Why is it so common to have pain at the area of the spine where neck and shoulders meet?

This area is known as the cervicothoracic junction, or CT junction. In this area of the spine a highly flexible neck (cervical spine) transitions to a much more inflexible upper back. Also, the curvature of the spine changes from a backward curve in the neck (lordosis) to a forward curve in the thoracic spine (kyphosis). These factors can lead to increased stress at the CT junction while stationary and with movement.

Regular chiropractic adjustments as well as maintaining good upper back and shoulder mobility can prevent pain in the CT junction.

Iron in your diet

Animal sources of iron are absorbed 2-3x more by the body than plant sources.

Good animal sources include lean beef, oysters and poultry.

The best plant sources are beans and lentils, tofu and dark green leafy veggies like spinach or kale.

Adding a Vitamin C source can enhance the absorption of iron from plant sources. These pairings can work well:

• bell peppers and beans in a salad

• spinach salad with lemon juice vinaigrette

• fortified grains with berries

Iron can also be absorbed into your food if you cook in cast iron cookware.

How can chiropractic help infants with difficulty breastfeeding?

From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
October 2009

This is a case series of 114 infants who were diagnosed in a hospital or by a lactation consultant with breast feeding problems. These patients were referred to seek chiropractic care in addition to routine pediatric care.

The three most common diagnoses for why these infants were unable to breastfeed were:
-cervical posterior joint dysfunction
-temporomandibular joint imbalance (TMJ)
-inadequate suck reflex.

“Treatment was chiropractic therapy in addition to support given elsewhere.
All children showed some improvement with 78% being able to exclusively breastfeed after 2 to 5 treatments over a 2-week time period.”

Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems - in this case series the most common issues being with the cervical spine and jaw. 

This article demonstrates the benefit of pediatric chiropractic care as a multidisciplinary approach to breastfeeding issues with a musculoskeletal cause. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.08.023

Using Kinesiology Tape During Pregnancy

Did you know that kinesiology tape can be used to tape the belly during pregnancy? Depending on how it is applied, it can help relieve low back pain or pressure as baby starts to drop lower into the pelvis. Or it can help relieve pressure under the ribs to make it easier for mom to breathe.

Why adding a multivitamin to your daily routine is a good idea:

These are just a few of the reasons why supplementation is helpful:

Supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps in your diet. The Standard American Diet (SAD) will not provide adequate amounts of many micronutrients (ex: zinc, copper, manganese) that we need on a daily basis. Opting to eat vegan, vegetarian or omitting food groups from your diet could also cause you to miss out on certain nutrients.

Many conventional farming practices have depleted the soil causing the fruits and veggies we buy at the supermarket to be less nutrient dense than they once were.

Drug induced nutrient depletion can make it harder for our bodies to process and absorb nutrients from food. Certain meds are known to affect specific nutrients. For example oral contraceptives Vitamin B6. Cholesterol lowering statins deplete COQ10, iron, magnesium and Vit A.

Everyone in Buffalo needs to supplement Vitamin D in the winter months, period.

Disclaimer: You can’t supplement your way out of a crappy diet, inadequate sleep, unchecked stress levels and lack of regular exercise.

If you have questions about your specific nutritional needs, we are happy to help! Also pick up a sample of @metagenics Wellness Essentials next time you’re in the office. These daily pre-portioned multivitamins can be one small step toward forming healthy habits in 2022

BCBS Wellness Card Members:

Effective December 31st, 2021 BCBS Wellness Cards will no longer cover chiropractic, massage or acupuncture services. They will also not be approved for purchases at health food stores.

Some options:

If you would like to use your remaining amount by the end of the month call our office at 716-551-0970 to set up an appointment or click the button below to be directed to our online booking.

If you can't make it into the office by the end of the month, you can purchase a gift certificate for the amoutn of the remaining balance that can be applied to future visits in 2022.

Gift certificates can be purchased in person in the office, by phone or an invoice can be emailed to you. Email Dr. Brenda at covellchiropractic@gmail.com for an invoice.

Feel free to reach out to Dr. Brenda or Dr. Nick with any questions about this.

New Product Offering for Allergy Season

Why do we get allergies?

The body creates a histamine response to objects perceived as foreign (pollen, dust, pet dander). Mast cells secrete histamine, which is a chemical message to initiate the allergic/inflammatory reaction.

D-Hist from @orthomolecular can help mediate this histamine response so that your body doesn’t have such a strong allergic reaction to the seasonal pollen.

The good stuff:

✅ Quercetin ⬇️ the release of histamine

✅ Bromelain (also found in ) helps absorb quercetin

✅ N-Acetyl Cysteine helps keep mucous free flowing

✅Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for immune support

The bottom line - less allergic reaction and less congestion so you can breathe easier!

Think chiropractic is all about crackin’ backs?

Some things that happened today in the office:

-Met a first time mama and explained how the Webster technique can help to balance the structures of the pelvis, create a smoother birth and allow for a more comfortable pregnancy. 🤰

-Did some instrument assisted soft tissue work with a with recreational volleyball player and talked ankle ligaments and musculature of the lower leg.

-Helped a breast cancer survivor with some headaches and back pain that she’s been having post FLAP surgery and made a plan for scar rehab.

-Completed care for a patient trigger thumb who was looking for an alternative to surgery 🏽 and she’s back to smooth range of motion.

