Family Chiropractic of Kennebunk Blog

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers and Chiropractic

Dr. Pete Gay — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:30:06 +0000

I’m not sure if you watched the Super Bowl this year, but it was quite a game. At the end, the Green Bay Packers stood victorious by a score of 31 - 25.

What’s interesting and what you might not know is most professional athletes receive chiropractic care on a regular basis to keep their body’s operating at the best level possible.

And the Super Bowl MVP is no exception.

Aaron Rogers, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and this year’s Super Bowl MVP, receives chiropractic care on a regular basis. In fact, his dad is a chiropractor, so he’s been getting chiropractic adjustments his entire life.

Have you ever wondered why so many professional athletes get chiropractic care regularly, and not just every once in awhile when they have back or neck pain?

It’s because chiropractic care has been proven to keep the body healthy, pain free, and functioning at optimal levels.

After all, pro athletes have enough money (millions) to choose whatever treatments they want. And they choose chiropractic.

Here are a few more quotes from popular NFL football stars on why they get chiropractic care:

” …as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I’m one step ahead of the game.” - Tom Brady, New England Patriots ~ 3 time Super Bowl Champion, 2 time Super Bowl MVP, and 2011 NFL Player of the Year.

“When you get to the NFL, hits are a little bit harder. That’s why I see the chiropractor because after some of those hits, you know you’ll see your bodies not in-line.” - Maurice Jones Drew, NFL Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars

“Those are the guys that put me on the field when I didn’t think I had a chance to be on the field. These are professionals, and God put them in my life for a reason.” - Terrell Owens, NFL Wide Receiver

“I believe in chiropractic, and I know it works. You probably know about my long and successful career in football. I’m flattered by the testimonials to my durability. Football is a very rough and vigorous sport. Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game.” - Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver ~ 3 time Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP

So if you aren’t taking advantage of all that chiropractic care has to offer you and your family, it’s never too late to start!

Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon,

Dr. Pete

Get More From Chiropractic? Here’s how…

Dr. Pete Gay — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:28:56 +0000

In the scientific research periodical, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics comes a study that will help you…

Keep Your Aches, Pains, and Stress A Distant Memory

The study divided the subjects into two groups. The first group received 12 chiropractic adjustments in one month, followed by a reduced schedule of one adjustment every three weeks for 9 months. The second group only received one month of chiropractic care. The two groups were then compared and evaluated for pain and disability.

What They Found…

The results showed that both groups had similar reduction of pain and disability after the initial 30 days of chiropractic care. However the big difference was the group that received one adjustment every three weeks for nine months was able to maintain their reduction in disability. The group that only received one month of care returned to the same levels of disability that they were experiencing prior to the initial chiropractic care.

How This Benefits You

Understanding this information could make a big difference for you. This study more than anything confirms the importance and necessity of taking your spinal health seriously and actually taking care of your back on a regular basis. (Just like you do your teeth!)

Great health and a wonderful quality of life are created by taking care of your body in all areas on a regular basis. This includes your spine, your teeth, your cardiovascular system, and so on.

You get out of chiropractic care what you put into it. If you never use it, chiropractic obviously can’t help you much. But if you make it part of the regular activities you do to keep yourself healthy, you will start to experience the benefits that my family and thousands of others who use it regularly get to experience. It is truly a wonderful way to live.

See you soon!

Committed to improving your health,

Dr. Pete

How Technology May Be Hurting You

Dr. Pete Gay — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:24:03 +0000

More and more people are text messaging, playing on their mobile phones, surfing the Internet, checking emails, and playing video games on a regular basis. This is truly the age of technology. However, with these technologies comes the repetitive behaviors and body positioning that can have dramatic health consequences.

These days, more people than ever before are constantly “connected” to their hand held devices and computers. Just think about it the amount of hours you and people you know spend with your head down, neck scrunched, staring at a mobile phone or laptop.

