All posts tagged: massage therapy

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – May 7th

May 7, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.

A great reminder to me as a chiropractor. Last week I started having some nasty upper back pain. It began without any specific incident and quickly escalated from annoying to extremely painful. I finished coaching football last Thursday night and began having severe muscle spasms which made things even more problematic. I was able to fight through it and see patients the next day (and no one noticed I’m proud to say!) but it was annoying.

As a chiropractor, though I don’t love this I always feel it’s important to remember how so many of my patients are feeling when they come to see me…crappy. Furthermore, it’s also good to be reminded that the healing process can take some time. It took multiple treatments and diligent self-care before I was back to where I wanted to be. Was I aggravated that it didn’t go away instantly like so many of my patients can be? Of course, but my body didn’t care and needed time. All in all, it was a good reminder that it’s no fun to be in pain, healing takes time, and the right natural treatments and self-care can be amazing for recovering even from some of our worst pain!

A simple lesson on accountability. After a great 4-year reign, my beloved Garmin running watch finally died. Aside from all the training runs and races, I relied on it for tracking my steps. I always enjoyed competing with myself and seeing how active my days were (in 4 years I missed my step goal twice – once for an injury and once 100 steps short after I fell asleep the day my daughter was born!) Anyway, I ordered a new watch, and it took a few days to arrive, so I went a couple days without tracking those steps. I noticed in that time that I was less diligent about being on my feet and active as much. I had an excuse and was holding myself less accountable than I normally would in that regard.

This is a simple example, but the premise is crucial. There will always be some reason to tell ourselves we can do a little less, decrease intensity, skip things, or lose focus. When this happens occasionally it’s not a big deal. However, it can be a slippery slope and long-formed, solid routines can quickly disappear. I talk to patients every week that worked out for years who have then gone months or years before returning to exercise for example. Don’t allow pointless excuses sidetrack you and prevent you from achieving your goals.

Opportunity or excuse? I’ve had several interactions this week that brought up a very distinct point that I find significant. In general, these are what they sounded like:

“I’ve gained a lot of weight because of COVID.”

“My schedule was less hectic, so I’ve gotten back into good shape during COVID.”

“I was scared about COVID, so I haven’t really done anything.”

“I was worried about COVID, so I wanted to start eating better, moving more and getting healthier.”

As I said, I’ve heard these types of statements many times – often about health or business. The reason I find it significant is because it drives home the point that the exact same situation will be an opportunity to some and an excuse for others. If you have the mindset that you will succeed no matter what, most situations are likely to present as opportunities for you. Conversely, if you are the type to make excuses, most situations are likely to present to you as more reasons not to do something. Things are not always ideal or easy and you may not be able to directly control every situation, but you can command how you react to it.

Are you consistent? I heard an ex-NFL player giving advice to rookies the other day and he told them “be the same guy every day.” He meant to bring the same work ethic, habits, etc. to work each day. This resonated with me because one of my goals is to always be consistent – with my routine, in my temperament, how I treat people, etc. Maintaining consistency has helped me in my personal relationships, as a father, athlete, business owner, coach and so much more. Stay consistent and be the same person every day!

Some quotes I love.

“It’s no longer our job to awaken the sheep. It’s time to awaken the other lions.” – Brian Warren

“If you just root for people and expect nothing in return you can’t lose!” – Jesse Itzler

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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 30th

April 30, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

Can you help with jaw pain? Yes. There are two main causes of jaw pain that I see. First, the top vertebra in the neck is called the atlas and is oval-shaped. When misaligned enough, it can interfere with the opening and closing of the temporomandibular joint located in front of it. Second, sometimes the TMJ joint itself can be tracking improperly. This indicates that the jaw itself is misaligned.

Of these two, I would say that about 70% of the time, the upper neck is the culprit and 30% it’s both. There can certainly be more severe issues with the jaw but most cases I see are able to be fixed by adjusting one or both areas (sometimes incorporating muscle work and/or stretches as well).

A good reminder regarding symptoms. Something important to remember about symptoms is that assessing your level of health based on presence or lack of symptoms can be very limiting. For example, the first sign of heart disease for many is a ride in an ambulance. Likewise, cancer does not give you immediate symptoms and often displays signs only after being present for some time. Lack of symptoms does not necessarily indicate great health.

