Newsletter: August 2004

• The Benefits of a Fitness Assessment
  
• Medico-Chiro Cooperative Movement
  
• Country Wisdom
  

What can I do to get in shape, Doc?

One of the most common questions I am asked in the office is:

"How do I get in shape?"

Most, if not all, of my practice members who have recovered from a serious, painful spinal condition are highly motivated to stay healthy. Regular chiropractic adjustments combined with a consistent exercise program are two keys in leading a healthy and fun lifestyle.

We all come from different backgrounds, have different genetics, and are at varying levels of physical fitness. To determine one's current level of physical fitness or " unfitness" we have to determine where our fitness level is right now.

I recently received a full physical fitness assessment from Certified Personal Trainer Doug Picard of the Fitness Connection. I was highly involved in team sports such as football, hockey and baseball as a youngster. At the University of Manitoba, I competed for five years at the national university level in gymnastics. During the past 15 years I have moved on to a totally different world as a recreational marathon runner and triathlete. This year I somehow found my way back to the hockey rink to play in the NHL Old-timers Hockey Challenge.

I have been very physically active my entire life but I found out recently through a fitness assessment that I have two key areas that I have to improve upon to stay healthy and injury free. Number 1 is to improve my "core" (back and abdominal) strength; and Number 2 is to improve my shoulder flexibility. I am very impressed with the program offered by the Fitness Connection in Parksville and have asked Doug Pickard to explain the very beneficial program that is being offered.....

Take it away Doug!

Fitness Assessment

Doug Pickard, Fitness Connection

Are you interested in improving your health and fitness level but unsure of exactly how to do it? Do you have a chronic condition (ie. low back pain) that you are afraid of aggravating by poor exercise?

Fitness Connection Health Club offers a service that is designed to provide guidance to those looking to make a change for the better - the Fitness Assessment. It is a pain-free process that assesses your current physical condition through a number of simple tests that target different components of fitness and health. These components are:

1. Body Composition
2. Aerobic capacity (endurance)
3. Upper body strength
4. Lower body strength
5. Flexibility
6. Health risk evaluation
7. Core strength (abdominals)

With a Collaborative Model between physicians and chiropractors -- everyone benefits

There has always been a cooperative spirit between the fitness and nutrition professionals and chiropractic -- the following article suggests that there may be hope on the horizon for cooperation between physicians and chiropractors.

COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE MODEL BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND CHIROPRACTORS IN A PRIMARY CARE SETTING: This project seeks to measure how the introduction of a collaborative care model can affect the communication and professional relationships between chiropractors and physicians. The project will involve family physicians and chiropractors in Chatham through the Chatham Primary Care Network, and in the Rosedale area of Hamilton.

INTEGRATING CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CARE IN A PRIMARY CARE HOSPITAL-BASED SETTING: This project will be based at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and will see two salaried chiropractors integrated into the care team in the Inner City Health Program of the hospital. Involving CMCC, (Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College) the project also hopes to facilitate collaborative education of chiropractors and other health professionals in training.

INTEGRATED COLLABORATION IN EXISTING COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES (CHCS): This project involves the integration of salaried chiorpractic services into two existing Ottawa area CHCs: Carlington Community and Health Services, and Southeast Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community. The project seeks to demonstrate how the delivery of community health care services can be improved through the integration of chiropractors within interdisciplinary health care provider teams.

Country Wisdom

I had the opportunity to spend time with some "country cousins" recently. I would like to pass on some of the words of wisdom I gleaned from that visit: Enjoy, Nancy.

• Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.
• Don't skinny-dip with snapping turtles.
• Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
• You can't unsay a cruel remark.
• Every path has some puddles.
• The early bird gets the worm. But...the second mouse gets the cheese!
• The best sermons are lived, not preached.

We invite you to sign up for Dr. Larry's newsletter, which is sent out periodically with interesting new health information. When you click below an email will be generated, and then you simply press "send" on your email software.

Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5