Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre

Acid Reflux and Neck Pain

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:20:00 +0000

It should be no small wonder that doctors who examine patients with chronic neck pain also may find acid reflux. Are these related symptoms? Some doctors think so...

Applied Kinesiologists are doctors trained to detect such relationships in the body. A frequent occurrence of neck pain may not just be a neck pain, according to chiropractors, medical doctors, or osteopaths trained in Applied Kinesiology (AK) evaluation.

Patients often relate to "sleeping wrong" or "sleeping in a funny position". If only the body were so simple, a person could just stop that activity. Fortunately, AK doctors are educated in the intricacies of the body from a holistic perspective, or looking at the entire body as one functioning unit. Shouldn't all doctors? After all, the entire body is all connected.

This discussion will cover a very common cause for neck pain- a Hiatal Hernia, or Hiatus Hernia. This is not the normal type of hernia, nor is surgery recommended. A hiatal hernia is a condition where the highest portion of the stomach has been pushed into a small opening (hiatus) of a muscle, called the diaphragm.

A myriad of symptoms can occur due to a hiatal hernia, such as headache, migraines, dysphagia, difficulty swallowing food or pills, neck pain, frozen shoulder or neck, acid reflux, heartburn, TMJ, and indigestion. The most common symptom is neck pain due to the mechanical connection between the stomach, esophagus, and neck muscles.

Chiropractic is an effective method of correcting both the neck dysfunction and stomach dysfunction , at the same time. Hiatal hernia is not always a surgical case. In fact, it is a routine procedure in most Applied Kinesiology-based practices. Patients are able to be treated in a comfortable manner without the use of drugs and surgery. Applied Kinesiology doctors have been taught to release a hiatal hernia manually, with minimal discomfort.

For more information, contact Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre at 919-968-4417.

Your Knee Pain May Be Caused By Flat Feet & Pronated Arches

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Knee pain is such a common occurrence that most people consider it a "part of their body" that won't go away. Arthritis is commonly blamed as the culprit, yet it is our clinical experience that the arthritis is merely a result of a chronic problem rather than the cause. That does not mean that arthritis cannot be the initial cause of a joint problem, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, yet it is uncommon.

Look well to the feet for the cause of the common knee pain.

The ACL (or anterior cruciate ligament) is probably the most injured ligament in the knee. It often becomes unstable due to a weakening of the Quadricep muscle. This large muscle keeps the upper leg bone, the Femur, directly in line with the lower leg bone, the Tibia. Fallen arches in the foot, otherwise called pronated arches, allow the Tibia to rotate out of position, thus forcing the quadricep muscle to work harder. This chronic strain on the knee, especially in overweight individuals, causes small muscle tears where these supporting muscles attach to bones.

Doctors educated in Applied Kinesiology have been trained to treat such conditions in the knee. Despite degeneration in the knee joints, patients typically experience improvement within several treatments. Foot support using orthotics is suggested to reduce rotation of the Tibia. Direct treatment of the knee may only supply short-term relief if the cause of the joint dysfunction is not determined. This is why proper foot, knee, and hip analysis is a wise idea.

Any doctor proficiently trained in Applied Kinesiology has the ability to assess all joints of the body and accompanying muscles.

Hope you enjoyed this information...~Dr. Fox

tags:
fallen arches, plantar fascitis, Knee Pain, quadricep strain, ACL, Anterior Cruciate Ligament, meniscus tear, Osgood Schlatters, Knee Tendonitis, Knee Surgery, Knee Rehabilitation

Chapel Hill Doctors Trained in Functional Medicine

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:22:00 +0000

The Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre is proud to offer the Chapel Hill community a functional medicine approach to health. Functional medicine is a method of treating the body as a whole, rather than the sum of its parts. Doctors trained in Holistic health realize the importance of a "total-body approach" to health that goes beyond the Western medicine approach, which typically focuses on individual organ systems of the body without much respect to the entire function of the body.

Doctors who focus on functional medicine may or may not use pharmaceutical drugs in their approach to patient health. At Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre, our doctors utilize diet, clinical nutrition, and lifestyle modification to achieve optimum health, without the use of pharmaceutical drugs.

Our methods of detection are the cornerstone of our success....Applied Kinesiology and other methods of evaluation give our doctors a strong advantage in early detection and prevention of health problems, rather than allowing them to progress to a life-threatening problem or illness. Applied Kinesiology incorporates techniques used in many alternative medicine fields including, osteopathy, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy, homeopathy, and also medicine.

A person trained in Applied Kinesiology must be a licensed doctor. Applied Kinesiology (or "AK"), is a method of muscle testing used to evaluate nervous system interference caused by chemical, physical, or even emotional imbalances in the body. AK is not meant to replace "standard methods" of diagnosing problems, yet it adds greatly to a practitioner's ability to discover hidden dysfunction in the body. When it comes to detection, Eastern and Western medicine methods of diagnosis are extremely powerful together, yet many Functional Medicine doctors prefer to use Eastern methods of treatment.

This combination of "Eastern/Western diagnosis" with "Eastern treatment" bridges a large gap between the two world of treatment styles, which is why Applied Kinesiology doctors are on the cutting edge of treatment and prevention...not the cutting edge of a surgeon's knife.

How to Cut your Grocery Bill, Eat Healthy, and Save Money

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Everyone is looking for ways to save money. Consumable items are one of the most obvious areas of savings. I am often asked how we manage to keep our grocery budget low, and the tips below will help you find ways to slice your grocery bill by at least 20 percent...

Plan a Menu
Write the menu on the family calendar that has everything else on it. The activities listed on this calendar will trigger your thoughts on who will be available for each day's meals. It will also highlight crunch days so you can plan accordingly. Days where you are running kids around after school or work may require a slow cooker meal. The family calendar helps you recognize these days and plan accordingly. One key element for saving the 20% is to use your favorite store's sales flier when planning the menu which leads me to the next item.

Shop the Sales
If you do not get the weekly sales flier delivered, look online. I review our store's flier on the web each week. Plan your menu around the meats and produce that are on sale that week. If there is a particularly good sale item that you use often make a note to stock up on it. Over time, you get a general feel for how much of one item you might need before the next sale. Many areas repeat sales every twelve weeks. I find that certain items go on sale much more frequently. I am fairly aware of how often the sales come around for my most commonly used ingredients. In my house, this week's menu will have sale items from both last week's and this week's ads. If ground beef family packs are at a super low price, you can stock up and use it for several weeks. I generally bring the sales flier to the dinner table one night and mention the meats and produce on sale. I ask family members what sounds good to them and get other requests for the grocery list. Make your menu from the sales flier and then make your grocery list using both the menu and the sales flier.

Buy Only What You Need
I make my grocery list on business reply envelopes from junk mail inserts. It provides a place for the coupons and cash. We all know that you are supposed to make a list and stick to it. That is impossible for me but not impossible for my husband. I am the family cook so when I go through the store, I end up spending more. Sure, I might pick up an item or two that should have been on the list but reality is that I pick up a lot of things that we really do not need. So, my husband takes the list, shops only the list and comes home with whatever is on the list. I chuckle as I write this because it is important to note that he calls me at least twice during every grocery excursion. If everyone is agreeable, give this chore to the one who is most likely to spend the least.

Cook from scratch
There are those who are clueless on how to cook from scratch and know it, there are those who think they are scratch cooks, and finally, there are those who really are scratch cooks. I ask people to check their pantries and refrigerators to determine which kind of cook they are. True scratch cooks usually don't have a lot of the following:

. Boxed mixes such as pancake mix, brownie mix, cake mix, seasoned noodle mixes, seasoned rice mixes, and muffin mixes.
. Jarred items such as meat marinades, pasta sauces, cheese sauces/dips, and salad dressings.
. Packet mixes such as taco seasoning, gravy packets, and soup packets.
. Bottles of iced tea, sports drinks, chocolate milk, and sweet drinks.
. Cans of soup, enchilada sauces, chili, ready-made pasta dishes, and spaghetti sauce.

If you routinely buy a lot of the items above, that isn't scratch cooking. Scratch cooking is making nacho cheese sauce using a basic white sauce and cheese. Scratch cooking is making pancakes and muffins using flour, sugar, milk, oil and eggs. Scratch cooking means making gravy from pan drippings, taco seasoning from spices kept on hand, and iced tea by boiling tea bags in water. Scratch cooks make their own chili and a lot of their own soups. Scratch cooks use basic brown or white rice and season it accordingly. I do not wish to imply that scratch cooking is necessarily the best way to cook, but it certainly is the cheapest way to cook. Most scratch cooks have their favorite packets, boxes and jars, but for the most part, you won't find their pantry full of them.

