<![CDATA[Welcome to McMichael Chiropractic - Blog]]>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 11:33:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Whole Food Detox Program Improves Antioxidant Activity]]>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:59:13 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/whole-food-detox-program-improves-antioxidant-activityDetox Program SmoothieStandard Process Detox Program Smoothie
A study performed by Northwestern Sciences Health University demonstrated healthy changes for those following the Standard Process 28-day Detox Program compared to those who were only provided an educational session on healthy eating. The Standard Process Detox Program was associated with a significant increase in antioxidant activity, a decrease in oxidative stress, and improvement in scores for physical health and emotional health.

Our bodies come into increasing contact with chemicals inside and outside, which accumulate in our tissues and can contribute to health problems. Various reports have noted sources of chemicals ranging from our foods, to cosmetics and cleaners, city water, and furniture and electronic, among others. We are exposed to thousands of chemicals and many have been measured in the blood or urine of Americans. As this study states, "chronic exposure and improper clearance of these chemicals increase the body’s susceptibility to tissue injury and insufficient repair over time."

The whole food ingredients included in the Standard Process Detox Program included organic pea protein, flax meal, organic oat flour, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic buckwheat flour, organic beet (leaf) juice powder, organic buckwheat (aerial parts), apple pectin, juniper (berry) powder, organic Spanish black radish (root), burdock (root) powder, organic beet (root), calcium citrate, organic barley (grass), dandelion (leaf), broccoli (aerial parts), inositol, organic alfalfa (aerial parts) juice powder, Oregon grape (root) powder, globe artichoke (leaf), sunflower lecithin powder, milk thistle extract (80% silymarins), organic cordyceps mushroom powder, organic carrot, and organic sweet potato. Other ingredients included creatine, L-leucine, xanthan gum, L-isoleucine, L-valine, DL-methionine, monk fruit extract, and choline bitartrate.

The researchers looked at multiple markers of improvement to determine if the Standard Process Detox Program was potentially supporting the liver's ability to detox chemicals filtered from the circulatory system. The detox program was associated with a 40% increase in total antioxidant capacity only in those completing the program. This change correlated with an observed 13% decrease in oxidative stress. The program essentially helped protect the body from damaging free radicals by increasing phase II detoxification and antioxidant enzyme activity. When tested for established physical health and mental health indexes, the detox program participants also demonstrated a small increase in these measures for general health in just 28 days for subjects that were largely healthy to begin with.

The study demonstrated benefits of Standard Process Detox Program for supporting detoxification of foreign chemicals accumulating in the body. The whole food ingredients used were shown to cause no side effects while providing these benefits. Those considering a detox program to support better health, may want to consider a program like this that used whole food ingredients.

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<![CDATA[McMichael Chiropractic Clinic Improvements for 2024]]>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:28:31 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/mcmichael-chiropractic-clinic-improvements-for-2024If you have visited our clinic lately, you may have noticed we have been making some technology updates. Our improved communication system allows us to easily provide a reminder the day before your visit and more easily communicate with you by text or email if needed. We are looking at other improvements to better serve patients and we would like your feedback.

    Clinic Improvements to Better Serve Patients

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<![CDATA[Adrenal Complex & Drenamin Provide Herbal & Nutritional Stress Support]]>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:48:26 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/adrenal-complex-drenamin-provide-herbal-nutritional-stress-supportDuring busy times of the year with extra stress, nutritional and herbal support can help improve your body's resilience and minimize the impact of that stress. Ongoing high levels of stress can negatively affect your health in multiple ways, including the amplification of aches and pains with increased levels of inflammation. 

Two popular options for stress support we like to use with our patients include Standard Process' Drenamin and MediHerb's Adrenal Complex. Both of these can be used for short term or longer chronic stress to improve the body’s resilience to the demands of life.


Standard Process Drenamin

Drenamin is an adrenal function & energy production support supplement, with vitamins involved in production of neurotransmitters associated with emotional balance. The adrenal glands play an important role in the body's response to stress and Drenamin is designed to provide nutrients that support a well-functioning adrenal gland. A healthy stress response is beneficial for energy levels and mood. Drenamin includes nutrients from whole foods like liver, adrenals, stomach, yeast, alfalfa, buckwheat, bone, mushroom, sweet potato and more.
MediHerb Adrenal Complex

Adrenal Complex contains Licorice and Rehmannia used traditionally to support adrenal gland function for a healthy stress response. These herbs have been recognized as helping the body adapt to the challenges of everyday life.


