Do you suffer from back pain, neck pain, or headaches?  Have you had repetitive injuries that just don't seem to go away?  Or are you interested in improving your overall wellness?

If you're interested in resolving these challenges or improving your health but don't want pills, prescriptions, or "band-aid" remedies, then you may benefit from Chiropractic.  

While Doctors of Chiropractic are most well-known for spinal manipulations, they are also highly trained doctors who specialize in health and wellness, injury prevention, and diet, nutrition, & exercise recommendations. 

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed October as Oregon Chiropractic Health and Wellness Month.  This proclamation supports chiropractic as drug-free treatment for back pain, and Chiropractors as specialists in health and wellness. 

Check out this video about how Chiropractic Can Help, then contact us to schedule your appointment with Dr. Adam Drapkin.  Happy October!

Every now and then we hear a comment about the "high" cost of chiropractic.  These comments are usually from patients whose insurance has limited or zero coverage for chiropractic visits.

Luckily, we have different programs and packages that can help keep out of pocket costs low.  But, even if it feels costly, chiropractic care can actually save you money. 

Chiropractic care is a form of conservative care - a kind of patient pain management that utilizes non-surgical treatment options such as chiropractic and physical therapy.

The American Chiropractic Association has shared the following information about how much money can be saved treating back pain when you start with a Doctor of Chiropractic. 

Did you know that on average, people are checking their cell phones 150 times per day?? According to the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers's annual Internet Trends report, the trend of using our cell phones is on the rise.  With technology continuing to advance, it doesn't look like this trend will be changing anytime soon. 

But is it taking a toll on your body? Using small personal devices is also creating an increase in head forward posture, or as the American Chiropractic Association calls it below "text neck." Tilting your head forward and down to look at those screens is an easy habit to form, and when your tired, the poor posture is even more likely to occur. 

Now that we're a couple week into the school year, hopefully you and your kids are settling into the new routines and rhythms.  As the school year goes on, homework, books, and projects will increase, which means more weight added to the backpack.  Proper backpack use is very important to how much pain you or your child might experience. 

Did you know that a child's backpack should weigh no more than 10-15% of their body weight? It's easy to lose track of what's going in and out of those packs, so we've compiled a list of backpack safety tips and weekly habits that can help minimize the strain on your child's back.

It's football season and your favorite players and teams are probably seeing their chiropractor! How do we know about these athlete's health and wellness practices?  Here's a few statistics for you...

Did you know that, according to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society, "The average pro football chiropractor renders 30 to 50 treatments per week during the season. With the in-season (game-playing) duration lasting 16 weeks (not including quarterback camp, mini-camp, and pre- and post-season), 34 chiropractors conservatively give 16,320 to 27,200 adjustments to America’s superstars in just 120 days."

The professional football players of the NFL know that chiropractic is important to their health. From the rough hits and tackles to the intense stress put on their bodies, the NFL and it's athletes know that Chiropractor's can help minimize injuries, recovery time, and the need for prescription pain killers. 

Do you or your child play football?  Read our article about kids and chiropractic and be sure to schedule your pre and/or post-game adjustments with our Doctor of Chiropractic - Dr. Adam Drapkin.  In the meantime, enjoy the start to a fun and healthy football season!

Upasana Giglia, our in-house Ayurvedic Specialist and Yoga Instructor has long envisioned having a Restorative Yoga in our serene and sacred space.  The "Zen-like" ambiance and water features of A Healing Space are soothing and relaxing, a perfect combination for a restorative yoga series.  And we couldn't imagine a better time than Fall - the season of transition, when we are all a bit weary, dried out, and frazzled from the long hot summer.

In each class, Upasana will guide you through a series of restorative postures that you will settle into for 10-15 minutes each. And while you're enjoying the inner and outer stillness, she will recite Sacred Poetry.  We will savor the love poems of Hafiz, the soul-stirring prose of Rumi, and more...

The class has a limited amount of space, so contact Upasana right away if you're interested! You must be able to provide your own props: yoga mat, bolster or two blankets, 3 blocks and an optional yoga strap.  Some props may be available through Upasana, so let her know if you need to borrow something.

The cost is $50 for the 4-week series, $15 drop in if space is available .

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has declared October as National Chiropractic Health Month and they have a lot of support.  Not only is our Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Adam Drapkin, pleased to support the month-long celebration, but Oregon Governor Kate Brown is backing the movement as well. 