-Worked on TMJ musculature and gave some strategies to work on at home when stress ➡️ jaw clenching.

Chiropractic can help with so much more than low back pain, (but we’re pretty good at that too).

Chiropractic is a safe, effective and drug-free way to manage pain and improve function for many injuries and issues affecting the spine, joints and surrounding muscles.

New Pregnancy Pillows are here!

These soft bundles of goodness are an important part of your prenatal chiropractic appointment. Pregnancy pillows can help you feel comfortable lying face down on the adjusting table for assessment and treatment using the Webster technique.

The Webster technique helps to diagnose and treat imbalances in the pelvis during pregnancy. The bony structures of the pelvis attach to the uterus via the round ligament. Balancing the joints of the sacrum and pelvis can help:

🤰 to ease hip/low back/pubic area discomfort during pregnancy

🤰 allow the baby space to move to achieve optimal positioning

🤰help your body with biomechanical changes as your transition through the trimesters

🤰prepare you for labor and birth

Plus it just feels luxurious and amazing to be able to lay on your stomach once that baby bump gets more bump-tastic!

Pillows are also used during your postpartum visit to get you comfy and can accommodate positioning for post- c-section and breast tenderness.

Spring is in the air!

Do you have seasonal allergies? Here are some tips to make this season a little easier:

Spring’s warm weather is always a welcome change after the long months of our Buffalo winter. But for those with seasonal allergies and sensitivities to pollen in the air, changes can be miserable. Over-the-counter allergy-relieving products often have unpleasant side effects like drowsiness and feeling groggy and often only provide minimal relief. So what else can be done to relieve seasonal allergies?

Did you know that 70-80 percent of your immune system lives in your gut? More specifically, your immune system is regulated by the trillions of "good" gut bacteria that live along the mucosal lining of your digestive system. One of their most important jobs is keeping your immune system informed of potential invaders (allergens, viruses, bacteria) trying to gain access to your body via the eyes, nose, or mouth. These good bacteria keep your immune system well-tuned and functioning well, prepared to deal with anything perceived as a threat.

But, when your gut becomes inflamed due to infection, poor diet, or an imbalance in the gut bacteria, the immune system can sometimes go into overdrive, causing the immediate symptoms of seasonal allergies, including sneezing, a stuffy head, and a runny nose.

What you can do about it:

• Keep a food diary. Does what you eat negatively impact how you feel?

• Include plenty of gut-healing foods in your diet such as fiber, pro- and prebiotics, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, sprouts, and fermented or cultured foods.

• Exercise just after it rains when pollen counts are the lowest.

• Take the right nutrients, including whole-food vitamin C, foods rich in zinc (shellfish, beans and pumpkins seeds for example), probiotics, turmeric, and good quality fish oils to name a few.

Restoring healthy gut bacteria by reducing and removing inflammation can make allergy season so much more enjoyable!

21 Day Purification Program Review

“The 21-Day Purification Challenge was exactly what I needed after falling into a quarantine rut topped off with holiday eating & stress. I was feeling sluggish, fatigued, and just overall “not good”. Enter Standard Process’s purification program. Led by Dr. Brenda, I snapped myself out of the take-out and carb-filled funk I’ve been in and fell in love with fresh, whole foods again and my body is thanking me! I feel energized, less bloated and gassy, and am enjoying REAL foods again. 21 days is the perfect amount of time to establish a better routine and healthier habits that are sustainable for the long haul. And with a specific and informational guide and an active online community, there was no guess-work, confusing rules, or impossible restrictions. I can’t wait to do this program again this summer when there are a lot more fresh local fruits & veggies to enjoy!”

Emily, January 2021 Purification Program participant

Now in network with several insurance plans:

Dr. Nick is currently accepting the following insurance plans:

BlueCross BlueShield

Independent Health

Aetna

United Healthcare

Check with your insurance company to see if chiropractic care is part of your plan. You can also pay using your Wellness Benefits or Health Extras card.

No insurance? You can still pay at time of service with a credit card, cash or check.

Chiropractors are Back!

Just a reminder that our office is open again for all patients. 🙂 This includes new patients, existing patients under maintenance care and nutrition consultations.

Here’s a look at our office protocols during this time:
🙌🏽Please wash your hands in the restroom prior to entering the office.

🙌🏽Please remove your shoes before coming into the treatment room.

🙌🏽If you have a mask please wear it for the duration of your appointment except when you are face down on the adjusting table. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided.

🙌🏽An invoice for your appointment can be sent via Square if you prefer to avoid using credit cards/touchscreens in the office.

🙌🏽If you or anyone in your family has been ill or had a fever in the past 2 weeks, or if you have come in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks please reschedule.

🙌🏽If you or anyone in your family has had any of the following symptoms: fever, tiredness, unproductive cough, aches/pains, nasal congestion, vomiting or diarrhea, loss of taste/smell please reschedule.

(We will be asking you these questions before your first appointment back with us.)

Please arrive ON TIME for your appointment (not early or late). The length of appointment blocks have been extended to allow for additional cleaning and sanitizing between patients and also to limit interactions in the office. Unless you require assistance, please come in for your appointment alone.

Dr. Brenda and Dr. Nick will be reaching out to everyone by phone to get you back on the schedule but don’t hesitate to call us, email covellchiropractic@gmail.com or book online with Mindbody.

We look forward to seeing you soon!