If you realize that maybe you are not a scratch cook, there are all sorts of websites and cookbooks that can help you become one. It is very rewarding because it allows you to have more control over the quality of food you serve your family in addition to saving money. If you choose not to be a scratch cook, make note of the prepared items you buy regularly and know what the rock bottom prices are for them and try to buy them at those prices.

Clean Like Grandma Did
Cleaning supplies has gotten very fancy and very disposable. It is also very expensive. Think about how your grandmother cleaned windows. She probably used basic ingredients like ammonia, vinegar and water. She probably used old newspapers to wash her windows. Take a hard look at your cleaning supplies and see how it compares to Grandma's. Is your glass cleaner now a pack of wipes rather than an off brand bottle that requires a rag? Is your furniture cleaner now a wipe? Does your duster and toilet brush now require disposable replacements? These things are very convenient but add greatly to the grocery bill. My cleaning supplies consist of some very basic items such as ammonia, bleach, soap, and lots of rags made from old t-shirts, towels and sheets. When you wish to save money in any area, consider how grandma handled it.

Prepare for Tomorrow's Meal Tonight
This suggestion came from a frugality book I read several years ago. This alone, saves our family about $100 a month. I know from personal experience that one of the hardest things to do at the end of a busy workday is to come home and cook dinner. Regardless of our vocations, we family cooks are busy all day. Thinking ahead by one day can save your family hundreds of dollars a year by avoiding fast food and restaurant meals. When I think ahead by one day, it almost guarantees we will eat at home the next day instead of heading to a restaurant. How many times have you eaten out because you forgot to thaw the meat? When cooking and cleaning up dinner tonight, take some steps to prepare tomorrow night's meal. Check the menu, verify you have the ingredients, gather the ingredients and place them front and center on the counter or on a shelf, and pull out the meat to thaw. If you are going to use the slow cooker, put all the ingredients in the crock and place it in the fridge. If you need another family member to start the process before you get home tomorrow night, put up the reminder sticky note tonight. If you need to marinate meat, whip up the marinade tonight and put a note on the garage door or fridge to remind yourself to pour the marinade over the meat in the morning. Also take the time to pack tomorrow's lunches for those who need one. My husband and teens clean up so I am free to work on these other things while they are busy. A nice benefit is that we are all in the kitchen after dinner still spending family time together. This simple change in habit of starting the process the night before saves us a minimum of $40 a week because it stops us from eating out.

Put Smorgasbord Night on the Menu
This represents one of those things I thought everyone did and was surprised to learn otherwise. Smorgasbord night is our term for using leftovers. It is best understood if I describe a typical night. The night before grocery shopping day, I will do smorgasbord night. What I do is inventory everything we have not eaten during the week. I make a special effort to use anything that has a short life span. I generally display all the smorgasbord items on a big white platter or large cutting board for appeal. Here is how it works. One or two leftover pieces of pizza get cut into bite-sized pieces, heated, and placed on the platter. Remaining fruit gets cut into wedges or bite sized pieces and added to the platter. Enough deli turkey for one sandwich will get made into a sandwich, cut into wedges, and added to the platter. Raw vegetables are added. Sometimes I have some ingredients I can pull together from leftovers to make a wrap or a quesadilla. I will pull those together, cut them into smaller portions and add them to the platter. I use party toothpicks on some items like wraps to keep them together or on chunks of pineapple or other fruit for easy handling. Even an extra piece of lasagna or an extra burrito will get warmed and cut into smaller portions. Each family member gets a variety of food and walks away from the table feeling satisfied. I get the satisfaction of a cleaned out fridge and the good feeling of making sure we use up the food before bringing in more food.

Make Do with What You Have
I initiated a $25 a week grocery challenge to some members last year. The goal for each family who took the challenge was to commit to cutting their grocery bill to $25 a week to buy bread, milk and perishables so we could use up what we had. The challenge forced us to make our own chicken broth, it forced us to use up some unusual grains we bought for special recipes, it forced us to get very creative with our cooking and to try new things. About a dozen took the challenge and the reality was that several of us felt like our food was multiplying. I found a mystery grain in my cupboard and after figuring out what it was (bulgur), cooked it like rice and now we know my family likes it better than rice. I started making chicken broth from scratch again by throwing the bones into a crock full of water with celery ends, onion ends, a clove of garlic and some pepper. I let it cook all night, turn it off in the morning and allow it to cool. Strain it and place the broth in container to freeze. Several of us made it 7 weeks spending 75% less than what we would normally spend.

Save Bits and Pieces
I keep two containers in my freezer, one for beef based items and one for chicken based items. A small portion of beef roast left, it gets cut into soup or stew sized pieces and goes into the container. Six green beans left, they go into a container. A little dab of onion goes into the container. A small bit of gravy goes into the container. When the container is a little over half full, I make soup with it. Did you know that leftover mashed potatoes make terrific potatoes soup the next night?

Take a Trash Inventory
Analyze your trash and see if what you are throwing away tells you something. Are you throwing away Ziploc bags instead of rewashing and reusing? Are you throwing out beef or chicken bones before using them to make broth? Are there a lot of paper towels going into the trash instead of using dishrags and cloth towels? When you throw away an old t-shirt, do you cut it up into rags and only throw away the unusable parts. Are you throwing away the heels of bread instead of saving them up and making homemade croutons, using them for French onion soup, or your own Italian bread crumb mix? I dust my house with old gym socks. I put them on both hands and go through with my spray and do double handed dusting. There is a lot of money in that trash can if you look at it with the right thought process.

The Art of Leftovers
I don't know if everyone's family is like mine but no one in my house (except me) will actually open the lid of a plastic container to see what is inside it. That is where most of my food waste use to occur. These days, if I have enough roast beef and mashed potatoes left over for someone to have for lunch, I arrange it on a plate. I will put the gravy in a small glass bowl on the same plate. Then I will wrap the plate up with plastic wrap and set it on a shelf in the fridge. If I do this, DH will actually grab the plate and heat it up for lunch. I will often make a platter of fruits and veggies and do the same thing. I find that if I make the food look appealing and set it where it can be seen, it will actually get eaten and I have less waste. When the kids were younger, I would pull the platter of fruits and veggies out of the fridge right after school. I would add crackers and pb or cheese and maybe a couple of cookies. Since they were always starving after school, it was a great time to get them to eat some fruits and veggies. After school, I think they would have eaten cardboard if I arranged it artfully enough.

Learn to Pull a Meal Out of Thin Air
You look in the fridge and there doesn't seem to be much there. This is where creativity kicks in. I can usually pull together a fried rice dish or a quesadilla with just about anything. A little chicken or beef can easily turn into chicken or beef fried rice. Chopped carrots, chopped onion, chopped celery, a florret to broccoli chopped, one egg and the little bit of meat, an egg and some soy sauce can easily become an entree. Some tomato paste, dried herbs, chopped garlic and onion can become pizza sauce. Flour, water, sugar and yeast can become pizza crust. Greens such as fresh basil or some spinach and some cheese can become the toppings. Cheese, spinach, peppers, and onions and a little leftover chicken often become quesadillas for us. Cream cheese mixed with herbs and garlic can be spread on bagels or crackers served along with the remaining fruits or veggies to become a lighter meal. Think about some of the appetizers you see on restaurant menus and try to duplicate them as a lighter meal.

Learn to Say NO to Overconsumption
My brother was complaining a couple weeks ago that his family goes through 4 gallons of milk a week. I just looked at him and said, "So stop it and don't buy 4 gallons. Only buy 2 and see if they still survive. I guarantee they will." He said he never says NO to milk. I disagree wholeheartedly. Just because they will consume it doesn't mean you are obligated to provide it to the saturation point. The nutritional needs AND the family budget need to be balanced. In our house, if we are out of milk, that means we are out of milk until shopping day. It taught our kids to ration things out a bit and to not be gluttonous about consuming all they wanted. If your kids can holler, "Mom, we are out of milk," and you replace it within 24 hours, you might consider evaluating consumption habits. Allowing family members to think they can consume from a limitless well is both expensive and leads to bad eating habits.

The point of this post is to think a few years back and consider how your grandmother would manage her household. As you get ready to pull an item off the shelf, ask yourself if your grandmother would have bought that item. If not, what would she have used instead? Bets are it is a lot cheaper than what you are about to buy.

Tags:
chapel hill doctor, Chapel Hill Chiropractic, Chiropractic Chapel Hill NC, chiropractor chapel hill nc, chapel hill dr, Dr. Ryan Fox, nutrition, detoxification, weight loss, chapel hill pain doctor

Chapel Hill doctors offer pain relief without drugs or surgery

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:39:00 +0000

For many people, pain has become a customary way of life...Those same individuals are often led to believe that arthritis always causes pain and that pain is a normal part of growing older. Thankfully, this isn't true...

