Looking For A Pain-Free Auto Appraisal?

July 20th, 2011

I am all too familiar with back pain! Why? I am an auto appraiser, which is to say that when someone wants to know the value of their own vehicle or how much a vehicle is authentically worth that they are thinking of buying, I’m the person who spends innumerable hours bending over and looking under the hood and crawling, sliding, or otherwise placing my body under a car that may be parked on cold concrete, hot blacktop, or gritty, abrasive gravel. And, I have to confess that my most valued relationship is the one I have with my chiropractor, and this one my wife understands! My chiropractor can get me moving again with just one or two chiropractic manipulations. And, instead of waiting for sudden mechanical difficulties (like not being able to walk upright), if I book monthly maintenance appointments with her, I’m ready to hit the road pain-free every day!

Are you wondering what is involved in an auto appraisal? It’s a curiosity many men and women have. So, please allow me explain some of the services that an experienced auto appraiser supplies:

  • An auto appraiser is your experienced set of eyes and can save you travel time and money, whether you are attempting to buy on e-bay or trying to buy a car “from afar.” After talking with you by phone, your auto appraiser will expertly examine the vehicle you’re interested in and will find out all the information you’ll need to help you decide if the car is for you and if the selling price is a good one.
  • A good auto appraiser can get an inspection on your damaged vehicle within forthy-eight hours of accepting an assignment if your car has been in an accident. He’ll write an estimate and then attempt to get that price at a repair shop.
  • And, if that accident turned our vehicle into a total loss, and you’re upset about the settlement your insurance company is offering for your totaled car because you know that you can’t can’t get another car for the amount offered, your adjust can reveiw the facts and help you in making a decision.

Of course, there’s a good deal more that a qualified auto appraiser has to offer, including semi and RV appraisals. But, really what I want you to get from this article is that your auto appraiser often causes himself a lot of pain on your behalf to help keep your auto-related decisions pain-free!

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Are You Looking For Low Back Pain Reilef That You Can Depend On? Get Some Pain Relief From A Concord Chiropractor!

May 1st, 2011
Are you afflicted by pain in your back? You are definitely not alone; there are loads of people who suffer from back pain as well. Relief from back pain is quick with a call to a reliable and qualified Concord chiropractor.

chiropractic does not have anything to do with surgical or drug-related practice; the chiropractor cures the patient by working on his or her spine. Chiropractic techniques are known to improve spine function and to reduce pain, simply by removing spinal restrictions. The typical treatment consists of a chiropractor putting quick, but controlled, pressure on the joints of the spine and moving the spine beyond its normal position.  However, the patient might be a tiny bit (okay, a whole lot) surprised! However, you need not be scared of the sudden cracking sound because in a chiropractic treatment instead of “breaking” your back the spine is “fixed” and brought back to its natural shape and function. In addition to this, chiropractors employ massaging techniques in order to relax the muscles.

Low back pain occurs in a variety of forms. Sometimes a person might experience a dull ache, but some back pain may be strong and very bad. Not only is the individual afflicted by pain, but such back pain may also restrict normal body movements. Some people have backache for a few days, but some people feel acute pain that endures for weeks – chronic low back pain lasts for over 3 months. It won’t be very helpful if you have someone walk on top of your back; the best thing to do is see a chiropractor.

Taking advantage of the services offered by a qualified chiropractor will help you to avoid the possible complications that could arise from taking drugs or undergoing surgery to combat low back pain.

Chiropractic treatment is truly one of the best ways one can get relief from annoying back aches, without drugs – think, about the good you will be doing for your liver!

Your Concord chiropractor offers a wide variety of chiropractic services that work in tandem to improve your overall health and well-being.

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A Healthy Spine, One More Essential That Will Make Your Flint Tool Rental A Happy Experience

February 20th, 2011

When you think of an excavator, a jackhammer, or a hydraulic skid, does back pain come to mind? They can all be real “back breakers,” so to speak, if your spine is misaligned while you’re attempting to move dirt, concrete, blacktop, or anything else the resembles the “earth under you feet,” using any of these heavy Flint equipment rentals. But, similar problems can occur, if you’re not careful, when using Flint tool rentals such as pressure washers, hand grinders, and even vacuums. Your spine and the rest of your musculoskeletal system must be in good condition if you want to complete construction on the job or at home.