And this is not just happening with adults. It’s actually WORSE with teens. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that young people 8-18 years old spend in excess of 7 ½ hours a day using some form of mobile media.

As a result of the amount of time people are using their mobile phones and computers, people are starting to experience neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and/or numbness and tingling into the arms and hands. The reason are starting to get pain is the constant use of phones and computers is changing your posture. It is a common condition called forward head posture (FHP), which can cause the symptoms I just mentioned plus a whole lot more.

It’s important to understand that where the head goes, the body will follow. If you are constantly looking down at your phone or computer and develop forward head posture, then you will have rolled shoulders. With rolled shoulders, a concave chest will follow, and often a pelvic tuck, all of which can contribute to pain and dysfunction over time.

Here are some other facts about forward head posture:

* Long term forward neck posture leads to “long term muscle strain, disc herniations, and pinched nerves.” (Mayo Clinic Health Letter, March 2000)

* For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds. (Kapandji, Physiology of the Joints, Volume 3)

* Loss of the cervical curve stretches the spinal cord 5-7 cm and causes disease. (Dr. Alf Breig, neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize recipient)

* Forward Head Postures has been shown to flatten the normal neck curve, resulting in disc compression, damage, and early arthritis. (Spine, 1986)

* 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine. When you have forward head posture, your brain will rob energy from your thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture issues. (Dr. Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize recipient for brain research)

So as you can see, when your posture changes, it can have very dramatic effects to your health. Because of this, it’s very important that you determine how many hours you and your family members are spending in a forward head posture, looking down at mobile phones and computers.

And if you are spending a lot of time with forward head posture, then you need to make sure you are getting regular chiropractic adjustments and doing exercises to make sure your posture does not change. Because if it does, you will be facing some potentially serious health problems.

Email me if you have any questions or comments and I’ll see you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Pete

Source: To Your Health, July 2010

What to look for in a protein bar…

Dr. Pete Gay — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:07:09 +0000

I’m not sure if you know this, but protein bars are one of the most popular “on the go” foods today.

And what’s interesting is most protein bars aren’t very healthy for you. In fact, with some of them, it’s really no different than eating a candy bar.

So today I want to give you some tips on what to look for in a protein bar.

First, check the label. You are going to want to avoid the following ingredients if you want a healthy protein bar:

* High fructose corn syrup
* High amounts of sugar
* Artificial sweeteners
* Chemical additives
* Soy protein
* Artificial vitamins

Most protein bars have one or more of the following above, so pay attention and try to find a bar with as few of this list as possible.

Now let’s go over a few things to look for in a healthy protein bar:

* Make sure there is zero soy protein. Why? Because soy protein and soy products the most genetically modified of any crop out there. They are also one of the most contaminated crops with pesticide and herbicide residues. Instead of soy protein, look for whey protein.

* With a healthy protein bar, you don’t want artificial sweeteners. So if the protein bar has aspartame, sucralose, or any of the other artificial sweeteners, then the bar isn’t that healthy.

* Next is the total carbohydrates and fiber. You want a good fiber to carbohydrate ratio. For example, if a bar has 10 grams of fiber and 50 carbohydrates, that’s 20% fiber content from the carbs. So look for bars with a higher percentage of fiber.

* The next thing to look at is the protein content . You generally want a protein bar that has 10 to 15 more grams of protein than carbohydrates.

* Also look for a bar that has healthy fats. These would be from nuts, seeds, coconut oil, or something like almond butter. Try to find a bar with 8 to 15 grams of healthy fats.

* Last, and this one if a little harder to find so think of it more as a bonus, is superfoods or greens. There are plenty of good protein bars that don’t contain greens or superfoods, but if you find one that does, it’s going to be an extremely good protein bar.

In our fast paced lives, having a couple protein bars on hand at home or work is a great idea. And the information above will help you navigate through the dozens of options out there so you are eating healthy.

