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!