Charge Health and Chiropractic

08/04/2025

Rethinking Fear, Reality & Healing

Happy Monday!

We had a great weekend at Jellystone with the kids, the last go of the summer! It was a great one overall but we're ready for some fall weather and football! (duh).

Today Id like to touch on a topic a bit different than usual but no less important.

Quick bit of context: I treat a lot of stressed out people. I see it on their faces, feel it in their muscles, hear the fear/anxiety in the choices of words to describe their day to day. So I like to learn about different causes of stress and then equip myself with insight and tool to help guide in the right direction.

Now this may be kind of "deep" but one large one is folk living in an extreme reality they created for themselves... Just keep reading...

There's a question that's been stirring in both science and spirituality for centuries: what if the reality we experience isn't the full truth?

Recent research by cognitive scientist Dr. Donald Hoffman suggests something taking note of. His interface theory of perception proposes that what we see, feel, and fear isn't necessarily reality itself, but rather a "user interface" our brain creates, so more of a simplified version of the world shaped not for truth, but for survival.

Think of it this way: your brain works like your computer desktop. When you click on a file, you're not actually manipulating the complex electrical patterns on your hard drive. You're using a simple interface that lets you interact with what you need without overwhelming you with unnecessary technical details.

AKA Your perceptual experiences don't exactly match properties of whats really happening, but instead provide a simplified, person-specific user interface to that world.

That means many of the signals we interpret as danger — like fear, pain, or anxiety — may not be accurate reflections of what's truly happening. They're alerts designed to keep us alive, which is incredibly helpful in life-or-death moments. But when it comes to everyday challenges like starting a new exercise routine, facing uncertainty, or dealing with chronic symptoms, this survival-based
filter can become a prison.

Why This Matters for Your Health
When you're stuck in this fear-driven loop, your body follows right along. Here's what happens: chronic anxiety increases stress hormones like cortisol. These elevated stress levels alter your breathing patterns, shift your posture, disrupt your digestion, interfere with sleep quality, and even heighten pain sensitivity.

Your amygdala, that ancient alarm system tucked deep in your brain, doesn't distinguish between a charging lion and a difficult conversation with your boss. It triggers the same physiological cascade: increased heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension, and a flood of stress chemicals. Over time, this constant state of alert can create or amplify physical symptoms, even when nothing shows up as "wrong" on imaging or lab work.

In the office, I regularly see patients chasing relief for symptoms that don't fully resolve until their nervous system calms down. The prefrontal cortex, your brain's executive center responsible for rational thinking and perspective, gets hijacked by the emotional centers when fear takes the driver's seat. That's not just mindset work — it's pure biology. And it starts with perception.

A Different Perspective
Dr. Hoffman's work, much like ancient Christian teachings, points to something even deeper. "Love your neighbor as yourself" isn't just moral advice. It may be literally true — your neighbor is yourself, through a shared universal consciousness.

That means you are not alone, not disconnected, and not broken. And you are not your fear — you are the awareness experiencing it.

Your insula, the brain region that integrates bodily sensations with emotional awareness, can actually help you observe these fear responses with curiosity rather than being consumed by them.

Scripture tells us, "Perfect love casts out fear." What if fear isn't something to fight, but something to see clearly and walk through with deeper trust?

You cant control every variable in your life or your body. But you can control how you see it. And that changes everything at a neurological level.

Your brain's neuroplasticity means it's constantly rewiring based on your experiences and perspectives. Each time you choose curiosity over fear, compassion over criticism, you're literally reshaping your neural pathways.

A Question to Reflect On:

What would change if I believed my fear isn't always the truth — just a message to question?

We're diving deeper into these questions with our Courage Catalyst content this month. Keep an eye out, and when you're ready, we're here to help you reconnect with your body from a place of curiosity, not fear. Your nervous system is remarkably adaptable, and with the right understanding and support, you can train it to be your ally rather than your adversary.

Thanks for your time and attention to this one. Let me know what you think!

With love,
Dr. Dom + Team

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07/28/2025

https://youtube.com/shorts/4kfDKCzjavY?si=7tH79b2chOSt4-Vw

Here’s the video from today newsletter!

Feel free to explore the rest of our channel as there are some hidden gems.

