completely made up. Other than me not liking mac and cheese, cheesecake or medium rare ribeye steak. You're probably wondering what this has to do with our Salt Lake City chiropractic clinic and why we are so busy. Quite a bit. You see, there are different types of chiropractic clinics. A lot of clinics dictate every single part of your care. They examine you and tell you exactly what your care plan will be. All without finding out what you are looking for or what YOUR goals are. You are expected to have it their way!

At The Joint - Sugar House, we try hard to be different. We examine patients and tell them exactly what is going on. But we also listen to you and take into consideration what your goals are. When I sit down with a new patient, I let them know that MY goals for them come second to their goals. If it was up to me, I would help every patient get out of pain as fast as possible, then have them come in at a minimum every 2 weeks for a checkup. But that is MY goal. My job is to help YOU achieve YOUR goal, not mine. We always ask ourselves, "If this was my relative, what would I do?" That means we don't make you commit to some huge long-term treatment plan of 100 visits over the next year and make you prepay for all of it. Instead, we show you, based on our many years’ experience and thousands of patients, how to best achieve YOUR goals for chiropractic treatment. That may be to just get pain under control or long term maintenance care. We also give you 3 options of how you would like to handle your care, ranging from paying full price of $29 per visit to our most affordable plan of $12 per visit.
We also make it really easy to get in when you need by being a walk in clinic. You don't need an appointment, and we are open 7 days a week! Now that's convenience!

Always know that we are here to help you achieve your health goals, whatever they may be.

~ Dr. Sonny Tuft, D.C.

Is chiropractic the key to reducing health costs for Utah residents?

When it comes to treating patients, I have a pretty simple philosophy: Do what is best for the patient and their particular condition.  Whether this is treating them with chiropractic, or referring them to another provider to receive medical care, acupuncture, physical therapy or any number of other types of treatment.  I always recommend what I believe the patient needs in order to best help them achieve their goals (getting out of pain, maintaining their health and the health of their joints, etc...).

One of the most common statements that we hear from our patients is, "I HAVE to be able to work, so get me out of pain as soon as you can!"  We do our best, and typically have great success helping these people get out of pain and back to work.

Then, the important part starts.  I try to teach people the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!"  Once you're out of pain and back to work, do you want to just wait until the pain comes back???  Or, do you want to be proactive and keep that pain away?

I could ramble on and on about how awesome chiropractic is and how it will help keep you out of pain and how it is much more cost effective than most other forms of treatment/prevention, but...I prefer to let studies and research speak for me on this topic.

Here are a few studies that outline the effectiveness of chiropractic when it comes to getting people back to work (and preventing further missed work days):

STUDY 1

Chiropractic-Therapeutical Effectiveness-Social Importance, Incidence of Absence from Work and Hospitalization Survey on a Sample of 17, 142 patients, Italy, 1987, Professor F. Splendori.

     “The results of our survey presented herein, are clear and incontrovertible: our sample population of over seventeen thousand patients treated with chiropractic for at least two years showed that this treatment could lead to 55-75% reduction in the number of daily absences from work and could cut down the number of hospitalized patients by 87.60 % vis-à-vis other currently used forms of treatment (pharmacological, physiokinesiotherapeutic, surgical, etc.)…….

STUDY 2

Jarvis, K.B., Phillips, R.B., et al. “Cost per Case Comparison of Back Injury Claims of Chiropractic versus Medical Management for Conditions with Identical Diagnostic Codes,” Journal of Occupational Medicine, August 1991, Volume 33, Number 8, Pages 847-52.

     This study showed that the number of work days lost was nearly 10 times greater for those using medical treatments than for those using chiropractic care for the same condition.  

STUDY 3

Wolk, S. “Chiropractic versus Medical Care: A Cost Analysis of Disability and Treatment for Back-Related Workers’ Compensation Cases.” Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, Arlington, Virginia, September 1988.

     This study highlighted the fact that chiropractic treatment (for workers compensation cases) is not only faster, but much more effective in the treatment of back conditions.

Whether it's treating back pain that is currently active or preventing back pain and surgeries, these studies show how effective chiropractic care can be. If you’re struggling with back pain in Salt Lake City, come to our chiropractic clinic for help.

