Patient Avoids Surgery with Chiropractic Care

When many people hear the term “chiropractic,” they automatically think of back-cracking. While adjusting the spine is something I do frequently at Redenius Chiropractic, I do so many other services and techniques in addition to just “back-cracking.”

A great example of this happened just recently when a  patient came in who was experiencing numbness in her leg. The numbness was caused by twisting wrong at work, and it was so severe that she had to leave work in an ambulance. She then had to use a cane to walk because the numbness was so debilitating. While this patient was already established with our clinic, the techniques I had been using to help her low back pain clearly would not work to address the numbness in her leg. I used a variety of different techniques and modalities to help relieve her numbness and pain. As a result, this patient avoided getting a spinal epidural. She also avoided getting surgery to fix the problem. Her particular case is not an isolated incident. Over and over again we see patients avoiding surgery or other more drastic measures of pain management. 

This particular case is a great example of how we change techniques and modalities to best fit each individual situation to get the best result possible. Clinical research has found chiropractic care to be a person’s best line of defense in reducing pain. One particular research study found that 94% of manual-thrust manipulation (chiropractic) recipients experienced a 30% reduction in pain, compared to only 54% of people who only sought out medical care or physical therapy.

Depending on the symptoms a patient is presenting, we might use any of the following techniques: flexion distraction, Gonstead, diversified, activator, active release, decompression, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), Thompson, among many other techniques and modalities. We also recently developed our own tool for assisting in anterior adjustments, called the Anterior Assist, that chiropractors across the country are now using.

Chiropractic is so much more than just “back-cracking,” and we see excellent results in patient outcomes when we use a variety of techniques, modalities, and tools in our line of treatment. We also recommend that you do not wait until pain sets in to give us a call. Pain is your body’s last attempt at letting you know something is wrong. Seeking out chiropractic care preventatively and proactively can do wonders for your health and quality of life. Call 712-464-3301 to see what we can do for you today. 

Back to School Tips for Immunity

At this time, much of what school will look like for teachers and students this fall is still unknown. As fluid as the COVID-19 situation has become, it looks like plans may not be solidified until closer to the school start date. Regardless of what school looks like for students and teachers this fall, though, it is important that you take steps now to ensure your family is as healthy as possible when the doors to school open back up.  Here are three easy things you can focus on now to ensure that you and your family have optimal health and immunity when back to school time rolls around.

First, focus on sleep. Summertime often means abandoning early bedtimes and skipping naps. My family is the same way. Come summer, my young toddlers tend to stay up later, and if we are having a fun-filled family day, we often limit naptime to a car ride home. However, that being said, we do try to stick to a routine in which we all get enough sleep each night. Sleep is critical to health and immunity. Getting good sleep boosts your immune system, lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease, lowers inflammation in your body, helps you control weight gain, and lowers your risk for heart disease among many other things. It is recommended that preschool aged children get at least 10-13 hours of sleep a day, school-aged children get 9-12 hours of sleep a day, and teenagers get 8-10 hours of sleep a day. 

While we are still in the summer season, it is important to make sure your kids are getting enough sleep each day--especially during this pandemic. Get your family into healthy nighttime routines that result in the best sleep possible for all family members. This might include story time for younger kiddos or taking away the cell phone for older kiddos. Chiropractic care can also help babies and children of all ages get better sleep if there is an issue keeping the child (and probably mom and dad, too) awake at night.

Second, focus on food. We say this over and over again, but you really are what you eat. We probably sound like a broken record, but it is true. You cannot keep eating processed junk and expect to feel well and have a high-functioning immune system. We are currently in a peak season to get fresh produce. You and your family should be eating a diet that consists of whole foods that are not processed. The closer it comes to getting it straight out of the ground of your own backyard, the better. Luckily, we are in a peak season for fresh produce. Stop by Lake City Food Center to see their awesome selection of fresh produce right now. Make a point to get your family eating foods rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Not only will doing this help your family feel better, but it will also help build their immune system. You cannot eat a diet of processed foods and expect to have a high-functioning immune system.

