It doesn't hurt, what's the problem?

"It doesn't hurt, what's the problem?"

I hear this all the time.  And I bet you hear this all the time:

"I'm just getting older...man my body just isn't the same"

It kind of makes me laugh.  Most people don't consider the need to stay limber and youthful through addressing their body's mobility and stability concerns (notice I didn't say pain) on a regular basis.

Have you ever been to a medical or orthopedic doctor because you know something in your body feels funny?  Then they tell you your fine and there's nothing to worry about....But you still do.  Well I assert that there's probably some mobility or stability concern going on with your body that could be addressed.

I have a nameless patient that is having toe pain right now.  This patient has already had certain issues with her toe in the past and is concerned that the same problem, which was orthopedically 'fixed' is coming back.  Having said that, the pain isn't quite as bad as it got last time so she is hesitant to address the toe.

I invite you to consider that even though it doesn't hurt (that bad), there's a problem!  Whether it's a mobility problem of the ankle, foot, or toes, or a stability problem of the arch of the foot; I'm willing to bet that something can be addressed to impove the outcome before the toe gets to all out pain.

Ouch my sesamoid hurts!

There are always 'silent dysfunctions' in your body.  These are the compensations we use that rob us of our efficiency and increase the wear and tear of the body.  Addressing these 'dysfunctions' through regular chiropractic care (1-2x/mo) limits the aging of the body so that in 15 years your not saying "oh I'm just getting older".  To check out more visit www.Mobility-4Life.com

To schedule your pain-free body assessment in the Boca Raton area, dial us at 561.997.8898 or log onto www.healthfitchiro.com

Why Can't I Get Low on my Deep Squat?

Notice how she's falling forward, and she isn't able to squat below parallel.  An example of poor stability or motor control

 First I'd like to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy and healthy holiday season.  I hope it went well for everyone.  And now?  It's time to go back to work on our jobs, our waist lines and our skeletal health.  In that spirit comes my next post.

In the past I've discussed the formula for improving people's bodies.  It goes like this:

1) Reduced/Decrease Pain
2) Improve flexibility/Decrease compensations
3) Improve stability/balance control

Today I'll discuss the 3rd step.

The value of stability and balance can't be understated.  Have you ever noticed how very flexible people still run into pain and injury?  It's because they don't have the 'control' over their body.  They still have a high amount of stress on their body leading to that pain and injury because of a lack of control.

Now when a patient comes in and with pain but they have very good flexibility, I evaluate the quality of my patient's movement control(stability).   The bare bones test of that is the first movement pattern you ever learned....as a baby.  Rolling.

We all knew how to roll at one point

To explain why rolling is important, I first have to define what true motor control (stability) is.  Motor control is the ability to move one area of the body while keeping another area of the body stable, or still.  In other words, a lack of movement.






We look at rolling to see if you can generate enough movement with your arms/upper torso, while maintaining a stable core/hip region.

A demonstration of rolling is in video form here:

Check for yourself at home, see if you are able to roll smoothly from your back to your stomach without kicking up your feet or having your belly button (lumbar spine) lead the way.

Once you demonstrate control with your rolling, then we progress you to a standing position.  This would be an example of you being able to have control of your own movement patterns under the load of your own weight.  Once that is accomplished, then you would have the ability to squat all the way to the ground during an activity like deep overhead squats without falling down or losing your balance.

Fantastic stability and motor control!

Test your rolling and leave a comment saying how hard/easy it was for you.

If you want your stability professionally assessed, contact us at 561.997.8898 in Boca Raton, Fl and Miami, Fl.  Happy rolling! To check out more visit www.Mobility-4Life.com

Keep Coming Back!

"I don't know what to do about my shoulder, it hurts."

"Go to a chiropractor."

"No way.  My cousin told me once you go to a chiropractor, you'll never stop."

Has anyone had this conversation?  I hear this one all the time.  People bring it up to me wanting me to tell them that I'm not like that or that that it's a wives tale.  The weird thing is....it's kinda true.

