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If you had to teach a course about a specific topic (within your domain) what would it be?

Unveiling the Secrets of Brain Health: A Must-Take Course for All

Alright, exciting times. My first question. If I had to teach a course about a specific topic, what would it be? So if I had to pick only one topic, hands down, it would be brain health. To me, your brain is the most important organ. Now one can argue we have all these different organs, but you only get one brain, and we can't transplant it when it goes bad. So I think as humans, since we all have one, we should have a general understanding of the anatomy of the brain and how the brain functions. So in simple, you have one brain with two hemispheres. Each hemisphere has different tasks that it does. Like the left side is very analytical in general, right side is very creative. And within these hemispheres, we have different regions. And these regions might have different functions. Like the front over here has to deal with speaking, the back deals with vision. So if someone has a general understanding of the anatomy and what normal function is, then I can give you specific objective tests to measure on yourself so you can compare yourself against normal. Because the brain tends to work well for the majority, we don't recognize it becomes a problem until we start to lose function or we get injured. So having a class that teaches about brain function, having a way to teach you how to analyze your own brain function, I think is totally crucial. From there, we can get into all the dirty details of how nutrition affects the brain, how to recognize when your brain gets fatigued and doesn't have a lot of endurance to do tasks. So as an example, if you've ever been reading a book and you got tired, well, the areas that deal with reading might not be functioning as well. But there, we can give you exercises on how to kind of rehabilitate or give more integrity to those areas. But again, there's so many topics that pertain to the health of the brain. How nutrition affects the brain, how stress affects the brain, how sleep affects the brain, how the brain interacts with your immune system and your gut and so forth. So I think if I had to pick one topic, it would definitely be brain health because we all get it.

If I had to teach a course about a specific topic, it would be brain health. We all have one brain, and so we should have a general understanding of the anatomy of the brain and how the brain functions. The course would cover topics such as nutrition and its effects on the brain, stress, sleep, and how the brain interacts with other organs and systems.

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If I had to teach a course within my domain, the topic I would choose without a doubt is brain health. The brain is the most important organ in our bodies, and since we only have one, it's crucial to understand its anatomy and how it functions. Each hemisphere of the brain has different tasks, with the left side being analytical and the right side being creative. There are also various regions within these hemispheres that have specific functions, such as speech in the front and vision in the back. By understanding normal brain function and its anatomy, I would provide objective tests for students to measure their own brain function against what is considered normal. Often, we don't realize there's a problem until we experience a loss of function or injury. Teaching about brain function and providing tools to analyze one's own brain function would be essential in my course.

The course would delve into topics like how nutrition, stress, sleep, and the interactions between the brain, immune system, and gut affect brain health. It would address recognizing signs of brain fatigue and lack of endurance in performing tasks. For instance, when reading becomes tiring, it could indicate decreased functioning in areas related to reading. The course would provide exercises for rehabilitation or enhancing the integrity of those areas.

Overall, there are numerous fascinating subjects that relate to brain health. However, if I had to pick just one topic to teach, it would undoubtedly be brain health because it impacts every single one of us.

How does the training environment itself impact an athlete's training?

The Impact of Training Environment on Athlete Performance

Hey Markeith, I hope I pronounced that correctly. Dr. Sean here. You have an awesome question. How does the training environment itself impact an athlete's training? So a couple things that I think of are like the home field advantage versus traveling, right? Anytime you're in home field or just a familiar setting that's going to give you that sense of comfort. It's going to down regulate your sympathetic nervous system, your fight-or-flight, and it's going to make you more present-time conscious within your training environment. The other thing that I think of because I am Colorado based, so I am at altitude, is absolutely acclimation to altitude and to heat will impact your training and your performance. So that one is an easier answer for me. So if someone comes to Colorado, I got to make sure that they've been here long enough to adapt to the altitude itself. Also as well to like if it's cold or if it's hot, making sure that they're prepped and they're ready to engage in the environment.

