Aligned Athlete & Chiropractic Journey

 While Palmer gave chiropractic care its name, discussing the importance of spinal  health to whole-body health was nothing new. It was Hippocrates, the Greek  physician who lived from 460 to 357 B.C., who is quoted in his writings as saying,  “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.” Clearly,  Palmer was in good company.

Living a healthy lifestyle, eating right, and exercising are not enough if your spine  and nervous system are not healthy.  This can severely impact your quality of life. The  degeneration can be devastating .  Because the nervous system is affected, the  consequences of lack of care are more than musculoskeletal. They can be systemic. Chiropractic is not just about treating symptoms. It’s about optimizing the function of the nervous system.   

 Chiropractic care isn’t a fad. The basis of our profession is understanding and working with the innate intelligence of the body. While we are constantly learning about the amazing capabilities and capacities of the body, that new knowledge isn’t based on the latest equipment, technology, or pharmaceuticals. We work with the body as a whole. And our object is always to remove obstructions keeping the body from maintaining its state of health. 

 While healthy eating and fitness seem like common sense, so is the importance of a healthy spine and nervous system. This is the reason why so many players from the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will be receiving chiropractic care all season and of course leading up to the big game. Chiropractic care helps athletes in every sport heal quickly and optimize performance.

 Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have found that running slows the aging process! The study tracked 500 older runners over a period of more than 20 years. What did they find? Elderly runners have fewer disabilities, a longer active life span, and are half as likely as aging nonrunners to die early deaths. Before you head for the closet to dust off your running shoes, take a moment to read about Lester Wright.

 Think about how long your children could live and what their quality of life will be like along the way? According to the Lancet, 50 % of the babies born since the year 2000 are expected to live over the age of 100. Additional research is concerned that our current generation of children may be the first in recent history to see their life expectancy go down. How can this be? Doesn’t it seem like a contradiction to see so many children living longer while the overall life expectancy goes down?  The answer is sad yet simple in that the other 50% of children are expected to die younger and sicker than ever, not because of their genetics, but because of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

 Emmitt Smith is the leading rusher in NFL history, a perennial Pro Bowler, and three time Super Bowl Champion. When he retired with over 18,000 yards, Smith said, “I thank God, my family, and my chiropractor.” Chiropractic care not only helped him heal quickly from injuries, but he also used chiropractic care as a part of his lifestyle and training regime to keep him functioning at the top of his game.

 The fact is that in 2020, a poll found that over 71% of Americans said their overall health and wellness was good or excellent. Meanwhile, statistics for that same year stated that 1 out of every 3 U.S. adults was obese. Additionally, trends in the leading causes of death between 2015 and 2020 show a yearly increase in heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease, just to name a few. So how come everyone says they feel so healthy?  There are reasons why this health information is so confusing and contradictory. One reason is that some people don’t like to talk about their health and will say anything to end the conversation.  Other people believe that one aspect of their lifestyle “compensates” for the other aspects of their lifestyle, which, overall, makes them “healthy.” For example, the person who goes to the gym religiously believes it’s perfectly okay to regularly indulge in their favorite fast food meal at lunch. They see the gym as their “lifestyle” and their diet as the “rew