The Informed Chiropractor Podcast

Heart rate variability, Chiropractic, and the Polyvagal theory with Dr. David Fletcher

Joining Dr. Don today is Dr. David Fletcher, a threepeat guest who is here to dive further into the polyvagal theory and heart rate variability. Dr. Fletcher is a chiropractic pioneer and the tools you can use to help track your patient's inputs and outputs.

 

The pandemic changed many things, but importantly, it significantly affected the population and their primary autonomic responses. Dr. Fletcher talks us through how his tools track autonomic responses, distinguish between parasympathetic and sympathetic reactions, and interpret data points.

 

Key Takeaways:

• How things have been for David and his practice during the pandemic. [01:30]
• How people in the industry utilized their strength and knowledge during the pandemic. [02:50]
• Commonalities between chiropractors that succeeded and grew through the pandemic. [03:30]
• How forced immobilization during the pandemic affected people. [06:45]
• Blending technologies to read client inputs and outputs and why it’s important. [08.00]
• The Four Quadrant Model. [08:45]
• Measuring parasympathetic vs. sympathetic reactions. [13:00]
• Working within the rules of the human operating system and reigniting the systems. [18:00]
• Keeping the human system in motion. [20:00]
• Creating a movement to safety. [23:00]
• Why chiropractic is a neuroscience-based on coordination. [25:00]
• About the face/heart connection. [27:00]
• Sifting through inputs and outputs to find useful information. [28:20]
• The Love Cause and Effect. [30:00]
• The physiology of detecting danger. [31:40]
• Creating self-awareness about your body and reactions. [33:20]
• Why chiropractors need to stop living in fear. [35:00]
• Honoring the pioneers of chiropractic advancements. [36:55]
• About autonomic states and how they track on the HRV. [39:00]
• Unraveling uncharacteristic readings. [47:25]
• Words of wisdom. [50:00]

For more information on the Insight Scans, visit https://insightcla.com/ 

The Informed Chiropractor: Click here for more info

Why Right Now is The Best Time in Dr. Christopher Kent’s 50-Year Career.

In this episode, Dr. Don MacDonald is pleased to interview Dr. Christopher Kent, who has been a long-time inspiration to him. 

Dr. Christopher Kent is a chiropractor and educator. He learned about chiropractic and eventually attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. After graduation, he worked as an intern and eventually became an educator. He met Dr. Patrick Gentempo, and together they created On Purpose, a company focused on helping Chiropractors.

Dr. Kent has a subluxation focus and is interested in quantifying the changes that result from care. He also discusses the polyvagal theory, how the nervous system impacts emotions, and how the pandemic has affected patients worldwide.

In the future, he would like to research the autonomic response and believes that chiropractic care is the perfect solution for the aftereffects of the pandemic. Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman College of Chiropractic and has also worked and learned outside of North America. He shares some parting words of wisdom in the interview.

 

Key Takeaways:

• How did Dr. Kent end up practicing chiropractic medicine? [02:00]
• Kent’s journey of learning about chiropractic theory. [03:20]
• How the answer to the question “what do chiropractors do?” changed Dr. Kent’s entire career trajectory. [04:15]
• Kent’s experience at Palmer. [07:55]
• How the discipline has changed over the years. [10:40]
• Life after graduation and Dr. Kent’s intern experience. [12:30]
• How Dr. Kent became an educator. [14:00]
• Meeting Dr. Patrick Gentempo and creating On Purpose. [15:30]
• Why Dr. Kent started leaning towards a subluxation focus. [18:35]
• Quantifying changes due to therapy. [19:39]
• Discussing the polyvagal theory, happiness, and how far the effect of it can reach. [22:25]
• The effects of the pandemic on patients. [26:20]
• Areas that Dr. Kent wants to research in the future. [27:00]
• Monitoring the autonomic response. [29:00]
• Why chiropractic medicine is the perfect treatment for the aftereffects of the pandemic. [30:40]
• What Dr. Kent teaches at Sherman. [32:00]
• Kent’s experience working and learning outside of North America. [33:40]
• Parting words of wisdom. [35:50]

How to Continue Transitioning Out of the Pandemic with Dr. Peter Kevorkian

On today’s episode, Dr. Don speaks with Dr. Peter Kevorkian for the third time on the podcast. A lot has changed since Dr. Kevorkian last visited the show. This time, he’ll dissect the effects of the pandemic and talk about how we can transition out of it healthily.

Over the last few years, many things have changed for practitioners and patients. How do you navigate the changes personally and professionally? And more importantly, how do you make the needed transitions to continue?

