Silver Bullet Test for when you need an Adjustment

A Yellow Warning Flag:

“Silver Bullet Test” for when you need an Adjustment

By Dr. Daniel P. Secrest, DC  

Chiropractic Physician

Most of us know that “pain” is the “red warning flag” that something is wrong with our health. We also know that—if left unattended—pain can lead to chronic conditions, such as migraine headaches, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, carpel tunnel, ruptured disks and tendonitis. Even worse, continued chronic pain can possibly lead to a debilitating disease, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, respiratory and heart problems, and even cancer.

Too often, when early pain is ignored—due to time and/or money constraints—the corrective action, when it is finally taken, is far more costly and can seriously affect our overall performance and mental disposition. Unfortunately, this is the point at which most patients seek chiropractic or medical help.

Medical doctors and dentists alike have long recognized their patients’ proclivity to procrastinate, when it comes to their health. As a result, they have each conducted extensive campaigns to convince patients that they should get annual/semi-annual checkups, to monitor their health and take corrective action before care reaches the critical stage.

Chiropractic doctors also make recommendations for health checks, but do so more specifically, based on an individual’s needs and the type of activities they perform. This practice is often confusing and frequently ignored by patients, once they get out of immediate pain. As a result, many patients need to return to acute care more frequently and are surprised when their pain is more intense than before.

The Karate Kid’s “Silver Bullet” Health Check

Movie buffs may remember the 1984 classic, “Karate Kid,” in which Mr. Miyagi teaches teenager Daniel LaRusso the basics of marshal arts, and has him “balance-on-one-foot.” In doing so, he was able to react quickly and recover from surprise assaults by his opponents.

Now, I am not suggesting that you take up karate or develop the famous “crane kick” of the Karate Kid. But, standing on one leg for a few seconds—and then the other—is a great way to determine if your body is structurally balanced. If you cannot do this—you need a chiropractic adjustment.

This test is a particularly good “yellow warning flag” for senior citizens and youngsters alike. However, I do not suggest you do this “karate kid style”—while standing on a fence post. I would first suggest you stand in a doorway or near a stable piece of furniture, so you have something sturdy to grab should you loose your balance. Along with your adjustment, I will be happy to show you some excellent home stretching exercises that will help you maintain your balance and improve your structural health.

Being structurally balanced will not only permit you to perform better at what ever you do, but will also help to react better to those “surprise assaults” of daily life. A more nimble and balanced body will be less impacted by accidental injuries at work, home, on the playing field or behind the wheel.