Christmas in November

From November 2nd-December 18th The Back Doctors will be taking canned goods and toy, clothing, and other gift donations to distribute to an under-privileged family in the Reno area.

For any donations equal to or greater than $25.00, the doctors will offer to donate their time and services to any friends or family members who are in need of chiropractic care. Donations will qualify friends and family to take advantage of a no cost consultation and examination, including X-rays!

The following is what each family member has requested. We will make sure to update this daily as gifts are being brought in. You can also make a cash donation.

Mom: Clothing, pants and work clothes (suits) size 9/11. Shirt size Lg. Heels or boots size 8. Gift cards to Burlington/Walmart/Target.

Son, 7 years old: Spiderman sheets/comforter set. Lego's. Books (Spongebob or cartoons). So far we have received 2 Spiderman books: Animal Attack, Fiercest Foes.

Daughter, 9 years old: CD's ( Lady Gaga). Jeans size 10 in girls. Long sleeve shirts size 10 or medium. Bratz toys. Books (Goosebumps). So far we have gotten the following 6 Goosebump books: Help! We have strange powers!, The streets of panic park, and Welcome to camp slither, Ghost Beach, Escape from Horrorland, and The Streets of Panic Park.

Son, 1 year old: Baby bottles. Diaper bag. Clothing size 1T. Age appropriate toys. Board books for toddlers.

Donate to a good cause and give the gift of health!

Flu Season and Boosting Your Immune System

Our immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us all well again when we do fall ill. That immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by a nervous system. Specific Chiropractic care allows for a properly functioning, healthier nervous system, something a pill or vaccine falls short of.

Chiropractic's effect on the immune system, along with it's effect on specific secondary symptomatology is notable, according to recent research. Even though you are not "sick", your body may be acquiring misalignment's of the spine (subluxations-see last week's blog) that cause interruptions in your nervous system. This interrupts your entire body's function, most importantly this winter, your immune system. A specific chiropractic adjustment restores the alignment of your vertebrae, removing nervous system interference and allowing restoration of the flow of energy & information from your brain to the rest of your body.

Research show regular chiropractic checkups can not only relieve pain & daily ailments, but also prevent disease & chronic health issues. Ronald Pero, Ph.D, chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventative Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, performed research concluding significant immune boosting effects of chiropractic care. His 3 year study resulted in patients under chiropractic care for 5 years having a 200% greater immunity than people who had not received chiropractic care, and 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer and other serious diseases. The immune system superiority of those under chiropractic care did not diminish with age. Dr. Pero states, "I have never seen a group other than this chiropractic group to experience a 200% increase over the normal patients. This is why it is so dramatically important. We have never seen such a positive improvement in a research group".

What is a Subluxation?

Doctors of chiropractic refer to problem areas as subluxations. Subluxations occur when bones in the spinal column move out of their normal alignment. As a result, several things happen. First, there is a decrease in motion of the spinal joint. You may notice that you aren't as flexible and don't have as many ranges of motion that you used to have. When a bone is misaligned, it can put pressure on the nerves surrounding it. You may start to experience pain and discomfort. These nerves control your body and tell it how to work, so over time, the nerve will not work as effectively as it should and other problems could arise. Subluxations can affect your muscle function and your soft tissues as well. Subluxations are a danger to your health because they cause abnormal function of the spine and body. Subluxations are caused by physical traumas (exercising, auto accidents, birth trauma, etc.), emotional stress, and chemical stress (smoking, drinking, poor diet, environment toxins, etc.). Subluxations can be found in newborns to seniors which is exactly why anyone of any age should be checked for subluxations and be treated with specific chiropractic adjustments.

Effects of a subluxation:

The nervous system controls the function of every part of the human body. Sever a nerve and the organs will no longer function. Irritate a nerve and those organs will not function as well as they should. The end result can be health problems depending upon which nerve is irritated. The chart shows a list of symptoms with their general relationship to the spine. In reality, the spine is much more complex than what is shown. Gonstead chiropractors can affect these symptoms by removing nerve pressure and allowing for more normal control.

What Makes Us So Special?

Chiropractic has come a long way since David D.Palmer gave his first adjustment in 1889 in Davenport, Iowa. Today, there are many methods used by chiropractors to correct spinal misalignments, joint dysfunctions and subluxation complexes. Many techniques are identified by the name of the person who was most instrumental in their development. Interestingly enough, one of the most advanced and scientific methods is a technique called:
The Gonstead System
Gonstead procedures are the result of extensive clinical research by Clarence S.Gonstead, founder of the world famous Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin and his associates. Doctor Gonstead’s fifty-five years of continuous practice and over four million chiropractic adjustments resulted in the most complete method of biomechanical analysis available for use by today’s doctors of chiropractic. So why don’t all chiropractors use this technique? Because the analysis takes more time and mastering the art of delivering a specific adjustment takes a LOT of practice and dedication.
The “Gonstead Chiropractor”
The Gonstead Chiropractor goes beyond what many chiropractors consider a spinal assessment by conducting a thorough analysis of your spine using five criteria to detect the presence of the vertebral subluxation complex.
Visualization – Visualization is a way to cross reference all the other findings. Your chiropractor is an expert in looking for subtle changes in your posture and movement which could indicate any problems.
Instrumentation – The instrument of choice in the Gonstead System is the Nervoscope. The Nervoscope detects uneven distributions of heat along the spine which can be indicative of inflammation and nerve pressure. This instrument is guided down the length of your back and feels like two fingers gliding down each side of your spine.
Static Palpation – This is simply the process of feeling (or palpating) your spine in a stationary (or static) position. Your chiropractor will feel for the presence of swelling (or edema), tenderness and any abnormal texture or tightness in the muscles and other tissues of your back.
Motion Palpation – This process involves feeling the spine while moving and bending it at various angles. This enables the chiropractor to determine how easily or difficult each segment in your spine moves in different directions.
X-Ray Analysis – x-ray films enable your doctor to visualize the entire structure of your spine. This is helpful in evaluating posture, joint and disc integrity, vertebral misalignments and ruling out any pathologies, or recent fractures that may be present or contributing to the patient’s condition. These full-spine radiographs are taken in the standing, weight-bearing position to fully substantiate the examination findings.
The Gonstead Adjustment
After a complete analysis, the Gonstead chiropractor is ready to deliver any necessary adjustments. The focus of the Gonstead adjustment is to be as specific, precise and accurate as possible, addressing only the problem areas (areas of subluxation). Great care is taken to ensure a bio-mechanically correct position and precise thrust to provide the most accurate and painless adjustment possible. It is the goal of your Gonstead doctor to restore and maintain optimal health by locating and correcting any interference to the nervous system caused by vertebral subluxation.

For more information on the Gonstead System please visit http://www.gonsteadseminar.com.

Amanda's Personal Chiropractic Experience

Before working for the Back Doctor's I did not have much knowledge of Chiropractic care. Just like our new patients I had a consultation, exam, and full spinal x-ray. I let Dr. Amanda know that I suffered from severe migraine headaches. I would get migraines at least every two weeks, sometimes as often as once a week. The pain they caused was almost unbearable. I saw a doctor in Alaska regarding my migraines and they prescribed me to a type of painkiller. The painkillers would work temporarily but the pain would always come back, so I stopped taking them. Since following the treatment plan Dr. Amanda gave me, I have not had one migraine. Not only have my migraines gone away, but I rarely even get mild head aches anymore. This is the first time in years that I have gone almost two months without a migraine!