While these nutritional support products can be beneficial, those with ongoing issues should also consider strategies to help reduce their chronic stress. These strategies to reduce stress include spending time in nature, performing an enjoyable physical activity, increasing quality sleep, avoiding junk food and increasing nutrient dense whole foods, taking a quiet break during the day, and spending time with those you enjoy.

Combining healthy habits with extra nutritional support can significantly help you reduce the effects of stress and make you more resilient to the challenges of life.
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<![CDATA[Dr McMichael Awarded OSCA Director of the Year & Re-elected Speaker]]>Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:52:44 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/dr-mcmichael-awarded-osca-director-of-the-year-re-elected-speakerPicture
Dr. Aaron McMichael was recently awarded 2023 Ohio State Chiropractic Association District Director of the year and re-elected to serve as Speaker of the Board in 2024. Dr. McMichael noted, “It is an honor to be recognized for my service to chiropractic patients and doctors as part of the OSCA Board of Directors. I appreciate my fellow directors vote of support to continue serving in the additional role of Speaker of the Board."

"There is still a lot of work do do to improve patient access to the services we provide as doctors of chiropractic. Even though research and treatment guidelines have identified chiropractic as a first line treatment for pain and musculoskeletal problems, insurers and employers have been slow to modernize and improve their health coverage of our services. I look forward to working with my colleagues  at OSCA to make more progress for Ohio chiropractors and their patients.”


Dr. McMichael has served as OSCA District Director for Stark and surrounding counties since 2019, working on OSCA committees including Public Health/Opioid Task Force, Legislative & Regulatory, Budget & Finance, and Payer Relations. He has served in the role of Speaker of the Board for the past three years. He added, “My parents taught me the importance of not just serving patients in the clinic, but serving the profession and working to help more patients access chiropractic care.”

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<![CDATA[A Drug-Free Herbal Anti-Inflammatory Supplement & Natural Relief]]>Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:13:13 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/a-drug-free-herbal-anti-inflammatory-supplement-natural-reliefboswellia complex anti-inflammatory supplementBoswellia Complex supports a healthy inflammatory response
Aches and pains cause millions of Americans to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, Advil, Bayer, and Aspirin, but research links these common pain relievers to higher risks than once believed. Fortunately, there are alternatives that can reduce inflammation without the risk of side effects.

Inflammation & Arthritis Pain

Inflammation occurs when there is damage to tissues of the body. Common signs of inflammation include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth over the area of injury. While inflammation is a natural response to injury, it can become severe or chronic, contributing to significant pain and disability. Inflammation is a large component of the pain experienced by those with osteoarthritis, which affects over 30 million American adults. Controlling inflammation can help these patients control pain and stay more active.

NSAID medications are commonly used for inflammation and arthritis, but they can be hard on the digestive system, sometimes damaging organs and causing stomach upset and bleeding. The body's processing of these drugs can lead to liver or kidney damage for some patients. Others can experience increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce pain by blocking inflammation in the body, but this benefit may not be worth the risk for some patients.

Natural Strategies to Reduce Inflammation

Anti-inflammatory medication is not the only way to reduced inflammation. Healthy habits can help reduce inflammation in the body, and may be even more effective than medication for some patients without the risk of side effects. Try improving these habits to reduce your inflammatory aches and pains:
  • Avoid inflammatory processed foods and eat more whole foods
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Keep up with active exercise to your tolerance
  • Counteract stress with stress-relieving habits
  • Ensure adequate sleep each night (6 hour absolute minimum)
  • Improve your posture to reduce physical stress on your joints and soft tissues

Extra Support to Reduce Inflammation

These health habits can reduce inflammatory aches and pains in most patients, but some may need a little more help. A variety of food and herbs are anti-inflammatory and can help even more. One of our favorite supplements to support a healthy inflammatory response (especially for those patients we see with arthritis pains) is Boswellia Complex by Mediherb. This herbal supplement includes boswellia, ginger, turmeric, and celery seed, four naturally anti-inflammatory herbs. This combination inhibits inflammatory leukotrienes without interfering with other processes of the body so we don't have to worry about the risks associated with NSAIDs.

One tip when taking boswellia to help inflammatory levels, is to take it with a meal when eating healthy fats or oils. This helps improve the effectiveness. Start improving your habits today, and try Boswellia Complex if you need more anti-inflammatory support.

