Graston Technique: No Pain, No Gain? Medieval torture device or therapeutic healing method? Graston® – also known as IASTM or ‘myofascial scraping’ – feels like a bit of both. It’s an instrument-assisted method of breaking down scar tissue and eliminating muscle adhesions, increasing blood flow and promoting a better healing environment. It’s not exactly the […]
“Like a sprained ankle, it’s nothing to play with!” Timeless medical advice from one of the brightest minds in healthcare – this classic Drake track popped up on Spotify last week and this seemed like the perfect time to reference it. While ankle sprains are incredibly common – they account for 1 in every 10 […]
Why Do My Muscles Feel Stiff and Tight? A patient asked me this question last week, and I didn’t have a nice, concise answer ready to go. And I hate it when that happens, because it’s a simple question, and it seems like there should be an equally simple answer. One thing that’s for sure […]
“Why does the ball of my foot hurt?” At Ascent Chiropractic we see new patients with back pain, neck pain, headaches, and shoulder, knee and ankle injuries walk into our office literally every day. But then we’ll get a surge of some relatively uncommon condition. And due to the dramatic change in seasons and everyone […]
![Diet vs. Exercise: What Matters Most For Weight Loss? [Science]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/resizedonut.jpg)
“Eat Less, Move More!” It’s an easy maxim to spout off. Losing weight is simple, right? Just ration the calories you’re consuming and get to the gym for a few hours of weightlifting and cardio every day. Repeat tomorrow. And the next day. And so on. Unfortunately, blanket recommendations like the one above completely sidestep […]
Your Guide to Milwaukee Area Farmer’s Markets! Rejoice, fresh food enthusiasts! The weather is finally getting warmer, and as Wisconsin continues to reopen, farmers markets across the state have begun welcoming residents back for the 2021 season. Though some markets have not announced official plans for a summer reopening, most have released schedules and information […]
“Why Does My Back Hurt?” If there’s one question I get more than any other at Ascent Chiropractic, it’s this. It’s no secret: back pain is an epidemic in the US. In fact, at any given time 1 in every 4 Americans are dealing with some degree of back pain. Only the common cold beats […]
More gym gains, fewer nagging injuries! Contrary to popular long-standing belief, you don’t need to squat, bench, overhead press and deadlift with a barbell to build muscle and get stronger. The idea that the “big 4” is required for a lifting program is precisely why so many gym-goers are always banged up and not making […]
An Evidence-Based Guide From A to Zinc! The vitamin aisle is crowded, confusing, and overwhelming in its promises. It’s easy for the average consumer to get overwhelmed. After all, what the heck is CoQ10? Do I need it? And at what dose? From helping the body turn food into fuel, to fortifying bones and preserving […]
Inversion table therapy: does it work? Stay up late enough watching TV and you’ll no doubt catch them: late-night infomercials advertising tables that lock your ankles in, flip you upside down and promise to alleviate chronic lower back pain, poor circulation, sciatica and even scoliosis. Or you may have seen their more infamous cousin, gravity […]
It’s a fact: chiropractic works. There’s a reason why over a million chiropractic adjustments are performed every single day in America. Study after study after study shows that chiropractic (by itself or combined with active physical therapy) is hands-down your best – and most cost-effective – bet for back pain relief. In fact, recent studies […]
Get happy – it’s science! We all spend a lot of time doing things to be happier: spending time outside now that spring is here, maintaining relationships, eating healthy, and of course, seeing your chiropractor after a long week at your desk. But we don’t often think about how we experience happiness – all the […]
Q: Can I get adjusted while I’m pregnant? Good news, moms-to-be suffering with back, neck and hip pain: not only is it totally safe to visit a chiropractor during your pregnancy, it’s also hugely beneficial. While pregnancy is one of the most joyous, exciting times in an expectant mom’s life, the whirlwind of changes that […]
End shin splints for good! The sun is out, the weather’s warming up, the snow’s melted, and soon enough we’ll be breaking out the shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. Even though, if you’ve lived in Wisconsin long enough, you know not to get too excited just yet… But let’s ignore that and be optimistic. Power of […]
