One Friday night when I was 15 years old, my friend Rob Feldman brought over a book of poems by Alan Ginsberg called "Howl". Illustrating the book were images of a statue of Buddah wrapped in a Banyan tree rising from the jungle floor. I was entranced by these images which were from Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world. Angkor Wat sits at the outskirts of Siem Reap, where our Flying Doctors of America Mission will land at the end of this week. 20 American doctors, nurses, dentist and support personnel will arrive, equipped to triage, examine, diagnose, and treat men, women and children in and around Siem Reap, Cambodia. All of our services and medicines will be supplied for free, courtesy of the volunteers and those who have supported us. We will also tour Angkor Wat as part of our mission, thus achieving a goal that I first conceived 40 years ago! After our mission is completed, Dixie and I will travel to Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore we will visit with Charles Lee, a former intern at our practice who is now married, expecting a child, and practicing chiropractic in Singapore. In Malaysia we will tour the newest chiropractic college in the world located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. We arrive back in the USA just before Thanksgiving.

Can your Health Savings Account help pay for chiropractic healthcare products & services?

According to the IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses a good number of chiropractic services and healthcare products are eligible for coverage under a Health Savings Account or to be listed as Unreimbursed Medical Expenses

for tax purposes. Please note that the items described that are available in our office must be prescribed by Dr. Schantz for a specific condition or disorder for which you are being treated.

Items and services that are for promotion of your well-being are not considered eligible medical expenses. Here is a partial list of items that you may have been prescribed or may be appropriate for your condition. Please ask Dr. Schantz or our staff if you have questions. Consult your tax advisor and/or your HSA administrator for specific allowances and limitations.

CUSTOM-FIT ORTHOTICS THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE T.E.N.S. UNITS

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS & NATURAL MEDICINES EXERCISE DEVICES

CERVICAL PILLOWS LUMBAR CUSHIONS SUPPORTS/BRACES/SPLINTS

HEEL LIFTS TMJ DEVICES CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS

X-RAYS DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES MASSAGE CHAIR

How does a 5 year old know if he needs a chiropractor?

Most 5 years olds don't walk into our office on their own. The most dramatic episode in my professional life was when one was carried in by his father.

I was working as an Associate in an established chiropractic office in Sandy Springs in the late 1980's.

On Saturdays I saw all the patients in the practice. I was getting ready to leave for the day when our receptionist told me that we had one more patient to see. There in the doorway was a man in his mid-30's clutching a young boy wheezing and gasping for breathe. I exclaimed to the father, "This boy belongs in the Emergency Room-not a chiropractic office!". The man replied, "We have tried that route before, but it doesn't work-please help my son!" I couldn't say no, so I had him place the boy on the chiropractic table. I palpated his spine and found several vertebra associated with the nerve supply to the lungs misaligned. I carefully placed my hands in the proper position and performed a swift thrust. The vertebra popped in to place. The boy immediately began breathing rhythmically and regularly with no sign of respiratory distress. He fell asleep in his father's arms, and together they left the clinic for their home.

The clinical experience of most chiropractic doctors will show that children tend to respond to chiropractic treatment for internal disorders. This is because their nervous system is more sensitive than adults, and subluxations of their spines will more commonly result in nerve disruption to internal organs, rather than trigger pain.

By the time a child has reached the age of 5 they have grown 500% or more since birth. They have learned to crawl, sit up, stand, climb, walk and run. Along the way they have had an opportunity to accumulate spills, falls and upsets that can result in subluxations of the spine.

The subluxations may cause nerve interference-even in the absence of pain.

44% of patients surveyed at our practice felt that it would be OK to bring a child to a chiropractor after the age of 5.

What do you think?

Chiropractic & Infants- Safe? Necessary?

