Back Pain Articles

In this first installment of “Your Health”, missoula chiropractor Dr. Shaun Stuto discusses the crucial role of sleep in your road to wellness. Dr. Stuto is a chiropractor, author, speaker and owner of Transformation Chiropractic. “Your Health” is also available online at Youtube-Missoula Chiropractor . Through a series of ongoing articles we will explore the aspects of health which fall under the umbrella buzzword of “wellness.” We hear this word all the time on television and read about it in the newspaper and magazines but who is defining it? Wellness can be accurately described as the point along the health spectrum between “excellence” and “perfection.” It is the polar opposite of disease and death. There is no pinnacle of wellness. The value lies in the journey and specifically within the implementation of certain behaviors and habits that make up a “well” person. These factors might include a healthy diet, active lifestyle, low blood pressure, appropriate height:weight ratio and low mental stress. At what point does excellent health become perfect? There is no such point of arrival to perfection because health is dynamic and always changing.

The first aspect of wellness we will dive into is sleep. Next to a well adjusted spine and optimized nervous system, sleep and nutrition wrestle for second place when it comes to your wellness journey. How much sleep are you averaging per night? How much sleep do you actually need to feel your best? I frequently hear patients say that they need 7-9 hours of sleep to feel their best and find out that they average only 5-6 hours/night 5-7 days/week. It is common to find patients with an 80-120 hour/month sleep deficit! Sound like you perhaps?

The effects of this type of sleep deprivation are massive. This type of person has no energy. They are irritable and stressed. Often this type of patient is driven to be the perfect worker, the perfect spouse, the perfect parent, the perfect child etc… It is no surprise that this type of person cannot maintain this lifestyle forever. They often develop inexplicable symptoms such as aches and pains. The most common areas of pain show up in the neck and lower back. What is the quickest way to make a person slow down and rest? Low back pain! When the low back goes out, you go down and have to rest. The body has the innate intelligence to know when and how to put you down and force you to rest.

How much sleep should we be getting? On average most people do best on 7-9 hours/night. Except for an elite athlete who is training hours per day and burning thousands of calories, the average person should not need more than 7-9. If you need less than 6 hours/night see your doctor and if you need more than 9 see a psychologist. It is quite possible that underlying emotional stress and depression could be the real cause of your need for so much sleep.

The most critical factor to quality sleep is your comfort. Most people find they do best on a firmer bed. If you are not sleeping, you will not recover from stress, your workouts or your life. You will not heal. In todays fast paced society, we all find sleep to be a premium at times. This is why it is crucial to maximize the quality of the sleep we do get. “Invest in your rest” is a phrase I coined and that I encourage you to embrace. Make the price of the bed a non-issue. I guarantee you will thank me for it.

For Dr. Shaun Stuto, the Sleep Number bed is the best choice. We spend 1/3rd of our lives in bed. Shouldn’t we ensure that we get the highest quality rest? Of course! The beauty of the Sleep Number bed is that the firmness is independently adjustable from side to side. This is the answer for couples with different mattress preference. Now one person isn’t left to toss and turn. Both parties can benefit from sleeping on their customized mattress firmness. How many households spend $1000’s on a fancy couch and flat screen T.V. but want to get away with a $300 bed. It just doesn’t add up. How old is your bed? Where did you get it? If you don’t even have answers to these questions, don’t read another line. Go buy the bed now! Invest in YOUR rest!

We have covered the essentials for effective sleep. Sleep 7-9 hours per night on a high quality bed. A sleep deficiency and poor sleep quality can lead to poor health, physical pain, and emotional stress. Such stress could lead to cravings for sugar. Poor sleep can actually make you fat! On the contrary, a high quality bed can actually help you feel more energy and lose weight.

Place your health and wellness on the top of your priority list starting today. You deserve it. Commit to regular chiropractic care and ensure the optimal function of your nervous system. Implement a healthy eating plan and exercise routine. Finally, get your sleep. Shoot for 7-9 hours of sleep on the highest quality bed you can afford.

Thank you for reading “Your Health.” I am Dr. Shaun Stuto and I wish you a life of abundance.

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a chiropractor near 59803|chiropractor near 59803 and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250

When the clock strikes midnight, the ball will drop this New Years. The confetti will erupt and the champagne corks will fly. The final chapter of 2009 is quickly coming to an end and we prepare now to turn the page. Just as quickly as they started, the festivities will end. The buzz will die, and life will normalize just as the hangover starts to set in. The sun will rise, a new year will be upon us and life as we know it will be very much the same. Without a definite plan, the smoke and hope you have mustered up regarding changinng your life will smolder into cold ash. That is without a plan. Follow these three powerful strategies instead and create massive change in your life in 2010!

