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The secret that golf competitors don’t want you to know. – Dr. Lou – Portland, Maine

March 12, 2024

Professional golfers can benefit from chiropractic care in several ways:  Injury Prevention and Treatment – Spinal Alignment: Regular chiropractic care helps maintain proper spinal alignment, reducing the risk of developing extra tension in the back and preventing injuries caused by golf swings[1]. – Muscle Balance: Dr. Lou’s (chiropractors) work on muscular balance and movement assessments to identify and address asymmetries in the body before they become problematic, particularly for avid golfers who may experience repetitive stress injuries[1]. – Joint Health: Chiropractic adjustments can restore and enhance flexibility, which is crucial for golfers to achieve a smoother and more powerful swing[8].  Performance Enhancement – Improved Swing Mechanics: Proper spine and posture, achieved through chiropractic care, can help golfers swing better and hit the ball more effectively[2]. – Increased Strength: Chiropractic care can align the nervous system, improving the body’s ability to receive signals and thus enhancing strength, speed, and accuracy in golf[3]. – Greater Flexibility and Range of Motion: Chiropractors can prevent or fix subluxations (misalignments), improving a golfer’s flexibility and range of motion, which are essential for power and accuracy[3].  Holistic Health Benefits – Blood Flow and Oxygenation: Chiropractic adjustments can boost blood flow, bringing more oxygen to muscles...

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Preparing your body for skiing in Maine. Prepare for skiing in Maine with Chiropractic care.

October 30, 2023

Prepare for Skiing in Maine, with Dr. Lou! Call 207 774-6251. Back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, accidents, injuries, performance, balance, speed and coordination.

Skiing in Maine is only fun if you can actually go. If you can’t stand up, look down, turn your head, lift your leg, sleep, or drive your car… You won’t be able to ski. Seeing a chiropractor before the ski season can offer several potential benefits, especially if you have pre-existing musculoskeletal issues or want to optimize your physical condition for skiing. Here are some potential benefits of seeing a chiropractor before hitting the slopes: Pain Relief:Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, and joint discomfort. They do this without the use of drugs or surgery. If you have any pre-existing pain or discomfort, a chiropractor can help alleviate these issues, making your ski experience more enjoyable. Improved Joint Mobility: Chiropractic adjustments can enhance joint mobility, particularly in the spine, hips, and knees. Improved joint mobility can enhance your range of motion and flexibility, which is beneficial for skiing. Improved joint mobility may also lead to better stability and coordination of your body’s position and responsiveness. Spinal joints have lots of position receptors. Enhanced Balance and Coordination: Chiropractic care can help improve your proprioception (your body’s sense of its position...

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Sailing And Back Pain in Maine. Dr. Lou on Casco Bay!

April 17, 2023

Sailing and back pain in Maine. Sailing off the coast of Maine is a fantastic activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It offers a unique experience that can be both exhilarating and relaxing, and allows you to connect with the water in a way that few other activities can. However, like any sport or physical activity, sailing can also come with its own set of risks and challenges. One such challenge is back pain. Back pain is a common problem that affects millions of people around the world. Over 80% of Americans experience severe back pain at least once in their lifetime, often more. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture, muscle strain, and even stress. While it can be a minor inconvenience for some, for others, it can be debilitating and significantly impact their quality of life. For sailors, back pain can be a particular concern, as the nature of the activity can put significant strain on the back muscles and spine. Chiropractors are spine and nerve experts that use gentle adjustments to optimize function and performance in the spine, nervous system and everything that the nerves...

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Better Stretching with PNF! Hamstring Miracles Happen!

