Washington Park Chiropractic

By: Ashley Bennett, LMT

This is normally the time of the year we reflect on our health and personal improvements. This is also when there is a huge influx of people in the gyms.  Sometimes when I am at the gym and I see the amount of people I think of ways to get out of there as quickly as possible to avoid the crowd.  One thing I never skip on is stretching.  Stretching should be an integral part of your daily routine.

Benefits of Stretching:

• Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.
• Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls — and the related injuries — especially as you age. When your body loses full range of motion the femur (thigh bone) is not moving any fluid around in the socket so the rest of the joint is not getting the full amount of nutrients needed to keep the cartilage healthy.  
• Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries.
• Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

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By: Ashley Bennett, LMT

Massage Therapy during injuries can help speed up the healing process.  A great example of an injury that is at a higher potential during the winter season is a lift and twist strain.  This is when you have been lifting or shoveling and your back goes out or is limiting your range of motion.  The muscles in your back are in a spasm and the surrounding tissue is compensating for the injure area.  This is a great opportunity to come in and get it checked out by your chiropractor and add in a massage to help calm down the area so that range of motion can be restored.  Massage can help decrease swelling, pain and loss of range of motion in any area that is related to soft tissue.  If there is a more severe injury where there is scar tissue involved, massage can help break up the adhesions and create a more functional and potentially less visible scar.  I am not saying massage should replace your physical therapy or doctor, I am saying that it can help the process move faster so you can get back to your healthy lifestyle!!

By: Ashley Bennett 

It is the giving season; Not only to others but also to yourself!  Washington Park Chiropractic has decided to create the perfect package to meet your holiday needs.  This package includes: a 60 minute Hot Stone Massage, rose otto scented bath salts,  a holiday candle, and a bottle of Sombra.  

     Hot stone massage not only feels amazing but it is also a very effective way to help get those hard to work out knots to release in a less abrasive manner.  The heat naturally starts the relaxation process and we (Amanda and I) do the rest!! The rose oil is good for a general uplifting effect and helps hydrate your dry skin this time of year. Sombra is a natural pain reliever that you just rub on your areas of stress.  It gives a nice cooling effect to the area of concern.   

     This package is valued at $130 but we will be retailing the package at $100.  Just imagine the reactions of your loved ones when they see this package with their name on it!!  I can’t wait to see you in the office for your holiday treat.          

For years, I have struggled with the application of health care in the United States.  I think of it more as a “sick care” system, only going to see my doctor when I’m really ill (or more recently when I broke my shoulder).  I usually spend more time in the waiting room reading magazines than I do with my physician – and when I am talking with my doctor, I often feel like he’s only half-listening because he knows he has a full day of sick patients ahead of him.  I try to limit the amount of pills I consume and I avoid surgery whenever possible, but I understand and truly appreciate the benefits of Western medicine.  I recently read an article about Integrative Medicine that really struck a chord with me.  I liked the concept of using Western medicine when necessary, but combining it with Eastern medicine and complimentary therapies when applicable.

What is Integrative Medicine (IM)?

Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medicine with nontraditional practices – including chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, herbal treatments, mind-body approaches, nutrition, and stress management – to keep patients in good health.  An integrative doctor – whether a primary-care physician, an ob-gyn, or an oncologist – enlists Western approaches when appropriate and then complements them with other treatments. Read the rest of this entry →

Great Way to Bond with Your New Addition

By Amanda Miller

I first became interested in Infant Massage while I was still in school.  I really enjoyed working with my expectant clients, and wanted to find a way to stay connected and continue care after they delivered.  My prenatal instructor told me about Infant Massage. This was the missing puzzle piece to well-rounded care.  I studied Infant Massage in the U.S., but really became passionate about teaching others after I traveled to Asia.  During my study of different Eastern healing arts, one thing really stood out to me: massage was done in the home between family members.  It was done from parent to infant.  Once the children were older, they naturally started massaging their parents, and the rolls reversed as the parents began to age.  After seeing that kind of compassion and bonding, I wondered why we don’t tend to see that in the West as well.  It seemed like the most natural thing to do, yet was something I felt was missing or foreign to our culture. 

Massage is a natural way to relieve stress for both caregiver and child.  It enhances your intimacy, understanding, and ability to nurture your child.  It improves communication by increasing your confidence and sensitivity to your baby’s cues, and stimulates healthy development of your baby’s mind, body, and spirit. Read the rest of this entry →

….Dr. G’s Pregnancy Update

By Dr. Lisa Goodman, DC

As most of my patients know, I am pregnant with number 2!  In fact, I have just 10 weeks to go until my due date of November 3.  I’ve been asked a lot of questions “how am I feeling?”, “how much longer will you work?”, “is there anything you can’t do at work?”, “where and how will you have your baby?”  I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer those questions and present a few of Dr. G’s tips for a comfortable and healthy pregnancy.

How Much Longer Will You Work?

During my last pregnancy I worked until I was 39 weeks (which was just one week prior to my due date).  I intend to do the same this time.  Looks like my last day to treat patients will likely be Monday, October 25.  That should give me ample time to nest.  This brings me to my first healthy pregnancy tip: Never think your baby will come early!  No matter what expert tells you that you might deliver early – It is probably healthiest to expect baby to come no sooner than your due date  Remember, babies don’t all develop at the same rate and your due date is really just the middle of a 4 week time frame in which a healthy baby is born.  Focusing on or after my due date helps keep me focused on my patients and staying healthy and active. 

Oh – and I plan to be back part time the first week of December (with baby in tow) and full time Mid-January!

Is There Anything You Can’t Do?

As you know, chiropractic is a very physical profession.  I have always made it a point to use good ergonomics and body position when working on patients.  Therefore, even while I am pregnant this doesn’t change much.  I work hard to protect my body and still have very effective treatments on my patients.  However, rest assured that if I ever feel that there is a treatment I cannot safely perform, I will happily refer specific patients to my partner, Dr. Jake Simpson.  Dr. Simpson will be your main treating doctor while I am on maternity leave so don’t be shy!

How Are You Feeling?

I feel terrific!  I really feel absolutely wonderful.  I attribute that to a few key things: Read the rest of this entry →

By: Ashley Bennett, LMT

Some people question the need for massage therapy in their lives, others question of how often.  Should I make it a priority?  Do I have enough money?  Others only get massages on special occasions.  The list goes on and on.  For those of you that are not sure how often or why you should be getting massage I found an article that may clear things up for you.

By: Jocelyn Leidenfrost

I was lucky enough to have decent financial support from my parents through high school and college, but once I graduated DU and entered the ‘real world’ I was cut off and on my own.  There are many things that I chose to give up to be financially responsible but one thing that I refused to give up were my yoga classes.  Luckily my studio offers free, unlimited yoga for trade so I began to clean my studio for two hours a week in order to keep up with my practice.  I began practicing yoga about four years ago at the Ritchie center and switched over to a local studio so that I could try Hot Yoga and also practice more frequently.  I have fallen in love with it ever since and absolutely believe in all of the benefits it brings to your life.  In case you are looking for anything to spice up your workout routine, consider starting yoga.  If you are interested, I will let you in on what I like most about yoga…

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