Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there.

 “If you talk to your children, you can help them to keep their lives together.  If you talk to them skillfully, you can help them to build future dreams.” Jim Rohn

In my opinion, there is no greater leadership challenge than parenting.  And I believe one of the most important lessons we can teach our children is to value their health.

Teach your children this…What you do when you feel great is more important than what you do when you don’t feel good.  

Would you ever stop brushing your teeth because they didn’t hurt?  Of course not!  Health begins with great habits – it means being PROACTIVE not REACTIVE. 

Teaching our children about health will take an unwavering commitment to become the best example of health so they will learn to do the same. 

Healthy Habits = Healthy Children. 

Don’t forget, taking care of your spine is one of the most important health habits of all!  Optimal spinal health means an optimally functioning nervous system.  Get your children checked.

To be successful in the long run, I believe everyone needs a high purpose… it is your purpose that drives your directional arrow.

I don’t know what your purpose is, but I do know that in order to reach your purpose, there must be congruency between what you believe and how you act on a daily basis.

Whatever brings you joy and fulfillment, I would bet that a strong and healthy spine is one of the keys to making that happen.  Whether you want to run a 10K, be an avid golfer, dedicate time to gardening, or be an active parent/grandparent – taking care of your back is a must. 

The question I pose to you is this… Are you taking action on a daily basis that will allow you to enjoy the benefits of a healthy spine for life?

Our purpose is not just to prevent back pain but to improve quality of life.

If you want strong, healthy bones, make sure you are taking your Omega 3’s.

Add this one to the list of the marvelous benefits of omega 3’s!  According to the latest study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, increasing your intake of omega 3 fats, DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) in particular, increases boned mineral content and produces healthier, stronger bones. 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/29/omega3s-linked-to-healthier-stronger-bones.aspx

How else can you optimize your bone health? 

• Exercise
• Vitamin D
• Vegetables
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin K
• Animal-based protein

 What can be harmful for your bone health?

• Fluoride
• Birth control pills
• Sugar and soda pop
• Excessive thyroid hormone
• Pain killers
• Inhaled steroids
• Prozac
• Gastric bypass surgery

What does success look like to you?

This is an invaluable question when taking on any task or working to improve any area of our lives.  In order to achieve optimal results, we need to be very clear on what our personal vision of success is.  This can certainly be applied to your spinal health program. 

What do you want to achieve at BackFit?  Do you want to eliminate pain and improve range of motion?  Do you want to be able to return to golf or gardening?  Do you want to be able to run a 10K or go on a hiking expedition?  Do you want to be able to play with your children or grandchildren?  What does success look like to you?

Talk to us, tell us what you want to achieve with your care.  Let’s work together to get you there.  Achieving goals, in any area of life, requires persistence and flexibility, along with a little inspiration.  Making change takes time and therefore we need the persistence and patience to keep forging ahead.  There are times when it may seem as though we’re not on track, requiring us to pause and have the flexibility to make adjustments to our plan.  And we need a coach, a partner, a mentor – someone to help hold us accountable and remind us of what we’re striving towards.  This is what we hope to be for you at BackFit.

Here’s our little dose of inspiration for you today.  We are extremely proud of our BackFit team member, Rhys Duch, and his outstanding performance in leading his team to the title of National Lacrosse League champions!  Rhys was very clear on what success looked like for him…   

http://www.stealthlax.com/articles/view/458/

http://stats.nll.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers&season_id=

Living at optimal health requires KNOWLEDGE put into ACTION. 

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” (-Stephen Covey)

Staying on top of your health and preventing diseases like cancer requires your body to be nourished with vital nutrients.  Check out the latest research on Vitamin D!

When researchers at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska decided to give 1,200 healthy post-menopausal women either a placebo or calcium (1,500mg) plus vitamin D (1,000 IU) every day, they wanted to know if these two nutrients would prevent bone fractures.

Instead they found that the women who were given both vitamin D and calcium were 77 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with cancer (mostly of the breast) over the next four years. (Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 85:1586, 2007)

The same was found for the link between vitamin D and colorectal cancer.  For example, in a study of 535 male health professionals and female nurses, those with high blood levels of vitamin D were only half as likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer as those with low levels. (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 99:1120, 2007)

A 2009 study of people from states with low sun exposure (in this study, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) again high blood vitamin D levels were linked with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. (Caner Res. 69:1439, 2009)

I have been saying this for years, vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins to make sure you are getting.  Most research recommends at least 1000mg per day. 

Hear are the best sources of vitamin D:

Wild Salmon (170 g)   1,680IU

Trout  (170 g)  660 IU

Sockeye Salmon canned (1/4 cup) 480 IU

Multivitamin, most brands 400 IU

Cod   (170 g) 180 IU

Tuna, canned (1/4 cup) 130 IU (watch your mercury intake)

Milk (1 cup) 90 IU

Yoplait Source yogurt (100g) 30 IU

Egg  (1 large) 20 IU

It is common knowledge now that the way to a stronger back is through your abs.  Yes, it is a fact that the stronger your core abdominal muscles become, the more stability and strength you will gain in your back.

But before you run to the gym and start your sit-ups or crunches… READ THIS!  Or you may set yourself up for further injury.

According to Stuart McGill, (Professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo) the traditional sit-up generates at least 3,350 newtons ( the equivalent of 340 kg) of compressive force on the spine!  This is enough force to damage a weak or recently injured disc.  The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that pressure above 3,300 Newtons is unsafe for the spine.

So if you have a weak core, or are just starting out with back care, it is initially safer to replace sit-ups with core work that doesn’t involve flexion of the spine.  You will find these safer exercises taught in our BackFit ”Beginning Home Care Class” and “Advanced Core Class.”  If you are not a current patient, exercises such as PLANKS, SIDE BRIDGES, LEG EXTENSIONS, BIRD DOGS,  and STIR THE POT are safe and effective.  Please ask for guidance if you don’t know these exercises.

As you become stronger and more comfortable with the above core exercises, then you are ready for more complex movments that access multiple muscles simultaneously.  This is achieved with BACKFIT’S MEDEX CORE SYSTEM.  Through this progressive program, you can build a strong core, and have a long-term impact on the health and stability of your spine.

Don’t forget…

Decompression therapy for the discs, alignment therapy for the joints, and core stability for the muscles are the three keys to a healthy back for life.

Have a great week!

GO CANADA GO!

WHAT AN OLYMPICS… AND WHAT A FINISH! 

USA TIED THE GAME WITH UNDER 30 SECONDS LEFT… BUT TEAM CANADA NEVER GAVE UP.  THEY REGROUPED AND CAME BACK EVEN STRONGER TO WIN IN OVERTIME.  (CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE MY FAVORITE PICTURE)

THIS KIND OF DETERMINATION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR YOU IN YOUR HEALING JOURNEY AS IT IS FOR THE OLYMPIC ATHLETE.  STAY FOCUSED AND YOU TOO WILL SEE SUCCESS. 

“Never, never, never give up!”~ Winston Churchill

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.”~ Samuel Johnson

“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”~ Vince Lombardi

“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. “~ William Feather

This Tuesday, Dr. Marissa and I will be heading to Olympic central in Vancouver to see the Switzerland vs USA hockey game.  We are also looking forward to visiting the Olympic Polyclinic – a 10,000 sq foot multi-disciplinary facility that includes doctors from various fields working together to help the athletes reach peak performance. 

This is the first year that chiropractors are participating in the Polyclinic, which speaks loudly for the fact that these athletes value a highly functioning spine and nervous system.  The media release below shares the details of this important moment in chiropractic history.   

Feb 5 2010

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will include chiropractic care inside the Olympic Village Polyclinic, a multi-disciplinary facility that offers comprehensive health care and medical services. While doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) have historically been included on the Olympic medical staff, the upcoming events mark the first time that D.C.’s from the host country will be treating athletes and officials from around the world directly inside the Polyclinic.

“Inclusion inside the Polyclinic is another major milestone for the chiropractic profession, and we are grateful to the Host City of Vancouver, the head of Medical Services at the Polyclinic, Jack Taunton, M.D., and to Robert Armitage, D.C., who helped make this possible”

“This is an historic event not only for the chiropractic profession, but also the athletes who will now have access to the care that will help them prepare their bodies for competition,” states Michael Reed, D.C., MS, DACBSP, and Team USA Medical Director (USOC). “These athletes train hard and endure significant physical demands. Sports-focused D.C.s, along with other members of the sports medicine team, are specially skilled to assist them in reaching peak performance.”

Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes, leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors — working along-side other health care professionals – as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.

CARMICHAEL, Calif.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–