1. Begin with the end in mind- Is there something you want to accomplish this year? What do you want? To lose weight? Gain muscle? Make more friends? Have more time with your family? Your goals are yours. Establish goals in all aspects of your life starting with the end in mind. From there you can work backwards. All goals must be measurable and obtainable. To help you with the brainstorming process, utilize Mind Mapping software. You can download a free version of “Free Mind” and map your thoughts. Define EXACTLY what you want! Remember that fuzzy targets do not get hit!

2. Change the words in your head- Control your self talk because the 2500 words/minute running through your brain dictate who you are and what you are capable of. These messages are formed from what we learned by our mothers, fathers, teachers, preachers, coaches and big pharmacy. Realize right now you will change your life by leaps and bounds when you understand the power of self talk. Your brain only knows what you tell it. You are allowed to fool your brain. For example,tell yourself you are a multi-millionaire.Your brain will believe it. When you modify the words being spoken in your head, you will change your life

3. Record your progress- Would you believe that by writing down everything that goes into your mouth, you will lose 10 pounds this month? Do it and find out what happens. When you set a goal, record every action and effort you make that has an impact on achieving said goal. Successful people keep score. Do you know the score in your life? Play every ace! Write down the decisions you are making and have someone else evaluate whether the actions are driving you closer or further from the goal.

Utilize these three powerful strategies! Believe they will change your life! Fail forward FAST! In order for things in your life to change, YOU must change. You cannot continue to do what you did and anticipate a different outcome. Expect miracles and believe everthing you desire is possible. I am Dr. Shaun Stuto and I wish you a life of abundance.

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a chiropractor near 59801|chiropractor near 59801 and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250

Transformation Chiropractic Missoula MT is run by its owner, Dr. Shaun Stuto who recieved his Chiropractic training at the Southern California University of Health Sciences.

The approach taken at Dr. Stuto’s clinic is based on a holistic model of health – one in which he takes all of the biochemical, emotional, as well as the physical factors into consideration when coming up with a diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan for his patients. His approach is based on the fact that the body is a self-regulating and self-healing organism. When the body is fed what it needs and the nervous system is functioning as it should, a foundation for thriving health is established.

This is undoubtedly a new approach to dealing with true health in the town of Missoula – an in the state of Montana. Dr. Stuto’s belief is that the whole body is affected by underlying factors such as emotional problems, that could adversely affect a person’s physical health. His focus is helping his patients to understand the factors of health, from a wholeness perspective, that allow an individual to live life at the highest level. A popular article that Dr. Stuto has written entitled Pain is NOT Your Problem has been making the internet rounds and addresses this issue in more depth.

It is his study of Neuro Emotional Techniques and Applied Kinesiology that sets Dr. Stuto apart from other chiropractors. He does not believe that isolating a symptom does any good without looking at the structural, biochemical and emotional aspects of what’s going on in the body. This is what Applied Kinesiology is all about – an integrated approach to overall health.

It’s a refreshing way of looking at health when compared to the super-busy, overworked private practices of many physicians. The problem is that the sheer volume of patients that come and go in the average doctor’s office often prevents them from spending the kind of time and attention that patients want and may very well need to accurately diagnose the cause.

Dr. Stuto makes it his goal to spend the necessary time to ask as many questions as possible to get to the underlying cause of a problem. An average visit could go anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Visit length is up to the patient, their goals, and their circumstances.

At Transformation Chiropractic, Dr. Stuto encourages his patients to be proactive when it comes to their treatment. He wants them to take responsibility for the things that go on in their lives, good and bad. This is the only way they can really begin to see how, in addition to physical causes, various emotional issues or problems can be a great factor in their general well-being.

Most of the Transformation Chiropractic patients deeply understand these principles and do take an active, integrated approach to their health. They work out vigorously and incorporate other healthy habits such as good nutrition and empowering self-talk into their daily routines.

The guiding belief of Dr. Stuto is that patients must make an investment in their own health at his clinic by engaging in preventative health care and committing to the process. He enforces that they must view their health as a journey that is ongoing and not merely a destination with an end goal in mind. The reward, of course, is the improved energy and sustained vitality of optimal health, bounding energy, and abundant gratitude.

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula Chiropractor and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250

Today I made a conscious decision to get out of my comfort zone and REALLY mix things up! Normally I train at an overcrowded, low-energy 24 hour fitness. It is just a gym to me and nothing special beyond that.