Conventional healthcare seems to only offer muscle relaxers and pain-killers as the first method of intervention when a person experiences joint pain. The question everyone should be asking is "why did the pain begin in the first place?". In some severe cases, pharmaceutical drugs may be necessary to aid a person in obtaining relief until a doctor can properly diagnose the true cause of their joint pain and remove it. On the other hand, the majority of joint-pain sufferers are not critical cases and merely "mask" their symptoms using drugs, or worse-yet, surgery.

Holistic doctors, who are typically trained in evaluating and treating the entire body, can provide and in-depth examination of their patients, and prescribe a personalized approach to their joint problems. Muscle-relaxing drugs pain-killers are merely a cookbook approach to healthcare and provide minimal relief until their affect wears off. Once again, crisis medical care often necessitates the use of drugs or surgery to relieve pain, yet the majority of joint-pain sufferers do not fall into the "crisis-care" category. Pain and impatience often drives individuals to make poor choices regarding their type of care, which may lean toward an invasive approach to health.

Pain caused by irritation to muscles, joints, or nerve tissue are treated effectively and conservatively by doctors trained in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, or other manual therapies. The combination of the two therapies, Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, works very well to treat both muscle and joint dysfunction. Many conservatively-minded healthcare practitioners refer their patients for this approach, as opposed to drugs and surgery as a first option. In North Carolina, patients who are seeking Chiropractic and Physical Therapy are not required to have a referral.

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre has North Carolina Board Certified doctors who are trained to treat pain by addressing joint and muscle dysfunction at the same time. This combines the benefit of Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in the same visit. Chiropractic care offers treatment that relieves pain quickly, often faster than drugs, while physical therapy combined with Chiropractic ensures that results will last longer.

For more information, please call Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre at 919-968-4417 or visit our website at www.chapelhillchiropracticcentre.com

Tags:
Back pain, neck pain, bulging discs, sciatica, leg pain, herniated disc, slipped disc, spinal stenosis, chapel hill doctor, chapel hill doctors, chapel hill physical therapy, chapel hill back pain, chapel hill scoliosis, chapel hill back pain relief, chapel hill dr

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre Opens Back Care Class to Public

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Dr. Ryan Fox and Dr. Christian Werness teach a bi-monthly back care class as a public service to the Chapel Hill community. Classes begin promptly at 6:00 PM and last approximately 45 minutes. Both doctors encourage those attending to bring a friend or family member for one-on-one instruction on Trigger Point Therapy, a method of releasing muscle pain.

During the 45 minute session. Dr. Fox and Dr. Werness discuss the reasons for premature aging, degenerative changes of the spine and nervous system, as well as the intricate relationship between the nervous system and every organ, tissue, and gland of the body. During the back care class, specific guidance is focused on how to sit, stand, move, and avoid common injuries. Additional information is presented on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle factors which contribute to back pain & other joint related dysfunction.

Call Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre to reserve a seat in the back care class...919-968-4417

Tags:
Back pain, neck pain, bulging discs, sciatica, leg pain, herniated disc, slipped disc, spinal stenosis, chapel hill doctor, chapel hill doctors, chapel hill physical therapy, chapel hill back pain, chapel hill scoliosis, chapel hill back pain relief

Chiropractic Chapel Hill NC

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre is proud to announce its 3rd consecutive year of growth! Due to the popularity and effectiveness of Chiropractic treatment, we have made many changes and upgrades to fit our patients' needs!

Our office now has a full physical therapy bay for muscle rehabilitation, post-surgical rehab and recovery, as well as pre-surgery preparation. We offer full rehab for spine and extremity problems, including foot/ankle, shoulder, wrist, elbow, knee, and hips. Chiropractic treatment is the #1 choice according to the May 2009 Consumer Report for effectiveness & cost, compared to physical therapy and traditional pharaceutical approach used by most primary care physicians.

Since January, we have also added a full x-ray suite as another benefit to our patients, saving time and additional costs of using an outside x-ray facility. Our office has also expanded another 1400 sq foot to include 2 massage therapists and an additional teaching facility. Our doctors frequently conduct spinal care classes as well as a quarterly nutritional class aimed at getting our patients better quicker, keeping them better longer, and avoiding set-backs.

For more information, please call our office at 919-968-4417

www.chapelhillchiropracticcentre.com
Chapel Hill Chiropractic Chapel Hill NC

Baby Carrots may not be as innocent as they look...

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:06:00 +0000

The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine that cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots. Most people probably know this already...What you don't know is how the baby carrots are treated so they do not decompose.

Once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them (this is the same type of chlorine used in a pool, yet a different concentration). Once the skin of the baby carrot is ground down, it has lost its natural protective covering, thus it needs to be treated in order to keep it from withering in the store.

You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refigerator for a few days, a white covering will form on the carrotis...this is the chlorine resurfacing. Natural plant enzymes will cause the chlorine to be pushed to the surface, often giving them a greasy texture. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which are essentially plastic-ized?

Chlorine is a very well known carcinogen (cancer causing agent)...Protect your friends and family by passing this information along or encouraging them to signup for our E-Health Newsletter!

As always, We've Got Your Back!

~Dr. Ryan Fox, Dr. Christian Werness

Please pass this information along if you found it useful. The best way to learn something is to teach or share it with someone else!

Chiropractic and Reducing Stress

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:08:00 +0000

We certainly live in stressful times. It's not easy to assess whether our era is the most stressful, but we do have plenty of daily stress. The job, the home, the kids, the relatives, and the economy - all these stresses add up and yet we wonder why we have so many aches and pains.

So many ailments are stress-related. Americans are notoriously overweight. Overeating is a stress-coping mechanism.1 Headaches and backaches are often associated with increased stress. There's a strong correlation between high blood pressure and stress, ulcers and stress, and even cancer and stress. What can we do? The external stresses in our lives aren't going away. Our activity-filled lives are busy and complex - there's always going to be stress. The key is to help avoid or ease the physical effects of stress. Interestingly, chiropractic treatment can be of great assistance in reducing the effects of stress on the body.

In general, stress causes muscles to tighten. This is an unconscious reaction. Tight muscles cause a cascade of further muscle tightening, shortening of muscles and ligaments, and a resulting decrease of mobility in joints, particularly shoulder joints, hip joints, and joints of the spine.2,3

This overall mechanical effect of stress has a number of additional consequences. All the extra unconscious muscle activity wastes precious nutritional resources and uses up energy needed for critical body functions. Lactic acid accumulates, irritating nerve endings and further increasing muscular tightness. And, importantly, the losses in spinal joint mobility lead directly to increased levels of pain. This, of course, leads to more stress.

This vicious circle of stress, muscular tightness, and pain can be relieved and reduced by chiropractic treatment.4 Chiropractic therapy is specially designed to improve joint mobility of the spine and pelvis. This gentle, effective treatment gradually restores maximal spinal motion. Muscle tightness is alleviated, metabolic processes begin to return to normal, and nutrients become more available to help maintain healthy functioning. Levels of pain are reduced, and we become better able to withstand the physical effects of stress.

Your chiropractor will explain the many benefits of treatment, and will provide instruction in stretching techniques and specific exercises that help maintain the positive results of therapy.

There will always be stress. We can learn how to reduce the physical effects of stress, and become stronger, healthier, and happier in the process.

Take a Break!
Pop quiz - how long have you

been sitting in that chair?

Half-an-hour? An hour?

Two hours? More?!!!

Or, basically, how long have

you been working at the same

task without taking a break?

Most likely, the answer is "too long"!

Everybody's in the same boat. There's

so much to do and so little time. That

may not be the real reality, but it

certainly is our experience.

We drive ahead, force ourselves to

keep going, and forget to

"stop and smell the roses". But

"smelling the roses" is critical to our

health and well-being. Taking a break,

relaxing for just five minutes every

hour, makes all the difference.

1Marchesini G, et al: Psychiatric distress and health-related quality of life in obesity. Diabetes Nutr Metab 16(3):145-154, 2003 2Weickgenant AL, et al: Coping activities in chronic low back pain: relationship with depression. Pain 53(1):95-103, 1993 3Burns JW: Arousal of negative emotions and symptom-specific reactivity in chronic low back pain patients. Emotion 6(2):309-319, 2006 4Hurwitz EL, et al. A randomized trial of chiropractic and medical care for patients with low back pain. Spine 31(6):611-621, 2006

Inflammation- the Silent Killer

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Inflammatory conditions account for many different physical ailments...most end with an "-itis"( which indicates something that is inflammed). The most common conditions are Arthritis, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Capsulitis, and Diverticulitis. So what do these all have in common besides an "-itis" ending?