~ Dr. Michael Hill

Enjoy the Warm Weather in Utah - Prevent Injuries with Chiropractic Care

With spring approaching, it is time to start thinking about outdoor activities. Here in Utah we enjoy some of the greatest scenery and settings for outdoor fun. From the beautiful mountains and wooded trail, to the stunning vistas of red rock formations and Lake Powell, there are ample opportunities for enjoyment and injury. There are a couple of items to consider when preparing for warm weather activities that may help save you from an emergency visit to the chiropractor.

Prepare your equipment

Even if you are doing something as simple as running, you should not just presume that your shoes from last year will be sufficient. Make sure you are prepared with the right equipment in top working condition. This is obvious if you are into rock climbing or some other activity where your equipment is literally your lifeline. It may be less obvious when it comes to other activities like cycling or running.
There are several reasons for having your equipment in top working order. The one I would like to emphasize is the prevention of injury. As a chiropractor, I see many injuries that are due to repetitive strain on muscle and joints. Some of these can be minimized or eliminated with ergonomic changes, or improvement in the equipment used during the activity. It is important, after having taken a break from an activity for several months, to make sure that nothing has changed or broken down on your equipment.

Prepare your body

Weekend warrior injuries are far too common for Salt Lake City residents. Ease back into the activity that you want to do. Your body will have a chance to reactivate familiar muscle patterns and muscle memory that have been dormant for several months. Make sure your body is working properly. This may require a visit to your chiropractor to make sure your spine, and nervous system are working properly.

You may not know your chiropractor may be trained to adjust more than just the spine. Many of us are able to adjust ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. If your joints are in alignment, you will be far less likely to injure yourself. Regular care can also increase your performance, whether it be balance, strength, or reflexes. In short, getting adjusted regularly will increase your level of enjoyment of your recreation or exercise.

Remember to take care of your health and be proactive in preventing injuries. It takes a little time and thought, but the old saying still holds true: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Take care, and have fun outside as the weather gets warmer.


Dr. Justin Walbom DC

Advice from a chiropractor on staying fit during the winter in Salt Lake City

With the weather turning colder, many people are spending more and more time indoors to stay out of the frigid air.  Activities that were once done outside are no longer done, or are altered so that you don't have to freeze doing them.  One of the biggest of these is exercise.  During the warm spring and summer months, Utah residents spend a great deal of time out hiking and running and spending time outdoors doing their regular exercise routines.  With these activities shifting indoors, it's important to make sure that you are taking care of your body the same way that you once did outdoors.

When running, jogging, or hiking outdoors, it is easy to stay in a good and upright posture (healthiest for your spine) because the sun is warm on your face and the air is fresh and clean.  When workouts move indoors, it is easier for your posture to go south and you can actually wind up hurting yourself during your workouts.  As a chiropractor, I see this contributing to back pain in my patients all winter long.  Here is something to keep in mind while doing workouts that will help keep your spine healthier.

With ANY exercise – let me repeat: WITH ANY EXERCISE – it is best to keep your spine in a straight and upright posture while doing the exercise.  Yes, I understand that there are some exercises that you cannot do while standing straight up.  The point is that you should be making every effort to keep your spine as straight and upright as possible during your workouts.

Example:  When doing a bicep curl, you are trying to get the most effective workout to the bicep that you can, right?  The part that most people don't understand is that when doing a bicep curl, your entire body is getting a little workout too.  If you are hunched over a bench, trying to max out your weight while doing a bicep curl, you are telling your spine (and hips, shoulders, neck muscles, low back muscles, gluteal muscles, and pretty much every muscle in your body)...THIS IS THE POSTURE THAT I WANT. 

Try doing that bicep curl while standing in an upright posture.  While doing this, you are strengthening ALL the muscles of your body in a correct and normal posture, thus improving your posture and overall health.

Did we forget about the bicep?  NO...  It is true that in an upright posture, you may not be able to curl as much weight as you were when you were hunched over.  But, the bicep is getting just as good of a workout (because you are isolating that muscle in this upright posture) as if you were hunched over and you were recruiting other muscles to help you lift more weight.

As you try to keep your body healthy during the colder months in Utah, just remember to keep your spine in a straight and upright posture as much as possible to strengthen core and stabilizing muscles, as well as limiting the risk of injury.