That being said, you can eat a perfect diet and still have a few deficiencies. It is important to make sure that you and your family are taking necessary supplements to keep your immune system working at its best. Generally, I recommend Vitamin D, Elderberry, and Juice Plus to almost anyone. Vitamin D can be started when an infant is first born. I usually recommend waiting on Elderberry and Juice Plus until they are toddlers. All of these supplements can be found at Redenius Chiropractic. The research on Vitamin D and Elderberry building up your immune system is vast. There is also a significant amount of peer-reviewed clinical research on the benefits of taking Juice Plus capsules or gummies. These are filled with over 30 fruits and vegetables, freeze-dried, and put into capsules so you can directly get the benefits into your body. Juice Plus contains nutrients from so many fruits and vegetables that we simply do not have access to because of the region we live in. These three are generally recommended for almost anyone, but make sure to stop in first to make sure these supplements are right for you, or to see if other supplements might be more beneficial. 

Third, focus on sunlight. This is something so easy and FREE that you can get during these summer months. Getting sunlight every single day is so important. We get so much natural Vitamin D from the sun. Additionally, seeing the sunshine within the first thirty minutes of waking up has shown to improve your circadian rhythm, resulting in better sleep each night. Many people are scared that getting daily sunlight might result in skin cancer. Recent research, however, has found that NOT getting enough (safe) sun exposure can actually be MORE detrimental to your health. Get your kids outside, in the sun, breathing fresh air every day. This is one of the easiest (and best) things you can do to get their immune systems boosted up for fall.

In addition to these three suggestions, make sure to call 712-464-3301 to get your child scheduled for their back-to-school and sports physicals. Additionally, we can get your child adjusted to make sure their spinal alignment is allowing for optimal health and immune response. Don’t hesitate to call to ask if you have questions or would like more information on what natural things you can do to best get your family ready for school this fall. 

1.  Weatherspoon, Deborah. Ph.D., RN., CRNA. “Why Sleep Is Essential for Good Health.” Medical News Today. May 31, 2019.
2. What are the Studies About.” Juice Plus. 2020.
3. Wells, Katie. “Benefits of Safe Sun Exposure for Reduced Cancer Risk (And Vitamin D).” Wellness Mama. February 11, 2020.

Chiropractic and COVID-19

Chiropractic and COVID-19

It feels as though COVID-19 has taken over our lives. Some of our jobs have been shut down, schools have been closed, and all the media really covers anymore is the heartbreaking statistics of what this awful virus is doing to our population. While more and more of our daily routines and freedoms are being interrupted, there are still things you DO have control over that may help boost your immune system and help you feel as good as possible during this time you are quarantined. 

First and foremost, we want to write a note of gratitude thanking our medical professionals who are on the frontlines working hard to save and protect all of us from this virus. These medical professionals are working overtime to keep us all safe and healthy. Thank you for all you do!

We have gotten many phone calls asking if Redenius Chiropractic is still open during this time of social distancing. The answer is a resounding YES! Governor Reynolds listed chiropractic care as an essential form of health care that can remain open during this time, and this is for good reason. BJ Palmer, the son of the founder of Chiropractic, described it best years ago when he said, “...chiropractic is concerned with strengthening the body to suit the environment.” Chiropractic care is essential for boosting the body’s immune response system. 

The mind, body, and central nervous system are all linked together. Think, for example, that you just went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of delicious produce to keep you healthy during this time. However, you put all that produce in an unplugged refrigerator. All of that fresh produce you just purchased will likely go bad over time. The same is true for your central nervous system. That’s why our focus is on the integrity of your nervous system since it controls and regulates every aspect of your body.

There have been numerous research studies that have found that chiropractic care does boost your immune system. In 1991, for example, Patricia Brennan, Ph.D., leading a team of researchers, discovered an immediate immune boost following a single chiropractic adjustment. The study showed a “phagocytic respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and monocytes” right after being adjusted by chiropractors.² In other words, she found that white blood cells were boosted after an adjustment.

Another study was actually done during the 1918 flu pandemic. “Researchers in Davenport, Iowa found that out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths — a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths — one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths.”²

In addition to getting regular chiropractic adjustments, research has found that increasing the amount of supplements like Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Collagen, and Elderberry boost your immune system.¹ These are all supplements we carry at the clinic. Remember to always contact your primary care doctor before starting any new supplements. 

It is important to note that there’s currently no cure for COVID-19 and no preventive measures other than social distancing and proper hygiene practices can protect you from developing this disease. If you do feel like you have symptoms, it is important to notify proper health officials and then make sure to follow social distancing guidelines. 