December 20, 2021

PNF stretching - Hamstrings. With Aaron Vela. (207)774-6251

PNF Stretching: A Better Way to Stretch What is PNF? PNF stands for Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and it’s an advanced form of stretching that is very effective for increasing your range of motion. How does it work? The stretching essentially involves 3 basic steps that can be applied to any muscle that needs stretching, especially before and after a physically demanding activity. The stretching utilizes reflexes in the muscles, as well as excitatory and inhibitory signals in the muscle being stretched, and the muscle opposing the stretch. You can think of it as stretching the involved muscle, then contracting the muscle without moving it, then stretching the target muscle again,  increasing your range of motion. The technique has long been used by athletes across the world for improving flexibility quickly, safely, and very effectively. How do I do it? It’s easy. This stretching technique can be applied to any muscle! Just apply these steps. Step 1: Stretch the muscle as you normally would for about 6-10 seconds. Step 2: Relax the stretch, but now concentrically contract the muscle for about 6 seconds (flex the muscle without bending the joint). Step 3: Relax the contraction, but now re-stretch the muscle...

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Acupuncture for knee pain.

June 3, 2020

Acupuncture for knee pain works. Call Dr. Lou at Jacobs Chiropractic Acupuncture, where he has been using acupuncture and chiropractic care for knee problems in Maine for over 17 years. Call (207) SPINAL 1

What Should You Expect From Acupuncture For Knee Pain? Knee pain is a very common problem, with a large number of common causes. Foot and hip problems, ankle injuries,  degeneration in the knees, meniscus tears, ACL issues are all very common. When getting help for knee pain, you should expect the following from acupuncture and from the practitioner:  A thorough examination of the knees and other structures commonly associated with causing knee pain. A thorough discussion about your history and current activities that are stressful on not only the knees,  but structures and other joints commonly implicated in knee pain. Scanning,  testing and evaluation of your feet and ankles. These structures have a direct impact on knee alignment,  structure, wear and tear, and integrity. Tools and techniques should be given to you to reduce inflammation and stress in and around your knees. An anti-inflammatory diet and supplement protocol should be implemented and directed by your doctor. Structural issues that impact knees, like ankle, hip, pelvis and back problems should be addressed with structural alignment (adjustment) techniques. Acupuncture for knee pain should be directed at your knees from a “western medical acupuncture” approach,  as well as a traditional Chinese medicine...

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How to use a foam roller on your back muscles.

January 15, 2019

Foam roller tips from Dr. Lou - Foam roller expert. Portland, Maine.

Using a foam roller on the muscles of your back is good. We humans are just like pasta dough. The more we knead and roll ourselves out, the softer and more adaptable we become.  (Learn how to make pasta dough with Dr. Lou) The majority of our patients have extremely tight muscles alongside the spine. Typically, the only way for them to make headway on “paraspinal muscle tension” is to get very frequent massages or to do something at home, like use a foam roller on a daily basis.  A quick stretch or massage a month is not going to do the trick. Muscle tone doesn’t change that easily, particularly when your daily activities are contributing to the tension in the first place (work, childcare, etc).   What does using a foam roller do for you? Using a foam roller improves blood flow to the muscle, tenderizes and loosens the muscle, it improves flexibility and reduces the risk of injury. It only takes a few minutes a day and it may have a profound impact on the health of the muscles of your back. But for the cost of the roller, it’s free. What does using a foam roller potentially...

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You can’t run. Running is your life. HELP!

November 30, 2018

If running is your life, but injury or pain has taken it away from you, there is hope and potential if you learn about your options and take action. Call Dr. Lou today for help getting back to your love. (207) SPINAL 1

Is not being able to run because of injury or pain, ruining your quality of life? Running is the chosen exercise for millions of people around the world. It keeps us thin, keeps our minds clear and focused, it keeps our heart and lungs healthy, and without it, we feel ourselves starting to “lose it!” So what do you do if you can’t run? Running requires energy, strength, cardiovascular endurance and structural integrity. The majority of runners have the energy, strength and cardio capacity to get out there. Where running enthusiasts most often fall short is in the “structural integrity” department. What exactly is structural integrity? In a living, moving human, it is the nerves, muscles (and other soft tissue), and skeleton (joints) working in concert with one another. It is this harmonious environment, that the physical stress of running will have the least likelihood of causing longterm damage or injury to the nerves, soft tissue, skeleton and joints. You can have misalignment and damage in the spine, hips, pelvis, knees, ankles and other weight bearing joints without feeling pain. Until the problem gets bad enough to cause pain, you won’t see it coming. Once it hurts, you may...

