Carrying The Heavy Load

When we were growing up it was the norm to use your locker throughout the day, but today’s kids backpack around their schools. Yet during my near-decade of teaching in the public schools, it didn’t matter how many times I encouraged students to use their lockers—they always said they never had enough time.
Sure, kids need to bring books home to do homework, which is part of the issue: in a recent study published in the American Journal of Family Therapy, students receive three times the recommended load of homework. Still, homework isn’t the ultimate culprit.
Schools give students a very short amount of time to visit lockers in between class changes. Administrators implement this policy not just to maximize time spent in the classroom, but also to help curb tardiness and hallway fights. As a result, students feel they have no choice but to lug around their entire lockers’ worth of books.

The Bigger Problem

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that your child’s backpack never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight, but it seems that students are carrying heavier weights than this on a daily basis.
An MRI Study found that heavy backpacks do contribute to back pain in children. The problem isn’t necessarily with the actual bag, per se; it’s with how heavy the contents are and how a student carries that weight. It’s just common sense, after all: when you put a heavy weight on your back and don’t carry it properly, you’re likely to pull or strain something.

What Parents Can Do

No, you can’t carry your children’s books for them. You’ll fight an uphill battle fighting administration to alter the school schedule to allow for more time between classes (although schools might find a reasonable request to base locker assignments on lunch dismissal classes, giving students a mid-day checkpoint at least to drop off and pick up new books).  So what can you do?

• When you’re out shopping for back-to-school supplies, have your child try on backpacks:  the bag should look proportional to your kid.
• A backpack fits properly when its weight falls between your neck and your waist.
• Look for a bag with wide, padded, shoulder straps and encourage your student to use both of them—the one-shoulder look may feel easier or look “cool,” but it will wreak havoc on your child’s posture and back.
• After that point, buy the smallest lightweight backpack that meets your child’s needs.  Keep in mind that canvas is lighter than leather, and the bigger the bag, the more unnecessary stuff your child can pack into it.
• Teach your child to pack smart:  heaviest books go in first and closest to your back, and only bring home what you need in order to complete your homework.
• Choose a time before the start of a new week (so Friday after school or Sunday night) to have your child clean out their backpacks so he or she isn’t carrying around any unnecessary weight.
• Work with your child to develop a strategy to map out more locker time.  Ideally, he or she could switch out books before the first class, on the way to or out of lunch, on the way to a class, and at the end of the day.

If your child complains about back, neck, or shoulder pain, certainly consider how heavy his or her school bag is, make adjustments, and don’t hesitate to discuss this issue with your general practitioner at the next well visit, or reach out to your local chiropractor.

Good nutrition at school can lead to positive academic performance and healthier bones.

Increased Mental Capacity

Studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Pediatrics, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all concluded that hungry children have lower math scores, are more likely to repeat a grade, and come to school late. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Educational Research concluded that among participating fifth-grade students, the frequency of eating fast food and salty snacks correlated with lower math and reading scores.
Science generally supports the belief that a balanced diet can positively influence the cognitive ability and intelligence levels of school-aged children. It also favors a wider implementation and investment in school nutrition programs that can improve student access to more healthful food choices and translate into higher academic performance and overall enhanced general health.

Better Attendance

Good nutrition helps students arrive at school ready to learn, and because good nutrition helps children maintain good health, students who eat a balanced diet typically have fewer absences and attend class more consistently.
Research has shown that on the average:

• Students who eat school breakfast attend 1.5 more days of school per year than those who do not.
• Students who attend school more regularly are approximately 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school.
• High school graduates earn about $10,090 more per year and have a four percent higher employment rate than those who do not graduate.

Positive Behavior

According to the National Education Association (NEA), studies of school breakfast programs in Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rhode Island have found that students who eat breakfast at school exhibit fewer behavioral and psychological problems.
A 2008 British study found that while nutrition is vital for physical health, it is equally important for mental health, and a diet lacking in essential nutrients is detrimental to the healthy functioning of the brain. Researchers found that a deficiency of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) is associated with certain mental and behavioral disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, dementia, dyspraxia, and an increase in impulsivity and aggressive behavior, although this association is not fully understood.

