Pinnacle Chiropractic Johnstown

09/18/2025

Our phone lines will be down temporarily today, Sept. 18th, for new phone installation.
We are sorry for any inconvenience.
They will be back up this afternoon.
Thank you for your patience!

05/29/2023

05/20/2023

05/20/2023

Lucky says Good morning ….and not to let the predicted rain keep you from coming to our first Spring on the Farm Open House today.

The weatherman has been wrong before so we are hoping the afternoon’s predicted forecast holds off. We will keep you updated with the weather at the farm as the day progresses.

But… no worries. Farmer’s are the best ever at making provisions and today will be no different.

In the event mother nature decides she should be accurate today, John will still share is talk…. Under roof. So don’t let the predicted rain scare you off.

A few local small businesses have allotted time from their busy schedules to share their services and we will have them under roof also.

Grab your umbrella, boots and a light jacket and head out to the farm today.

☀️Event details:
What: McCormick Family Farm LLC first Spring on the Farm Open House

When: Today, Saturday May 20th 1-4 pm

Where: at the farm
293 McCormick Rd Portage 15946
(814-244-1718 if you have trouble finding us but GPS is typically accurate)

Why: To empower you to choose healthy alternatives

Admission: Complimentary

☀️1-4pm visit with
Great Day Juice Company
Horizon Micro Farm
The Heirloom Acre
Just Breathe Mindful Movement Studio

☀️Be sure to grab some literature provided my MorGainz Fitness Richland about composition body testing. I will be available to share my reports and explain the value of this service offered by Kelly at the gym. In my honest opinion, a must have assessment for your health!

☀️Interested in learning more about what Functional Medicine is? Be sure to grab some literature provided by Dr Ben Verhovsek from Pinnacle Chiropractic Johnstown.
In my honest opinion, functional medicine is a necessary adjunct to your favorite primary care and specialist providers as learning and understanding the how and why is key to effective treatment and often times can be preventative!

Complimentary handouts with information on GMO’s, storage for produce and Brix testing will also be available.

☀️1:30 Walking tour and talk by our favorite Farmer John.
Walk time can be adjusted with weather but he will begin his planned discussion at 1:30. No worries if walk is a little later…John is a wealth of knowledge and will have plenty to share as you tour the farm.

More details on his talk can be found here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=918537086177950&id=100040650024827&mibextid=qC1gEa

☀️3 pm Food preservation thru Dehydration by Janel Figurelle with The Heirloom Acre. She
will be sharing her favorite recipe for fruit leather (aka better than fruit roll up snack) and complimentary sampling of this tasty treat.

☀️1-4 pm visit with the farm animals

☀️I will also have on display some of my favorite books and cookbooks! Take a look and see if you would want to add any to your library. They can be found on Amazon, your favorite book store or direct from the authors.

☀️Weston A Price literature will be available too. Take a look at the amazing references this organization provides on health and nutrition!

☀️Check out the additional posts from this week on our business page for more details.

☀️Housekeeping details can be found here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=919592762739049&id=100040650024827&mibextid=qC1gEa

☀️We are super excited to share with you our little piece of “heaven on earth” while passing on the greatest gift of knowledge and education!

05/09/2023

What is the "pop" or "crack" noise after an adjustment?

Chiropractic manipulation entails a chiropractor using their hands to apply a gentle but rapid impulse that separates the surfaces of a restricted joint. The subsequent “popping” sound is not from your bones or cartilage snapping against each other but rather from healthy gasses being quickly released into the joint, aka cavitation.

Many patients believe that “if it cracks, you know it moved” and are often disappointed with silent manipulation. However, every major research study that examined this issue concluded that manipulation is equally beneficial regardless of whether a joint pops or not.

05/02/2023

Pregnancy and Low Back Pain Information

- A history of lower back pain DOUBLES the risk of developing pregnancy-related low back pain.

- Pregnancy-related low back pain typically starts between the FIFTH and SEVENTH months. 40% of women who experience pregnancy-related low back pain continue to suffer SIX MONTHS after delivery, and 20% report pain THREE YEARS LATER.

- Almost 75% of women undergoing chiropractic manipulation report significant PAIN REDUCTION and clinically significant IMPROVEMENTS in DISABILITY.

- In addition to musculoskeletal benefits, ongoing EXERCISE during pregnancy decreases one’s risk of excessive weight gain, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pre-term birth, while improving self-image and pain tolerance. Women SHOULD NOT begin vigorous exercise during pregnancy.

- Healthy women may begin or continue MODERATE INTENSITY aerobic exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.