What The US Ranks In Life Expectancy-The Answer is….

Dr. Pete Gay — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:30:07 +0000

New information came out recently and America ranks 49^th in the world in life expectancy. Considering the United States ranks #1 in health care costs, 49^th in the world is terrible. In fact, America ranks lower than 12 other developed nations.

Researchers have determined that poor health care is to blame for such a horrible ranking.

Commenting on the study, Glenn Greenwald said: “It’s easy to say and easy to document, but quite difficult to really internalize, that the United States is in the process of imperial collapse. Every now and then, however, one encounters certain facts which compellingly and viscerally highlight how real that is.”

It’s clear that if we spend the more than any nation on earth in health care, yet rank only 49^th in life expectancy, that our health care system is not doing the job. In fact, it’s in a downward spiral that shows no signs of reversing.

The bottom line is that YOU are spending more money on health care to live a shorter life.

Another scary statistic is that the U.S. ranks last out of 19 countries monitored for unnecessary deaths - deaths that could have been avoided through proper and effective health care.

And Johns Hopkins Medical School recently discovered that medical errors and prescription drugs together may actually be the LEADING cause of death in America.

I think the most important thing you can do is HAVE AWARENESS. Most people just don’t know how bad the American health care system really is.

Many people blindly follow their medical doctor and believe and trust EVERYTHING they say. But the statistics prove that our medical system is severally flawed and does not provide the best approach to being healthy.

Honestly, the best way to be healthy in America is to be a CONTRARIAN…that is, do things differently than the way the masses do it. Break free from the “drug for every symptom” model of health care. Put the responsibility of being healthy squarely on your shoulders. Make truly healthy lifestyle choices. And take advantage of natural health care doctors (like me) and others who can guide you on the path to getting healthy and staying that way.

If you have any questions or comments, hit reply and share them with me! I’m here to help you!

Have a great day!

Dr. Pete

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39548799

What Parenting magazine says about chiropractic and kids…

Dr. Pete Gay — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:28:25 +0000

If you are a parent or grandparent, you know how stressful it can be when there’s a newborn in the house who cries all the time. That can be one of the most frustrating things for parents - a young child that can’t stop crying - and nothing you do seems to work.

So if you find yourself with a child or grandchild with colic (excessive crying), I’ve got great news for you! In the October 2010 issue of Parenting magazine, there is an article on colic and chiropractic care was recommended at one of the “ground breaking new treatments.”

Here’s what the article says about chiropractic care for crying babies:

* Baby chiropractic care is not as scary as it might sound. The adjustments are gentle and it’s quite comfortable for the child. The adjustments are often done while the child lies on a parent’s lap or chest.

* There are chiropractic clinics where 20% of the patients are kids. A lot of people don’t realize that chiropractic care for children is so popular.

* Soon to be published research found that parents were eight times as likely to report a significant reduction in crying when the baby received chiropractic care 3 or 4 times over a 10 day period than if the baby wasn’t.

* The theory behind why chiropractic care works so well - the adjustments help alleviate tightness and joint issues that were caused by a cramped position in utero, or problems that occur during the actual birth.

This is great news to see popular national magazines recommending chiropractic care, especially for children!

So if you or someone you know has a child suffering from colic, please pass this information on to them. I’ve had great success with kids and I’d love to help!

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Dr. Pete

Source: Parenting, October 2010

Follow the Navigator

Dr. Pete Gay — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:43:00 +0000

I’ve got a story with some food for thought for you today. Go ahead and read it and then send me your feedback or let me know if you have any questions.

Here we go…

There was a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. On this large ship was a gruff, heavy set captain who was shortsighted, slightly deaf, and very opinionated. He and his crew followed the principles of majority rule on decisions about navigating the ocean.

On board the ship, they had a very skilled navigator who knew how to read the stars on voyages. This navigator was better than anyone on board at getting the ship to its destinations, but the navigator was not very popular and was rather misunderstood.

