Team Tips: You hold the key to anti-aging

Found on the ABC.com Web site: “Since the originating special first aired on December 11, 2002, Extreme Makeover has unveiled some of the most jaw-dropping transformations of people, dramatically and forever changing their lives and looks through plastic surgery, and establishing the term ‘Extreme Makeover’ as a permanent addition to the lexicon of pop culture.”

The popularity of this TV show demonstrates America’s love affair with staying young and beautiful. Billions of dollars are spent annually on products, services and procedures to make us look younger and feel better. And the good news is this: Chiropractors have the perfect “tools of the trade” to add a true anti-aging element (not just cosmetic) to their practice:

• Chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractors are orthodontists of the spine. But, a crooked spine is much more of a deterrent to health than crooked teeth.

Orthodondists put braces on teeth and adjust them regularly. Chiropractors don’t use braces, but they make adjustments nevertheless. And these adjustments must be made regularly to get full effect since muscles and ligaments continue to pull the spine back out of alignment.

The chiropractor adjusts the spine in order to retrain the proper alignment.

• Nutritional counseling. Americans are not getting the proper nutrition. Even the freshest food is nutritionally poor because of soil depletion and the use of chemicals. The amount of toxins we ingest on a daily basis is astounding.

The aging process is accelerated because of toxins in our body as well as a lack of specific nutrients.

Because patients come to you to get well, you are in the unique position to discuss wellness in a broad scope — including nutrition and the use of herbs and nutritional supplements to ward off the effects of aging.

• Patient education lectures.
You have the opportunity to educate patients on lifestyle changes that will add quality years to their lives. Diet, exercise, attitude, postural habits and ergonomics are all areas that you can teach in your patient-education classes as well as at community functions and business and industry talks.

In-office patient education, health fairs, health screening and healthy lifestyle articles for magazines and newspapers are but a few ways to educate the public on ways to slow down the aging process safely and naturally.

Susan Hoy is an award-winning team trainer and consultant. She can be reached at 215-674-0130; suzzhoy@aol.com; or through her Web site at www.beefitup.net.