Stronger, Healthier Bones for Active Students

Healthy eating can also help with the prevention and healing of back pain. Leafy greens like kale and spinach provide calcium to build strong bones, so keeping your fridge stocked with these fresh whole foods will set your kids up for success this school year as they carry heavy backpacks and return to their favorite sports.
Also be aware of your family’s vitamin D intake. According to the National Institutes of Health, a lack of vitamin D can hinder your body from absorbing calcium and cause bones to grow brittle. Try a high-quality supplement or do more outdoor activities to keep your family active and healthy.
Vitamin A can promote bone growth, but if you’re filling your pantry with fortified cereals and certain dietary supplements, you may be consuming the less-preferred form of the vitamin known as Retinol. Too much retinol can actually break bones down, so be sure to eat a variety of dark orange veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots, along with leafy greens like mustard and turnip. These types of fresh foods provide the safer form of vitamin A (beta-carotene) and provide more nutritional content altogether.

Good Nutrition Can Lead to Positive Academic Performance

All children have the potential to achieve in school, but poor nutrition can put them at risk for missing out on this potential. Providing more healthful food choices in school and at home can help position students for a successful academic future.
Image By xixinxing / 123RF Stock Photo.

Keeping a positive attitude is one of the first steps in working through chronic pain.

1) Maintain a Positive Attitude

Try to stay as positive as possible, as hard as this may sound. When positive, your attitude can hasten the healing process and reduce the emotional pain that frequently accompanies an injury. When you’re negative, you can actually slow down the rehabilitation process and end up feeling as bad emotionally as you do physically.

2) Take an Active Part in the Healing Process

Follow the advice of your physician or chiropractor closely, and be as compliant with orders as possible. Practice healing imagery, which is using the mind to help heal your body. Spend at least 5 to 10 minutes a day visualizing your pain diminishing and your back healing. If you work as hard to heal as you did playing your sport, it will make you feel less vulnerable and much more in control.

3) Set New Goals

During the recovery process, you may have to step back and measure your success differently than you used to, based upon your current condition. Focus on getting stronger, not on what you used to be able to do. Once you’re on the road to recovery, you can revisit prior goals and work to maintain your fitness.

4) Practice Mindfulness

Pain creates tension in the body, and the brain responds by amplifying the pain and creating stress, which can aggravate injuries. Mindfulness can stop that cycle by providing a different way to deal with stress. With practice, your pain and suffering may be reduced through mindfulness.

5) Continue to Work Out

Continue to work out if you are able to do so — if not physically, then mentally. Use visualization to mentally see, hear, and feel yourself performing flawlessly. Regular visualization of your skills will keep the neuromuscular connections in your body activated so when you are ready to begin actual workouts, you will be ready to perform.

6) Be Patient

Allow yourself the time to heal properly. If you rush the process, you may be setting yourself up for another, more serious injury that could very well result in even more time spent on the sidelines.
If you are experiencing back pain, contact Tuck Chiropractic Clinic to schedule a consultation. In addition to treatment to help relieve or prevent back pain, our experienced chiropractors can provide expert advice for staying pain-free.
Image by maridav/123RF.

Carpe Diem

If you have a body, you’re an athlete. Just do it. Impossible is nothing. All in. I will.
With the Olympics beginning to fade to a distant memory except for a few, still-bright stars, it’s not quite as easy to get up off the couch and be inspired for your daily run or HIIT routine. When the dog days of summer are upon us, it’s tempting to sit back and let time pass us by. While sportswear slogans like the ones above are calculated for profit, the ideas behind that motivating rhetoric may be just what you need to hustle when everything around you seems to be slumping.