Forward Head Posture vs. Anterior Pelvic Tilt! My immediate reaction upon seeing the trailer for the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie coming out March 25 was, “the climax of this movie better have Kong and Godzilla breaking out foam rollers and stretching.” Unintentionally reminding us all of how terrible our posture’s been while working and […]
Got questions? We’ve got answers. While the US hit a grim milestone last week as it surpassed 500,000 covid deaths, there’s good reason to be optimistic going forward. The rate of new cases is down 65% from what it was just a month ago, and the trendline continues to drop. And with the state of […]
Not all musculoskeletal problems are the same! There’s a common assumption that all joint and muscle pain is caused by the same root problems, and therefore should all be able to be treated similarly. Since using a lacrosse ball on the bottom of the feet helps with plantar fasciitis, and using a peanut ball helps […]
Can beet juice improve athletic performance? One of the latest hypes for endurance athletes isn’t from one of the big sports labs. In fact, it’s not from a lab at all. And even though it looks like the perfect Valentine’s Day cocktail, it actually tastes a little bit like, well, dirt. And it’ll probably make […]
Can you really get sick from cold temperatures? Your mom always told you not to go outside in the cold with wet hair and to bundle up when heading out in frigid winter weather to avoid ending up with a cold. While there is some truth to this age-old wisdom, the reality is more complicated. […]
Make this back exercise a staple. You know how important back strength is. A strong upper back is arguably one of the most important physical attributes for any athletic endeavor. You can’t neglect upper-body “posterior chain” exercises and expect to perform your best on the field or in the gym. Without a solid base of […]
Got migraines? Here’s what works. If you’re one of the 39 million Americans that suffers from migraines, the pandemic probably hasn’t been a ton of fun. Granted, it hasn’t been the greatest time for anyone, but there has been a dramatic uptick in in both new migraine patients and people with a history of headache […]
Quite a stretch: Stretching myths debunked! There are lots of reasons people stretch: because it’s part of your pre-workout warmup, because it feels good, and because we believe that it prevents and helps fix athletic injuries. But most of what we think we know about stretching, and what we use it for, is based on […]
Here’s how to start the New Year off right! The Year-That-Must-Not-Be-Named is finally over. A worldwide pandemic. Racial injustice. The stock market crash. Billions of people radically changing the way they work and socialize. It was, by almost any measure, a terrible year, and I’m pretty sure everyone feels the same way about 2020 as […]
Exercise doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. If you don’t have the time or space to get a full workout in (or if you’re just not comfortable going back to the gym yet), welcome to the club. Just like almost everything else in 2020, we’re all finding new ways to make our lives and bodies work […]
Stuffy sinuses are no fun. Especially in 2020, where every sniffle is another round of “is it Covid or just allergies?” Mainstream medicine usually takes the medication approach to sinus congestion, but decongestant drugs almost always come with some not-so-desirable side effects. Thankfully, there are some clever old-school acupressure tricks to help clear your clogged […]
Cortisone Shots: The good, the bad and the ugly. Cortisone has been one of the most commonly-prescribed treatments for joint and tendon injuries, as well as for the pain caused by osteoarthritis, since it was developed in the 1940’s. It’s no surprise why: corticosteroid injections are often more effective than any pill, and can provide […]
Get out of the house & celebrate the holidays! Amid the current global health crisis, the list of activities to spend time with friends and family right now is a little more limited than usual. But while the covid pandemic may have stopped a lot of things, it can’t stop the holidays – there are […]
![Honey Relieves Cold Symptoms Better Than Antibiotics & OTC Medications [Study]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/alexander-mils-nesUgwNX3u4-unsplash-1024x678.jpg)
Honey: A natural remedy for the common cold. Temperatures in Wisconsin are dropping, and that means one thing – cold season is here. But before you head to the pharmacy for that stuffy nose, new research suggests that if you have an upper respiratory tract infection, honey might be even more effective at relieving your […]
A big wallet can cause big back problems! When it comes to your wallet, size matters. In fact, carrying a thick wallet in your back pocket can cause just as much trouble for your spine and pelvis as walking around with one shoe on and one shoe off.
