Guide to Vero Beach, Sebastian and Indian River County

Area physicians who have donated their time to the ‘We Care’ program were honored Wednesday night with a cocktail reception put on by the Community Business Alliance. A silent auction was held and all proceeds went to ‘We Care’.

The Indian River County Medical Society’s ‘We Care’ Program is based on the volunteer efforts of many of the county’s physicians, both retired and active and provides free medical treatment to residents in Indian River County who are otherwise financially unable to afford specialty health care.

Physical therapist Sandra Stevens first explored the use of underwater treadmills at Middle Tennessee State University with children suffering from cerebral palsy. She hypothesized that the underwater system might also have profound benefits for spinal cord injury patients struggling to relearn how to walk and move. Stevens noted dramatic improvement in endurance in patients who used the treadmills as part of their rehabilitation program. She said, “So they’ve gone from four or five minutes of walking to 32 or 34 minutes.

The Newswise article reported, “For spinal-cord injuries, walking in water is the ideal place because people with this particular injury have a blunted cardiovascular response to any exercise, Stevens explained. Walking in water produces greater blood flow, which increases cardiovascular activity, she said.” .* The Spinal Post January 19, 2010

Compass Therapeutic in Vero Beach, Florida makes water even more therapeutic with a 5,000 gallon on-site personal station pool featuring a hydraulic chair lift and underwater treadmill. Water is the perfect environment for patients who are not quite ready or not able to perform land-based exercise programs. Working simultaneously with their physical therapist within this personal water pool, Compass Therapeutic patients are in a completely controllable, supportive, and totally relaxing environment. The lack of gravity in water allows patients to stimulate the same movements as on land but with a significantly reduced amount of stress and strain on their bodies.

Receiving physical therapy in the water instantaneously engages our patients both physically and emotionally, producing hope, motivation, and a “never give up” attitude which forms the foundation for future therapy programs…ultimately leading to enhanced healing and healthcare.

For more information call 772 564-0050 or visit their website at http://www.compasstherapeutic.com/

The nervous system controls and directs every function of the body through the spinal nerves that exit the spinal column. Pressure on spinal nerves and the spinal cord from misaligned vertebra creates pain and a lack of health in the body. The Pettibon Procedures are an advanced, scientific approach to Chiropractic that is taught as an elective or at postgraduate level. They exceed the standard chiropractic college curriculum. These procedures include progressive treatment plans. Most knowledgeable patients want to have periodic checkups. They also continue in an active exercise program to arrest and reverse the subluxations effects of their jobs, recreational activities and their life styles.

The Pettibon Procedures include adjustment or manipulation by hand and also with one or more mechanical adjusting instruments for precise application of correcting forces. The purpose of the adjustment is to realign the vertebra and spinal units so they may "react" to the body's environment (gravity). Patients are instructed in specific in office and at home exercises to speed recovery, stabilize the spine, rehabilitate soft tissue, and reduce the number of required office visits. Regularly scheduled exams monitor the patient's progress as well as to modify adjusting and exercise procedures, which results in patients becoming healthier faster and staying healthy longer. (Dr. Dennis Woggon, BSc, DC St. Cloud Chiropractic Clinic, PA 437 North 33rd Avenue St. Cloud, MN 56303)

Dr. Parris is the only doctor in the area specifically trained in the Pettibon technique. He is committed to help you live your life to the fullest. This starts by making sure your nervous system is functioning at its peak level. The structure of the spine, and ultimately posture, are a requisite to maintaining health and normal function. Abnormal posture can cause alterations in some of our basic physiological processes, such as headaches, blood pressure, emotions, lung capacity, and hormonal production.