Christian's Blog

Hey Everyone, 

The MIDTERMS have FINALLY ended!!!! And the first thing I did was pass out...and when I woke up, I felt like my brain resembled more of the puddies from Power Rangers than the thing we dissected in Trimester 2 neuroanatomy. (Yeah, I just put a Power Ranger analogy in a med school blog, you're welcome. :)  Eventually reality came back and this post was finished.

Me in the cab going to St. Patty's in Wrigleyville.

A question came via email last weekend and I'd like to help you (what else am I supposed to do?). Since most of the time more than just the person who emailed me needs the answer, I open it up to a little blog action.

Q: "I'm entering NUHS in August and I don't have a place to stay or a roommate and I don't know anyone there! What would recommend?" 

A: Classic Question! Have No Worries. Unless you plan on living under a rock and sitting in the corner of class with a scowl on your face (no offense if that's your style;) you will meet plenty of friends at National. However, if you are looking for a roommate before you start, you either have to start creepin' on Facebook (Twitter, if you're into that kind of thing) or email Pam in Housing. I'd recommend the later. Pam Thomas has been fantastic in sorting out housing arrangements and getting you set up on campus. If you have your heart set for off-campus living, there are A LOT of apartments within 1 mile of campus. Google and your telephone will help narrow your list.

Tri Games

On a side note, Tri Games is this Friday and dodge ball is the game of choice! Search my old posts for an explanation of past Tri Games. I've been practicing dodging wrenches all week at Average Joe's Gym. Ya, I'm ready. 

Talk to y'all next week,
CC

Hello, everyone! 

This is our last blog of the fall trimester, which means CHRISTMAS BREAK IS UPON US! I have 3 finals this week and 5 next week, and then I'm on a plane back to Boston! I'm incredibly excited to see my family, see some old friends, and work on a few side projects (more on this below).

I often get asked, "Christian, where are the best places to live? I'm new and I'm from out of town." SHAMELESS PLUG: I live in a sweet house right across the street from campus and my two 10th tri roomies are graduating and becoming docs--which means I have 2 open rooms for rent! Rent is $550 and it's a way better deal than taking an apartment in the area for $800+. If you're a student or incoming student and need a place to live, EMAIL ME: CMCARROLL2@gmail.com.

Anyways, back to school.

Functional Movement Screens

If you have never heard of Gray Cook and you're interested in doing some rehab or reducing injuries or pain in your office (yes, that should be all chiros), you need to check out his new book, Movement: Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment, Corrective Strategies. It is a big book on functional movement screening.

There are natural movements that normally functioning (biomechanically efficient and pain-free) humans can perform. Cook ingeniously lays out the way to assess, score and correct muscular imbalances. Although he is a physical therapist, it is groundbreaking for manual medicine practitioners because he gives a baseline on where you need to be looking. Treat the dysfunction, not the pain.

As Dr. Rich Ulm used to say to us in first tri, "He who treats the site of pain is lost and so are his patients." Very powerful stuff. Of course, chiros have a few different toolsets to impart in fixing dysfunctions. All professionals have the goal of getting the patient out of pain and into the proper motion pattern as fast as possible. Gone are the days of "3 times a week for the remainder of your life." Chiropractors need to shake that negative image. Getting superior results is a good start.

I bought Movement  as my Christmas present to myself. Nerdy? Yes. Do I care? Nope! I live for this stuff.

Study hard and enjoy your break! I'll see you in 2012 if the world doesn't end! ;)

Christian