The Advantage

Keys to a successful reboot are simpler than you might think. It’s easy to get caught up in making a creative plan for working out, only working out if all the variables are perfect, or neglecting to think outside the box for getting up and getting out there. In the words of Nike, you have to “just do it.” Here are a few thoughts to ponder as you get back into a good routine:
Every little bit counts: You don’t have to have a fitbit to apply this principle – if you purpose to only work out 10 minutes every day, by the end of the week you’ll have logged at least an hour and 10 minutes of sweating it out. That’s better than waiting until you have an hour and 10 minutes to go to the gym and only working out twice a month, with that daily plan, you’ll have about four hours and 40 minutes over the course of the month – twice what you would if you waited for the perfect day. You have a busy life. Just do it – you might be surprised how much time you actually log if you just commit to something bite-sized.
Go all in: Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, and Simone Biles would be the first to tell you that they didn’t just wake up gold medalists one day. What did happen in a day was the decision to go all in. If you want to be an elite athlete, go all in. If you want to be a distance runner, go all in. If you want to be able to do the splits at 55 years old, go all in. Make a decision, make a plan, and then commit to it, heart and soul. You don’t have to be an Olympian to be an athlete, and you don’t have to be elite to accomplish your fitness goals, but you will have to train and push your limits and commit if you’re going to make it happen.
Find what works: Nike says, “If you have a body you’re an athlete.” What they mean is, everybody can do something that makes them feel great and is great for them. Pick what works for you – do you get a burst of energy at 5pm? Run then instead of trying to get up earlier. Do you love weights and hate cardio? Find someone who loves cardio and hates weights and commit to helping each other stay balanced by working out together regularly. Do you push harder in a group? Find a class or a running group and commit to it. Carilion Wellness in Botetourt offer over 100 classes and free child care, so if you’re in the area, that might be a great option. But even if you’re not, just do a little research – there’s almost certainly a local fitness center that can help you get on track. In Roanoke, there are studios for everything from Pure Barre to Zumba to Crossfit. Everyone can do something; find what works for you.

The First Step

That’s all great advice, but it still leaves the ball in your court – you have to take the first step. If you need a little more motivation, Lifehacker has some great practical tips and tools to help you get out there and go play. Happy exercising!
Copyright: ammentorp / 123RF Stock Photo

Yoga and Pilates are exercises that improve core strength and flexibility, which can help with back pain.

How to Begin

If you have a chronic pain condition like lower back pain or hip, knee, or shoulder problems, you shouldn’t begin an exercise program without guidance.
An experienced chiropractor will typically do a postural assessment to observe how you sit, stand, and walk to help determine what exercises may be appropriate, given your condition. Postural imbalances, for instance, carrying a child on one hip or a bag on one shoulder can trigger pain in the back, hips, knees, and shoulders.
Some simple, safe stretches that can help alleviate back pain include:

• Lie on your back on a carpeted floor or mat and rest your legs on a couch, chair, or ottoman, so that your legs are completely supported from the heels to the back of the knees.
• Lie on a stability ball, face down, and let your body mold to the sides of the ball.
• Try the “happy baby” yoga pose: lie on your back and hold your knees to your chest.
• Perform squats to reduce pain and improve mobility.

Exercises to Help Chronic Pain

Beyond simple stretches, one of the most important types of exercise to improve chronic back and joint pain is cardiovascular exercise. Some types to try include:

• Walking briskly on a treadmill
• Using an elliptical trainer
• Aquatic exercise, from swimming laps to an organized water aerobics class

In addition to cardiovascular training, try strength training, either with free weights or machines to guide movement and simulate support. Pilates and yoga can help improve core strength and flexibility.

Exercises to Avoid

Those with back and joint problems that cause significant pain should typically avoid high-impact exercise like running or organized sports like basketball and soccer, which involve jumping, landing, shifting, and moving in a lot of different directions.
Golf and tennis tend to put a great deal of strain on the back because they use one side of the body more than the other. Although you don’t necessarily need to give them up entirely, just cut back a bit or find other ways to strengthen the neglected side of the body, such as Pilates or rotating exercises with a medicine ball.

Exercise and Pain Relief

Although chronic back pain can reduce a person’s quality of life, the right exercise program can dramatically improve it. There’s no reason to be sitting around the house in pain.
If you’re thinking of starting an exercise program, the doctors at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic can give you the advice you need to proceed safely.
Image by wavebreakmediamicro / 123RF Stock Photo.

