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Extreme Sports and Peak Performance

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Extreme Athletes Expect Precision

Extreme Sports are on the rise. At the gym, on the bike, in the park, up a mountain; these are all places where people push their body to extreme limits. Whether you are extreme on your own or an Ironman, triathlete, distance runner, Tough Mudder, or participate in other extreme sports, this article can help you optimize your performance.

When you put extreme demands on your body, you want and need your body to respond with precision at the right times. Many professional and extreme sports athletes utilize chiropractic care to keep them performing at peak levels mentally and physically while minimizing injuries and recovery times.

Chiropractic Enhances Performance Levels

Research with athletes and Chiropractic shows that “a single adjustment has the power to improve speed and coordination throughout the entire body.”1 That means the brain-body connection is working much better than before the adjustment.

A recent JMPT report offered supporting research. Fifty athletes were given eleven different tests to check athletic ability. Tests were based on agility, balance, kinesthetic perception, power, and reaction time. Twenty-five of the athletes were given Chiropractic adjustments and the other half were not. The results were amazing. The Chiropractic group improved significantly on 11 out of 11 tests and the other group improved only slightly on 8 out of 11 tests. During the reaction time test, the non-Chiropractic group improved less than 1percent, and the Chiropractic group improved 18percent in 6 weeks and 30percent in 12 weeks.

The Brain-Body Connection

If you are an extreme athlete or athletic in any way, there are clear benefits of optimizing the health of your spine and nervous system. From the time you were conceived, your body’s innate intelligence utilized your nervous system to control and coordinate your development and the function of every single cell and system in your body. There are approximately three million different messages being sent from your brain to your body and back every second. Extreme athletes can optimize the efficiency of these pathways with Chiropractic Lifestyle Care that is performance-based. The intensity of your Chiropractic Lifestyle Care depends on the intensity of your lifestyle so as your training intensity increases you may need or want more intense care.

Fueling your body with healthy non-processed foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is also important. As a peak performer pushing your body to the limits, eating healthy organic foods is essential to get the nourishment that you need. Adjust your quality calorie intake according to your training intensity, and eliminate empty calories such as white sugar and white flour that have no nutritional value.

Training For Extreme Sports and For Life

When training for extreme sporting events, and for life, keeping your spine and nervous system healthy is crucial to your performance and for your longevity. Most importantly, don’t wait for a crisis or an injury to force you to alter your training or knock you out of a competition. Be proactive and enjoy the excitement that comes with pushing your body to the limits, and succeeding.

Research
1.http://www.sciencedirect.com/Volume 29, Issue 4, May 2006, Pages 257-266

Crossfitters and Chiropractic

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CrossFit is Hot

CrossFit is hot and getting hotter. It has become the next big thing on the workout scene finding its way on ESPN where the CrossFit Games have aired to find the fittest people on earth. CrossFit’s philosophy is that their workouts are high-intensity functional movements, constantly varied and filled with pushups, pull-ups, jump rope, Olympic-style lifting, box jumps, running, and tractor tire flips. These workouts push the human body to achieve the next level of fitness.

The Chiropractic Connection

In the 2013 CrossFit Games the connection between Chiropractic and elite fitness was made apparent as 100 Year Lifestyle Licensed Affiliate Chiropractors, Dr. Devin Waterman and Dr. Brent Waterman of San Ramon, CA, teamed up to run the sports injury tent.

The majority of the top athletes at the games are under Chiropractic Lifestyle Care and many athletes lined up for their adjustments prior to competing. They understand that if their spine and nervous system are not working properly they cannot perform at their best or recover as quickly for their next event.

CrossFit athletes who received chiropractic adjustments for the first time were inspired by the improvements in their performance while those already under care wanted to ensure their competitive edge.

Northern California CrossFit regional athlete Dusty Sulon, AKA “The Dark Knight” gets checked for vertebral subluxations once a week, not because he has to, but because he understands the importance of a properly functioning spine and nervous system. He states, “I owe many of my personal records to Chiropractic Care.” Many CrossFit athletes nationwide feel the same way.

Dr. Kristin Dominguez, another 100 Year Lifestyle Affiliate, is involved in the CrossFit community in Atlanta and takes care of many of the athletes at gyms and competitions. As a competitor herself, Dr. Dominguez understands firsthand the importance of a healthy spine and nerve system.

CrossFit workouts test the strength and mobility of the human frame and in doing so can place excessive stress on the body. Athletes learn their physical weaknesses quickly and often look for professional help to keep them strong. The spine is used for loading and setting up the extremities for proper biomechanics. The nervous system is the brain’s connection to muscles, tissues and cells.

CrossFitters and elite athletes in all sports understand that the health of both the spine and nervous system are vital and are directly connected to their performance. No wonder so many people in the CrossFit community have embraced chiropractic care.

