Precision Chiropractic


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Want to Change Your Health? Change Your Perspective

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Do you want to change your health? It all starts with changing your perspective.

No, I’m not going to give you mantras or affirmations, nor am I going to tell you just think positive.

What I will do is point out something that guides how we make decisions about our health that is right in front of us but is something we don’t stop and critically evaluate.

Right now the conventional thought about health is pathogenic. In other words, it’s about the factors that cause disease. This method has very distinct characteristics and principles.

In a pathogenic mindset, you are either healthy or sick. The attention is directed toward the specific diagnosis of the specific disease of the patient. The focus is also aimed at the risk factors for the disease being considered.

The starting point is the disease or problem.

Now let’s try a new mindset.

The Salutogenic mindset. The word Salutogenic comes from the Latin salus (meaning health) and the Greek genesis (meaning origin).

A Salutogenic approach to health focuses on what makes us healthy instead of what causes disease. In this approach you are not either healthy or sick, you’re on a continuum in which you are moving towards health or towards being sick.

The attention is focused on the overall state of the health/illness of a person. Instead of just looking at the risk factors of the particular disease, the focus is on where the patient is on the health spectrum.

The starting point in this approach is the health potential of each patient instead of the patient’s disease or problem.

A pathogenic approach is reactionary. Decisions are made in response to signs and symptoms of the disease.

By definition, a Salutogenic approach is a proactive approach. Decisions are made to enhance each patient’s overall well-being.

Exercise, eating well, and taking supplements are all examples of a Salutogenic approach. Another familiar example is brushing your teeth and seeing your dentist regularly. Taking care of your spine and nervous system would be a less familiar example but can be essential in helping you realize your fullest health potential.

The next time you make any decision about your health, ask yourself, am I being reactive or proactive?

Am I focused on the disease? Or am I focused on creating health?

This change in your mindset can make all the difference.

Why Feeling Dizzy, Wobbly, or Woozy Can Be a Spinal Problem

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Your balance and equilibrium is a complicated, intricate dance between three sensory systems – the vestibular, the visual, and the proprioceptive systems. The information is aggregated from these systems in your central nervous system where it is used to control the muscles in your spine and body to maintain balance.

Good information allows your body to make good adaptations to keep you feeling level and balanced. Bad information can leave you feeling wobbly, dizzy, and off-balance. Have you heard of the term garbage in, garbage out? Your body is constantly receiving information about your surrounding environment and it is important that these three sensory systems are working optimally so that the output is as good as the input.

The vestibular system is centered around your inner ear and it gives your brain information about head position. The visual system is centered around your eyes and it gives information about your body in relation to its environment. Proprioception is a sense dictated by movement detected by your skin, muscles, and joints. Have you ever wondered how you can close your eyes and touch your nose with your fingertip? (If you can’t please give us a call!) or how you can walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night in the complete dark? These things are possible because there are sensors in your skin and joints telling your brain where it is in space all of the time.

Abnormal shifts in the spine at the very top of your neck can disrupt all three of these sensory systems. This is why we use our 3-D structural analysis to detect any abnormal swaying that can indicate a problem in these areas. The very top of your neck houses important neurological connections to your eyes and ears and serves as a gateway for all of the nerves that bring proprioceptive information to the brain.

Finding solid footing means making sure your nerves are communicating properly. At Precision Chiropractic we have the technology to detect and correct abnormal shifts in your spine that cause neurological disturbances to your sensory systems.

 

Got Electrolytes? 3 Great Ways to Stay Hydrated this Summer

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Summer is in full swing and it’s hot out there!  Whether you’re going for a short walk or running a half-marathon when your body sweats it loses more than just water.  Your sweat also contains electrolytes, which are charged metallic ions that keep the pressure in our cells and the pH balance of our blood within their normal range.  The 7 major electrolytes are:

  • Sodium
  • Chloride
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium
  • Phosphate
  • Bicarbonate

These electrolytes are not only important for good hydration, they keep our bodies functioning by creating a perfectly balanced environment to conduct nerve signals.  If your body’s automatic operating system (aOS) fails to work properly, it can result in the development of many health conditions.  Electrolyte imbalance can lead to muscle spasm, weakness, joint pain, anxiety, headaches, digestive issues, dizziness, heart irregularities and more.

How Do I Choose a Good Electrolyte Drink?

When it comes to choosing a drink to replenish electrolytes, the options can be overwhelming.  It’s usually best to stay away with sugar-filled and dye-laden gas station options like Gatorade or Powerade.

