CadenceMed Announces Top Ten Chiropractic Facebook Pages of 2012

After reviewing countless Facebook pages, we have identified our Top Ten Chiropractic Facebook Pages for 2012. These Facebook pages have unique strengths that deserve special recognition, so instead of ranking them #1 through #10, we decided it would be best to simply pinpoint what they do best.

So without further adieu, here are the chiropractic Facebook pages that we “Like” the most and why. Learn, share and enjoy!

Best Status Updates
BodyWise Chiropractic

What we like
Unlike most businesses on Facebook, these guys are rarely pushing their products and services. Instead, they are posting content that is thought-provoking, funny, educational and graphical. The end result? A large and engaged community of fans.

Most Likes
Goodlettsville Chiropractic Clinic

What we like
Isn’t it obvious? We like their “Likes.” Although the number of Likes a page has can be a vanity metric (what really matters when it comes to investing time and money on social media is if you are able to generate business, improve patient outcomes or increase patient satisfaction), it can be a decent indicator that the business is doing something correct. With over 23,000 Likes and status updates that fans are positively responding to, these guys appear to be doing more than just racking up a high Like number.

Best Design
Live Well Chiropractic and Lifestyle

What we like
This Louisville chiropractor just opened up shop earlier in the year, but he is making a splash with his practice’s attractive website and growing Facebook page. The combination of their aesthetically-pleasing profile picture and personal Timeline Banner image evokes a professional and emotional first impression.

Best YouTube Integration
Executive Express Chiropractic

What we like
Facebook Timeline Tabs often go underutilized, but not in this case. The team at Executive Express Chiropractic are integrating YouTube with their Facebook page in a wonderful way: by presenting patient testimonials. Third-party social proof is one of the most effective ways for an individual or business to validate the quality of its products and services. Video testimonials are among the most potent forms of social proof because they are more personal than written or audio testimonials; nice work!

Best E-Commerce Integration
Dr. Kevin Lau

What we like
Dr. Kevin Lau is the author of a number of books on scoliosis. He gives his Facebook visitors the opportunity to buy products right from his Facebook page. All his visitors need to do is visit his “Online Store” tab, which is powered by Amazon.

Best Engagement
Belleville Chiropractic practice: LiveWell Wellness Centers

What we like
Probably the best sign of a healthy Facebook business presence is a highly engaged fan-base. Few chiropractic practices do a better job at posting content that gets their contacts “Liking,” commenting and sharing as well as LiveWell Wellness Centers do on their Facebook page. As of posting this article, 1,178 people were talking about LiveWell Wellness Centers – now that is what we call a thriving community of fans!

Best Use of Facebook Tabs
Maui Spa & Wellness Center

What we like
We like how these folks are using their Facebook tabs to share more information about their spa, services and upcoming events. It makes a strong first impression and answers most of the key questions a prospective patient might have.

Best Patient Education
Portland Chiropractic Neurology

What we like
Pay special attention to their page’s “Patient Resources” tab. It is chocked full of rich information about health disorders that their prospective or existing patients would likely find interesting and valuable. The layout of the information – with a header, a short passage of content and then a “Learn More” button is brilliant. This provides a Facebook visitor with just enough information to become interested before referring them where most practices really want their traffic to go: their websites.

So that’s it: our ten favorite chiropractic Facebook pages? Do you agree? Disagree? Share with us on Twitter or Facebook.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe below. Next week we will be announcing our Top Ten Dental Facebook Pages of 2012!

To the health of your practice and its patients,
The CadenceMed Team

Exercises for scoliosis in teens

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a rare (2% to 3% of the general population) spinal deformity affecting young people aged 10 through the end of the growth period. The deformity may continue into adulthood. AIS is characterised by one or more three-dimensional spinal curves. Disability, cosmetic deformity, pain, activity limitation, quality of life issues, breathing problems and the possibility of the scoliosis remaining with the person into and throughout adulthood are commonly associated with this condition. The cause of AIS is unknown.

Treatment for AIS varies according to the degree of severity of the curves. Just the same, exercise is almost always a part of the treatment plan. In milder cases, exercise may be the main treatment, and in more severe cases it may serve as an adjunct. In the UK and the US, physical therapy for scoliosis consists mainly of general strengthening and stretching exercises, along with exercise protocols with which the treating therapist is familiar. There is a corresponding feeling among practitioners in these geographical locations that physical therapy for scoliosis is not effective.

Scoliosis specific exercises (SSEs) are individualised exercises aimed at reducing the deformity. SSEs are taught in clinics that specialize in scoliosis. The exercises work by changing the soft tissue that affects the spine. SSEs are also thought to work by altering control of spinal movement. There are no known side effects or risks to using SSEs .

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of SSEs in reducing curve progression and postponing or avoiding invasive treatment such as surgery in adolescents with AIS. Two studies involving 154 patients total were included. The review found no evidences for or against SSE. The two included studies yielded very low quality evidence that SSEs added to other treatments are more effective than electrical stimulation, traction and posture training for avoiding curve progression, and that SSEs as a standalone treatment yield almost the same results as general physiotherapy.

Possible limitations of this review included the small number of studies that met the inclusion criteria and a high risk of bias, particularly selection bias. More randomised controlled trials are needed in this area, along with a deeper understanding of the types of SSEs useful for the adolescent with AIS.

Comment from Dr. Kevin Lau: I have seen time and time again that therapies that merely focus on the physical deformity and imbalance to be ineffective... Treating scoliosis at its source involves diet and lifestyle changes which can affect how genes are expressed. For more info read my book.