![COVID-19: Can Melatonin Help Protect Against Coronavirus? [Study]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fusion-medical-animation-rnr8D3FNUNY-unsplash-1024x576.jpg)
New research shows sleep aid supplement can reduce COVID risk by 30%. This week Wisconsin’s new COVID-19 cases surpassed the numbers posted by New York at the height of the spring outbreak, and the surge here continues to accelerate at an alarming rate. Since the beginning of September the daily average has risen more than […]
Mainstream medicine has failed people with low back pain. Low back pain is one of the top reasons people seek medical care in the US – it’s certainly the most common reason patients seek us out at Ascent Chiropractic – and it affects a whopping 29% of adult Americans. It’s also the leading reason for […]
Caffeine can relieve migraine headaches, but there’s a catch. The relationship between caffeine and headaches is complicated. The truth is that caffeine can be both a trigger and remedy for headaches, depending on how much and how frequently you consume it.
At home or the office, ergonomics matter! If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, chances are you know how awful your back, wrists and shoulders feel at the end of the day. This is even more true if you’re like millions of people around the world who’ve had to learn how […]
Full disclosure: This post was 100% my wife’s idea. With many women now in the full swing of working from their kitchen tables and couches, there’s been much talk among the fairer sex about the new lack of requirement to – ahem – put on a bra. For millions of women still working from home […]
Sometimes your feet need a little extra customization. Chances are, when you take a fresh new pair of shoes out of the box, you don’t think too much about the laces. And that’s fair: regularly-laced shoes usually do a fine job of keeping your feet secure. But for certain people, some simple lacing tricks to […]
Fall is hiking time in Wisconsin. Low humidity, mild temperatures and bright, vibrant colors. It’s no longer blazing hot, so the whole day is open for runs and walks and not just the hours around dusk and dawn.
Wisconsin is on the brink of a major outbreak. In the past week, Wisconsin has crashed through its own coronavirus records, reporting more cases and more COVID-19 hospitalizations than it has at any time since the pandemic began. It now ranks among the top states in new cases per capita. So as Wisconsin – and […]
Suffering from low back pain? You’re not alone. 26 million Americans live with daily low back pain, and hip pain isn’t usually far behind. A lot of that can be traced back to the amount of time Americans spend sitting on our butts all day. In fact, 54% of low back pain cases can be […]
What can a chiropractor do … for scoliosis? It’s a common question from patients at Ascent Chiropractic. Most assume you can simply make an appointment at any chiropractor for any kind of back problem, even for complicated conditions. But that’s not the case when it comes to scoliosis.
Skip the meds – try chiropractic first. Low back pain – one of the top reasons for visits to the doctor’s office – is best treated with alternative, natural therapies, according to updated guidelines from the American College of Physicians. Opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed medications for pain relief. But they’re also […]
Whether you realize it or not, your spine is constantly being compressed. Whether it’s sitting at a desk for 8 hours or lifting heavy weights at the gym, most of us spend a lot of time compressing our spine every day. These compressive forces conspire to throw our spines out of balance and lead to […]
Staying hydrated is essential for good health. After all, your body is about 60% water, and all your cells and organs depend on water to function properly. So how much do you really need to be drinking? It’s a simple question but unfortunately, no single amount fits everyone perfectly. Your individual water needs depend on […]
Warning: Politics Are Bad For Your Health! The constant stream of political news these days is nearly impossible to escape. And it’s about to become even more unavoidable for those of us in the Milwaukee area when the (thankfully scaled-back) Democratic National Convention comes to town this week. But the dark political cloud hanging over […]
Let’s get the facts straight about back pain! Despite billions being spent, and millions of patients being prescribed opiates or surgery every year, back pain remains the world’s leading cause of disability. However, much of what people think is common knowledge about back pain may actually be making things worse. Misinformation about back problems abounds. […]
Can swearing at the gym make you stronger? Anyone who’s ever really pushed themselves to run farther, lift heavier weights, or spin faster knows that intense exercise can cause even the most reserved gym-goer to unconsciously mutter expletives. And if you don’t typically cuss when you’re working out, you may want to try it: New […]
WhatsAppitis. Selfie elbow. iPad Shoulder. They’re all injuries caused by our hapless addiction to hand-held technology. We see patients every day at Ascent Chiropractic with repetitive stress injuries due to gadget overuse, so if you’re being affected by these modern-day ailments, don’t worry – you’re not alone!