When symptoms are present, this does not mean you are unhealthy. If you get food poisoning, you’ll probably have something coming out of both ends for a while which is not pleasant but is helping to correct an issue. Pain is not fun, but your body is using it to give you information. Symptoms are essentially messaging your body sends you indicating something is going on, just like a check engine light in your car would be. It’s not always pleasant but it’s always valuable. When assessing your own health try to remember that the absence or presence of symptoms is only a piece of the puzzle and need to be considered as such.

Something I enjoy. The football team I coach is off to a tough start. Last season we dominated and this season after moving up and age level, we’ve taken some lumps. As a competitor and leader this is not my favorite place to be by any stretch but there is a good life lesson in this situation.

Rather than whine about it, start pointing fingers or going in the tank; I have learned to enjoy the process of getting my team to improve. I love trying to figure things out – what we do well, what we need to get better at, how to teach the players in a way they’ll understand more, maximizing our potential, how we can be unpredictable, where are our unique advantages, etc. I use this same approach in business, life, and everything I do – I enjoy the grind of drilling down on anything and everything that can lead to success.

Something that I found interesting and valuable this week. Someone I respect greatly got on the topic of opinions versus advice. Everyone will have opinions and they can be based on biases, past experiences, ignorance, limited knowledge, or any number of other factors that need to be taken with a grain of salt. Advice on the other hand, usually comes from experience. As a parent, have you ever received advice from someone without children? It doesn’t have anywhere near the effect it does when it comes from another parent who tells us what they’ve done in a certain, similar situations that we’ve faced.

This premise is valuable. Opinions are a dime a dozen and can be found anyplace. Turn on any news station and you’ll see plenty of them. Conversely, when we look for advice, we are seeking to hear from those that have been there and done that. Good advice gives us the opportunity to streamline efforts, avoid mistakes and reach intended outcomes faster. Not everyone can give you this type of information so when you do find it, treat it like gold. There is nothing wrong with giving or receiving an opinion, it’s just not the same thing as advice.

Some quotes I love.

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” – Hellen Keller

“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Never accept an inferior position to anyone. It is the strongest spirit that wins, not the most expensive sword.” – Miyamoto Musashi

“Your calendar and your bank account will show you what you truly value.” – Ryan Michler

“If you knew how quickly people forget the dead…you would stop living to impress people.” – Christopher Walken

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 23rd

April 23, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

Something I’ve been eating and enjoying. Lately I’ve been eating a lot of “power bowls” that my wife introduced me to. The ingredients in these can vary but I start with a base of brown rice. Into that I add sauteed kale, white beans, sun dried tomatoes, chopped walnuts and feta cheese. You could make them with different types of proteins, lentils, couscous, and various other ingredients, but the one I described above has been my favorite. It fills me up, feels “clean” to my system and gives me a ton of prolonged energy!

A workout I’ve been doing and liking. I am always looking to change up my workouts in some way. One of the methods I use to do so is often to do a workout that is focused on volume – meaning more sets and/or repetitions. For my legs, I’ve done this for a change over the past 2 weeks. The first workout is what I call the “500” – I select 5 separate squat exercises and perform 20 repetitions of each before moving without rest to the next exercise. One time through each of the 5 exercises is 100 total reps and I will do 5 sets for a total of 500 reps.

The exercises I chose were a regular squat, jump squat, hack squat, thrusters and goblet squats and the weights were on the lighter side for me because I was doing higher reps. At my next workout, I selected a moderate weight and did 10 reps for each exercise (because it was heavier) for a total of 250 over the 5 sets. These workouts were a solid challenge and something different, so I enjoyed them.

Something my wife and I teach our children. A saying (and lesson) that my wife taught me that she and I both continue to teach our children is that “courage is contagious.” Courage can take on many forms and can be huge, bold actions or a simple, understated one. What does not change though, is that when (most) people encounter someone being courageous, it inspires them. They may join in right away or it may plant a seed for later. I believe this truer now than ever in our current climate. I’ve been motivated by the acts of children, elite military operators and regular people I’ve seen in stores. Courage has no criteria for size, strength, or lifetime accomplishments. You can show courage at any time and when you do, I assure you that someone will notice and carry it forward at some point!