  1. Nuun – these easy to use and transport electrolyte tablets are made with very little sugar and simple ingredients, Nuun tablets are great to bring along and drop in a water bottle when it starts getting hot.
  2. Skratch Labs – these powdered drink mixes are great to mix into a shake or sports drink and are naturally flavored with real fruit.
  3. Make your own!  If you need to rehydrate from a day on the ball field or from feeling under the weather, this simple homemade electrolyte drink will do the trick.  Plus, it tastes great!
      • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
      • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
      • 2 cups of filtered or purified water
      • 2 T organic raw honey or maple syrup
      • 1/8 t Himalayan pink sea salt
      • Place all ingredients in a blender, blend well, and enjoy!

Staying well hydrated in the heat of the summer is important for our overall wellbeing.  These three options make it simple to get the minerals we need to keep our bodies running optimally.  Have any other favorite ways to hydrate after a fun day in the sun?  Leave us a comment below!

6 Easy & Natural Ways to Power Up Your Brain

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Having a POWERFUL brain has the ability to influence your mood, motivation, memory, and energy levels. In this article, we will talk about how to naturally improve the power of the brain by making sure you have the proper amount of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that acts as a powerful stimulator in the brain. The euphoric feeling of falling in love for the first time? That’s dopamine! The major dopamine pathways start at the base of the brain, near the brainstem. Therefore, the base of the brain is what drives and powers the rest of the brain.

Here are 6 ways you can increase your dopamine production:

  1. Increase your vitamin D levels – Vitamin D activates the release of dopamine. Find the time to play outside in the sun with your bare skin exposed (well.. not TOO Much bare skin!) Sunlight is way more effective than any vitamin D supplement.
  2. Moderate amounts of caffeine – coffee lovers rejoice!
  3. Exercise – Specifically, the kind of exercise that builds muscle. For the purposes of creating more dopamine, cardio on its own is not as effective.
  4. Cold showers – This might be the easiest way to get a jolt of dopamine, but also one where you really have to hype yourself up!
  5. Watch your sugars – Common culprits include white flour and sugar. Sneakier sources include too much fruit and fruit juices. Sugar increases insulin which suppresses dopamine.
  6. Vagal activation – The more your vagus nerve is activated, the more you will stimulate dopamine release. The vagus nerve is the control center of the autonomic nervous system, which controls your body’s automatic and life-sustaining functions. Here are a few ways to promote vagal activation:
    • Is your head on straight? Improper head and neck alignment can disturb the blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow around the base of the brain. This can lead to a decreased amount of dopamine activation. This is what we take care of in our office.
    • Deep and controlled breathing
    • Gargling water for 15-20 seconds

Do these six things to POWER-UP your brain! If you have any questions email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 970.663.1617

The NeuroStructural Exam: The Heart of What We Do

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The heart and soul of our office is the NeuroStructural Exam. I know that might sound mundane or routine, but without the exam, nothing that we do in the office would make any sense. If you look in our office we have walls, a front desk area, a lobby, a few hallways, and a bathroom. If you walked into our office accidentally you could easily think that you were in a dentist’s or a realtor’s office. It’s what we are doing within those walls that makes us different.

The exam allows us to see if you have what we look for in our office, – underlying structural abnormalities in the spine. These structural abnormalities cause havoc in the body in two main ways. They disrupt proper neurological function, primarily the involuntary nervous system, and cause structural weakness within the body. You can read more about these negative effects of these misalignments here.

The results of the exam also establish a baseline. Why is this important? Look at it this way: Would you watch a football game with no scoreboard, downs, distances, and yard markers? How would you know who was winning? If you were losing how would you know? If you are trying to score, how could you strategize and plan? It would be very difficult, if not impossible.

In most cases within healthcare, baselines don’t really matter since most care is geared toward symptom and pain management. As long as symptoms change and pain is reduced then most providers are satisfied and consider you healthy.

At our office, we look beyond pain and symptom management. We are looking for the restoration of proper structural and neurological function. This makes our exam and your baseline the foundation of all we do here.

Here are the components of our examination:

  • Structural Radiographs
  • aOS (Autonomic Operating System)
  • Neural Thermal Analysis
  • 3D Structural Analysis

A mentor of mine used to tell me, “either it works or it doesn’t”. Some might interpret those words as an excuse to be complacent about getting results, but I took his words as a challenge to always measure, test, and push forward our understanding.