Not just pain relief – it’s pain prevention! Most patients at Ascent Chiropractic only make that first call when their back pain or neck pain is at a place where it’s seriously affecting their daily lives. They’re usually under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain that there’s nothing wrong with them – […]
RockTape: Go Stronger, Longer! If you’re a patient at Ascent Chiropractic in Brookfield, there’s a good chance you’ve been taped up with RockTape at some point. So what exactly is the deal with RockTape? Does it actually accomplish anything?
Why Flip-Flops Hurt Your Feet! After a long winter (and in Wisconsin, spring and fall) of wearing wool socks and clunky boots, it can be tempting to replace your entire shoe rack with flip-flops as soon as the weather turns hot. But before setting your toes free, it’s wise to consider the impact your footwear […]
It’s Time To Get Off The Couch! This year will certainly be remembered for a lot of things, but 2020 will probably also go down as the year of the couch potato. Being sedentary goes hand in hand with staying indoors. There’s probably never been more opportunity to stay at home and binge television series […]
Are Sit Ups Bad For Your Back? The US Army recently nixed sit ups when they updated their physical readiness tests, and the Navy and Marines are set to do the same this summer. They’re all finally following what fitness researchers (and your chiropractor) have been saying for years: sit ups, V-ups, and the like […]
Does your jaw click? At Ascent Chiropractic, we see a lot of patients with TMJ problems. It’s not exactly an uncommon condition – 12% of Americans suffer from chronic TMJ syndrome pain (also known as TMD). TMJ syndrome happens when the temporomandibular (jaw) joints aren’t working correctly. Sometimes this leads to a dull painful ache […]
Fitness Fix: Help for Weak Wrists! Maybe you’re recovering from an athletic injury, or you’re finding you need to end push-up sets early to shake out your wrists. Or maybe your wrists are screaming from long days spent at your computer or even just holding onto a squirming baby for hours at a time. Whatever […]
When it feels like a headache – but isn’t! At Ascent Chiropractic, it’s often the case with rare conditions that when it rains, it pours. We see new patients with back pain, neck pain, tension and migraine headaches, shoulder pain and knee and ankle injuries walk into our office literally every day. But then we’ll […]
Get moving with these moves! At Ascent Chiropractic, we see athletes every day ranging from pro cyclists to kayakers to powerlifters. And while, yes, they’re often here for relief from the back pain & neck pain the rest of us experience, they also come to us to help improve their natural mobility. I’m constantly preaching […]
Good posture – just how important is it? When it comes to taking care of your body, good posture ranks right up there with exercise, eating healthy, and sleeping right. Having good posture not only looks better, but how we sit, stand and walk can have a huge effect on our day-to-day health and mood. […]
No pain, no gain? We’ve all experienced that day-or-two-after-a-workout agony – the kind where just getting out of your car or wobbling up the stairs makes you feel like you’re 95 years old. It’s called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and if you’ve been in the gym enough you’re probably not a stranger to it. […]
Need some excuses to not see a chiropractor? If you’ve visited our Facebook or Google pages lately, you’ve probably seen Ascent patients talking about all the benefits of getting regular chiropractic care. However, there are some people who just won’t be convinced, so if you’re looking for reasons not to see a chiropractor, here are […]
7 piriformis stretches to relieve sciatica fast! One of the the most common problems I see at Ascent Chiropractic every week is sciatica – low back pain that spreads down to the legs and feet. While there are several potential causes of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, one common cause is something called piriformis syndrome. […]
