Headaches are a very common problem.  Research shows that 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches at some point in their lives.  Some headaches are quite mild and not much more than a temporary annoyance.  Others can be debilitating, causing interference with normal daily activities and putting strain on relationships.  There have been several studies that show that chiropractic care is more effective than medication in treating tension type headaches, and here at Broomfield Family Chiropractic we are having great success with this condition.  We focus first on helping people prevent the condition, then treat the headache if it does become a problem.

Broomfield Family Chiropractic has some tips and suggestions on how to avoid getting tension type headaches.  First, if you work long hours in a static position, such as in front of a computer, get up and stretch every 30 minutes or so.  Second, stay hydrated.  Third, after work, or even at lunchtime, take a walk for about half an hour.  Lastly, try to relax you jaw, don’t clench your teeth.  Doing all of these should help you avoid tension type headaches.

If you do get a headache, chiropractic care should be your first choice for treatment.  Many tension type headaches originate in the neck, and chiropractic adjustments are exactly what is needed to correct the problem.  We recommend having a thorough examination to determine the exact cause of the problem, and specific treatment to correct the condition.  In addition, we can look at the ergonomic factors that may be contributing to the condition and offer advice on how to correct these” says Dr. Schrad.  It is important to note that the goal of chiropractic care when treating headaches is to find the cause of the problem and correct it, whereas taking medication is working to cover the symptoms.

Broomfield Family Chiropractic is offering free consultations through the summer to make getting the care you need easier.  This no pressure, no obligation offer expires on August 31st, so be sure to act today! 

We are introducing the use of a technique designed to find the cause of and solution to low back pain.  The technique, called lumbar flexion/distraction, is one of the most researched, widely accepted, and effective treatment procedures in chiropractic.  It is a relatively low force technique, designed specifically for people suffering with spinal disc problems, sciatica, leg pain, and low back pain.  Patients rave about the technique, not only because of its effectiveness, but because they know exactly how it works and what to expect, thanks to Dr. Mike taking the time to explain everything before treatment even begins.

The first step in the effective utilization of this technique, and perhaps the most important, is diagnosing the cause of the pain.  Dr. Mike works to not only find the physical cause of the problem, but goes deeper, digging to find what may have contributed to the onset of the physical cause.  He then designs a treatment plan to address the physical cause, pain, and daily activities that may have been affected by the problem.  In addition, ergonomic advice, nutritional recommendations and physical exercises and stretches to address the “cause of the cause” are assigned at the appropriate time. 

The actual lumbar flexion/distraction treatment itself, as mentioned above, is low force.  This means very little pushing and twisting of the spine.  You lie on a specially designed treatment table, Dr. Mike brings your spine through specific movements.  These movements are designed to relieve pressure from the nerves and surrounding tissues at the exact place your problem is located.  Again, we go above and beyond at this point, by addressing the soft tissue/muscular component to your problem utilizing the latest in physiotherapy procedures before or after your chiropractic treatment. 

Over time, the goal of this treatment is to reduce your pain levels and get you back to your normal daily activities.  The ergonomic, nutritional and exercise/stretching programs have the goal of stabilizing the problem area.  For further information on low back pain or chiropractic treatment of low back pain, or to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION with Dr. Mike, call us at 720-DOC-BACK (720-362-2225) today!

How do you find the right chiropractor for you in Broomfield?  This is a tough question, as there are many doctors of chiropractic, many of whom practice very differently.  The first step is to ask your friends.  Often times, your friends will have been to a chiropractor in Broomfield and will have a good recommendation for you, and give you an idea of what to expect when you come in for your first visit.  Asking your medical doctor for a referral may be a good idea also.

Finding a doctor of chiropractic in Broomfield with a valid chiropractic license and training from one of the top chiropractic schools is also important.  Unfortunately, there are short programs out there that “train” students in “chiropractic”.  This is totally unacceptable, as legitimate chiropractic schools require prior education for admittance, involve extensive training in human anatomy and physiology similar to and even exceeding what is required in medical schools, and more than a year of hands on clinical training. 