Our August patient survey, "When Should a Child Have Their First Chiropractic Visit?", revealed that 36% of those surveyed believed that "Anytime after birth" was an appropriate time to bring a child for a chiropractic visit. Among the comments we heard were, "The younger you get started, the better chance you have of staying healthy", and "If an infant had some kind of trauma, and wasn't getting better under medical care, then of course I would recommend chiropractic".

The International Chiropractors Assocation (ICA)recommends the earliest possible evaluation, detection and correction of chiropractic lesions (subluxations) in children, especially infants, to maximize the potential for normal growth and development. The ICA points to research indicating that vaginal deliveries, especially when forceps are used, can lead to excessive force on the cervical spine, leading to trauma and subluxation in newborns.

Some patients expressed concern about the safety of adjusting infants, since their bones had not hardened enough.

Let's look at a 2008 study from Great Britian, "Adverse Effects of Spinal Manipulative Therapy in Children Younger Than 3 Years", published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics. The objective of the study was to identify any adverse effects to chiropractic care occurring in the pediatric patient and to evaluate the risk of complications arising in the pediatric patient resulting from chiropractic care. A 3-year review of pediatric case files from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic teaching clinic were evaluated. The results showed that out of 697 children receiving 5,242 chiropractic treatments, 85% of parents reported an improvement. 7 parents reported an adverse effect. There were no serious complications resulting from chiropractic treatment (reactions lasting >24 hours or severe enough to require hospital care.

Infants don't complain about back pain.

If your use of chiropractic care is limited to reducing back pain, then you probably would never conceive of a situation where an infant could benefit from chiropractic treatment. If you take a closer look at what chiropractic treatment does- improve the function of the nervous system- then you may be able to see how chiropractic may be appropriate for infants.

Case Study from Our Practice- 11 month old baby with painful bowel movements becoming less and less frequent, from every other day to every 4 days. Increase in medication from using up a whole bottle of maltsupex once a month to every two weeks, even while increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Incredibly hard stools and rectal bleeding.

One treatment improved the baby to having soft movement every day. She needed another treatment the following week, and now she's having 2-3 movements regularly, every morning with no medication at all. No more tears and screaming.

This baby had subluxations in the lower spine and sacral region resulting in decreased nerve stimulation to the bowel. There was inadequate musculature contraction to initiate normal bowel movements resulting in chronic constipation. Infants typically respond quickly to chiropractic treatment (1-2 visits), because their nervous and musculoskeletal system is less mature.

Other Conditions of Infants that May Respond to Chiropractic Treatment

Ear Infections

Respiratory Distress

Breast Feeding Problems

Digestion and Elimination Problems

Developmental Delays- Lifting head, balancing, crawling, standing, walking

Colic

When Should a Child Have Their First Chiropractic Visit?

We asked our patients last week, "When should a child have their first chiropractic visit?". We told them to give us their opinion, not what they thought we wanted them to say. We gave them four choices.

#1 Any time after birth.

#2 Any time after age 5.

#3 Any time after age 13.

#4 Any time after age 18.

Over the next few weeks we will take a look at our patients' answers, and explore the rationale for chiropractic care at different ages. We will share stories about children that we have treated here in our office, and let you decide if and when it make sense for a child to see a chiropractor.

NEXT WEEK- CHIROPRACTIC AND INFANTS: Is it safe or necessary to perform chiropractic on newborns or infants?

Medicare Fee Increase

Congress has approved a 2.2% fee increase for Medicare chiropractic services and other physicians services that will take effect in our office beginning September 1, 2010. This means that Medicare patients will pay between $.66-$1.31 more for chiropractic adjustments. The difference is due to the number of regions of the spine that must be treated on each visit. If just one or two regions are adjusted, then the lower fee applies. If five or more regions are adjusted, then the higher fee applies. You may think, an adjustment is an adjustment, is an adjustment.