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<![CDATA[Benefit-Harm of Chiropractic Beats Medical Care for Back Pain]]>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 19:25:01 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/benefit-harm-of-chiropractic-beats-medical-care-for-back-painResearchers looking for methods to better evaluate treatment options for health conditions have developed the "Benefit-Harm Scale," and a recent study used this scale on back pain treatments to highlight which options provide the most benefit and least harm.

Some health conditions have multiple treatment options that could be utilized to benefit a patient, but it's important to balance not just benefit, but also harm. A treatment that can be helpful but has high risk of harm is unlikely to be the best choice. That's why the Benefit-Harm Scale was developed as an easy way to assess the potential benefit and risk of a treatment, and compare it to other options.

A recent study published in The Spine Journal, reviewed research for common back treatments, including chiropractic spinal manipulation, acupuncture, medication, injections, and surgery. The graphic below illustrates the benefit and harm of these treatment options for chronic low back pain.
Evidence Lacking for Many Back Pain Treatments

The most surprising result may be the lack of evidence to appropriately evaluate many of the treatments. The researchers found a lack of quality evidence supporting medications, injections, and surgery, and were therefore unable to evaluate the benefit of these options. Evidence evaluating harm was also lacking with most of the medications studied, while serious harms have been identified for opioids and surgery.

In contrast, both spinal manipulation and acupuncture have quality evidence of benefit and low harm risk. The study authors concluded that more research is needed to further evaluate the various treatment options, but based on available evidence "acupuncture and spinal manipulation provide safer benefits than pharmacological or invasive interventions" for chronic low back pain.
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<![CDATA[Pregnancy is Better with Chiropractic Care]]>Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:09:27 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/pregnancy-is-better-with-chiropractic-care
 
One of our favorite types of patients to help with chiropractic care is pregnant mothers. This is because 1) they often respond well to care and appreciate the benefits of an easier, more comfortable pregnancy, and 2) improving mom's health can benefit the health of the baby at the same time.

Avoid The Need for Medications With Chiropractic

The body goes through significant changes to support a developing baby, and this can result in discomfort. Pelvic area pain is most common during pregnancy while low back pain is most common following pregnancy. Those with both pelvic and back pain lasting 3 months after delivery are at the greatest risk of unresolving pain, with 30% becoming chronic. Instead of resorting to medication, chiropractic care provides an effective drug-free option to relieve pain and improve function again.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a great solution to avoid medications that may be harmful to the baby or cause side effects for mom. A drug-free approach like chiropractic adjusting helps alleviate pains and improve the ability to be active without the known or sometimes unknown risks of medication. Researchers are increasingly questioning the use of even tylenol during pregnancy which has been recommended for years as a safer alternative  to other medications.

Chiropractic Adjusting for Pregnant Moms

During pregnancy, chiropractic techniques may be modified to make treatment as comfortable as possible. Special tables allow mom to lie on her stomach in a comfortable position without pressure on the abdomen. In this position, chiropractic adjustments can be made to help reduce muscle tightness, improve joint motion, reduce swelling and inflammation, and ease discomfort.

Your chiropractic physician will provide other helpful tips to feel your best and be your healthiest during pregnancy. These often include advice on exercises, posture, diet, and other beneficial lifestyle habits. The combination of chiropractic care and healthy habits results in a healthier and happier pregnancy for mom and baby. Make sure to include a doctor of chiropractic on your pregnancy care team.

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<![CDATA[Study: Which Provider Should Be Seen First for Low Back Pain?]]>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 19:10:43 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/which-provider-should-be-seen-first-for-low-back-painlow back pain patientThe low back pain provider seen first makes a difference
When experiencing low back pain, patients have a variety of providers to choose from – primary care physicians, orthopedists, emergency medicine physicians, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and chiropractic physicians among others. Evidence-based guidelines for low back pain treatment increasingly recommend conservative care first (chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy), but how does the provider seen initially really effect health care and costs? Researchers looked at the records of over 3.5 million low back pain patients to find out.

Imaging (Xrays, MRI, CT)

Patients of conservative care providers (chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy) had the lowest rates of imaging while, patients first seeing an orthopedist had the highest rates, with imaging performed multiple times more frequently by orthopedists. For MRIs especially, this can drive up health care costs without always leading to better care.

Hospitalization & Surgery

Patients seeing chiropractors first were the least likely to be hospitalized (5.8%) and those seeing chiropractic physicians or acupuncturists were the least likely to have back surgery (0.7% and 0.5%). This compares to hospitalization rates up to 10% for orthopedists and surgery rates over 5% for orthopedists.