04/21/2023

Common Injuries of the Low Back:

Internal Disc Disruption (IDD)

The intervertebral disc is located between two adjacent vertebrae and functions as a shock absorber in the spine by slowing the rate at which forces are transmitted to the vertebrae. It contains two components: a semi-fluid mass in the center and strong layered collagen fibers surrounding it.

With IDD, the fluid is forced through the collagen layers through small tears. The outer layers are highly innervated with pain sensors, which is what leads to localized low back pain.

There are many theories for why this phenomenon occurs. The most popular theory is that IDD is a consequence of repetitive microtrauma; however, it can occur after a singular event of heavy lifting with bad technique. Repetitive microtrauma explains why very mundane activities can cause IDD.

It is important to note that IDD is NOT a disc herniation because the fluid is still contained within the fibers. Since the injury is contained, it will not irritate nearby nerve roots, so IDD pain can refer to the buttock or thigh but NOT below the knee.

Key Clinical Features:
- Deep achy low back pain
- Pain made worse with bending forward or sitting
- Pain made better with standing and moving around
- Back pain worse in the AM

If you are experiencing similar issues, please call our office today for an evaluation. IDD is a common condition managed by chiropractic care.

04/14/2023

MEET OUR DEDICATED DOCTORS

Before graduating from Richland High School in 2014, Dr. Ben Verhovsek aspired to become a chiropractor in the Johnstown area. As a former patient at Pinnacle Chiropractic Spine and Sports Center, Dr. Verhovsek experienced first-hand the life changing effectiveness of chiropractic care. In pursuit of his dream, Dr. Verhovsek received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Juniata College in 2017. He continued his education at Northeast College of Health Sciences where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, in March 2022.

Dr. Verhovsek continued his education at Northeast College online to earn his Masters in Applied Clinical Nutrition. During his time at school, Dr. Verhovsek earned certificates in Whole Foods Nutrition and Custom Stabilizing Orthotics.

Dr. Verhovsek resides in Westmont Borough of Johnstown with his wife, Brianna and their three children, Adelina, Becket, and Lydia. When not seeing patients, Dr. Verhovsek enjoys spending quality time with his family either at a local playground or their church.

04/04/2023

Oral health is a broader category than many realize. It extends beyond the number of cavities you have and includes the health of your gums, tongue, and jaw. Many factors influence your oral health. Some are obvious, like your oral hygiene routine, but the influence of others can be more subtle. Some things that impact oral health include:

• Your hormones
• Your diet — particularly consumption sugary foods and beverages
• Genetics
• Smoking
• Digestive issues
• Some medications
• Overall health

Many of these factors shift over time, so you may have to adjust your oral hygiene routines throughout your life. For these reasons, any assessment of, or treatment plan for, must take your overall health into account.

04/03/2023

DiagnosTechs' Adrenal Stress Index can be helpful if you experience:

- Chronic stress and stress-related health conditions
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Anxiety or depression
- Irritability or mood swings
- Insomnia, sleep disturbances or difficulty waking
- Difficulty losing weight
- Poor memory or difficulty retaining information
- Muscle and joint pain or weakness
- Easy bruising or excessive stretch marks
- Hypertension

DiagnosTechs' ASI Panel can help you discover the causes, by measuring cortisol and five other hormones through saliva over 24 hours. Saliva is the best method for measuring free, active levels of cortisol. The collection process is noninvasive, painless, and samples can be collected anywhere (home, office or anywhere in between).

*From DiagnosTechs' website

03/27/2023

The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) is an innovative clinical tool that measures gastrointestinal microbiota DNA from a single stool sample with state of the art, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology.

The GI-MAP was designed to detect microbes that may be disturbing normal microbial balance or contributing to illness as well as indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function.

Almost every patient can benefit from a GI-MAP gut health assessment. Some patients are looking to achieve optimal health, while other patients have been chronically ill and frustrated without a diagnosis for years.

Some conditions that warrant testing are:

Autoimmune diseases
IBS/IBD
Digestive complaints, diarrhea or constipation
Brain fog
Skin problems, like acne and psoriasis
Mood disorders, depression, and anxiety
Diabetes and weight loss issues

From:
https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map

03/20/2023

The Impact of Oral Health and Overall Health

Cardiovascular health
- Scientists are discovering new links between bacteria in the mouth and the cardiovascular system. Although more research is needed, some evidence suggests that gum inflammation may contribute to systemic inflammation. This could potentially have an impact on cardiovascular health.

Gut health
- Bacteria in the mouth also affects your gut when bacteria enters the intestines.

Mental health
- The connection between oral health and mental health goes both ways. People with mental health conditions can neglect their oral health. One study found that the risk of losing all teeth is as high as 30% for patients with depression. At the same time, good oral health can positively impact mental health, in part because of confidence about appearance and fresh breath and feeling of physical comfort.