The purpose of the sports chiropractic that I practice is to rid people of pain in a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical manner while promoting a lifelong ability to maintain a limber, youthful body that isn't prone to as many of the common ailments you'll see in your average senior citizen.  Typically I see my new patients 2-3x/wk for 3-4 weeks then we move on.

Here's the issue: that job is never done!

Would you ever question your dentist when he asked you to come back in 3 months for another cleaning?

Would you ever contemplate that your personal trainer had an alternative motive when he recommended you workout 3x per week on an ongoing basis?

This guy's a complete badass.  I think he believes in regular maintenance care!

Of course not!

Now I understand the concern.  Your orthopedic doctor doesn't ask you to have 'maintenance' treatments.  Once you fix your shoulder, it's done.  We'd like to be able to turn the page on whatever issues we have and not have to deal with it anymore.  When you get a sinus infection, it's not like you have to go back to your general practitioner on a regular basis forever because you once had a sinus infection.

In my opinion the reason people have issues with a chiropractor recommending maintenance treatment is that people are not used to having to be concerned with their musculoskeletal health.  Unless you're in active pain, why would you see a chiro?  

What chiropractic maintenance care (ongoing regular care, sometimes 1-2x/mo) provides is being proactive with your body so that it doesn't break down.  Proactive the way changing your oil every 3,000 miles extends the life of your vehicle.  

how can you change your body's oil?

I really do get the concern with having to continually deal with an issue, and the annoyance that it is.  Having said that, you know you always have to to eat healthy, you know you have to exercise;  I invite you to consider that you have to continually address the health and integrity of your musculoskeletal system through an intervention such as chiropractic.  That way it's less likely that you'll be in a wheel chair at age 70, or have to stop your favorite hobbies because your knees can't take it at age 50.  

To schedule your own 'maintenance' session or to get your musculoskeletal system assessed in the Boca Raton or Miami areas, visit me at www.Mobility-4Life.com

The Functional Movement Screen

This week the doctors of Health-Fit Chiropractic and Sports Medicine have started treating former college players as they prepare for the NFL Combine and 'Pro Days'.  These are the times when college football players look to improve their stock in an attempt to get drafted high and make a NFL roster next summer.  Our job is to rehab any of their injuries and improve their performance as they get closer to draft time.

Now at the NFL combine, all the players are run through a million tests; one of them is call the Functional Movement Screen(FMS).  The FMS is a series of 7 movements that have been proven to actually predict future injuries based on the quality of one's movement.  At the various Combine prep camps that we work for, we use these tests as a road map of what needs to be addressed on these players before their 'judgement day'.

The movements are basic; like the squat, the lunge, the pushup, etc...  Whenever the quality of one's movement is poor enough that it registers a 'red flag' in the test, we know that as therapists we need to address the flexibility(mobility) or the control(stability) of the movement.

For example, one of the tests we use is called 'The Hurdle Step'.  This looks at the flexibility of ones hips, and the stability of your core.  If you can step over the hurdle and come back without compensating in any way (twisting the knee or bending the back) then you pass the test.

A perfect hurdle step

  VS.

See how he compensates by rotating his foot inward?  Otherwise he can't get his foot over the hurdle. That's a lack of left hip flexibility.

But how does that predict future injury?

Well......

When someone has a lack of hip flexibility, they need to compensate during their movement.  Since they don't have the flexibility in their hip, they steal motion (and add stress) to areas like the lower back, or the knees.  Eventually, over time, these areas are more apt to be injured in some way.

So for the football players we look at what needs to be addressed as far as this man's left hip flexibility. We might do some muscle therapies, we might do some joint manipulations, or we might use some corrective exercises.  

It's great because we really use the FMS as a roadmap of what these guys need to decrease their risk of injury and improve performance.  

Personal trainers can always look into getting certified in the FMS so they can better serve their training clients at www.functionalmovementsystems.com.  

If you would like to have the Functional Movement Screen on you to predict your future injuries (so you can avoid them!) you can set up your own personalized test at www.Mobility-4Life.com or dial us at 561.997.8898