They’re a giant pain in the, well, elbow. And you don’t even have to have ever stepped foot on a tennis court or golf course. Golfer’s and tennis elbow, or medial and lateral epicondylitis, are naggingly painful inflammatory conditions that are named for the repetitive movement patterns and loading of the forearm musculature required by […]
Headaches aren’t normal! Waking up with a headache or consistently getting one by the end of work each day is not fun (or normal). Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, none of which are a shortage of medication in your body! As a matter of fact, if you have been relying on […]
It’s not always easy to love your body. But let’s face it, your body really is amazing. We often take it for granted, but the fact that we have 37 trillion cells working together in intricate coordination to keep us alive is truly spectacular. At Ascent Chiropractic in Brookfield WI, our goal is to make […]
Gym closed? Here’s how to avoid the #Quarantine15. Let’s be honest, the majority of Americans are going to come out of this quarantine in one of two ways: super fit because they’ve had nothing to do but workout for weeks or in dire need of a diet and serious chiropractic care because they rarely left […]
Immune Boosters: What actually works? As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, confusion and misconceptions about what can protect you are becoming as contagious as the virus. Are there foods to boost your immune system? Will vitamins help? It was all my patients at Ascent Chiropractic could talk about last week, and I’m […]
What Is Kinesio Tape? In his book Every Second Counts, Lance Armstrong writes “The team wasn’t just riders. It was mechanics, masseurs, and doctors. But the most important man on the team may have been the chiropractor. I could not have won without my chiropractor’s help”. He goes on to describe how, while on tour, […]
7 Things You Didn’t Know Chiropractic Could Help! It’s no secret that back pain and neck pain are (by far) the most common reasons patients come into Ascent Chiropractic. But whether you’re an elite athlete or just looking to live your best life, research has shown there’s a wealth of additional health benefits you probably […]
When to use ice? When to use heat? From a soothing hot water bottle to a bag of frozen peas, most of us have turned to heat or ice at some point to help relieve pain. But when something hurts, choosing the right one means faster relief of soreness, stiffness, swelling and inflammation, while choosing […]
“Work your glutes!” If you’ve ever been treated for low back, sacroiliac or pelvic problems at Ascent Chiropractic, you’re probably sick of hearing me talk about the importance of glute strength.
Are you carrying your baby’s car seat correctly? Lugging around a baby in a car seat is a pain – they’re heavy and awkward, and it’s surprisingly common to see new parents come into my office with shoulder and upper back problems as a result. You can try to hold it in front of you […]
“Foot Levelers are literally the best purchase I’ve ever made!” That’s something a patient told me last week about his Foot Levelers custom orthotics. It’s not the first time, and there’s a reason they’re the only orthotics maker I trust for my patients.
So you woke up and suddenly can’t move your neck? Sound familiar? I had a patient who was home from college on break call in last week because she had woken up that morning with severe neck pain. She had experienced literally zero neck problems since her last adjustment 6 months ago, and as an […]
Stiff neck? With so many of us staring at our computer screens or stuck looking down at our phones for hours on end, it’s no wonder that the CDC reports that nearly 20% of Americans have complained of neck pain within the past three months.
Feeling dizzy? You get out of bed and it feels as if the whole room is spinning, day after day. That’s what life can be like for people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, more commonly referred to as positional vertigo. It’s a condition I see and treat at least weekly at Ascent Chiropractic.
