Madison AL Chiropractors Tell You How to Take Care of Your Body

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison Al

Chiropractic Care and Total Health

You may have noticed that chiropractic care is extremely efficient. By addressing your spinal health and the health of your nerve system with chiropractic care, many of your body's other systems are also positively affected, indirectly. Your central nerve system - your brain and spinal cord - is your body's master system controlling every part of your body. Every other organ, tissue, and cell receives instructions on when and how to do its job from the nerve system, via spinal nerves and smaller nerve branches. Simply put, when your nerve system is not functioning properly your body as a whole will not function properly. You may have pain. You may have symptoms of specific diseases. It is important to address these symptoms. But to really correct the problem, it is also critically important to address possible causes which lie within the nerve system. Using gentle correction of spinal misalignments, chiropractic care helps optimize the functioning of your nerve system. A healthy nerve system helps ensure good health in your cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, as well as other body systems.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were born with an owner's manual for your body? Ideally you would find out the best ways to care for this most precious possession. By finding out how to use your body optimally, you could ensure a lifetime of maximum health and vitality and top performance. You could keep your originally perfect physical vehicle from systematically breaking down.

By developing the most effective practices and techniques now and making them a habit, you could be spared the common experience of many years of avoidable physical discomfort, which often also includes significant emotional/mental suffering.

The good news is that it's never too late to make an effort to improve and optimize your health. The sooner you begin, the quicker you will begin experiencing the rewards.

Imagine the table of contents of your body's owner's manual. What subjects would it cover? Ideally, the manual would cover the usual suspects - good posture, exercise, nutrition, and proper rest - four important requirements for health, that almost everyone knows about but hardly anyone actually puts into practice. One of the best things about having your body's own personal owner's manual would be that you'd automatically know what works best for your body without having to go through a long drawn out process of figuring out what works and what doesn't work. Even more importantly, you would have the knowledge and ability to take proper care of your body - keeping yourself healthy from the start rather than trying to regain your health.

What can a person do to reclaim and maintain their optimal health? Since people aren't born with an owner's manual, and most also never had coaches or teachers who are very knowledgeable, they usually just struggle along. Their posture gets progressively worse, their muscles get progressively tighter as they begin to experience joint problems, and eventually they start to notice various aches and pains that quickly become long-term and unrelenting.

Fortunately our bodies have amazing resilience and recuperative powers. Once we find someone who can guide us to improve our posture and participate in exercise that is appropriate for us, we begin to find that it really is possible to feel better.

A doctor of chiropractic is an excellent choice because these physicians are very familiar with the musculoskeletal system and natural health strategies, and are therefore a good choice to help you figure out the secrets to your own body. Dr. Greg Millar or Dr. Justin Walbom of Millar Chiropractic Clinics in Madison, Alabama can help you get all the benefits of having an owner's manual without having to suffer through the trial and error yourself.

Take posture for example.Dr. Greg and Dr. Justin can share with you the same secrets that most high level competitive athletes, dancers and gymnasts learn from coaches and other mentors. You can be taught about your center of gravity, and how to balance the majority of your weight over the front part of your feet rather than your heels. You can be taught to stand tall and straight without tensing your muscles. You can learn how to breathe deeply and freely - opening your chest while relaxing your chest muscles - so that your lungs can take in all the oxygen you need to function optimally. You can be taught to keep your shoulder muscles relaxed, as you sit with your spine lengthened and your and back and neck muscles relaxed. You can be taught to properly strengthen and engage your core abdominal muscles, to provide a strong foundation for your lower back and throughout all of your daily activities.

Our chiropractors at Millar Chiropractic Clinics are experts of the nerve and musculoskeletal systems, and has extensive knowledge of how your posture and the health and integrity of your spine affects how you feel, as well as what you need to do to take care of your precious body.

If you want to take the best care of your body, as if you had your own personal owner's manual, contact your Millar chiropractor and get started on the path to optimal health and wellness today!

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL

1908 Slaughter Rd. 

Madison, Alabama 35758

(256) 430-2700

http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html

1Vidal J, et al: Effects of Postural Education on Daily Habits in Children. Int J Sports Med March 4th, 2011 (Epub ahead of print)

2Eriksson MK, et al: Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of a 3-year trial of lifestyle intervention in primary health care. Arch Intern Med 170(16):1470, 1479, 2010

3Huffman DM: Exercise as a calorie restriction mimetic: implications for improving healthy aging and longevity. Interdiscip Top  Gerontol 37:157-174, 2010

Madison AL Chiropractors Tell You How to Strengthen Your Lower Back

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison Al

Don't Forget to Stretch

Exercise includes three important aspects : stretching, exercising, and abdominal strengthening. Stretching is done first to prepare you for the work of exercise, and then even more extensively at the end of your workout when your muscles are nice and warm. You may be tighter than usual on a particular day. This is not important - you should never try to stretch to where "you think you should be". Just stretch slowly and gently, making sure to pay attention to what you're doing. It's easy to injure a muscle if you're thinking about something else, or if you're rushing, trying to squeeze in some stretching before dashing off to the gym. It is important to breathe slowly and deeply while you stretch. This will help your body and your muscles relax as much as possible, giving you the best results.