Before you start, be smart: Prior to beginning any job, big or small, and even before you take a trip out to an equipment or tool rentals Flint company, you should have your back examined by a health care professional who’s a back expert, like a chiropractor. It isn’t wise for you to start any sort of physical activity without having your chiropractor check to see if your spine is in good alignment. You may be advised to wear a back support or other supportive means if you have any age-related degenerative spine and joint changes.

Thought it is important for you to make sure that you are in healthy alignment and overall musculoskeletal good health prior to starting a new project, it’s important to remember to see your chiropractor at regular intervals during the project and also when the work is complete. Even healthy joints can be effected by heavy machinery and tool vibration. Furthermore, you may be unfamiliar with certain positions and added weight when working with hand tools and this can stress back, shoulder, and arm muscles.

Project Tips: Because misalignment can result from the use of heavy equipment and tools, be sure to visit your dhiropractor on a regular basis during the duration of your project. Icing inflammed areas may be one of the suggestions made by your chiropractor. In addition, stressed or strained muscles may require kineseo taping while your working on your project. In some cases, a stressed or strained muscle may necessitate rest before returning to work.

When your project is done: Don’t forget to get a comprehensive chiropractic recheck once again after your project is complete.

Do the work you enjoy! Just remember, from start to finish, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor so much more if you take precautions from beginning to end!

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You Can Prevent Your Life From Becoming A Pain In The Neck Promises Grand Rapids Chiropractor

February 8th, 2011

Chiropractors are well-aware that often life can be a pain in the neck, literally as well as metaphorically. In fact, your Grand Rapids chiropractor has been treating cervical disc injuries using his patented two-way traction devices for more than eleven years!  Chiropractors also know that the emotional circumstances in one’s life that often feel like a “pain in the neck” may change quickly, but neck pain caused by physical stress and injury can linger on for a long time and, unfortunately, if not treated, such conditions can get much worse. Pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness down the arm and into the fingers, as well as pain in the immediate neck area, are common symptoms of neck injury. Neck injuries can contribute to both tension headaches and head pain. Because chiropractic treatment has been found to be the most effective, non-invasive treatment for relieving neck pain, it would be advantageous for you to seek a thorough examination and evaluation by your chiropractor to find the reason for your particular neck pain.

Neck pain and its associated symptoms are generated by a number of neck conditions. For instance, strained muscles, sprained ligaments, and spinal joint injuries are often traumas caused by an accident. Postural stress can arise from sitting at a computer for long periods and/or performing repetitive tasks. Muscular tension and inflammation in the neck and upper back often result from such stress. Abnormal or unhealthy spinal mechanics and weak or overdeveloped muscles can add to postural stress. Other causes of neck problems are “slipped,” herniated, or ruptured cervical discs, and general aging that produces degeneration of the spinal joints and discs creating inflammation of soft tissues leading to chronic pain.

As mentioned above, chiropractor, Dr. Douglas McKenzie, specializes in cervical disc injury treatment using his own patented two-way traction devices.  Who could ask for more than a natural and unique mechanical approach by a chiropractor who’s an expert when it comes to neck pain? In fact, his treatments in his Grand Rapids chiropractic office result in pain relief, decrease in tension, increase in motion, and an overall sense of well-being.

When it comes to expertise in caring for the spine and musculoskeletal system, no doctors are more qualified than chiropractors, like this Grand Rapids chiropractor. Chiropractic care can give you the neck pain relief you’ve been looking for. See a chiropractor in your area today. And, call the office of Dr. Douglas McKenzie if you’re in the Grand Rapids area. He’ll find out the cause for your neck pain and treat it at its source.

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Could One Conversation Change What You Eat?