You may be surprised to learn that inflammation is a contributing factor, if not the cause, of some of the most deadly diseases that Americans are fighting today...

The most commonly prescribed drugs in America are medications that manage Pain, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol. The common denominator in nearly all of these conditions or diseases is inflammation.

Unfortunately, allopathic medicine and the current medical system do not have the ability or knowledge to detect inflammation and blood/tissue chemistry changes until they have reached a pathological level. This is a major problem when evaluating blood chemistry, since the changes occur in the blood long-after a condition has been present...often years. This doesn't mean that medicine can't detect it...but many of the methods available to do it aren't covered by medical insurance. Therefore, many doctors do not practice these methods.

The biggest concern, from the patient and consumer standpoint, is that our current Insurance system is not set-up to handle 'wellness care' or methods of detection that prevent diabetetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure well in advance. You have to acquire them first. Then, it is as if 'you' have something NEW...well, the truth is (as if you've been lied-to up until now), you've been developing the condition for years. The condition has a birth, a gray area of development(months to years), and then suddenly a "diagnosis". Certainly, genetics play a role in most of these diseases, but lifestyle factors and diet have shown time and time again that you are still in control of your health. "So, where did I go wrong", you may ask?

As we have all heard, Prevention is the Key. Inflammation is largely a component of the hormonal system and its ability to decrease an inflammatory response, which is the main function of the adrenal gland and a hormone called Cortisol. But what is causing the inflammation in the first place? Is it stress? Do we know what stress is and how the body responds to it?

Thanks to the lifetime work of Dr. Hans Selye, often called the "Father of Stress", the body has become very predictable in the way it responds to stress and inflammation. The alternative health community has embraced his work and used it to identify methods of early detection, including hair mineral analysis, saliva hormone testing, urine, live blood cell analysis, and other methods. Since healthcare is slow to change, it is unlikely to see these types of tests covered by insurance. Fortunately, these tests are relatively inexpensive and act as a "guide" to preventing many of the acute and chronic degenerative diseases that plague our nation.

Dr. Fox trained in Chiropractic Extremity Adjustment to the Foot and Ankle

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:08:00 +0000

Dr. Fox recently participated in additional training for Sports and Occupational Injuries of the Foot and Ankle, presented by International Speaker Dr. Mitch Mally, who is considered a "10th degree black belt in extremity adjusting.

Common injuries and pathologies of the foot and related mechanics were covered, including inversion sprains, plantar fascitis, achilles tendonitis, high ankle sprains, avulsion fractures, and arch problems, just to name a few. Specific Chiropractic adjustments were demonstrated by Dr. Mally for each type of foot imbalance. Major areas of focus were in adjustments to the Calcaneus, Talus, Navicular, Tarsals, Cuneiforms, Metatarsals, and Phalanges.

Dr. Mally's review of the literature further supported altered gait and mechanics throughout the body, including tibial torsion at the knee, femoral bone anteversion, sacral & lumbar spine unleveling, piriformis muscle strain, and other global symptoms.

The emphasis is added that the imbalance of the foot, in any situation, is going to alter muscle and other supporting structures of the body which are likely to cause pain. This is clear evidence that a doctor must have a whole view of the body when treating pain disorders.

The most common type of foot and ankle pain is due to inversion sprains of the ankle. Over time, the affect on the arch is usually pronation of the foot and a valgus deformity of the ankle or mortise joint. This type of fallen arch causes the tibia bone to internally rotate and force the quadricep muscle to over-work in order to keep the knee aligned. Medial knee pain or anterior knee pain over the infrapatellar tendon is a common result. This can lead to a condition called Osgood Shlatter's in children or Chondromalacia Patella in adults. Dr. Fox received specific one-on-one instruction in correcting this type of tibial torsion or rotation in the weekend symposium.

Furthermore, an inverted type foot imbalance will cause femoral head anteversion, which literally means the femoral head has internally rotated and move anterior to the acetabulum. This type of motion stretches the piriformis muscle and psoas muscle, causing multiple biomechanical and postural changes. The piriformis muscle is particularly problematic because it may cause a general imbalance to the entire spine by shifting the sacrum from its normal position and causing a mal-alignment of the foundation of the spine.

The most common symptom of a Piriformis imbalance or Piriformis Syndrome is Sciatica. A properly trained Chiropractor can easily detect if the imbalance lies in the spine, pelvis, or lower in the foot and ankle. At times, an orthotic may be necessary to correct a foot and ankle problem once the ankle has been adjusted into a correction position and supported by muscular rehab.

Due to the precision of the body's proprioceptive mechanism, foot imbalance can cause pain symptoms throughout the body, including head and neck (including headaches), jaw & TMJ, low back, pelvis, and knees. After a visit to a Chiropractor, symptomatic relief of pain usually occurs in a short amount of time yet stabilization and correction of the imbalance take time in order to allow proper healing.

Chapel Hill Clinic Offers New Innovative Approach to Sleep Apnea Using Alternative Methods Chiropractic Applied Kinesiology and Physical Therapy

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:15:00 +0000

The Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre has a new approach to helping individuals with Sleep Apnea, particularly a type of Sleep Apnea called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most common form of Sleep Apnea that affects millions of people.

Chiropractic combined with innovative techniques utilized from Applied Kinesiology, massage, physical therapy, dentistry, and cranial manipulation create a powerful arsenal of treatment options that may make sleep apnea sufferers breathe a sigh of relief. This comprehensive approach evaluates the entire body, utlizing many methods which would be otherwise missed by a professional who specializes in one particular region of the body. Due to the widely varying causes of sleep apnea, specialists can often be too focused to be able to evaluate the "big picture". After all, the body is connected in every aspect.

With Sleep Apnea, individuals are forced to use a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to be able to breathe regularly and effectively throughout their sleep cycle because the airway is not remaining patent, or open. The typical method of diagnosis of this condition is performed at a sleep study clinic using Polysomnography. This testing can be useful but also disruptive because the person being studied has to sleep in an unfamiliar environment with different bedding.

An effective and simpler method of testing is done with oximetry often combined with pulse measurement, sometimes called pulsoximetry. This is a simple device that clips over the end of the finger during sleep, measuring the blood oxygen percentage while a person sleeps. Typical blood oxygen saturation levels should reach about 98-99%, yet can be often found as low as the 80's with sleep apnea. The co-morbidities of low oxygen saturation in the blood has many implications in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and blood/tissue related diseases.

Sleep Apnea patients often present to a chiropractors office with little awareness of their physical, neurological, and chemical imbalances. The reason for the visit is often neck, mid-back or low-back pain. Common physical and palpatory findings include an anterior head carriage, muscular strain to the SCM muscle, or Sternocleidomastoid, fascial shortening of the posterior neck extensors, a visible Buffalo Hump, External auditory meatus shifted anterior to the acromion process, loss of cervical spine lordosis or curve, TMJ palpatory pain, Temporalis muscle hypertonicity, Tooth wear from grinding teeth, and obesity.

From a chiropractic perspective, these typical Sleep Apnea patients generally sleep with several pillows stacked behind their heads which force the head and neck into flexion and reverse the natural cervical spine curve or lordosis. Other common causes of this type of subluxation, or misalignment is chronic poor posture and whiplash injuries to the head and neck. Often a 5MPH car collision is enough to create neck imbalances which can later lead to an airway dysfunction.

A reversed cervical lordosis or loss of the natural "C" curve in the neck creates a mechanical change in the opening of the airway and breathing passage, often resulting in breathing problems due to a narrowed airway in the glossopharyngeal region of the neck. Tightness in the TMJ or Tempormandibular Joint can further compound the issue by causing pharyngeal spasming. This is the primary reason that many well-informed dentists use a device called a Mandibular Advancement Splint to improve sleep apnea. The fact is, when the Temporomandibular Joint is opened inferiorly and translated anteriorly, the airway opens up. When the TMJ moves posterior and superior it closes the airway and makes it less patent, restricting the normal motions of the kinematic chain in the neck.

Chiropractic does the same thing, yet does not use the aid of a Splint to open the airway. Chiropractic treatment of the head and neck retrain the neck muscles and improve the neck and cervical spine posture. The significant difference between this and a mandibular advancement splint is that a proper chiropractic manipulation aids in correcting the joint imbalance by treating the temporomandibular joint and supporting muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Both the chiropractic manipulation and mandibular advancement splint are an effective method of improving sleep apnea. The combination of these two methods is likely to be a match made in heaven for sleep apnea sufferers.

