Author: pcschiro

What to Expect at Your First Visit as a New Patient

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Picture of Dr. Nate Wiechmann checking in a patient at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic

Embarking on your journey with us? Here’s what you can expect during your initial visit as a new patient:

Patient History Questionnaire
We’ll start by getting to know you and your health concerns through a detailed patient history questionnaire. This helps us understand your symptoms, conditions, and any relevant medical history.

During this assessment, we’ll delve into details like:

  • When your pain or condition started
  • The location and nature of your condition
  • Factors that worsen or improve your symptoms

Physical Assessment

We will perform a comprehensive physical assessment to evaluate your condition and identify areas of concern.

Treatment Plan
We prioritize personalized care over one-size-fits-all approaches. Unlike some practices, we don’t believe in pushing big treatment plans or maxing out insurance visits. Instead, we tailor our protocol to your unique needs and continuously assess your progress along the way.

Our goal is to provide you with effective, efficient care that supports your health and wellness journey. Your well-being is our top priority, and we’re committed to partnering with you to achieve your goals. Contact us to learn more or book an appointment.

The Ripple Effect of Pediatric Adjustments: Benefits for the Whole Family

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In recent years, pediatric chiropractic care has gained recognition for its ability to support children’s health and well-being. But did you know that the benefits of pediatric adjustments extend beyond the child receiving care?

Here’s a look at how pediatric adjustments can have a positive ripple effect on your family:

  1. Stronger immune function: Pediatric adjustments help optimize the function of the nervous system, which plays a crucial role in immune function. By removing interference in the nervous system, adjustments help enhance the body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses, keeping the whole family healthier.
  2. Better sleep: Many parents report that their children experience improved sleep after receiving chiropractic adjustments. By addressing spinal misalignments and tension, adjustments help promote relaxation and improve sleep quality for both children and parents.
  3. Easier feeds: For infants struggling with feeding difficulties, pediatric adjustments can offer relief. By ensuring proper alignment in the spine and nervous system, adjustments may help alleviate tension that can interfere with feeding, making feeding sessions easier and more comfortable for both baby and parent.
  4. Optimal digestion: The nervous system plays a significant role in digestion, regulating processes like peristalsis and enzyme production. Pediatric adjustments help optimize nervous system function, leading to improved digestion and nutrient absorption for the whole family.
  5. Overall ease and comfort: When children experience discomfort or tension due to spinal misalignments, it can impact the entire family dynamic. Pediatric adjustments promote proper alignment and balance in the body, resulting in greater ease and comfort for children and parents alike.

In conclusion, pediatric chiropractic care offers numerous benefits that extend beyond the child receiving care. By addressing spinal misalignments and optimizing nervous system function, pediatric adjustments can have a positive ripple effect on the whole family, promoting better health and well-being for everyone. Contact us to learn more or schedule an appointment.

What to Expect During HBOT

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Curious about hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Here’s what you can expect during a typical session at our Council Bluffs clinic.

You’ll lay in our HBOT chamber while breathing in pressurized oxygen — up to 3x the amount in the everyday environment. This helps pump oxygen to your body’s tissues, promoting healing, reducing inflammation and supporting overall wellness.

Once inside the chamber, you’ll hear air beginning to circulate. There are two windows at the top of the chamber — one on each end — where you’ll be able to see and talk to us. And we’ll communicate with you the whole time so you know what to expect.

As the chamber fills with air, you may experience a full sensation in your ears, similar to changing altitudes in an airplane or driving up a mountain. Once the chamber reaches its prescribed pressure, the fullness in your ears should subside.

You can take items inside the chamber with you, so you can listen to music or your favorite podcast, catch up on some reading, or just use the time to relax.

Near the end of your session, we’ll gradually decrease the pressure. This is the decompression phase, which usually lasts about 5-10 minutes. During decompression, you may experience an automatic “popping” sensation in your ears as a result of the decreasing pressure — again, just like you’d feel on an airplane.

After that, you’re free to go about your day or stick around for an adjustment. Either way, you’ll continue reaping benefits from the chamber long after your session ends. (But depending on your situation, you may want or need a few more.)

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition or simply looking to optimize your health, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is where it’s at!

In particular, it can help provide relief fo:

  • Anemia
  • Brain abscesses
  • Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
  • Burns
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Crushing injuries
  • Deafness
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gangrene
  • Infections
  • Lung issues
  • Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
  • Radiation injuries and skin grafts
  • Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries and concussions

Contact us to learn more or book a session. (New patients get $25 their first one!)

Five Ways to Detox Your Lymphatic System Naturally

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Experiencing chronic headaches or joint pain? It could be a sign of poor lymphatic drainage.

The lymphatic system is a network of organs, vessels and tissues that drain fluid from your body. (Your glymphatic system, which is the interface between your brain and body, is also part of this system.)

If your lymphatic system gets backed up, it can lead to swelling and inflammation as well as a slew of other issues:

  • Bloating
  • Brain fog
  • Cellulite
  • Chronic headaches
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Congestion
  • Constipation
  • Eczema
  • Excessive sweating
  • Mucus and phlegm production
  • Painful and hard swellings (especially in armpits, groin area and neck)
  • Puffy or swollen eyes
  • Sluggishness
  • Stiff or painful joints
  • Swollen ankles

Five natural ways to promote lymph detox:

  1. Exercise — Working out gets your circulation going, which promotes the flow of lymphatic fluid.
  2. Hydration — Drinking plenty of clean water helps keep lymph moving throughout your body. (BONUS: Add a squirt of lemon juice + rind as an all-around lymph detoxer. Sip on it throughout the day. It’ll get bile moving, too!)
  3. Lymph massage — This gentle massage technique helps encourage movement of lymph around the body.
  4. Dry brushing — Dry brushing is another natural massage technique that helps move lymph since it exfoliates the skin by increasing circulation.
  5. Natural herbs — Supporting the body with certain herbs can help the lymphatic system drain effectively.