Medicare and most other healthcare plans count each region of the spine as a distinct, reimbursable area of treatment including the cervical (neck& head), thoracic (mid back & ribs), lumbar (low back), pelvis (hips). Other segments of the body may be adjusted, but are not reimbursable by Medicare, such as the hand, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle and feet. It is not known if Congress will stick with the 2.2% increase, or enact at 20.2% decrease for chiropractic and other physician services after November 1st, 2010. Sources claim that a decrease of that proportion will cause many primary care providers to refuse to accept Medicare patients. The fallout from that could overwhelm hospital emergency rooms, as they would now become the only alternative for seniors needing primary medical care.

Fundraiser a Success!

The enormous generosity of our patients showed through this week with an outpouring of donations. We far exceeded our goals for Flying Doctors Day, ending up with over 50 patient visits and over $3,000 in donations. More than 30 patients contributed $50 or more, with the top donation of $500! Lots of patients will be sporting a Flying Doctors of America T-Shirt this summer. I am due to depart on November 10th and return on Thanksgiving. It may seem like a far way off, but it will probably be here before we know it. Thanks again for every one's help and support to make it possible for me to give chiropractic care to the impoverished people in Cambodia.

We shut down 400!

It was a sight to see. No cars, no trucks, no motorcycles, not even a bus. Nothing but bicycles riding down GA 400 this morning. Of course you had to get up pretty early if you wanted to see it. Barbie Campbell, Elaine Steinhauer-Slezak, Linda Majer and I rode the Hospitality Highway Bicycle Ride benefiting the Georgia Transplant Foundation. We pedaled a quarter century from Exit 7 to Exit 6, then through the back roads of Sandy Springs and Roswell. My new road bike, a Specialized Allez Sport proved to be a trusty steed.

Join us for Flying Doctors Day-Wednesday, July 14th

Flying Doctors Day is an opportunity for you to help yourself, help a loved one or a friend- and support a worthy cause- Flying Doctors of America's Mission to Cambodia. This Fall, I will be traveling to Southeast Asia with a group of medical doctors, nurses and allied healthcare providers to provide the impoverished children, men and woman with free medical care. My wife Dixie and I are volunteering our time, but that doesn't mean we get to go for free. With your help, we can raise the money necessary to fund our expenses for the mission. I am providing all my chiropractic services for new and existing patients on Wednesday, July 14th in exchange for a donation of any amount to Flying Doctors of America. All donations of any size are welcome in exchange for new patient exams, x-rays, and chiropractic adjustments. Donations are tax-deductible. When you donate $50 you will receive a Flying Doctors T-shirt, and when you donate $100 you will receive a t-shirt, plus a Cambodia DVD. Call us at 770-993-9287 or visit our website- http://www.leadingedgeatlanta.com/ to arrange your visit.

Looking for your seal of approval

Harbour seals that is! These two are local residents of James Bay situated on the outskirts of Victoria, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I traveled with my wife, Dixie and daughter, Lexi to the Pacific Northwest last week. Close friends from Alpharetta invited us to their vacation quarters in Victoria, where we explored the nearby parks, shops, harbors, cemeteries, beaches and mountains. The young ins and I spent a day at Nanaimo, climbing the conglomerate cliffs of Sunnyside with a Canadian climbing guide. We bicycled along the coast and caught glimpses of kite surfers and para gliders riding the surf and wind. We caught a ferry from Seattle, where we spent several days as well. We visited the Seattle Art Museum, where they had on display works inspired by the late Kurt Cobain and a collection of Andy Warhol films and photos. One of the highlights was being able to claim our "fifteen minutes of celebrity" by posting a picture taken at the museum photo booth on the wall of the Warhol exhibit. We spent three nights in an International Hostel, rather than a traditional hotel. Let's just say... it was different... not for the Holiday Inn crowd. Seattle is a great city to explore on foot with the huge City Market, parks along the waterfront and ferries to hop on and explore Puget Sound and the neighboring islands. Anyone wishing to see beautiful countryside and unique cityscapes should make to these two great places.

