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Dr. Eric Loewrigkeit :: Your Sparta Chiropractor
How could chiropractic help me...I have allergies. Originally, this is what I thought as my mother brought me for my first chiropractic visit.
My sister had started going to the chiropractor because she was a gymnast and her back was bothering her. (That makes sense.) But one day my mother was discussing with the doctor how much school I was missing because of my allergies and that I had already gone to the allergist and was only getting worse, he suggested that she bring me in for a check up. Believe me, I was a skeptic. I mean how could my allergies be related in any way, shape or form to my spine? What I found is that the link wasn't the spine, per se, but rather my nervous system, which had interference with it, causing my allergic symptoms. Still not completely convinced, and being a minor, so I had little choice, I began care that spring during middle school. I admit, the improvements with my sinus pressure and continual nose running, were minor at first, but did build with time. And by the end of that same summer, I would have my last episode with allergies. I've been a patient ever since and decided to make a commitment to my community to help and educate them the same way I was helped as a teenager. That's how I became a chiropractor.
I have a Bachelor's Science in exercise physiology from Rutgers University and graduated from NYCC in 1999. One of the most memorable exercises from chiropractic school was how a subluxation can effect the optic nerve. In an exercise during one class, the patient stood at nose length from a piece of paper on the wall. The limits of the patient's peripheral vision were then marked on the piece of paper from above, below and both sides for each eye (forming a diamond). The diamond for each eye was then compared relative to its shape and the instructor explained that the side that the diamond was smaller on was the side that the first cervical or neck vertebra was out of place or subluxated. The patient was then adjusted and the "diamond" exercise was repeated. And darned it, wouldn't you know, that the diamonds would be the same size after the adjustment. The instructor then went on to say that the only sensation that the body experiences that does not pass through your vertebral column is your ability to smell. Our entire world is literally filtered and processed through our nervous systems. Pretty amazing!
Life Happens...Get Adjusted!
Throughout our lives we're being subjected to physical, chemical and emotional stresses that wear down and interfere with our nervous systems. Yes, we try to limit those effects as much as possible, but no matter what we do, we cannot remove all the stresses from our lives which makes getting a chiropractic adjustment paramount for anyone who wants to be truly healthy.
I believe one of the keys for our country getting healthy is for people to start taking responsibility for their own health. In my office, I emphasize lifestyle changes so that the patient can stay well and continue to improve far beyond just when their symptoms have subsided.
I love helping and being with people. Two weeks ago I had a new patient step into my office complaining about migraine headaches. But they weren't just migraine headaches they were debilitating headaches that he was experiencing at least three times a week for the last thirty three years. The patient was only thirty five. He had tried everything including, transcranial electric shock treatment (which I wasn't even aware that the medical profession was still doing). He has had one headache in the last two weeks after starting care. And although this is a great story, what saddens me is that he had to wait thirty three years to find out that chiropractic could work for him. Which is why I am such a huge proponent of getting your family checked today.
My practice especially caters to families and sports injuries. I have four children and have always loved sports and so my practice has become a natural extension of that.
The greatest gift I received at chiropractic college was meeting my wife. She has showed me things I never thought possible and has taught me, though painfully at times, to be a better version of me.
One of my greatest lessons was the joy of having children. Having children was never really all that important to me, I just thought that one day, when I got married I'd have a couple kids, you know, to continue the species. But when I met Carrie and she told me she wanted SIX! I thought...really...really?! Now having had children, I tell people they are the one thing I never knew I always wanted. They are an adventure I never knew could be so exciting. They make me look at and understand the world in a brighter and fuller way. And so for now, we've stopped at four, which seems to be a good number for us.
In my spare time (if there is such a thing), and we're not watching the latest Barbie movie or an episode of Diego, my wife and my job falls more into line with being a bus driver. We're either carting the kids to a play date, dance or karate class, cub scout meeting or some kind of sport practice. As a child and young adult, I was an avid sports nut, watching the games and playing soccer, basketball and baseball right through high school. I find it amazing how little those things now have an impact on me since having children when they use to be all that life was. (I especially like going over to my parents' house and watching my father get upset, as I once did, as the New York Giants blow another lead, and I think to myself "this in no way will effect me tomorrow, why do I care?").
The children are starting to get old enough where they can do some really neat things with us. Hiking has always been part of our lifestyle, but now we've started with canoe trips, and fishing, and bicycling and hopefully this summer, an overnight backpacking trip. I also love going into New York City for museums or to walk around Central Park or the zoo or Toys R Us or there are a million things. Island Beach State Park is another favorite spot for us along with the Mohonk Mountain House in upstate New York.
Personally, I receive an adjustment once per week. Talking about getting adjusted with my staff, the time you really notice how great you feel under chiropractic care the most, is when you haven't been adjusted in a while. But getting adjusted is only the core to any well rounded healthy lifestyle.
One of the biggest challenges my patients face is that they don't have the time to live healthy and exercise. "You can never have the time, unless you TAKE the time." I have four kids and I don't have "the time" either, but I've made a habit of going to bed early so that I can get up early, and exercise is how I start off my day. I have a morning routine that includes exercise, meditation, reviewing my goals, affirmations, journaling, visualization and reading something that empowers me.
The last component of my health that I focus on are my eating habits. I drink half my body weight, in ounces, everyday and I consume eight to nine servings of fruit and vegetables everyday. I take vitamin supplements also just for insurance.
"When you love what you do, you don't work a day in your life." I haven't had to go to work in many years because of people like you. Our practice only attracts the highest quality patients and myself and my staff are dedicated to the service of those patients. Give our Sparta office a call, or email us by clicking the link below, and take your first step toward better health with better service.