When choosing a chiropractor in Broomfield, ask how frequently they order x-rays.  Many chiropractors will order x-rays frequently, and this is unnecessary, as current research reveals no value in this practice.  Also, avoid chiropractors who insist you continue your care indefinitely.  A good chiropractor will locate and diagnose your ailment, and development a treatment plan with clear goals and a clear end point of active care.  Many people choose to continue with a form of maintenance care after the treatment plan is completed, but this should not be a requirement for beginning care and should always be optional. 

Many chiropractors in Broomfield offer a complimentary consultation, where you can come in and sit down with the doctor to talk about your condition and whether chiropractic may be able to help you.  This is a great option when looking for a chiropractor in Broomfield on your own, without a referral.  This gives you a chance to get to know you prospective doctor of chiropractic before any care begins. 

If you have any questions, or would like to sit down with the doctor at Broomfield Family Chiropractic for a free consultation, look us up on the web at http://www.broomfieldfamilychiropractic.com or call us at 720-362-2225.  We hope this article sets you on the right track to finding the right Broomfield chiropractor for you, and look forward to hearing from you!

Recently the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters had their recommendations accepted in the National Guideline Clearinghouse.  This is a significant development, as the CCGPP collected evidence on the effectiveness of manual therapies in the treatment of several conditions.  They analyzed this and boiled it down to what can now be considered the most accepted documents in guiding chiropractic practice and procedures.
So what does this mean for you?  Essentially, you can now access these documents and see if your doctor of chiropractic is following what is generally accepted as efficacious chiropractic treatment procedures.  You can now have expectations before you see your DC, and your DC will be held to these standards.  Below you will find the link to the CCGPP website, where you can access these documents, or you can ask to borrow them when you come in for your appointment, if you are so inclined. 

http://www.ccgpp.org/

There's been a TON of news lately on health care reform and what it's passage will mean for you, the country, and health in general.  I will not go into any of that here (you're probably happy about that!)  I would simply like to pose a question.  Is what we think of in this country health care or sick care?  What will this reform do to emphasize HEALTH, not just covering sickness? 

It is unfortunate that we are focused on providing care for the sick, while not making a huge effort to prevent that sickness in the first place.  I contend that part of the problem in bringing about true health care is the current emphasis on evidence based medicine.  Don't get me wrong, evidence based medicine is great for our current model, demonstrating best practices and what is the most efficacious choice in patient care for many conditions.  However, it is difficult to design a study including sufficient numbers of people over a sufficient amount of time demonstrating "prevention" of health conditions.  Controlling variables in a situation like this is almost impossible.  So, the alternative to reliance on evidence based medicine in a health care system based on HEALTH, is reliance on clinical judgment, logic and common sense.

What do you think?  How can we put more emphasis on HEALTH?

If there were a dog days of winter, this would be it!  It's the middle of February and cabin fever is beginning to set in.  You are starting to feel out of shape, and a little bad that the kids haven't been getting much exercise.  What can be done?

1 - Go sledding.  Everyone think of skiing and Colorado, but if you don't want to make the drive to the mountains, this can be a blast.  If there happens to be enough snow on your favorite sledding hill, head on over for a few runs.  The kids will have a blast, and will get some great exercise in the process.  Be careful though, after a long, slumbering winter, that hill might be killer.  Be careful not to overdo it, but push yourself.

2 - Go for a nice long hike. The mountains might be buried in the snow this time of year, but down here in the front range, we tend to have a little less (our little secret!)  Because of this, there are plenty of opportunities to take a nice, long hike with the family.  Head on over to Westminster Hills Open Space, where you can even let the dog off leash and take a nice, LONG hike.  You'll be amazed at the amount of area allowed for off leash walking.

3 - Head over to your local rec center.  In Broomfield, we are lucky to have to decent rec centers.  For some fun with the kids try the Paul Derda Rec Center.  They have a great pool with water slides and a zero depth entry area.  That's sure to keep 'em entertained and burn off some of those winter calories.  No kids?  You can put in a good workout there also, with an extensive weight room and plenty of cardio machines.  Also, try the climbing wall or shoot some hoops.  All for about 5 bucks apiece.