07/28/2025

"Shift" your thinking.

Good morning family!

Lets talk about hips today. Its a very common tight spot with little understanding of how it started, why it never seems to loosen up, and what to do about it.

Now everyone is different so the exercise at the end may not be the grand slam you're looking for, but hopefully you'll learn some principals that will then guide your curiosities when trying similar movements.

What most people don't realize is this: a lot of hip pain is actually the result of your body favoring the right side.

Here's what I see clinically: some people experience left hip pain from underuse and compensation patterns, while others develop right hip pain from overuse and compression.

Both stem from the same underlying issue!!

The Hidden Right-Side Bias
Most people live their lives slightly shifted to the right.

Literally.

It's not a character flaw, it's how the body's built. We have a bigger, heavier liver on the right, a larger right lung that moves more air, and a stronger right psoas hip flexor muscle. Add right-hand dominance to the mix, and you get more rotation and compression over time.

All this adds up to your center of gravity shifting right without you even noticing. This creates a predictable pattern of compensation that shows up in two distinct ways. For some people, that rightward shift creates more compression and tension on the left hip, especially the backside and outer hip. Your left groin, core, and glute often become underused or poorly coordinated. The left side essentially becomes weak and stiff from neglect.

For others, the right side bears too much load and develops its own problems. The tensor fasciae latae and IT band tissues become irritated from constant overwork, leading to right-sided hip bursitis. The hip that's doing all the work starts breaking down from the repetitive stress.

Both scenarios stem from the same root cause: your body has lost its ability to distribute load evenly between both sides.

A Good Fixer: Oblique Split Squat with Banded Reach

This movement addresses the core issue. It loads the left side in a coordinated way while activating your adductor (groin), obliques, and glute together. The banded reach connects the core to the hip, which is key to making strength gains stick.

Notice the left heel stays off the ground. This is intentional. It teaches your foot and hip how to coordinate through mid-to-late stance, instead of collapsing early and just relying on your quads. You are training your body to find the left side again and actually use it.

The beauty of this exercise is that it works whether you're dealing with left-sided weakness or right-sided overuse. By teaching your body to properly load the left side, you take pressure off an overworked right hip while simultaneously strengthening an underused left hip.

If you want better hip mobility, less pain, and more strength, this set up is a good place to start. It's not about random stretching or generic hip exercises. It's about restoring the fundamental balance your body has lost over years of compensation.

Stop trying random exercises from TikTok
If you're battling hip pain or stiffness that hasn't improved with stretching, or keeps coming back, this is the stuff we address every single day.

Sometimes the issue isn't where it hurts (actually most of the time its not), sometimes it's how your whole system is compensating.

Ask about an Empower Pack next time you're in and we'll walk through what's really happening, run a few quick screens, and work through a plan you can follow at home. Understanding whether you're dealing with left-sided weakness, right-sided overuse, or both changes everything about how we approach giving you some mobility back.

Let's get after it this week!
Dr. Dom

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07/21/2025

We have to stop looking at things in isolation...

Monday is here again (damnit!)

I say that because I had an awesome weekend in Michigan with my best friends on a golf trip. One of my long time friends loves to end the trip with a true but disheartening shout: "Back to reality!"

Looking back to last week before I left, I had to have tough conversations about reality with a couple people that were dealing with serious conditions that needed prompt action.

Plenty of patients come through the door telling me they've got cold, tingly hands or feet, fluid pooling issues, or they simply can't sustain "high-intensity" activities the way they used to.

At first glance, you might think it's about circulation, but there's much more behind the scenes.

The Real Story: It's Not Just About Your Heart

Your body has two systems working together: systemic blood flow (your engine's ability to pump blood through the big vessels and into your extremities) and endothelial function (how well those blood vessels actually dilate at the local level to let that flow in).

Think of it this way: your heart might be pumping perfectly, but if the vessels don't open properly, or if your mitochondria aren't healthy enough to use the incoming oxygen and nutrients, blood essentially gets stuck at the base of your limbs. Your feet and hands feel cold, your stamina tanks, and increased activity or high intensity workouts feel miserable.