The training environment can impact an athlete's training by giving them a sense of comfort and familiar setting. Additionally, acclimation to altitude and heat can also have an impact on training and performance.

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The training environment itself can have a significant impact on an athlete's training. One aspect to consider is the home field advantage versus traveling. Being in a familiar setting or on home turf can provide a sense of comfort, which can help downregulate the athlete's sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response) and make them more present and focused during training.

Another factor to consider is acclimation to altitude and heat. For example, training at high altitudes can have an impact on an athlete's performance. It's important to ensure that athletes have enough time to adapt to the altitude if they are training in such an environment. Similarly, if the training environment is cold or hot, athletes need to be adequately prepared and conditioned to engage in those conditions.

Overall, the training environment plays a crucial role in an athlete's training, affecting their comfort, focus, and ability to adapt to specific conditions.

What is your process when it comes to rehabilitation for an injured athlete?

Unveiling the Intricate Process of Athlete Rehabilitation

Alright, the question reads, what is your process when it comes to rehabilitation for an injured athlete? Well, step number one is always a thorough history and interview with that athlete or that patient. We need to determine was there a very specific mechanism of injury like a trauma or was it something that was repetitive or cumulative in nature. From there, we have to go into an examination. Now I like to come up with two different diagnoses during this examination. One is that medical diagnosis. What's the name of the injury? That will tell us the physiology that's involved and the timeline that that specific injury takes to heal. The second diagnosis is more of a functional diagnosis, meaning was there a breakdown in their movement patterns, was there a lack of strength, or was there repetition? What was going on that caused that medical diagnosis to come to light? That can help us to accommodate while we're doing rehab, but also start to integrate some changes in their lifestyle or particular movement or whatever habits may have led to causing that so we can reinforce it. As far as rehabilitation, there should always be a methodical process over that timeline that it takes to heal where you have these specific goals. So you're going to start off doing the crawl, walk, run method of rehab, meaning a lot of passive modalities up front before we get into active care at the end. I won't go into over details because each injury is unique to the individual and each person might need a different variation on rehab. But the main process is to have a clinical thought process of what may have caused that, what is it, how can we reverse engineer it, and how can we accommodate you during these healing phases and make sure we have markers that keep us measured as practitioners that hold the standards saying we're actually making progress while you're healing up.

My process for rehabilitating an injured athlete involves obtaining a thorough history and interview, diagnosing the injury both medically and functionally, and then using a methodical approach with passive modalities at first and active care at the end while monitoring progress.

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When it comes to rehabilitating an injured athlete, my process begins with a thorough history and interview to understand the nature of the injury. Was it a specific traumatic event or a result of repetitive strain? Following that, I conduct an examination to establish two diagnoses. The first is the medical diagnosis, which provides insight into the injury's physiology and healing timeline. The second is a functional diagnosis, which identifies any breakdown in movement patterns, lack of strength, or repetitive behaviors that contributed to the injury. This helps guide our rehab approach and allows us to integrate lifestyle changes or corrective movements to prevent recurrence.

The rehabilitation process is methodical and tailored to each individual's unique injury. It follows a timeline with specific goals in mind. Initially, passive modalities are used before progressing to active care. While I won't delve into specific details as each injury requires personalized attention, the key is having a clinical thought process that identifies the cause and reverse engineers it for effective rehab. Accommodating the individual during the healing phases is crucial, while also ensuring measurable progress through markers that validate our efforts as practitioners.

In summary, my process involves understanding the injury's history, conducting examinations for medical and functional diagnoses, implementing a customized rehab plan with clear goals, and consistently measuring progress throughout the healing journey.

What are the daily habits you have to remain grounded and also happy?