Stay healthy.

~ Dr. Michael Hill

7 Healthy Tips for the Holidays in Utah

Most of us look forward to the holiday season with all of the fun and festivities and parties, but some dread this time of year because of the increased stress and inevitable weight gain. Here are some helpful tips from a Utah chiropractor that may make it easier for you to enjoy a healthy holiday season.

1. Get plenty of rest. This time of year comes with the busyness of family get-togethers, office parties and shopping. It is easy to sacrifice your sleep to get it all in. One of the easiest ways to make yourself sick with winter colds and flus is to limit your normal sleep. Make sure you are getting your full 8 hours so that your body can regenerate and recuperate. 
2. Don't stress out. Whether you're stressed about not seeing your family for the holidays or stressed about having to sit down at a meal with them, take time to de-stress. Meditation and guided visual imaging are great ways to calm yourself. Some foods that have been shown to reduce the stress hormone Cortisol include: Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C, low Glycemic Index foods and Dark Chocolate.
3. Find time to exercise. As little as 30 minutes a day, most days per week of some type of cardiovascular exercise is enough to keep you fit and trim. Try to schedule some resistance weight lifting exercise as well. This will help keep the stress down and also help improve joint mobility and function.
4. Hydrate. The cold, dry weather that gives Utah the “Best Snow on Earth” also takes its toll on our bodies, sapping us of our natural fluids. Make sure you are drinking plenty of pure water to fight the effects of dehydration.
5. Limit the snacking and grazing. Just when we are getting rid of all the Halloween candy, we are faced with all the holiday goodies that are delivered to our offices and homes. Find healthier snacking alternatives. Studies show that most weight is gained in the last 2 months of the year. Don't fall in to the trap of saying, “I'll start ____ (losing weight, exercising, eating healthy, etc.) after the new year.” Get a jump start on your New Year’s resolutions by limiting the fudge, candies and cookies.
6. Get outside. When the days are shorter and colder, it is natural to want to stay indoors and sit
   
   by the fire sipping hot chocolate. Bundle up and go for a walk in the snow, go sledding with the kids or grand kids, drive up the canyons and escape the inversion. Being outside enjoying the beauty of winter and letting the winter sunshine hit your face to produce Vitamin D will do wonders for your overall well-being.
7. Get your Chiropractic adjustment. There is no better way to improve your physical and mental wellness than to let the doctors at The Joint Cottonwood Heights align your spine. Adjustments release the natural feel-good hormones, improve joint mobility, and increase blood flow and energy. Take advantage of the benefits of Chiropractic and enjoy your Holidays!

~ Dr. Brad Hendricks

Sports Injuries and Prevention Recommendations from an SLC Chiropractor

Participating in various sports is a great way to get exercise and recreation. As fall approaches, many turn to the sport of American Football. There are two ways to enjoy football: one is the passive “armchair quarterback,” and the other is active participation. I choose to participate, which means I need to wear protective equipment, train, and decrease my risk of injuries. Whether you are maintaining your daily exercise routine or training for professional sports, when done properly, participation in sports enhances your physical coordination, fitness, sense of accomplishment, and even your physical and emotional development.

Most sports injuries are usually preventable. Football injuries occur during games and practices due to the combination of high speeds and full contacts. The force applied to either bringing an opponent to the ground or resisting being brought to the ground makes football players prone to injury anywhere in their bodies. While traumatic injuries such as concussion can occur and have been in the news lately, this article is more about overuse or repetitive injuries.

Knee injuries in football are the most common, especially those to the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL/PCL) and to the meniscus (or knee cartilage.) Patellar tendonitis, shin splints, and general knee pain is also common. Football players have a higher chance of ankle sprains due to the surfaces played on and the cutting motions employed. Pelvic and hip injuries can also occur, varying from muscle pulls to groin pain. Shoulder and acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries happen especially in offensive and defensive linemen. One of the most reported complaints in football players is low-back pain when the player exceeds his ability for the body to recover. And one must not forget that heat injuries, muscle cramps, and dehydration can also occur.

How can Football Injuries be prevented?

