Collyard Chiropractic

06/10/2026

"Do you know how amazing the human body is? Really, all of biology. But how interconnected every facet of every aspect of every system is?

It's why some symptoms have several different possible causes. A headache could be due to dehydration, sinus pressure, posture, eyesight, specific chemicals, or how difficulty in one system can cause issues in seemingly unrelated systems. But they're not unrelated. Every system influences and depends on every other.

It's a short post this week. Was just thinking about how we know so much about the body and yet we're still discovering things." - Dr. Erick Thompson

06/09/2026

Testimonial Tuesday:

"From the minute you walk in the door, you'll know you're at the right place. Welcoming staff that cares. Lot's of offerings in the waiting room including essential oils, QUALITY supplements that actually work, pillows, massage tools, orthotics (including shoes!). Dr. Carrie and Dr. Erick are a well rounded team that offer an approach to healing that should be your first stop when not feeling well. They also treat infants for colic and reflux. Who knew chiropractic treatments could help?! Thanks for keeping my family well." - P (Boss Lady and Community Leader)

06/08/2026

As a reminder....we are surrounded by construction. The large community parking lot and Main Street are BOTH CLOSED. Please allow extra time for you appointment. Good Luck!

06/04/2026

TBT...to that time our office sponsored a bull running team!

06/03/2026

"One of the major tenets that chiropractic hinges on is the concept of a universal intelligence. What makes a rock a rock, a cat a cat, a tree a tree and all of the known and unknown science that keeps the known universal laws intact.

When we discuss chiropractic outside of the whole pain-management model, it centers around removing interference from the body, so it doesn't have to adapt in potentially unhealthy ways. A limp to protect a twisted ankle that results in knee and hip pain; a subluxated rib resulting from carrying a 4-year-old and a baby in a car seat in addition to poor posture at that age of 28 because you're STILL in school... causing chest pain and panic attacks.

The industry has shifted toward the pain model for two reasons: 1. Much of modern healthcare reimbursement is tied to diagnosis and symptom management. 2. Pain is an obvious sign (like we discussed last week, often one of the last signs our body gives that something is wrong), making it easy to recognize when someone needs help.

Examples are all throughout the body that prove that something can be out of balance without there being symptoms. High blood pressure is the perfect example. If you don't get your blood pressure checked, it can be scary high without your knowledge until something catastrophic happens. You may recall the Bakris and Dickholtz study from 2007 that suggested improvements in blood pressure following a specific NUCCA upper cervical intervention.

If you're not in pain, that's amazing. You may want to take preventative measures to ensure it stays that way through diet, exercise, rest, and on occasion chiropractic. You may also find yourself already on that journey and choose chiropractic as one more tool to support how your body adapts to physical, chemical, and emotional stress.

When we're in the throes of acute pain, paying for chiropractic can get expensive fast, but on the wellness journey, investing in your spine once every 1 to 3 months is a lot more manageable." - Dr. Erick Thompson

05/27/2026

"I don't sell this very hard, but pain is usually not the first sign that you should get checked by a chiropractor; it's often the last sign that something has been brewing for a while.

The body is incredibly adaptive. Depending on the nature of the problem, dysfunction can build gradually long before pain becomes severe enough to demand your attention.

I don't push this concept aggressively for 2 obvious reasons (well, obvious to me).

First, I cannot magically know your body and exactly how it will respond. Even with x-rays, MRI findings, blood work, orthopedic testing, and experience, healthcare providers are still making educated assessments. Nobody can KNOW with absolute certainty. That's part of why misdiagnoses happen in both medicine and chiropractic.

Second, because I can't KNOW, I don't like overpromising results I cannot guarantee.

Could 3 visits a week for the next 2 months completely resolve your low back pain?
Maybe.
Maybe not.

And in my opinion, expensive treatment plans should come with honesty, not certainty.

That said, most people eventually start recognizing patterns in their own body.

Personally, when my shoulder starts feeling stiff, I usually have a week or two before occasional rib pain starts showing up. From there, maybe another couple weeks before sleeping becomes uncomfortable and the pain starts becoming distracting.

When it was at its worst, the moment that rib shifted out, I would get chest pain, arm pain, neck pain, and even jaw pain.

It was a long road of adjustments and rehabbing those muscles to stop allowing that area to become unstable so easily. I worked very hard to get that upper back under control once already, and I have no interest in letting it get back to that point again.

I've written before that if your goal is simply pain relief, waiting until something hurts before making an appointment is often reasonable advice.

But if your goal is optimization, resilience, or overall wellness, pain probably shouldn't be the only signal you listen to." - Dr. Erick Thompson

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Congrats to all the Spectrum High School graduates!

A extra special wish to Doc's daughter, Lyla, who was among them! Lyla has been raised in our office. Julie brought her to preschool and often picked her up until she started driving herself. She spent sick days under Julie's desk and has decorated our holiday tree for 18 years. She brings whimsy to our space every time she arrives.

Lyla will pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts in musical theater in the Conservatory Program at Viterbo University. Congrats, Lyla! We wish her and all the 2026 graduates great things.

05/20/2026

"As some of you may have heard, I recently wrote a book. Spoiler alert: the premise is essentially how you can need me less. 😄

It focuses on the importance of making intentional choices when it comes to our health and wellness and recognizing how interconnected all facets of our health truly are.

Last week I wrote about acute care versus maintenance care and the fact that insurance, generally speaking, is designed around acute care in the chiropractic sense. As I’ve mentioned multiple times in these Wednesday conversations, I believe that almost everyone would benefit from being under chiropractic care (bias acknowledged), but I don’t want people to feel like they need to use it as a crutch or become dependent on it.

In my ideal world, most of my patients would come in every 1-3 months just to make sure their spine is moving and supporting them as well as possible while spending the other days actively doing things to support their overall health and wellness and addressing all 3 T’s (Trauma, Toxins, Thoughts).

Your mental well-being can inhibit your ability to recover after tweaking your low back. A sedentary lifestyle will obstruct progress made by eating better. A toxic diet often leads to lack of energy and interferes with your body’s ability to manage mental stress.

So strive to eat a little better, move a little more, take time for yourself to intentionally unwind, and come get adjusted when you need." - Dr. Erick Thompson

05/19/2026

We are pleased and proud to announce the Dr. Erick Thompson is a published author!

In "Rest, Stress, and Digest", Dr. Erick breaks down how the body adapts to physical, chemical, and emotional stress and how those responses shape your long-term health. It's guidance with no guilt!

Pick up a copy and support Dr. Erick's quest to create a environment that fosters wellness!

Congrats, Doc!

Because I don’t know exactly what your body needs or what will work best for you. In , Dr. Erick Thompson breaks down how the body adapts to physical, chemical, and emotional stress and how those responses shape your long-term health. Most health advice tells you what to do, with rigid ru...