August 21st, 2010

via Integrative Nutrition Blog by Integrative nutrition on 8/10/10

Many people shop labels.  Whether its high fashion or expensive cars, a label costs more; it means something to the consumer.  Food is no different.  People who care about the quality of the food they put in their body read labels.  If a label reads “high fructose corn syrup” or “trans fat” an informed consumer will bypass this product.  Whether a food has an organic label or not is also important information for today’s foodies.  If a product has the seal “USDA Organic” the consumer knows that the food was grown or prepared using organic practices and ingredients; however, the producer has paid a fee to the government to obtain that certification. 

Many small farmers cannot afford the high cost of the government’s organic label.  According to the Organic Trade Association, referenced in this article on Change.org, 92 percent of organic food sold in this country is sold by mass markets, like Wal-Mart, Costco, or grocery store chains.  By comparison, only 8 percent comes from farmers markets, co-ops, or CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture). 

Quite often the small farmers have organic growing practices; they just don’t pay for the expensive label.  How do you get this important information?  It’s easy; simply start a conversation with the person you are buying your food from.  When you visit the farmers market and you see they do not have an organic label, ask why?   Ask them about their growing practices.   Do they use pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals?  You won’t know until you ask. 

Do you only shop for products with the “USDA Organic” label?  Do local farmers in your area provide an opportunity to talk about their growing practices?  What are your conversations like?

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Obesity: A National Epidemic?

June 15th, 2010

As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the vital issue of excess weight and how it negatively affects every part of the human body. I explain the health challenges to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.” 

We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”

The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-

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Is Social Media an Important Marketing Channel for Your Chiropractic Clinic?

May 29th, 2010

Chiropractic Marketing

Social Media is the “hottest” topic on the Internet today. If you’ve been thinking about getting on board, but you’re not sure where the platform is, let’s take a minute to talk about the “Who, What, When, Where, and How” of social media and you, that’s “Who.” Then you can decide if you want to add Social Media to your chiropractic marketing strategy.

Social media marketing may seem familiar in some aspects to other chiropractic marketing strategies you’ve thought about in the past, but also unfamiliar at the same time. In the “familiar” category, you’d never think of trying any sort of marketing plan without making an effort to understand what it is and what you want to get from it. It’s important to ask yourself, “What are my goals?” Once you’re clear about what you want, you’ll be more capable of using social media to your biggest advantage.

When you are ready to begin your social media endeavor, but before you start, it will be crucial for you to make certain that you “own your name” on all the social media outlets, i.e., be certain that your name or your clinic’s name is procurable so that you can use the exact same name on every one of the social channels you decide to use. When you’re ready, there’s a service, which is entirely free, that can assist you with your search. Knowem.com is the who to go to. This service will check where your name is and/or if it’s available for use or not on a substantial number of social media sites.

The next step, once you have all your social media accounts secured, is to make a decision as to where you would like to be active. Beginning with only a small number of social media sites is best because, let’s face it, you have a clinic to run and patients to see. You won’t want to get caught up in too many social media sites. So, how do you choose the best sites for you? The big ones (where most of the action is) are facebook, twitter, linkedin, and Youtube.

What successful social media activity will do for you is build a genuine presence in your community. What you should never do “sell” on your social media sites, that means don’t sell your chiropractic services, don’t sell products, don’t sell anything! The benefit of social media is for you to go out and network with the community. Sure, let them know what you do, but do it by participating in the conversation. Social media works the same way as social networking offline. It is important to be clear on this point, people on social media do not want to be sold to! Social media sites are a lot like a neighborhood backyard barbecue. People are standing around having a conversation about who they are and what they do, and then someone asks you what you do. Or, perhaps you begin the conversation by simply stating, “Hello, I’m Dr. ____. With social media marketing, the same dynamics apply. “Work” your social media sites in the same way you’d work your offline networking communities, which is to say, answer the questions and concerns that get potential patients interested in the who that’s you!