What do I do when I’m not motivated? I got this question from a nice guy earlier this week and I thought I’d mention it because it brings up a teachable point. If I were to estimate how much motivation plays into my life, I would put it at about 10%. That doesn’t mean I don’t love getting excited or pumped up but as a rule, motivation doesn’t take you very far.

My routine (comprised of my habits) is 90% of the game for me. By having a routine, things go on autopilot and I don’t worry about how I’m feeling, I just get things done. This applies to my businesses, exercising, coaching, you name it. For example, if you’re new to working out it may take a bit of motivation to get you started but having to get pumped up daily to do it would not be sustainable. However, after you start doing it for a period of weeks or months, it’ll just become second nature and you’ll do it without debate. Motivation can be a spark, but routine keeps the fire burning.

Some quotes I love.

“Success is never owned; it is rented, and the rent is due every day.”

“Hope is not a course of action.”

“Worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.”

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

“You can’t save people who aren’t willing to participate in the rescue.” – Ryan Michler

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 16th

April 16, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

A great lesson I’ve learned from coaching. I’m a high energy guy and when in a competitive setting I can be especially so. A couple years ago, before my team played our main rival I was especially pumped before and during the game. However, as the game went along, I noticed that certain guys kept complaining about little injuries and some were asking to sit out which was very abnormal. What I came to realize was that by showing them how pumped up I was (far more than usual), I made the game seem too big for them. Some were afraid to make mistakes and let me or their team down so they became gun-shy.

This taught me a lesson about leadership. While it’s certainly part of my job to make sure everyone is excited to play, it is also my duty to show them a calm resolve. From that point forward, I have remained just as enthusiastic, but I pick my spots better. I now make sure they see my excitement but also that I’m relaxed and believe in them. Staying steady like this regardless of the stakes or situation has helped my coaching but is also a lesson that I believe translates well into any leadership situation.

A recent reminder of a good lesson. The youth football league I have coached in for several years was recently bought out and taken over by new ownership. They’ve made quite a few mistakes and it’s been frustrating for players, coaches, and parents alike. I’m on an email thread with all the coaches and initially it started out with the sharing of constructive information but quickly broke down into a complaint-fest from a few. I raise this point because it reinforced a belief of mine that complaining is ultimately a waste of time and energy.

We’re all faced with things we don’t like. No one is saying you must pretend to enjoy it but carrying on about what “should’ve been” will land you nowhere. In this specific case, I chose not to voice my complaints though I did share the same frustrations. Instead of griping, I made calls and wrote emails to people I knew could help, told them what I wanted and got it done. Many other coaches did the same and like me, tired quickly of hearing others complain. When you encounter some bad news or a tough situation give yourself some time to be angry/frustrated/etc., (I recommend about 30 minutes tops) but after that time is up, it’s time to start seeking out solutions and acting.

Question of the week. I had several conversations this past week about “inner voice” – in other words, how do you talk to yourself? Are you positive, negative, etc.? So, the question is, what does your inner voice sound like? My inner voice tends to be overwhelmingly positive and constructive, but I am also very hard on myself as a form of motivation. I’d say part of the time I’m Tony Robbins and part of the time I’m Rocky’s trainer, Mickey. One thing I always avoid is putting myself down. So, what does your self-talk sound like? If it were a movie, who would you get to play that role (or roles)? I think it’s a fun but important question.

A concept I believe works. I took golf lessons many years ago and believe me, I had a lot to correct. The problem was, when I’d go to play golf after my lessons my mind would be over-loaded thinking about 5-10 things I’d been trying to improve. As a result, I started to get (even) worse. When I explained this to my instructor, he told me to pick one thing per round to work on. It didn’t matter what it was, only that it was only a single thing. The reasoning behind this is to keep my mind focused and the task manageable.

I believe this same thing is great advice for anything and everything in life as well. The next time you find yourself frazzled with too much to do, try to keep focused on a single task, get it done and then move onto to the next. When you keep it simple and manageable your productivity and performance will improve.

Some quotes I love.

“An individualist says: I will not run anyone’s life, nor let anyone run mine. I will not rule nor be ruled. I will not be a master nor a slave.” – Ayn Rand

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

“Everyone must choose one of two pains. The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons.”

