Why Chiropractic is so Popular

1. Chiropractic promotes natural healing.

Always seek out the least invasive, most “user friendly” form of health care before submitting to drugs and surgery.

2. Chiropractic can prevent problems.

It keeps you healthy. Chiropractic is able to locate stress creating distortions in your body (subluxations) before damage occurs.

3. Chiropractic is effective and natural.

Why take drugs when you can be helped without them? That’s a big reason why millions of people visit their neighborhood doctor of chiropractic.

4. Chiropractic is safe.

There are no side effects, no surgery that forever changes your body. Chiropractic has an enviable safety record – malpractice insurance for chiropractors is a tiny fraction of that for medical practitioners.

5. Chiropractic is for the entire family.

Everyone, from the very young to the very old, can benefit from chiropractic care.

6. Family chiropractic care sends a healthy message to children.

You don’t need to take drugs to lead a happy healthy life.

Reference: Dr. Ted Koren, Koren Publications

Homeostasis

Homeostasis: The ability of the body or a cell to seek and maintain a condition of equilibrium or stability within its internal environment when dealing with external changes

The key to health is homeostasis. It is the constant regulation of all body functions. Dis-ease occurs when the body falls out of balance, usually due to its surroundings. Environmental factors cause our bodies to make an adaptation to restore homeostasis or balance.

Temperature is an environmental factor that our body responds to and makes an adaptation to. If we are too cold, our body will begin to shiver. Shivering is an involuntary firing of our muscles in an effort to produce heat and warm our core temperature back to optimal temperature. When our bodies are in an environment that is too hot, we begin to perspire and give off heat via convection in an effort to lower our core temperature back to optimal.

Homeostasis is the most important aspect of our health. All bodily functions are trying to maintain homeostasis. Symptoms are usually an indicator that the body has veered away from homeostasis. Often times, people ask me if chiropractic is “good” for this particular symptom or ailment. My answer is always the same. Chiropractic removes interference to the nervous system, the master control system of the whole body. The nervous system is the center of regulation and homeostatic functioning of the whole body. Chiropractic is great for restoring nervous system function and homeostasis. Symptoms are not the problem. They are our helping indicators to let us know that something has fallen out of balance and something needs to be done.

Let it snow!

Good Morning blog readers! It's a beautiful Saturday morning at Rhinebeck Chiropractic. Made it into the office this morning carefully and began to shovel the path leading to the front door. As I was doing this task, I realized I do better giving pointers on shoveling than actually doing the winter work itself. As a chiropractor, a heavy snow fall means the phone will begin to ring in the days following with patients and current practice members who "over did it" while clearing the fluffy white stuff. Since prevention is the best medicine (chiropractic), I thought I would give you a few pointers on shoveling to make your holiday more enjoyable.

1. Always warm up first! Muscles and soft tissues are more elastic when they are warm. In addition to wearing warm clothing, feel free to do some light physical activity before lifting the shovel. Try walking the perimeter of the property or do some jumping jacks.

2. Push the snow when possible instead of lifting it. Your spine will thank you later!

3. Use your head. Feel the snow; is it wet or dry and fluffy? If it is wet, it will most likely be much heavier. Knowing how heavy the snow is allows your body to prepare to the sudden demand of shoveling.

4. Use your legs. Your legs are much stronger than the spinal erector muscles in our lower back. This means when you lift the shovel, you squat and stand up straight, rather than bending over at the hip.

5. Shovel while it is snowing. This is a sure fire way to keep the loads lighter and you get to pre-burn extra calories you are inevitably going to consume during the holidays. (Disclaimer: Rhinebeck Chiropractic does not approve or condone of over eating at anytime during the year; even the end.)

6. Get adjusted. Regular chiropractic adjustments keep your spine healthy. After being adjusted our bio mechanics are improved and the muscles used in shoveling work more efficiently.

It should also be noted that shoveling can count as exercise. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone. Enjoy the weather!!!

