Every year Tampa Bay Newspapers (Largo Leader, Belleair Bee, Clearwater Beacon, etc.) solicit their readers' opinions in their "Reader's Choice" poll. Readers are asked to choose their favorites in categories ranging from favorite appetizer to best veterinarian. The voting has begun for 2011 so we ask that you please take some time to fill one out. They are available in TBN's free papers or online at http://www.tbnweekly.com/readers_choice_pinellas/.

Thanks to all of our wonderful patients, Main Street Chiropractic has been ranked amongst the best chiropractors in Pinellas county for the past several years.

Off and Running

We are off to a healthy and active year at Main Street Chiropractic. Since we are almost three months into our New Year's resolutions we thought it was time to up the ante. This spring Main Street Chiropractic is sponsoring a team for the Shamrock 'N Run. This 5k takes place on March 11 in downtown Largo. We are proud to have 28 runners and walkers representing us in the upcoming race. Look for our team sporting green "I'm Well Adjusted" shirts.

Although our team is full for this year, there is still time to sign up for the race. Just visit http://www.largo.com/egov/docs/1295554585319.htm. See you there!

Welcome Dr. Nolan!

Dr. Nolan has recently moved here to Largo to join our team. She has spent the last nine years in Coraville, Iowa caring for her patients at Nolan Chiropractic. Dr. Nolan brings with her a wealth of knowledge and a very caring attitide. She fits right in and we are lucky to have her. Please help us to welcome Dr. Nolan!

Visit www.mschiro.com to learn more.

How does your garden grow?

Our garden is growing great! We have a plot at the nearby Old Northwest Community Garden. We are up to our eyeballs in fresh zucchini. Tomatoes will be ripening soon and the cucumbers, cantaloupes, radishes peppers and carrots are looking good. Why am I talking about gardening? Well - you would be surprised at how many gardening injuries we see here this time of year. Folks that have been 'hibernating' all winter suddenly think it is a good idea to rip out all of the old frost-ruined landscaping and start fresh. By themselves.. in one day.

Most of the spring and early summertime weekend emergency calls are from gardening or yard work. Many of these injuries could be avoided by doing a few things differently.

- Do some gentle stretching before you start gardening to warm up muscles and joints.

- Kneel down when planting by placing both knees on a knee pad an old cushion.

- If you are digging, use a small spade so you don't have to pick up too much, thereby putting strain on the back.

- Switch tasks regularly rather than doing hours of repetitive movement such as digging.

- When lifting anything, be it a small plant or a heavy bag of yard waste, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight, both when picking up and putting down, whilst facing the direction in which the load is to be carried in order to avoid twisting the spine.

- Finally, never continue any activity if your back hurts and pace yourself to your own fitness level. Try to do no more than one and a half to two hours per day initially and work up slowly to longer days.

Have fun and be careful!

Little Ones

Today I had the pleasure of adjusting a 10 week old boy who has had torticollis since he was born. Probably my favorite thing in practice is seeing the drastic and often rapid improvement in a young child who has had a problem since he was born, literally. A neck subluxation can be caused by the in utero position or the birth process itself. Sometimes these things 'work themselves out' and sometimes they do not. If segmental fixations can be corrected at the earliest stages of development we can greatly reduce musculo-skeletal problems later in life. Over the years I have adjusted many children, including my own. Once we stabilize most children (their spines), they only require a few ajdustments a year to keep thing moving smoothly. Chiropractic adjustments for children are very low force and usually last much longer than adults. I am a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and I recommend that you make sure the doctor that you take your children to is also a member of the ICPA. By the way, I also adjusted two patients in their 90's today.

Valentine's Day is Coming!

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. If you are still searching for that perfect gift for your loved one for this big day, consider a massage. We offer massage gift certificates in 1/2 hour and hour increments. And if you can't make it into the office, just call (727) 518-1967, and we can mail the certificate to it's recipient.

Destination Destin

Some of you may have noticed that I was not in the office Thursday or Friday. I was in Destin at the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) Panhandle conference. The weekend was spent learning with a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure.

Every two years, I am required to get a certain number of continuing education credits. This conference completed my requirements for the biennium. It is always nice to go to classes to learn new things as well as catch up with colleagues from across the country.