Golds Gym Venice is a 45 minute drive from my home so I decided to forgo the usual cardio at 24 Hour and take advantage of living so close to the Mecca. I could feel the difference the moment I walked in. The energy was so tangible you could slice it with a knife. The gym is frequented by bodybuilders, actors/actresses, athletes and normal folks who want to train at the most notable gym on the planet.

Today was just a cardio day. I warmed up for a few minutes on the treadmill and to my left was actor Ray Liotta! Cool! After warming up, I decided to do elliptical instead of treadmill and moved across the room, giving me a different vantage point. Right in front of me there is well known Bodybuilder Dennis James with legendary trainer Charles Glass pumping away. Then Stone Cold Steve Austin goes walking by! Is this place for real? I’m not star struck. It did feel strange though to be surrounded by so many well known folk’s all inside the same room. An old friend from college, and pro-bowler, Brendan Ayanbadejo came up and chatted for a few minutes. I hadn’t seen him in 5 years. The trip to Gold’s was worth it already! On the way out, I see Tito Raymond training a client and Shawn Ray and Lonnie Teper coming in to do a shoot for Ironman magazine’s preview of the upcoming Arnold Classic. What a start to the day!

The point of the story is not to name drop all my celebrity sitings. It was to show that when we do things out of the “ordinary,” “unordinary” things start happening to us! More on this topic in a second…

I walked to the famous Firehouse grill after leaving Golds Gym. The diner is famous for its bodybuilder friendly menu and great food. I kept the diet clean with egg whites and oatmeal. Before returning to my truck for the next adventure of the day, I stopped off at Max Muscle, owned by Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, to purchase meal replacements and ensure that I wouldn’t miss a single one of my six meals for the day.

I headed for Hollywood next. Driving up sunset I pass Mel’s Diner, Saddleranch, the Standard and a host of other well-known Hollywood hotspots. Continuing up into the foothills, I arrived at the trail head for Hollywood sign. This is considered Hollywoods best-known landmark and certainly most photographed. I had never been!

I set out on an hour long hike to get up close and personal with the sign, carrying only a camera and bottle of water. I have only hiked a few times in my life and not for many years. I certainly do not claim to be a hiker. Wow did those hills feel amazing on my legs though. The weather was sunny and the sky was crisp and blue. The incredible weather seemed to warm me from the inside out. How thrilling it was to be up there! I even took my shirt off and worked on my tan since the weather was so nice. Keep in mind that this is February. How many places on earth can you feel warm enough to jog without a shirt at this time of the year?

After making it as close as legally possible to the sign, I snapped some pictures and turned back. I jogged all the way back to the bottom. Talk about tough. Trail running is no joke. It is not the treadmill. My legs are sore now!

I was reminded of an important lesson today. A seminar speaker once said, the habits that enabled him to become a multi-millionaire speaker worldwide, are the same habits holding him back from becoming a billionaire. I hope you guys caught that. He has a lot of “financial” success admittedly, but even he knows that his actions and behaviors which have brought him tremendous gain are holding him back from the next level! How is that for a re-frame!

I have never been a hiker nor would I have ever been interested in hiking in the past. What if the difference between an ultra-fit person and the average Joe was only one hike per month? I never would have known because it wasn’t my habit. The concept is lets look at all areas of our lives and see how we can shake them up even more.

Billionaire Bill Gates even goes through periods where he lacks creativity. One story tells of how he drove home a different route from work every day for a year! He never took the same route twice! All of this new activity literally created new synapses in his brain and sparked change in his life.

For you, this might mean a different running route, new foods or spices. Perhaps a new workout partner, new gym or fresh pair of running shoes. Refrain from eating the same food twice in a week. Force yourself to develop a taste for new and healthy foods deepen your menu of meal choices. This is a surefire way to guarantee ultimate transformation and long-term fitness success.

As the saying goes, a mind once expanded can never contract to its original size. The behaviors that got us where we are today are likely holding us back from what we really want. Successful entrepreneur and mega millionaire, Bill Phillips, spoke of his vision 10 years ago in Body of Work, when he explained how he materialized his dream of owning a red Lamborghini. At that point in time, Bill defined exactly what he wanted and went about changing his actions and behaviors in order to get the car and attain “success.” He has since far surpassed the red sports.

Everything begins in thought, for every single one of you. If you want a better body, more health, a partner in life, younger looks, you must define exactly what it is. With the information and strategies shared here, doesn’t the process seem all the more practical when you do things differently?

I wish you a life of abundance! Have an AWESOME DAY!

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula neck pain specialist and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250