Happy New Year from the Team at Family Chiropractic Centre

All the team who serve you at The Family Chiropractic Centre wish all of you a Happy and Safe New Year and we will see you in 2010.

How to Avoid the Dangers of Shovelling Snow

By Dr. Frank Dallan DC

Being that we live in South Western Ontario, we all know what our winters are like.  Snow, snow, snow and more snow, and there is a good chance that you will have to shovel your driveway at least a few times this year.  Unfortunately, the way in which people shovel their snow tends to put their backs in a very vulnerable position resulting in many snow shovelling back injuries. 

What I’m going to do for you today is give you some proper snow shovelling techniques so that you can avoid those nasty back injuries this winter.

So before we review what proper snow shovelling technique is, let’s first discuss what improper shovelling technique is.

Improper shovelling technique occurs when you bend forward at the waist, scooping the snow, lifting with the back at the waist, and tossing the snow over the side while standing stationary and rotating at the level of your lower back. 

This improper technique increases the work load on your lower back, and can lead to lumbar spine sprain/strain or even worse a herniation of a lumbar spine disc.

Proper shovelling technique is as follows. 

The first thing to remember is to remove the snow more frequently rather than waiting for the snow to pile up. 

The second thing to remember is to choose a proper shovel.  A light weight (good quality) plastic shovel that is non-stick is ideal for light powder snow.  In such an instance you should push the snow from the center of the driveway off to the outer edges of the driveway. 

Try to avoid throwing the snow.  But if you must throw the snow, position yourself directly in front of the area you wish to throw the snow, bend at your knees while keeping your back straight.  Then pick up your load of snow and lift the snow and throw the snow in front of you with your knees and arms while keeping your back straight. 

Avoid rotation at all costs! 

Another key point to keep in mind while throwing the snow is to exhale (breathe out) when lifting and throwing the snow.  This will minimize internal pressures within your body avoiding internal injuries and it will give you that extra strength you may need.

If you feel tired while shovelling the snow, you should take a break for a moment or two every 10 to 15 minutes. 

Remember to dress warm, and wear boots with good treads. 

Happy Shovelling!

To learn more about how a safe, gentle and scientific, Chiropractic adjustment could TRANSFORM your health contact your chiropractor.  If you are interested in a complimentary consultation, CALL  The Family Chiropractic Centre, 519-837-1234. 

 I’m Dr. Frank Dallan, educating you to help you educate others !

Merry Christmas to you

Merry Christmas to everyone from the Family Chiropractic Centre. We wish you all have a happy day.

Meet the Team: Audrey Van Noort

Name: Audrey Van Noort

Position: Clinic Manager

 Grad Year: As a student of life I bring those cumulative experiences to our office. It has been my journey through college, university, motherhood, sisterhood, as a daughter, as a wife and as a student that adds to my work in such amazing ways.

Other Languages Spoken: I am fluent in American Sign Language. My oldest son was the first Deaf person I had ever met. He was my inspiration to learning this amazing language.

 Favourite Quote: “You can’t be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude.” – John Maxwell and “If you think you can do it, you can.  If you believe you can do it, you will.  If you trust you can do it, you will make a difference.” – Catherine Ellis

 Family: I have 4 wonderful children and an amazing man in my life. Twins were my introduction to motherhood followed 4 years later by a daughter and 5 years after that, a son. I finally understood that God really has a sense of humour when he allowed me to begin menopause as my son goes through puberty. I thank Charlie for helping me through it all!

 Favourite Movie: Does anyone remember “Old Yeller”?

 Favourite Sports Team: Am I supposed to have one?

Favourite Musical Group: My kids would say Abba but I love listening to Susan Aglukark and Natalie Cole

 Favourite Book: Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen

 Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy gathering with friends and family, playing cards and socializing over a pot luck dinner – you get the best of everything!

Meet the Team: Angela Gazziro

Name: Angela Gazziro        

 Position: Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant

 Grad Year:  If I tell you my grad year then it will give away my age!  However the many courses I have taken through the years have helped me to help you.

Other Languages Spoken: Italian including the two dialects

 Family: After 15 years I was blessed with twins who keep me and my husband hopping.  

 Favourite Movie: My Sister’s Keeper

 Favourite Sports Team:  The ones my son plays on!