• Have a pre-season health and wellness evaluation by a competent health professional
• Perform proper warm-up, stretching, and cool-down routines
• Consistently incorporate strength training and stretching
• Hydrate adequately to maintain health and minimize cramps
• Wear properly fitted protective equipment, such as helmet, pads, mouth guards, etc.
• Tackle with the head up and do not lead with the helmet
• Take small injuries seriously and treat muscle strains, joint pain, skeletal and back pain before they become significant.
• Regularly see your chiropractic physician, sports medicine professional or athletic trainer if you have any concerns about football injuries or prevention strategies.

Here at The Joint in Sugar House, we are once again pleased to participate in the Highland High School football program.  As part of our support of the Salt Lake City community, we provide free ankle and foot adjustments to the student athletes. Statistics have demonstrated that by stabilizing the foot and ankle, football related injuries are significantly decreased.  Go Rams!

-Michael Lindstrom, D.C.

  Chiropractic Physician

Once you go to a chiropractor, you have to go for the rest of your life

A new patient came in to The Joint in Sugar House and was visibly apprehensive, so I asked him, “What’s wrong?” He replied, “I’m worried because once you start going to a chiropractor you have to go for the rest of your life.” I smiled and jokingly said, “That’s true – I know a patient who brushes his teeth – sometimes every single day (gasp).” Then in a more serious tone I reminded him that when Consumers’ Report reviewed the top treatments for back and neck pain in September of 2011, chiropractic outperformed all other treatments. I explained that I only recommend treatment that is needed for his condition – no more, no less. At a minimum I would simply treat his neck and back pain symptoms, but as a responsible physician I would also recommend the best care possible. I then proceeded to describe his problems and causes, the treatment goals, and how we would work together until we reached those goals. In other words, once his goals were met – treatment would stop.

You see, every profession has its myths and misunderstandings. Another I often hear as a chiropractor in Salt Lake City is, “If you get adjusted a lot, your spine will become loose and you will always need care.” Or how about, “Too many adjustments will give you arthritis in your spine.” It’s hard not to laugh, but these are serious concerns for some people. I’m reminded of the propagandist who said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." The fact is, none of these chiropractic myths are true and none of them have any research to substantiate them.

It’s important to understand that there are three main types of chiropractic care at The Joint in Sugar House:

1. Acute or crisis care – to relieve a new and specific pain. This is care to relieve a headache; a neck pain; a rib being out; or that new back pain that keeps you from getting out of bed. Pinched nerves, disc injuries, numbness or tingling, sciatica, accidents, and other injuries are other examples. Most of the time these painful symptoms are signs of a much deeper issue which will worsen the longer the underlying cause remains untreated. This care may take a few visits, a couple of weeks, or in some cases months. It depends on the age of the patient, the severity of the injury, and how long they’ve had it. (Unfortunately, some patients stay in this phase of care because they STOP treatments too early and never correct their problems; therefore they return to crisis and symptomatic neck or back pain relief care when their “problems” return.) 
2. Reconstructive care – to fix or restore function. This may be the second phase of care from an acute injury (for those who choose to continue care) or the beginning phase to correct a long term problem. The goal in this phase is to get the biomechanical structure of the spine functioning with the least amount of pressure on the nervous system. Examples include: “normal” back pain, arthritis, stenosis, and other problems that have never really been corrected in the past. 
3. Maintenance or wellness care. Once you have put the time and energy into correcting a problem, you don’t want it to come back. This type of chiropractic care is preventative. Resolving everyday stress and stressors is part of wellness care. Many of our patients simply want to STAY healthy. Our proactive patients and athletes fall into this category. 

To put it briefly, you only have to go to a chiropractor for a long time if you decide that’s right for you. Some people take vitamins all their life; some choose to go to the gym; and others will continue to eat healthy and choose the best foods to eat. It’s really a matter of personal choice. I guess it depends on what you want to accomplish, doesn’t it? The extent to which you choose to benefit from your chiropractic care is ultimately up to you. As for me and my family, I have chosen a lifetime of preventative chiropractic care and we are healthier for it.

-Michael Lindstrom, D.C.

Chronic Pain Relief

Many patients have asked about natural treatments for chronic pain and would love to be less dependent on pain medication to manage their pain. Here is a list of treatments and activities that may help you relieve your pain and feel more in control of your life.