Discover the Daily Habits for Grounded Happiness

Hey everyone, Dr. Sean here. My question is, what are the daily habits you have to remain grounded and also happy? Love it. First things first, a morning routine. So I try to wake up at the same time every morning. I'll go on a walk with my dog and then we'll make coffee between my wife and I and usually just try to connect with each other. Second thing after that is I'll take a little bit of me time. I might do some stretching, I might do some breathing, but the point is I'm connecting with myself. After that I usually dirt dive my day, meaning, hey what do I have to accomplish today? Let me make a list, let me set some goals, small or big. That way when I hit them, you know, I get this dopamine hit, it gives me a little sense of invigoration and it keeps me motivated to keep going. Another one is reading, right? By reading you get to take time for yourself but you're also educating yourself and just kind of connecting with different topics that are out there. Yeah, so if you have any interest, like reading is a good one. I like to practice gratitude. I have to get reminded to do this at certain times so when I make a good accomplishment, you know, tell yourself, like, good for you. Don't get stuck on it, move forward, but recognize those small wins. Exercise every day, you know, just staying moving will keep you healthy but it will also change your neurochemistry and actually make you feel happier. So that can be under self-care, it can be under exercise, but either way just stay doing something, stay moving. Surround myself with positive people, right? If you want to be better, you got to be around people that hold themselves to a higher standard so it keeps you moving forward to a higher standard. So I know there's a lot there but I hope these are helpful for you. Also single tasking, right? If you try to multitask, you're gonna get lost. So make sure you're focused on whatever you do, you're present-time conscious with whomever you're with, and those are my habits.

I maintain a daily routine, practice self-care and gratitude, exercise regularly, surround myself with positive people, and single task when possible.

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To remain grounded and happy, I have several daily habits. Firstly, I prioritize a morning routine. I aim to wake up at the same time every morning and go for a walk with my dog. My wife and I make coffee together, using it as an opportunity to connect. Following that, I dedicate some me time, engaging in activities like stretching or breathing exercises to connect with myself.

Another habit is dirt diving my day. This means I make a list of what needs to be accomplished and set goals, both big and small. When I achieve these goals, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.

Reading is also important for me. It allows me to take time for myself while educating and exploring different topics of interest.

Practicing gratitude is another habit I incorporate. It's important to recognize and acknowledge small wins and accomplishments along the way.

Exercise is vital too. Moving my body not only keeps me healthy physically but also changes my neurochemistry, resulting in increased happiness. Surrounding myself with positive people who hold themselves to high standards also helps me strive for personal growth.

Lastly, single-tasking is crucial. Focusing on one task at a time ensures that I'm present and fully engaged in whatever I am doing or whomever I am with.

I understand there's quite a lot here, but I hope these habits can be helpful for you as well!

What is the importance of recovery for athletes?

Train Hard, Recover Harder: The Key to Athlete Success

What's up everyone? Next question reads, what is the importance of recovery for athletes? So I would say train hard, recover harder. Your body and your brain are your most important tools and as an athlete you are using these daily to complete the task, the position, the skill that you're engaging in. So when you do your training you're specifically trying to break down these muscles and your systems so they can adapt and come back even stronger. The process of recovery is when that happens. You're not making gains while you're in there working out. You're making gains while you're resting, while you're sleeping, and while you're fueling. So the importance for recovery for athletes is there's no debate, it's just absolutely essential. If you keep driving a car without maintaining it or putting gas in it, eventually it's just not going to work as well. So all the effort that athletes are putting in to make sure they're healthy, that their function is good, that their fitness is up, and that their skill is pristine, the recovery reinforces all of that. So it is absolutely key.

The importance of recovery for athletes is essential. It helps their muscles and systems adapt, allowing them to come back even stronger after their training. Recovery reinforces all of the effort they put in to maintain their health, fitness, and skill.