Performance is about Lifestyle Care

These athletes understand that performance is about Lifestyle Care not Crisis Care. They care for their body like a race car. It doesn’t only get serviced when it is broken down. Before it is pushed to the limits everything is checked and adjusted so it can perform well on the track. However, unlike a race car that can have all of its parts replaced over time, you only have one spine and nervous system for a lifetime. Keeping it healthy should be your top priority.

Trying or Training

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Contributed by Dr. Dennis Buckley, Affiliate in Pasadena, CA

If you wanted to run a marathon how would you prepare in anticipation?

Would you go out and TRY to run 26.2 miles or would you devise a plan to TRAIN yourself to accomplish such a feat?

Trying to run 26.2 miles without any training would prove to be nearly impossible and you could injure yourself by pushing beyond your capabilities. To cover that distance takes time to build up the strength and endurance required.

Why would someone TRY to be healthy instead of TRAINING to be healthy? Why would someone try to be more generous, disciplined, spiritual, honest, professional, etcetera instead of training to be that way?

Trying can be the first step to move in a new direction but it is not the last step. It is a tiny step, a baby step. Trying can fool us into thinking we are improving but the key to long lasting change is training and quick fixes rarely last. Committed training through disciplined action is the key to long lasting change and optimum performance.

Exercise and Nutrition only get you part way to your goal. When it comes to your health and living your 100 Year Lifestyle, you need to train yourself in 5 areas: Neurology, Nutrition, Endurance, Strength and Structure.

Restoring the structure of your spine and nervous system gives you the potential to become a master at whatever it is for which you are training. All 5 areas integrate together, enhance each other and are required if you seek quantity of years and quality of health.

You will train in these areas by choice or by necessity. Necessity follows crisis. If you want to avoid an untimely and expensive crisis then train with consistency.

Your training will be optimized through Chiropractic Care. There are 3 types of care: Crisis Care, Critical Transition and Lifestyle Care. Crisis Care is based on need and takes you to the point of relief and stability. Lifestyle Care is based on want and supports the health goals you have for your life now and as you age.

The Critical Transition is critical. It opens up greater opportunity to reach and surpass those goals and is vital to the regeneration of your body’s innate ability to heal itself and function at optimum levels.

If a crisis does appear you will still be better able to deal with it and recover by the training already done. Take a good look at yourself. In the vital areas of life are you TRYING or really TRAINING? Make the choice today to TRAIN and reap the benefits tomorrow and for years and years to come.

100 Percent for 100 Years

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Wouldn’t it be great for you and your loved ones to function at your highest level throughout your lifetime, 100 percent for 100 Years? What an exciting goal? This includes being healthy and performing at work, in your hobbies, your passion and activities that are most important and fun for you. For your children it includes growing healthy and strong, performing at their best in school and during extracurricular activities. For everyone, this is a great goal and the best way to get the most out of life.

All of us know people who compromise themselves. This may include you, allowing yourself to function much lower than 100 percent because of health habits or challenges, injury or illness, or due to a chronic condition causing deterioration over time. This compromise can create a limited belief you’re your health cannot improve or a lifelong dream cannot be achieved.

One thing we’ve learned through longevity statistics is that for many people, it is not too late to turn things around. We are the first generation in history to have advance notice that we are probably going to live longer than we ever thought. We are also learning more about the incredible healing and life potential of the human body and mind.

Healthy lifestyle choices combined with a healthy spine and nervous system can ensure that you function and live as close to 100 percent as possible throughout your lifetime. This is the best investment you can make for your health!

Why a healthy nervous system? Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions in your body, from movement to digestion and immunity.

Why a healthy spine? Your spine is the structure that holds you upright straight and strong, and it is necessary for you to enjoy the activity you probably want as you age.

Why healthy lifestyle choices? So you fuel your body and keep it fit and functioning well throughout your lifetime. Nobody wants to suffer during their last decades of life and become a burden to their family. Your choices today can make all the difference now as well as in your later years.

When you visit our office, you may notice 3, 4 and 5 generations of families coming into our office for chiropractic care. You may notice individuals in all stages of health and ability to function. Everyone is on their own personal journey towards 100 percent regardless of why they began receiving chiropractic care.

One thing is for sure. The sooner you start on your journey towards 100 percent and optimum function, the greater the likelihood that you will enjoy quality years for up to a century.

This is why millions of people enjoy chiropractic care as part of a lifestyle. Some people experience immediate results from an acute or chronic problem. For others the process of healing takes time. For others, 100 percent means setting a personal record in your chosen sport or field of endeavor. For newborns, it can begin on day one with your family’s commitment to living your ideal 100 Year Lifestyle.

Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to act. There’s no better time than the present to start your journey to 100 percent.

Run Faster. Jump Higher. Recover Better

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As the current sports season kicks into full stride, the desire to do everything we can to maximize recovery time and increase performance is greater than ever.

As the intensity of our training activities puts added stress on our bodies, ensuring proper healing and recovery becomes increasingly important. How would you or your loved ones benefit from gaining a competitive edge over the competition this season? Would you like to set a personal record?

If you are already training hard, eating well and keeping well-hydrated, that is great. And you may be overlooking the most important aspect of health that is vital to achieving your goals this season. Having an optimally functioning nervous system is crucial to gaining the competitive edge whether you are out to win the next match or playing a game of one on one with your child.

The most cutting edge neuroscience and research on the brain is finding that stimulation and nutrition to your brain requires a healthy spine. In Brain Research, Yates describes the importance of proper nervous system function on balance, posture and breathing. Yates writes, “In addition to maintaining stable eye and body position during movement, the vestibular system influences cardiovascular and respiratory control; vestibulosympathetic and vestibulorespiratory reflexes may be important in correcting posturally related disturbances”(1995). In other words, proper posture and nervous system function are directly related to balance, eye movements and control over your breathing pathways. What athlete wouldn’t want better hand-eye coordination, balance, and ability to take in oxygen during the high demands of sport? Having a properly functioning nervous system is sure to give you the extra edge on your competition.

How would being able to run faster and jump higher give you a competitive advantage? In 2000, Colloca and Keller published a study in JMPT designed to see how a single chiropractic adjustment could impact the strength of muscles. They found that after a single adjustment, athletes had stronger muscle contractions measured by EMG technology. By maintaining a healthy nervous system through chiropractic care as part of a healthy lifestyle your muscles will be bigger, faster and stronger (JMPT).

One key factor in becoming bigger, stronger and faster is the body’s ability to recover and heal. New research supports that chiropractic adjustments help reduce harmful inflammatory substances without reducing Substance P, a chemical responsible for cell growth and repair. This study is the first of its kind to support that chiropractic adjustments can help reduce harmful inflammation after grueling workouts while simultaneously boosting the immune system to help the body heal quickly (Teodorczyk-Injeyan, Injeyan, Ruegg 2006).

This sports season, make sure you’re performing at the top of your game. Regular chiropractic care as a part of your already healthy lifestyle is sure to help you run faster, jump higher and heal better. Have your nervous system checked today to increase your function and performance.

Keller, T. S., & Colloca, C. J. (2000). Mechanical force spinal manipulation increases trunk muscle strength assessed by electromyography: A comparative clinical trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 23(9), 585-595. doi:10.1067/mmt.2000.110947

Teodorczyk-Injeyan, J. A., Injeyan, H. S., & Ruegg, R. (2006). Spinal Manipulative Therapy Reduces Inflammatory Cytokines but Not Substance P Production in Normal Subjects. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 29(1), 14-21. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.10.002

Yates, B.J., Siniaia, M. & Miller, A.D. (1995). American Journal of Physiology. Descending pathways necessary for vestibular influences on sympathetic and inspiratory flow. 268, 1381-1385.

Contributed by Daniel Kimbley, DC, BS and Dr. Eric Plasker

Your 100 IS Coming

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The Pew Research Center recently reported that the world centenarian population is projected to grow eightfold by 2050. This is extraordinary growth. With an estimated 451,000 people around the globe over the age of 100 in 2015, that number is expected to be 3.7 million over the next 34 years. This is a staggering statistic considering that the population over the age of 80 and 90 is also expected to skyrocket.

The evidence is everywhere. Assisted Living Centers are popping up in record numbers in nearly every community. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of aging seniors are moving their loved ones closer to home to oversee their care and ease their suffering.

This is your advance notice! The likelihood that you and your loved ones will live this long or longer is increasing every day. What will your quality of life would be like when you get there and will you enjoy great quality of life every day along the way?

Making healthy lifestyle choices combined with taking action to ensure the health of your spine and nervous system with chiropractic checkups will help you adapt to our ever-changing environment, daily stress and empower you to function at your highest level for a lifetime.

Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to take action on your health. Unfortunately, this crisis mentality is responsible for many of the challenges of our aging population.

Be proactive! Adjust your lifestyle now and ensure your best life today while also setting yourself up for a healthy future.

Here is some poetic motivation for you to make the commitment to improve your health every day:

If you want to perform at the top of your game
Eat healthy foods and take care of your frame

The choices you make will direct your Innate
To a life of decay or an optimum state

Take care your body your mind and your spine
Make healthy choices that keep you in line

You’ve got to have nerve to adjust to it all
Your 100 is coming you make the call!