For more information, or to find out if Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology is right for you, the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre schedules complimentary consultations as a courtesy to our patients.

Plantar Fascitis Commonly Caused by Long Term Foot Imbalance and Pronation

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:16:00 +0000

The first step out of bed in the morning can be a painful one, particularly if you have plantar fascitis.

Plantar means 'bottom of the foot', Fasciae means the 'connective tissue', and (Fasc) "itis" tells us that the tissue is inflammed ("-itis"). That's where Plantar Fascitis is derived.

Common foot imbalances, included dropped or fallen arches contribute greatly to the development of plantar fascitis due to long-term strain that is created in the muscle and surrounding tissues. Not only does your body need to send minerals, vitamins, proteins and other factors to the tissue to allow it to repair, the tissue also needs to be able to flush itself out. In other words, you need materials to repair the inflammed tissue, meanwhile get rid of toxic by-products created by normal muscle and connective tissue metabolism.

This essentially opens a can of worms when it comes to treating plantar fascitis because it allows us to recognize that their are structural components (muscles, joints, tendons, tissues, etc.) as well as chemical components (b-vitamins, hormones, antioxidants, omega 3 and 6 fats, etc.) that need to be addressed to completely correct a case of plantar fascitis.

The best first approach is to seek the consult of an Applied Kinesiologist. This type of doctor, usually trained in Chiropractic, has the ability to evaluate the structural as well as the chemical factors preventing your healing.

In many instances, a properly fitted CUSTOM orthotic will help to maintain any imbalances of the foot after the foot has been evaluated and treated. This process doesn't occur overnight, but it typically relieves pain and discomfort within a short period of time, meanwhile allowing the muscles and tendons a chance to recover from their previously strained state.

The occurrence of plantar fascitis commonly affects women more than men. The reasons can be multiple, but the underlying difference probably lies in the sensitivity of the female hormone system, diet, nutrition, and susceptibility to stress.

Common signs of a foot imbalance include foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back pain. The development of a bunion on the Great Toe is also a clear sign of a foot imbalance, generally due to a fallen meta-tarsal arch or fallen medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Once a bunion has formed, an orthotic is unlikely to correct it, but it will certainly keep the bunion from getting significantly worse.

Adherence to a semi-strict nutrition program and eating style provides a lot of relief to fatigued muscles and other joints that are not repairing or healing well. See my list of food ingredients to avoid to get yourself pointed in the right direction to eating better. It is also reccommendation to follow the Standard Process 21 Day Purification Cleanse as a method of initiating a change in diet. This process helps curb cravings and other poor food habits, meanwhile allowing you to eat all you want, lose weight, and gently cleanse the bowels, liver, gallbladder, and other organs of detoxification.

In order to provide fast relief of Plantar Fascitis, a combination of chiropractic techniques have been developed in our office, including chiropractic manipulation, myofascial release, reflexology, and acupuncture. A combination of one or all of these techniques usually offers significant relief of pain in the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot. These results will often be permanent if the proper lifestyle modifications can be made. Please call our office to speak with our physician about your individual needs.

Hiatal Hernia as a Common Cause for Acid Reflux Indigestion Heartburn and other Digestive Disorders

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:25:00 +0000

That burning feeling from the pit of your stomach isn't always due to acid reflux. Sure, some people do overproduce acid, yet a large majority of people also under-produce acid.

A simple history and symptom survey of a patient is not enough information to prescribe the common acid-reducing drugs such as Prilosec, Zantac, Tagamet, and Pepcid. Otherwise, serious digestive side-affects can occur and cause long term problems such as Osteoporosis, due to calcium dysregulation. There's no sense in taking Calcium Tums, you need acid to breakdown calcium, so avoid this marketing gimmick.

The fact is, as we begin to age our bodies start to lose much of it's zinc, which is absolutely necessary to produce acid in the stomach. So why are so many people taking acid-reducing drugs, particularly the elderly? Zinc is the mineral that allows the stomach's cells to produce acid. A simple aqueous zinc taste test or taste tally will often demonstrate a zinc deficiency.

Much of acid reflux (or the symptoms of acid reflux), including heartburn, indigestion, esophageal spasms, and eventually Barret's Esophagus, are caused by hypochlorhydria, or a lack of acid.

In order to tell if there is too little or too much acid, there are several options...the pH of the stomach can be measured directly or a simple acid challenge can be performed. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a 8-10 oz glass of water is sufficience enough to provide an "acid challenge" to the stomach. If this causes irritation, then it is likely that there is, in fact, too much acid in the stomach, yet many people indicate that the apple cider vinegar mixture provides relief of their stomach symptoms.

The idea to take away from this is that either too little or too much acid can cause symptoms of heart burn, acid reflux, indigestion, and pain in the chest. Most often it is too little acid.

A hiatal hernia is a common mechanical problem between the stomach and the diaphragm muscle (this muscle allows breathing to occur). In this condition, the stomach is pushed up into the diaphragm, which can cause a whole host of digestive problems as far up as the mouth and as low as the colon. Spasming in this area can make it hard to swallow food, create a feeling of something being "stuck" in the throat, impair proper digestion, TMJ dysfunction, and headaches as well.

Shortness of breath, symptoms of acid reflux, heart burn, indigestion, esophagus spasming, and sudden onset of neck and jaw pain are common indicators of hiatal hernia and hypochlorrhydria (low acid).

Chiropractors trained in Applied Kinesiology are able to easily detect such a dysfunction because of the additional training received in evaluating the entire body, particularly the digestive system. Hiatal Hernias can be manually reduced (using the hands) without the typical approach of surgery. In many difficult cases, the hernia may need to be treated multiple times due to the formation of scar tissue and myofascial adhesions. With proper home instruction and dietary evaluation, many stomach and digestive issues abate quickly.

Getting Over the Sugar Cravings

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:08:00 +0000

Tis the Season to Over-eat, Indulge, and love ever minute of it!...Or not!

If you can't trust yourself this Holiday Season, then I would like to make a suggestion that can help curb those sweet cravings for cookies, candy, and other delicious treats that we couldn't possibly turn down...and it's Easy.

Gymnema is an herb that has been in used in Ayurvedic medicine for nearly 2000 years to help reduce the cravings and addictions that are often caused by long term use of sugar, coffee, stimulants, and other addictive foods. In India, Gymnema is called Gurmar, the "Sugar Destroyer". That's because, since ancient times, natural clinicians have noted that it suppresses the taste of sugar. Standard Process's Gymnema is formulated to deliver that same unique result.

The Gymnema acts on the Sweet Taste Buds to anesthetize or "numb" your ability to taste sugar or sweets. There are two forms: liquid and tablet. The liquid acts much quicker than the tablet yet has a strong taste which many people dislike. Mixing it with tea can easily mask the taste. The tablet form, on the other hand, does not have a strong taste and can be easily taken with just water.

GYMNEMA- Sweet Taste Test
Try this simple test and be amazed-especially if you have a sweet tooth. Just place one Gymnema tablet on your tongue or 60 to 90 seconds. It might not taste great, but you'll love what happens next. Swallow the tablet, wait a minute, then try something sweet.
Surprise-no sweet taste! Imagine a Snickers bar having no taste. With the lack of taste, so goes the urge...

I have personally used the Gymnema in helping many people overcome their weight-loss obstacles. The fact is, the cravings can be nearly uncontrollable unless the Gymnema is used initially to stop the impulse to eat sugar and carbohydrates.

Standard Process is one of the leaders in herbal formulas and purity of their products. Although this herb is probably available in many healthfood stores, the strength and purity of the Gymnema 4g is only available to healthcare professionals through Standard Process. For more information, please read the product information sheet.

Stayed tuned for upcoming information about the 21-Day Purification and Weight Loss Program that will be held in January! This will be our initial class and will be limited to 30 people!

Happy Holidays!

Food Ingredients You Should Avoid

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:40:00 +0000

The following is a suggested list of food ingredients that should be avoided. The cumulative effect of many of these chemicals and additives have not been studied long-term, yet a general consensus amongst most alternative healthcare professionals indicates these ingredients produce bodily harm & toxicity. Keep in mind, the FDA doesn't require food manufacturers to list all of their ingredients if there are small enough amounts.

Common Food Ingredients Avoidance List:

Hydrogenated Fats/Oils (aka: trans fats)
Partially Hydrogenated Oils
MSG ( Monosodium Glutamate)
White Flour (Bleached Flour/ White Bread)
Sucralose (aka Splenda)
Aspartame/ Nutrasweet
Nitrates/ Nitrites
Dairy/Homogenized Milk
Carageenan
Soy, Soy Milk (strong estrogen affect, particularly women)
Red Dye #40 (thyroid suppressant)
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Canola Oil
Vegetable Oil
Margarine/ Butter imitators
Natural Flavors (?) -this one should make you think

Also avoid long lists of ingredients with chemical names you can't pronounce...

