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September 2006

Developing a patient wellness program

by Dr. Dennis Nikitow

Many patients are becoming aware of the wellness paradigm and are interested in a wellness plan for their health. What is a wellness program and does it fit within the subluxation‑based model of practice?

First, let's define what wellness is.

I searched for a definition of wellness and couldn't find one, so I made one that I feel fits this paradigm and can be utilized by everyone. Wellness is "maintaining certain actions to prevent illness and injury." Simple, yet concise.

Wellness is really based on the prevention and maintenance concept of health care. Chiropractors are in the prime position to introduce this to the public, because it reflects our philosophy and principles. However, the public needs to understand how chiropractic fits into wellness and why they need a chiropractor on their health care team.

If patients want wellness as their model of health care, they need to start by understanding the four essentials of health. I introduced this concept to our profession in the late '80s and wrote a pamphlet that we give to every new patient to begin their repositioning process to wellness and chiropractic. These are essential to life so they have to be essential for health.

The first one is food. Teaching patients proper nutrition should be a part of every DC's practice. Stop eating, you die. Eat poorly, your health potential decreases no matter how many adjustments you get. Digestion is said to require the most energy and can be one of the greater stresses the body endures on a daily basis. By eating right, stress is minimized and the body's longevity enforced. The nervous system is so dependant on good nutrition. Aberrant nerve activity results in altered immune function, hormonal production, and postural alignment which can be a result of poor nutrition.

Numerous studies are linking excitotoxins, omega 3's, preservatives, dyes and carbohydrate intolerance to altered nerve activity. It's imperative for patients to hold their adjustments, to eliminate "autointoxication" from poor nutrition.

Water is the next essential. We need to emphasize the need for hydration to eliminate toxins, and allow the body to carry on its proper reactions. Remember, the body is 70% water. Water is needed for everything from nerve transmission and muscle contraction, to elimination. Emphasize plain water, not Gatorade, lemonade or scotch and water!

Oxygen is obvious as an essential. Aerobic exercise helps improve utilization of oxygen and insures better overall function.

When introducing nerve impulse as the last essential of health, ask the patient what needs to stop for a person to be declared dead. The brain impulse. If this impulse is interfered with by subluxations, the body doesn't function at its optimum health potential.

When patients see research supporting our principle and philosophy and this is coupled with testimonials of improved wellness, they'll add chiropractic to their health care team. Emphasizing the core philosophy and getting patients to understand there's a normal spinal model assures they'll correct their spine then maintain it to maximize nerve integrity for optimum health potential.

Putting these components together will insure a stable wellness program your patients will follow, and will fit into a subluxation‑based model of chiropractic.