The Missing Link: Your Cellular Powerhouses

Recent science shows endothelial cells rely on healthy mitochondria to manage blood vessel dilation and overall vascular health (Frontiers, MDPI). When mitochondria in these cells get damaged, they start pumping out harmful oxidants, blood vessels become stiff and reactive, and blood pools because the vessels can't adapt to movement or gravity.

Lifestyle factors like chronic stress, inactivity, poor food choices, or simply aging drive this breakdown. The result? Cold fingers, fluid retention, brain fog, fatigue, poor performance, and even increased cardiovascular risk.

How Smart Exercise Rebuilds Your Entire System

Here's where even I may have missed the mark in my own approach...

Aerobic exercise (lower intensity cardio) isn't just about strengthening your heart. It's about training your blood vessels and mitochondria to work together as an integrated way. Even strength training with blood flow restriction, or low-intensity resistance work, triggers local vascular improvements too. So yes, your walks and low intensity exercise has benefits but those seem to have more of a systemic affect and may not have the local effect needed to change the vasculature.

Let's be clear: pushing hard and spending time under load are both powerful tools because they impact your vasculature in meaningful ways.

There are recent studies showing significant improved blood vessel function: A comprehensive review found HIIT boosts flow-mediated dilation (FMD)—a measure of how well vessels open—more than moderate-intensity training, especially in those with metabolic or cardiovascular conditions. Studies show increases in FMD around 1.6% on average—and up to 3.8% higher compared with doing nothing.

There's also a lot to be said about time efficiency. HIIT delivers these effects quickly. Even just 30 minutes per week of higher-intensity intervals can yield improvements over longer, slower workouts.

When you stress your system at high intensity, shear stress rises which helps blood vessels release nitric oxide (NO), dilate better, and even build new capillaries. This isn't just about overall fitness; it's a localized workout for the smooth lining inside your veins and arteries.

Strength and endurance gains go hand-in-hand: Studies report that long-interval HIIT (like 4 x 4 minutes hard effort) improves both vascular function and aerobic capacity—even in people with heart disease That means you're not choosing between strength or blood flow—you can train both.

Daily Actions You Can Start Right Now
The beauty of this approach is its simplicity.

Try brisk walking or gentle cycling for 30 to 45 minutes, 2ish times a week, and then add only 1, 10-20min higher intensity interval based stationary bike session.

Example of higher intensity bike intervals:

6rounds: 15sec on/ 45sec rest, rest for 3-5min after first 6 rounds then repeat

You can also experiment with gentle power-endurance work using BFR band cuffs around your upper arms or legs during light sets, like 20 reps times 3 sets of biceps curls or leg extensions.

When You Need to Dig Deeper
If this sounds familiar (your hands staying cold, swelling, shallow workouts, or poor stamina), we can help uncover the full picture. We'll order tests like fasting insulin, ferritin, HbA1c, hs-CRP plus optional GGT, morning cortisol, full lipid panel, and thyroid markers.

Then we'll read those results to determine if we're seeing inflammation, oxidation, hormonal stress, or early metabolic imbalance. From there, we design movement, nutritional, and lifestyle strategies to heal your endothelial system and build mitochondrial capacity, not just mask symptoms.

Don't settle for "that's just you," or "you're getting older." This is fixable.

You just need to be willing to do more than you currently are and take a step forward knowing some discomfort is necessary!

Holler at me!

Dr. Dom & Team

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07/14/2025

Pain, Posture, and Progress

Happy Monday!

Quick update: I'll be out of office Thursday & Friday this week so snag appointments for early next week before they fill up or CALL for any emergencies and I'll do my best to accommodate!

Today I want to talk about something that I really want you guys to have a grasps of as it makes a huge difference in how you feel and what exercises you may choose for yourself.

In the office, I spend a lot of time educating people on how move better, feel stronger, and get out of pain. But not just by looking at the painful joint or muscle. Im always trying to understand how the whole system is organized.

One of the ways I personally assess movement is by looking at it through the lens of gait: how your body moves through walking and shifting weight from one leg to the other. Whether you're sprinting, walking a lot, lifting weights, rehabbing an injury, or simply trying to improve posture, gait mechanics show up in nearly everything we do.

And one piece of that puzzle that often gets overlooked is your vision.