Iliotibial Band Pain Effectively Treated with Applied Kinesiology and Chiropractic

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:49:00 +0000

Iliotibial Band Syndrome or Iliotibial Band pain is a common extremity pain that affects athletes of all types, especially runners. Knee pain is often a result. Using functional neurology and muscle testing, doctors trained in Applied Kinesiology and Chiropractic are able to relieve these ailments effectively and within a short period of time.

The Iliotibial Band is situated between the crest of the ilium and the outer portion of the tibia, hence the ilio-tibial name. The main muscle located here is the TFL, or Tensor Fasciae Lata, a flexor of the hip and internal rotator of the lower leg. This muscle is intertwined with the Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Maximis muscle, which also helps coordinate hip extension and abduction, internal/external rotation.

In-coordination of these muscles frequently results in hip and/or knee pain. There are essentially three basic muscles that are big problem makers for the knee. The TFL ( tensor fasciae lata ), quadricep, and sartorious. Specific muscle testing used in Applied Kinesiology can quickly identify which muscles are involved, as well as locate bony displacement of the tibia, fibula, or femur.

For runners, the iliotibial band can create very painful knee pain, if fatigued. The cause is usually lymphatic congestion of the lateral leg, combined with misalignment of the talus bone, located in the foot. Have dropped arches? Any foot misaligment can cause global muscle dysfunction in the body because it affects Cerebellar activity in the brain, which allows your body to recognize position-sense. (Close your eyes and then attempt to touch your nose...the only way this can happen is by position sense which is regulated by the cerebellum.)

Other common causes of knee pain include weakness of the Quadricep muscle. This muscle helps "track" the knee cap and keeps the femur from shifting forward on the tibia. The weakness of the quadricep can be easily evaluated and treated by Applied Kinesiology. Weakness of this muscle, especially at its attachment point on the tibia can lead to a condition called Osgood Schlatter's. Children are particularly prone to this condition.

Keep in mind, there can certainly be some permanent damage in the knee, such as degenerative arthritis, erosion of the tibial plateau, ACL/LCL Ligament damage, or torn cartilage. These tissue changes do not, however, mean that a person will experience pain. I have seen and treated many painful knee problems where the MRI results indicated extensive damage. Using Applied Kinesiology techniques, the idea is to treat the underlying causes for these changes...in most instances the pain significantly reduces or completely goes away. Proper exercises and home instruction are needed to keep the pain away, but in all reality, damaged tissues, ligaments, cartilage, etc, always have the potential to become irritated again. Arthroscopic surgery is needed in some instances of degenerative and traumatic knee changes. Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology evaluation/treatment should be sought first before considering surgery.

Another common presentation of knee pain is preceded by weakness of a muscle called the sartorious. This muscle holds up the medial (inner) knee and is an important stabilizer of the the tibia during running, walking. The causes of this muscle weakness are multifactorial. Misalignment of the low back and sacroiliac joint often cause the sartorious to weaken to do a mechanical stretching of the muscle. The most common cause of sartorious weakness, though, is a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. This condition was recently responsible for the death of Olympic Marathoner Trainee Ryan Shay. Shay collapsed and died at the 5th mile of his olympic trials. Proper evaluation and treatment by an Applied Kinesiologist could have identified the common symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue that Ryan Shay experienced. The unfortunate situation is that most doctors, whether they are chiropractic or medical doctors, do not know how to identify Adrenal Gland Fatigue problems. Blood tests are less that adequate in identifying this condition either, unless is in an advanced stage. Saliva Cortisol test is the most reliable. See an Applied Kinesiologist Chiropractor to determine if this is the cause of your knee pain, especially if stress is also a factor.

This is the most serious case of knee pain, because it is due to stress hormone imbalance in the body. Other symptoms of Adrenal Gland Fatigue are dizziness upon standing, dropped arches of the feet, medial knee pain, intolerance to stress, light sensitivity, anxiety/depression/panic attacks, addiction to alcohol or other stimulants (coffee, tea, soda, cigarettes, chocolate), fatigue.

For more information or to speak with one of our practitioners contact the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre at 919-968-4417

Using Heart Rate to Set a Tempo for your 5K

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:46:00 +0000

Most discoveries are made by accident or serendipity. Is this really left to chance? I don't think so. When you search for something, you'll find it.

I would like to share my exercise experience so that other aspiring runners can benefit from my expertise as a doctor, chemistry & human biology major, and an athlete. If we use 25 years old as our prime, I'm a bit past that...but my knowledge and running results will prove to be useful evidence that our bodies don't wear out as we get older, we just keep re-hashing bad habits that cause our health to decline.

Heart rate training has been the most useful tool to gauge my body's ability to improve cardiovascularly...and avoid injury. What's that worth?! -Quite a bit, when a person realizes that exercise injuries are what curb out desires to stay fit.

By using your heart rate to gauge your exercise, your biochemistry can work WITH your body rather than AGAINST it. Applying these principles can and will accelerate your 5K times as shown by my personal results in this post. I live to serve as an example to others.

As a general rule, if you exercise by keeping your heart at a lower rate, you will soon be able to progress and speed up without causing your body to exert any more energy than needed.

For example, say you run a particular route near your house because it's your favorite. Keep track of your time. Purchase a heart rate monitor off of ebay. I got mine from EDiscount Bike on Ebay for around $40. This is a great deal. The brand is Sports Instruments, and mine was called the ECG model. It's perfect, and looks good compared to the expensive name brand ones that look like something from Star Trek.

Start off slowly. Most people's tendency is to run hard and leave themselves ragged at the end. Stop right now, the NO PAIN NO GAIN days are over, we're going to start exercising sensibly here...

Keep your heart rate at about 135-145. In this HR zone your body will have the ability to burn more fat rather than sugar for energy. What's the difference? you get about 9 times as much energy burning fat for energy in this HR zone that you do from sugar in a higher HR zone. I won't go into the biochemistry here...it's very simple math though (1 glucose=36 units of energy when burning fat compared to 1 glucose=4 units of energy burning sugar) The difference is the presence of oxygen to your muscles, so keep that heart rate lower.

At first this method will drive you nuts because you may have to walk certain portions of your run or slow down so much that you feel like "the tortoise". Keep at it, pretty soon you'l be able to complete the entire run without stopping. Hills and other terrain will eventually be a breeze too. Remember to keep track of your time, yet keep the heart rate the same. Take a quick look at my times below to see how it works...

for the chemistry and biology dorks out there...and interested athletes, doctors, etc, the chemistry is simple...When your heart rate is much above 150 you go into a CATABOLIC reaction, meaning that your body's tissues are not able to repair as quick as they are tearing down. Proteins are being eaten out of muscle, muscle fibers will begin to tear before long, and oxygen certainly isn't being used very well or circulated to your tissues...this is called Anaerobic activity and is burning sugar without the presence of oxygen. This is why sprinters never become distance runners, they can't handle it. They also aren't treating their heart in a friendly manner. This type of metabolism is detrimental to your health for long periods of time, yet is a much needed part of the body's stress response and Adrenal "Flight or Fight" Response.

The alternative is working-out and exercising in an Aerobic state (or as close to it as possible). This means that your body is still able to exercise, yet meanwhile make oxygen available to muscles, cells, tissues, etc. Your body likes oxygen, don't you? In the presence of oxygen, you can burn sugar from fat and make 36 ATP for each glucose you burn, while you only get 4ATP when burning glucose without oxygen.

Still not convinced?!

When I'm finishing my last 400 yards of a 5K or 10K, I'm sprinting. Nobody else I've run against has passed me at the finish. I'm not anywhere near to winning the races I run, but nobody has the energy left to beat me at the end because their gas tank is on empty.

If you grasp these principles, you'll do great. I wish someone had told me this when I played soccer in high school and college, it would have made a real difference.

Reviewing the times and date below, you can see that a break from conditioning tends to place me back where I started, yet it takes a short amount of time to get back to my previous exercise goals once I would begin exercising again and using the monitor. Notice that on 10-23-07 my 5K time was 32.01 and just 2 weeks later it was 26.45. That's a 5 minute 16 second difference, in just 2 weeks. AT the SAME Heart Rate! "Hello, McFly."

Be Well. Get Adjusted. Seek Chiropractic.

Running Times:

Heart Rate Zone- 145-155 Beats Per Minute

Note:(time in BOLD are race times, other 5K times are conditioning runs using the Heart Rate Monitor) All of the runs are done at a heart rate of 145-155. All race-day runs are not monitored, yet you can clearly see that they improve.