“Treat energy the same way you treat money. It’s a finite resource that needs to be wisely managed and invested.” – Dandapani

“If you’re not helping to make it right, then stop complaining about it being wrong.” – Joe De Sena

“Regardless of the overwhelming odds or obstacles in your path, you always have an opportunity to overcome. It is your attitude that will determine the outcome.” – Jason Redman

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 9th

April 9, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

An analogy I think works. As parents we teach our children to respect their things. Treat your things with care so they don’t break or get lost. It’s simple but important – if you take care of it, it’ll remain in good condition and last a long time. As simple as this lesson is, as a doctor I see people each day that don’t follow this principle with their own bodies or health. We should put far more emphasis on caring for ourselves than we do on protecting inanimate objects. Not caring for our possessions can cost us money and aggravation but ignoring our bodies and health will cost far more in the long term. Ultimately, the best advice is to treat your own body like you care about it!

An exercise mistake I see often. As someone that has been working out since my teens, a former trainer and now a chiropractor; I see horrible form on leg exercises all the time. Most commonly, I see people overloading their knees on squats and/or lunges very often.

The way to tell if you’re doing this is to glance down at your knees – if they are forward of your toes on a squat or lunge then your form is not good. The reason this usually happens is that people tend to put too much pressure into their toes and front part of their feet which brings the knees forward. Instead, keep the weight toward the mid and back portion of the feet which will take pressure off and make it less likely you’ll start leaning forward and loading pressure onto the knees. I had a patient a couple months ago that mentioned knee pain during a couple of visits and then mentioned that he squatted every day. I asked him to demonstrate his form and it was a mess. I corrected that form with him, and the knee pain quickly went away.

A concept I believe in. A couple nights ago I was reading a book and relaxing on the couch as my son played with his superheroes. After a bit he came over and wanted me to play with him. I was tired and it was getting late (for me anyway!) and I almost told him to just go ahead and keep playing on his own. Instead, I put down the book and we played for about 30 minutes with his toys. He was extremely happy, and it was a simple yet great time for me as well.

This is an example of something I like to call an “effort moment.” These are times when we have plenty of justification for just being done but decide to go a little further. I’ve found this effective with my care of patients, during exercise, while running races and in personal life in situations like I just described. You just give a little bit more at the times when you feel least like doing so. The best part is that those few extra minutes of effort and dedication almost always produce some of the best moments and memories.

Question of the week. I’m not sure where I stumbled across this, but I saw somewhere recently the question of “what is your brand?” Meaning, if you were to ask all the people you interact with most, what would they say you are known for? Your personal brand will encompass how you treat others, the things people know are important to you, your values, habits and more. As a personal exercise, ask yourself what you think your brand is. If you’re happy with the answer, keep going. If not, start making a few changes. No brand will be (or should be) universally loved but you want to be proud of the one you’re putting forth!

Some quotes I love.

“Be careful in assuming anyone who praises you is your friend and anyone who criticizes you is your enemy.” – Ryan Michler

“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” – John Dryden

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 2nd

April 2, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

Which stone are you? I listened to a podcast last week and the guest Marcus Luttrell said something I found fascinating. He remarked that every person was 1 of 3 types of stones – sharp, dull, or smooth.

Sharp stones keep others improving, motivated, focused and make them better. Smooth stones keep things as they are – not necessarily worse or not better, kind of the comfort zone basically. Finally, dull stones bring down your sharpness, so they would be the detractors. I think we all can fit into one of these categories. I would put myself as a sharp stone now, but I can say with certainty that I’ve been all three at some point. What type of stone would you say you are? What would others say you are?

An analogy I think works. I had a small plumbing issue at my house this week. In full disclosure, I am not the handiest homeowner in the world. I’m more of a “write the check” guy than the guy that takes on projects but this time, it was on me to fix it. I was kind of embarrassed as I watched YouTube videos and then went to Home Depot trying to get the right tools and supplies for the job. It was intimidating for me and I expected my whole house to end up underwater. In the end though, I was able to get it done and was proud.

The reason I bring this up, is that whenever we have something we want to get into – exercise, nutrition, a new field, a new hobby, a new sport, etc. we can feel small and like everyone else is so far ahead of us. That daunting feeling is often what prevents us from moving forward. What we all need to remember though is that we all are gifted in different ways and there is nothing wrong with being a beginner. If you’re new to exercise for example, don’t worry about what shape you’re in, what happened before or any of that; learn as much as you can and start a new chapter. We all begin as the guy watching YouTube videos with no clue at Home Depot but if we stick with something, we can all get better!