If you are looking for something that goes beyond surface-level pain and symptom management, schedule a complimentary consultation with us and let’s see if our care is a good fit for you.

Spring Cleaning for your Body!

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It’s spring! Traditionally, springtime is a great opportunity to do a deep cleaning of your house, clean out your closet, or maybe apply a fresh coat of paint. Perhaps for you, it’s time to plant a new garden. But what about your body? What can you do to freshen up? Today we will talk about two things you can do this spring to detoxify your body (and maybe lose a few pounds along the way if that’s a goal of yours).

First up: Fasting

There are different ways to fast effectively.

You can do a cleansing fast where you create a drink made with water, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper for 2-3 days (Google “master cleanse” for more details). This will flush food and other toxins out your colon.

If that seems too hardcore, you can try intermittent fasting. With intermittent fasting, you can select an 8-hour window of time during the day when you can eat – for example, 10am to 6pm. Make sure to eat small meals and snack during this period of time. For most people, this can be incorporated into a daily routine.

Check out this infographic of all the benefits of intermittent fasting!

Finally: Watch what you eat (when you’re not fasting, of course)!

More greens! Vegetables such as kale, broccoli, artichokes, and avocados have certain acids, nutrients, vitamins and they lack soluble fiber, all of which help your body cleanse your gut.

But you knew that already didn’t you?

Here is something that you might not know – you might have food sensitivities (not food allergies, that’s something different – read here for more info).

A food sensitivity is a delayed reaction to food. Reactions can occur up to 72 hours after the food has been ingested making it difficult to pinpoint which food is the culprit.

Do you have any of the following symptoms of delayed reaction food sensitivity after you eat?

  •    Fatigue
  •    Gastrointestinal problems, including bloating and gas
  •    Itchy skin and skin rashes like eczema
  •    Brain fog
  •    Muscle or joint aches
  •    Headache
  •    Sleeplessness and sleep disorders
  •    Chronic rhinitis (runny nose), congestion, and post-nasal drip

If you do, please consider getting an IgG food sensitivity test. You can pinpoint the specific foods you need to eliminate from your diet. This will help keep your gut healthy and help prevent inflammation in your body.

Incorporating these two strategies into your lifestyle can help you feel like a brand new you!

Guatemala 2018 Recap

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The team in the central square of Guatemala City

From February 24th through March 3rd, Precision Chiropractic took a team of 9 chiropractors to Guatemala City to provide much-needed care for people there.  This is a trip we’ve embarked on many times, and each time we go, it’s always an extremely fulfilling and humbling experience. It’s a way to serve and give back on a global level and to impact the lives of people who may not always have consistent access to healthcare.  We always return home with a new perspective and a renewed appreciation for how meaningful chiropractic care can be for a single person, their families, and their entire community.

In the week or so since we’ve been home, our patients have been excited to hear stories and see photos from the trip.  A lot of common questions have been asked, so here are the answers to a few of them along with some of our favorite pictures!

Our amazing hosts – Cristobal and Ixi

Do you use similar tools there as you do in the office?

It’s always a little different taking care of people outside of the office environment.  Just as we take NeuroFunctional Scans in the office, we use a similar instrument when we’re out in the field.  It doesn’t rely on electricity or a computer – it operates on a 9-volt battery and has a needle and gauge that gives us a reading.  We are also able to assess elements of people’s posture such as the tilt of their head and shoulders so that we can give the most precise adjustment possible.  The tables we use are identical to the ones we use in our office as well with one exception – they are lighter weight and have legs that fold in, making it very portable.  

Playing with the kiddos – my favorite part!

How many people did you adjust?

By our best estimates, we were able to provide care for approximately 5,000 people in Guatemala City and the surrounding communities.  Some of our favorite highlights were:

  • Adjusting an entire elementary school – students AND teachers!
  • Taking care of a precinct of police officers in the central area of Guatemala City
  • Providing care in the beautiful town of San Juan Sacatepequez – this area is known for its flower greenhouses and when we arrived, the entire central square was full of people selling freshly cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Caring for the police officers

What does a typical day look like when you’re there?

