Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Compass Chiropractic now serving Des Moines

Compass Chiropractic opened Monday, January 21st. We're still waiting for a variety of things to arrive (waiting room chairs, the ultimate adjusting table, desks, the sign...) but the doors are open and Des Moines area patients are now receiving chiropractic and Active Release Techniques care.

The Des Moines Register has been great in helping to spread the word on the new practice. The articles also discuss our first significant contribution to the Des Moines community:

During the month of February, any new patient who donates $25 or more to the Des Moines chapter of the American Heart Association will receive their first visit (exam and any necessary X-rays) at no charge. This is a fantastic opportunity to find out if chiropractic and/or Active Release Techniques can help your headaches, back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, and other complaints you may be having.

We look forward to making many more positive contributions to the community as a whole in the future.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Red Flannel Run

Though I expect Compass Chiropractic to serve Des Moines area patients of all ages and all different athletic abilities, I am especially excited to become involved in the athletic community of the Des Moines area. Working with athletes spices up a providers day, as the results of the treatments are so clear, and many times their trained bodies respond so rapidly to care. At one point this last fall I had three starters from the Mount Vernon High School football team coming in to me for care. When they made it further into the postseason than they had in years it was great to feel some sense of shared victory. Of course, when they lost I told myself, "they must have stopped doing those stretches I recommended."

I worked with a marathoner who had a back injury shortly before he was set to run the 2006 Seattle marathon, with a goal of qualifying for Boston. Though we saw him improve before the race, he was not well enough to run by the race day. However, through my treatments and the back stabilizing exercises he was great about performing he recovered by the 2007 marathon. I'll probably never forget when he called to tell me he'd run the Seattle Marathon with a personal best and a Boston qualifying time. I'm still looking forward to hearing how he does in Boston.

Today I lined up an opportunity to provide pre and post race care for participants of the 2008 Red Flannel Run at the Riverfront YMCA in Des Moines on February 16. I'm thrilled to meet area runners and discuss/demonstrate Active Release Techniques care. I expect it will be the start of a rewarding career of helping Des Moines area athletes reach their goals and optimize and heal their bodies.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Headaches

I'd like this site to become an excellent natural health care resource for Des Moines residents. If anyone has a question about any health related topic please ask it through the contact us page at Compass Chiropractic and I'll post an answer on this blog.

Headaches are one of the most common conditions resolved with chiropractic care, yet, as I meet people in the Des Moines area I'm amazed at how many Des Moines area residents have thrown in the towel when it comes to their headaches without even trying chiropractic care. They've come to the conclusion that they have always had headaches and probably always will. They've resigned themselves to daily doses of ibuprofen or prescription headache medications. Some simple tests described below will give you a better idea of whether your headaches are caused by dysfunction in your neck. If the tests increase your headache pain it is very likely your headache is at least partially caused by dysfunction in your neck and Chiropractic and Active Release Techniques care are very likely to help with your condition. Even if your headaches do not get worse with these tests, it would still be worth getting a thorough chiropractic examination to find out if your neck is involved with your headaches.

Check the Three P’s of Neck-Related Headaches to find out if your headaches are related to dysfunction in your upper neck:

1) Posture – Your ear should be lined up with the tip of your shoulder when viewed from the side. Have someone check your standing posture. If your ear is far in front of the tip of your shoulder, your neck muscles are working harder than they should be all the time. If headaches get worse after driving or working in front of the computer, posture is probably a factor.

2) Position – When you have a headache, bend your head forward and backward slowly. Rotate your head to the right and left slowly. Bend your head side to side slowly. Increased headache pain on slow movement or at the end of the range of motion indicates that neck joint or muscle dysfunction is affecting your head.

3) Painful Points – When you have a headache, poke around your upper neck with your fingers. Are there tender areas that make your headache worse when you press on them? These painful points indicate that neck dysfunction is related to the pain in your head.

At Compass Chiropractic in Clive, we will take a comprehensive history and perform a thorough examination to determine the source of your pain. A plan will be formed specifically for you which may include spinal adjustments to restore normal function to upper neck joints, ART on tight muscles in the neck and at the base of the head, and exercises and stretches to restore neck muscle function and posture. You may be custom fitted for a pillow if it is determined that improper neck support while sleeping is a source of your pain.

The Name

I've been asked multiple times about the origin of the name Compass Chiropractic. There are two versions, one long and one short. I'll share them both.

The Short Version: While practicing at Northwest Chiropractic Clinic in Mount Vernon, Washington I happened to drive by a store called Compass Wines. I thought the name had a nice ring to it and decided to name my chiropractic practice after it.

The Long Version: First off, my last name, Krohse (rhymes with cozy), is absolutely unacceptable as the name of a chiropractic practice as it has been mispronounced "Croshey," "Crotchey," "Koresh," and everything in between through the years. In need of a more recognizable name, I happened upon the word Compass.

Compass resonated with me for a couple reasons. First, I truly enjoy being outdoors, which compasses are generally associated with. Upon more searching, I determined that the word "compass" is also strongly associated with health in general, as better health is something most people seek.

As my Des Moines area practice opens I would describe the meaning of Compass Chiropractic as follows: People seek out a chiropractor for a variety of reasons. Some simply seek resolution of a work or auto accident injury while others visit a chiropractor seeking guidance on creating an entire natural lifestyle focused on wellness. At Compass Chiropractic, we are prepared to guide patients on the most direct route to these very different goals.
The countdown has begun for the opening of Compass Chiropractic. We are so excited to offer the most effective chiropractic and Active Release Techniques care to the Des Moines area. New patient appointments are now being made for the week of January 21. The website is up: Compass Chiropractic.

My goal for this blog will be to provide Des Moines area residents with information on a variety of health related topics. I hope to contribute greatly to the health of this wonderful community and look forward to being involved in the running, biking, and triathlon communities as much as my schedule allows.

If you have any questions regarding health related issues, please feel free to contact me through the contact form at Compass Chiropractic