Gator Bait

Hey Fellows and Gals,

We did it! Dixie, Louie (our dog) and I completed the Paddle the Parks Challenge. The Georgia State Parks designed a canoe/kayak challenge for adventuresome people. They laid out six different paddling routes in six different state parks around Georgia. Complete all six then you are eligible to be initiated into the Paddle the Parks Club and receive a T-shirt recognizing your accomplishment. What the GA Park Service did not tell us was that four out of the six parks were blessed with a healthy alligator population! In fact, the Okefenokee Swamp, where we paddled over Memorial Weekend has so many alligators, that they do not allow dogs on watercraft in the park. Louie had to sit that one out in the Highlander. What a bummer! Well, who needs extra Gator Bait, when you are sitting six inches off the water, and there are over thirty alligators checking you out! I need my hands for more than just paddling a kayak. Ya know? Hope you are all having a great Memorial Day Weekend, and our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are coming home soon.

Could chiropractic have helped save Tiger Woods' neck?

Tiger Woods dropped out of The Players Championship this weekend, complaining of neck pain that was interfering with his ability to play. Neck pain is second only to low back pain for spinal conditions affecting Americans. Considering the abuse we give our necks, this should not be surprising. We sleep with too many pillows. We scrunch our cellphones between our neck and shoulders. We hunch over computers all day. We fall asleep on the couch. All these positions put physical strain on our neck. From minor stiffness to a full blown herniated disk , many who suffer from neck pain could be helped with regular chiropractic care. A healthy neck should be supple, pain-free and properly aligned so that the nerve endings leading to the head and arms are free of impingement.

Chiropractors specialize in detection and correction of the most common cause of neck pain, vertebral subluxation. Vertebral refers to the spinal bones, and subluxation refers to a partial dislocation. Chiropractic doctors experts in helping the underlying cause of neck pain, and working with patients to help relieve pain, restore mobility and free-up impingement to nerves.

Tiger... see your chiropractor. An adjustment today, may keep the surgeon away!

Climbing with a rock star!

Rockclimbing legend, Lynn Hill congratulates Frank Nederhand and Jamie Schantz, D.C. on their second place finish at the Craggin' Classic, hosted by the American Alpine Club this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN. Lynn Hill is best known for the first free ascent of the Nose Route on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California. She is now a rockclimbing ambassador for Patagonia.

Lynn is not just a talented climber, she is a warm and sensitive person. Just being in her presence was a thrill. I have read about her in magazines, seen her on posters and climbing videos. I got to help her sore hip with a chiropractic adjustment, for which she was very thankful. The next day we climbed together on Diamond Cutter (5.10b/c) at Foster Falls, then enjoyed the festivities at Urban Rocks in Chattanooga.

Roswell Bicycle Festival Chiropractic Booth

Our chiropractic intern, Barney Roca and I spent the day on Sunday providing check-ups and muscle work for participants of the Roswell Bicycle Festival, along with their family members and festival goers. Sunday was a gorgeous day after the torrential downpour on Saturday.

The most common physical complaints from bicycle riding are neck pain (from drop-down handle bars), pain and numbness in the wrist (from leaning on your wrist), low back pain (from keeping your spine flexed too long) and numbness in one foot (from having a short leg).
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective method to detect and help correct these disorders, and keep bicycle enthusiasts in the saddle.

Roswell Day of Hope

What an amazing day! Close to 500 needy people with backaches, neck pain, pinched nerves, bum knees and ankles getting chiropractic care... all for free! Seven local chiropractic doctors, along with our chiropractic intern, volunteered our services as part of the health care team for Roswell Day of Hope. This huge charity event provided health care services, haircuts, groceries, entertainment and Christian spiritual guidance for thousands of underprivileged men, women and children in North Fulton county, Georgia.

Spring Break, Not Spring Broken

Spring Break for some is their first round of golf or a trip to the beach. For others Spring Break is a chance to start on yardwork. Travel and yardwork can both take a toll on your body. How can you get through your Spring Break without getting broken? Well if you prepare yourself and be mindful of your body mechanics, you can decrease your risk factors.