Our days usually begin fairly early with breakfast around 6:30 or 7.  A typical Guatemalan breakfast consists of eggs, refried black beans, fried plantains, fresh fruit, yogurt and a cup (or three!) of delicious coffee.  Our host, Cristobal, will pick us up and we’ll all pack into the van and head to our site for the day. Sometimes, like at a school, once we’ve checked everyone we’re good to go.  Other times, such as when we’re in the central area of a town or city, we’ll have what seems like an endless line of people waiting to get checked! We’ll usually take a quick lunch break to refuel and get off of our feet for a bit until it’s time to get back to it for the afternoon.  We wrap up around 4 or 5 in the evening, head back for some dinner, a shower, and some much-needed sleep before doing it again the next day! The last day we usually reserve for some sightseeing – this year we were able to take in some incredible Mayan ruins and explore Antigua.

Kids lining up to get checked

How can I get involved and help out for next year?

This is something many of you have asked, and there will definitely be ways to help in the coming months.  We are hosted by an incredible family who does a ton of outreach work through several organizations. VisionTrust Guatemala is an organization that does wonderful, tangible things to improve the level of education for children throughout Guatemala.  Children in these communities have the opportunity to go to a school where they are taught by university-educated teachers, get a pair of shoes and a hot meal to eat each day. We had a chance to meet one of their teachers who started out as a student in one of the schools.  She shared with us that the opportunity that the kids receive has changed entire communities by giving them goals and aspirations to strive for as they grow up. They currently have 3 school locations and are working on more. We will keep you updated on ways to give and get involved!

Mayan ruins dating back to the 1400s

Links for more info:

https://www.visiontrust.org/where/country/guatemala/

https://www.facebook.com/VisionTrustGT/

You’re Not Going Crazy! (And yes, something is ACTUALLY wrong, so let’s fix it!)

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When you are sick or hurting, things can easily feel very bleak and frustrating. Intervention after intervention, one diagnosis followed by another. No one seems to have the answers and it feels like you’re not making any progress towards getting better.

It can be disorienting, and it’s understandable if you start to lose hope of ever feeling well again. Every day you have a cloud hanging over you. I call this the Eeyore condition. The hobbies that you enjoyed before seem impossible. The work that fulfilled you seems too difficult to even start. Your body has become your greatest enemy.

But this isn’t even the worst part. The doctors and your loved ones around you don’t seem to understand what is happening to you. They don’t get why you are so tired and not yourself. Eventually, you start wondering if everything is just in your head and that you might be going crazy.

This is a scenario that I see and hear all the time in my office. Eventually, when all the medicines and interventions fail, the patient is left with the sense that they are beyond hope, or even worse, that somehow their condition is just a product of their imagination. I’m here to say, YOU’RE NOT GOING CRAZY.

You’re not losing your mind, you just need to find an answer.

Most approaches to healthcare are geared towards pain and symptom management, which is understandable in the short term when you have to show up to work or take care of your family. But what if your condition becomes chronic? What if the interventions that are meant for the short term fail to give you long a term solution?

This is why when we look at spine we look for the underlying structural abnormality that is causing the problem. If we can identify, correct, and stabilize this underlying structural abnormality then there can be optimism for long-term improvement.

Trekking through the healthcare system can beat you up and cause emotional distress, but don’t despair. Find doctors that look beyond just your symptoms. Find doctors that can provide a blueprint to help solve your problem.

Flu-Proofing Your Body

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Do you ever wonder why there is a flu SEASON? Isn’t the flu virus around all year? Why is it more prevalent during certain months of the year than others?

Here are the four main reasons:

  1. We get less ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun during the fall and winter which means you don’t create as much Vitamin D when the sun is out. Low vitamin D levels will make you more susceptible to developing infections.
  2. The air during winter and fall is usually drier. Lower levels of humidity allow cold and flu viruses to survive longer outside of the body which increases the likelihood of infection.
  3. Cold weather makes it difficult for your white blood cells to reach the lining of your respiratory tract which decreases your immune system’s potency to fight against invading viruses and bacteria.
  4. During the fall is when our stress increases the most.  From Halloween to Thanksgiving and into Christmas season, we have months of traveling, shopping, and other activities that are not typical during the rest of the year.

Here is the good news – you don’t have to resign yourself to accepting the cold and flu as an inevitability. It all depends on the health of your immune system. There are FLU-proof ways to protect your body.

