Announcement this blog has moved.

Due to the time crunch involved in handling this blog plus one other, plus two websites, two Facebook pages, two Twitter accounts, LinkedIn and Instagram, this blog has been moved to DocRoss/blog.

Please click on https://docross.com/blog and save in for up to date information.  

Thank you.

John Ross, DC
www.DocRoss.com

Your Body - Your Business

3 Ways to Treat Your Body like a Business

Your body - Your business

Those of us in the business world are constantly hearing and using sports metaphors applied to business contexts. Some common ones include: "he's a team player," "you can't drop the ball," "we don't pull any punches." Locker room metaphors are dropped frequently in business settings, often at the corporate board level. Dr. Don R. Powell, a psychologist and President of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine in Farmington Hills, Michigan says that "sports and business reward hard work, dedication, competitiveness, and success. Sports cliches provide a kind of shorthand. They communicate ideas quickly and clearly." Just as sports concepts can be used in business settings, business concepts can be used in a sports and exercise context.

Here are 3 Ways to Treat Your Body like a Business:

1. "Change before you have to." – Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric

When an industry is on the brink of disruption by technological changes or competitors, it's important for incumbents to proactively adjust their strategies and tactics, and not wait until it's too late. Think Blockbuster as Netflix entered the market.

Similarly, our bodies are constantly evolving as we mature, and we need to preemptively prepare them for the new challenges that will arise. Father Time is undefeated. As we grow old, our metabolism slows down, our ability to build muscle mass diminishes, and our vulnerability to injury increases. The best athletes get ahead of the aging curve and adjust their regimens to prepare for these inevitable changes. When we're 25, skipping a stretch before a work out, guzzling high-calorie soda, and drinking an excessive amount of alcohol don't often have the immediate consequences on our bodies as they do when we're 50, 60, or 70. Adapting our lifestyle helps us take on Father Time and exercise effectively.

2. "If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old." – Peter Drucker, a world-renowned management consultant and author

In business, it's just as important what a company chooses not to do as it is what it chooses to do. When Steve Jobs returned to the helm of Apple after his comeback in 1997, he discontinued many products in order to double-down on those that were succeeding and lay the groundwork for future expansion. He killed Apple's version of the PDA, The Newton, and a game console called The Pippin. A few years later came the iPod and the rest is history.

When we seek the mind and body transformation that comes through fitness, it is critical to identify which habits and behaviors do not serve us well. Minimizing or eliminating these actions will help us on our journey to improve our fitness. If lifting heavy weights hasn't been effective, we can try a new lifting technique, or move to body-weight exercises may be the answer. If that low carb diet makes us feel low on energy, adding more complex carbs to our meals may help. Cautious and deliberate experimentation is fantastic, as we only know what will work once we try.

3. “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” - Henry Ford

The best companies embrace risk-taking and the mistakes that come along with it. When Thomas Watson was leading IBM, as the story goes, he recounted being asked if he would fire an employee who had made a mistake that cost the company thousands. "No," Watson replied. "How can I fire you when I just spent $10,000 educating you?"

We all make mistakes, and we are more likely to err when we try something new. Anyone who's just taken up gold can certainly attest to this. Whether it's perfecting form for a Cross Fit set, positioning our body to block a boxer's punch, or trying a new piece of fitness equipment, we will fail. What makes us strong is persevering and moving forward as we learn from our past shortcomings.

.

Welcome To Ross Chiropractic Clinic
“When Your Spine's In Line, You'll Feel Fine.”

Ross Chiropractic Center: Dr. John Ross

Chiropractic is about life! So when you visit Dr. John Ross be prepared for a friendly greeting when you arrive with an excitement and vitality you rarely see when going to see a doctor.

Offering over forty (40) years of experience in treating health problems in the tri-state region using the Ross-Method of safe, gentle and effective chiropractic care. We only accepted patients we know who can sincerely benefit from our treatment. Dr. Ross prides himself with being honest and if he feels he can't help you, he will find some who will.