In addition to following the guidelines that our state and federal governments put in place, we encourage you to seek out chiropractic care during this time to help boost your immune system and keep you as healthy as possible. We take all protective measures we can to make sure our clinic stays as clean and sanitized as possible. We also encourage you to make sure you are taking care of your mental health. Modern medicine has come to appreciate the link between mind and body. While these difficult times of fear and unknown can bring stress into your life, we encourage you to take time to de-stress. Take a walk outside, Facetime with loved ones, try out yoga or meditation. We hope you all stay as healthy as possible during this time, and we encourage you to reach out to the clinic for any chiropractic care needs.

Sources

1. Kubala, Jillian MS RD. “Can Vitamin D Lower Your Risk of COVID-19.” Healthline. March 26, 2020.
2. Upper Cervical Chiropractic. “10 Important Studies on Chiropractic and Resisting a Virus.” March 13, 2020.

Chiropractic Care for Infants and Children

We get asked if and how chiropractic can help infants and children quite frequently. 

To answer the question, yes, chiropractic really does help infants and children in lots of different ways!  We see infants and children all the time in the clinic. In fact, we even highly recommend that pregnant moms receive regular chiropractic care so that both the mom and the baby can have the healthiest and most comfortable pregnancy and delivery possible.

Infants and children are similar to adults in that their nervous system and spine works the same way an adult nervous system and spine works. The nervous system essentially runs your body, and the bones of your spine are designed to protect your central nervous system. Stress, tension, and injury (and just think of how often toddlers and children fall), throw those bones out of alignment. When those bones are out of alignment, the nervous system gets irritated. Since the nervous system controls your body, it is important that these misalignments get fixed so that your infant or child can develop and grow properly. 

Birth, in and of itself, is considered by many to be one of the most traumatic physical experiences we endure (thankfully we do not remember it)! Consider what happens to a baby who is in the birth canal for hours and hours. The amount of pressure that builds up on their neck and spine is significant. That is why many people bring their babies in to get adjusted soon after they are born so that this tension can be released, and their little spines can be put back into alignment.

As well as seeing brand new infants, we also see babies and children for things like gas issues, reflux, nursing problems, sleep issues, ear aches, and colic among many other things. Having two children under the age of three myself, I know how frustrating and tiring it can be when a child is crying and mad for an unknown reason. While we do not claim to cure any of these conditions, we help alleviate these issues to the best of our ability so that baby and mom and dad are all more rested and happy.

Additionally, we can help resolve gross motor developmental issues like uncoordinated crawling or walking. We see infants and children who struggle with behavioral issues, meltdowns, or anxiety because a lot of these issues can be minimized with nutritional changes and regular adjustments. We also treat headaches and common growing pains. 

Again, while we do not claim to cure all of these issues, chiropractic care can help everyday quality-of-life issues that plague many families. There is a lot more stress and anxiety in kids’ lives, especially in the world we live in today. As a chiropractor, the adjustments I do can greatly improve the quality of life for both the parents and the child. Taking this conservative approach to health care is particularly important for kids. We focus on adequate nutrition, sleep, physical activity, as well as spinal alignment. 

Four Lessons about Health and Wellness for High School Students

The life of a high school student today can be quite stressful. In addition to the demands of rigorous coursework they take during the day, many students participate in extra-curricular activities like music, athletics, performing arts, etc. On top of all that, many students hold part-time jobs and are active members of their church community.  High school students are at the stage in their life when they are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become. Many students are also plagued with performing for the “imaginary audience” they believe is always watching them, whether that be in person or through social media. 