From all of us at Ascent – we’re proud of you. Whether you’re a patient at Ascent Chiropractic in Brookfield, a newsletter subscriber, or are simply one of the thousands who read this blog online every week, we want to give a shout out to everyone making progress that no one else recognizes. You’ve been […]
What the science says about regular chiropractic care – even if you’re not in pain! It’s no surprise that most of the patients I see at Ascent Chiropractic come in because they’re in pain, and their main priority is getting back to feeling good.
![Here’s How The Hypervolt Relaxes Muscles & Boosts Recovery [Special Pricing At Ascent Chiropractic!]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hyperice_Mens_Journal_Recovery_Tool_You_Need-1024x576.jpg)
The Hyperice Hypervolt – Now At Ascent Chiropractic! It’s no secret that my patients love the Hypervolt – it may just be the best method of relaxing tight muscles before an adjustment or recovering from a tough workout.
What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick band of soft tissue on the bottom of your foot known as the plantar fascia. Also known as “heel pain syndrome” (some super creative naming going on there), plantar fasciitis is by far the most common foot problem I see at Ascent Chiropractic in […]
Improving sleep quality – naturally! If you’re someone who can’t ever seem to get a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone (shout out to the new parents out there – we’ll commiserate together).
Workouts: Should You Lift or Do Cardio First? I get it: we’re all insanely busy and it’s a miracle that we can get to the gym at all. So when we work out, most of us try to get in both strength training and cardio exercise in a single session. But should you do weights […]
Big League Chiropractic Care The 2010’s have been a decade of extraordinary achievement for Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals: He has more wins and strikeouts this decade than any other pitcher in the majors, plus three Cy Young Awards. So what happens when one of the most durable pitchers in baseball wakes up the […]
What does being ‘double-jointed’ mean? When superstar Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes went down with a patella (knee cap) dislocation following a QB sneak two weeks ago, it looked like a major setback to the dynamic playmaker’s repeat-MVP campaign.
What the heck is Mulligan Day? That workout routine you let lapse, the chinchilla you brought home in high school, basically everything you did in your early 20’s – all of us have made decisions we regret. That’s why National Mulligan Day, celebrated in mid-October, is the perfect time for a do-over, especially when it […]
![How To Boost Your Immune System During Cold & Flu Season: Airborne & Emergen-C Are Out, This Is In [Research]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/virus-1812092_1280-1024x512.jpg)
What Actually Works and What’s Just Hype? If you’ve walked through the aisles of any health food store lately, you’ve no doubt seen the shelves upon shelves of supplements that promise to boost, tune, support or enhance your immune system. Every new-age health blog is starting their yearly deluge of articles explaining how drinking hot […]
“The baby is head-down! Thank Dr. Grant for helping us!” That was the text message we got last week from a patient right after a follow-up ultrasound confirmed her baby was no longer in breech position. She’d been told by her OBGYN that she had three weeks to get her breech-positioned baby to flip on […]
Fix your posture, grow your delts & heal your shoulders! What the heck are face pulls? If you’ve ever been treated for a shoulder injury at Ascent Chiropractic there’s a good chance you know all about them. But if you’ve never done them before, face pulls just might be one of the best-kept workout secrets.
Be Smarter About Your Health In 10 Minutes! 1. Lifting To Failure Is Actually Counterproductive No pain, no gain. Sweat is weakness leaving the body. We’ve all heard the mantras, but while they might help you push through the last reps of a shake-inducing set, new research from Strength & Conditioning Journal suggests we shouldn’t […]
It’s Not Just Low Back Pain Relief! Whether you are an elite athlete, weekend warrior, battling back from an injury, or just looking to live your best life – research has shown that chiropractic care provides a wealth of benefits that can improve your quality of life.
Is it ok to crack your joints? Say you’ve been working at your computer for a while and you’re feeling a little stiff. So you roll your head around until you get a satisfying “pop!”, your neck feels a bit looser, and you get back to work. Only to realize that you need to do […]
Gym Fundamentals: Do You Have A Plan? At Ascent Chiropractic, we’re serious about the belief that everyone can — and must — work out. Seriously, I’ll often literally give my patients a prescription for it and help them develop a lifting program specifically for what’s going on in their bodies.