Driving Risk Factors

1. Driving puts 300 lbs. per square inch of pressure on the disks in your lower spine. Hour after hour that you are behind the wheel adds to the build up of pressure that can cause bulging disks that make you stiff and ache. Make sure you take breaks to get out and stretch every few hours, regardless of whether you need gas or require a rest room break. By alleviating the build up of disk pressure, you may avoid a backache that plagues you the rest of your Spring Break.

2. Support your lower back when you drive. Use a lumbar cushion positioned so that it fills the gap between your backside and middle spine. Otherwise your lower spine will tend to slump foward and your body weight will put more pressure on your disks. Vehicles equipped with built-in lumbar supports may be adequate, if they inflate enough to do the job, and hit you in the precise spot.

3. Adjust your seat so your knees are slightly higher than your hips. This allows the weight of your upper body to be better absorbed by the back of the seat, rather than landing directly on your lower spine. Changing the angle of your seat back may be necessary on a long trip. Wait until your vehicle is stopped before re-adjusting your driver's seat.

Yard Work Risk Factors

1. Our spine works best and feels best when it is working in a balanced and aligned position. Reality is that the nature of yardwork is such that it frequently dictates us to be unbalanced and misaligned. That being said, one of the biggest risk factors for back pain is home ownership.

2. Warm-Up first. Think of yardwork as a sport. Most of us do some type of stretching or warm-up routine prior to playing a game of tennis or softball. Do the same thing before you do your yardwork. Here are a few stretches that will help.

Arms Over Head: Stand up and reach both arms over your head with your fingertips extended. Reach higher with your right hand, then your left hand. Alternate reaches until you have stretched 10x on each side.

Bend Over Stretch: Stand with your feet further apart than your shoulder width; your knees slightly bent. Bend over at the waist with your arms and head relaxed. Let your upper body gently stretch your lower back. Hold for a count of 10, and slowly come up. Repeat 3x.

Quadriceps Stretch: Stand with your weight on your right foot, bend your left knee and grab the back of your left ankle with you left hand. Bring your left ankle behind you, so that you are pulling it close to your buttocks. Hold for a count of 10 and repeat on the other side.

3. Remember to bend at your knees, not your waist, as much as possible. Kneeling and squatting are better on your back than leaning forward and bending at the waist. Keep your nose and your toes in the same alignment as you work, as to avoid twisting motions.

Should you end up with a backache, remember our motto: When in doubt, chill it out!

Use ice, rather that heat on a new injury or painful episode. See your chiropractor, if pain persists.

Happy Spring Break!

What can chiropractic do to help spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that affects as many as a half million Americans over the age of fifty, and it is rapidly becoming more common as the average age of Americans increases. Stenosis refers to thickening and hardening of the ligaments of the spine, along with decay in the disks. This causes narrowing of the spinal canal and/or opennings that allow the spinal nerves to travel to the pelvis and legs. The sad thing is that there is no good way to predict who will become affected by this disorder. The symptoms are characterized by nagging pain and stiffness in the lower back. It may be accompanied by pain that radiates into either or both legs, especially when walking for any distance. The classic sign of this condition is that the leg pains subside quickly with sitting or bending forward at the waist. So what can chiropractic do to help spinal stenosis? One of the most promising treatments is the Cox Decompression and Manipulation Method which helps to stretch the ligaments of the lower spine. By stretching the ligaments, their diameter becomes thinner, and they do not crowd the spinal nerves. The Cox Method also helps to increase the intradiscal space ( the area between the vertebrae) helping to alleviate disk degeneration. To find a chiropractor who is a Certified Cox Doctor in your area visit www.coxtechnic.com and click on Cox Physicians.