4 - I can hardly believe I am going to say this (and you won't believe it either if you know me), but if it's just bone chilling cold and there is nothing to do, head over to Flatirons and walk the mall.  The kids will have fun people watching and window shopping, and you will get a little exercise to boot.

What do you do with your family to combat cabin fever?  Leave your comments below!

Interesting article on the "fat acceptance movement".  There are definitely positives and negatives to this, and it seems to come down to mental vs. physical health on some level. 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/06/fat.acceptance/index.html?eref=rss_health&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

2010 is going to be an exciting year here at Broomfield Family Chiropractic.  We have several events planned, and will be adding more as the year goes on.  Here's a quick preview;
January
18th-22nd - Healthy Weight Week    - Article on what healthy weight is and isn't.
    - Information and assistance on healthy weight loss strategies.

February
All month is Healthy Heart Month
    - Free blood pressure screening for all current and prospective patients.    - Article on blood pressure and effects on health, what 120/80 really means.
Open House February 17th 4-7 pm.
    - Free consultations on the spot.
    - Demonstration using Primal 3D, see what the inside of your body looks like!
    - Refreshments.
    - Special offer only for attendees!

March
All month is National Nutrition Month
    - Article on nutritional considerations for an anti-inflammatory diet.
    - Participate in our healthy recipes exchange.March 31st is Kick Butts Day
    - Complimentary new patient examination and first treatment when you bring in your last pack of cigarettes and commit to quit.

April
All month is Humor Month
    - Joke of the day, every day, for your daily laugh!
    - Check the blog daily!
All month is Youth Sports Safety Month
    - Free Functional Capacity Examination with every youth new patient visit or sports physical in the month of April.
      - Designed to detect compensatory movement patterns that can lead to injuries.April 22nd is Earth Day
    - Complimentary new patient examination when you bring in your recyclable materials, which we will recycle at the Broomfield Recycling Center.

May
All month is Better Sleep Month
    - Free raffle for all existing patients, to win cervical water pillow, a $75 value.
    -Receive a free entry at each visit during the month of May.
    - Article on Ways to Get a Better Night's Sleep.
All month is Correct Posture Month
    - Free posture screening for all current and prospective patients.
    - Emphasis on ergonomic advice throughout the month.
May 3rd - 7th
    - Carnations for all patients who are mothers.
May 24th - 28th
    -Bike to Work Week
      - Complimentary new patient examination when to come for your appointment on your bike.
June
June 7th - 11th is Headache Awareness Week
    -Free spinal screening examination to see if chiropractic may be of benefit in treating your headache.
    - Article on How Chiropractic can Relieve Your Headache, Permanently.
June 14th - 18th is Men's Health Week
    - All fathers will be entered into a drawing to win a round of golf with the doc.
June 23rd - 11am - 2 pm
    - Patient Appreciation BBQ Lunch
    - We will be grilling out in the parking lot, free lunch!!!

What is wellness?  This is becoming a very important question.  It has been a trendy buzzword in recent years, with little formal organization of what actually constitutes wellness.  Every health care provider has put his or her spin on it, aiming at "optimizing" health.  With the health care reform package that is likely to make it into law, this concept of wellness will become very important.  This is because there will be a new emphasis on wellness due to insurance companies having an interest in actually keeping their clients healthy.  Why, you may ask?
In the past, health insurance companies could deny coverage to those who were sick and likely to cost them a lot of money.  Therefore, they could pick and choose who to cover, protecting their profits.  With the provisions that health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage, they will be better served by actually trying to keep clients healthy and out of the doctor's office for expensive problems.  Prevention will be the new goal.  This sounds great, but there are some major problems.
The first and biggest problem is that health insurance companies have NO idea what true wellness is.  This is an industry that has been in the business of providing sick care for decades, not health care.  (Thanks fellow chiropractors and President Obama for that little bomb!)  Think about it, do you go to see your doctor when you are healthy?  Unless you are under routine chiropractic care, probably not.  You only go to see your doctor when you are sick or something is wrong.  Health insurance companies have had little interest in helping you become well.  They have always and will continue to provide the bare minimum for you to be functional.  Therefore, they have never truly provided (paid for) "wellness" care, and have no idea what is truly beneficial.
The second problem, and this is directly related to the first, is who will step in to define wellness?  You can already see the pharmaceutical companies jumping in to get their piece of the wellness pie.  Turn on the TV and you are sure to see ads for Lipitor, Vytorin, Crestor, Zetia, etc. which are supposed to "keep you healthy" by lowering your cholesterol.  Have erectile dysfunction, well take Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, etc. for better "quality of life."  High blood pressure, there's a pill for that.  Type 2 diabetes, there's a pill for that.  Don't forget the immunizations too.  What began as an honest effort to eradicate some terrible diseases such as polio has morphed into a never ending push to eliminate more and more illnesses that are less and less harmful, so that mom and dad won't have to miss work to stay at home with the kids when they are sick.  Just down the street from my practice is an "Immunization Wellness Clinic".  What an oxymoron! 
The third problem is that professions that do and always have emphasized a true concept of wellness simply can't compete with the deep pockets of the pharmaceutical companies in making this push to define wellness.  The pharmaceutical companies have what seems like a never ending loop (we health care professionals might call it a pathological positive feedback loop) set up with the government in that they donate tons of money to politicians, have laws written to make drugs "more readily available, " which helps them make more money, which the can donate to.....and on and on.  Of course they will have influence to define wellness, almost solely by themselves, ensuring more elective "lifestyle" or "wellness" or "preventative" drugs are sold!
The crux of the problem is this...  if you are taking a pill or getting an immunization to prevent a condition for which you would have to take a pill...aren't you missing the boat somewhere?  How is taking something to avoid having to take something better?  Wouldn't you be better served if your body could do what it was designed to do in the first place?  Be healthy?  Fight disease?  This would surely save insurance companies money.  In fact, many research papers have shown that regular chiropractic care does just that! 
So what is wellness.  Is it only absence of disease, or is it optimal physical and mental health?  I believe that simple absence of disease, or what I call "bare minimum wellness" is what  most people and insurance companies will view as "wellness".  This is something that you could certainly take a pill for!  It's easy to avoid "disease" by getting immunized and taking medication.  However, wouldn't it be much better to not have to take a pill in the first place?  If you were to achieve optimal physical and mental health, which we as healthcare professionals should be able to help you do, wouldn't that be ideal?  If there is to be an emphasis on "wellness", don't be fooled into accepting anything less. 
Chiropractic has always stood at the forefront of the wellness movement.  Our philosophy is based on allowing the body to do what it was designed to do (keep itself healthy, in a nutshell) by removing interference to natural processes.  In the current debate, we have more to say about healthy lifestyles than any other healthcare profession, and still seem to have been pushed aside.  This is not acceptable.  I propose that we fight.  Fight for our rightful place at the table of the future of healthcare.  Fight for our definition of true wellness.  Most importantly, fight for the health of our patients.

Surprising finding changing what has been held as "conventional wisdom" for years.  This study shows that carrying more weight does not lead to disc degeneration, and in fact may provide some benefit in disc health and bone density.
http://www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/PIIS1529943009010225/abstract?rss=yes

A systematic review of the literature investigating occupational bending and twisting as a causative factor in low back pain.  Ultimately shows that the literature is conflicting on this, and demonstrates a weakness in relying solely on research for recommendations and determining causation.  Does state that bending and twisting is not likely the sole cause, but stops short of saying that it is a factor.  This would seem to defy what is common sense if you have experienced LBP associated with work.
http://www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/PIIS1529943009002733/abstract?rss=yes

Another systematic review examining awkward occupational postures at work and their relationship to the development of LBP.  Again, as above, there seems to be no relationship according to current research.  These two studies complicate what is commonly thought of as contributing to LBP.  They really show how complicated and multifaceted low back pain is.
http://www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/S1529-9430%2809%2900913-9/abstract