Last minute Registration to the People's Bank Oktoberfest 5k Run/Walk this Saturday.

Online Registration closes Thursday.  http://www.peoplesbankwi.com/upcoming-events/oktoberfestrunwalk

Registration is open race morning from 7-8am with the run beginning at 9am.

ET Twilight Cross

UNITED Chiropractic, Sports & Rehabilitation is sponsoring the ET Twilight Cross, WCA's Only Nighttime Cyclocross Race on Saturday, September 28, 2013 in East Troy, WI. Come between 2-6 PM to receive a complimentary Active Release Technique treatment! 

Learn more:
http://wicycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FL_2013-3671.pdf

Never Forget

Ironman Week in Wisconsin

Good luck to those competing in this year's Ironman Wisconsin.  All of the hard work and sacrifice is about to pay off.  Take a deep breath, Relax, and prepare for the best 140.6 miles of your life.  See you at the finish line.

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/wisconsin.aspx#axzz2dpuGqPI1 

Wednesday Running Group

Weekly running group hosted by Dr. Paul for beginner runners who are interested in participating in Peoples Bank Oktoberfest 5k Run.

6 – 7 pm Wednesday Sept 11th thru Wednesday Oct. 16th

Meet at United Chiropractic (across from Lakeland Bakery)

• Wednesday social run/walk
• Training plan to complete a 5k run
• Stretching/Exercises to prevent running injuries
• Free Foam Roller
• Learn to have fun running

$30 due by the third session (all proceeds will go to Lakeland Animal Shelter)

FREE to those who are pre-registered for Peoples Bank Oktoberfest 5k Run

Register via Email at ucrehab@gmail.com or call the clinic at (262)723-3235. Please include your name, phone number and email address.

My Shoulder Hurts. . . .

Ever since I was involved in a bike crash a few years ago and sprained my right AC joint I’ve been prone to more aches and pains along the front of the shoulder.  It probably doesn’t help that I ask more of my shoulders than most given the amount of manual therapy I do with patients.  I admit it – I’m no different than most of my patient’s when it comes to rehab exercises . . .  I don’t like doing them.   I particularly despise the basic ER/IR exercises for the rotator cuff, but the fact of the matter is it helps.

Frankly, I’m tired of listening to myself complain and I’m looking forward to plenty of cross country skiing this fall so I decided to take a bit of my own advice and do something about it.  

Below is a modified exercise to improve the strength/endurance of the ER (external rotators) of the rotator cuff in a more functional position that will also tie in the hips and core (key areas for also for XC skiing and many other sports).   The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles that cover both the front and back of the shoulder blade (aka: scapula).   These muscles are very intimate with the shoulder joint acting as a “cuff” to stabilize the ball and socket joint throughout its 180° range of motion.   Weakness in the rotator cuff may result from old injuries, repetitive use, over-head throwing, typing (elbow unsupported), etc.   Keeping the rotator cuff muscles in peak condition is one of the best things you can do to improve athletic performance and prevent shoulder and neck injuries. 

I adopted a modified side-bridge position to help you (and myself) get the most bang out of your buck.  The purpose of this position is to facilitate neuromuscular control and stability in a controlled environment that easily carries over to an athletic position.  

Able Dave and the Vortex. . .

I love a good hard thunderstorm in the middle of a hot summer.  I don’t like waking up to the sound of water dripping down the face of our chimney and pooling in the fire place.  Water is wonderful thing except when it starts to creep in where you don’t want it –then it’s a problem.  

Able Dave was the guy we chose to identify the leak and fix it (which he did). . . it took him three visits and eventually a water test to identify the smallest of cracks in the mortar where water was literally pouring in.

Able Dave was seemingly determined to fix the problem and where most would become a little flustered or deterred he carried on in a positive up-beat manner.  As he was finishing we struck up a conversation about positive thinking, circumstance and realizing the positive out of all situations.  “There’s no wrong place wrong time, only right place right time . . .”   he went on to share a story about getting pulled over by a cop while he was on his motorcycle.   Able Dave went on to elaborate about the situation stating he was in a really good place emotional and spiritually so he didn’t understand why he was 15mph over the speed limit.  In the end he was given a warning and went on his way – still a little confused about why he was speeding.  Less than a mile up the road he came upon an accident where a car had blown through a stop sign and T-boned another vehicle.  Able Dave understood why he was pulled over “right place right time”. 

Before he left he showed me something he made over the winter to help “keep me in balance”.  It was piece of hickory that he inscribed positive messages and reminders about what is really important in life.  He called it the Vortex and carries it with him all the time.   It’s a gentle reminder to focus on the positive in the situation and avoid focusing on negative thoughts.  Whether or not you believe in the law of attraction I think we can all agree that we are attracted to those that emit a positive vibration.

Science is starting to catch up to the law of attraction.  Research is now suggesting that what we think about can actually affect our wellbeing.  Individuals who have pain tend to have quicker outcomes when they focus on what they can do (function) versus how much pain they are in or what they can’t do (disability).  Getting out of pain is just a side effect of improved function and positive thinking.  Next time you stop by the clinic tell us what you would like to do better and we’ll work on getting you there.

Thanks for reading,

-Dr. Paul

P.S.  I know a good chimney guy if you need oneJ

Grandma Count after her appointment this morning.