04-20-06 5K 33.33
04-23-06 5K 31.28
04-26-06 5K 30.19
05-01-06 5K 29.14
05-03-06 5K 28.23
05-04-06 5K 28.51
05-06-06 10K 43.55 Rocky Coast 10K-Boothbay, Maine
05-10-06 5K 27.58
05-12-06 5K 27.27

01-09-07 5K 32.56
01-12-07 5K 28.31

09-30-07 5K 21.31 Second Empire 5K Race
10-21-07 5K 21.07 St Augustine's 5K Race
10-23-07 5K 32.01
10-25-07 5K 28.59
10-27-07 5K Hooker Memorial 5K Race
10-28-07 5K 19.47 CASA 5K Race
11-06-07 5K 27.47
11-07-07 5K 26.45
11-10-07 5K 19.09 Ronald on the Run 5K
11-11-07 10K 42.13 Old Reliable 10K
11-20-07 5K 27.07

Which is it...Piriformis Syndrome or Lumbar Disc Herniation

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:50:00 +0000

The low back can be a Great-Masker of pain symptoms. Is there Nerve Compression, Disc Bulging, Muscular Sprain/Strains, or simply a Joint that is out of place?

A neurogical, orthopedic, and physical exam can determine the cause of low back pain, sciatica, or other types of radiating back pain. Doctors of Chiropractic are well trained to detect such dysfunctions in the low back.

The most serious situation affecting the low back is a lumbar disc herniation or disc bulging, often called a "slipped disc". Although a disc can't actually "slip", it can certainly place pressure on nerve roots exiting the spinal cord, causing a wide array of symptoms, such as buttock pain, thigh pain, calf pain, or just foot pain. There is no apparent discrimination as to "where" the pain will occur, and at times the pain can radiate from the back to the entire leg and foot. Sitting is usually difficult and pain is often increased by coughing or sneezing.

A condition called Piriformis Syndrome can also cause radiating leg pain which mimics Disc Bulging or Disc Herniation. In this condition, the sciatic nerve is pinched or compromised where it passes through the Piriformis muscle as it courses to the lower leg. The muscle can be in a stretched or shortened position, resulting in buttock and leg symptoms. Sitting cross-legged and driving in a car often will exacerbate these symptoms.

The typical treatment offered by a Chiropractor is a series of 8-10 visits over 2-4 weeks. With Piriformis Syndrome, symptoms normally reduce greatly after the first several visits, yet the imbalance will persist until the underlying mechanical imbalances in the muscles and pelvis are resolved, which is toward the end of the treatment plan. Exercises and lifestyle modifications are suggested.

For more information or to speak with a musculoskeletal specialist about a specific condition, contact the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre to speak with one of our health professionals.

TMJ Dysfunction is Treatable with Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:16:00 +0000

The Temporal Mandibular Joint, or TMJ, is likely to be the most complicated joint in the entire body. This region of your jaw can be a big problem-maker for the rest of the body too.

A specific diagnosis by a specialist may be necessary to determine if a person has a true dysfunction in their TMJ, yet where does this leave the patient when it comes to treatment?

An evaluation of the jaw, in relation to the entire body, reveals that the jaw does not function entirely by itelf. This means that the TMJ can be the Cause or the Result of a bodily symptom, primarily pain.

Pain upon opening or closing the jaw is most often associated with an overuse injury of the muscles that create this action, resulting in a strain or sprain of a muscle. Long term muslce imbalance can lead to entrapment of a cartilage material within the "hinge" of the jaw which can be excruciatingly painful. Other common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction are as follows: headaches, migraines, clicking, popping, grinding of the teeth, sleep apnea, neck pain, low back pain, acid reflux,heart burn, sinus congestion, facial pain, and poor balance.

Chewing gum is a primary example of a mis-use of the jaw, resulting in muscular strain.

Not only does it fatigue muscles and render them less efficient, the act of chewing also exhausts highly needed enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. The body will literally think that it needs to prepare for digestion of food because of the action created through gum-chewing.

The body has an intelligent design that is often interrupted by intellectual choices.

The second most common etiology of jaw pain is mal-alignment of the vertebrae in the neck, called the cervical spine. Numerous muscle attachments are found in the neck which connect directly to the TMJ. Whiplash injuries, head trauma (even from birth), and Stomach/Esophagus related dysfunction are also highly related injuries associated with Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

Since the cause of TMJ dysfunction can be wide-ranging and varied, it is suggested that an individual seek the consultation of a specialist that is trained to look at the entire body, not just the involved region of dysfunction. This type of doctor can distinguish common causes for jaw pain or dysfunction which may be entirely unrelated to the jaw itself. This approach is initially encouraged because of the risk potential related to having the jaw aligned using appliances or reconstructive surgery to the teeth or mandible.

Manual techniques focused on muscular support, exercises, and light joint aligment are very effective in treating many pain conditions. Myofascial release, cranial manipulation, Chiropractic adjustments, Activator Methods, Digestive Reflexology, Applied Kinesiology, and nutritional testing are useful approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors of Chiropractic, particularly trained in Applied Kinesiology or other forms of reflex testing, are capable of safely treating conditions affecting the head, neck, and jaw. Seeking consultation with a doctor of this type reduces the possibility for unwanted side affects or increased pain.

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre offers a Doctor Guided Approach to Weigh Loss to Bring in the New Year

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:02:00 +0000

Weight loss can be a big problem, literally. There are many approaches that work, yet the method must work with the body's natural biochemistry in order for a lasting result to be gained. Unfortunately, many crash diets, and a hap-hazard commitment to a weight loss program can leave your body stressed, despite the ability to lose weight. The problem? Much of the weight will return quickly when the body is stressed during a weight loss program.

This weight returns quickly due to a hormone called cortisol, a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for much, or all, of the weight that is held in the mid-section of the belly and thighs. Some individuals will even develop a "fat-pad" or "buffalo hump" behind their neck due to chronic cortisol imbalance and biochemical/hormone imbalance.

This January, 2008, the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre offers a doctor-guided approach to weight loss that works with the body's biochemistry and safely allows you to reduce weight and feel better in a short amount of time. There will be a weekly cleansing workshop during the cleansing period to monitor each person's progress, track results, and provide valuable information that will help people maintain a healthy wait after the cleanse is over. Please be advised, the January class is limited to 30 people. Future classes will also be offered.

The risk in losing weight, especially if a person has been overweight for a long period of time, is in developing a gallbladder problem. The result is usually gallstones, and can lead to an abrupt surgery called a Cholsystectomy, where the gallbladder is removed.

The Standard Process 21 Day Total Body Purification Cleanse offers a great solution to weight loss that significantly reduces the risk of gallbladder attacks while cleansing. The Standard Process Cleanse gently allows the Liver and Gallbladder to release toxic substances as well as pass congested material, such as stones, thus allowing the flow of bile, a much needed substance for fat metabolism.

Dr. Fox will review the benefits verses risks of performing a cleansing on the body. Most importantly, he will determine whether a cleanse is appropriate for you or if there is a better option for your specific needs.

Cleansing the body has several major benefits including a feeling of increased well-being, balanced blood sugar, weight-loss, increased elimination/bowel regularity.

For testimonials relating to the Cleansing Program, please refer to our Testimonials page at the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre.

The cost of the Cleansing Program is $220. The cost is reduced to $185 if a partner, friend, or spouse participates in the cleanse as an accountability partner. The results have proven to be significantly better when completed with someone else.

For more details about the Cleanse Process, please request a Cleanse Packet from the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre. These packets are provided at no cost. Please speak with one of our Chiropractic Assistants to request an information packet by calling 919-968-4417

Ronald on the Run 5K Race Co-sponsored by Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:41:00 +0000

On Saturday, November 10th, 2007 Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre co-sponsored the 2nd Annual Ronald on the Run 5K race to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. The race began on South Road and coursed through the UNC Campus, with several mildly challenging hills, and sloping terrain.

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre took part in the race by assisting runners before and after the race to answer any questions regarding muscle and skeletal injuries, provide Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology therapy, and ensure an injury free run. Our Chiropractor, Dr. Ryan Fox, also took part in the 5K and offered muscular and physical therapy for post-race injuries.

For more information on commonly treated conditions which our Chiropractors are trained, please visit the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre website to learn more. Often times, an Applied Kinesiology and Chiropractic approach can allow an injured athlete to return to their sport in a shorter amount of time than standard approaches to musculoskeletal injuries.

Ronald on the Run 5k participants are given the opportunity to visit the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre 1 week following the race to receive a complimentary introductory visit to Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology.