5 Reasons To See Your Chiropractor During Pregnancy. While pregnancy is one of the most joyous, exciting times in an expectant mom’s life, the whirlwind of changes that happen during pregnancy can wreak havoc on a mom-to-be’s body. Weight-bearing joints and regions of the spine, specifically the lower back and neck, tend to be the […]
Suffering From A Herniated Disc? Disc degeneration is a natural part of the aging process. As gravity pulls you down, you continue to age, and injuries catch up to you, degenerative processes begin. As a matter of fact, degeneration of the spine often begins before you’re even 30 years old! And when back pain appears […]
What’s Better For Your Back: Barbell or Hex Bar Deadlifts? The deadlift is one of the gold standard lifts in the gym. It’s pretty simple, really: You load a barbell up with weight, grab it with a shoulder-width grip, plant your feet on the floor and pull until the weights come off the floor.
“My jaw has popped for the last 15 years and in one adjustment it’s totally gone?!” This was the reaction from a patient at Ascent Chiropractic last week who didn’t even realize we could help with TMJ problems. She had actually come in because of a stiff and painful neck and just happened to mention […]
Let’s Be Honest: Dieting Sucks. Any nutritionist worth their salt will tell you that the best diet is the one you stick with. Unfortunately, over and over and over I see my patients at Ascent jump on diets that require religiously tracking calories, restricting carbs or going ‘keto’ – and then burn out a few […]
![Sleep Is Your Superpower – And You’re Probably Not Getting Enough [Research]](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img/https://ascentchiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/alexandra-gorn-471463-unsplash.jpg)
Everyone is exhausted – and it’s killing us. I’m going to start this week’s blog by talking about testicles. Didn’t expect to be reading about that from your chiropractor on a Monday morning, did you?
See The Difference? Most of my patients know that in my practice I’m all about evidence-based practice. Everything I do is backed up by stacks of studies supporting it’s effectiveness. That being said, while it’s nice to know the science is behind what we do at Ascent Chiropractic, sometimes pictures say much more than a […]
Cheat Your Way to More Muscle? I get this question from my athletes often: When it comes to weightlifting, are ‘cheat’ repetitions worth it? You’re probably not surprised to know my short answer is ‘no.’ The long answer, however, is that not all cheating is created equal.
What Actually Is Muscle Memory? Muscle memory is a fascinating topic that’s essential to understanding what’s going on with your musculoskeletal system. And it’s for more reasons than simply making your muscles look good now that summer’s finally arrived (although I’m plenty aware that that’s important to my patients too).
Should You Worry About ‘Popping’ Your Neck? Last week it seemed like every other patient at Ascent Chiropractic was asking if they should be worried about causing a stroke by cracking their neck.
There’s no excuse for not exercising – your life depends on it! Sure, some of us live for the “workout high” — that intoxicating feeling derived from getting your heart rate up and pushing your body’s limits, while for others exercise is a chore, an item to be checked off their to-do list.
Are You Missing Out? If you’ve never experienced chiropractic care, you’re probably not totally aware of the health benefits – in addition to getting out of pain – that come with regularly seeing a chiropractor.
Correcting ‘Computer Guy’ Posture! A few months back I discussed how to correct anterior pelvic tilt – also known as ‘butt and gut syndrome’. It quickly became (by far) the most-read article on my blog, so if you haven’t read it yet check it out. So let’s expand on that by discussing the exceedingly-common upper […]
Should you ditch your running shoes? Spring is in the air and everyone is itching to get outside and back in running shape. And with the subculture of barefoot runners and the products catering to them growing daily, I’m frequently asked about my opinion regarding barefoot running.
