Tag: Steven Rigler

Mistakes to Avoid When Using a Recreational Vehicle

Recreational vehicle (RV) camping has become popular, especially for people interested in exploring the outdoors. While RVs offer freedom and adventure, travelers can also face challenges when using them. Knowing how to prepare adequately can help RV travelers avoid a lot of unnecessary inconveniences. For instance, failure to purchase the right RV that meets individual needs can negatively affect travel. Some new RV buyers fail to check key information such as weight and towing capacities, causing a mismatch between a new trailer and the tow vehicle. Shopping for an RV should be first guided by needs and not wants.

Failure to plan for a trip can ruin the success of an RV camping trip. It’s good to research and learn about the different types of RVs, their unique features, and capabilities. Before planning an RV trip, ensure the selected RV is suitable for the route selected and campsites to be visited. It’s best to map out RV-friendly roads and plan where to stop. Prior research avoids situations where RV travelers find themselves on steep roads or low-clearance tunnels. Additionally, travelers should have a backup plan for routes, accommodation facilities, and activities in the event the original plan doesn’t work.

Failure to level the RV as needed can lead to several complications. When an RV is not level, it can cause sleeping discomfort, compromise mobility, and make it hard to cook inside the RV. Unlevel RVs can also affect appliances such as fridges which can fail to cool properly if an RV tilts. Additionally, water can pool in some areas which can cause leaks and water damage including molds.

An Overview of CalChiro Membership Plans

California Chiropractic Association (CalChiro) is mandated to empower doctors of chiropractic to boost the quality of life for all California residents. CalChiro offers members different membership packages which provide members with various types of benefits. The following are some of the common types of CalChiro membership:

All Access – Doctor of Chiropractic Group

The All Access membership grants Doctor of Chiropractic the benefits associated with Elite Membership and one event per year. Some of the benefits include Member Voting Privileges (those with an active California license), The Weekly Newsletter (TWA), discounts on products, services, and supplies, free classified ads on the CalChiro website, and members-only online resources. Other benefits associated with the $1,099 annual package include advocacy/lobbying, as well as discount pricing, and early pricing alerts to register for the annual conference and other seminars.

Elite – Doctor of Chiropractic Group

The Elite – Doctor of Chiropractic Group members enjoy numerous benefits such as The Weekly Newsletter (TWA), advocacy/lobbying, discounts on services, supplies, and products, and inclusion in CalChiro’s find-a-doctor site accessible by patients. Other benefits associated with this membership include members-only online resources, complimentary membership to the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) and referral search engine listing, help desk support, and a billing, coding, and compliance helpdesk. Elite – Doctor of Chiropractic Group membership costs $816.72 per year.

New Practitioner Year 1 Membership Group

The All Access membership group is granted to First Year Practitioners and includes Elite Membership benefits and an additional one event per calendar year. Some of the benefits include advocacy/lobbying, free webinars and online CE (continuing education), free classified ads on the CalChiro website, and voting privileges (members with active California licenses). This membership which costs $427.32 per year, also provides one SWAG-free clothing item each year and Express Check-in at CalChiro Events.

Congress Reintroduces Bill to Boost Medicare to Chiropractic Services

On January 16, 2025, bipartisan legislation boosted patient access to Medicare-covered services offered by chiropractic doctors in the US in the House and Senate. The reintroduction of HR 539/S 106 – The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act will lower barriers that hinder access to care and enable seniors and other beneficiaries to access various chiropractic services. The Act helps explicitly boost access to evidence-based and non-drug chiropractic approaches to pain management and boost musculoskeletal function.

John Larson (D – Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District) and Gregory Steube (R – Florida’s 17th Congressional District) introduced the bill. Senate sponsors included Richard Blumenthal (D – Senator from Connecticut) and Kevin Cramer (R – Senator from North Dakota). Initial Senate co-sponsors included Tammy Baldwin (D –Wisconsin), Chris Coons (D – Delaware), Martin Heinrich (D – New Mexico), and Amy Klobuchar (D – Minnesota).

For over five decades, Medicare only provided beneficiaries with access to one chiropractic coverage service – manual manipulation of the spine. Patients requiring additional chiropractic services sought them from other providers and paid out-of-pocket expenses, leading to delayed care. The proposed bill aims to align Medicare coverage with other federal programs and private health plans, allowing seniors access to extra chiropractic services such as diagnostic imaging, non-drug therapies, and evaluation and management services.

American Chiropractic Association (ACA) President Leo Bronston expressed gratitude to the bill’s sponsors and co-sponsors, who have chosen to support chiropractors in boosting access to non-drug chiropractic services and helping seniors eliminate or reduce the need for costly interventions such as pain medications and surgery.

A Brief Overview of the Spine in Anatomy

In anatomy, the spine provides a supportive structure that allows humans to stand and stay upright. It also protects the spinal cord, which runs through the spine as a column of nerves and transmits commands and impulses from the brain to the limbs.

The spine spans 24 small vertebral bones stacked on each other in a columnar fashion. A gel-like disc cushions each vertebra and prevents them from rubbing against each other, especially when humans apply pressure to them while completing daily tasks. Ligaments and tendons also help stabilize and link the vertebra. The ligaments fasten bone to bone, while tendons connect muscles to the vertebrae. Finally, the vertebra contains facet joints, which are real joints similar to those in the elbow or knee. These both link bones and provide them with flexibility as the spine bends.

Next, the hole in the middle of each stacked vertebra creates a hollow tube that runs the length of the spine. This tube holds the spinal cord and 31 pairs of outward-running nerve roots, which branch out from the spine on both sides via neural foramina or spaces between the vertebra.

Lastly, the spine has three main sections: the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, and the lumbar spine. The cervical spine comprises the seven upper vertebrae, the thoracic spine, the 12 central vertebrae, the lumbar spine, and the lower five (or six) vertebrae. Below is the sacrum, a specialized vertebrae linking the spine to the pelvis. It fuses in the womb, creating a supportive vertebral bone.

Inflammatory Foods and Drinks to Limit

Chronic inflammation, or inflammation that persists, has links with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as it damages healthy tissues and organs. While acute inflammation acts as a response to infection, pain, or injury, consuming unhealthy foods and drinks can lead to chronic inflammation and exacerbate it. Thus, individuals benefit from limiting specific items, such as meat, ultra-processed foods, and excessive alcohol.

Red and processed meats can elevate liver-produced C-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers. Excess refined carbohydrates, whether in pastries or sugary drinks, boost blood sugar levels, leading to elevated levels of the inflammatory signaling protein cytokine. The unhealthy fats in fried foods, associated with high-temperature cooking processes, contain inflammation-linked advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

In addition, ultra-processed foods, from hot dogs to potato chips, increase the risk of immune dysregulation-linked disorders. Their non-natural preservatives and ingredients, designed to enhance flavor or extend shelf life, often contribute to inflammatory bowel disease and may even trigger autoimmune disease.

Excess alcohol consumption also impairs immune system functioning, leading to chronic inflammation. It may also boost triglycerides or lipids in the blood, increasing heart attack risks. A healthy anti-inflammatory diet emphasizes nutrient-dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and oily fish such as salmon, legumes, and whole grains.