Opioid Use

Early opioid prescription and long-term opioid prescription was lowest for chiropractic (1.7-0.6%) and acupuncture (1.2-0.4%) patients. It was a fraction of the rates seen by Emergency Medicine and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse patients.

Health Care Costs

The total cost of care was lowest for chiropractic patients, averaging less than all other providers and about half as much as orthopedic patients.

Severe Illness Diagnosis

The researchers checked for differences in the diagnosis of severe illness or concerning red flags across providers and found that the frequency of finding these severe issues was similar across provider types and the delay before diagnosis of severe illness was similar as well.

Conclusion

Researchers concluded that health care and costs vary significantly depending on the first provider seen for low back pain. Patients seeing a chiropractor first compare favorably with less imaging utilization, less hospitalization and surgery, and less prescription opioid use, consistent with back pain treatment guidelines. Chiropractic patients also had lower health care costs, providing evidence-based care for a good value. The research supports seeing a chiropractic physician first for low back pain, or at least another conservative care provider.

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<![CDATA[Pediatricians Say Don't Treat Child's Fever With Meds]]>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:18:31 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/pediatricians-say-dont-treat-childs-fever-with-medsPicture
Concerned parents frequently provide fever reducers like Tylenol to their children when fighting an illness, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding medications for fever in most cases. Two specific exceptions noted are when your child is very uncomfortable or has a history of febrile convulsions.

Why NOT Treat a Fever with Medication

The AAP notes “fever may be important in helping fight the infection.” The immune system has a number of tools to combat pathogenic invaders and fever is one of them. It basically tries to burn the infection out. Forcing the body to reduce it’s temperature may be counterproductive to ending the infection resulting in a longer illness.

But isn’t a fever dangerous?

​The AAP explains, “Even higher temperatures are not in themselves dangerous or significant unless your child has a history of seizures or a chronic disease…If he is eating and sleeping well and has periods of playfulness, he probably doesn’t need any treatment…Remember, a fever less than 105 degrees Fahrenheit is in itself not harmful.”

What can be done for a fever instead of medicine?

The AAP offers a few suggestions:
  • Keep the room cool or use a fan and dress the child lightly
  • Encourage the child to drink extra water
  • Avoid overexertion
  • Place the child in a bath of slightly warm water 1-2 inches deep and use a sponge or washcloth to spread the water over his body, causing a cooling effect with evaporation.

It's important to note the more common risk with an infection is dehydration, so keep your child drinking frequently even if it is just sips. Allow your child to rest as much as they can. Mild fevers may actually benefit from a warm bath or steam to help the body fight infection. Keep your child eating nutritious foods like bone broth soup and they should take their vitamins to support their health. Some experts believe a fever is a sign of calcium depletion, which the body uses for more of a first-line response to fighting infections. Working on the body with adjustments and massage has also been found to increase immune cell activity.

Most important is to monitor your child and watch for sign of more serious problems.

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<![CDATA[Are Dry Needling & Acupuncture the Same?]]>Thu, 28 Jul 2022 15:37:13 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/are-dry-needling-acupuncture-the-samePictureDry needling and acupuncture treatments use thin needles a little larger than the width of a human hair
With dry needling and acupuncture increasing in popularity and being performed more commonly by a variety of health care providers, we are hearing more questions about these drug-free treatments. Dry needling and acupuncture are similar, but there are distinct differences.

Whereas acupuncture is one of several approaches within Traditional Chinese Medicine used to affect energy pathways and treat a variety of health conditions, dry needling is recognized as a modality of Western Medicine focused on the treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions. Dry needling’s development within Western Medicine has allowed it to be researched thoroughly and learned by a greater variety of practitioners, contributing to its rapid increase in popularity over the last several years. The increasing research and support for dry needling has even encouraged some health insurers to start covering the treatment for musculoskeletal injuries.

Why is it "dry" needling?

Both techniques use the same thin solid needles, often 0.2-0.3 millimeters in width (approximately 3-5 times the width of human hair) and 20-60 millimeters in length, with no injection of medication of other substances. Because no substance is being injected, the needling is described as "dry."


Is dry needling painful?

