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Peer Influence Strongest in Teams

By On · Add Comment · In adolescent, athletics, middle-school, peer influence, smoking, sports, University of Southern California

Listen up parents: Sports participation may keep your adolescent child from smoking.

Listen up parents: Sports participation may lead your  adolescent child to smoke…especially your daughter.

Huh?

That’s right–both are conclusions of a recent study on peer influence conducted out of the University of Southern California. According to the research, middle-school children involved in organized sports were less likely to smoke than their peers. Nice. However, if their teammates smoked, then preteens were more likely to do the same, and the results were more pronounced among girls. Talk about smelling like team spirit.

Researchers questioned 1,260 sixth through eighth graders about their smoking behavior. The children were middle class, lived in urban areas and ethnically diverse.

The researchers concluded that peer leaders, especially in athletics, could help influence kids to avoid the stinky habit.

“Current guidelines recommend the use of peer leaders selected within the class to implement such programs,” said Kayo Fujimoto, the study leader. “The findings of this study suggest that peer-led interactive programs should be expanded to include sports teams as well.”

No doubt individuals of a group are going to influence one another–it’s called group cohesiveness. And no group more cohesive than the athletic team.

It really does make sense, then, to address health issues with both girls and boys as a team. If you can get through to one, you might just be getting through to all. But I am certain it’s best to start teaching ’em young, and to not be too obtrusive about it. Anything pushed too hard on the adult end is bound to stir curiosity. Listen, if my parents and teachers said it was bad, then it was good as far as I was concerned.

A better approach is to teach children about various health risks–like smoking, boozing, or sex (especially unprotected)–by just giving them the facts, without added emotion. This is smokers lung, girls; and this here is the result of a drunk driving accident; and over here we’ve got syphilis…and so on. Trust that kids will come to their own conclusions, and believe me, if a few on the team get it, then they probably all will.

But mostly it starts in the home, folks. If you smoke, your kid will probably smoke too. If you drink soda, your kid will probably drink soda. And on and on…

Remember, there’s no I in team, dammit. So teaching the kids, especially peer groups, about healthy habits, without shoving it down their throats, will likely get through the best. Good work, team.

LT–Find a Chiropractor!

By On · Add Comment · In chiropractic, chiropractor, Dallas Cowboys, Dancing with the Stars, Emmitt Smith, injuries, Ladanian Tomlinson, NFL, San Diego Chargers, sports, The Six Keys to Optimal Health

Just heard on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, the analysis show preceding Monday Night Football: NFL analyst and Former Dallas Cowboy running back (and Dancing with the Stars champ) Emmitt Smith giving current San Diego Charger LaDainian Tomlinson advice on how to bounce back from injuries and prolong his career, the wise Mr. Smith suggests trying chiropractic.Yes! You heard right. From one future Hall of Famer to another, chiropractic is the way to go to stay healthy, strong, and preserve one’s skills in a highly demanding and physically grueling sport.

Woowee! What a plug for chiropractic! Why am I so ecstatic? Because what we’ve mostly heard in the past about chiropractic from major media outlets has been less than gracious. But now a major sports star with mass appeal says on national television to go see a chiropractor, and I say bravo.

If you don’t know who Emmitt Smith is, suffice it to say that he is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl winner. He’s a league MVP and a Super Bowl MVP. It doesn’t get much better than that. And Mr. Smith danced his way into the general public’s consciousness when, in 2006, he won the third season of Dancing with the Stars.

If you’ve read my book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, then you know what Emmitt Smith has said about chiropractic, “After that season (where he was hobbled by a hamstring injury), I decided to invest in me, to keep me going.” He went on to say, “You can have a Ferrari body, but your wheels need balancing. I felt if I took care of my body, I could still function when I got older.” So Emmitt Smith chose chiropractic, and he’s encouraging LaDainian Tomlinson to do the same.

And I’m encouraging all of you to do the same too. If you want to live pain free, with proper biomechanical functioning, and optimal overall health, choose chiropractic–it works!

Mixed Martial Arts Champ Jake Shields Thanks Chiro

By On · Add Comment · In athletes, chiropractor, EliteXC, fighter, health, In Motion Chiropractic, Jake Shields, mixed martial arts, sports, welterweight
Minutes after winning the EliteXC welterweight championship Saturday night, mixed martial arts fighter Jake Shields thanked his chiropractor at In Motion Chiropractic. Booyah!!!

That’s right! When you want to function at your optimal best and reach the top of your game, look no farther than your neighborhood chiropractic office. Elite athletes like the spry Mr. Shields choose chiropractic as a way to maintain their health and gain an edge in their sports. This was evident in the rapid defeat of Nick “The Goat” Thompson within 1:03 of the start of the bout Saturday night. Shields used a modified guillotine choke to subdue the burly Thompson. It was a quick and decisive victory for Shields who is now 21-4-1.

Good job, Jake, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from a regular chiropractic client. You know that chiropractic is the quintessential body-care system for great health and functioning. You join the ranks of other elite athletes who have been using chiropractic to keep their million dollar bodies lean, mean and firing sharp machines. This list includes:

And now the tough-as-nails Jake Shields. Congratulations on the big win, Jake! And congratulations for using chiropractic–you know the power. Smart man.

An Abdominal Matter

By On · Add Comment · In abdominals, chiropractic, chiropractor, core, hip flexors, pain, sports

Here goes something interesting: I’ve been experiencing an unusual pain in my midsection for about a month now. It’s not the first time, either. I started experiencing the same thing several months ago, but it went away. So, naturally, being a chiropractic sports physician, I’m wondering what the heck is going on.

First, I thought it might be tight hip flexors since I do a lot of sitting when I write and my chair is not the greatest; that means, like everybody, I start to slouch as I get tired. So I see my chiropractor and have some hip flexor work done, but the pain doesn’t go away.

Then I realize that I haven’t been working out my abdominal muscles lately, as I’ve been focusing on my core. But, guess what? A strong core doesn’t mean the abs can be neglected. Ah yes, I see. Much of what I learn about the body I learn on myself. Abs are important.

I’ve worked on my abs for years, understanding their function. Yet, for some reason, over the last several months I’ve neglected them assuming that my abdominal core workout would be sufficient. Big mistake. I’ve revisited my usual abdominal workout and, lo and behold, my midsection pain has gone away. Interesting.

So listen to what I say here: A strong core also needs conditioned abdominals; otherwise, too much pressure is placed on the hip flexors and the other muscles of the abdominal core. You don’t have to experience it on your own to get it. Learn from my experience. I make it my business to understand the human body as best I can. And I can then pass that info on to you. So work out your core and your abs. That’ll keep you working well for years–guaranteed.

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