People often ask me what my secrets are for staying healthy and well. You see, I stand, bend, twist, squat, reach, pull, lift and grip all day long in my Chiropractic practice and in my 38 years of busy practice here in Lincoln I have never lost a day of work due to illness or injury. I have certainly experienced my fair share of injuries through the years but the blessing in these injuries has been that they taught me first-hand how to recover while working hard. There is actually no secret because I am quite willing to share these experiences with others so they can enjoy the same effect I have. The strategy is simple; find out what really works well for you and keep doing it. The products on this list are ones I know work really well and recommend them often to my patients as well as others interested in sustained health and well-being.
Proper Pillow
This is one pillow I use personally. I really like its versatility because there are four ways to use it plus it comes with and extra layer of pillow to make it thicker if desired. If you want comfortable support that helps you get more out of your sleeping hours then you should by all means look into getting the Proper Pillow.
Proper Roller
This is the most effective foam roller I have ever used. The double bubble ergonomic design, as I like to refer to it, gives it a central groove to prevent injury to the spine and related structures while optimizing stretch to muscles, ligaments and tendons. The texture of the covering prevents slipping while delivering comfortable yet deep stretching. It is light weight yet sturdy and its length makes the Proper Roller less cumbersome and easy to use.
Intracell
This my favorite hand-held roller that I use every practice day. Referred to as a toothbrush for muscles, the Intracell’s purpose is to extinguish trigger points and allow tight, contracted muscles to relax and recover. The intracell can be used on many areas of your body. I personally use it for about one minute per leg, once a day during the week on my thighs and calves to keep my legs refreshed while standing 12+ hours on weekdays. I keep one in treatment room 2 so I can demonstrate it to patients and so every on my team can use it regularly.
Legacy Leg Pillows
Being a big fan of side sleeping postures for most people, I regularly recommend using a pillow or two between the legs for extra support. The Legacy Leg Pillow is by far my favorite. It has and sleek design that makes it easier to shift positions while keeping the leg pillow intact. Patients rave about how comfortable yet supportive the Legacy Leg Pillow is.
Kabooti Seat Cushion
The Kabooti 3-In-1 seat cushion combines a seat wedge with a tailbone cut out and a donut ring for multipurpose support while sitting. I literally have my Kabooti under the chair cushion I sit on in our living room. Those of you that have had medical procedures that require using a donut cushion or have injured your tailbone before know how important it is to get the right blend of comport and support to recover. I use it too because I like the support the seat wedge aspect of the Kabooti encourages me to sit upright even while watching a movie at home. My patients have used Kabooti’s at the office, in the car, at sporting events, playing cards, at home and more.
The Loft’s Body Friendly Crossover Purse
I do not use this cool purse but my daughter, Elizabeth, does. In fact, she is the one who introduced me to it at The Loft that she manages. I believe it is a great combination of style, quality and function. Not only does it look great when it is worn higher across the shoulders (like it should be) but you can easily pull it around to the front while still wearing it to get items out of it. That way you don’t have to take it all the way off. This purse comes in black and brown.
Lacrosse Ball
If you want to know the best product to but from a health and well-being standpoint for $5.00 then, in my opinion it is this simple LaCrosse ball. In my opinion, it is worth 10 times its weight in diamonds with regard to its potential value as a health/wellness ally. I use it regularly to stretch and release muscle trigger points between shoulders, outside of shoulders, forearms, hips and even the arches of feet. I keep one in treatment room number 2 to use personally as well as to demonstrate to patients.
Proper Weighted Blanket
Since December of last year, I have fielded questions from many patients about my thoughts and opinions regarding weighted blankets. Come to find out, there were over 1 million internet searches for weighted blankets in December of 2018 alone. Weighted blankets purportedly help with many conditions or symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, cumulative stress, restless leg, fibromyalgia pain, mood fluctuations, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, symptoms of panic disorder and more. I decided to purchase a number of them last February to distribute to patients that experience a wide variety of symptoms. I talked with each of these people about their response to using weighted blankets and they indicated noticeable improvement or relief with symptoms of panic disorder, mood fluctuations, restless legs, fibromyalgia pain, symptoms of anxiety as well as PTSD and a number of them reported an improvement in sleep quality. The short answer to what I see with weighted blankets is that while I believe they not are a panacea it appears to help in the comprehensive management of many symptoms noted above. I believe it is important to approach the possible use of weighted blankets with your health care providers too. There is much more to be said about weighted blankets but here is the one that I have the most confidence in.
Rock Tape
I Rock Tape one or more patients almost every day I practice. I use it routinely with neck, shoulder, arm, back knee and ankle conditions. It is not uncommon for me to Rock Tape myself. For example, I used it on my right forearm after overusing it doing yardwork. It is used for both acute and chronic conditions and I see Rock Tape as an important part of my services to patients. Once patients learn the best taping patterns for them, they often purchase a roll or two for home use.
Mojo Feet Customizable Orthotics
Standing all day in practice can take a toll on ankles, hips back so for many years I have taken a pro-active approach to make standing and walking healthier by using orthotics. I have two favorites and one of them is MoJo Feet. MoJo Feet are preformed orthotics that I can heat to 200 degrees in my office and have patients stand on them to customize their fit to my patients’ unique circumstances and objectives. Thus, MoJo Feet fit like a glove under your arches and the wear very well. I personally alternate the use of MoJo Feet with BioPods in my practice.
BioPods Revolutionary Orthotics
BioPods are and exciting concept in orthotics which will surely become more and more popular in the future. BioPods are called Stimsoles because they have a specifically designed raised area right underneath the long arch of the feet. According to BioPods, LLC ‘By providing the right kind of stimulation for optimum health, strength and flexibility, BioPods Stimsoles™ help address the underlying causes of most foot-related pain and problems.” I believe wearing BioPods helps my knees and lower back so Iwear them on alternate days during the work week.
Cryoderm Topical Roll-on
Cryoderm is my favorite product to apply topically to relieve pain and inflammation while improving function. Cryoderm is a greaseless, non-staining, fast acting and deep penetrating way to soothe muscle spasms, strains, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, joint pain, cramps and bruises. I like using and recommending Cryoderm because it does not go through the digestive track and can be applied exactly where it is needed. I often recommend its use several times a day for to help in the acute and chronic management of pain and conditions as well as before physical activities like sports or household chores as well as afterward. I like the ingredients including Arnica, Boswella, Ilex and MSM. I recommend the roll-on for use at home because it is easy to apply, and does not need to be applied using the hands.
