

By: Dr. Patterson
I am often asked if the chiropractic care that we provide can ever help arthritis pain. The short answer is yes. With flexion distraction manipulation, we gently move the decompressed joints through their various ranges of motion. This helps to “un-stick” the joints, improve motion, and reduce pain. It does not remove the arthritis, but it improves your function.
Consider this analogy. If you have ever looked closely at a rusty door hinge, you will see that the metal is pitted and rough. The hinge squeaks, and the door has limited motion. You get the WD-40 from the garage and spray it on the rusty hinge. After working the door back and forth, the squeak goes away. If you look closely at the hinge again, the metal is still pitted, but the door moves better. So it is with our spine and arthritis. The arthritis is pitted with rough cartilage lining our joints. Our chiropractic treatment is the WD-40 that helps those squeaky joints. The arthritic changes are still present, but the joint functions better and pain is usually reduced.
There are varying degrees of arthritis just as there are varying degrees of rust on hinges. Some can be helped more than others. We periodically adjust the joints to keep them moving better, and to slow the progression of the arthritis.
Have your spine checked regularly to lessen the effects of arthritis.
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
Warm weather arrives again! Spring and summer brings outdoor activities: gardening, yard work and exercise. During the winter, physical activeness decreases and your muscles need to be reconditioned. Starting off with strenuous activities could increase your vulnerability to injury because your muscles could be weak and less flexible. I want to share a few tips about how to stay injury free.
Stretch – Take a few minutes to stretch your arms, legs and back before an activity. 
Use Good Mechanics – When lifting, remember to keep objects close to your body. Limit ‘twisting’ activities such as raking and sweeping.
Start Slow – If your physical activity decrease during the winter, don’t work all day in the yard the first time out. If you want to run a marathon, you would not try to run 26 miles the first day. Rebuild your muscles day-by-day.
Be Patient – Patience will pay off in the long run. Finishing a project in a weekend could be at the expense of injury.
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
While there are many special events in the Month of May, I felt compelled to write something special about Family Wellness Month. It is one of those subjects dear to my heart. As a father with one child in college, another one leaving for college this fall, and one in middle school, I feel the clock ticking away. When we think about Wellness, we tend to focus on the physical and nutritional aspects. I want focus for a few moments on the emotional side of wellness, particularly in our families. Families often struggle with divorce, finances or relationships in one way or another. The stress of these things takes a toll on us physically. Daily I work with patients whose emotional struggles are either contributing to or delaying the improvement of the physical pain that brought them to my office.
My wife and I have been married for almost 24 years. We have talked for many years about “making memories” for our children. In reality, we are making memories for them whether we choose to or not. Some are good memories and some are bad memories. Just as the bad memories can leave deep emotional scars throughout a person’s life, the good memories can help carry your children though the rough times in their lives.
I share a few tips with you on creating good memories.
Spend time together
• Vacations are great, but they don’t have to be expensive. My girls still talk about the time we had very little money and spent a few days at the Golden Horseshoe Resort. (Don’t let the name fool you!)
• More important than vacations is how you live life together. Spend time working in the yard or on projects together. These are great opportunities to teach them life lessons, discipline and responsibility. It does not always have to be “fun.” They will appreciate it when they are older. I know I do.
• Have a family movie night or game night. My kids love it when they can beat me playing anything. I have a very competitive nature, so my wife enjoys it when anyone else beats me. I hate to lose, but I do enjoy the pleasure that it brings them. Hmm, maybe that means I really always do win?
Traditions
• Traditions bring security and stability to us emotionally. They are something we can count on. I believe they are important for us at all ages. There are enough let-downs and disappointments in life.
• Traditions are often developed around holidays, but they can be at other times. For 20 years we have been at the lighting of the Plaza Lights on Thanksgiving evening. The next day we go to a tree farm and cut down a Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, I go to breakfast with my dad and brother and then we do our shopping together.
• Realize that it is ok for traditions to change or be modified. Life circumstances change. As our children start their own families, our long- standing traditions will have to be modified. They will build their own new traditions for their families.
Record events
• Make some kind of record of events. In this digital world, almost everyone has a digital camera or a camera on their phone.