While acupuncture utilizes acupuncture points throughout the body, the primary strategy when dry needling is to locate and needle myofascial trigger points in muscles related to the area of pain and dysfunction. Trigger points can be defined as tight and inflamed nodules within a muscle that are usually quite tender and often refer or reproduce pain, numbness or tingling into other regions nearby. There may be some brief pinching or pressure while needles are being inserted or manipulated, but most patients report little-no discomfort when resting with the needles in for 10-15 minutes. Many also report improved relaxation during their session of dry needling. 

Although all of the mechanisms of action are not completely understood and still being studied, much like the chiropractic adjustment, the potential for positive results and very low risk of harm is well documented. Dry needling can be very helpful in speeding up the rate of recovery from injuries and complaints throughout the neck, back, arms and legs. We’ll follow up with cases from our office in future articles! In the meantime, feel free to contact us with questions or schedule a consultation to see if dry needling may be helpful for your condition.

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<![CDATA[6 Tips to Make Exercise Less Painful]]>Fri, 22 Jul 2022 21:58:45 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/6-tips-to-make-exercise-less-painfulPictureExercise without aggravating injuries
​“No pain, no gain” is often not the best advice when it comes to exercise. Mild muscle soreness from a good work out is ok, but when an injury has occurred, aggravating exercises can make it worse or prolong healing. It is important to restore activity as soon as possible to an injured area so here are some tips for exercising when in pain due to an injury.
  1. Super slow stretching – when an area has been injured, even stretches can be quite painful. One solution is to slow down, way down. Imagine stretching so slowly that someone watching you may not even see you move. Stretching this slowly gives the muscle a chance to relax into the stretch rather than wanting to tighten up and fight the stretch. How slow can you go?
  2. Temporarily limit your range of motion – even when an area is injured, there is still a comfortable range in which you can move so stay within that range. If turning your head all the way hurts, turn it halfway through the normal range until you can move further without pain. Keep moving as much as your range allows.
  3. Don’t move while exercising – this takes the last recommendation a step further by not moving at all. This is called isometric exercise. For example, if you can’t turn your head due to pain you may still be able to activate the muscles of neck without moving your head. Just push against your fingers or another object with the amount of force you can tolerate (starting light and increasing resistance).
  4. Non-weight bearing exercises – sometimes it’s just too painful to fight gravity, so don’t. Lie down or sit for your exercises. Or hop into the pool to exercise in a weightless environment. Some of the most complicated back injuries with disc problems are those that respond best to non-weight bearing exercises.
  5. Walk – if your injury doesn’t prevent you from walking, then walk. Walking is the best exercise that works the whole body. Everything benefits from walking.
  6. Exercise the other side – if it’s too painful to turn to the right then start with turns to the left. Even working the opposite (healthy) limb can have a positive impact on the injured one due to effects on sensorimotor integration of the brain (how the brain senses things and moves parts of the body). Ten or twenty repetitions of movement on the left side can be enough to make those same repetitions more tolerable on the injured right side.
With all these exercise tips, remember to start light and easy. As you see improvement and the exercises become more tolerable, gradually increase them. Lying around in bed is one of the worst things you can do. If you are struggling with a lingering injury, be sure to seek evaluation and treatment starting with conservative non-drug care like chiropractic first.

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<![CDATA[Chiropractic Adjusting After Surgery]]>Fri, 22 Jul 2022 20:41:41 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/chiropractic-adjusting-after-surgeryPicturechiropractic adjusting is often appropriate and helpful following surgery
Can chiropractic adjusting be performed on a joint following surgery?

We are commonly asked if chiropractic adjusting may be performed on an area of the body that has undergone surgery. It's a question that can stop  patients from even considering whether chiropractic care could be helpful for unresolved muscle and joint problems. Research estimates 35% or more of spine surgeries may not adequately relieve pain, and with these surgeries becoming increasingly common this question is being asked more frequently.

The short answer to whether chiropractic adjusting may be performed following surgery in most cases is YES! However, there are factors that must be taken into account before considering adjusting a region of the body following a surgical procedure. Here are some of the factors our doctors consider during a thorough history and examination:
  • how recent was the surgery?
  • did the surgery include joint fusion?
  • what is the condition of the joint or region following surgery?
  • why did the surgery not adequately address the problem?
  • is something being missed?

Chiropractic physicians regularly work with complicated cases that have not responded adequately to surgery or that have experienced re-injury following surgery and wish to avoid additional surgery. Rather than follow pain management guidelines that recommend trying conservative non-drug treatment like chiropractic first, patients too often try chiropractic last so it is not uncommon to see very complicated cases that have been through multiple medical interventions including medications, injections, and sometimes multiple surgeries.