Understanding Convergence and Divergence
Our eyes aren't just for seeing. They help stabilize the rest of our body. When your visual system is off, your movement system often compensates in subtle but meaningful ways.

There are two key skills your eyes need to regulate posture and movement:

Convergence is the ability to focus on things up close. Your eyes come inward slightly, your head and neck stabilize, and your body naturally shifts into a more "grounded" state.

Divergence is the ability to focus far away. Your eyes drift outward slightly, your spine extends, and your system shifts toward a more upright, expanded state.

Most people are better at one than the other, and that's where movement compensation starts.

Try This Drill
All you need is a pen or pencil:

Hold the pen out at arm's length in front of your nose
Slowly bring it toward your face while keeping your eyes locked on it

When it goes blurry or doubles, stop. That's your convergence limit

Then shift your focus to something across the room or out a window

Switch between near and far a few times. Which one is harder to keep clear?

This simple test helps us understand whether your visual system might be influencing your movement biases.

Gait, Visual Bias, and Movement Patterns
In simple terms, gait has phases: early (when your heel hits the ground), mid (when your weight is fully over that leg), and late (as you push off).
Many people get "stuck" in one of those phases. And your visual system plays a role in that.

--> If your eyes struggle to converge (near focus), you may have trouble accessing early gait mechanics. These are patterns that help you compress, load your hips, and feel grounded. You might feel "stuck forward," experience hip flexor tightness, or struggle to control low back and pelvis motion.

--> If your eyes struggle to diverge (far focus), you may be stuck in late stance. These are patterns that involve bracing, spinal compression, and loss of mobility. This often shows up as tight mid-backs, shallow breathing, or recurring neck and trap tension.

This is how I look at movement. Every pain presentation, every tight joint, every "my left side always feels different than my right" moment: I'm connecting the dots between gait, visual input, breathing patterns, and nervous system tone. It's not about fixing a single muscle. It's about restoring access to options your body has forgotten.

Based on Your Drill Result, Start Here:
If near focus was harder (convergence):

1) Try prone breathing with long exhales to help decompress the spine
2) Add heel-elevated squats with a reach to bias mid-stance control

If far focus was harder (divergence):

1) Try 90/90 hip lifts with a balloon to restore rib expansion
2) Use wall-supported step-behind lunges to bias early stance and forward rotation

These are gentle, yet influential ways to begin rebalancing your system.
If you're unsure what you're feeling, or want help interpreting your results, email us or bring it up at your next session. This is the work I do every day: combining nervous system input, visual drills, gait-based rehab, and strength programming to help people finally feel like themselves again.

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07/07/2025

"Normal" but not feeling great?
Yea, there's more to the story.

Good morning all,

That was a great weekend...

Family, friends, (couple drinks,) sun, golf, pool time and more golf.

On the course I was talking health/fitness with a friend and we got onto a topic that I run across a lot in office when talking long term strategies for folk.

Many people feel/claim their metabolism has hit the brakes, and are doing everything by the book but still dealing with low energy, no motivation, brain fog, and stubborn body fat.

Its not a willpower issue (well be honest, in some cases it might be lol) its usually a case of your system struggling to keep up with chronic stress, lack of blood flow, or nutrient imbalances that have been building over time.

What Your Metabolism Actually Needs
Your brain and body require one critical signal before they'll consistently burn fat or generate sustainable energy: a green light from your nervous system.

This green light emerges from the intersection of metabolic health, meaning how efficiently your cells convert fuel into energy and vascular health, which determines how effectively blood, oxygen, and nutrients reach where they're needed most.

When blood flow becomes restricted and your mitochondria can't access the resources they need, your nervous system defaults to protective mode rather than fat-burning mode. It's a survival mechanism that worked great for our ancestors but creates problems in our modern environment.

So how in the hell do you truly know if my nervous system is ready to loose some fat?

THE BLOOD DOESNT LIE!