It’s clear to see why lymphatic drainage is essential. When your pipes get clogged, it’s vital to de-block the plumbing as quickly as possible. Need help? Book a functional med consult today, or contact us to learn more.

Four Reasons to Strengthen Your Core

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Did you know core strength plays a crucial role in spinal health?

Your core muscles — found in your abdomen, back and pelvis — act as a stabilizing force for your spine, helping support proper posture and alignment. Benefits of having a strong core include:

  • Improved balance
  • Spinal support
  • Injury prevention
  • Enhanced performance

Try incorporating core-strengthening exercises like the curl-up, side plank and bird dog into your fitness routine. (Check out our instagram reel, “McGill’s Big 3 Exercises For Core Stability” for step-by-step directions on how to do these moves.) Your spine will thank you!

Experiencing back pain? Contact us for an appointment today. We’d love to help get you on the road to better health.

Five Ways Prolonged Sitting Impacts Your Health

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Any extended sitting — at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen — can be harmful.

Research has linked sitting for prolonged periods with increased body fat, high blood pressure and musculoskeletal issues like low back pain. Too much sitting can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

While it may not be possible to get up all the time, it’s important to prioritize movement when you can. You might start by simply standing rather than sitting. Or, find ways to walk while you work. Here are some ideas:

  • Take a break from sitting every 30 mins.
  • Stand while talking on the phone.
  • If you work at a desk, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter.
  • Walk with your colleagues for meetings rather than sitting in a conference room.

Struggling with back pain, hip pain or other issues? Check out our instagram reel, “McGill’s Big 3 Exercises For Core Stability,” , or reach out for an appointment today.

What is Autonomic Response Testing?

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When an illness starts, your body can typically transition to a state of healing within a few days. But when your system is blocked, your body can’t self-regulate and becomes stuck in fight or flight.

This can be due to:

  • Undiagnosed food allergies
  • Heavy metal toxicity
  • Environmental toxicity
  • Chronic unresolved infections and scars
  • Unresolved psychological stress or family trauma
  • Electromagnetic stress (like EMF)

Identifying these imbalances can help prevent potential illness and disease and allow your body to maintain optimum health. One of the ways I do this is through Autonomic Response Testing or ART.

ART is a science based system of muscle testing developed by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD. ART is different than other forms of muscle testing in that it uses the latest findings of biophotonic physics to aid in the assessment of the body. What this means is that different substances can be tested and determined whether they are residing in the body. When a substance is placed over the body, such as a toxin, heavy metal or bacteria, it will resonate with that particular substance if it is present in the body.

If you’re dealing with unexplained health issues, reach out. I’d love to help you get to the root cause of your condition.

Three Mistakes People Make When Detoxing

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Photo of health supplements background

Detox is a trendy term, and “cleansing” regimens abound. But many people go about it the wrong way, leaving them feeling worse than when they started.

Three common detox mistakes:

  1. Not supporting drainage pathways – It’s crucial to support the body’s detox pathways first to help effectively remove toxins from the body.
  2. Not taking a binder – Without binders, it’s possible for toxins to recirculate and accumulate to lethal levels.
  3. Not working with a functional med provider – It’s important to work with a qualified practitioner who can help manage your symptoms safely.

Interested in learning how to detox safely and effectively to reduce your body burden? Reach out! We offer a variety of comprehensive and functional testing options to identify underlying health issues. We’ll use the information we uncover to create a customized treatment plan and get you on the road toward better health.

Check out our “functional med” highlight on instagram for more tips like this.

5 Tips To Improve Your Health in 2024

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Happy New Year! As you embark on your resolutions, remember it’s about progress, not perfection. Here are 5 things you can start doing today to improve your overall health:

  1. Move your body — Research shows that even just walking 2,000 steps per day can decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer and premature death by 10%.
  2. Invest in clean water — One of the best things you can do to decrease your toxic load is invest in clean water. Check out my water highlight to learn more.
  3. Eat close to the source — Local food has a shorter time between harvest and your table, so it’s less likely that the nutrient value has decreased.
  4. Practice good posture — Posture largely affects the amount of strain you’re putting on your body, so making sure you’re sitting up straight (and lifting correctly) can be the difference between a healthy back and bi-weekly visits to the chiropractor.
  5. Get good sleep — Sleep is essential to every process in the body, affecting your physical and mental functioning as well as your ability to fight disease. Regular chiropractic adjustments help alleviate tension in the body, making it easier for you to fall asleep.

What changes have you started incorporating into your daily life? Share your ideas below. ⬇️

For more healthy living tips or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.

The Greatest Medicine is to Teach People How Not to Need it

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“The greatest medicine is to teach people how NOT to need it.” – Hippocrates 

The pharmaceutical industry is large and lucrative. In fact, the U.S. is the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. According to SelectUSA, the pharmaceutical industry, directly and indirectly, supports about 4.4 million jobs in the U.S. Much money is invested in the research, development, marketing and administration of prescription medications.

While these drugs are meant to help heal the body, relieve pain and save lives, there are other ways of approaching how we can care for our bodies when we’re experiencing pain or illness.

That’s why I emphasize prevention strategies alongside treatment modalities and educate patients with a focus on lifestyle modification. 

Rather than simply focusing on symptoms and looking outside our bodies for external healing, we can start by looking at the conditions that caused the illness or pain within our bodies. As we gain a better understanding of the cause of our conditions, we can often take steps toward better overall health.

If you’re looking for a healthcare provider who prescribes a way of living rather than a bunch of pills or a lengthy treatment plan, reach out. I’d love to help you (in person or remotely) find more long-term health.