The ACA is targeting the growing epidemic of prescription painkiller medications with the 2015 #PainFreeNation slogan.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a dramatic increase in mortality rates involving prescription opioids and overdose deaths. The problem is so severe that the CDC has declared the abuse of prescription pain medications an “epidemic.”

But chiropractic's non-drug approach has the ability to address acute and chronic pain conditions without the troubling side effects of using prescription painkillers.  While chiropractic is most commonly known for its spinal manipulations and musculoskeletal focus, chiropractors are finally gaining recognition as trained specialists on health and wellness. 

When Governor Kate Brown signed the State of Oregon Proclamation proclaiming October 2015 as the Oregon Chiropractic Health and Wellness Month, she did more than just declare a month of chiropractic awareness and support.  Read the proclamation below to learn more about how Oregon is recommending Chiropractic as an alternative to the growing health care crisis.

According to the Ayurvedic principle of “Rutucharya”, or seasonal routine, fall is an ideal time for a period of intentional, focused self-care – an opportunity to cultivate some healthy new habits and let go of some old, not-so-healthy ones.  For some, this means cleansing.  For others, this means rest & rejuvenation.  Upasana will be offering both a 9-day coached group cleanse and a 5-day supported “rejuvenation therapy” program this fall.

If you’re feeling tired, out of sorts, in need of rest and a fresh start to face the coming winter and holiday season, join us for this free seminar on October 6th and let Upasana help you determine which path might be right for you. The Ayurvedic approach to seasonal routine will help you build immunity and feel clearer, stronger and more energized in the coming winter season.  Below you'll find more details on the two different options.

A healthy spine and nervous system is important for everyone, but is especially important for kids and teens. During the various stages of youth, kids’ bodies and minds are still developing; the habits they have now will impact how they feel and can influence their health in the future.

Helping kids maintain their health with chiropractic care has great benefits, including improving posture, decreasing the chance of injury, decreasing the likelihood and/or impact of spinal problems such as scoliosis, and improving overall health.

Chiropractic has no age limits and kids can benefit greatly from beginning chiropractic before they reach adulthood.  Studies have shown that children who receive regular chiropractic care are less frequently sick, are able to concentrate better, and are generally healthier. As a parent, you can give your kids the gift of health.

Here are four things that you can do today to help improve your child’s spinal health:

• Chiropractic care. Just as children need good hygiene, regular dental care, and proper nutrition, they also need regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic care will help to restore and maintain normal spinal and nervous system function, allowing a child’s body to develop optimally.

• Regular chiropractic care will vary for each child.  Some kids may only need a check up every now and then, while others may need to be seen more often. Whatever the frequency is for your child, it is important and helpful to have a professional assess the health of their spine.  Having a “baseline” will make it easier to detect changes and evaluate how they are progressing as they grow.
• If your child participates in contact sports such as football, the need for chiropractic is dramatically increased.  The impact of these contact sports can cause concussions as well as strains on their musculoskeletal system.  Seeing a chiropractor regularly can help ensure that they are properly aligned and make it easier to detect when changes occur or new symptoms arise.

For most kids, school is back in session or will be very soon.  In addition to all the back to school supplies you’ve been shopping for, the backpacks to carry these supplies are needed as well.  Whether you’re reusing an old backpack or buying a new one, the backpack your child carries could have an impact on their bodies that you might not be aware of.  Recent studies have indicated that carrying heavy backpacks is causing an increase in back pain among our youth. 

And it’s not just for your kids.  Maybe you’ve decided to go back to school to finish a new degree or prefer to carry your personal and work items in a backpack.  

Carrying a heavy backpack puts a lot of strain on the shoulders and back, but it can also influence you or your child’s posture.  To balance the weight of a heavy bag, the body will compensate by leaning forward.  This counterbalance can contribute to head forward posture, which you can learn more about here.

The American Chiropractic Association has recommended a few steps to help minimize the negative effects of carrying heavy backpacks.  We've shared them with you below, along with a few of our own.  

Tips for purchasing a new pack:

If you’ve already purchased a new backpack for the school year, it might not be too late.  Many stores allow refunds for certain periods of time and if the backpack you purchased is causing your child pain, it will be worthwhile to keep looking for the right pack. Otherwise, you will find tips below on how to make the best of the backpack you have.