Greater Strength, Muscle Function and Less Fatigue! It's hard to believe the summer is winding down and we're already into September. I'm sure many of you are ready for it! As we shift gears towards fall many people in our seasonal community feel like they can come back up for air after a crazy busy summer and will start to make time again for hobbies, activities and exercise.From time to time in these monthly newsletters I'll be sharing some current Chiropractic research. Today I'm excited to post a link about Chiropractic and muscle function. Chiropractic is all about adjusting subluxations to remove interference to the brain and nerve system. When we do that consistently the brain is better able to process and control what's going on with our bodies, including how well our muscles work during exercise. 

A few highlights from the study...

- an increase of almost 60% in electrical activity from specifically targeted muscles

-a 16 % increase in absolute force measures

-a 45% increase in the drive from brain to muscle

Here's a link to check out the article...

https://spinalresearch.com.au/research-project-h-reflex-and-v-waves-2/


Brent Vuyovich, DC

How Important is Movement? Just think about a few of the following ideas… 
​
How stiff, locked up and tight do you typically feel after being cooped up in the car for a few hours?

How much less energy do you have after a full day of sitting at work compared to a full day moving out in nature?

When someone is recovering from a broken bone in a cast and can’t move that body part, what does it look like after the cast is removed? Smelly, weak and often discolored.

Motion is life. Unfortunately many people are becoming more and more movement deficient. Movement feeds information from your body to your brain.

A properly moving spine is essential for your brain to more accurately coordinate and control your body! And that is what the chiropractic adjustment is all about… A clearer brain-body connection!

Brent Vuyovich, DC

It's really a "no-brainer" just how important the brain is to the way your entire body works (I couldn't help myself with the pun). But seriously, the human brain is incredible. It is continuously sensing, processing, interpreting and integrating TRILLIONS of bits of information each second from cells and body parts inside, as well as external environmental clues such as temperature, sounds, colors, etc. The brain uses all of this information to create a picture of our reality and uses it to make the best decision on how to regulate and control every system in our bodies (immune system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system... ALL THE SYSTEMS!) And all of this occurs without us even having to think about it. Did you know that your spine plays a MAJOR role in how well your brain is able to process and interpret this information? Your brain relies on proper alignment and movement from the spine to do its job at the highest level. When the regular stresses of everyday living cause areas of the spine to get stuck or lose their proper alignment it throws a glitch in the brain's processing abilities. It interferes with brain processing as well as creates interference in the spinal cord which serves as the middle man between the brain and body. An analogy is the brain trying to do those trillions of jobs with static noise turned way up in the background.

This is the simplicity and power behind a chiropractic adjustment. By adjusting these dysfunctional areas of the spine known as subluxations, the adjustment allows for better brain function. This has huge implications for the body and why we see so many amazing results once people commit to regular spinal care. Unfortunately so many people still feel like Chiropractic isn't for them because their back doesn't hurt. That would be like saying brushing my teeth isn't for me because I don't have cavities. Regardless of symptoms, conditions, or how one feels, a clear brain-body connection allows for higher performance in all areas of life.

​Brent Vuyovich, DC

The majority of top athletes and sports teams in the world utilize regular Chiropractic care as part of their performance and training routine. I was excited to recently see a clip of one of the world's top golfers, Rory McIlroy, getting adjusted in his new Nike commercial called "Enjoy the Chase." Along with eating well, sleeping well, practicing and exercising there is a shot at the 44 second mark of Rory getting his spine adjusted to optimize brain function and efficiency. The rest of the video is also inspiring and I have included a link at the bottom of the newsletter if you care to take a look.

​Now while the majority of us don't compete professionally in a sport, life still throws plenty at us in the form of stressors and wear and tear. By regularly taking care of your neuro-spinal system with Chiropractic, you are giving yourself an edge to perform, heal and function at a higher level!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM1z4e8GD74​

Brent Vuyovich, DC

It's that time of year again... 2016 brings with it the hope of a fresh start and plenty of new year resolutions. Why is it that so many people bring high hopes and will power to the table on the first of the year, only to far too often watch another resolution fall by the wayside by the time it's time to flip the calendar to February? There are probably as many reasons as there are people who make resolutions, but I'd like to look into one way to give your resolution a fighting chance this year.When it comes to the realm of health and well-being, regardless of the time of year, I feel that many sincere efforts to make positive shifts are not as long lasting as people would like because we often begin by taking away things that we enjoy or by "biting off more than we can chew." This can be tricky because willpower can only get you so far. Instead of taking something away, I think I great way to avoid this trap is to begin by adding one or two realistic things. Starting with just a few things is usually much more attainable than an entire lifestyle overhaul all at once. For example, by adding a 10 minute walk to your daily routine or adding one piece of fruit to whatever you typically eat for breakfast, you shift your physiology in a positive, healthy direction. Once these little changes become habits you may be pleasantly surprised by a natural desire to add more healthy things (think domino effect).