Favourite Musical Group: I love good old Rock and Roll along with contemporary Christian Music

 Favourite Book: The Bible. It has been a source of inspiration, comfort and wisdom

 Hobbies and Interests: My children keep me so busy that I am looking forward to retirement to find out what my hobbies will be.

Meet the Team: Ronnelle Harris

Name: Ronnelle Harris

Position: Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant

Grad Year: 1999

Other Languages Spoken: This is a work in progress….

Favourite Quote: It’s a toss up, either:  “Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death”, or “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.”

Family: Just me!

Favourite Movie: Wall-E. Disney strikes again with their cute, entertaining social commentary! (What an adorable way of expressing an opinion on the nature of society with the idea of promoting change by informing the general populace about our wasteful ways and appealing to people’s sense of justice.)

Favourite Sports Team: The Toronto Raptors….does it count if you like the team mainly because of their team colours?

Favourite Musical Group: For me it’s about the music, not the group! If I like the song, I like the song, regardless of who sings it.

Favourite Book: Facing The Lion by Simone Arnold Liebster

Hobbies and Interests: I like trying new things. Within reason, I’m willing to try just about anything at least once.

Meet the Team: Charissa Wilson

Name: Charissa Wilson

Position: Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant (aka ninja assasin)

Grad Year: Do we ever stop growing and learning?

Favourite Quote: “anybody want a peanut?”

Family: extended family spread all over the world

Favourite Movie: The Game

Favourite Sports Team: Is that a requirement?

Favourite Musical Group: Ella Fitzgerald

Favourite Book: Macbeth

Hobbies and Interests: Gardening, cooking

Attention: Fibromyalgia Sufferers

by Dr. Brent Lipke DC

Fibromyalgia is a term describing a condition involving chronic muscle and joint pain, headaches, irritable bowel, sleeplessness, depression and anxiety.  Sounds bad right?  It’s even worse because most forms of treatment meet with limited success.

People often develop fibromyalgia following an accident or trauma to the body.  One study found a 10 times increase in the risk of fibromyalgia following a neck injury. 

The American Journal of Medicine and other sources, show chiropractic to reduce pain and improve sleep quality.  Chiropractic works by removing stress from the nerve system allowing your body to function and heal normally.

 To learn more about how a safe, gentle and scientific, Chiropractic adjustment could TRANSFORM your health contact your chiropractor.  If you are interested in a complimentary consultation, CALL me at The Family Chiropractic Centre, 519-837-1234. 

I’m Dr. Brent Lipke, educating you to help you educate others !

Feeling Stressed? Then this article is for you.

Avoid stress?  Impossible!  To be alive is to be under stress.  We can either grow, thrive and heal in the face of stress, or be reduced to dullness and disease.  The way we react to stress can be more important than the stress itself. 

Feeling Stressed?

There are three stages we go through when under stress.  First is the alarm reaction where stress hormones are released during a “fight or flight” response.  If the stress remains the stage of resistance occurs where our muscles tense up and blood pressure increases.  If the stress continues then the stage of exhaustion occurs, ultimately leading to disease.

Chiropractic focuses on removing nerve stress from our bodies as we live in a world of chronic stress.  This allows us to adapt better, heal better and get the most out of life!

To learn more about how a safe, gentle and scientific, Chiropractic adjustment could TRANSFORM your health contact your chiropractor.  If you are interested in a complimentary consultation, CALL me at The Family Chiropractic Centre, 519-837-1234. 

I’m Dr. Brent Lipke, educating you to help you educate others !

How to Reduce Your Headaches Without Popping Pills

by Dr. Brent Lipke DC

What puts the ache in a headache ?

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year on medications to relieve headaches but none of these drugs correct the cause. 

Headaches can have many causes, one commonly overlooked factor involves spinal misalignment causing pressure on the nerves at the top of the neck that control the blood supply to the head.

Chiropractic research has shown that relieving pressure on the delicate nerves at the top of the spine can decrease the number of headache hours by 69%, reduce migraine episodes by 90%, and decrease medication usage by 94%.

To learn more about how a safe, gentle and scientific, Chiropractic adjustment could TRANSFORM your health contact your chiropractor.  If you are interested in a complimentary consultation, CALL  The Family Chiropractic Centre, 519-837-1234. 

 I’m Dr. Brent Lipke, educating you to help you educate others !