Larsen Family Chiropractic - an
overview
Look at it as the brightest setting on your dimmer switch and a clear reception on your inner radio. Being better connected. Think of it as a more complete expression of your innate intelligence and inner wisdom. That is how Dr. Stacy Larsen and
Carol Simpson, Chiropractic Assistant, want you to view and experience chiropractic care at Larsen Family Chiropractic.
Their philosophy towards health and wellness is from a vitalistic or holistic perspective. They view pain and symptoms as being a part of a complete life rather than the primary gage of whether you are sick or healthy. Symptoms are not something to be suppressed or numbed down by medication but part of the overall picture. Since every aspect of the human life is expressed through the nervous system, they help others have a more complete experience by balancing the spine’s function.
The open concept design of the clinic helps expand one’s understanding of being under regular chiropractic care. Instead of being greeted by walls and doors as you walk in the clinic, three adult tables and a child’s adjusting table being used are in full view. Chiropractic is more than just relieving neck and back pain or simply something to turn to as a last resort. It offers a much greater message of improving one’s quality of life.
This open area promotes a better understanding of chiropractic through communication and interaction between the patient, the doctor, the chiropractic assistant and other patients. Patients share in this experience. They are able to participate in discussions concerning their health potential and chiropractic as they wait for their adjustments. It becomes a more intergenerational, more comprehensive and more fulfilling chiropractic experience. There are private rooms where examinations and consultations take place as well as a traditional “closed” room for adjustments. It is always the patient’s choice as to where they are served.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic works by removing the “static” or interference between the brain and body when the nervous system – housed and protected by the spine – is placed under tension due to stress or injury. This stress produces subluxations or misalignments of the spine. By restoring the balance to the spine, called an adjustment, it reduces the amount tension on the nervous system. These specific and gentle adjustments allow the intelligent signals from your brain to pass easily to the body and are then returned clearly. When that two-way connection is sound, you perform better.
The spine weakens and misaligns when there is more stress than it can handle.
Stress falls into three categories: physical, chemical and emotional. These three affect people of all ages. In fact, most people think chiropractic care is just for adults. That is another perception that Larsen Family Chiropractic is working hard to change. Chiropractic care benefits people of all ages, whether symptoms are present or not. In children, one of the first ways their spines can be injured is during the birth process, which is an example of physical stress. Even with natural childbirths, a
journey down the birth canal can harm the spine and affect the health potential of the child. With interventions such as C-sections and forceps, the risk greatly increases. Medications taken during labor represent chemical stress, which also could potentially affect an infant’s spine.
As a child grows, there are many stresses that impact the spine and nervous system. One of the most stressful times is when they are learning to walk. They take a lot of falls before they finally get the hang of it. Those falls accumulate over time, which impact the health potential of the child. As they mature to adolescence, athletic injuries and the emotional stress associated with being teenagers has its effects as well. A balanced spine is a great foundation to build from as the child grows and develops through all of their milestones. It is better to build a child’s future than repair an adult’s past.
As we pass from childhood and become adults, stress which affect our spines change. Years of being a student, long hours at a computer and being less active physically, take their toll. Eating on the run or skipping meals is also is a form of chemical stress that weakens the spine. During this time, emotional stress is extremely damaging to overall health. A fast-paced lifestyle, raising families and caring for older family members as well as managing careers are the key sources of this form of stress. When that stress goes unchecked, our spines and quality of life suffer. Approaching the latter stages in life, chemical stress from medications becomes a concern. Retirement and lifestyle changes are a challenge as well as the impact from falls and other physical stress continually affect our life.
One key to being healthier is to consistently ensure that the spine is sound by getting it checked regularly. This offsets the accumulated stress and strengthens it when it encounters further trauma. The human body is designed to thrive under moderate levels of stress when healthy. By improving the function of the spine and the nervous system, the body can handle increasing levels of stress in a positive way. The body recognizes stress and it is able respond appropriately.
It is important to remember that chiropractic care doesn’t treat any particular disease but maximizes the ability of the body to guide, direct and heal itself. Research studies concerning children and chiropractic care have shown benefits with health conditions ranging from colic, ear infections and cerebral palsy to help with dysfunctional nursing. The human body has an incredible ability to heal itself. Chiropractic care is one of the ways to take full advantage of it right from the start.
Other research demonstrates the benefits of a healthy spine for everyone. The close link between the nervous system and the immune system is being revealed. A recent study showed that even bone marrow was directly supplied by the sympathetic nervous system. Bone marrow produces a number of important elements of the immune system. This joins a growing list of research demonstrating the intimate relationship between these vital systems. A healthier nervous system improves the strength of the body’s defenses. Entire families benefit from being under regular care.
Larsen Family Chiropractic is equipped with latest technology to detect the impact of stress on the spine and the interference or tension it is placing on the nervous system. This computer-based system shows the amount of “static” the spine is placing on the nervous system and then monitors changes through periodic progress exams. At any time, you are only conscious of about 10% of your nervous system. That means that when you feel any kind of pain or sensation, it represents less than 10% of your nervous system’s function. The remaining 90% is dedicated to running your bodily systems (i.e. muscles, heart, lungs, white blood cells, etc.). This non-invasive technology allows the chiropractor and patient to see if the spine is interfering with a large portion of the nervous system that the patient is not aware of.
It doesn’t take much pressure or tension to impact the nervous system. A very slight amount, the weight of a dime, has been proven to disrupt the information being transmitted. Rarely are you aware that this is taking place. Having a means of monitoring the interaction of the nervous system and spine enables them to fine tune that relationship better. The focus is on function rather than symptoms.
Larsen Family Chiropractic also offers other ways for patients to get the most out of their care. Wellness Orientation Workshops are held weekly either on a Monday or a Wednesday at 5:30 pm. These informative sessions allow new patients to gain a greater understanding about how chiropractic care can benefit them and are good for established patients as well. Throughout the year, advanced classes on stress management are offered. They also want your journey to wellness to be fun and enjoyable. Theme days are scheduled frequently as well as activities outside the office.
There are two types of chiropractors, those who center their work on pain and symptoms and those who focus on wellness and maximizing performance. Dr. Larsen’s approach is from a wellness perspective. By balancing the spine to reduce the tension on the nervous system, the entire person, no matter their age, can work more toward their potential. Start building a better you today!
