Archive for the ‘Chiropractic’ Category

New Study Reveals Great News About Chiropractic!

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

I just came across some really cool news about chiropractic care that I wanted to share with you.

The health insurance company Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield did a one year pilot study in 2008 to measure patient quality of care, and the results of this study were just released.  What they found out about chiropractic care is very remarkable. They found that there are significant clinical outcomes and health care cost reductions directly attributable to the use of chiropractic care.
What this means is that chiropractic care did a very good job of getting results for patients, and those who used chiropractic care had lower total health care costs.
People using chiropractic care were also less likely to have surgery than similar people in the pilot study who did not receive chiropractic care.
While this is not the first study of its kind, this is the most recent proof that chiropractic care has a profound positive effect on your health and quality of life.  And for those people who choose to receive chiropractic care on a regular basis, they will not only be healthier, but their health care costs will be lower.
This study was done on chiropractic, which is powerful by itself, but think of how much more benefit you receive at Vibrant Potential when you add in nutritional counseling, energy work, kinesio taping, health coaching, applied kinesiology and all the rest.
If you know somebody who’s been struggling with their health, pass this information on to them and let them know that chiropractic care can help them out.
I was recently talking with one of my practice members and he mentioned how easy it is to simply hand his friends and co-workers my card if he hears them complaining about low energy or pain.  He just tells them to give me a call for a free phone consultation.  Doesn’t cost them a penny, they don’t have to take the time to drive in, and often times I can give useful self-help tips right over the phone.
If you have any questions or comments, just email me.  Otherwise, I’ll see you at your next appointment!

Helping you reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

P.S.  Remember, if you know someone that can benefit from my services but you don’t know how to tell them, it’s SUPER easy to hand them my card and let them know they can call for a free phone consult with your doc at 952-224-2909.

Posted in Chiropractic, Healthy Living | No Comments »

Consumer Reports Rates Chiropractors Higher Than MDs…

Monday, August 10th, 2009

You’ve heard of Consumer Reports Magazine (and website), right? Well check this out…

In May 2009, Consumer Reports published the results of a survey involving over 14,000 of their subscribers.

The results showed that “hands on” treatments, led by chiropractic care, were the “top-rated” treatments for people suffering from back pain. The massage survey also found that chiropractors were given the highest “satisfaction with care” ratings, well above those given to medical doctors who administered various forms of care to back pain sufferers.

The survey found that more than half of the respondents had pain that severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88% said it recurred throughout the year. The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, the majority reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors.

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got the top honors.

Also in the results was Dr. Orly Avitzur, a medical neurologist saying, “The survey showed “hands-on” therapies, which include chiropractic care, are “very successful” and I almost always recommend them.”

This is exciting news because Consumer Reports has a great reputation. What’s also nice is that the positive comments are coming from people just like you and I, so no one’s trying to scam or manipulate what’s being reported.

I often tell my patients that chiropractic care is the best kept health care secret in America. And there continues to be more and more proof to back up my claim!!!

So if you know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care but is skeptical or unsure of whether or not chiropractic care could work for them, please pass this email on to them and share this information with them.

I’m sure you are like me and hate to see your friends and family suffer with pain, so let them know that chiropractic care is a proven option to restore their health and relieve their pain.

Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon!

Dr. Chris Frykman

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3 Common Myths About Chiropractic You Should Know About

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Even though chiropractic care is one of the best health care options available to eliminate pain, reduce stress, increase flexibility, and maintain a great quality of life, there are still a lot of people who don’t know much about chiropractic care.  There are also a lot of crazy myths about chiropractic.  I want to share a few of those with you so you have a better understanding about chiropractic.

Check these out:

Myth #1: Chiropractors Aren’t “Real” Doctors

Did you know that some people actually still say that?  Out of curiosity, what is a “real” doctor anyway?  A white coat?  A stethoscope?  A prescription pad?  Are we to believe that the only “real” doctors are the ones with the letters MD after their name?  Or if you don’t prescribe pills then you aren’t a “real” doctor?

The truth is chiropractors are in fact “real doctors.”  I’m pretty sure I’m real!!! Chiropractors are recognized and licensed in all 50 states as Doctors of Chiropractic.

Truth #1: Yes, Chiropractors are “Real” doctors.