Where do our passions come from? If you do a quick Google search with that same question the variety of answers is staggering. Some say it is the result of chemical reactions in the brain. Others say there are genes that contribute to passion. While others ominously say it is from “within.” While some might feel the origin of passion is an elusive concept for Dr. Logan Brooke it’s quite simple. His passion for chiropractic stems from the life-changing impact it had on his own life.
The word passion is derived from the Latin for “pati” which means to endure or to suffer. As a young child Dr. Brooke, at the time just Logan, both endured and suffered terrible problems with his ears. He had chronic ear infections and common allopathic treatments at the time didn’t help. When asked if he can remember that time he said he can still clearly remember the pain and how severe it was. Logan was subject to a lot of cruel jokes and name-calling while in school, based on his ear problems and the swelling that resulted. He couldn’t go outside while on certain medications, he wasn’t allowed to go swimming, and he lived with chronic pain. It got to the point where he stopped going to school. No medical treatment had worked for Logan and it wasn’t until the 3 rd grade, when he saw “Doc Loc,” that things took a turn for the better.
Doc Loc was the chiropractor that changed everything for Logan. With Doc Loc’s treatments the chronic ear issues Logan experience were resolved. He had a new lease on life and a laser focus on pursuing the very profession that so drastically improved his life. For the rest of Logan’s middle and high school years, he went to Doc Loc for all medical issues. If it involved another healthcare discipline Logan knew he wanted Doc Loc’s input before moving forward with any other type of medical care. Because of the life-changing impact Doc Loc had on Logan’s life he pursued a career in chiropractic. After graduating cum laude, from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Logan became Dr. Logan Brooke.
Dr. Brooke is a man who lives with purpose. He has a passion for chiropractic, which is clear from how he invests in his patients and continues to develop and refine himself as a professional. He is also enthusiastic about athletics and sports. He has been able to merge those interests by becoming a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), which required additional education and training. Throughout his career, he has served as the team physician for the Virginia Tech Triathlon Club and the Virginia Tech Rugby Club. The combination of his additional degree and his experience with collegiate athletes led to an invitation to work at the Olympic Training Center.
Working with Olympic-level athletes was a dream come true for Dr. Brooke but he relishes the opportunity to work with any athlete at any level. He said, “No matter what level the mentality of an athlete is about performance, respecting your body, and optimizing your life.” While working in the Blacksburg Clinic he has had the opportunity to work with the full continuum of athletes—from those that compete against themselves to those playing league sports and also those that are vying for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. Perhaps one of the reasons Dr. Brooke loves working with athletes is because he can identify with the passion he sees in so many of them.
Dr. Brooke is also sharing his enthusiasm with the up and coming generation. He is an anatomy professor at a local community college. This role is a natural fit for him because as he explained, “Chiropractic is not just about back pain and headaches. It’s about treating the whole patient because we work with the nervous system which affects the whole body.” Teaching at the community college gives Dr. Brooke the opportunity to inspire eager minds to relentlessly pursue their dreams and equips them with some of the practical knowledge they’ll need to do so.
For Dr. Brooke, the reason he chose chiropractic is self-described as “a very personal one.” Through the pain he endured and the incredible chiropractic treatment he received, there was passion ignited within him, which has resulted in a career, and a life, that positively impacts others.

