A breakthrough in light therapy has arrived!

Chiropractors are increasingly familiar with the benefits and power of light therapies.  In fact, LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy), or Cold Laser, has been around for several years, and has found its way into many chiropractic clinics.  However, there is still a lot of contention about which devices are best, mostly centering around the tech specs of wavelength and power.  Currently, the Vielight comes in a 633nm, 655nm, and 810nm model.  I think we can all agree - red light therapies are here to stay, and they have a lot of promise for impacting the health of our patients. 

The unique attribute that Vielight brings to the table is its intranasal delivery.  This is one of those times where you ask yourself, "why didn't I think of that"?  Direct access to the capillary beds via the mucous membranes is obviously going to provide superior delivery of the energy from the light.  In addition, the proximity to the brain is a "no-brainer".  While research is still fairly new, it does appear that these light therapies may be able to help many of the age-related neurological disorders, so this seems like a real cause for hope in some of the stubborn conditions we face as chiropractors.  

OK, so the idea to access the circulation via the nose is brilliant, but what else makes these devices appealing?   There are several key points we really appreciated about the Vielight devices:

1)  Cost - they are able to keep the cost reasonable - so much so, that these are even accessible to many of your patients.  While many "cold laser" companies are charging tens of thousands of dollars for their proprietary machines, Vielight has kept their pricing fair and consistent at just a couple Benjamins.  Now, it is fair to say that there are less lights/LED's and hardware involved in these units, but we still feel warm and fuzzy knowing we can offer these to a wide array of patients.  

2) Ease of use -  Clinicians are busy, so we need devices that have simple setup.  You could incorporate these into other treatment protocols, rent them out to patients, or just refer them for a purchase.  They come with an automatic timer, so they won't drain the battery, and a beep to notify you that the treatment is completed. Just clip it to your nose, push the button, and watch your nose light up like Rudolph.  

3) Durability - while these are small and fairly delicate devices, they seem to hold up really well.  They have an intuitive design, and only require one double AA battery - a nice feature, since many rechargeable units have batteries that aren't replaceable.  We left our units idle for several weeks, and when we fired them back up, they didn't skip a beat. 

Of course nothing is perfect, and our goal here at ChiroHub is to always find ways to improve upon the innovative products we improve.  Many companies have taken our recommendations to heart and updated their products to a new and improved model.  We feel honored by that.  So, what do we think you'll complain about with Vielight intranasal red lights?

1) You're not going to become a millionaire by selling or promoting these devices.  While many chiropractors are looking for additional revenue streams in their clinic, this will not be a major source.  Rather, we think it will set you apart, and it should enhance your outcomes, which means more happy patients and referrals.  

2) We had a few patients gripe about the nose piece being uncomfortable.  While it isn't terrible, they were definitely happy to pull it off when the treatment session concluded.  

3) We'd love to see one device that let you switch between different light sources/wavelengths.  This would allow patients the opportunity to target different conditions.  

All in all, we think the Vielight deserves the ChiroHub Seal of Approval for its innovative design, safety, and accessibility.  We really encourage you to look into red light therapies and how they can improve patient outcomes.  Stay ahead of this curve, because its future is bright ;)  

Designed to help those suffering from diastasis recti, the Tupler Techniqe was designed by Julie Tupler, RN. Diastasis recti, a separation of the rectus abdominis muscle into right and left halves, often goes misdiagnosed or undiagnosed in many patients. Due to this, many people unnecessarily suffer for years, thinking that the “mummy tummy” they are enduring or the “beer belly” they have acquired is simply something they need to live with. Now due to this exciting new program, the Tupler Technique, patients can help close up their diastasis recti through utilizing the core principles of the program. This is accomplished by performing the unique exercises specifically designed to strengthen the transverse muscles, and by wearing Tupler’s specialized splint to hold the diastasis closer together, thus allowing the tissue to repair in proper fashion. This brace also provides the patient’s core with greater stability and support.

Diagnosing a diastasis recti is fairly simple. Have the patient lie down supine on your table, with legs flat or a small pillow under their knees. Then have them slowly flex at the trunk, as if doing a situp. You can then palpate above and below the umbilicus along the midline. A mild DR would be only a finger or two wide, while a larger DR might be several fingers wide and show the contents of the abdominal cavity pushing through (think a large hernia here).

In her program, Julie Tupler lays out specific breathing and core exercises over the course of 6-18 weeks depending on the size and severity of the diastasis (but the principles and exercises of the program should be utilized into daily living thereafter). Patients can choose a variety of ways to utilize the Tupler Technique, including becoming a member of an online support group, signing up for individual support sessions with Julie, and attending seminars. Most patients, however, would probably choose to follow the program in the comfort of their own home by purchasing one of the packages that includes the Diastasis Rehab CD, Tupler Technique Guidebook, and Diastasis Rehab Splint. The CD is very specific and easy to follow, although some of our patients described the CD as “too technical” or “too detailed” for them to follow on their own without a medical professional or support staff to guide in the beginning. Because of the specifics of it and the importance of utilizing the correct technique when doing the exercises, Julie has trained many licensed professionals who are located nationwide to offer individual or group training in the technique.  

In our small patient population who followed the Tupler Technique, there were great results when the patient carried out the program exactly and wore the associated brace. The exercises are fairly simple, but do require quite a commitment to remember to do them three times a day as suggested. This was the biggest complaint from patients trying to follow the program is that they could not keep up with its demands every day. Overall though this program is highly effective when performed properly, easy for patients to do on an individual basis, and can fit into any budget with most packages coming in at just under $80. We at Chirohub, certainly think it should be a tool chiropractors have in their toolkit for recommending to patients with obvious deconditioning of the core and/or a diastasis recti.