 

Key Takeaways:

• What it’s been like as practitioners transition out of the pandemic. [01:28]
• Three things that have got Peter through the pandemic. [02:45]
• How the trauma of COVID-19 has affected everyone. [03:30]
• Why adaptation is necessary and a sign of good mental health. [04:25]
• Understanding that cultural norms may be flawed. [06:00]
• How the pandemic has drastically affected peoples’ physiology and nervous system. [07:00]
• Tip 1: Be aware of what is happening around you and stay awake. [08:15]
• Find the joy in something and hold on to it; create space for it. [11:45]
• Tip 2: Create a safe space to decompress and turn off the fight or flight instinct. [13:00]
• What can you do to create safety in your life, and what did Peter do? [16:15]
• Being conscious of creating a safe space for others in your practice. [17:00]
• Tip 3: Get back into your heart. The world needs love and respect. [22:10]
• Recognize the differences in perspectives and respect them. [23:45]
• Maintaining your self-care. [26:00]
• What major transitions have Peter and his work been through since the beginning of the pandemic? [29:00]
• Dealing with the passing of a colleague and friend. [30:50]
• Words of wisdom. [36:00]

For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor," click https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Dr. Kevin Holroyd Tells Us How to Deal With Personal Health Challenges as a Chiropractor

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Holroyd. He practices with his wife, Dr. Susan Holroyd, at their clinic in Kelowna, BC. Kevin was introduced to chiropractic care at a young age—so early that he doesn’t remember his first appointment. From there, chiropractic care played a part in his wellness routine, and eventually, he decided to pursue it as a career.

Kevin will tell us all about a recent personal health challenge and how he’s dealt with his diagnosis. He also shares insight into the tools, technology, and people that helped him through this challenging time.  He shares with us his very challenging journey of being diagnosed with cancer and, more importantly, the people he surrounded himself with and what he did that helped him heal.  

Key Takeaways:

• How Kevin became interested in chiropractic care in his youth. [2:07]
• Why he decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor. [3:11]
• Where Kevin first began his career. [5:40]
• The health challenge he encountered in February 2020. [9:47]
• The news he learned after his surgery and what happened afterward. [13:58]
• A coincidence that helped him after his diagnosis. [15:30]
• How his diet changed after his diagnosis. [18:50]
• The biggest thing he’s learned through his diagnosis. [20:51]
• How a connection of his sisters was helpful to his situation. [22:15]
• The positive reminder he got after his second dose of immunotherapy. [25:42]
• How his immunotherapy impacted his liver health. [28:31]
• The mental struggles he encountered and how he dealt with them. [30:35]
• The therapy modality Kevin practiced and why it was so powerful. [32:47]
• What going through this experience has taught him. [34:58]
• The significant milestone he passed was in May 2022. [37:59]
• Kevin’s wisdom for other chiropractors who are dealing with their challenges. [40:52]

 

For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

How the Polyvagal Theory Can Help You and Your Patients

Dr. Don discusses the numerous training events and methods he has been employing in the last few months in today’s episode. We also hear a clip from a recent Zoom call for doctors in London preparing for an upcoming seminar there.

Brandi joins in to discuss the added complications that the pandemic has caused in patient care and how to adapt to it. They also discuss the basics of polyvagal theory and briefly touch on the challenges practitioners face.

The three parts of the Polyvagal theory covered in this episode are the hierarchy of the nervous system, neuroception, and co-regulation.  They are very excited to be producing a 4-week program in the second quarter of 2023 with Dr. Stephen Porges on the clinical application of the polyvagal theory into Chiropractic practice.  

Key Takeaways:

• The overview of recent training events and methods. [1.00]
• Brandi discusses the polyvagal theory and the problems that arise from being bombarded with too much information. [2:55]
• Creating an effective and semantically sound communication method for training. [4:00]
• Challenges faced by polyvagal practitioners. [5:36]
• The salutogenic process of chiropractic. [6:25]
• Getting to grips with the polyvagal process and overcoming preconceived notions of healing and pain. [7:00]
• Understanding what a patient’s physiology is telling you and them. [9:20]
• Why Brandi and Don came to the polyvagal theory. [10:40]
• How the pandemic has influenced assessing patients’ trauma and pain. [11:30]
• Understanding the effects of worldwide trauma. [13:00]
• Focusing on chiropractors and their lives. [14:50]
• Your responsibility to self-care. [15:30]
• Decoding how patients have changed through COVID and learning to communicate again. [17:00]
• Your responsibility as a practitioner is to accept your patient’s trauma. [18:45]
• How using the correct language will deepen your communication and connection with patients. [19:15]
• The main concepts of the polyvagal theory. [20:00]
• Understanding safety. [23:00]
• How the nervous systems of children are different. [28:00]

To join Dr. Don and Brandi Macdonald's monthly mentoring group called "The Informed Chiropractor," click below.

https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in San Fransico on January 14th for the Emergence one-day workshop, click below.

https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/S4oB5dNd 

To Join Dr. Don and Brandi in Montreal on Saturday, March 11th, for "The MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol" hands-on workshop, click below

https://www.thevitalityshift.com/offers/FoayJsda 

 

How Dr. Clarence Haitsma Built a New Chiropractic Practice After 6 Years of Retirement

In today’s show, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Clare Haitsma, a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic who has been in practice for 46 years. After chiropractic school, Dr. Haitsma returned to Alberta and practiced for 30 years before retiring to go on church missions.