Myth #2:  Once You Go To A Chiropractor, They Make You Go Forever

This is obviously not true.  To answer this myth, there are few things to consider.  First, I’ve never made a patient do anything that they themselves did not want to do.  I’ve never forced a patient to do anything.  Not only do I not “make” people see me for the rest of their lives, but I also can’t “force” patients to do something they don’t want to do.  And I doubt any other chiropractor has a magic wand that makes people do something they don’t want to do either!

But here’s the other point you need to consider.  Your body is like a used car.  With normal “wear and tear” and aging, your body is breaking down.  That’s just a fact.  And if you add stress to the equation, then it breaks down even more.  So your body needs tune-ups, just like a used car, to be healthy.  Your health has to be something you focus on regularly and consistently for the rest of your life.  That includes diet, exercise, getting enough sleep, and taking care of your frame (muscles, joints, and nervous system.)

If you want to be healthy, you CANNOT ignore taking care of yourself on a regular basis.  Trust me, it doesn’t work.  So with that being said, just know that while I don’t make people “come back forever,” many patients CHOOSE ON THEIR OWN to come back on a regular basis to get chiropractic care.
No one makes you exercise regularly or makes you brush your teeth daily or makes you eat healthy foods.  You do these things because it keeps you as healthy as possible.  Chiropractic care is a service people CHOOSE to use on a regular basis because it also keeps people healthy, feeling great, and keeps their body functioning at a high level.  Who wouldn’t want that?

Truth #2: You do not have to go to a chiropractor forever, but many people choose to use chiropractic care on a regular basis (just like going to the gym) for the rest of their life.

Myth #3: Chiropractic Care Is Only For Back and Neck Pain

Many people think that chiropractic care is only for back and neck pain.  That’s not true at all.  I want you to think BIGGER.  Chiropractic helps people with a variety of health care problems and conditions beyond the back.  Many people don’t realize that chiropractors help other areas of the body too, like shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles.  And chiropractic care not only helps people get out of pain, but it also KEEPS people healthy.  Also, people of EVERY age can receive chiropractic care; infants, children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly.  So as you can see, there’s a lot more to chiropractic than just back and neck pain!

Truth #3: Chiropractic care offers much more than back and neck pain relief.

So there you have it, the answers to 3 of the most common chiropractic myths.  If you have any questions, just hit the reply button in your email account and send me an email.  Or we can chat at your next appointment.

Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon!

Dr. Chris Frykman

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3 Great Options For Temporary Pain Relief…

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

As you know, many people come to see me seeking pain relief.  Whether it’s back pain, headaches, shoulder pain, or arthritis, my patients want a safe and natural solution that works.

My philosophy has always been offer pain relief as quickly as possible so that you can get on with your daily life, BUT ALSO heal the underlying condition that’s causing the pain.

The reason I take this approach is because if I only treat your pain and symptoms, and not the reason why you have the pain or symptoms, then even if you feel better, your body still has problems that have not been fixed.  And what do you think will happen if the underlying reason for having pain hasn’t been healed?  That’s right, the pain and symptoms will more than likely return.

The best results always happen when you focus on both…making you feel better AND healing your body.  Make sense?

With that being said, today I wanted to teach you a little bit about pain.  Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.  Here’s how it works:

Pain begins with the peripheral nerves.  These nerves extend from your skin, muscles, and internal organs to your spinal cord.  These nerves may be sensitive to touch, movement, and even temperature changes.  When these nerves are stimulated, they send pain messages to your spinal cord.  These messages are then relayed to the brain.

Now that you know that pain involves the nerves, let’s talk about how you can get faster relief while you are getting chiropractic care.

As I just mentioned, your peripheral nerves are responsive to the sensations of hot and cold.  You can take advantage of this and prevent pain messages from reaching the brain by masking them with a different message.  Think hitting your thumb with a hammer and numbing the pain but instantly sucking on it.

How you do this is by using topical treatments to distract your nervous system from the pain you are experiencing.

One option you have is ice.  Putting ice on the area of pain is often useful at decreasing swelling and inflammation, as well as making the area feel better.  I recommend putting ice on a painful area for 15 to 20 minutes and then taking it off.  After 45 minutes, do it again if you like.  You can repeat this cycle of 15 to 20 minutes on…45 minutes off, as much as you need to.