1.                  Release your inner Endorphins.  Endorphins are the body's natural pain killers. These natural chemicals help block pain signals from reaching the brain.  They also help control anxiety, stress and depression.  The body produces and releases endorphins during exercise which gives you the “runner's high” sensation.  Chiropractic adjustments have also been shown in the research to release endorphins after a treatment.

2.                  Heat and Ice.  For general muscle soreness that has lasted longer than 3 weeks, use a hot water bottle or make your own moist heat by microwaving a damp towel for 2 minutes.  Apply to the area of pain for 10-15 min.  For acute joint pain, apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes until numb then remove, repeat after 30 minutes.  Alternating heat and ice also is effective in reducing painful inflammation.

3.                  Stretch the Soft Tissues.  Almost everyone can benefit from stretching muscles, tendons and ligaments.  Your back is designed for movement, and if your motion is limited it can make your back pain worse. If you suffer from chronic back pain, you may find it takes weeks or months of stretching to loosen up your spine and soft tissues, but you will find that meaningful and sustained pain relief will follow the increase in motion. Our chiropractors can teach you several stretches and exercises designed to target the areas that need more strength or flexibility to help relieve your chronic pain.

4.                  Enjoy the outdoors. People who got the recommended daily 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D experienced less pain than those who didn’t, according to a Boston University study of 221 men and women with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers surmised that Vitamin D helps relieve pain by aiding in the absorption of calcium, which is needed for bone growth and repair. Other research shows vitamin D may directly help soothe pain. 93% of 150 people with unexplained sources of pain were recently found to be deficient in Vitamin D levels, according to recent research at the University of Minnesota. About 15 minutes of sun exposure on your face and hands a day is enough to get your daily dose of D, or a 200-IU supplement of Vitamin D and as much calcium as is found in two glasses of milk.

5.                  Imagine yourself to be in a better place. Guided imagery allows you to hear and internalize therapeutic suggestions that help you feel better. In one study of 28 women with osteoarthritis pain, half of the women listened to a 10 to 15 minute recorded script twice daily that guided them through muscle relaxation techniques. On average, women in the guided imagery group reported that their pain eased by 18% and that their mobility improved by 13%; vs. those in the control group who experienced a 16% worsening of pain and a 2% decrease in mobility. Guided imagery can be learned with a practitioner or on your own using audiotapes or CDs.

6.                  Realign your energy flow. The mechanism of action for the ancient Chinese healing technique of acupuncture is still not completely understood, but it has been proven in medical trials to reduce certain types of chronic pain, including back pain.  I've always maintained that 5000 years of practice can't be all that bad. P.S. the needles are super-thin and are usually not painful.

7.                   Eat cookies. Research shows that eating sweet foods like cookies, chocolate or ice cream, helps reduce the sensation of pain. Or just bake the cookies. Enjoying a smell that is both sweet and pleasant has been shown to reduce the perception of pain.

8.                  Natural Supplements.  Many nutritional supplements have been shown to have safe and effective long-term results in reducing pain and inflammation.  Some of the best include: Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil, flaxseed oil or borage oil), Curcumin (Tumeric), Arnica, Devil's Claw, Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO), MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and Menthol.

9.                  Get enough restorative sleep. Getting enough sleep is critical to healing and pain management, so it’s important to employ a variety of sleep aids to help you get a healthy amount of sleep. Regular exercise that physically exhausts the body is the best way to promote deep sleep. Visualization, meditation, and other psychological techniques can also help you get to sleep and stay asleep. And don’t forget the power of naps.

Chiropractic Adjustments.  Finally, don't forget the power of consistent, regular spinal manipulation.  Not only does it release the beta-endorphins as mentioned above, but it improves the motion of the spinal joints that aids in reducing mechanical and biochemical irritation of the pain nerves.  Let the experienced chiropractic physicians at The Joint help you restore your proper motion to relieve your pain.

~ Dr. Brad Hendricks

Barefoot Running

As spring approaches, many people are anxious to get off the treadmill and head outside to resume their trail and street running. There has been a lot of hype about barefoot running and the subculture that caters to that movement has been growing, and you may be thinking of adopting this new style of running. Many of you may be aware of some of the controversy surrounding barefoot running with one camp proclaiming that it is much more natural to run barefoot and another claiming that it will cause injury. As a chiropractor in Salt Lake City, I was naturally curious.  I would like to report on a couple of recent studies that tried to address this issue.