One time, in the panic of being lost at sea, the captain and crew made a decision based on majority rule to follow the most charismatic and persuasive of the crew members to navigate the ship and get back on course. They ignored and ridiculed the navigator’s suggestions, remained lost, and ultimately starved to death.

In America, the health care model that is “majority rule” is failing. The World Health Organization ranks the United States 37^th in the world in health care, and 24^th in the world in healthy living. The American Medical Association reports that properly prescribed medicine, taken properly, is unfortunately the 4^th leading cause of death in the United States. That means you have a better chance of dying from properly taking medication than you do from being in an automobile accident or having AIDS. Americans spend more money treating the side effects of medication than the cost of medication itself.

Our health care system has a navigator, a doctor of chiropractic, who is very skilled at improving health and well being naturally and with little to no risk. The navigator is not very popular in the usual medical democracy of the pharmaceutical companies and the American Medical Association.

The public misunderstands the navigator because the medical profession ridicules chiropractic, and the ‘majority’ of people in this country make their decisions based on the failing traditional medical approach.

The problem is when you look at the health of our country statistically; the traditional medical approach is sinking like the titanic. Our country has never been sicker, more depressed, more overweight, or used more drugs.

For health in our country to change, we need to change the way we think about health. Albert Einstein said, “You can’t solve a problem with the same level of thinking that you had when the problem was created.” Failure to change your beliefs and your approach to your health will leave you in a model that has proven statistical failure.

No one ever said you have to abandon the medical professionals in healthcare, but maybe it’s time to start listening to the navigators.

Sincerely,

Dr. Pete

Doc, Do What You Did Last Time!

Dr. Pete Gay — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:22:39 +0000

I had a conversation with a patient the other day that I thought you might find interesting. The patient was a male in his late 40’s. He became a patient because he has chronic low back pain.

The first 7 chiropractic adjustments I gave him didn’t provide much relief. In fact, in each of those first 7 visits the patient stated that he wasn’t feeling any better and wasn’t sure if the adjustments were working.

When he came in for his 8^th visit to my office, he seemed like he was in a great mood. I asked him how his body was functioning and he said, “Doc, I feel great! Do whatever you did the last time I was here. That really seemed to work.”

The thing is, the first 6 adjustments that I gave this patient were the essentially the same every time. So why did he think that the first 6 adjustments weren’t doing any good and the 7^thadjustment was the one that made all the difference?

Because he didn’t understand how the body heals.

The patient gave the 7^th adjustment all the credit, but the truth is it was ALL of the adjustments together that made the difference.

That is because healing is a process that takes time. And if you don’t give your body enough time or remove enough nerve stress (adjustments) to heal, then it won’t heal.

You see, each chiropractic adjustment you receive builds on the previous one. And even if you don’t feel any better after the first few adjustments, that doesn’t mean that your body isn’t healing, because it is.

Just like it takes years to reposition teeth with braces, it takes multiple chiropractic adjustments to restore proper movement and alignment with the spine.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to heal and get results with your chiropractic care.

Some patients become frustrated sometimes because they want to feel better immediately and if they don’t feel better overnight, they don’t think the adjustments are working.

If you cut your finger, does the wound heal in 24 hours? No, it takes several days before the cut has healed.

So to wrap this up, here’s three two points that I want you to take away from this email:

1. Each chiropractic adjustment you receive builds upon the previous adjustment.

2. Healing is a process that takes time.

3. Chiropractic care works great if you give yourself enough time and enough adjustments to make a difference.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Dr. Pete

A day in the life of your children.

Dr. Pete Gay — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:54:09 +0000

They wake from a sound sleep startled by the sound of their alarm clocks or your voice calling (yelling) to them for the fourth or fifth time. Groggy and still half asleep, they shuffle from their beds to the bathroom, stubbing their toe on something they should have put away, forcing them to hop on one foot the remainder of the way. They shower in water containing who knows what kind of chemicals.