Would you believe that a world-class athlete fell in love with his sport because of a love-interest in the fourth grade? It’s true. For Charles Clark, a three-time national champion in track, it all began in 4th grade with a girl named Iesha. Charles will be the first to admit, “It’s pretty funny.” He had a crush on Iesha, who switched schools, thereby breaking his heart. When it came time for his school’s field day his buddy told him to run like Iesha was waiting for him at the finish line. That day he went home with five first-place ribbons. He said, “I never saw Iesha again, but I fell in love with track.”
What started off as an endearing elementary-school love story blossomed into a tremendously successful and well-decorated athletic career in the sprints category. Charles went on to win multiple championship titles at the middle school and high school level. When it was time for Charles to pursue a college career he was the most heavily recruited athlete within his event and ultimately landed at Florida State University (FSU). While in college he became a three-time NCAA National Champion. Post-college athletics included being named the 6th fastest man in the world and training for the Olympics as part of the USA Track and Field Team. With all those accolades and titles it would be safe to assume he is defined by his trophies and photo-finishes of success. Not true. When we asked Charles what it’s like to be the 6th fastest man in the world this is what he had to say, “I don’t fall in love with titles. What happens with it is more beautiful. Through my accomplishments, I’m able to impact a lot more people.”
Using his athletic success as a springboard Charles has started a foundation, which has grown to one of the largest in Hampton Roads and is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals. Through his platform of running Charles is able to positively impact others, he lives a life on purpose. He said, “I’m just thankful that each time I achieve such accolades I can use it to give back to the next generation.”
It’s clear that Charles is gifted at encouraging others towards their best because he is now an accomplished motivational speaker. He also has his own business consulting with entrepreneurs businesses around the concepts of success, leadership, and living a purpose-filled life. Charles is also the kind of guy who backs up his words with action—which is apparent from how he has overcome adversity in life.
Defining Charles by the success he’s had in life seems logical. It is true that his success speaks volume about his discipline, abilities, and perseverance. However, what is equally, if not more telling, is Charles’ response to adversity. One such moment occurred when he was training for the 2016 Rio Olympics, here in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Charles developed a back injury that progressively got worse throughout the season. Unfortunately, the injury prevented him from competing at the Olympic trials. Charles won’t allow himself to be crushed by challenges and he refuses to deviate from his success trajectory. He started seeing Dr. Brooke, in our Blacksburg Clinic, for adjustments and is benefitting from the treatments. He explained, “Dr. Brooke is really helping me now. I can say that I don’t feel the pain that was I feeling before.”
Dr. Brooke is a perfect match for Charles. Dr. Brooke has a passion for helping athletes of all kinds achieve the very best results possible and is also a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP). He explained, “No matter what level of athlete you are the mentality is about performance, respecting your body, and optimizing your life.” Charles likes chiropractic because as he described, “You see progression. Who doesn’t like to see results? Who doesn’t like to feel better?” Charles allows himself to be refined by adversity rather than be defined by it, which is what makes him a true champion.
For someone who has risen to the top, what could possibly be next? For Charles, it’s something he describes as “bigger than a gold medal.” He is in the final stages of writing a book with a planned release for the fall of 2016. For Charles, writing this book is self-described as one of his biggest accomplishments. Charles had academic struggles from elementary school through college. He was held back in first grade and struggled to pass necessary tests to enter college—delaying his college career. While some may look at their weakness and cower to it, he sees his personal weaknesses as an opportunity “to do something phenomenal.” That is why he chose to fight hard to master reading and writing in order to create this book, which he is confident will change lives. After getting to know him as a patient, an athlete, a motivational speaker, and a friend we have to agree. The future for Charles Clark is going to be filled with phenomenal success, both on and off the track.

Using a backpack or another bag that distributes weight evenly can lessen the chance of back injury while traveling.

1) Support Your Lower Back While Driving

Make sure your knees are higher than your hips. If your car seat doesn’t offer adequate lumbar support, a wide variety of seat cushions, pillows, and other supportive products are available to make your trip more comfortable. Even rolling up a towel to create a makeshift cushion between your back and the seat can be effective. Also, make sure you’re not sitting on anything bulky — a wallet, money clip, book, or cell phone — that can throw off your posture and aggravate back pain.

2) Give Yourself Enough Room

A comfortable, roomy, first-class airline seat may be a luxury many people cannot afford, and coach seats are often cramped, restrictive, and offer little support for your back. For greater comfort, while traveling in coach, request an aisle seat that will make it easier for you to get up and move around. If your airline offers special deals on seats with extra legroom, take advantage of them, especially if you’re tall. Keep adequate space for your feet under the seat in front of you, even if this means putting your carry-on bag in the overhead bin.

3) Take Breaks and Move

When traveling by car, stop at rest stops and towns along the way so you can stretch and move around. You can even stretch in the car. Likewise, when traveling by air, try to walk the aisle every 30 minutes, especially if you’re on a long flight. Not on a direct flight? Use layover time to stretch or even take a walk around the terminal, particularly if you have a long flight ahead of you.