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Corona Chiropractor Explains How Chiropractic Treatment Can Eliminate Hip Pain

May 21st, 2010

Corona Chiropractor

When it comes to hip pain relief, your chiropractor in Corona offers highly successful non-surgical, drug-free treatment. Whenever possible, surgery should be seen as a final option. Therefore, before you schedule a surgery to replace that hip, think about the following questions: Does hip pain keep you up in the night and make it impossible for you to get a good night’s sleep? When you get out of bed in the morning, and/or when you step out of your car, are you stiff and do you find it hard at first to move your legs? Do you feel pain in one or both hips when you cross your legs or rotate or twist your hips? If you’ve answered “yes” to any or all of these questions you probably have imbalances and alignment problems in your lower extremities that are not only causing your hip pain, but can lead to osteoarthritis in your hips in the future if not treated. The good news is that whether or not degenerative changes have already begun, chiropractic treatment can help!

You may be getting older and it may be true that your hip joints aren’t what they used to be. But, are you aware that your hip pain and related problems, which normally are thought to be age-related degenerative conditions, may not actually be caused by osteoarthritis? That’s right. In many cases, rather than being the root cause of your problem, osteoarthritis of the hip joint is typically the consequence of a prior injury (or injuries) to your hips.

Hip problems frequently have to do with asymmetry or imbalance when you are in motion, as in the case of walking. If you “pronate” when you walk, like a duck, with your toes pointing away from your body, sooner or later you will develop pain in your hips as a result of the asymmetrical stress on your hip joints and your body’s efforts to compensate. Fortunately, you can make changes in your gait pattern at any age, and your chiropractor in Corona can help you to do it.

In addition, you may have had gait changes as the result of an ankle sprain or knee strain, and since “the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone,” these biomechanical alterations produce hip pain. Of course, if not treated, your hip joints will suffer further consequences, i.e, wear and tear that causes degenerative changes.

Other activities that can frequently injure the hip joints are starting a new job or beginning a new sport that necessitates your moving your body in atypical ways. Also, ferrying a child (or grandchild) on one hip can create hip pain. Even your sitting position or driving for extended periods of time on a regular basis can cause hip injury and pain.

So you can see that not every pain is caused by “old age,” although we may suffer from more pain as a consequence of the progressive capacity of untreated injuries.

In addition to your adjustments, as an integral part of your chiropractic management, your Corona Chiropractor will offer special rehabilitative exercises that include gentle muscle stretching and strengthening, and will also study your gait and may recommend simple pattern changes.

Your hip pain won’t vanish on its own. Hip pain is a sign that there’s an injury that needs treatment. If left untreated, it is very likely that you will eventually require that hip replacement surgery. Remember the old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Your Corona Chiropractor can eliminate your hip pain, get your body back into balance, and help you get to back to enjoying your life again!

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Chiropractic Internet Marketing Strategy: Do it Yourself or Outsource?

May 11th, 2010

Here’s an interesting question for you to consider: Do you want to keep your chiropractic internet marketing in-house or do you want to hire a professional? There are pros and cons to both, and the answer lies in your particular situation. Let’s check out the advantages and  disadvantages of both.

Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing

  1. There is a lower monthly cost involved in using someone already employed by you.
  2. The staff knows your practice intimately.  Your staff has a good understanding of your clinic’s particular services and, therefore, is able to describe your specialties easier than those who don’t know the specifics of your particular practice.
  3. You can communicate anytime. Being in-house it is easier to set up times to have meetings or just to chat about situations on the fly.

Disadvantages of in-house chiropractic website marketing

  1. The staff may not be fully aware of what SEO (search engine optimization) is, let alone how to accomplish it. In that case, a lot of education and training will be needed to make sure SEO gets done right.
  2. The staff may be overworked. Sometimes the time it takes to do SEO can be underestimated. It is an ongoing process that can actually be a full-time job.  If a marketing manager has been told to do SEO as well as his or her full time job, obviously that person will be overworked and feel overwhelmed.
  3. Attention needs to be paid to detail. This goes together with Point #2. If the staff is overworked, they have no time to check out search engine news and keep up-to-date on how the search engines have changed the game each week and what needs to be done to implement those changes to keep your clinic internet presence up in the rankings.

Advantages of using an outside professional

  1. Chiropractic marketing companies are specialists in the field.  They have experience in working on numerous clinics and their websites and optimizing them for SEO.  They know, first hand, what works effectively and what doesn’t.
  2. There is a dedicated team at the company who will be working on your site and can give it the attention it requires.
  3. The company has a specific plan and won’t be just jumping around, going from short term tactic to short term tactic with no organized strategy and no clear way to reach your desired goals. In other words, they have an “integrated” internet marketing strategy.