We will look forward to the 3rd annual Ronald on the Run 5K next Fall. Please support the Ronald McDonald House and the many children they assist!

Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Accepted for Chiropractic Care at Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:05:00 +0000

If you are looking for a Chapel Hill Chiropractor, the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre is proud to offer extended services and coverage to Blue Cross Blue Shield Customers and Blue Cross Blue Shield State Employees Plans! Please visit our website to see other insurances that we cover at Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre's website.

Starting October 30, 2007 Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre will begin submitting insurance claims as an in-network Preferred Provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS). This plan covers most Blue Cross Blue Shield policies for Chiropractic care.

Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre is also an in-network provider for Cigna, United, Medco, and Medicare beneficiaries.

Utilizing insurance, a typical visit to a Chiropractor will result in a copay or a co-insurance, ranging from $10-$50. Some plans require that you meet a yearly deductible, which can range from $150-$1500, depending on the plan you have chosen.

Chiropractors have the ability to treat a wide range of health symptoms much beyond the common neck and back pains. Please visit our link of commonly treated symptoms to see how Chiropractic can best serve you.

The Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre Serves the entire Triangle, RTP region including: Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, Carrboro, Morrisville, and Burlington.

The Shoulder and Rotator Cuff

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:23:00 +0000

I would like to give thanks to my brother, Dr. Greg Fox, clinic director of Heritage Family Chiropractic in Portland, Maine for introducing me to such a wonderful treatment tool as Applied Kinesiology.

I don't know how I or my patients would fare without the diagnostic ability that Applied Kinesiology muscle testing adds to standard methods of diagnosis taught in traditional medicine, combined with the treatment options gained through Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, and Osteopathy.

With that in mind, I would like to offer some insight to pain symptoms that affect the Shoulder and Rotator Cuff, a commonly mis-diagnosed joint problem

With the increasing numbers of rotator cuff surgeries performed today, it seems prudent to offer a treatment choice that may help people to avoid a costly surgery or permanent impairment. Either way, the least invasive treatments should be sought-after first before ever considering an irreversible surgical procedure. Any doctor, regardless of degree, should follow this philosophy.

The typical diagnosis for a rotator cuff tear, using ranges of motion, orthopedic tests, and MRI results is often not enough to rule-in or rule-out a surgical procedure. MRI results are often the conclusive evidence used to determine if a surgical repair is necessary. The disturbing news is that potential tears in the shoulder are often imperceivable on MRI, leading to an educated "guess", at best.

Physical therapy is normally very successful in rehabilitating a shoulder that has experienced muscle or ligamentous damage. Fortunately, most muscular tears are hardly ever "full tears" and can be improved with proper exercises, manipulation, and manual treatment.

Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology methods of treatment strengthen the standard approach of Physical Therapy and should always be considered together to offer a patient the maximum benefit and recovery time.

Why choose Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology?

Diagnosis using Applied Kinesiology gives the patient the added benefit of combining safe chiropractic adjustments with the rehabilitative efforts of manual medicine...Essentially, Applied Kinesiology give patients more treatment options that cover a wide-array of professions...including Physical Therapy, Massage, Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, and Acupuncture. A doctor trained in Applied Kinesiology (AK), has the ability to use muscle testing to determine which treatment option will allow the patient to recover the fastest depending on an individual's response to the test. This is functional neurology which tests the body's own muscles and nervous system responses to arrive at the proper diagnosis and treatment.

There are four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis. Upon inspection of a shoulder diagnosed with rotator cuff tear, I become fascinated by one of the most complex joints in the human body (second to the Jaw and TMJ). The rotator cuff is not able to act on it's own accord, it relies heavily upon other core-stablizing muscles of the shoulder girdle, including Pectoralis Major and Clavicular, Serratus Anterior, Upper Trapezius, Rhomboids, Teres Major, and Deltoids.

The idea to take from this list of stabilizing muscles is that the Rotator Cuff muscles are Second in Command to other more important muscles. Applied Kinesiology offers one of the only techniques available that can isolate and identify which muscles are responsible for the Rotator Cuff imbalance. Furthermore, Applied Kinesiology also helps your doctor decided what needs to be done after determining what is wrong.

Significant pain relief can often be obtained within several visits, depending on the initial underlying cause of the Rotator Cuff imbalance. Beyond direct shoulder involvement and thoracic outlet symptoms of , many cases of Rotator Cuff Pain can also be produced from pinching of nerves in the spine, where the nerves exit your spinal cord. This is called a Radiculopathy, a form of nerve compression that has been treated in Chiropractic for over a hundred years.

To consult a Chiropractor trained in Applied Kinesiology or to find an AK doctor near your home, please visit the website for the International College of Applied Kinesiology at http://www.icakusa.com/ or contact the Chapel Hill Chiropractic Centre at http://www.chapelhillchiropracticcentre.com/ for more information.

Chiropractic and Pediatric Care

drryanfox@hotmail.com (Dr. Ryan E. Fox, D.C.) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:48:00 +0000

Choosing the right healthcare team for a mother and newborn is probably one of the most distressing choices that can face first time parents. Beyond that, what if something is wrong? Can birth defects be avoided? The literature certainly indicates that birth defects and child developmental problems can certainly be avoided, or atleast identified early enought to ensure proper development.

The first step is...don't panic. From the beginning of fertilization until giving birth, pregnancy can be a challenging event; for the mother and baby. There are many chemical changes that occur during pregnancy that can place a significant stress on muscles, ligaments, bones, and other tissues.

Ever wonder why pregnant women get stretch marks? It doesn't occur to every woman, and it certaintly isn't just due to stretching. It may come as a shock, but healthy moms don't experience this change. This type of appearance occurs primarily in pregnant women and overweight individuals due to Increased Cortisol levels and Insulin Sensitivity. It is called Catabolism. Catabolism means that the body is cannabilizing (eating) itself to meet its protein needs, which are insufficient.

Pregnancy presents such a stress to hormones and digestion that it often will impair the mothers digestions of protein and other much-needed nutrients from food. Will this starve the growing fetus?...To some degree, but the mother is generally the one who will suffer the most because she has poor digestion and absorption of protein and is trying to meet the demands of eating for two. Proper nutritional recommendations, which many physicians are not trained to give, is necessary to balance these effects. Unfortunately, most medical educations do not include nutritional training due to such a strong focus on Pharmacology (drugs).

Because of this lack of training, generalized nutritional recommendations are often prescribed from recent "buzz" words or trends, such as an all-in-one prenatal vitamin or multi-vitamin. Even after just a few years of nutritional training, many novice doctors would reasonably know that nature did not intend for "all-in-one" supplements for something as complex as the human body. This is where natural intelligence meets intellect, or nature vs. man's reasoning, rather.

It is particularly recommended that prenatal vitamis with copper be avoided, due to it's effect on raising estrogen levels. Many spontaneous abortions or miscarriages can be caused by high estrogen levels in relation to low progesterone (progesterone, not progestins-the drug form, is protective to the fetus and keeps the body from recognizing the placenta and developing baby much like it recognizes a tumor...for more information read about the formation of a trophoblastic cancer cell)

Please subscribe to this blog's RSS Feed because there will be a follow up at some point comparing a growing cancer tumor and a developing fetus. The significant difference between the two is that progesterone protects the baby from being treated like a growing cancer (trophoblast). Tests that measure a body's production of a chemical marker called HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin), can either be identifying a pregnant female, a female with cancer, or a male with cancer. Understanding this relationship is also key to understanding how to stop cancerous growths.

The chemical and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy have a very specific effect on ligaments, tendons, and muscles that support the spine and other joints. Low back pain is the most common symptom among pregnant women. The ligaments are preparing for birth, yet they shouldn't be stretching so much. The combining effect of insulin (blood sugar fluctuations) and cortisol (anti-inflammatory hormone) will create ligament laxity (stretchiness) which is the most basic cause of low back pain and sciatica (leg pain often radiating to some other area, often the knee or foot. Gentle Chiropractic techniques are very favorable with this type of condition. Many Chiropractic tables are designed to allow a woman to lie on her stomach, safely, while having her back examined.

Since muscular, ligament, and joint misalignments often are preceded by chemical and nutritional changes, it is also wise to search-out a doctor who is well-versed in physical symptoms as well as chemical/nutritional/hormonal ones.

An Applied Kinesiologist (AK) is trained in all of these areas...you may find an AK doctor by visiting http://www.icakusa.com/ to search for an AK doctor near your home, or by visting our website at http://www.chapelhillchiropracticcentre.com/, to reserve an appointment with Dr. Fox. In office evaluations, as well as phone consultation, are available to determine if Applied Kinesiology and Chiropractic is appropriate for you.