  1. What to eat: Fill up on nutrient-dense foods, protein, and good healthy fats. Raw vegetables and fruits will provide Vitamin C and other immune boosting nutrients while protein and healthy fats will help you fend off sugar cravings. Sugar and foods that get digested into sugar such as grains, cereals, and starches can disturb the microorganisms in your gut. The gut is really the heart of your immune system. A healthy gut flora = a healthy immune system. Sugar fertilizes the bad bacteria in your stomach such as Candida. When these bad bacteria dominate your gut, the lining of your stomach will allow bad things into your bloodstream while good nutrients and vitamins leak out. PROTECT YOUR GUT!
  2. Supplements: Selenium, Vitamin C, and  Vitamin D. Selenium is a trace mineral that is important for many cellular processes in your body including the stimulation of antibodies that help you fight off viral, bacterial, and other foreign invaders. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant. There has been research that shows vitamin C deficiency results in reduced resistance to pathogens. Vitamin D is known for its role in bone health but it’s becoming more apparent in the latest research that it plays an important role in modulating the immune system. Studies show that people with low Vitamin D have a higher chance for autoimmune diseases.
  3. Stress Management and sleep: Sometimes you just have to hit the easy button. Take the time to rest and allow your body to recuperate. When we are swamped and overwhelmed, so are our bodies.  When that happens our immune system is weakened and we become vulnerable to the flu and to getting sick. 7-9 hours of sleep per night is recommended. Only spend your energy and time on things within your control!

Top 5 Things Worth Investing in for 2018

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Top 5 Things Worth Buying this New Year

As 2018 is starting to unfold, many of us have made resolutions or set goals that will get us closer to achieving better health and quality of life.  We know as well as everyone else does that these changes are sometimes hard-earned, but are always well worth the effort.

To help you along the way, we’d like to share a few items that have been game-changers when it comes to supporting a healthy lifestyle.  If you’ve also taken steps in the NeuroStructural Chiropractic realm to improve your body’s ability to adapt and function, these recommendations will also help you to protect your structural alignment and get the maximum benefit from the investment you’ve made in bettering your health.

  1. Good mattress – how many of us are sleeping on a mattress that is way too old? Probably more than would care to admit it.  If you’re getting an average of 8 hours of sleep per night, you’re spending a third of your day in bed – if you live to be 90, you’ll have spent about 30 years asleep!  During sleep is when your body restores, repairs, and heals.  If you are spending those hours on a worn-out, uncomfortable mattress, chances are your waking hours will be a lot less comfortable as well.  Making the investment in a high-quality mattress will pay off in the long run in your health and quality of life.
  2. Shoes with the right support – we’re not just talking about avoiding high-heeled stilettos here.  There are other shoe choices that can wreak havoc on our feet which can cause other joint and back problems over time.  For example, flip-flops offer no arch or heel support and you’re forced to grip them with your toes as you walk to keep them on.  Choosing the best shoe for you may depend on how you spend the majority of your time day to day.  Those who stand or walk a lot for work should choose their shoes accordingly.  No matter what style you chose, a neutral drop (meaning that your heel is level with your toes) will simulate your foot’s natural position, so look for shoes with that feature.
  3. Water filter – using the right water filter can help to reduce or eliminate harmful substances not only from your drinking water but also the water you bathe or shower in.  Contaminants that plague our water include arsenic, chlorine, lead, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, and virus.  More than half of the chemicals found in municipal water supplies are not regulated, and some of the legal limits set by the EPA may be too lenient.  Filtering your water becomes even more important if you are pregnant or nursing, suffer from chronic illness or have a compromised immune system.  There are a wide variety of water filter options to suit your budget and lifestyle.
  4. Name-brand supplements – purchasing your supplements from well-known retailers has its benefits.  Businesses that sell a lot of their products restock frequently, meaning that vitamins don’t just sit on the shelves degrading and losing potency over time.  If bottles sit on a shelf in too warm of an environment or exposed to direct sunlight, they can degrade even before the stamped expiration date.  Products sold by vitamin chains tend to be more reliable than drugstore brands.
  5. Cast-iron cookware – a well-seasoned cast iron skillet is naturally non-stick and is not coated with potentially harmful materials that break down and become toxic under high heat.  Traditional non-stick cookware is coated with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that has been linked to numerous health problems including thyroid and reproductive issues.  Cast-iron, on the other hand, is durable, long-lasting, and actually gets better over time the more you cook with it.  It’s cheap, versatile (you can sauté, sear, and even bake in it), and nearly indestructible.  An added benefit is that using cast-iron to cook can fortify your food with iron, which is extra good news for people who are iron deficient and for pregnant or menstruating women with an increased need for iron.

Some of our favorites:

Mattresses:

Shoes:

Water filters:

Supplements:

Cast-iron cookware:

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Precision Chiropractic

4880 Thompson Pkwy
Suite 120
Loveland, CO 80534
Phone: 970.663.1617
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