Unlimited Health

Recently after an 8 mile run (my personal best) I had an ah-ha moment. During the long run, which did not seem so long thanks to my running partners, I was in disbelief of my accomplishment. I crossed a line mentally that I had drawn; a block if you will that I made up in my own head. It was a true testament to the fact that we have unlimited potential. Although I was already a subscriber to this idea, I realized that I still limit myself in many ways. It opened up the question if I can run 8 miles, how bad could 9 miles be? I guess I’ll find out this Sunday.

Other questions that it raised include, how many other times have I limited my powers and not explored just based on the little box I had put myself in? How many times have I missed a life changing moment because I played it safe? How many people did I miss out on touching because I did not speak up? Have you ever asked yourself this? Have you ever feared something and then realized it was not scary? We often do this to ourselves. It is a safety mechanism that we developed somewhere in our childhood. For example, mom always instructed us not to talk to strangers. This is sound advice for a child, but what about an adult? This same advice has catastrophic effects on people everywhere because meeting new people and building relationships is instrumental in achieving success.

Taking it one step further, I tried to envision a larger box. How far could we go? The answer is as far we think we can. Brings new meaning to Henry Ford’s quote, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, your right.” Or going by the children’s book The Little Engine that Could, “I think I can, I think I can….”

In terms of health, how healthy can we get? On one end of the spectrum, there are those who are close to death while some have diseases that will take years to die from. Others are sick; and of this population some will recover, others health will slide quickly. Some are just not sick. They have no symptoms, they get by every day. They consider the day as a grind; get through it so you can do it all over again. Others see the day as a chance to learn a lesson. Today’s mistakes will help us make better choices and decisions tomorrow so we can be our best self. To be healthy you must go get health every day, actively pursue it and if you think you reached it make your box bigger, think of something better because there is untapped potential that can be unleashed. This weekend it's mile nine for me. For others it may be mile 29 while others it may involve eating less, more frequently, while others decide to smoke one less cigarette tomorrow. Your health is yours for the taking, unlimited; without limits; limitless.

To me this is the true concept of wellness. Wellness is never reached its only pursued. Wellness is infinite health. Wellness is the journey. Wellness is the philosophy that says your health is unlimited.

In order to get healthy we must think about what it means to be healthy. We must picture it and compare this picture to our reality. We must take a mental snapshot and work toward it. The beauty is that this snapshot can be edited and replaced with new snapshots that depict an even healthier you, a new level of health.

The Chiropractic Lifestyle

Welcome to Rhinebeck Chiropractic's blog! As a chiropractor, it is no secret that chiropractic has changed my life. It has changed my life, my family's lives, even those who are close friends of mine; it has changed their lives as well. In fact, to me chiropractic is not a profession or a job. It's a lifestyle. Since it is my lifestyle and a lifestyle for many of those we love, there are certain principles we live by that help us make decisions about the way we live. Here are some of the principles of the chiropractic lifestyle.

• The human body has its own natural ability to heal itself. It needs no help, just no interference.


• The master control system of the body is the nervous system. If this master control system isn't working at 100%, it is impossible for the body to run at 100%.


• Functioning at less than 100% leaves the door open for disease or a decline in health.
  We are what we eat, literally. Every 5-7 years every cell currently in your body will be gone and replaced by new ones from the food you are eating today.


• Our thoughts affect our physiology and much more. If we desire a healthy body, we must be nourished with healthy thoughts. What types of thoughts dominate inside your head? Do you watch the news every night knowing that 98% of the stories will be about someone else's misfortune? The news has gotten old and you know it.


• Exercise is a nutrient, so those who don't exercise are malnourished.


• The human body is capable of improving everyday. What ramifications would your life have if you improved a little everyday?
  
  Are you living the chiropractic lifestyle? What are you doing to ensure your spine and nervous system are working at 100%? Are you looking to get healthy or just not sick? Did you know that Americans spend more on healthcare than any other nation, yet the World Health Organization ranks the United States 37th on their list of healthy countries? Have you tried to "Get healthy" and failed before. Not sure where to start? Subscribe to this blog or check back soon as Drs. Jessica and I (Dr. Josh Burckhard) post articles pertaining to your health and living the chiropractic lifestyle.
  
  Want to know more about us? Visit our Web Page at http://www.rhinebeckchiropractic.com/