Chattanooga residents not only benefit from chiropractic care, they are recommended ways to improve their diet, specific nutritional supplements, relaxation techniques, home therapy, physiotherapy and massage therapy.

If you’re looking for a natural solution that avoids the use of drugs or surgery look no further. The goal at Ross Chiropractic Clinic is to relieve your pain as quickly as possible. If you are wondering whether the Ross-Method of chiropractic care can help your problem, e-mail me your questions at Doc@DocRoss.com with "Patient Question" in the subject line. It's free and confidential.

We are where Chattanooga, Ooltewah, and Hixson residents go for chiropractic relief and wellness.

Sitting is the NEW smoking

According to Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University: "Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death."

You need a Massage

Massage + chiropractic = an awesome combination!

You went to the gym, and now every muscle in your body hurts and you’re just aching to get a massage, but it seems like such an extravagance in terms of money and time. Yet, many different activities make up a good wellness routine and massage is just one of those elements in addition to nutrition, exercise and chiropractic care. So there's no need to feel guilty when you call to schedule that massage!

Physical, mental and emotional health benefits of massage: 

• Massage improves the circulation of oxygen-carrying blood to the extremities and helps eliminate wastes from the body 
• Massage relaxes you, relieves stress and anxiety, and supports feelings of general well-being 
• Massage works with your chiropractic care to retrain muscles that support your spine 
• Massage helps in managing the pain associated with certain physical conditions, such as arthritis and sciatica 
• Massage serves to either stimulate or relax the nervous system, depending on the type of massage being administered 

Just keep in mind that a massage is not a substitute for chiropractic care! Although the two may work in conjunction with one another, massage provides “feel good” therapy while chiropractic adjustments keep your nervous system functioning properly. That’s far more important than a temporary “feel good” luxury!

Time for some FACTS!!!

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE CHIROPRACTIC PROFESSION
American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon Blvd. – Ste 200,
Arlington, VA 22209
www.acatoday.org

By the Numbers

• There are 77,000 Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) in the United States who are required to pass a series of four national board exams and be state licensed. Roughly another 3,000 DCs work in academic and management roles.
• There are approximately 10,000 chiropractic students in 18 nationally accredited, chiropractic doctoral graduate education programs across the United States with 2,500 Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) entering the workforce every year
• An estimated 40,000 chiropractic assistants (CAs) are in clinical and business management roles for chiropractic practices across the United States.
• It is estimated that Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) treat over 27 million Americans (adults and children) annually.
• Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are educated in nationally accredited, four-year doctoral graduate school programs through a curriculum that includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical internship, with the average DC program equivalent in classroom hours to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools.
• Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are utilized by all 32 National Football League teams in optimizing the functionality, endurance and overall conditioning of professional football players in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal strain injuries, including neck pain, low back pain, strains to hamstrings and quadriceps, and whiplash injuries.
• Injured workers with similar injuries are 28 times less likely to have spinal surgery if the first point of contact is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), rather than a surgeon (MD).
• A recent study showed that treatment for low back pain initiated by a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) costs up to 20 percent less than when started a MD.  Patient Satisfaction/Clinical Effectiveness
• Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are designated as physician-level providers in the vast majority of states and federal Medicare program. The essential services provided by DCs are also available in federal health delivery systems, including those administered by Medicaid, the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Workers' Compensation, and all state workers' compensation programs.
• Chiropractic outperformed all other back pain treatments, including prescription medication, deep-tissue massage, yoga, pilates, and over-the-counter medication therapies.
• Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are the highest rated healthcare practitioner for low-back pain treatments above physical therapists (PTs), specialist physician/MD (i.e., neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons), and primary care physician/MD (i.e., family or internal medicine).
• Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) provide a patient-centered, whole person approach to health care marked by greater interaction and better communication, resulting in consistently higher patient satisfaction ratings than medical doctors.
• With prescription pain drug abuse now classified as an epidemic in the United States and the number of spinal fusions soaring 500% over the last decade,20 the essential services provided by Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) represent a primary care approach for the prevention, diagnosis and conservative management of back pain and spinal disorders that can often enable patients to reduce or avoid the need for these riskier treatments.
• Chiropractic care has an excellent safety record. This should be viewed in the context of other treatments for back pain such as steroids, pain medications and surgery. As a result, Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) pay malpractice premiums at significantly lower rates than allopathic doctors (MDs).
• The Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) collaborative, whole person-centered approach reflects the changing realities of health care delivery, and fits well into Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and patient-centered, medical home (PCMH) models bringing greater clinical efficiency, patient satisfaction and cost savings.
• A systematic review in 2010 found that most studies suggest spinal manipulation achieves equal or superior improvement in pain and function when compared with other commonly used interventions for short, intermediate, and long-term follow-up.
• The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society jointly recommended in 2007 that clinicians consider spinal manipulation for patients who do not improve with self-care options.