Blood Markers That Reveal the Real Story
If you're stuck in this pattern, specific biomarkers can illuminate what's actually happening beneath the surface:

- Fasting Insulin reveals insulin resistance often years before blood glucose shows any problems. This marker tells us how hard your pancreas is working to manage blood sugar.
- Triglycerides and HDL ratio reflects your body's ability to process fats efficiently. When this ratio climbs, it often indicates sluggish fat metabolism and poor metabolic clearance.
- HbA1c provides a three-month average of glucose control. Higher values correlate directly with impaired fat loss capacity and cognitive function.
- hs-CRP measures systemic inflammation that can interfere with metabolic function at the cellular level.
- GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase) Often viewed just as a liver enzyme, but GGT is also a biomarker for oxidative stress and cellular toxicity. Elevated levels may reflect chronic inflammation, impaired detox capacity, or cellular burden that keeps the body in a “clean-up mode” instead of a “burn-and-build mode.”
- AM Cortisol Low levels = adrenal underactivity, often after chronic stress → poor energy, low motivation, weight gain despite normal food/exercise habits. High levels = hyperarousal, often tied to insulin resistance, poor sleep, and muscle breakdown over time.
- Complete Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Antibodies) Your thyroid controls basal metabolic rate AKA how many calories your body burns at rest. Many people have “normal” TSH but suppressed Free T3 or elevated Reverse T3, which means the metabolism is sluggish even though standard labs look okay.

Practical Steps You Can Take Today
- Daily Movement Foundation
Aim for 8,000 to 10,000 steps broken into manageable chunks throughout your day. This approach improves insulin sensitivity and vascular function even without formal exercise sessions.

- Cold Exposure Protocol
Cold showers or 2-5 minutes of cold exposure helps redirect blood flow and supports mitochondrial activation. Start gradually and build tolerance over time.

- Zone 2 Cardiovascular Training
Low to moderate intensity cardio 2-3 times per week enhances fat metabolism and brain health without triggering excessive cortisol production. Think conversational pace where you could maintain a discussion.

- Nutritional Stability
Include protein at every meal alongside fiber-rich foods. This combination helps stabilize blood sugar, reduces cravings, and supports muscle repair and recovery.

- Breathing Mechanics
Focus on nasal breathing with extended exhales. Better breathing patterns improve vascular tone and increase metabolic flexibility throughout the day.

Getting Personalized Insights
If you've been stuck in chronic fatigue or can't understand why your body isn't responding like it used to, it might be time to dig deeper into your unique physiological profile.

I can help you order and interpret the right blood panels, create a plan based on your specific metabolic and nervous system patterns, and align movement, nutrition, and recovery strategies that actually fit your individual physiology.

Let's move beyond guesswork and start giving your brain and body the precise signals they need to create lasting change.

Have a great week!

Dr. Dom & Team

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06/30/2025

Challenge yourself. Get involved.

Build momentum!

Morning, my good people!

I've been thinking a lot about momentum and how powerful of a concept it is. You can feel it in sporting events—when multiple good things happen, especially in adverse conditions, the acute confidence boost quite literally changes your actions and what you believe about your capabilities. Add some camaraderie into the mix, and nothing is impossible.

Well, crazy enough, fall is around the corner, which means full schedules, school chaos, family events, and the holiday season (a.k.a. the annual “fluff up” if we’re being honest 😅).

So how do we stay ahead of the chaos?

How do we protect our physical and mental health when things get busy?

This. The Fall Fit Program.

It's a 12-week training and recovery experience built to get you ready for Fort4Fitness, whether you're walking a 3K or gunning for a half marathon PR.

Never participated? Sweet, us either! I'm running the half marathon and Alexis the 5K. We're excited to train with friends and allow the strength of community to fuel us toward feeling and looking better.

What's included in the 12 weeks:
- A strength & conditioning plan based on your goal and current fitness level
- Weekly in-person training at CHARGE with Coach Adam Smith (the previous St. Francis intern you may have met)
- Access to recovery tools (Basic Membership): sauna, cold plunge, compression at ReCharge
- A nutrition plan with target macros, meal examples, grocery lists, and healthy snacks
- Ongoing support via our app, Coach Catalyst

Normally, this level and duration of training would run close to $1,000—but we've packaged it all for just $387. A truly insane value for what you're going to be getting. This price is a one-time bundle to help you get the ball rolling.

Thing is, there are only 10 spots available!

But again, we want this to be about momentum and relationships, so if you refer a friend and you both sign up, you both get 2 FREE months of online coaching after the race!

Deadline is July 15th—so don't wait! ---> Click the button below to fill out a quick intake and reserve your spot!