You never know until you hurt it how much you use your lower back all day long. When your lower back is injured, every movement becomes painful. Simple actions, such as getting out of a bed or chair, getting out of your car, or bending over the sink, become excruciating, and your daily routine becomes difficult and frustrating.

Back pain affects 60 to 80 percent of U.S. adults at some time during their lives, and up to 50 percent have back pain within a given year. Some of these problems are easily treated and never return, but in five to ten percent of patients low back pain becomes chronic and the person continues to have recurrences and exacerbations.

Effective treatment of uncomplicated lower back pain involves treatment in a chiropractor's office and beginning and continuing an exercise program. A recent study conducted by the Medical Research Council, a research organization based in the United Kingdom, has found that patients given a combination of spinal manipulation and exercise experienced greater improvement in back function and greater reduction in pain compared to those treated with spinal manipulation or exercise only.

Most mechanical lower back pain is associated with tight leg muscles and weak abdominal muscles. To avoid recurrences of lower back pain, leg muscles need to be stretched and abdominal muscles need to be strengthened. People are generally not aware of the relationship between back pain and the leg and abdominal muscles. You may know you "should be exercising", but you may be unaware of the importance of stretching and abdominal strengthening.

Abdominal strengthening helps support the lower back. Spinal muscles are not designed to carry your body weight. If your abdominal muscles are weak, then your back muscles will be used to carry your body weight, and eventually you'll have a lower back injury. Abdominal strengthening not only helps keep your lower back healthy, but also helps maintain good posture. There are many benefits to good posture, including an easy, relaxed gait; muscles that are long and supple, rather than short and tight; and an open chest that allows for easy, smooth breathing. Everything's connected. A lower back problem affects many other areas, ultimately. By making sure to stretch regularly and by including abdominal exercises in your gym routine, you can help ensure having a lower back that works.

Dr. Greg Millar or Dr. Justin Walbom of Millar Chiropractic Clinics in Madison, Alabama can advise you on the best ways to stretch and strengthen the muscles that support your lower back.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd. 
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700
http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html

1BMJ 2004; 329: 1377

Madison AL Chiropractors Talk About Aging Parents

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison Al

Essential Nutrients for Baby Boomers

It is important to ensure we are getting all the nutrients necessary for optimal health and wellness, especially as the years advance. Some of the common concerns of Baby Boomers include maintaining strong bones, an agile mind, a strong immune system and good nerve function throughout the body.            Various vitamins and minerals can help to support these goals. Vitamins C and D helps to strengthen the immune system, protecting against colds and flu. Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants, which help to protect against a variety of serious diseases and disorders, including heart disease and cancer.  Another nutrient - Astaxanthin - is one of the most powerful antioxidants available.  It's not a vitamin though.  Astaxanthin is the natural carotenoid that gives salmon its pink color.  It is a free-radical scavenger that can help protect your skin, joints, muscles, brain and nervous system. B-complex vitamins are important to support nerve system function. B-vitamin deficiencies can lead to memory problems and other neurological disorders. Calcium and vitamin D are important for strong, healthy bones. In combination with regular weight-bearing exercise, these vitamins and minerals can help prevent or minimize decreased bone mass. For optimal health and nutrition, choose healthy, whole foods (organic as much as possible) and make sure you are getting the nutrients you need.

The average age of Americans has been increasing each year. There were approximately 77 million live births between the years of 1946 and 1964 in the United States - the generation referred to as the "baby boomers". In 2012, the oldest baby boomers will turn 66, with an average lifespan of 83. Many will live well into their 90s. Typically, people continue the habits throughout their lives that they developed in their youth. Unfortunately, for the majority of Americans, this includes a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, and a lack of regular exercise.

As we age, our bad habits seem to catch up with us.  The sugar, simple carbohydrates and fast foods we regularly indulged in as teenagers and young adults now seem to add additional pounds with each passing year. The lack of regular exercise which seemed inconsequential, now predisposes us to heart disease, high blood pressure and weakened immune systems. Mature adults who resist the importance of regular exercise and proper nutrition are also missing the joy of having a vibrantly healthy body and the positive mental and emotional states that result. It's never too late to start. Even older adults can become wonderfully fit, or at least achieve a significant improvement, perhaps feeling more youthful than they have in decades.