So, how can we help our students become better, healthier versions of themselves? We can teach them lifelong strategies that will improve their self-awareness, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

Here are four lessons that will benefit high school students today:

1. Fitness goes far past the court, track, or field.

Nearly 8 million high school students participate in high school athletics today. That is a wonderful thing! Athletics teach things like persistence, hard work, grit, team work, among many other things. Students work hard attending practices, lifting weights, and watching film for a variety of different athletics. Student-athletes will push themselves hard during a season to pull off as many wins as they can. While this is all great, it is important for students to learn that fitness goes beyond any court, field, swimming pool, or track. The key to a healthy life is to incorporate a variety of different exercises into your lifestyle. A person should do cardio, strength training, flexibility training, etc. This should all be happening on their own time, even on the off-season, and especially after they graduate high school and are on their own. Exercise is so good for the body in so many ways. It improves physical health, mental health, and research has found it can add years to your life. It is hard for students to feel motivated to exercise when they do not have a coach telling them what to do or a team to work out with. Many injuries we treat at the clinic are from over-use, or students who do not incorporate a variety of different exercises into their routine. It is important to teach teens the benefits of doing a variety of exercises on their own---exercises they can continue once they graduate. 

2. Food is fuel.

High school students today also need to learn that food is fuel. Adolescent teens, especially active ones, have high metabolisms. It seems as though they can eat a pizza and a huge chocolate shake and metabolize it quickly. While this is true in most cases, that type of eating is actually harming students. Many students suffer from fatigue, stress, acne, and illnesses in addition to a host of other issues. The majority of these issues can be resolved simply by changing what they eat. Just because a high school student has a higher metabolism does not mean they should eat whatever junk they want. Students should stick to whole foods and avoid processed foods. They need to drink lots of water, especially if they are an athlete. Teaching these healthy eating habits now will carry over to when they are out on their own. 

3. Think before you act.

High school students are at the stage in their life where they do not always think before they act. This is no fault of theirs. Their prefrontal cortex (the part of their brain that controls reasoning) is not fully developed until they turn 25. Adolescent teens tend to act off impulse, instant gratification, and peer pressure. Again, this is no fault of theirs--it is how their brain functions. In order to help them with this, students need to practice making slow decisions and thinking before they act. Students need to learn self-regulation. Taking the time to make thoughtful decisions as opposed to acting on impulse will help students overall mental and physical well-being. 

4. Turn your phone off.

One of the most important lessons a student can learn is how to turn off their phones. While phones and all the apps that come with them are beneficial in many ways, students need to learn how to communicate without them. The imaginary audience they believe follows them impacts their self-esteem, self-concept, and their stress levels. In addition to that, learning how to communicate face-to-face is a skill they need to learn before entering the “real world” after high school. Teach students to turn their phones off during times they need to focus, times they need to communicate face-to-face with people, and especially before they go to sleep at night. 

What Makes it "Cold and Flu Season"?

We are exposed to germs, pathogens, and viruses all year, so what makes the winter months seemingly worse when it comes to “cold and flu” season?

We are exposed to these “germs” year-round, they do not suddenly become more present during the winter months. However, there are definitely circumstances during the winter months that make us, especially the very young and the elderly, more susceptible to getting the cold and flu. We are more susceptible to cold and flu bugs because our defenses are lower during the winter months.

Think about how you spend your time during these colder months. While these months are cozy, they tend to keep us indoors by the fireplace watching movies. As a result, we get less fresh air in our lungs. Not only do we not go outside as much, but we do not open up our houses. We do not get nearly as much (if any) vitamin D from the sun because we are not outside. We get less exercise because we are not outside on walks, working in our yards, or running around chasing our kids and grandkids. The air in our houses during these months tends to be recirculated heat that dries out our mucous membranes that protect our sinuses from infection.

In addition to simply staying indoors more, we also tend to eat less fresh produce and instead turn to processed “comfort food” in the winter months. We also get to enjoy holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas which bring an overconsumption of sugar during the winter months.

The good news is that there are things we can do to beef up our immune system during these winter months. You cannot really pump yourself full of herbs or supplements to keep illness away. Your immune system and your health stems largely from what you eat, how much exercise you get, and how much time you spend outside. Our suggestions for you to help improve your immune system this winter are to do the following:

Spend more time outside…even in the cold. Fresh air and vitamin D do wonders for your immune system.

Cook your own organic, whole foods, and avoid processed, boxed, or sugary foods. Every bite you take is either fueling the illness or fighting it.

Make an effort to exercise more. Making an effort to exercise will beef up your immune system while also providing your natural endorphins that fight the “winter blues.”

Run a humidifier in your house during times when your heat is constantly on.

Eat mineral rich bone broth and increase the amount of concentrated vitamin D you take in orally.