The Truth About “Coming Rains Mean Aches & Pains” Grandma could predict an approaching storm when her joints ached, and she actually might have been onto something. It’s true that many people with back pain, neck pain or other joint complaints are often suprisingly accurate in predicting when storms are approaching. However, the weather by […]
Feeling especially sore after a workout? Whether it’s a nagging sore shoulder or a stiff and painful lower back, there are a couple warning signs to look out for to determine if it’s a normal post-exercise ache or something you should seek medical attention for. Before you test a minor ache and turn it into […]
Workout Harder and Smarter! Rounding up the most important health and fitness studies of Q1 2019 that you can put to use right now!
Sugar or Fat: The real villain behind weight gain. Can’t shake your fear of eating fat — think it’s worse than eating sugar? It’s true that fat has more calories per gram than either carbs or protein. So why doesn’t eating less fat – and therefore (theoretically) fewer calories – help you lose weight? It […]
Ignored your mom when she told you to stand up straight? You should have listened to her. If you’ve been slouching all your life, your stiff neck, painful shoulders and aching back can probably be traced right back to your bad posture. Not paying attention to your postural habits affects your overall health and sets […]
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Your muscles are made of protein, so if you’re building muscle you need to eat up. But how much protein do you really need? More than a couch potato, but less than many self-proclaimed internet 'coaches' would have you believe. A huge systematic metastudy recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine puts the debate to rest. Here’s how to quickly calculate the real answer.
Chiropractic Helping IBS? Everyone at one time or another has experienced the discomfort of bloating, gas, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea and other digestive disorders, and over $80 billion is spent every year on controlling these symptoms. And because your bowels have such an important impact on your health, wouldn’t it be nice to know if […]
The Best Core Strengthening Exercises that Won’t Harm Your Back! THE CORE. We hear about the core and the importance of strengthening the core all the time, and if you’re a patient at Ascent Chiropractic, you’re probably sick of hearing me talk about why you need to be working on your core musculature.
Avoid Back and Shoulder Pain When Shoveling Snow! Every winter – including this past weekend – I see patients with the same shoveling-induced back injuries and pain at Ascent Chiropractic. It’s no secret that shoveling snow is exhausting. It can be tough on your body, especially when it’s wet and icy. Research shows low back […]
Got back pain? And if so, have you been told that your back pain is being caused by an annular tear to the spinal discs? You’re not alone – studies have shown that the prevalence of disk bulges in the general population is over 70%, even in those who are totally symptom-free! Let’s explore what […]
Crack! What’s that sound? Going to a chiropractor for the first time is intimidating! It’s true – most people don’t know what to expect, and may even be a little scared of getting adjusted.
What Are Free Radicals? Imagine a giant ballroom filled with couples waltzing to music, whirling about in a finely choreographed dance until a single dancer without a partner enters the ballroom. He cuts in on dancing couples, leaving one of the original dancers without a partner. This odd-man-out scenario disrupts everything, creating chaos, as the […]
Make 2019 Your Year For Maximizing Your Fitness! When January first rolls around, the season of excess quickly transforms to a season of new expectations – more than 40% of Americans report making New Year’s resolutions. But – surprise, surprise – 80% of those people are no longer following them by the first week of […]
Rounding up the most important research of the year! 1. Reducing your risk of diabetes could be as simple as taking vitamin D and fish oil. The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes is expected to rise by 20% in the next 12 years, but consuming a diet rich in vitamin D and fish oil […]
The Case For Chiropractic! If you’ve recently visited a medical doctor for low back pain, research says you definitely want to consider seeing a chiropractor as well.
Diclofenac vs. Chiropractic Care For Back Pain Researchers from Spine Journal recently concluded a ground-breaking study that showed astounding results when comparing chiropractic adjustments against Diclofenac, one of the most popular and commonly-prescribed anti-inflammatory medications available.
Need some gym motivation for this week? I get it – temperatures are dropping, days are getting shorter and it’s getting tougher and tougher to drag yourself to the gym to lift weights. But there’s good reason to keep with it, and it’s more than for just the muscle-building and bone health benefits that we’re […]