Now, late for the bus they go running full speed down the stairs, grab two Pop-tarts and with a 40-pound bag of books strapped across their backs, they make a mad dash out of the house to their bus stop. At school, they sit all day in uncomfortable, hard-as-rock chairs with their heads bent over their books (whether they are reading or sleeping). When they take a break from the more than six hours of bending their necks over their books, which is in the opposite direction of their natural neck curve, they are in a constant state of stress. Are they going to pass all of their classes? When will their face clear up? Will they win their next football game or gymnastics meet? What if they don’t get into college? And this is a good-to-best-cases scenario. On top of all that, some children have other serious personal struggles with their identity, with handicaps or with peer pressure.

After school, they challenge themselves physically with sports of all sorts-football, soccer, tennis, golf, track, wrestling, basketball, baseball, volleyball. Unfortunately, often times these activities are fueled solely by the one lousy piece of pizza they had for lunch or maybe a cheeseburger and fries, or sometimes nothing at all!

By the time they arrive back at home in the evening, they are often exhausted, not to mention cranky. Dinner often is fast-food or if it is homemade they fall asleep on the couch while it is being prepared with their bodies contorted in some unbelievable position. After dinner, it’s homework time or probably more likely TV time or computer time where they sit lifeless for another several hours. Or maybe they sit and talk on their cell phone for hours on end with their friends, again with their heads tilted down stressing their delicate neck musculature. Finally, you yell to them saying it’s getting late and they better get ready for bed (mostly because you’re exhausted at this point and you just don’t want to deal with it anymore).

Well, with all the physical, chemical and emotional stress your child packs into the typical day, do you really think their spines are going unaffected? Spinal misalignments or subluxations are caused by STRESS! Physical, chemical and emotional stress can and do weaken the entire body including the spine. It’s when the body is weakened, run down, and exhausted is when the spine can no longer hold its position and becomes subluxated. Subluxations cause interference and dysfunction to the nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for organizing every system in the body, so when it dysfunctions it creates dis-organization within the body instead of organization. If you want your child to learn and grow and play and be all they can be, and should be, you simply must have their spines checked regularly. It’s that simple. Have your child checked for subluxation, if you haven’t done so already. That way they won’t have to live years or decades with their bodies in a state of dis-organization. I encourage everyone to be adjusted very regularly for life. Because it just makes sense! So, make the time for you and your family to fit it in. It’s vitally important for your life…

What really causes your spine to break down?

Dr. Pete Gay — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:51:01 +0000

The other day I had a patient ask me a great question. She asked, “What causes the spine to breakdown, cause pain, and create subluxations and health problems? Is it every day wear and tear?”

The answer is there are 4 factors that cause our spines to breakdown and cause subluxations and health problems.

First is everyday wear and tear. Our everyday activity can make our spines unhealthy over time.

The second factor is the aging process. As we get older, our bodies naturally start to break down and deteriorate. We can fight the effects of aging by taking care of our bodies on a regular basis.

The third factor that causes our spines to become unhealthy and create health problems is stress. There are 3 different types of stress that affect the health of our spine and body: physical stress, chemical stress, and emotional stress.

Chiropractic adjustments have been scientifically proven to limit the damaging effects that stress has on the body.

Over 80% of our population experiences pain or health problems as a result of an unhealthy spine. The reason so many people suffer from subluxations and poor health is because most people don’t take care of their spine.

The fourth factor that causes our spines to break down and create health problems is neglect.

You wouldn’t expect your car to run optimally if you never serviced it and took good care of it, would you? The spine is no different.

Just like healthy teeth need a dentist, a healthy spine needs a chiropractor to maintain optimal health.

Word to the wise: you cannot have optimal health with an unhealthy spine. The quality of your health is largely determined by the health of your spine and nerve system.

Have a great day!

Dr. Pete