There is no “magic” shot or supplement that will keep you free from illness this winter. Your best defense is to fuel your body with healthy foods, frequent exercise, and fresh air during the months when we are more susceptible to cold and flu bugs.

How Chiropractic Can Help Babies and Children

There is so much that goes into raising a healthy child. Babies and children go through an incredible amount of physical, cognitive, and social/emotional changes as they develop over the years. Many people might not realize that the spine is the first thing that is developed in the womb, and as a result, it controls the entire nervous system. Making sure your child’s spinal cord is properly aligned and healthy can benefit your child in many ways.

Chiropractic can help your child before they are even born. There are many benefits to getting chiropractic care during pregnancy. In addition to relieving back pain that often comes with carrying a baby, chiropractic adjustments can help achieve optimal alignment and stability in the pelvis and uterus. This can help with round ligament pain and uterine torsion while making more room for the baby to move around and get in the optimal position for labor and delivery.

After a little one arrives, chiropractic care can also help with a variety of things. Being born is the most traumatic event our bodies will likely go through, and seeking out chiropractic care soon after delivery can help the baby restore optimal spinal and nervous system function. Think of how much stress a baby’s head, spine, and body go through as they travel through the birth canal. Chiropractic care can help relieve some of the stress from that experience.

In addition to this, chiropractic care can help with colic, difficulty breastfeeding, reflux, stiffness, constipation or gas pains, in addition to a wide variety of other issues newborns may face. Dr. Redenius uses gentle adjusting techniques to treat subluxations that may be hindering your child from optimal health.

As a child grows and develops, chiropractic care can help with ear infections, congestion, difficulty sleeping, balance/coordination, hyperactivity, bedwetting, anxiety, headaches or migraines, sports performance, as well as many other issues. Chiropractic care can also simply help improve posture and overall health. 

Many parents do not realize that chiropractic can help alleviate or resolve more issues than simple back pain. Supporting the delicate fibers of your child’s nervous system through chiropractic care can help ensure proper growth and development, healing, immune function, digestion, and healthy living. 

Function over Fitness

“Functional Fitness” has become a buzzword in gyms and fitness centers lately, and it is for good reason. Functional fitness means to train your body to handle real life situations or to simply improve how your body functions on a daily basis.

When the winter months roll around, we tend to get lots of new members at the fitness center hoping to exercise off the holiday pounds that are put on by the pies, turkey and mashed potatoes we tend to over-indulge in. While this is good practice in theory, it is important to remember that the fitness center can be utilized by all ages year-round, and it can be used for far more benefits than exercising off the extra piece of dessert you ate at Thanksgiving.

Think of the body as a machine — a very high maintenance machine. Our bodies require more maintenance than any machine, like a car or tractor. When we take care of our cars, for example, we change the oil, rotate the tires or fill it up with good fuel. Even more so, our bodies require this type of preventative maintenance to run smoothly. Working on our functional fitness combined with fueling our bodies with good food will undoubtedly improve the quality of life we experience.

Working to improve your functional fitness means exercising in a way that prepares you to lift a toddler out of a carseat, or simply go on a walk around the block. Take a bent-over row, for example. A bent-over row builds muscles in your arms, shoulders and back. This same motion occurs when a mechanic bends over to adjust something in the engine, or a nurse bends over to transfer a patient to a new bed. These types of exercises will undoubtedly carry over into your normal life--regardless of how old you are or what your profession is. 

We built the fitness center to promote overall health and wellness for our community members, as we see people every day that struggle with different pains that have been plaguing them for years. Many of these ailments could be resolved with weekly exercise. Think of how many people could avoid a surgery like a rotator cuff surgery if they had spent the years prior doing exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff muscle.

Yes, the fitness center is there to promote weight loss and provide community members with a way to exercise year-round, but it is also there to improve our bodies function through regular exercise. Any research study will tell you that regular exercise improves your mood, is good for your bones and muscles, increases your energy, decreases your risk for chronic disease and can help reduce pain. Improving muscle tone and losing weight are often secondary benefits to seeking out improved functional fitness. 

Lake City 24 Hour Fitness is for community members of all ages. There are weights, cable machines, cardio machines, a NuStep and many other options for people of all ages and ability levels. There are no contracts, and there’s even a senior citizen discount. Take a chance at improving your functional fitness today by seeing what regular exercise can do for you and your quality of life.