We are going to start sharing some more about our fantastic team members so you can get to know us better. 

Today's Team Member: Brett Warren Hessel

Nickname: "Ski", a shortened version of another nickname made up by my brother: "Brettski"



Favorite thing about being a part of this team: 
Having access to the knowledge and skill of different practitioners, and the opportunity to refer our patients to these professionals.

Practice at Grimshaw Chiropractic: Chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture.

What inspires you:  
Spending time with my family and the satisfaction that comes from solving complex challenges. 

Hobbies: 
Reading, mountain biking, skiing and just about any other activity one can do in the mountains.

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite movie: The Blues Brothers - love the music, their cool sunglasses, the cameos of famous blues musicians and their belief that "they'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God".

Pet's name: Princess Buttercup

Learn more about Dr. Brett Hessel and our team

Dr. Adams and Dr. Hessel achieved their goal this summer of summitting Mount Kilimanjaro on the morning of August 22nd.  Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa at 19,800 feet.  Prior to our climb, we were briefed by one of our guides about the four key principles needed to successfully reach the top.  Upon reflection, these same principles apply not only to climbing mountains but also to life in general.  These principles are as follows.

1. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated - We are essentially made of water and we often take it for granted.  On the mountain, dehydration limits our ability to carry oxygen and adapt to the elevation gains. The thin, dry air and increased respiration contributed to a rapid loss of moisture from our bodies.  Clean water was of limited supply both on and off the mountain. We realized how much we take for granted our easy access to an abundance of clean water at home.
2. Have good equipment - The harsh climate and temperature made us aware that we needed a lot of gear to keep our bodies protected.  When you were cold, you added another layer.  When the wind picked up, you put on a windbreaker.  The second principle is really about listening to your body's needs and using good equipment or being aware how the environment affects our bodies.
3. Take your time and walk slowly - Our Tanzanian guides emphasized that one always walks slowly on the mountain to prevent getting high elevation sickness.  The Swahili phrase for walking slowly is "pole, pole" (pronounced poli, poli).  As climbers, we had to respect our own pace and not get caught up with a faster pace of another group of climbers.  Sometimes in our fast paced lives we forget to take the time to slow down and pay more attention to the world around us. 
4. Practice “PMA” - Charles, the head guide, mentioned that PMA is short for Positive Mental Attitude.  He believed that maintaining a PMA was the most important principle necessary to summit.  Many of the hardships we faced on the mountain were made bearable by looking at them with a positive attitude.  Getting up at midnight to climb for 7 hours uphill in complete darkness, in below freezing temperatures and howling winds does not appear positive on first blush until you think about the end result of experiencing a sunrise above the clouds. The magic of Kilimanjaro is that it makes you aware of the importance of keeping a positive frame of mind.  

The four principles of drinking water, taking care of our bodies, walking slowly and having a positive mental attitude works whether you are climbing a mountain or harvesting your garden, because they allow you to appreciate and focus on the moment no matter where it is.

We would like to thank a number of friends and family for helping us reach the summit. In particular, Renee Little was very helpful in planning our dietary requirements for optimal training.  Dr. Andre Botha for his personal insights as a veteran climber of Kilimanjaro.  Amanda Reimer for helping with personal training, and the team at the Wellness Centre for their daily encouragement.

Spring is the time to get out and walk... But sometimes this could lead to unexpected pain. Often when you come in with back pain from increased walking, we start our examination by first measuring how tight your calf muscles are.  Your tight calf muscles can be very sensitive to the touch, but often they are not sore at all.  Either way, your tight calf muscles will have a negative effect on how your feet, knees, hips and back work.  Tight calf muscles will result in less motion of the ankles. You may compensate by turning your feet out or rotating your knees in.  Clinically this can present at either knee or foot pain.  If the pain in the feet is bad enough, you could be diagnosed with plantar fasciitis that will make it very painful to walk. When your feet turn out, or your knees turn in, it will affect how your hips and low back functions.  Poor foot and ankle motion will cause your hips to turn out in compensation. You could present with hip pain that could even cause pain to refer down the legs. Often our clients will also complain of very tight hip muscles that are very sensitive to the touch.  Tight hips mean that you will not have enough motion in the hips for normal walking.  Your body will compensate by increasing motion in your lower back to counter act the tight hips.  This can result in low back pain and muscle stiffness.

Fortunately, the problems in the feet, knees, hips and low back are frequently functional in nature and can be treated by some simple techniques. First and foremost, stretch your calf muscles out. Full ankle and foot motion will help your foot, knee, hips and low back move better.  Chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and massage of the affected areas will help to restore normal motion and decrease pain.  Good footwear is also crucial in maintaining function of the legs, hips and back.  If you are not sure how to assess your shoes, feel free to drop by and have us evaluate your shoes. Sometimes your foot function cannot be treated by chiropractic adjustments, muscle therapy, acupuncture or footwear and you may need to wear orthotics to improve your feet.  We can do a foot assessment and gait scan to determine if this is necessary.

Don’t let foot, knee or back pain prevent you from enjoying this spring.