The first study was done in 2010 and was led by Harvard professor of human biology Daniel Lieberman and was published in the journal Nature. This study suggests that runners who don't wear shoes have a significantly different foot strike that minimizes structural impact compared to those who wear shoes. Lieberman, et al., analyzed the running styles of adult U.S. athletes who had always worn shoes; adult U.S. runners who had grown up wearing shoes, but now run barefoot; Kenyan athletes who had never worn shoes; and Kenyan athletes who had grown up running barefoot, but had switched to running with shoes. They found that the barefoot runners tended to point their toes when landing, putting the impact at the middle or front of the foot instead of on the heel and making the runners less prone to repetitive-stress injuries.

Other research out of Harvard has demonstrated that the foot-strike pattern associated with barefoot runners is significantly more economical for running, meaning runners use less energy to run the same distances as runners wearing traditional shoes and striking with the heel.

The second study was published in February 2013 in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. This trial raises questions about whether barefoot running is really advantageous or simply contributes to the development of a different set of running injuries. Thirty-six recreational, experienced runners participated in the study. Each participant had, until the beginning of the trial, run between 15 and 30 miles a week wearing normal running shoes. Both groups received a pre-participation MRI of their feet to ensure no pre-existing injuries were present.

Half of the participants were used as a control and told to continue their running routine using the same mileage in the same shoes for the duration of the study. The other runners were given barefoot-style shoes and told to incorporate them into their runs according to the recommendations provided at the time by the manufacturer: a single short 1-2-mile run in the shoes the first week and two 1-2-mile runs in the shoes the second and third weeks. After the third week participants were encouraged to add miles as they felt comfortable.

Following 10 weeks of training, both groups received follow-up MRI studies. Neither group showed injuries or tissue changes to any of the structures in the lower leg, but over half of the participants wearing barefoot-style shoes had developed increased bone-marrow edema in the tarsals and metatarsal bones.

The radiologists rated the severity of the edema on a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no edema and 1 indicating the slight edema of a normal response to training. The control group showed average level 1 edema levels in the bones of their feet, while the majority of the barefoot-running group had developed edema levels of at least 2. Three of the barefoot runners had extensive level 3 edema and two displayed full stress fractures of their calcaneus or metatarsals with associated level 4 edema. By the end of the test period, almost all of the barefoot-style runners were running fewer miles due to pain and soreness.

The takeaway message from this is that barefoot running does indeed limit the heel strike gait that can cause repetitive-stress injuries; however, if you decide to make the switch, the researchers recommend that you take enough time to transition so that your bones and muscles have time to adapt.

Whether you decide to continue with your regular running shoes or change to a more minimal, barefoot style shoe, let the chiropractors at The Joint in the Salt Lake city area evaluate you and adjust not only your spine but your feet and ankles also ensure that you are functioning at your optimal level.

Dr. Brad Hendricks

The Joint Cottonwood Heights

1. Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, Daoud AI, D'Andrea S, Davis IS, Mang'eni RO, Pitsiladis Y. Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature, 2010;463:531-5.
2. Ridge ST, Johnson AW, Mitchell UH, Hunter I, Robinson E, Rich BS, Brown SD. Foot bone marrow edema after 10-week transition to minimalist running shoes. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2013 Feb 22. 

The Best Cardio Exercise

Over the past several years I’ve had several patients asked me what is the best Cardio exercise they can do if I had to pick just one?. My background as a Sport’s Chiropractor in Utah and Strength and Conditioning Specialist gives me a little different perspective than most fitness experts.

  

The Late Bruce Lee said “Running is the king of all Exercise” While I agree Running is the fastest way to get in great shape it poses many obstacles for most people over 30. First running is very hard on the feet, knees, hips and low back. When a person runs every time their foot hits the ground it’s 4-5 times their bodyweight per foot strike. This high body impact can lead to many problems such as stress fractures, shin splints, plantar fasciitis etc. Second is running technique and running surface. Most people who run have poor technique and they chose to run on the asphalt instead of grass or dirt, and this magnifies the forces of impact on their body.