Becoming a Thought Leader

Thought Leadership is the intangible quality that an individual or group attains, when the public looks to them for guidance and advice on topics of importance. The Thought Leaders for illness and disease are medical doctors. The Thought Leaders for leaky pipes and clogged toilets are plumbers. The Thought Leaders for getting healthy and staying well without drugs or surgery are...CHIROPRACTORS! This may not be the natural train of thought for most people, but according to Dr. Guy Riekeman, President of Life University in Marietta, GA, this is the role that Doctors of Chiropractic need to take in the 21st century. Speaking to a group of about 40 members and guests of the Georgia Chiropractic Association District 1 in Sandy Springs Tuesday evening, Dr. Riekeman extolled the group that the chiropractic profession needs to start to engage the public and key decision makers on matters that involve getting healthy and staying well naturally. As the cultural authority of chiropractic continues to build, then the chiropractors will become the "Go-To" profession for advice and help. Pictured are Dr. James E. Schantz, President of GCA District I and Dr. Guy Riekeman, President of Life University.

What can my chiropractor do to help heel spurs?

Heel spurs are small deposits of bone-like calcium on the heel bone (calcaneus), usually on or near the bottom of the foot.

What causes heel spurs?

Opinions differ. Excessive stress on the foot may lead to a spur. Some experts thnk that spurs are a normal part of the aging process since they are more common in people over 50 years old.

What are the signs of a heel spur?

A heel spur may contribute to pain on the underside of the heel, sometimes thoroughout the entire bottom of the foot. The first few steps after waking up may feel very tender. Some improvement might be noticed as the day progresses, but the pain often returns and intensifies with standing and walking. The bottom or sides of the heel may be tender to the touch; a slight swelling may be noticed, and it may hurt to wiggle your toes.

Should a x-ray be taken of my foot?

Foot x-rays are the only way to know for sure if you have a heel spur. X-rays can also help rule out other causes of foot pain, such as a stress fracture or arthritis.

What can my chiropractor do to stop the pain?

There are 4 components to helping heel spur pain. Your treatment may include one or more of these components.

1.Reducing inflammation- Ice and other anti-inflammatory agents such as Biofreeze, Traumeel or Cryoderm.

2.Restoring functional movement and position- Manipulation of misaligned bones in the ankle, foot and pelvis.

3.Stretching and strengthening the muscles and tendons of the foot and ankle- Specific exercises and if necessary a stretching boot worn at night.

4. Support and Cushioning- Custom-fit orthotics with heel spur accommodations may be prescribed by your chiropractor. These help provide proper arch support and relieve stress on the fascia that attaches to your heel.

If you suffer from heel pain, tell your chiropractor.

Stayin' Alive-Stayin' Alive

Yes, we do play the Bee Gees on Saturday mornings, but "Stayin' Alive is more than just a great song. It is the rhythm by which you perform chest compression with CPR. Dr. Schantz, Karen and Jessica just renewed their certification for Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals.

Our practice is held to a high standard, because Dr. Schantz is not only licensed by the State of Georgia to practice Chiropractic, our office is credentialed by Kaiser Permanente, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, and other healthcare plans to provide safe and effective chiropractic care to children, adults and seniors. Being able to handle emergency situations is part of being a credentialed facility. Our training was conducted by Vonya Turry, a certified CPR trainer, who works with hospitals, medical practices and corporations. Now you can sleep even better at night knowing your chiropractic office will help you Stay Alive!

Are You a Committed Patient?

What kind of patient runs to our office when the temperature is in the teens, ice is on the roads and snow on the ground? You may say "Crazy", but I say "Committed".
Elaine is committed to maintaining a high energy and positive attitude. She is powered in part by regular chiropractic adjustments and Juice-Plus. Elaine knows that true health comes from the actions you take everyday to keep yourself well aligned and properly nourished. How else can she keep up a full-time job, run a Juice-Plus distributorship, be a mom, daughter and wife to a new husband? So if you happen to be driving down Crabapple Road, wave to Elaine as you see her running to our office.