One of the easiest things I know of that people can incorporate to any existing routine is regular, wellness chiropractic care. Adjustments work to restore balance to the brain-body connection, which impacts everything your body does (digestion, immunity, healing, strength, coordination, creativity, etc.) Also, it is a very common thing for me to hear from clients that after they begin a chiropractic routine, that they feel inspired to make other positive healthy changes with regards to exercise, eating, etc. (think domino effect again).

Brent Vuyovich, DC

I want to borrow a little terminology from the computer science field to help explain the importance of a happy spine! I won't pretend to act like I know much about computers but I have heard the term"GIGO" or "Garbage In Garbage Out," which describes the idea that if a computer is programmed poorly or with bad input, it will produce less than desired output or results. This is a great analogy to explain what happens with our brain if it is receiving poor signals from the spine. Your spine is loaded with sense receptors that are constantly feeding valuable information up to your brain about your body. If your spine is stuck or misaligned the signals get mixed up and we have "garbage input" up to the brain. This negatively affects how your brain processes, integrates and controls your body leading to "garbage output." This is a pretty big deal since your brain runs the show.

By regularly taking care of your spine your brain works better! Speaking of computers, starting chiropractic care is like upgrading your nervous system from dial-up to high speed!

​Brent Vuyovich, DC

Anything in life that is beneficial to our body-mind or that is a requirement for optimum performance is best utilized on a regular basis. Things like eating well, moving and having a healthy mindset all make the most sense when they become a part of our ongoing healthy lifestyle routines. The same holds true for chiropractic care.The vision for Thrive is to be the place that makes that a reality for people here on the Outer Banks. Everyone benefits from taking care of their neuro-spinal system.

Weekly spinal checks and adjustments when needed make sense for a few different reasons...
-Most adults have not been regularly taking care of their spines since birth so there are plenty of habits, patterns and scar tissue to unwind and shift. (This is why starting kids at an early age makes so much sense).
-With each adjustment we are changing your body's neurology. Each adjustment brings greater clarity to your brain-body communication and creates a healthy pattern in your nerve system.
-Each week life brings new stresses which cause spinal subluxations in the first place...Think of all the repetitive motions, poor posture, overuse, time spent sitting, etc.
Brent Vuyovich, DC

Today I want to talk about movement...how great it feels and how VITAL it is for your spine. Think about the last vacation or road trip you took that took some significant travel time. How great does it feel after being cooped up for hours to get out and stretch during a gas stop or bathroom break. Or how about any of you who have ever had the pleasure (sarcasm intended!) of wearing a cast for a broken bone. When that cast is removed and you can freely move that limb again it almost feels as if you can hear angels singing! 

That's because we were designed to move and move a lot more than we typically do. Motion innately feels great because we depend on it. That's why most people feel more energized after a day of moving around than one spent sitting all day at a desk. 

Nowhere is the need for movement more evident than with our spines. Your brain actually relies on healthy/proper movement of you spine in order to better process, coordinate and control everything your body does. Better brain=better body. When your spine gets "cooped up" and stops moving the way it should your well-being, health and potential suffer. Let's keep those spines moving and aligned well so you have a better chance at being your best. 

Brent Vuyovich, DC

How many of you remember the Verizon commercials from a few years back where the actor takes the phone into low service areas and asks "can you hear me now?" This was such a relatable commercial because if you have a cell phone, at some point or another you have experienced poor reception. Maybe you are trying to get directions, a phone number or some other important information but you can only hear every third or fourth word. Needless to say this can be frustrating. 
When your spine is subluxated (not moving or aligned properly), this causes some "poor cell reception" between your brain and body. Anytime there is a disconnect in the brain-body communication you cannot live up to your potential in health or any area of life. Regular adjustments remove this static giving your body and being a better chance to express life more fully. Chiropractic is all about a clear connection!

Brent Vuyovich, DC

I was recently reading results from a new chiropractic research study published in the journal "Experimental Brain Research," and wanted to share the exciting findings. The study indicated that subjects were stronger and better able to use their muscles following chiropractic adjustments. In addition the study indicated that the adjustments can prevent fatigue. Now this should be particularly exciting for any fitness buffs/athletes out there. I don't know too many people who wouldn't like to be 16% stronger!

When we remove interference and "static" from the way the brain is able to process and integrate information, it is better able to not only control muscle strength but everything the body does including...sleep, energy, body chemistry, healing, digestion, focus, etc.

Brent Vuyovich, DC