If you are a younger adult with aging parents, consider setting a good example for fitness. Helping your parents become more fit is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Regular exercise is the first example and probably the most important. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise five times per week.  Sadly, the majority of American adults do not exercise at all. Help your parents get into a routine of regular exercise by inviting them to go for walks or show them a few basic exercises that can be done at home.

Exercise DVDs produced specifically for seniors can be a good option to get older adults exercising.  It is always wise to get a doctor's approval before beginning an exercise program.  This is especially true when one has been very sedentary and hasn't exercised in a long time, or if there are any health problems involved.  But if they have been given the green light and have an interest in working out in the privacy of their own home, here are some exercise DVDs for seniors which may be a good way to get them started.

Getting started is key. Encourage your parents by helping them to see how it will add fun and joy to their lives.  It's best to present it an enjoyable choice they might like to make, rather than nagging them about what they "should" be doing.

You can also set a good example with nutrition. Invite your parents over for a healthy dinner, or take them out to a healthy place. You can talk to them about eating smaller portions, and avoiding fried and processed foods.  Restaurant portions are usually at least twice the size of appropriate servings. If your parents tend to overeat, set an example by boxing up half of your entree at the start of your meal, or by sharing an entree with your spouse.

One of the easiest changes to make is to stop drinking sodas and other sweet drinks - including artificially sweetened drinks which are even worse than sugar-laden choices.  Sweet drinks are filled with empty calories which can wreak havoc with your blood sugar and add extra pounds each year. 

As a person ages, they typically produce smaller amounts of the enzymes needed for digestion. To compensate, it is usually helpful to avoid drinking liquids during meals as much as possible to prevent diluting the digestive enzymes.  Instead, try drinking a glass of water 20 to 30 minutes before a meal and avoiding drinking anything at meal time, except perhaps a small glass of red wine which offers some health benefits and doesn't interfere with digestion.

For most people, changing their eating habits late in life can be especially challenging. Help your parents learn how to take small steps in the direction of improved nutritional habits, rather than attempting to change everything at once. As with exercise, try to make better eating habits a positive choice.

It helps if we actually walk the talk rather than just tell other people about what they should be doing differently. Hopefully our loved ones will mimic the positive changes they see us making. We can enjoy making health-promoting choices, with the awareness that we're giving our extended family a good example to follow.

Dr. Greg Millar and Dr. Justin Walbom of Millar Chiropractic Clinics in Madison, Alabama are experts in using nutrition and exercise as a means of achieving and maintaining good health. They will be happy to provide valuable information on both of these topics for you and your whole family.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd. 
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700
http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html

1MetLife Demographic Profile. MetLife Mature Market Institute, New York, NY, 2006

Madison AL Chiropractors Talk About Maximizing Your Health Account

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison Al

Deposits and Withdrawals from Your Health Account

In terms of your health and well-being it's very important to not to "overdraw your health account". Withdrawals should never exceed deposits. The trouble is that sometimes we don't even realize that we're making a withdrawal, or we forget to make sure we've had enough deposits to cover a big withdrawal. When this happens, we tend to get sick. Stress can cause a very large withdrawal from your health account. Your body will expend a large amount of resources as it tries to cope with stress. The result is the same whether the stress is psychological, emotional or physical - all types of ongoing stress result in ongoing withdrawals. When we are under a lot of stress, it's especially important to pay close attention to our health accounts. Proper nutrition, sufficient rest, and regular exercise become even more important when we're under increased stress. The trouble is, heightened stress levels go hand in hand with chronic exhaustion - so we tend to feel like we just don't have the energy necessary to do the things that will keep us healthy. We tell ourselves that we're too stressed out and we don't have enough time to workout or make an effort to buy and prepare healthy food. But the thing is, that's when it really is most important to make the effort and take the time to do what's best for our health.  Even if we don't really feel like it. Take the time now to pad your health accounts, so that you will have the necessary health resources down the road when you really need it.

Everyone wants to increase the balance in their bank accounts. The health of our finances is largely determined by the level of our resources. The more money we have in the bank, so to speak, the more secure we feel overall. If our resources are nicely diversified among liquid assets, property, stocks, and bonds, we are apt to feel even more secure.

We can similarly use this type of fiscal accounting as a metaphor for our physical well-being and health. The more resources we are able to accumulate in our "health account" the healthier we will likely end up being. To take it one step further, if we're able to diversify the assets in our health accounts, as it's prudent to do with our financial accounts, we're more likely to experience better outcomes with regard to our long-term health.