Another option you have is heat.  Applying a heat pack to the area of pain can sometimes provide relief.  As a general rule of thumb, don’t use this in the first 72 hours of pain.  Heat is especially good for chronic pain because it dilates blood vessels in the area so you can get more nutrition and oxygen to the area.  Use the same advice with heat that I gave you for ice.

A third option is a topical treatment like BioFreeze.  This is a gel that you rub into the area of pain.  There are “pain masking” ingredients in BioFreeze that penetrate the skin and trigger a response in the nerves.

Now, even though these treatments won’t permanently eliminate your pain or fix the problem causing the pain like chiropractic care can, they can provide temporary relief that is often vital to getting through the day.

So try adding a few of these options to your chiropractic care.  You might find that it helps you when you aren’t feeling your best.

Helping you live YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

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Can Chiropractic Care Lower Blood Pressure?

Monday, May 12th, 2008

On March 25, 2008, a story broke on ABC’s Good Morning America about chiropractic care and blood pressure.

A study done in March of 2007 at University of Chicago Medical Center confirmed that specific chiropractic adjustments to the C-1 vertebra in the neck (that’s the first bone in your neck, right under your skull) can reduce blood pressure.
According to lead author George Bakris, MD, director of the hypertension center at the University of Chicago Medical Center, unlike other vertebrae, which interlock one to the next, the atlas (also known as C-1) relies solely on soft tissue (muscles and ligaments) to maintain alignment; therefore is uniquely vulnerable to displacement. Displacement of C-1 can occur without pain and thus, often goes undetected and untreated.

The authors say the improvement in blood pressure following the specific chiropractic adjustment of the C-1 vertebra is similar to that seen by giving patients two different blood pressure-lowering drugs simultaneously. The reduction in blood pressure continued into the eighth week.

At this point the authors do not know why this improvement in blood pressure occurs. My opinion is that any time the spine is misaligned, it alters the function of the brain and nervous system thus causing functional problems that negatively affect your health.
Hint: That’s why chiropractic care can literally help with anything! It’s because it doesn’t treat a symptom, disorder, or disease – it treats the person.
Because of this study, the medical community is taking notice of how powerful chiropractic care can be. A larger study is underway to confirm the findings of this breakthrough in reducing blood pressure.

This is exciting news! It not only shows how powerful chiropractic care is, but it also shows how your body can develop health problems when your spine is not healthy and in proper alignment.

If you’d like to watch the video on ABC’s website, here is the link:
http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=chiropractic%20+%20blood%20pressure&type

If you are unable to view the video, just go to www.abcnews.com and in the search box type in “chiropractic + blood pressure.”

Here’s the link at the University of Chicago Medical center: http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2007/20070314-atlas.html

Helping you live YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman
Shakopee, MN

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Applied Kinesiology and the Athlete

Friday, April 18th, 2008

Did you know that I know write a column for the bi-monthly magazine Midwest events? Athletes have long embraced chiropractic in general, and those in the know specifically seek out applied kinesiology.

Here’s the article as it appeared in the March/April issue. I hope you enjoy.

Applied Kinesiology: How you can gain that competitive edge while reducing risk of injury
Each athlete has his/her own reasons for competing. For some it’s general health and fitness. For others it’s an innate competitive drive to win. Others love the social aspect. No matter the reason you compete, if you’re like most people, you want to minimize your risk of injury, feel great, both on the road, and at home in-between training sessions, and perform to the best of your abilities. One way to effectively achieve all of this is through applied kinesiology (AK). Nutrition, cross-training, weights…there are many ways that you can optimize your training. AK, and the method of muscle testing that is a key aspect of this approach, allows us to see the “big picture” and help us to better understand what the body needs to function at its peak. AK provides a road map of the body so you can coordinate all systems efficiently and in the most effective way possible. What’s the best sports drink for your individual body? Is there a specific food that you could cut out of your diet to eliminate that runner’s diarrhea? Are all your muscles firing like the well-tuned machine you strive to be? Imagine a NASCAR racer attempting to win a race firing on only five cylinders instead of all eight. That is what most athletes are doing every time they toe the line. If you’re going to go out there, you may as well give it your all!