Joint Fusions & Joint Replacements

While chiropractic adjusting can be helpful for post-surgical patients, it's often best to modify the adjusting approach depending on the case. Fused joints should not be adjusted but working on the surrounding joints and tissues can often be beneficial. An artificial joint can be worked on with a modified approach. In some cases, light pressure adjusting is best. It is also appropriate to wait a period of time following surgery depending on the surgery performed. Keep in mind there are a variety of conservative techniques and therapies regularly used by chiropractic physicians that can help relieve pain and improve function in complicated post-surgical cases.

Don't let past surgeries or a complicated condition stop you from considering chiropractic care as a treatment option. Medical physicians are generally not trained to know the variety of techniques and therapies utilized by chiropractic physicians, so consult a doctor of chiropractic to determine what may be best in your case.

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<![CDATA[10% Rule for Injury-free Exercise]]>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:27:29 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/10-rule-for-injury-free-exerciseexercise injuryinjury-free exercise is key to better health
This time of year, the gyms are busy with people making a great effort to start off healthy in the new year. Just a few weeks later, our clinic is busy with those same people dealing with injuries derailing their great plans for better health. There are a number of ways to avoid this trap and enjoy injury-free exercise. Here is one simple recommendation to minimize your odds of injury.

Injury-free Exercise

The 10% Exercise Rule: When increasing your exercise routine, avoid increasing the intensity by more than 10% from one session to the next. You could increase the number of repetitions from 30 to 33, or increase the weight from 50 pounds to 55 pounds or even the duration of your exercise from 30 minutes to 33 minutes. This may seem like a very small increase, but it starts to add up very quickly and is much more sustainable over the longer term which is what we need for major improvements in health. Follow this rule and you will significantly reduce your odds of injury while making great gains in health. This is especially important for those who have already experienced significant injuries. Of course, you also want to make sure to start at a reasonable level that won't kill you with one session.

Other helpful tips to consider to further reduce your odds of injury:
  1. Focus more on form than heavy weight or high reps. A few exacting repetitions with good form are much more beneficial than trying to crank out a mess of sloppy reps that will eventually cause injury.
  2. Don’t forget to rest. Our body improves from a healthy stress (exercise) followed by a chance to rest and rebuild. Rotate your exercises working different body regions or take rest days in between.
  3. Mild short-term muscle soreness that confirms you worked your body is fine. Longer-lasting soreness (more than a few days) or sharper pain are signs of injury or dysfunction that should be addressed.
  4. Exercise shouldn’t cause enough pain to require pain relieversIf you are taking medications to block pain enough to allow you to exercise, you are likely overlooking a problem that needs addressed and setting yourself up for bigger problems. 
  5. Keep your body tuned up to avoid injuries. Moving wrong, standing wrong, or sitting wrong become much more harmful when adding weight and repetitions with exercise. A doctor of chiropractic cannot just minimize pains, but improve form and function of your body to improve your odds of being active without injury.

​Follow these simple tips to make 2022 a great year for your health. Remember, you have more control over your health than your genes do.

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<![CDATA[Surround Yourself for Health Success in 2022 & Beyond]]>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:59:01 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/surround-yourself-for-health-success-in-2022-beyondhealth habit success
If a bowl of candy is sitting nearby, the battle is already lost. We only have so much willpower to resist the addictive nature of these temptations within easy reach. We may succeed for a day or a week, but eventually the candy is more persistent than we are and it often wins out.

This time of year, we commit to improving our health with better diet, more exercise, and other good habits. However, an important part of making these healthy changes long-lasting is missing and they tend to be short-lived. This article is not about what healthy changes to make. It’s more about how to make them more sustainable. It's the consistency and persistence over time that really bring about major improvements in health. The longer you can sustain your improved habits, the more great health you will experience which will help you stick with it longer and experience even greater health.

The Missing Piece

Here’s the piece missing from most health improvement plans: changing your environment. This can mean a lot of different things which may be easy and some may take a little more effort, but changing your environment is key to sustainable habit changes for improved health. You must surround yourself with an environment that makes healthy choices much easier and unhealthy choices more effort. That could mean changes at home, at work, with friends and family, or with where you go and interact.