You may notice that your physical resources probably fluctuate as often as your financial resources. With the metaphor of health accounting, we can still think in terms of income and expenses. If your "income" is greater than your "expenses", you will likely enjoy overall higher levels of health.  Of course, the opposite is also true - when expenses are greater than income, health tends to deteriorate.

What kinds of things can we use to pad our health accounts? Dr. Greg Millar and Dr. Justin Walbom of Millar Chiropractic Clinics in Madison, Alabama say that the most obvious and crucial aspects are food, exercise, and rest. With each of these, quality is more important than quantity - especially when it comes to the food we eat. Eating a large quantity of poor quality food will eventually lead to being overweight or obese. On the other hand, when you focus on quality - enjoying a diet that primarily consists of high-quality protein, high-quality fats, and plenty of fresh vegetables and some fruits - you will usually become more fit and naturally lean.

When it comes to getting adequate rest, most people usually do best with seven to eight hours of sleep each night. There are exceptions, but for most people, getting less than six hours of sleep per night long-term will eventually deplete their health account. In rare cases, getting too much sleep long-term can also lead to negative effects. Just like with food though, quality can be more important than quantity (or at least equally important).

There are many additional sources of "income" that can increase the balance of our health accounts. Close and loving personal relationships with family and supportive friends, interesting and stimulating interests and activities, exploring new places and learning new skills all help to grow our health accounts, enhancing our long-term health and increasing our overall sense of well-being.

Chiropractic care is another wonderful source of "income" for our health accounts. Receiving regular chiropractic care can help a person maximize the value - on a physiological basis - of the food, rest and exercise they are getting. Chiropractic care assists people in getting the most out of their health resources, by optimizing their physiology and thereby improving their health and increasing their well-being.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd. 
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700

http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html


1Greenwald P, Dunn BK: Do we make optimal use of the potential of cancer prevention? Recent Results Cancer Res 181:3-17, 2009
2Jackson AS, et al: Role of lifestyle and aging on the longitudinal change in cardiorespiratory fitness. Arch Intern Med 169(19):1781-1787, 2009
3Smaldone A, et al: Sleepless in America: inadequate sleep and relationships to health and well-being of our nation's children. Pediatrics 119(Suppl 1):S29-S37, 2007

Madison Chiropractors Talk About New Year's Resolutions

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison, AL

It's New Years again already, and perhaps you're determined that this will be the year that you actually follow through with your New Year's resolutions. This is finally going to be the year that you make your self and your health a priority.  You'll eat better, exercise regularly, lose weight, and you're finally going to find our whether chiropractic care can make a positive difference in your life.

If you're like most people, you've probably been thinking about doing more to improve your health for many years. Perhaps you even have family and friends who have been recommending chiropractic health care to you for a very long time. You decide you're ready to take action and you make an appointment to see your local chiropractic physician.

Chiropractic health care is more important now than ever before. Today, many Americans are lacking health insurance or are under insured. Deductibles, premiums and copayments seem to keep rising while most household incomes have been stagnant. Because Chiropractic treatment is both corrective and preventative in nature, it tends to be a very cost effective choice and can play a large part in solving our current health care crisis.

In contrast to most medical care, chiropractic care is low-cost while providing high value. Chiropractic treatment  focuses on the musculoskeletal system - bones, muscles, and joints - but first and foremost, it addresses and optimizes the functioning of the nerve system.  Simply put, chiropractic care makes your nervous system more efficient. And an efficiently functioning nervous system is crucial for optimal functioning of all other critical body systems - your cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, endocrine and digestive  systems.

Chiropractic care utilizes a hands-on approach, and you'll notice that your visits with your chiropractor provide real, personal interactions between you and your doctor. Dr. Greg Millar and Dr. Justin Walbom of Millar Chiropractic Clinics in Madison, Alabama are highly trained in a variety of disciplines - including nutritional evaluation and restorative exercise - and he or she will make recommendations that are specially designed for your particular needs.

Chiropractic care itself - called spinal adjustments - is gentle and relaxing. Immediate results often include decreased pain and muscular tension, and a noticeable increase in mobility of the neck, back, hips, and shoulders. For patients with back-related pain, improvement is often noted within 24 or 48 hours. People also often report sensations of increased alertness and increased focus after chiropractic adjustments, and an increased feeling of relaxation, ease and general well-being.

Additional profound benefits of chiropractic care derive from its direct effect on nerve system functioning. Although chiropractic health care is not specifically a treatment for headaches, menstrual cramps, asthma, allergies or digestive problems, improvement in one's health may occur across the board as an indirect result of chiropractic therapy.