That retirement didn’t last long, and six years ago, he returned to start a new practice from scratch in Lethbridge, Alberta. It hasn’t been an easy road to rebuild, and there have been many changes along the way, but it’s important to keep focused on your values and the needs of your patients.

Dr. Clare Haitsma is an inspiration to the profession, he shares some of his routines and rituals that help keep him focused and on purpose.  Nothing is more inspiring than seeing a Chiropractor in practice that long and still loving to serve people daily. 

Key Takeaways:

• How did Dr. Haitsma come to chiropractic medicine? [1:40]
• Why a car accident led to a career path switch. [2:00]
• What studying at Palmer College was like in the 1970s. [4:21]
• Why Palmer was considered an eccentric college. [4:30]
• What was the highlight of attending the school? [6:22]
• Why Dr. Haitsma knew he would come back to Alberta. [7:55]
• How chiropractic medicine evolved during his time in business. [9:00]
• Why Dr. Haitsma retired. [11:08]
• What drove the decision to go on church missions? [11:40]
• Why Dr. Haitsma ended up in Lethbridge.
• What it was like rebuilding a practice from scratch. [13:00]
• Learning to refocus on what mattered in his practice and for his clients. [15:35]
• Overcoming apprehension of creating care plans. [18:00]
• What is the benefit of care plans? [18:45]
• Why it’s important to give patients the choice of their treatment options. [20:40]
• How has Dr. Haitsma’s technique evolved? [22:50]
• What kind of personal rituals does Dr. Haitsma have to maintain focus? [25:35]
• What would Dr. Haitsma tell his younger self? [27:20]
• Words of wisdom. [30:30]

For more information on "The Informed Chiropractor" with Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald, visit

https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

 

How Dr. Julie Darchuk Overcame Her Grief and Trauma With the Vitality Shift for Chiropractors

Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Julie Darchuk from Saskatoon in this episode. Dr. Julie has been in practice for 6 years and is a graduate of CMCC.  Dr. Don and Brandi have been working closely with Dr. Julie over the last year, and he is excited to share her journey today. 

Julie takes us through her chiropractic journey, how her dad was her biggest inspiration, and the stress she experience when she suddenly lost him before starting School. Her body stored the trauma she had not dealt with and put it on a shelf for her to push through school. Numbing her grief was the only way for her to cope in the beginning.  She then experienced the loss of her brother as well, which added to her grief.

Coaching helped Julie identify and then begin to process grief and trauma in her personal life and a feeling of staleness in her career after having to practice hurt. For those struggling, Julie’s experiences could be the inspiration you may be looking for to help you get back on track. 

Key Takeaways:

• How Julie decided to become a Chiropractor. [1:45]
• How Julie managed stress at Chiropractic school in the first year. [4:05]
• What happened after Julie graduated? How did she decide whether to start her practice or work for someone else? [6:50]
• Why it was important for Julie to learn from multiple practitioners in a hands-on way. [9:25]
• Dealing with further family trauma out in the world of work. [10:15]
• What happens when you aren’t fine anymore? [12:00]
• What brought Julie to work with Dr. Don and Brandi? [12:40]
• Learning about the salutogenic model of chiropractic. [14:20]
• Understanding why you want to make the shift. [16:00]
• Julie’s journey through pain and road to recovery. [17:20]
• What helped Julie unpack her trauma over time? [18:35]
• Taking note of the small triumphs. [20:11]
• The impatience of recovery. [21:00]
• About Julie’s journey to clinic owner. [22:10]
• Getting clear about what you want. [24:10]
• What would Julie say to her younger self? [25:20]
• Advice for those struggling. [27:00]

For more information on the Vitality Shift program, visit: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

To get more information about "The Informed Chiropractor" program, visit

https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

We’re Back! An Update from Dr. Don

Today, Dr. Don is firing the podcast again after a year-long break. In this episode, he shares what he and Brandi have been up to over the last year and the latest updates on their business. After this updated episode, there will be more interview-style episodes on the way.

Dr. Don dives into practice changes, including their new practice and location. He also talks about their interview with Dr. Stephen Porges about the polyvagal theory on the podcast last year and how that conversation influenced how they approach their practice members.