Start to improve your health success by considering these questions and your health habits (diet, exercise, posture, sleep, mental stress):
  1. Is there something in the house that encourages bad health habits? Is a tempting treat or snack always within reach? Is a source of stress right in front of you?
  2. Is it easier to make healthy choices at home or unhealthy choices at home? What would make healthy choices less of an effort than unhealthy choices at home?
  3. When and where are you most likely to make an unhealthy choice? How can you change that environment to make a healthier choice easier?
  4. Does your work environment help you make healthier choices? If not, what could you change to encourage healthier choices?
  5. Are there friends or family that are more likely to cause you to make unhealthy choices? How could you interact with them differently to avoid making unhealthy choices with them? Are there friends and family that more consistently make healthy choices that you could interact with more?
  6. Are there unhealthy temptations along your usual daily path to/from work or school? Can you slightly modify your usual path in a way that reduces temptations or even encourages healthy habits (drive by a gym or park instead of a fast food place)?
  7. Does your team of health care providers encourage and support your better habits or ignore your habits in favor of procedures and interventions?

Answering these questions gives you a great place to start. You may even want to list the things in your environment that lead to unhealthy choices. Then start to chip away at them. Some examples that we have seen with patients: replace the bowl of candy with a bowl of fruit you enjoy, keep a bottle of water nearby to avoid sweetened drinks, have a meal with friends that make healthy eating choices and find other ways to interact with friends that have unhealthy eating habits. Whenever possible, replace the unhealthy object or situation with a healthy object or situation. Don't leave a behind a hole or it will be filled with something unhealthy.

Keep asking yourself, what would make a healthy choice easier? We are human. We want things quick and easy, so feed that need for quick and easy. Also recognize the state you are in when making decisions. Eating or shopping hungry or feeling down is asking for trouble. Eat something healthy before the party, the store, or even the restaurant and you'll make it through in better shape. Here's to a healthy 2022 and beyond!

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<![CDATA[Is Orange Juice Healthy?]]>Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:40:40 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/is-orange-juice-healthyMany choose juice as a healthier alternative to soda but how much healthier is it? Take a peek at these two labels and see what you think:
These are nutrition labels from common beverages you can find in the store. One is a 12 oz orange juice and the other is a 12 oz soda. One has a few more calories while the other has a little more sugar. Which is which? Which one is a better choice?

Neither of these are healthy choices. You probably figured out that the one on the left is the juice and the one on the right is the soda. They are both loaded with sugars and will spike your blood sugar and insulin resulting in increased inflammation in your body that will contribute to a variety of chronic diseases.

What about vitamin C?

But what about the vitamin C in orange juice? When you consume vitamin C with a high amount of sugar, they compete to get inside your cells, so the sugar essentially wipes out the benefit of the vitamin C. Orange juice is not a good source of vitamin C just because it says so on the label.

Forget the juice or the pop. Choose water. And if you want a treat that provides a little nutritional benefit, eat an orange.
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<![CDATA[Healthier Halloween Tips]]>Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:40:15 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/healthier-halloween-tipsPictureHanging apples are healthy Halloween fun!
The first thought that comes to mind with Halloween is not usually health. It's more likely to be candy and other treats. As Halloween ushers in the holiday season, now is the time to plan ahead and prepare to avoid the onslaught of sweets and resulting hit to your health.

Here are a few tips to enjoy Halloween in a healthier way.

1. Celebrate apples - it's apple season and you can load up on local apples at a great price. Kids love bobbing or trying hanging apples (see left photo).

For more of a treat, make some homemade applesauce (without sweetener) or add a little dark chocolate or nut butter to some apple slices.

2. Halloween fun - who said you have to pass out candy? Find inexpensive holiday party favors that kids can enjoy instead.

3. Get creative - if you are throwing a party, make fresh fruit and vegetables look fun or spooky. There are all kinds of easy ideas you can find online. Shape cut veggies like a skeleton or make carrots look like a pumpkin on a plate.

4. Eat pumpkin and don't toss the seeds - pumpkin makes a delicious treat with some seasoning, a little cream, and just a touch of sweetness. Skip the shell to minimize the sugar. And roast up those pumpkin seeds for a snack.

5. Go nuts - nuts are an easy snack that you can roast yourself or buy ready to go. Just avoid the ones coated in sugar.

Use these tips and make your Halloween a healthier one for you and your family this year!

