Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy

Today’s blog is all about what to look for when you are seeking physical therapy and chiropractic care. Let me start out with a story about Dr. Crack Crack, a chiropractor who had a practice in South Florida. He was known as Dr. Crack Crack because, not only is he a chiropractor, but he is a whack. The bottom line is...he was known for misdiagnosing patients and for being a ladies’ man out in the clubs. Before you got off his treatment table, he would be patting you on the back, telling you how good you felt. More times than not, you ended up feeling worse after his treatments.

On the flip side, I’ve known tons of clients who have had great results from chiropractors who helped them to reduce or eliminate pain through the use of proper exercises and stretches. Here’s a part of the challenge. A majority of the time, when people seek the care of chiropractors or physical therapists, they are in a lot of pain. They are open to just about anything in order to have that pain eliminated or, at least, reduced.

Here are a few things to look out for:

1. Look out for chiropractors and physical therapists who jam people into their offices as if they are herding cattle. They need to allow enough time to treat each patient properly.
2. Be careful of the hierarchy business model. If you want to see Mr. Jones, the chiropractor, you want to see Mr. Jones. There are a lot of offices out there that employ newbie chiropractors and physical therapists, and pay them just enough to keep them around. And you never end up being seen by the experienced chiropractor.
3. You really need to steer clear of the cult chiropractor. This is the man or woman who believes that aligning the spine will cure anything, all the injuries and ailments. They say that it will make you smell pretty and be attractive to the opposite sex. It is absolutely ridiculous. Let me give you a perfect example. Here’s a quote from Sid Williams, the founder of Life Chiropractic College, one of the nation’s largest chiropractic schools, based here in Atlanta. He says, “The only thing chiropractic care can’t cure is rigor mortis.”

Okay. Here’s the bottom line: You can receive a lot of great benefits from proper chiropractic care and physical therapy, and great chiropractors function like great physical therapists, and vice versa. If you’re here in Atlanta, Georgia, and you’re looking for a great physical therapist, I do recommend you check out Brian Tovin and his great staff at Sports Rehabilitation Center (www.sportsrehabcenter.com). If you’re not dealing with pain or injuries, count your lucky stars, but continue to do your regular exercises and stretches to prevent any injuries or ailments from occurring.

In-home Exercise of the Week
Hammer Curls
Level: All
Equipment needed: Power Blocks or dumbbells
Primary muscles used: biceps

The most effective in-home exercise of the week is the hammer curls. It’s time to work on those biceps. Okay, here are the main things when it comes to form and doing hammer curls. I want your feet side by side, and, as you bring that weight up, I want you to get a full range of motion. As you come down, you are going to get a full extension of your elbow joints so you really stretch out those biceps. You should have a slight arch in your back, and look straight ahead.

That’s the most effective in-home exercise of the week.

Product Review of the Week
NRG Karma Table

Here’s the product review of the week: it’s a massage table. I’m not saying that everyone has a massage therapist come to their home once a week, but I do, and I completely believe in the benefits of massage therapy. Before I got this table, I had one that made me feel as if, every time I lay on it, I was going to fall on the floor. This is a professional grade table at a consumer price. It is the NRG Karma Table. It can be purchased at www.massagewarehouse.com (1-800 910-9155).

That is definitely the product review of the week.

Did You Know?

Did you know that a pound of muscle burns between 50 and 75 calories each day at rest, and a pound of body fat burns only between 8 and 12 calories?

Most Outrageous Product of the Week
allī

Here’s the most outrageous product of the week. We have another diet pill that’s selling like crazy—“crazy” being the key word. Here’s its claim to fame: it’s going to change your eating habits in a positive way because every time you eat something fatty, it’s going to give you uncontrollable diarrhea. That’s right. Every time you eat something that contains fat, you are going to get the “poopy pants.” So, you’re going to either stop taking the supplement or you’re going to stop eating fatty foods.

Outrageous? You decide!

Factor Mail

Ashley, from somewhere here in Georgia says, “Corey, I really like your show. I’m trying to lose some body fat so my man won’t leave me. It’s hard. What should I do?”

That really got me thinking about motivation. There are a lot of outside influences that are great for getting us started, but, when it’s all said and done, to keep you motivated on a daily basis, eating correctly and exercising, the motivation has to come from within. Ask yourself this question: “Do I feel and look my absolute best right now?” If the answer is no, exercising and eating correctly can make that happen, and that should be your main motivation.


Enough of you who watch the shows at the Fitness Factor made some cracks, and said that the red pants had to go. Well, the good folks at eastbay.com (www.eastbay.com) agreed. The red pants are going away until Christmas time. They sent some slick pants and new Nikes to me.

And, yeah, by the way, if any of you can help me to get in touch with one of my clients who hasn’t been showing up for any of his appointments, please help me. He’s gone MIA. Please help. Michael Vick hasn’t been showing up for his sessions. Come on, dawg, what’s up?

Until next time, make it happen!

Corey Ritter

If you enjoyed this blog, and if you have questions or comments, please send them to corey@thefitnessfactor.com or post them right here.

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