 91 years old and she walked to the clinic this morning.  She says her secret to staying healthy is walking 8 blocks every day and milking cows on the farm when she was younger.

Chiropractic Care

Fall sports are right around the corner

Do you know if you are at risk for a non-contact ACL injury??  Feel free to contact our clinic to see if you are at risk and what you can do to prevent this season ending injury

Chiropractic for Athletes

We are a nation that loves our professional sports. From the fresh cut grass of the Baseball field, to the majestic scenery of the Tour de France we find hope, inspiration and motivation in our favorite athletes. For many of us this sparks the desire at a very early age to challenge our own limits in sport, and others pick up sports a little bit later in life for the social aspect and health benefits. Regardless, it is now easier than ever to find organized sporting events, clubs, or social groups to keep you motivated and test yourself against others. While most of us will never get the chance to feel the emotion behind winning the Super Bowl or hitting the fade away jump shot to secure a trip the playoffs - the one thing we will experience, almost guaranteed, is injury.

“The elastic is going to snap” is a term often used in cycling that denotes a situation when a rider or small group of riders are at their limit, usually just barely hanging on to the back of the main group. The smallest increase in speed will cause them to lose contact with the main group and wala. . . . they are spit off the back and their race is over. I found myself experiencing this on a recent group ride and thought the comparison fitting to many of the injuries athletes bring me in the clinic.
The human skeleton is held together and controlled by soft tissues (muscle, ligament, tendon and nerve) and some of the basic properties of the musculoskeletal system can be compared to an elastic rubber band. You can pull on the ends of the rubber band and it will snap back into its original resting position (similar to demands of workout). Pull a little bit harder and the some of the elastic fibers might tear or deform a little bit and the rubber band won’t quite get back to its original resting position. Now let’s leave the rubber band out in the sun to bake a bit and then pull it just as hard as before. Now we have less elasticity in the rubber band and fewer fibers to resist against the work load and wala. . . the rubber band snaps!!!
While this may be over simplification this is exactly how many athletes get injured. Small tears in the muscle that normally occur during training are not allowed to heal completely leading to micro bits of inflammation in/around the soft tissues (muscle, nerve, ligament, tendon). This results in reduced elasticity (i.e. tightness, loss of ROM) and less tolerance to force. Yet the athlete can keep increasing the training load (mileage, intensity, weight, etc.) without seeing a dramatic change in performance (we tend to be great compensators). Then a few stressful days at work/home, a few poor meal choices, sacrificing the recovery workout for a “quality speed workout” (more work = more fitness) and wala . . . the athlete wakes up the next morning with a mysterious pain on the side of the knee and can hardly go down stairs. The rubber band snapped.
Chiropractic can help restore normal tissue tolerances and structural alignment to reduce the risk of injury. A specific functional movement assessment can quickly identify areas that demonstrate poor control of movement and a hands-on assessment can determine the quality of tissue elasticity. Tissues that demonstrate poor elasticity are often dense, stiff and tender when put through specific range of motion. Improving movement at key joints with manipulation can help to further reduce unwanted stress to elastic tissues.
Here are few signs that you might be getting close to snapping the rubber band:

• Stiffness, achiness, or loss of range of motion that doesn’t improve with activity.
• Pain or stiffness first thing in the morning, particularly at the feet and calves.
• General fatigue, muscle soreness that doesn’t improve with a few days of easy workouts.
• Muscles are tender to the touch (quads, IT-band, calves, hip, shoulders, etc.)
• Cramping or mild sensation of a “tweaked” muscle during a workout
• Any changes in technique or body position during your sport (i.e. hand is not entering the water properly for a swimmer, running more bent over than usual, etc.)

Here are a few suggestions that may help with recovery and ward off injury:

• Reduce your training volume by 30-50% every 2nd or 3rd week
• Consume a recovery drink within 30 minutes of working out
• Drink plenty of water with electrolytes (Gatorade doesn’t count) before, during and after workouts
• Use a foam roller or other self-massaging techniques to reduce muscle stiffness and soreness on a regular basis (at least 2-3x per week)
• Consume more foods that have anti-inflammatory properties (fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc.) and avoid foods that are inflammatory (sugar, saturated fats, breads, etc.).
• Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night
• Follow a regular strengthening and stretching routine specific to you and your sport

These are just a few suggestions about how athletes can help reduce the risk of injury and improve athletic performance. If you have further questions about this article, the services we provide, or your specific situation, please contact our office at 262-723-3235. We hope to see you soon.

Meet Gus

It was too hot to chase chipmunks today so he was helping out with Medicare Audits and greeting people at the clinic.  He'll be around the clinic every now and then.   He's a bit of a low rider so watch where your step.

Neck Pain

Some common causes of neck pain include: trauma or an injury, high levels of stress, falling asleep in an awkward position, and whiplash injuries from auto accidents.
Symptoms of neck pain include:

• General pain in the neck area accompanied by some stiffness
• Pain that may extend down between the shoulder blades, out along the arms, or up into the head
• Tense muscles in the neck that are sore to the touch
• A prickling or tingling sensation in the arms and fingers

Your chiropractor will have you undergo an examination that can include: testing the range of movement of the neck, testing for trapped nerves, examination of the muscles, and examination of the movement of the spine and neck. In some cases, X-rays or blood work may be performed to determine an exact diagnosis.