• Take video. My kids love to watch old video. Hearing the voices and watching the video is a powerful tool in taking us back to another time and rekindling those deep emotions.
• Scrapbook. If you are into scrapbooking, it is a great gift that you can pass on to your children or grandchildren. My wife has made a scrapbook for each of our children.
Start creating those good memories. Don’t feel like it is ever too late. My parents are still creating good memories for me and for their grandchildren. You grandparents can play a very special role in the lives of your grandchildren. Pass on a legacy that really matters.
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
1. Do you experience heel pain? You may have plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotics can help.
2. If your arches fall unevenly, you need custom orthotics for the best correction. Evenly fallen arches can use generic inserts.
3. Fallen arches can increase stress on your low back and contribute to low back pain.
4. Ligaments hold your arches up. Ligaments are like rubber bands. If they stretch too far they lose their shape. Correction requires an insert
5. Has your shoe size increased over the years? If so, your arches have probably fallen.
6. If you work on hard, flat surfaces most of the day, you must have good foot support to reduce injury to your knees, hips and back.
Back injuries occur more frequently early in the day. I recommend stretching in the morning.
7. Burning, tingling or numbness down one or both legs may indicate a lumbar disc herniation.
8. Sharp back pain indicates a joint is swollen and pinching.
9. When lumbar facet joints are irritated, you will likely be stiff in the morning from swelling and immobility at night.
10. Patients often need multiple spinal adjustments in order to break pain spasm cycles.
By Dr. Robert Patterson
What is a goal? A colleague of mine once told me, “A goal is simply a wish with a timeline.”
For some people, setting goals is scary and creates anxiety. If you ask most people about what they wish for, it seems to be much less threatening. That’s why I find my colleague’s definition of a goal so profound.
Without specific goals, people are blown aimlessly through life, like a leaf on a windy day. They have no sense of direction and too often they look back with regrets. They start out young, full of dreams with what seems to be all of the time in the world. They begin careers and start families. “Life” begins to happen. People wish for things abstractly but never spend the time or effort to formulate a concrete goal and plan, for how they will achieve it. Before they know it, they are middle aged and starting to look back with regrets. They may wish they had spent more time with their kids, made different career choices, or handled their finances differently. Time continues to go faster and faster and wishes are unfulfilled. Unfortunately, many fail to experience the golden years they anticipated and regret not making different health choices along the way.

A life full of regrets and fear of the future is a constant source of stress to the body. The emotional stress sets off a whole host of chemical reactions that then affect us physically. I daily work with patients who are lacking purpose and are paying a physical price.
The sad part is, it does not have to be this way. It will take work and effort on your part but the payoff can be tremendous. If you are ready to invest in yourself, your family or your business, I highly recommend much of the work written by Stephen Covey. His book, First Things First will help you with organization, identifying your roles in life and achieving goals.
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
I have treated low back pain for many years now. I used to focus primarily on what structure was producing the pain. This is how I and most people in medicine are trained to think. No doubt there is value in this and I prided myself on coming up with the correct diagnosis. After all, you need to know if you are dealing with a disc herniation, facet syndrome or pelvic problem.
I have learned that if I dig deeper and can identify other stressors in that patient’s body, then the patient can achieve even better long-term results. We then are more effective in preventing future episodes and can manage a patient’s condition at a much higher level.

For example, if a patient has a disc herniation in their low back, I want to know what else is stressing that disc. Does the patient also have a short leg, a fallen arch, a knee or hip problem, postural problem at work, or even a nutritional issue? Failure to address these other problems may slow the healing of the disc or cause the disc to flare-up again.
If you have recurring back pain, ask your doctor to dig further if they have not already done so. If they continue to look only at your low back, you may want to seek a second opinion from another doctor. Patients with permanent damage need to make sure their condition is being managed at the highest possible level. Remember, you also have a responsibility in your care. If you have been prescribed exercises or asked to make other lifestyle changes, then follow your doctors instructions. Caring for your back is a team effort!
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
Disc problems such as herniations and degenerative discs are fairly common. People often ask if there is anything that can be done for disc herniations besides surgery. The answer is yes. Disc herniation recovery rate for conservative care alone is 90-95%. There are different methods of conservative care. No single method is a cure-all for disc herniations and often the combination of two or more methods gives a patient the best outcome.
