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October is National Chiropractic Awareness Month.

By Dr. Jon Thomas, DC, PSc.D, Board Certified Chiropractic Physician.
Mayor Lenny Curry has made
an official proclamation that
October is Chiropractic Month
in Jacksonville. 
There’s an ongoing epidemic of opioid use and abuse in the United States which frequently leads to addiction. The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians has calculated that Americans consume 80 percent of the world’s opioids while making up only 4.6 percent of the world’s population. Opioid abuse costs employers approximately eighteen billion dollars per year in sick days, lost productivity, and medical expenses.
Painkillers are relatively easy to get and very easy to become addicted to. For example, Kurt Angle, a retired pro wrestler who won an Olympic Gold Medal in wrestling in 1996, recently disclosed to Dan Le Betard on ESPN that he became addicted to opioids after a serious neck injury. He said that at the height of his addiction, when he was taking 65 extra strength Vicodin pills per day, he finally realized he had a problem. Fortunately, he seems to be on the road to recovery.
Vibrant Life Health Center is joining Chiropractic physicians nationwide this October during National Chiropractic Health Month to raise awareness of drug free pain management. The campaign promotes the use of chiropractic to address pain problems before turning to opioids and other risky treatments. Chiropractic is an important and effective first line of defense against pain. People need to know that there are alternatives to painkillers.
What is Chiropractic?
Courtesy of Wikipedai
Chiropractic focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are frequently used to treat pain in the back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Chiropractic can also be used for headaches. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills. They are trained to recommend therapeutic exercises. They can also provide nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.
Chiropractic adjustments are the foundation of keeping your Life In Balance. Everything that occurs in the body is done through the Central Nervous System (CNS). Your CNS travels through your spinal column which houses and protects it. When there are areas of your spine that are not in proper alignment your CNS is interfered with. This interference disrupts the nervous system from running your body properly.
There is a great deal of research on how interference can lead to Dis-Ease in your body and to chronic long-term issues. Chiropractic is the only method that can identify interferences, correct them, and maintain an optimal nervous system. Many chronic and painful conditions in the body are caused from malfunctioning joints. Chiropractors have specific training to identify and correct abnormal movement and musculoskeletal conditions.
Exams
Chiropractors are highly trained to perform examinations that evaluate and identify specific issues within the body. We utilize a broad range of techniques such as orthopedic exams, neurologic exams, palpation, range of motion, posture, gate (walking) patterns, and functional movement assessments. Chiropractors have methods to accurately identify the specific cause of a person’s problem. A Chiropractor can develop an effective treatment plan and identify any safety concerns that pertain to treatment.
The Tools of My Trade
Courtesy of Vibrant Life
The Cox 8 Table. Cox® Technic is a spinal manipulation that relieves back pain, leg pain, neck pain, arm pain, and a host of other spinal conditions. It was developed by renowned Chiropractor Dr. James M. Cox. In addition to the technique, Dr. Cox developed the Cox table which is regarded by many as the gold standard for Chiropractic tables. The innovations never stop and the table is now in its 8th generation. It is the culmination of decades of clinical research. I’m proud to say that the table in my office is a state-of-the-art Cox 8.
Tytron Scans
All of the organs in a human body are controlled by the Central Nervous System. Nerves run from the brain, down the spinal column, and they innervate various organs throughout the body including the heart, the lungs, and even the skin. Each of the nerves leaving the spinal column innervates specific areas of the skin, thus dividing the body into a patterned form known as dermatomes.
The nervous system uses vasoconstriction and vasodilatation of the capillary bed to help regulate body temperature. Irritations cause the skin's natural temperature symmetry to fall out of balance from the left to right side of the spine. These temperature changes indicate when there is a point of interference along these dermatomes. Once located, interferences can be corrected. The Tytron Scanner is what I use to find where the interferences are in a patient’s body.

Adhesion Breakers Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Instruments.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Instruments (IASTM) have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. They have been further developed and improved in recent years by several manufacturers. IASTM helps to correct the adhesions and scar tissue that form due to injury and inflammation, which occurs during injuries, surgeries, overuse, and underuse conditions. IASTM increases tissue elasticity and fibroblastic activity to return the muscles and surrounding tissues to a status as close as possible to a patient’s pre-injury status. The instruments I use for IASTM, which are some of the finest in the world, are manufactured by Adhesion Breakers.
Intelect Legend XT E-Stim Machine
Electrotherapy is the application of electrical stimulation transmitted through the body via electrodes for therapeutic purposes.  With electrotherapy, the current flows through the body from one electrode to the other and causes various physiological reactions. The Intelect Legend XT is one of the most advanced therapy systems of this type available. With it, we are able to provide a range of beneficial therapies to our patients.
Life In Balance
The Life in Balance protocol for each patient is based on the results of the extensive tests we perform. As each person is unique, nutritional requirements for each patient are unique as well. We will put together a specific protocol of nutritional supplements that will address your deficiencies and also a specific plan for detoxifying your body. The Life In Balance protocol will provide you with a specific plan, leaving you with no worries about how to take your health to the next level!
If you’re suffering with pain in any part of your body and you’d like to find out how Chiropractic can help, or if you’d like to find out more about our Life in Balance program, please call.
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This article discusses National Chiropractic Awareness Month, which is in October. I’ve provided an overview of Chiropractic and brief descriptions of some of the tools that I use in my practice. I’ve also mentioned Vibrant Life’s new Life In Balance program, which is helping patients to reach the next level of wellness in their lives.
If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below. If you know of someone who might benefit from the information in this blog, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and also on social media.
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At Vibrant Life, we address all of the key elements to add vibrance and vitality to your life. This includes nutrition, chiropractic care, and fitness. If you need to consult with a chiropractor about your neck, back, or any other health concern, please contact our office to set up an appointment.

Dr. Jon Thomas is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician. His practice, The Vibrant Life Health Center, is located in the Mandarin section of Jacksonville. His interest in health and fitness started early, and his athletic pursuits have included BMX racing, Professional Snow Skiing, Water Skiing, Baseball, Weightlifting, and Martial Arts. After studying and learning from some of the top health experts throughout the world, Dr. Thomas dedicated his life to helping people of all ages to transform their lives. The objective for each patient is to initiate the body’s healing and to work progressively toward a body that functions optimally. Dr. Thomas is seen regularly on TV on First Coast Living, where he discusses the transformations of his patients. He also speaks at events throughout the community and writes informative articles to improve the health of residents throughout Northeast Florida.

1 comment:

  1. I just spent severla hours with Dr Jon Thomas and what I learned amazed me. His practice is baout way more than just pain management. He has the tools to help us all live a much healthier lifestyle. I really love the new Life In Balance video series on YouTube.

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