So, chiropractic care provides a tremendous amount of "bang for your buck" - a lot of health benefit for your health care dollar. And at Millar Chiropractic Clinics, located in downtown Huntsville, Jones Valley, Madison, and Decatur, you not only receive the benefit of treatment but also the benefit of your doctor's vast health-care knowledge - you learn about how your body works and how to best take care of it naturally. The original meaning of the word doctor was teacher, and Dr. Greg Millar and Dr. Justin Walbom are educators as well as a health-care provider, interested in all aspects of your health and well-being. Make it your New Year's resolution to become healthier

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd. 
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700

http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html

1Bronfort G, et al: Efficacy of spinal manipulation and mobilization for low back pain and neck pain: a systematic review and best evidence synthesis. Spine J 4(3):335-356, 2004
2Johnson C, et al: Chiropractic and public health: current state and future vision.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 31(6):397-410, 2008

Dealing With Arthritis

By: Dr. Justin Walbom, DC and Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison Al

Chances are, you either have some arthritis or know someone who suffers with it. According to the Center for Disease Control, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States.1  Approximately 47 million people have doctor-diagnosed arthritis and 17 million have arthritis-attributable activity limitations.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form, is a degenerative condition affecting the joints and the soft tissues around the joints ─ the associated cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. The most commonly affected areas are the spine, the hands, and the shoulders, hips, and knees. The pain of arthritis, the reduced mobility, and the lifestyle accommodations needed for pain avoidance can be very discouraging and may even lead to depression.

Many anti-inflammatory drugs are available for the treatment of arthritis, and in recent years many of these have been found to cause severe side effects. Vioxx is the most notorious of these ─ cardiovascular complications caused a worldwide recall of the drug. Celebrex, another well-known arthritis medication, was also found to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke at high doses.

Fortunately, there are several wellness-based treatment alternatives to long-term medication. These include exercise, diet, and in many cases, chiropractic treatment.
Exercise is critical in restoring mobility and, over time, in reducing pain.2,3  Persons with osteoarthritis often experience a vicious cycle of deterioration. Pain causes reduced mobility (pain avoidance), which (paradoxically) actually causes more pain, which causes further reductions of mobility . . . . In time, the normal activities of daily living ─ getting out of a chair, opening a jar, bending and lifting ─ become a real challenge as the person struggles to avoid further pain.

So, restoring mobility is the most important factor in effective treatment of arthritis. Exercise ─ very gently at first ─ is the answer. Range-of-motion activities to get the joints moving again are very beneficial, including:
•    Arm circles
•    Wrist circles
•    Shoulder shrugs
•    Side-to-side bending for the lower back
•    Gentle knee bends
•    Ankle circles
•    Flexing and pointing the feet

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for those with arthritis. Begin by walking one block, then two, then around the block. Walk five minutes daily for a week, then increase by a minute or two each day. Get up to 15 minutes of gentle walking, then begin to gradually increase your pace. The increased mobility will not only reduce pain, but also provide a cardiovascular benefit and improve one's ability to perform activities of daily living. 

Keep in mind that you don't have to do all 15 minutes at once to benefit from it.  You can take 2 or 3 shorter walks throughout the day and evening if you prefer.  This is especially helpful if you tend to be sedentary, as this helps reduce prolonged periods of sitting and the metabolic syndrome problems that go along with it.

If you are lucky enough to have access to a pool, swimming can be a great form of exercise that's easier on your joints.  Many recreation centers offer water aerobic classes for beginners to more advanced exercisers.  Other gentle exercise options include Yoga and Tai Chi.

Chiropractic treatment, in combination with an exercise program, may assist in restoring joint mobility and reducing pain. Gentle chiropractic manipulative therapy is designed to improve mobility of spinal joints. As spinal joint motion improves, pain lessens, and a positive cycle of return-to-function begins.

Ask your Millar Chiropractor about natural anti-inflammatory foods and supplements - such as Krill Oil, Boswellia, Ginger, Bromelain or fresh Pineapple, Tart Cherries (fresh, juice or extract,) Cayenne, Tumeric/Curcumin. and Astaxanthin - which can be a much safer pain-reducing option for many people with Osteoarthritis.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd. 
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700
http://millarchiro.com/millarchiropractic-madisonal-chiropractor.html

1"Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation." CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report  55(40);1089-1092, 2006.
2Huang MH, et al: A comparison of various therapeutic exercises on the functional status of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum 32(6):398-406, 2003.
3Suomi R, Collier, D: Effects of arthritis exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived activities of daily living measures in older adults with arthritis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 84(11):1589-94, 2003.