Key Takeaways:

• What has happened since the new practice opened one year ago. [1:40]
• Moving into a new space and building it from scratch. [2:05]
• The reason why the episode with Dr. Porges changed the way they treat patients. [3:58]
• How learning about polyvagal theory influenced Dr. Don’s thoughts about physiology. [5:11]
• What brought Dr. Porges to create the polyvagal theory. [6:42]
• The brainstem function as a safety or danger detector. [9:08]
• What state your body must be in for optimal physiology to happen? [9:28]
• The benefits of creating sustained ease over a longer period of time. [10:47]
• What it’s been like doing more seminars as the world opens up. [11:50]
• Why all techniques are capable of being successful. [12:24]
• An upcoming beta-run seminar at the new practice. [13:40]
• What Dr. Don and Brandi have been doing over the past year. [14:48]
• The Informed Chiropractor group coaching program supports the business and personal development of chiropractors. [15:15]
• What to expect on the podcast as regular episodes begin again. [17:40]

 

For more info on the Vitality Shift, visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/

For more on the Informed Chiropractor program visit https://www.thevitalityshift.com/the-informed-chiropractor 

Chiropractic Marketing That Can’t Be Ignored with Mike Michalowicz

Mike Michalowicz, a threepeat guest and incredible author, is here today. Mike joins us to discuss his new book “Get Different,” marketing that can’t be ignored, and boosting your clinic’s profile post-COVID.

He takes us through the necessity of marketing in unique ways and why it is your responsibility as a service provider to market yourself. With the pandemic continuing to rage, many people are stuck in a fear state. As a chiropractor, you can help them – you just have to let them know you are there.

 

Key Takeaways:

• A brief overview of Mike’s previous books and new release. [0:48]
• How the Mastermind sessions help to bring about and refine Mike’s ideas. [1:35]
• Where the initial idea for book topics come from. [2:25]
• How Mike crowdsources ideas from the community. [2:45]
• Understanding that we are at the whim of the customers. [3:20]
• Why you have a responsibility to market. [4:40]
• Getting different with your marketing. [6:10]
• Differentiating your services from the white noise. [6:45]
• Why you don’t need to be complicated to be impactful. [9:10]
• Understanding your target community. [10:28]
• Examples of standout marketing from Mike’s career. [10.50]
• Creating online buzz for virtually no cost. [13:15]
• Experiment, measure, amplify, and repeat. [15:00]
• Why we are fear based and how to get around it. [15:15]
• Presenting yourself as a service and offering kindness. [16:50]
• The disadvantage advantage. [17:44]
• Exercises for creative thinking. [19:04]
• Why you should grow, but not grow up. [21:50]
• About the new book, Get Different. [23:00]
• Words of wisdom and inspiration. [24:20]

 

Get Different: https://www.gogetdifferent.com

For more information on the Vitality Shift program visit: https://www.thevitalityshift.com

Polyvagal Theory and Chiropractic, How It Can Influence Bodily Function With Dr. Stephen Porges

Today, Dr. Don is joined by Dr. Stephen Porges, Ph.D. He is a distinguished university scientist at the Kinsey Institute, Founding Director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and proponent of the polyvagal theory. Dr. Porges is with us to discuss the polyvagal theory in detail and how it relates to chiropractic.

Dr. Porges takes us through the beginnings of polyvagal theory and how it can influence bodily function. It’s important to create safety for patients in order to create that vagal response to bring them out of a defensive state.  Dr. Don and Dr. Porges discover some of the many similarities between the benefits of Chiropractic care and the Vagal break as described by the polyvagal theory. 

 

Key Takeaways:

• How Dr. Porges describes the polyvagal theory. [5:03]
• What drew Dr. Porges to commit his academic life to this theory. [6:35]
• Descriptions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. [8:31]
• The dorsal vagas and its role as the ‘old vagas’. [9:36]
• How and why the body exits dorsal collapse. [12:02]
• Why we don’t remember trauma. [14:00]
• Navigating defensive states by using vagal activity. [14:53]
• The Safe and Sound Protocol. [17:46]
• The long road to creating a theory of neural modulation. [20:58]
• Returning autonomy to patients through polyvagal manipulation. [22:00]
• How our society keeps us locked in states of defense. [25:00]
• Creating a state of ease through awareness. [27:10]
• Activating the ventral vagal process through neural exercises. [28:00]
• Explaining co-regulation and how it works. [30:16]
• Proprioception through Chiropractic care and improving safety. [34:02]
• Understanding the mind/body relationship and feedback loops. [36:20]
• Why client interaction is key to creating safe spaces. [39:50]
• Alleviating the burden of responsibility and creating bodily awareness in patients. [43:10]
• How Dr. Porges conducts his research. [43:55]
• Case studies of long hauler COVID sufferers and how vagal stimulation can help them. [47:28]
• The importance of self-compassion and self-care for Chiropractors out there. [50:51]

 

The Polyvagal Institute: https://www.polyvagalinstitue.org

For more info on the Vitality Shift visit  https://www.thevitalityshift.com/