4) Pack Light

Opt for rolling luggage and pack as little as possible. At the luggage carousel, hotel, or parking garage, don’t be afraid to ask for help picking up your bags. Always take your time and keep your back straight, lifting with your legs.
For electronics and personal items, pick the smallest bag possible and choose a backpack or a messenger bag worn diagonally across the body. This helps balance the weight on the shoulders, unlike totes and duffel bags that rest on one shoulder and can cause your spine to curve. When using a single-strap bag, switch sides often to spare your back.

5) Pay Attention to Your Posture

If you want your car trip or flight to be a bearable experience, focus on your posture. Try to keep both feet on the floor and sit upright. For air travelers, most airlines offer pillows to passengers. Try tucking one behind your lower back: lumbar support has been shown to improve comfort in healthy patients with lower back pain.

6) Drink Plenty of Water

Air travel dehydrates the body because of the very low humidity levels in pressurized air cabins. Alcohol, coffee, and tea encourage further dehydration, so try to drink water, which will rehydrate the body and help prevent circulatory problems.

7) Don’t Forget the Ice

Bring ice packs in a cooler to relieve pain on the road, and an empty ice bag for air travel (you can request ice from the flight crew). If you ice your back, remember to do so for no longer than 15 minutes at a time and make sure there is a barrier between the ice and your skin.
Enjoy Your Journey!
When it comes to pain-free summer traveling, the journey is just as important as the destination, and these precautions will help prevent pain and allow you to thoroughly enjoy your time away.
If despite your best efforts you come back from vacation with a painful back, we’re here to help. Contact Tuck Chiropractic Clinic to schedule an appointment.
Image by gstockstudio / 123RF Stock Photo.

A low impact exercise like Jazzercise is making a comeback.
Getting back out there can be can be intimidating. Sometimes it’s because you received an injury and things just haven’t been the same since. Other times, it’s because you were never really “out there” in the first place and you may feel like it’s too late. You might even be insecure about looking like a novice. The reality is, while you are busy coming up with reasons why you can’t, your life is continuing to move past you at a rapid pace. There is no better time than now to make a change in the direction of wellness.
One way you could get back out there is to literally dance like no one is watching. Join a dance fitness class like Jazzercise, which offers low impact and high impact options, fitness in a group setting, and is just plain fun! It can be overwhelming to walk into a new workout facility, surrounded by mirrors and sometimes even flexing gym-goers. At Jazzercise there are no mirrors—on purpose. This welcome change allows all participants to enjoy the music, movements, and focus on wellness without being distracted by reflections in all directions.
As Alisa Hewitt, the owner of the New River Valley Jazzercise center explained, “Jazzercise combines aerobic, dance-based exercise with strength training to create a one of a kind workout. In 60 minutes we complete not only a cardio workout, but also include strength training targeting all of the major muscle groups.”
An important aspect of Jazzercise for those that are taking a journey back into fitness, especially from injury, is that there are low impact options. Certain classes are dedicated entirely to low-impact workouts and each class can be modified to offer a low-impact approach. Alisa explained, “In our classes, low impact means only that we remove the “hop” and work with an emphasis on muscle rather than momentum.” There is less impact on the joints and back, which is music to the ears of anyone fighting for fitness while overcoming injury. Alisa elaborated, “This total body combination is excellent for cardiovascular conditioning, muscle development, and toning, leading to more endurance and increased energy levels.”
This type of fitness routine is also cross-generational and done in a group setting. Working out in a group context helps with motivation, accountability, and camaraderie. Young or old, friendships are formed while you are sweating it out. We are more likely to stick with exercise we enjoy and developing relationships is a great way to ensure enjoyment. It also turns the Jazzercise classes into a big dance party—and who doesn’t love a good dance party?
Jazzercise is a high-intensity workout that includes cardio and strength training. Speaking of dance parties—we need to take a moment to gush about how fun dance fitness, like Jazzercise, can be. Life can be so serious between demands at work, demands at home, and sad news stories in the media. Some days you’ve just got to dance! Jazzercise is a complete body workout and occurs in a supportive environment all while artists like Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Pitbull play the background. The routines are fun but also intentionally designed with wellness in mind. Alisa said, “All routines are professionally choreographed and reviewed by an exercise physiologist to ensure safety and effectiveness. “ For one hour, Jazzercise allows participants to step out of their daily demands and just exist in the context of fun music and health-benefitting dance moves. It’s a winning combination (pun absolutely intended).
“It can be intimidating to begin a new fitness program and to take that step into a new facility. Group fitness classes, like all of our classes at Jazzercise New River Valley, are a great way to get started,” affirmed Alisa. You have to start somewhere when getting back into a wellness routine or establishing a new routine altogether. Make sure that you endeavor on your wellness journey with a great support system that is aware of your fitness goals and unique circumstances. Talk about your goals with your chiropractor as well as any other key influencers of your health—to include fitness instructors. It’s never too late and since there is no better time than now, will you dance your way back out there?