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The importance of recovery for athletes cannot be overstated. As an athlete, your body and brain are your most valuable tools. Training hard is essential, but recovering even harder is equally important. During training, you intentionally break down muscles and systems to stimulate adaptation and become stronger. Recovery is when this adaptation occurs. It's crucial to understand that gains are not made during workout sessions, but rather during rest, sleep, and proper fueling. Recovery is not up for debate; it is absolutely essential for athletes. Just like a car needs maintenance and fuel to function optimally, athletes must prioritize recovery to ensure their health, functionality, fitness levels, and skill development remain at their best. Recovery reinforces all the efforts put into maintaining physical well-being and maximizing performance. It is a key component of athletic success.

What inspired you to become a chiropractor?

How a Mentor Shaped My Journey to Becoming a Chiropractor

Alright, so my next question is what inspired me to become a chiropractor? My answer is actually two parts. There's a who and then there's a what. The who is a mentor of mine. I met him while I was doing a physical therapy assistant program because I was planning to go to PT school and this gentleman, his name is Frank, he was instantly relatable because he was so down-to-earth and willing to help but he also had such a diverse background within the PT community meaning he worked with pediatrics and geriatrics. He was a world-strong man, competitor and coach and even an athletic trainer for an NFL team, the 49ers at one time. But what I learned from him is that even though he had all that experience he was always still wanting to learn and when he discovered chiropractic and how that could further help his patients, he saw a huge benefit of it. So what he taught me is that we all have this myopic approach to what we like to do and sometimes we get caught up in that and it's helpful to explore things outside of our wheelhouse. He did that with chiropractic and actually encouraged me to look into chiropractic school while I was planning to go to PT school. The short version goes I ended up switching. Since then I went back and I've learned things with physiotherapy and so forth like that but he was my main inspiration and he taught me a valuable piece of information is that we should always be learning. So even as a chiropractor now that's why I've gone back to school and I've learned about neuroscience, visual therapy, vestibular therapy, all how these can interrelate. So I don't have this story of how chiropractic was awesome and it helped me get through a health ailment. I just have a story of someone inspiring me to look outside what I thought I knew was best and encouraged me to learn a little bit more. So if you're thinking of being a chiropractor I encourage you to look at both sides of that equation chiropractic and PT school and or if you're even thinking on visiting a chiropractor it never hurts to talk with someone it might be the answer for you or it might not.

My mentor, Frank, inspired me to become a chiropractor when he showed me the benefits of learning more than just one field. He encouraged me to look outside my wheelhouse and learn different therapies. He taught me that it never hurts to explore other options and that we should always be learning.

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What inspired me to become a chiropractor? There are two parts to my answer - the who and the what. The who is my mentor, Frank. I met him while pursuing a physical therapy assistant program, as I had initially planned to go to PT school. Frank stood out because of his down-to-earth nature, willingness to help, and his diverse background in the PT community. He had experience working with different populations, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and even served as an athletic trainer for the NFL's 49ers. Despite his extensive experience, he always remained open to learning. When he discovered chiropractic and its potential benefits for patients, he saw its value and encouraged me to explore chiropractic school while I was planning for PT school.

His lesson was that we should be willing to explore things outside our comfort zones and expand our knowledge beyond our preferred areas of expertise. Inspired by him, I made the switch to chiropractic and have since continued my education in areas like neuroscience, visual therapy, and vestibular therapy. My inspiration comes from the belief that we should always be learning.

I don't have a personal story of how chiropractic helped me overcome a health ailment; rather, my motivation stems from someone who inspired me to look beyond what I thought I knew was best and encouraged me to keep learning. If you're considering becoming a chiropractor, I suggest exploring both chiropractic and PT school options. And if you're thinking of visiting a chiropractor, it's worth talking with someone to see if it might be the right choice for you.

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Dr. Sean Burkhardt is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner, a Board-Certified Functional Neurologist, a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, and a triple-certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He serves as a mentor and coach for an NGO helping prepare active and future military for special operations.  He has dedicated his postgraduate education to increasing his breadth and depth of knowledge in clinical neuroscience, concussion management, neurochemistry & nutrition, strength & conditioning, functional medicine, and neurological rehabilitation to help you achieve optimal health of optimal human performance. 

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