Let’s build momentum that lasts well beyond the finish line.

Dr. Drom & Team

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06/23/2025

The Cortisol Complex

Morninggg!

Got an interesting one for yall today...

Something's happening across our patient base that's got my attention. Whether its a parent bringing in there 14 year old or they themselves are struggling at 46, we're seeing the same cluster of symptoms walking through our doors:

You're lying awake between 1-4am, staring at the ceiling. Morning hits and your brain feels wrapped in cotton. By 3pm, you'd trade your left shoe for caffeine and something sweet. Your body aches in ways that feel older than your years, and everyday stress have got the neck and shoulders in a vice causing too many headaches.

Sound familiar? Well you're definitely not alone.

Here's What's Actually Happening
Your body is stuck in a Stress-Sugar-Sleep Spiral or sorts —and it's more common than you might think.

Picture this: chronic stress (work deadlines, relationship tension, that inner critic that never shuts up) keeps your cortisol elevated. Cortisol's job is to mobilize glucose for energy, which makes sense if you're running from a tiger. Its not some horrible hormone that you should be trying to reduce. It quite literally keeps us alive. The problem is, some folks cortisol is active at the wrong times! When you're just sitting in traffic or lying in bed worrying, that extra sugar has nowhere to go. Your blood becomes a glucose highway with too much traffic. Over time, your cells start ignoring insulin's signals—they're basically putting up a "do not disturb" sign. This is insulin resistance, and it creates a metabolic traffic jam that your brain interprets as an emergency.

So what does your brain do? Pumps out more cortisol to "fix" the problem. Except now you've got more sugar floating around, more inflammation, and sleep that gets interrupted right when your body needs deep recovery most.

The cruel irony? We're seeing this in active 20-somethings and health-conscious parents alike. This isn't about being lazy or just eating poorly—it's about multiple systems that are overwhelmed and under-supported.

Your Body's Red Flags
These aren't just random annoyances. They're your body's way of tapping you on the shoulder:

- Tingling in your hands or feet (your nerves are struggling with the glucose chaos)
- Headaches at your temples or skull base (tension and inflammation patterns)
- Needing a nap or snack just to feel human (blood sugar rollercoaster)
- Feeling 20 years older when you get out of bed (poor recovery from disrupted sleep)

If you're nodding along, your body isn't failing you—it's communicating.

Breaking the Cycle (Starting Today)
The good news? This spiral can be reversed, and you don't need to overhaul your entire life overnight.

Small, strategic changes can start shifting things:

1) Evening Boundaries: Skip the late-night snacking, especially anything sweet or starchy. Your body needs a break from glucose management before sleep.

2) Morning Light Reset: Get outside for 5-10 minutes within an hour of waking. Natural light helps reset your circadian rhythm and supports better cortisol timing.

3) Movement That Matters: Combine strength training with regular walks. This combo is like a master key for improving insulin sensitivity—your cells start listening to insulin's signals again.

4) Take 3-5g of Glycine Before Bed (Link Below): Glycine works as a inhibitory neurotransmitter. It can calm the central nervous system, promoting parasympathetic tone. It does an amazing job of:

Thermoregulation → Deeper Sleep
Glycine helps reduce core body temperature, which is essential for quality slow-wave sleep. This contributes to more restorative sleep, which can register as improved deep sleep on wearables like Garmin or Oura.

Stress Buffering and Glucose Regulation
Glycine helps buffer cortisol and improve blood sugar regulation, which can stabilize overnight stress responses and reduce nighttime awakenings.

Where We Come In
At Charge, we've been helping patients untangle this exact web. Whether your 12 year old is dealing with this, or you yourself at 54 cant sleep through the night, the approach is the same: identify your specific triggers, build sustainable habits, and use movement to give the glucose a reason to be used.

This isn't about perfect compliance or dramatic lifestyle changes.

It's about understanding your body's language and giving it what it needs to function at its current best. Even small adjustments can begin shifting the spiral in your favor.

Not sure where your specific breaking points are? That's exactly what we're here to figure out together. Through smart training, education, and personalized habit coaching, we help you build a system that works with your body, not against it.

You just need a strategy.

Talk soon,
Dr. Dom & Team

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