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Danielle Bouchat-Friedman
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When it comes to health, unconventional approaches are not as unsettling to people and health practitioners as they once were. Forget running to the pharmacy the minute you come down with the sniffles or relying on a surgeon to cure your chronic back pain. Instead, try guzzling more fluids and getting to bed earlier. For back pain, don’t discredit exercise or a trip to the chiropractor.
Patients and, more importantly, their primary care physicians and specialists now look more frequently to chiropractic care as a first-line option to treat headaches and joint pain. Even Dr. Robert Hartmann, a physician at Dedicated to Women ObGyn in Dover, admitted his initial skepticism of chiropractic care for his lower back pain. But after some rough days, he decided to give it a try rather than continue down the pharmaceutical route. Pleased with the results, he now frequently refers his prenatal patients who suffer from similar issues to a chiropractor. Learn more about chiropractic care—including who can (and cannot) be treated as well as what to expect during a visit in writer Mike Bederka’s story, “Could Chiropractic Care Help You?“
Professional athletes often boast about the unconventional methods they use to help them perform at their best. Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady is known for following a rigorous diet (no flour, sugar and caffeine, for starters), and he plays brain games to stay sharp. Professional athlete or not, there are still plenty of interesting ways to improve your overall health that don’t include a diet like Brady’s. Each year, the American College of Sports Medicine issues a list of the top 20 fitness trends. Check out writer Josephine Eccel’s story, “Five Popular Fitness Trends in 2017,” which highlights a few of the most popular. (Yoga is one of them, a method commonly used by NFL teams like the Philadelphia Eagles to stretch muscles and highlight positive thinking.)
Oftentimes, not even a few extra hours of sleep or an intense workout can cure what is ailing us. Sometimes the answer is so simple, it’s right under our noses—or right outside our door. Indeed, spending time in the company of nature has tremendous physiological and psychological benefits. Now that spring is here, take the time to enjoy nature’s bounty—walk in the park, grab lunch al fresco, go bird watching or take your kids to the playground. The benefits are far and wide. If you need more proof, read writer Michael Bradley’s story, “The Immense Healing Powers of Mother Nature.” See you outside (or maybe at yoga).
—Danielle Bouchat-Friedman • Editor