For more information, please visit http://www.diastasisrehab.com

	We all know that every chiropractic table gets a lot of wear and tear, and many start to really show it. Cracks, rips, and holes in your table aren’t a welcome sight; however, when your patient realizes you expect them to lie down on that same surface to get relief. Here comes Nuvaply Tear Care patches to save your table and your reputation as well. Made from a durable, high grade proprietary vinyl, Nuvaply patches are designed in a variety of colors as well as patterns so you can repair any damage to your table in a quick and cost-effective way.
A few things we like about Nuvaply patches is that they obviously look more professional than some of the self repair jobs we’ve seen consisting of duct tape or super glue or even lower quality repair kits. We also appreciate that we don’t have to take our table anywhere to have it repaired, thus decreasing any clinic downtime. Time is money, so this cost savings alone warrants consideration. At just under $40, the Nuvaply patch system will add years of life to your table at a fraction of the price and also seems very durable. After over a month of testing the product, we have found that the patch looks in the same new condition it did when we first put it on. You can feel confident when you use these products that the patch is durable and will withstand the everyday wear and tear of a busy practice.
BEFORE	AFTER

One thing we did not like about the patches was the patterned option. We wanted our patch job to blend in, not stand out. Nuvaply does offer a few solid colors (black, grey, & blue) but we would like to see a more expansive color palate to match the wide array of vinyl colors you see in tables. With your main patch though, Nuvaply does provide accent patches so you can attempt to make the patch look like it’s an intentional patterned part of the table. Another feature that they recently rolled out, is that you can make your logo into a patch – again making it look like it was meant to be there and not that it’s a patch job over a crack or tear.   Overall, a patch is still a patch and it definitely can’t beat a new reupholster job or brand new table, but we find the Nuvaply Tear Care patches to be an economical, quick, and professional-looking way to repair a tear, crack, or hole. To find out more information go to www.nuvaply.com.

We are excited to bring you another Chiropractic Product Review from Chirohub.com, the leading product review site for chiropractors and alternative healthcare professionals. Our team has been putting Vestopia’s “Mom’s Utility Vest” to the test, a practical vest designed by a mom for moms (although we think many others could benefit from these as well). In a nutshell, Vestopia provides an ergonomic option for busy moms to carry all of their baby gear, anything from bottles, snacks, diapers to an EpiPen (yes, the vests even come standard with 2 insulated pockets). No more carrying a heavy diaper bag or purse for all of your belongings. Not only is this a major annoyance when you have other items to carry like groceries or shopping bags, but carrying a one-strap diaper bag has also been shown to be tough on your alignment, furthering any muscle hypertonicity in the upper trap. This asymmetry can lead to muscle tension and headaches. Neck and back pain can emerge just from the continual wear and tear of day-to-day poor choices, such as carrying a heavy diaper bag on one shoulder (and often it is carried on the same shoulder, worsening any possible conditions).

We have reviewed the Vestopia product throughout day-to-day excursions and have found it to be a useful tool, especially for Moms, but even for anyone who wants to get rid of their purse (or man’s bag) to be more ergonomic. We particularly liked how many pockets there were to hold keys, wallet, snacks, bottle, diapers, toys, and even an iPad fit in the back zipper pocket. Our patient panel felt ready to take on the day and prepared for any need from children, themselves, or even a fellow shopper down the aisle of the grocery store. The useful pockets free up your hands to allow better multi-tasking – a job all too common for Moms. We liked how there was no bag to worry about when chasing a toddler down the shoe aisle or while carrying groceries in from the car. And although this product was not tested while traveling through an airport, we are looking forward to take it there on our next excursion because of its many hands-free benefits (and it even has a secure pockets on the inside especially designed for a passport or other important documents, wallet and keys).

Even more important than the useful pockets and compartments, we enjoyed the ergonomics of this product. Oftentimes, diaper bags produce an uneven gait and posture, thus exacerbating a current back or neck issue, or even instigating a new alignment problem with resulting pain. The vest even has a pocket in the low back area where patients can put a small pillow or shirt for lumbar support while sitting so even if you weren’t interested in the other features of Vestopia, this feature alone makes it worth the purchase, especially for those suffering from low back pain. And the way you can evenly distribute your keys, phone, wallet, and other items that can otherwise unevenly weigh you down in a purse, makes for such even distribution that you hardly even notice you’re carrying anything – even heavier items like a filled bottle or an iPad. After wearing the unit for a few weeks, you develop a system to remember where everything goes, so you don’t spend precious time searching the many pockets.

The only aspects of Vestopia we did not like were that it did become a little bulky (depending on what/how much you put in the pockets) and it got a little warm on a very hot day (this could have been because those testing it were also chasing around toddlers). The fabric is cotton-nylon, breathable, washable and strong and for all but the hottest of days it’s very wearable and comfortable. (In cooler weather of course, just don layers.) If one were to utilize all the available pockets to the maximum possible, it could become a bit of an obstacle to carry around, rather than the luxury it is intended to be. Overall, this product is definitely one that you can suggest to your patients. For these reasons, the Vestopia Mom’s Utility Vest gets our ChiroHub seal of approval. We would highly recommend it to the busy mom, the standard shopper needing a few extra hands, and anyone suffering from low back pain needing lumbar support. For more information and to order this product, check it out at www.vestopiaclothes.com.