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The End Of Dr. Lou’s Weight Loss Challenge! A Weight Loss Revolution!

December 5, 2017

Change Your Life, Call Dr. Lou today! (207) 774-6251

Dr. Lou’s Weight Loss Challenge Has Died From Complications Of Obesity. A personal message from Dr. Lou. That’s Right, but there’s great news. The three month challenge that has led to hundreds of people losing thousands of pounds is taking a break this year. Over the years we’ve given away thousands of dollars and helped dozens of people take off tremendous weight and keep it off. As otherwise motivated participants became less engaged in the process (Free Classes, Workshops, etc) and subsequently were less successful in the program, I started strategizing better, more effective ways of helping people get in shape. I wanted to continue to use the valuable information and tools we’ve used in the challenge. This has led me back to the most successful plan of action I know. For over 15 years I have been privately coaching people to better fitness and weight loss. One on One attention appears to be what works best for my clients and it allows them to comfortably work through weight loss without the involvement of distracting group meetings and generalized plans. Our program was overweight with options and I’ve decided to slim things down. I will be reinvesting my time...

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Five Rules to Lose Belly Fat For Summer!

April 5, 2017

Losing belly fat is simple with the right plan. 5 Rules, 1 plan. Dr. Lou knows how to help you get things done. Dr. Lou has helped hundreds of people lose thousands of pounds with his coaching based on truth, hard work, strategy and positivity. It only takes one call. Do it today. Life is short. (207) 774-6251. Coaching client availability is limited.

Belly Fat Guaranteed To Go Away IF You Follow The Rules. Want to lose an inch off your waistline in a few weeks or less? If you follow the rules, there is almost no way that you will not succeed in losing belly fat. In fact, I would argue that it is impossible to fail if you follow these rules. I’ve done it myself, I’ve helped others do it, and it will work for anyone who has “had enough”. Low Carb Diet: No alcohol, no pasta, no sugar. The only carbs you can eat are those in greens. Eat lean meats like fish and chicken. Exercise: Cardio for an hour 4 times a week. 20 minutes of weights or resistance exercises for the large muscle groups 4-5 times a week. What are the large muscle groups? Back, chest, arms, legs. Exercises? Push ups, bicep curls, seated rows, tricep push downs, squats with or without weight. Sleep: Get a lot of sleep. 8 hours a night minimum. Feeding Frequency: Sounds like you’re being treated like a baby? Kind of. Eat small quantities every two hours. Don’t miss a beat. Too much trouble? Don’t lose weight, or exercise more, your choice. Prep meals a couple nights a...

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Can I foam roll too much? Can I use my Theracane too much? Dr. Lou’s answers from Portland, Maine.

February 23, 2017

Can you use a foam roller too much? How about a Theracane? Your answers and an explanation here. Call Dr.Lou. Best Chiropractor in Portland, Maine. Call Dr. Lou at (207) 774-6251.

Can I foam roll too much? Is this too much Theracane? Foam rollers and Theracanes (Watch this Theracane video!) are fantastic for tenderizing your muscles, reducing inflammation, reducing adhesions, improving blood flow and promotion of healing. Like with many things, too much is not always a good thing. You can cause tissue damage if you over do it. Typically, there are warning signs of using a foam roller to much or over using the Theracane. Feeling bruised, seeing bruising or experiencing physical weakness in the area is a sign to take a break and give your muscles a chance to heal. Sometimes taking a break will actually speed up the process and get you where you want to be sooner. Making mistakes with foam rolling will potentially lead to more issues. It’s often a bad idea to use a foam roller directly on the injured body part. It’s a bad idea to roll too quickly! Careless rolling is more likely to cause harm. Speed and connective tissue aren’t a good mix, you should roll slowly. Fast rolling doesn’t relax tissue like foam rolling does. With a Theracane, it’s important that you not push too hard, you don’t apply pressure for...

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