When a disc is herniated, it can cause pain from pressure being applied to a nerve (pinched nerve) or from fluid leaking out of the disc and producing chemical irritation. Patients will commonly experience leg symptoms and not even have low back pain.
Because compression is one of the main causes, it only makes sense that we need to do something to decompress the spine. To accomplish this, I use a specialized adjusting technique called Cox Flexion Distraction manipulation. This uses a unique table to decompress the spine, pulls fluid back into the discs and it opens the holes where the nerves come out of the spine to go into the arms and legs.
Unlike other decompression tables, the Flexion Distraction table allows me to very specifically decompress the individual joints, constantly comparing how one joint moves in relation to the others. The table also allows me to gently move the joints through all of their normal ranges of motion, instead of decompressing in only one direction. Patients with recurrent disc herniations, fusions or failed back surgery can usually be treated with this table.
In addition to Cox decompression manipulation, we instruct patients in home exercises to assist in flexibility and strengthening of their core. Therapy modalities to reduce pain, inflammation and to increase circulation may also be used to aid in progress.
Dr. Patterson is currently 1 of only 3 certified Cox practitioners in the state of Kansas. For more information on Cox Flexion Distraction you can go to coxtechnic.org. To find a certified doctor in your area go to www.coxtechnic.com/coxphysicians.html.
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
In an earlier post, I gave you a definition for wellness. We examined the various components and what they mean to you. We learned that wellness exists on a continuum versus being a destination. The question now is, “How can we measure wellness?”
We discussed how stress is the cause of disease and that stress comes in 3 dimensions: Physical, Chemical and Emotional. Therefore, to be comprehensive, any Wellness Assessment you have needs to make some attempt to measure you in all three dimensions.
In evaluating wellness, we’re interested in prevention, not just your degree of disease. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re “well” just because your cholesterol and blood pressure are normal. Those things are valuable, but if your diet is poor, you’re drinking soda every day, you never exercise and you’re stressed at home or at work, then it’s just a matter of time before you’ll develop high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Remember, many things occur between the time you’re truly well and the day you experience the heart attack.
Creating Wellness Centers across the country provide Wellness Assessments. A combination of questionnaires and technology assess you in all 3 dimensions, and individual scores are determined in each dimension, as well as a composite score called a Wellness Quotient. The Wellness Quotient is measured on a scale from 0-200 and compares you to people your age and gender. The higher the score, the greater degree of Wellness you have. Lower scores put you at greater risk for disease and inability to experience life at its best. Testing only takes about 20 minutes and may save your life.
So, what’s your Wellness Quotient?
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
Metabolic Syndrome has been linked to heart disease, the leading cause of death within the United States. According to the Journal of the America Heart Association, “patients with the metabolic syndrome are at twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) over the next 5 to 10 years as individuals without the syndrome.” I have provided a list of potential factors that may relate to metabolic syndrome.
* Do you have high blood pressure or are you on blood pressure medication?
* Are your triglycerides greater than 150mg/dL or are you on medication for it?
* Is your HDL lower than 40mg/dL if you are a male or less than 50mg/dL if you are a female or are you on medication for it?
* Men-is your waistline 40 inches or greater? Women-is your waistline 35 inches or greater?
* Are you insulin resistant, diabetic or on medication for it?
By: Dr. Robert Patterson
1. If your blood pressure rises during mental stress you are 6 times more likely to have a heart attack than if you react calmly.
2. Are you concerned about your heart health but overwhelmed as to where to begin? Just start by walking at least 20 min 4-5 days/wk
3. Drinking more than 1 cup of coffee per day may produce inflammation and increase risk of heart disease according to a Greek Study.
4. A study in Journal of Epidemiology reported Sudden stress on the job made people 6 times more likely to have a heart attack within 24 hrs
5. Fairly or very negative job responsibility can raise the risk of heart attack in both men and women.
6. Conflict at work has been found to be a risk factor for heart attack particularly in men.
7. A heart attack is often the first symptom for a person who has heart disease. Be proactive in looking at your risk factors.