Disadvantages of a chiropractic internet marketing company

  1. Let’s face it, it can get expensive, but costs vary widely from company to company. Some companies out there are charging $600-$700 a month for their services. It is definitely worth your while to shop around and research before you buy.
  2. There is usually a commitment. Most chiropractic internet marketing companies will want you to sign up for at least six months to a year.
  3. Account management can be a problem. With high turnover rates at many companies, especially the big ones, there may be a chance that you’ll get handed from account manager to account manager just when you were building a relationship of trust. You may have to start over again, maybe even have to redesign and reiterate your strategy with the new manager.

Now that you’ve taken a moment to look at the pros and cons of both keeping your internet marketing in-house or hiring a professional, the solution to SEO and your internet marketing strategy will depend on the size of your practice, the time and staffing you can devote to it, and your overall long-term goals.

Now, of course, we are a chiropractic internet marketing company that specializes in helping chiropractors with their internet presence. So, I will admit that I am a bit biased on the side of your hiring an expert to do it right. If you are thinking of hiring a company to develop and implement your internet marketing strategy, it is tremendously important for you to hire one that specializes in chiropractic clinics. Why? Because we understand the chiropractic profession intimately. Therefore, in the long run it will save you both time and money not having to explain what chiropractic is about to some general SEO company. There are several of us out there.

If you are going to go with an outside company, be sure to read the fine print. Look at the bottom of their page for a disclaimer. If they have one, read about their “typical” results. You don’t want to be fooled by outrageous claims even though such hype can be enticing. Remember, your internet marketing strategy is just one stream of new patient leads. Even though chiropractic internet marketing is fast becoming a great source for new patient leads, and even though internet marketing gets more important with every passing day,  and even though it is a crucial area in which to generate new patient leads, it is still not the only source of marketing you will need to succeed in your practice.

Whether you choose to keep your internet marketing in-house or to hire a professional, you want to be sure that the time and money you spend on SEO gets you where you want to go. A member of your staff that does your internet marketing for “free,” while squeezing those efforts in-between other tasks, may “cost” you in the long run. A professional whose sole focus is internet marketing, won’t lose sight of your goals. Internet marketing is essential to your practice, so choose your chiropractic internet path wisely.

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Santa Barbara Chiropractor: ChiropracticTreatment Can Ease The Pain Of Spinal Osteoarthritis (Spondylosis)

May 11th, 2010

Santa Barbara Chiropractor

I’ve always appreciated the old saying, “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” However, it’s no joke if the aging process is causing you pain! As a chiropractor in Santa Barbara, I treat quite a few people suffering from age-related challenges that likely would not have taken place if the primary cause had been treated earlier in life, particularly when it comes to musculoskeletal breakdowns. Pain in the back, neck, hips, knees, and even the feet are often the result of needless stresses due to poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse. But, as another saying goes, “Hindsight is 20-20.” If we only knew then how our aging body would feel now!

back pain is number one on the list as the most common musculoskeletal condition to take place as we get older. Back pain that is age-related is most commonly caused by a degenerative disorder known as Spondylosis (spine osteoarthritis).

Spondylosis is caused by advanced wear and weight-bearing force on the spine that eventually undermines discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The specific area(s) and rate of the degenerative process of spondylosis is individual, varying from person to person. The regions likely to be affected are the cervical (neck), thoriacic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back). Spondylosisi symptoms very from person to person and depend on the severity of the degeneration, and can range from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy.

Repetitive stresses antagonistically affect the cartilage around the joints and can encourage calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae. Adjacent nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue can be constricted by these calcific deposits, also called bone spurs. This particular of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.

Even if you are not suffering from spondylosis, regular chiropractic adjustments and overall chiropractic management can noticably decelerate age-related degeneration of your spine. No, “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it isn’t too late to give your spine the good treatment it deserves. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to treatment of the spine. See your chiropractor in Santa Barbara today, for the health of your spine.

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