We spoke with a local lifetime athlete who has spent her career encouraging current and developing athletes—we knew there was a lot we could learn from her.
Anne Jones has made a career in tennis. First, as a collegiate athlete, playing on the Virginia Tech women’s team. Following that, she also served as the Women’s Tennis coach at Virginia Tech as well as for Blacksburg High School. Tennis has been a thread within Anne’s story, throughout much of her life. In between all the tennis she has mixed in other forms of athleticism such as marathons, triathlons, ultra races (50 miles!), and biking. Anne even has her own business, Triadventure, which is dedicated to introducing beginners to endurance training and improving the performance of current athletes.
Anne’s athleticism may sound intimidating, especially because she was a coach at the collegiate level, but in reality, she is a tremendous champion and coach for new and emerging athletes. She is a great person to align with if you are trying to rediscover fitness or take it to the next level.
Recently, Anne started a tennis league for beginners and has witnessed first hand the joys of learning something new at a more seasoned age. The clinic that began as a one-time class for those interested in the basics of tennis has resulted in a group of middle-aged women, now affectionately known as, “The Smash Girls” competitively playing league tennis. The women were all very inexperienced with tennis when they first began, some had never swung a racket, but now meet up multiple times a week and find themselves fitter than ever. Anne explained, “When the clinic was over they asked for more. They are healthier and stronger, fitness will do that for you.”
This may seem like just one story about one group of women but it is much bigger than that. It demonstrates the power of fitness to bring us together, to make our minds well, and to make our bodies healthy. It shows that it’s never too late to try something for the first time. It illustrates that we all have hidden talent and potential, just waiting to be tapped.
In addition to the clinic that produced The Smash Girls, Anne teaches other classes too. In fact, one of her players is Dr. Logan Brooke, based out of the Blacksburg Clinic. He explained, “Recently, I decided to get back into tennis. Primarily for the social aspect, but also because tennis is a low impact sport that gives me a great cardio workout.”
You may wonder how tennis can possibly support back health since it would seem tennis is all about the arms. As Anne explained to us, it is about the whole body, especially the core. “Most people think they are just swinging with their arms. You can’t hit any of the strokes without your core,” said Anne. Dr. Brooke echoed her sentiments, “It combines a cardiovascular workout with agility and flexibility. Playing tennis is a whole body experience.” It is also a workout that supports joint health and agility. Dr. Brooke explained:

Tennis offers some advantages as a sport. First, the hip joints get a great workout with the forward, backward and side-to- side movements. This prevents wear and tear in one direction like with running. Second, because the shoulders and upper back are involved, you get to work on mobility in these areas, which can decline with age. Finally, the games are usually quick, so there are many opportunities to rehydrate and stretch during the breaks.

Anne offered great insight into why trying something new is something we should all pursue, regardless of our season of life. She told us, ‘Mentally it’s good to keep the mind fresh. Tennis is a mind sport with a lot of strategy and technique.” Anne raises an excellent point. So will you try something new? Will you exercise and your mind and body in the pursuit of overall wellness? Will you get back out there?