  

Walking seems to be an alternative to running, but there are some major drawbacks to this slower cousin of running. The biggest challenge is achieving a person’s training heart rate. Most people cannot reach their training heart rate unless their obese or severely de-conditioned.

As a chiropractor in Utah, I’ve found the best cardio exercises are whole body, low impact, cross crawl exercises like the Elliptical machines or Cross Country skiers.  Let’s take a look at some of these incredible activities and examine why they’re so effective. Most of these exercises are very easy on the joints and will not lead to impact type injuries. Individuals who are out of shape or overweight can do these exercises and have little soft tissue soreness. The next component is whole body. The Elliptical or Cross Country skiers or Versa climbers engage the entire body and this is most beneficial for time restricted people and for greater caloric expenditure. A stationary bike is a great tool, but it is mostly lower body and you’re seated for much of the time. The last factor is these exercises are cross-crawl exercises and this has a profound effect on our Central Nervous System. Cross Crawl is a term that describes the normal human movement patterns with one leg forward and the opposite arm forward. Individuals who don’t crawl as an infant and go straight to walking often have learning problems and motor impairments.  Rowing is a whole body exercise and low impact, but it does not use a cross crawl motor pattern and therefore is not as good as the other exercises I have mentioned.

Dr. David Bailey

Relieving Stress through Chiropractic visits in Salt Lake City

Daily we may experience stress: physically, chemically or mentally and emotionally in varying degrees. Stress can lead to fatigue, high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, tooth-grinding, irritability, or digestive disorders.  Researchers estimate that stress contributes up to 80% of all major illnesses! Chronic stress lowers the body’s immune responses, making it more susceptible to disease. Sufficient sleep helps fight fatigue and stress. Exercise and outdoor activities are great stress reducers. The body doesn’t absorb ingested nutrients well under stress and may become deficient.Ask your doctor about taking Vitamin B Complex and other nutritional supplements. Chiropractic adjustments at The Joint Chiropractic Salt Lake City can help clear nerve system interference and heighten immune responses. While we cannot always remove or control the stressful situations we experience, we can strive to enhance our quality of health with regular Salt Lake City chiropractic treatments.

Stop in our Salt Lake City Chiropractic Offices of The Joint Sugar House or The Joint Cottonwood Heights and see how regular chiropractic care can help your lifestyle. 

For more visit our website at www.saltlakecitychiropractor-thejoint.com

Stress is the worst can of pressure on your nervous system.

Weak Abs Equal Weak Back in Salt Lake City

In my 23 years of practice as a Chiropractor in Salt Lake City and Texas working with individuals from all professions, including competitive athletes, one of the most common questions I am asked is "what is the best way to strengthen my back?" Everybody wants to have a healthy, strong, stable, back. Especially those individuals that have suffered a back injury or condition that creates pain and instability. They know how quickly a "bad" back can have a detrimental effect on every aspect of their life. If you have never had a painful back condition, trust me, you do NOT want one!

There are several contributing factors to a weak, unstable, back, but in my opinion, by far the most common is a weak abdominal "core". Athletes know, or at least should know, that all power, strength, speed, agility, and coordination, is directly linked to the strength of the core muscles. This is where all these functions originate. Thus, not only does a weak abdominal core create instability and lack of agility, power, etc, it also creates over compensation patterns in other areas of the body, i.e the lumbar and pelvic musculature. These imbalances then create bad movement and posture patterns, which eventually lead to instability and painful condition like degenerative joint disease and disc prolapse. So how does all this relate to someone that is not an athlete but sits at a desk all day? Remember the phrase "use it or lose it"? When we sit all day the abdominal muscles along with the pelvic stabilizers, including the iliopsoas (hip flexors) and gluteus and periformis muscles ( hip extensors) begin to weaken and shorten. This creates the imbalances between the core muscles in the abdominal and the lumbar (low back areas). Over time this creates the instability and painful conditions that we see in our office everyday. So if you want a strong, stable, back, you MUST strengthen your abs!

Stop in our Salt Lake City Chiropractic Offices of The Joint Sugar House or The Joint Cottonwood Heights and see how regular chiropractic care can help your lifestyle. For more visit our website at www.saltlakecitychiropractor-thejoint.com