A Note From Dr. Nic

So much can be learned from sports, and especially youth sports.  And the lessons are not just for the kids, but the parents as well!  

Last weekend Edwin's team played in a baseball tournament. Saturday didn't go great, as they lost both games, but Eddy had some bright spots with a big double and a great catch in the outfield.  But, the team lost their first game and scratched out a tie (yes, they actually TIED in a baseball game!) in the second game. That led to the Sunday bracket of the tournament, where they would start out playing the team they lost to the previous day.  

Thankfully, the bats came alive! They defeated Port Washington, and then went on to beat Sheboygan to reach the championship game.  

The Sheboygan game was close early, and Eddy found himself up to bat with the bases loaded and 1 out. He hit a grounder to the shortstop, and the inning ended as the it resulted in a double play. The worst possible outcome for his at bat. To say he was disappointed is an understatement. He didn't play the field in the next inning, so it was even worse because he had extra time to think about it while he was in the dugout.  

I finally decided to walk over to him, and acknowledge that it stinks to let your team down...but there's going to be another opportunity. On to the next play.

And all of us can move on to the next play or next day as well.

Well, sure enough, in the championship game, Eddy got a sign from the coach at his second at-bat. He laid down a perfect bunt and ran for a single. It was incredible.

And then, in the bottom of the 6th (they play 6 innings) with a 3 run lead, Eddy made a diving catch in the outfield to get the second out. It was incredible, and of COURSE I didn't have my phone ready to record it (but of course I DID record his double-play at bat!).

The boys went from a loss in the first game to tournament champions, and Eddy got picked up by hit teammates, and he was able to contribute as well. He didn't give up, he kept his effort level high, and he showed up.  

Control what you can control, and show up when you can! The rest will take care of itself.

Plantar Fascia Treatment

“My patients need patience.”

I often tell people this as we begin to work in our office on correcting an injury. We are trying to correct an issue that has been building for years or decades, in the matter of days or weeks. But as you know, we as humans often want things NOW!

And…sadly, I’m no different, especially when it comes to injuries. And extra especially if it comes to an injury that prevents me from running or training for an upcoming event. 

Last March I decided to take Eddy and a couple of his friends to an open gym to play some basketball and of course I jumped right in to playing as if I hadn’t taken off several years. In fact, I had played basketball less than 5 times since Emerin was born, and she just turned 7! Nonetheless, there I was sprinting up and down the court, changing directions and acting as if I was still in my 20’s. 

Then it happened…I felt the little sensation of a ‘tear’ in the bottom of my left foot. I ignored it at the time, and even played basketball again two days later, only to exacerbate the injury. I partially tore my plantar fascia. If you’ve had plantar fasciitis, you know how it can be nagging, feeling like you’ve got a stone in your shoe. 

Being a runner, this was not good. I tried to run through it while treating it on my own, but that simply wasn’t getting it any better let alone getting it better RIGHT NOW like I wanted!  

After dropping out of a 50-kilometer race in June, I knew I had to do more than I was doing. So, I contacted another chiropractor and began receiving care there as well as increasing the self-care I was working on. I’ll outline all that I did to get it better and will recommend you do the same if you’re dealing with heel and foot pain!

·        Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip, Lumbar Spine and Pelvic adjustments to improve biomechanics.

Soft tissue work to break up scar tissue.

·        Ultrasound and Infrared Therapy

·        Laser

·        Dry Needling

·        Home exercises including “Toe Yoga” and Calf stretches.

I think the biggest and most helpful part of the treatments was the home exercises. So many of us have feet that are rarely out of a shoe, and therefore the individual toes don’t get much work. The intrinsic muscles of the foot are essential to proper biomechanics! Use them! Not sure how? Ask me, as I am now in the habit of doing “Toe Yoga” throughout the day!

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Meet Don

Don is a AVID OUTDOORSMAN. He loves to bow hunt, fish, hike, forage and camp. The best advice he has received was from his mother and he wants to share it all with you.

"Be who you are and walk with quiet feet."

Don was hesitant about seeing a chiropractor. Finally convinced, he gave our office a try. In a short couple of weeks he was pain free and is back to doing things around the house, and working on their place up north! It's great and very satisfying to work WITH someone, and show them how we can help, and then see the change in them, and see the quality of life improve!