A source of inspiration. Many of you have probably heard the stories of Dick and Rick Hoyt (from my home state of Massachusetts!). Rick was born with cerebral palsy in the 70’s and his parents were told to put him in a home and forget about him. Instead, they had a computer built for him through which he was able to communicate once his parents taught him the alphabet, etc. In his teen years, he asked his father Dick if he’d push him in a local 5k race. His father hadn’t run or been in shape for years but agreed and they finished 2^nd from last. However, Rick smiled the entire race and told his dad it made him feel alive more than anything else ever had. This began a lifetime of Dick pushing his son in some of toughest marathons and triathlons the world has to offer. Recently, Dick passed away at the age of 80 and I began to go back and watch a lot of the content created about these two remarkable men over the years. I cry every time, but they have inspired me with their bond as father and son and strength of the human spirit and cannot imagine how many thousands or millions they motivated over the years with their story. If you don’t know of these two, get on YouTube and look them up!

Do I like k-tape? I love it. K-tape is an abbreviation for kinesio-tape which is an elastic sports tape that can provide support and pain relief for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It works well because it provides “bracing” without having to wear a big brace. I’ve used it many times for tennis elbow (I get it once a year or so from adjusting) and always use it when I do my 100 mile runs to provide support for my knees and keep the wheels from falling off as fast. K-tape is inexpensive and easy to use. If you have a condition you’d like to try it on, simply Google your condition and “k-tape” and inevitably there will be a 1–2-minute video showing you how to apply it. It’ll stay on your skin easily for a couple of days and can really help a variety of ailments.

Some quotes I love.

“Conformity is doing what everyone else is doing, regardless of what is right. Morality is doing what is right regardless of what everyone else is doing.”

“When you get criticized for doing the right thing, it’s still the right thing.”

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – March 26th

March 26, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

A workout I enjoyed. Last weekend I wanted to come up with a new challenge for my sons, so I took them on a hike during which we all had to carry weight to make it more difficult. I wore a 40-pound weight vest while carrying 25-pound weights in each hand, my oldest son carried a 15-pound weight in each hand and my middle son pushed my youngest son in a jogging stroller with a 10-pound weight in the stroller as well. We went up a large hill for 1 ½ miles and then came back down. Even better, the boys wanted to get Chick Fil-a breakfast afterwards which ends at 10:30am so they had to hustle the whole time!

It was a challenging workout for all of us, but we loved it. I do these types of things with my kids to develop camaraderie while also teaching them that doing hard things is not something to be feared but should be embraced. Anytime we do something like this they always finish and are so proud they got through it. The workouts we’ve done that were the toughest on them (and me) are usually remembered the most fondly actually.

Do you do anything to help with feet or ankles? Yes! I’ve been able to help hundreds of patients over the years by addressing the alignment of certain bones in the feet and ankles. Often, they’ll have a misdiagnosis or a history of ineffective treatments for something involving the foot and ankle and after examining it, I will detect improper motion of certain joints. Most commonly, I will see misalignments of the talus bone (square bone that sits between the two lower leg bones) and/or the calcaneus (heel bone). When these bones are misaligned, the normal biomechanics of the foot and ankle go out the window causing pain, lack or mobility and over-compensation of the muscles and ligaments. There is often no specific inciting event to cause this, it just happens gradually. Re-aligning these bones restores function to the joints and allows them to quickly heel. This is not a cure-all for all foot or ankle pain, but thankfully I am very often able to help.

An interesting interaction and analogy. Last week I had a mom come in with her teenager. The mom mentioned to me that her daughter was having some pain and that based on her age it wasn’t “normal.” I had seen the teenager once previously about a year ago for her only chiropractic visit ever and so I asked both mom and daughter some follow up questions to better understand the situation. As it turns out the teenager does almost no physical activity (no sports, nothing at home) and sits most of the day on devices. The mom acknowledged that this wasn’t good but seemed to think that because the teen had been adjusted once and was young, that pain should never be an issue.

The analogy I used to explain the faulty logic in these assumptions was this – if a teenager had one dentist appointment in their lifetime and did no brushing or flossing on their own, would we expect the teeth to be healthy? Of course not. The spine is no different. Regardless of age, if you’re not physically active and having at least some form of care for your spine, it won’t be healthy and a sign of that is likely to be pain. Poor habits lead to poor results at any age.