Gaining Your Edge

If AK is an avenue you would like to pursue, the first step is to make an appointment with a health care practitioner who is certified in AK. When you go in for your appointment you will go over any injuries, concerns, and health history. One of the unique aspects of AK is the fact that whether you are aware of any health issues or not is inconsequential because the practitioner can determine them through a simple but methodical series of muscle tests.

A big goal is to reduce any negative symptoms that you are experiencing. But kinesiology has the strength to go even beyond that. I like to use the term Total Body Wellness. When an athlete enters my office, the main goal is to achieve Total Body Wellness. Anything I can do to help the body heal from injuries, reduce the risk of future injuries, increase performance, and overall vitality; that’s what we’re after.

As an athlete you can respect the importance of having all your muscles contracting and relaxing in appropriate harmony with the rest of your body. It’s going to be pretty hard to have a killer bike split if your quads are only firing at 35% efficiency! That’s a major aspect of AK. Through nutrition, chiropractic adjustments, meridian therapy (like acupuncture), and many other modalities, a major outcome is that your muscle, joints and entire structures are going to be more balanced, more powerful, and finely tuned. That’s not all though. The most important part of the muscle testing is actually the aid it lends in assessing the health of the nervous system and the internal organs. AK is really about total body health; powerful performance, fewer injuries, and increased vigor are just side benefits are of optimal health. (What a concept - health care that has side
benefits instead of harmful side effects).

It’s simple: the body very rarely stops working for no reason. If you have a headache, shin splints, or constipation, there’s a reason. The trick is finding the real cause and correcting that cause. With AK, I’ve seen problems that have lingered for decades resolve in weeks.

The body breaks down from the inside out

The reason that a certified kinesiologist can gain understanding of the interior of the body simply by testing muscle function is due to a phenomenon known as the viscero-somatic reflex. Viscera means organ and soma refers to the body or muscles. In essence, when we abuse our body (consciously or otherwise) it will suffer. Let me use the example of the chest muscle, the pectoralis major. If your liver is stressed out in any way, it will send a reflex to the pectoralis muscle and consequently, your performance is going to suffer. Can you imagine being in the pool and trying to do fifty laps without your pectoralis muscles fully firing? Might you suppose this puts extra burden on the surrounding muscles - muscles that are trying to pick up the slack? You can see then, how a body out of balance like this could lead to decreased performance as well as more frequent injuries.

Tried and True

Applied Kinesiology is a well-hidden secret. It’s how Dr. Jeff Spencer helped Lance Armstrong and the Discovery team win 7 Tour de Frances. It’s what Dr. Craig Buhler uses to keep the Utah Jazz in peak condition. And it’s what I used with Rasmus Henning before he placed fifth at the 2007 Lifetime Fitness Triathlon. Countless other professional athletes trust and utilize AK to optimize their training. Why not you?

Dr. Chris Frykman is a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in Kinesiology which is the BEST news for athletes. As a Certified Kinesiologist and an USAT Certified Tri Coach, Dr Chris provides the most customized and targeted care for athletes to keep them in win victory status. Dr Chris uses the most innovative treatment through Total Body Wellness which helps individuals, like you, achieve their athletic and life goals. His practice, Vibrant Potential, is in Shakopee, MN. Contact Dr. Chris at 952-224-2909 or email DrChris@VibrantPotential.com to discover how to best leverage your training, racing, and to remain injury-free. Learn more at his website, www.vibrantpotential.com.

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Chiropractic on Montel Williams

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

A few months ago, Montel Williams had his chiropractor on his talk show. The reason why is because he received tremendous results from chiropractic care.

If you didn’t know, Montel suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). That combined with previous athletic injuries resulted in Montel living in pain everyday.

Once he received his first chiropractic adjustment, he experienced almost immediate relief.

If you’d like to watch the segment of his show where he talks about his experience with chiropractic and the benefits he’s received, there’s a YouTube video clip available. Here’s the link to go watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiOtb6yM_ow

Helping you live YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN

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Important: Why some people think negatively about chiropractic

Monday, February 25th, 2008

This post is a little longer than usual, but I promise it will be worth your

time. I want to share with you the ruth about what happened to the

chiropractic profession.

I’ve got a question for you…

Do you know anyone that doesn’t “believe” in chiropractic care? You know,

the people that say things like…

“Chiropractors aren’t real doctors.”

“I don’t believe in chiropractors”

“I would never go to a chiropractor”

I’m sure you’ve heard these kinds of comments before. They may even be

coming from family members, friends, or co-workers.

==========================

Why People Think This Way

==========================

Chances are pretty good that your opinion about chiropractic is favorable.

If not, you probably wouldn’t be my practice member.

Not only that… if I wasn’t a real doctor would people be saying things like

this about me?

“I enjoy the care I receive as well as the relationship I have with Dr. Chris

Frykman. He has an amazing expertise in the human body as well as an

excellent ability to truly hone in on the cause of my health issues. Just as

important, I know that he genuinely cares about both my health, as well

as me as a person.”

Lisa Williams
Minnetonka, MN

But what about the people who are negative about chiropractic care. Have

you ever wondered WHY these people feel this way?

After all, you know how beneficial chiropractic is… how safe it is… and how

it makes you feel better and improve your health.

And even though chiropractic care is as popular as ever today, it wasn’t

always that way.

So let’s go over what caused people to have a negative perception about

chiropractic care.

======================

The Guilty Party: The AMA

======================

The story goes something like this:

Back in the 1940’s and the 1950’s, chiropractic care was gaining in

popularity across the United States. And that was a big problem for the

American Medical Association (AMA). You see, from a business perspective,

the AMA viewed the chiropractic profession as a “threat” to the business

of medicine. And the American Medical Association opposes all forms of

health care that cuts into its profits.

So in 1963, a committee was formed within the AMA. It was called the

committee on quackery. Their job? To “contain and eliminate” the

profession of chiropractic.

Don’t believe me? Check this out.

In 1971, in a memo to the AMA Board of Trustees, Doyle Taylor wrote,

“Your Committee has considered its prime mission to be the first

containment of Chiropractic and ultimately the elimination of

Chiropractic.”

Let’s keep going.

So this committee did three things in their efforts to destroy the

chiropractic profession.

First, they made it illegal for medical doctors who were members of the

AMA to work with chiropractors. If a medical doctor was found working

with a chiropractor, they were kicked out of the American Medical

Association.

The second thing that happened was new medical doctors were taught in

medical school that chiropractors were unscientific quacks and you did

not work with them.

The third thing that happened is for over 20 years this committee

disseminated false information to the general public. They did it

through the school systems, the press, through hospitals and doctors…

you name it.

==================

The AMA Gets Sued

==================

In October of 1976, a chiropractor by the name of Dr. Chester Wilk, and

4 other chiropractors sued the American Medical Association.

To make a long story short, in 1987, following 11 years of legal action,

the American Medical Association was found guilty. Judge Susan

Getzedanner, in 1987, ruled that the AMA had engaged in an illegal

conspiracy to destroy the chiropractic profession by engaging in

“systematic, long-term wrong-doing with the long-term intent to destroy

a licensed profession.”

The AMA was ordered to cease and desist. Judge Getzedanner also ordered

“a permanent injunction against the AMA, forcing them to print the

court’s findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.”

This decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1990.

=================================

The Big Problem With All Of This

=================================

So now that you know the truth about what happened to the chiropractic

profession, do you see the big problem here?

Here it is:

The people that don’t believe in chiropractic care have a belief system

that is based on a lie created by the American Medical Association.

This lie was PROVEN to be a lie at the Supreme Court level in our court

system.

And because of this lie, there are now millions of people in our country

that believe something that is not true.

Chiropractic has been a great profession THE ENTIRE TIME. And it will

continue to be a great profession.

What’s worse is this: Think about the millions of people in our country

that suffer needlessly every day because they don’t think chiropractic

care is an option…because they were taught not to go to chiropractors.

Do you know how many people would be healthier and would feel better if

they knew the truth and started going to a chiropractor? It would be

millions.

So please do me a favor. If you know someone who “doesn’t believe”

in chiropractic, forward this email to them. Gently tell them that what

they were taught was a lie… and that chiropractic care is a great way to

get healthy and stay healthy. It’s time to stop believing in lies and start

believing in the truth.

Thanks so much for your attention. I hope you’ve learned a lot today.

I appreciate the opportunity to be your chiropractor and I look forward

to seeing you soon in the office.

Helping you reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,

Dr. Chris Frykman

Shakopee, MN

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