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As a Chiropractor, one of the most common questions I am asked is, “Should I use heat or ice?” The answer depends on what type of injury you are trying to treat. Both cold and superficial heat can decrease the symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries and pain. The most general answer is always use ice for acute injuries (within the past 72 hours) and use a combination of ice and heat for chronic (long-standing) injuries. However, to make the best decision, you need to understand what ice and heat can do. ICE Applying ice to an injured muscle or joint can …

Ms. Johnson was on her way to start a new job as an accountant when she was rear-ended by a drunk driver. Although she had no visible injuries, she noticed her head and neck didn’t feel quite right after the accident. Severe headaches and neck pain plagued her for the next several years. Physical therapy made little difference and prescription painkillers and muscle relaxers made her feel more “like a Zombie” than herself. Then one day she heard that chiropractic care could help with her headaches. She scheduled an appointment to see if there was anything that could be done …

In today’s world, being online and reading blogs (like this one) can be done in a variety of different ways and in countless locations. Technology has reached a point where, aside from a wifi connection,  there doesn’t have to be much similarity at all in how we take in information. There is one thing, however, that anybody reading this blog, whether it be now or in the future, has in common; we are all breathing. On average, each of takes 16 breaths per minute, which equates to 23,040 breaths per day or 8,409,600 breaths per year! Breathing is one of …

Believe it or not but winter is almost here, and it can bring with it bouts of the blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is your body’s response to the decreased sunlight during the days of autumn and winter. Generally, SAD is subtle. While some people do plunge into a deep depression as the seasons change, more often the winter blues are mild. Almost 1 out of every 5 Americans get some degree of SAD with the changing seasons, with higher risk in darker, more northern locales (like Minnesota). Common symptoms include: Increased sleep Fatigue Apathy Depressed mood Trouble focusing Four …

If there is one vitamin in the world that can help optimize a person’s health and well-being is Vitamin D. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency was associated with the bone disease rickets, but since the disease is now rare, we are seeing other problems caused by vitamin D deficiency. Fortunately, this vitamin can be made and absorbed into the body for free when time is spent in the sun. However, that may not be enough for most to achieve optimal health. Additionally, since many people around the world spend more time indoors than outdoors, achieving adequate blood levels from the sun …