“How do you handle it when patients don’t listen to your recommendations?” I got this one from a young doctor this week. My answer was that when I give a recommendation – for a course of care, type of adjustment, a supplement to take, a question to ask their doctor, a referral to another type of provider, etc. I do so with pure intentions. These are suggestions I’m giving based upon my experience and concern for the patient. It is never based on finances or any motive that doesn’t directly serve the patient’s best interest. Therefore, if my recommendations are not followed it does not bother me or hurt my feelings or pride. I will never know the reasons a patient does or does not do something, and many will have nothing to do with me. I try to do what I think will help them and if they follow it, great. If not, I know I tried to do right by them and that’s ultimately all I can do.

Some quotes I love.

“You are what you do, not what you’ll say you do.”

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates

“It doesn’t take many words to tell the truth.” – Sitting Bull

“The sign of a good doctor should be how many patients he can get OFF medications, not how many people he puts ON medications.” – Dr. Jeff Barke, MD

“Cutting corners, shortcuts, and taking the “easy road” is disrespectful to all of those that believe in you. When you cheat yourself, you cheat them also.” – Lennox Lewis

“Fear is a force that sharpens your senses.” – Marcus Luttrell

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”
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – March 19th

March 19, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

Something I was told that meant the world to me. Last week my ex-wife shared with me a text she’d gotten about our 11-year-old son. It was from the mom of another boy in his 5^th grade class. As it turns out, the boy is autistic, has not made many friends and for him, school has been very tough. Apparently however, my son has partnered often with him in class, has been kind to him and talks with him a lot. His mom explained that as bad as school has been for him, he lights up when he speaks of being around my son and this has been a big bright spot for him. She mentioned that she wanted to share this because too often all we hear about are the negative things.

This made me so proud, and I told my son this. I told him that hearing what I did meant more to me than any athletic or academic success ever could because it spoke to his character. In addition, I told him how powerful it can be to have even one person befriend or believe in us, especially when we are going through a tough time in life.

A concept I strongly believe in. I have a saying I learned years ago from a colleague that I use to this day – “don’t make people wrong.” This means that when you’re in a situation where someone is sharing some of their thoughts with you in a benign manner, the last thing you want or need to do is hammer them and make them feel stupid or bad.

For example, as a chiropractor I hear from patients, family, and friends every single day that are making health choices I wouldn’t or have beliefs contrary to mine. Do I get in their face and try to make them feel stupid? No, I accept them where they’re at. If they ask for an opinion or information, I am more than happy to provide it, but it’s not my job to jump all over them. Not making people wrong is not about backing down or hiding your feelings, it’s knowing when the right time is to make your voice heard and when is a good time to just let certain things slide. Believe it or not, people will trust and respect you more if they know you are not waiting to jump down their throat at the slightest statement.

A good way to help your neck. When it comes to your lower back, there are a million exercises you could do to improve it. When it comes to your neck, exercises can help but far it is more important to avoid what aggravates it. Specifically, poor ergonomics while on your devices/computer and poor sleeping position tend to both the neck most. I’ve had patients with painful necks that historically required lots of chiropractic pain relief for their neck/upper back make changes in these areas, improve quickly and require less care. To keep the advice simple – your neck muscles should always feel relaxed and if they’re in a neutral position they will be. If you’re looking down into a screen this won’t be the case and if you’re sleeping with your neck too low or too high (or sleeping on your stomach) this will also not be the case. Try to make some positive changes in these simple areas and trust me, it’ll help.

Simple medical advice I recommend everyone follow. In my experience, most people will take more time to research and read reviews before they buy a $20 toaster from Amazon than they will on researching something they will put into or have done to their body. When it comes to your body and health, take nothing for granted, there are no sacred cows when it comes to your own personal health. Read up on ingredients, potential side effects or adverse reactions, expected protocols, etc. Never feel badly about going against a doctor’s advice or wishes if you do not agree with it yourself. If you follow this simple advice, you’ll either feel even better about what you’re doing or will feel great that you didn’t do it. It’s a win-win.

Some quotes I love.

“Lions never forget who poked them through the cage.” – Ray “Cash” Care

” The fears we don’t face become our limits.” – Robin Sharma

“Don’t sleep like you’re rich. Work like you’re broke.”

“Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that’s an outrage.” – Sir Winston Churchill

“The man that masters himself through self-discipline can never be mastered by others.” – Napoleon Hill

“To do better, focus on what you aren’t doing well, aren’t doing at all, or don’t know how to do or don’t want to do. That’s how to reach your potential.” – Ben Altadonna

“We are all something, but none of us is everything.” – Blaise Pascal

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

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – January 22nd

January 22, 2021 Matt Kenney Friday 5 Spot

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

A cool lesson. I enjoy cooking so I like checking out cooking shows and videos. I especially enjoy watching anything with Gordon Ramsey. On an episode of Master Chef, a while back he showed the contestants how he makes scrambled eggs. What made this fascinating to me is that this is something we’ve all cooked hundreds of times, yet he had a whole different way of doing it than I’d ever seen (the contestants too). His method was simple but utilized patience and attention to detail.

To me this drove home some important lessons. First, when we take the time to focus on the little things and to master them, the results can be amazing. It also reinforced to me that masters of anything never skip the process of conquering the basics. Once you have full command of the basics, you will have the foundation to create incredible results in anything you pursue.

What is your view on alcohol? I got this question from a patient and he asked me to include it this week. I’m from Boston where alcohol is basically a sport and in my younger days, I played that sport a lot so I’m not your priest here. I no longer drink due to my training schedule and as an example to my children. What I can tell you is that over the years I’ve seen many patients drastically improve their health and lifestyle by giving up alcohol. These are not even necessarily people that had a problem with alcohol, just people that have become better without it in terms of energy, anxiety level, sleep patterns, relationships, fitness and more. We’re all adults and can choose what is best for ourselves but I don’t believe anyone can say they are truly better off with alcohol than they are without.

A recent event I think is relevant. My wife, my older son and I were in the kitchen about a week ago and a discussion began about a video that showed a person being shot and killed. My wife mentioned that if my son searched for it, he’d see it online. I said, “don’t watch it, it’ll hurt your heart.” My wife told me that she loved that I said that and asked me exactly what I meant. I believe everything we put into our minds and bodies is fuel and therefore we must be careful. These days it is very easy to fill it accidentally and quickly with negativity. This does not mean we need to be naïve or blind to the world around us, merely that when possible; we should prevent some of those horrible images from going in. I’ve witnessed some extreme things in my personal life over the years and that is why I always advise people to protect themselves in this fashion. You cannot ever overdo the good stuff, but the bad stuff can build up in your mind too quickly unless you’re careful.

Something I want you to know. What I’ve learned from the races I compete in, the training I do and the obstacles I’ve faced in my life is this – the toughest stuff always ends and gets better. This may not happen on our schedule or as we’d envisioned it, but it does happen. Wherever you’re at or whatever you’re stressing over, keep going and keep fighting and you’ll get there.

Some quotes I love.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.” – Clare Boothe Luce

“Aye. Fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live, at least awhile. But lying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom?” – William Wallace, Braveheart

“The loudest boos will always come from the cheapest seats…People who invest the least in you will have the most to say about you. Trust your work, your process and keep that circle tight.” – Tupac Shakur

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

What is cupping? Should I try it?

April 17, 2019 Matt Kenney Blog

Did you know that 3 minutes of cupping is equal to 15 minutes of deep tissue massage?! It’s true, the muscle tension relief you get after a cupping session is amazing!

Using suction as a form of myofascial release, cupping creates space for the muscles to unwind naturally without “breaking up” the muscle fibers or causing extra inflammation. One of my other favorites aspects of cupping is the increased blood flow. More blood will flow to the areas in need, bringing with it platelets and white blood cells that promote healing. It’s a win win in my mind!

Fire cupping is the traditional Chinese method, but I have chosen a simple hand pump so that I feel in complete control of the pressure and there is no anxiety from the patient around the flame.

Cupping is great for muscle tension, muscle recovery, inflammation, and relaxing the nervous system. Plus you will walk away with marks of honor for a few days!

By Stella Webb, LMT

All posts tagged: massage therapy

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – May 7th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 30th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 23rd

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 16th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 9th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – April 2nd

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – March 26th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – March 19th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – January 22nd

What is cupping? Should I try it?

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