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<![CDATA[Experts Recommend Avoid Tylenol in Pregnancy]]>Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:07:43 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/experts-recommend-avoid-tylenol-in-pregnancychiropractic in pregnancy
For years, acetaminophen or Tylenol have been promoted as a safe alternative to other pain medications during pregnancy. However, a new analysis of 25 years of research has confirmed a higher risk of fetal development problems when acetaminophen is used during pregnancy.

The study published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, noted a link between acetaminophen use and an increase in genital malformations, ADHD, autism, hyperactivity, behavioral difficulties and reduction in IQ. Higher doses of acetaminophen were associated with higher rates of these problems.

Acetaminophen is also known as paracetamol and can be found hundreds of products including  DayQuil and Benadryl. 

The researchers are calling on the FDA to update guidance on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy to urge more caution and reduce the potential risk to the developing fetus.

Minimizing the use of medication during pregnancy is always important. The researchers noted 80% of women take at least one prescription or over-the-counter medicine during pregnancy with acetaminophen being most common.

The body goes through significant changes during pregnancy and musculoskeletal issues are common. When dealing with painful musculoskeletal issues, consider including safe drug-free options like chiropractic care in your plan. Adjusting and soft tissue work can help provide relief without the risks associated with medication. Improved musculoskeletal function also helps make pregnancy and delivery easier for mom and baby. Simple posture changes, stretches, and other changes can often help as well. Set a goal to start your baby off drug free for a better chance at a healthy life.

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<![CDATA[Avoid Tech Neck!]]>Wed, 19 May 2021 21:55:55 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/avoid-tech-neckIt's Posture Month! And there is growing concern about the damage digital devices are causing to our muscles and joints. It even has it's own name: "tech neck" or "text neck."

You have seen the teenagers slumped over a screen scrolling and tapping the day away on their phone or other device. These poor posture habits are causing headaches, neck and back problems younger and younger. By allowing the head to hang forward, this adds pounds of weight on the neck and upper back, eventually leading to aches and pains and chronic changes if not corrected.

The problems created by poor posture are many, but the solution is simple: straighten up! Picture yourself as a puppet with a string attached to the top of your head. Now act like someone is pulling you straight up into a better posture. Your head should be directly over your shoulders with your chest up and shoulders back. Now you have to turn it into a habit so keep reminding yourself and hold the devices up so you stop looking down.
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<![CDATA[Live Long With Posture!]]>Tue, 18 May 2021 21:28:40 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/live-long-with-postureDr. Aaron McMichael shares some surprising information on the link between poor posture and a variety of health problems, as well as earlier death. Learn some simple tips to improve your health with better posture and extend your life!
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<![CDATA[5 Ways to Avoid Back Surgery]]>Tue, 27 Apr 2021 19:06:55 GMThttp://mcmichaelchiro.com/blog/5-ways-to-avoid-back-surgeryback surgeryAvoid unnecessary back surgery
While back surgery may be medically necessary in specific cases, data is clear that these surgeries are performed far too often with research indicating perhaps 90% are unnecessary. Here are five simple ways to reduce your risk of back surgery while also improving your outcome with treatment:
  1. Eat healthier and improve activity - lifestyle habits have a strong influence on your musculoskeletal health and can increase or reduce the odds of injury and need for medical procedures. Choose an anti-inflammatory diet that emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and limits sugars, carbs, and industrial oils. Make sure to be active regularly to build your strength, flexibility, and balance.
  2. Don't ignore pain or cover it up - pain is an important signal. While it shouldn't stop you from getting out of bed, it's an important indication that you need to change what you are doing or seek help. Pushing through significant pain can be like ignoring your check engine light. You can only get away with ignoring a problem for so long.
  3. Improve posture and be cautious with repetitive motions - healthy activity doesn't cause "wear and tear" on your joints, but poor posture and ergonomics certainly can. Straighten up with your head and shoulders back and focus on good form when you are active to avoid placing too much stress on your joints.
  4. Choose your first doctor wisely - studies using work injury data on those undergoing back surgery determined the major modifiable predictor of surgery was the choice in provider first seen by a patient regardless of injury severity. The risk of back surgery was 9 times higher when seeing a surgeon first compared to a primary care provider. The risk of back surgery was over 28 times higher when seeing a surgeon first compared to a doctor of chiropractic. The researchers noted it is likely that "who you see is what you get."
  5. Try conservative non-drug treatment first and be patient - guidelines are clear that non-drug treatment like chiropractic and acupuncture are better first-line choices to achieve better results. Some injuries heal quickly with care, while others take weeks to months, so it is important to be consistent and patient to allow your body time to heal.

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