CASE HISTORY - Female with Migraine

CASE - Female with Migraine

(not the actual patient)

A fifty year old executive female appears in my office with a 15 year history of migraine headaches.  She owns her business with 15-20 employees and puts in 60-70 hours per week minimum working her business. She presents me with a calendar of the previous two years wherein she records each time during the day that she does not have a migraine headache.  She has been to multiple doctors but never to a chiropractor.  She has tried many different prescription medications over the years with marginal results.  She has had MRI and CT of her head many times, each with negative results.  She has had physical therapy, massage and acupuncture.  She says that due to the severity of her headaches if she has heard of a possible solution she tries it.  She comes in today seeking relief regardless of whether her insurance covers the treatment or not.

My patient describes every headache beginning in the base of her skull where the neck and head “join”.  She relates multiple motor vehicle accidents prior to onset of her headaches 15 years ago.  At no time did any of the multiple doctors examine or X-ray her neck. 

I sent for copies of records from those doctors seen by my patient in the last two years.  I completed an in depth consultation of the headache episodes of the last two years. Her calendar reflected a 15 minute segment of one day every two weeks in which she did not have a headache.  She simply had learned to function and conduct her business in spite of the headaches.

Examination of my patient revealed a restricted ROM in the CSP with an overall reduction in normal ROM of 40%.  Reflexes of the UE were +2 bilateral.    Cervical compression tests were negative.  Shoulder depression tests positive bilateral.  Costoclavicular tests positive bilateral.  Palpable joint restrictions at C2, C5, C7, T2, T5. Palpable spasms in CSP & TSP.

The patient was advised of my findings and sent for X-rays of her neck.

The patient returned two days later with her X-rays.  I reviewed her X-rays with the patient.  There was a markedly reversal of the normal cervical curvature.  In addition there was a significant rotation of C2 on C3 cervical vertebrae.  Secondary misalignments at C5, C7, T2 and T5.  Amazingly there were very little degenerative changes in the joints of the neck.

My findings were discussed with the patient.  I suggested a short two week course of treatment to see whether chiropractic care could affect her headaches.  The patient agreed.  Treatment began today with a single adjustment to C2. The patient tolerated the procedure well.  She was instructed to return in two days.

Two days later the patient returned and reported very little change. She may have slept better.  Single treatment to the C2 subluxation was administered again.  The patient was instructed to return on Friday.

The patient returns on Friday and noted she went one hour without a headache following the second adjustment and then “everything” came back.  However, she definitely slept better.  Treatment to C2 and T2 was administered.  The patient was instructed to return on Monday.

Monday the intensity of her headaches was much improved but the frequency was the same (constant).  She was able to sleep all night long since the last treatment. 

I advised the patient to be seen for 6 more weeks at a frequency of 3 times per week. She agreed saying this is the only relief she has had in 15 years.

Over the course of treatment that lasted three months this patient obtained tremendous relief from her headache.  However, she continued to have a migraine type headache for 30 minutes every thirty days.  She celebrated with us by bringing in champagne and cake (Chocolate).


NEXT WEEK:  NEW TOPIC -NEW CASES

GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT ON AUGUST 20, 2015