Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.
Something I wish I heard more of in these current times? There is an abundance of talk these days about who is vulnerable to COVID, why masks and isolation will help, how wonder drugs are being rushed to market, etc. What I feel is missing is any talk of naturally strengthening your body’s defenses. Medication and medical intervention of course have their place but what about taking steps so that we have fewer people in at risk groups? Moving more, exercising even a little bit, and making simple nutritional changes can and would affect the health of our population far more than any medication we could come up with. We certainly want medical tools to help people when they are in crisis but emphasizing how to prevent getting to that point in the first place should be a priority. Take your teeth for example – a dentist can certainly fill cavities, pull teeth and perform root canals but if you take steps to care for your teeth better you minimize the chance you’ll need to rely on those procedures.
Something that inspired me recently? Last Friday I took my 10 and 13-year-old sons on a run with me as I pushed their little brother in a jogging stroller. It was hot and hilly and immediately my 10-year-old son struggled in a way he usually does not. Of the 5 miles, he was in the “pain cave” (as we often call it in ultra-running) for about 4.5 of them. Having struggled to that degree hundreds of times myself, I knew how badly he’d want to quit and how his mind would be filled with excuses to do so. Seeing him persevere and evenutally finish the run made me extremely proud. Even better was seeing and listening to him be so proud of himself for not giving up and finishing the task/run. Not quitting is something everyone says they’ll never do but often end up doing when times get tough. Contrary to popular belief, it is not something you’re born with either, it must be developed over time. Seeing my son learn and implement this lesson in real time made me proud and inspired me.
A workout I love? Every Friday since the quarantine began my sons and I do what we call “Flipping Friday” (if you follow me in Instagram you’ve seen us do this). At my house we have a 450 lb. truck tire and a 100 lb. car tire that we will flip in a way that’s like performing a deadlift with a barbell. I use the large one and will complete anywhere from 50-100 depending on the workout. My sons switch off on the smaller tire and get anywhere from 100-200 repetitions. It’s an unorthodox, fun, quick, and challenging workout that we all enjoy, and which draws a lot of interest from people in our neighborhood!
What are you doing to get patients back in that aren’t yet comfortable being out? I’ve had this question frequently this week and the answer is honestly nothing. There is currently a wide spectrum of concern and risk tolerance within our population and that’s fine. When it comes to my patients, I am excited to help anyone that needs me now. I am also pleased to help anyone that may need me later, but I would never attempt to convince them to do anything or go anywhere they weren’t yet comfortable with.
Some quotes I love?
“Get busy living or get busy dying.” – Red and Andy in Shawshank Redemption
“Fear is extremely contagious. Practice fear distancing. Stay away or you might catch it. – Ben Altadonna
“Don’t ever underestimate a person who knows more than they say, who observes more than they speak and is busy taking action while the rest are making noise.” – Joel Brown
Want more?
- Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
- To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
- Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic