As local schools gear up for the start of sports seasons, ensuring the safety and well-being of young athletes is a top priority. A critical measure in this effort is baseline concussion tests. According to a University of Michigan study, 10 percent of high-school athletes will sustain a concussion during their careers.
Guy Riekeman, D.C., who opened the Chiropractic Lifestyle Studio (CLS; chiropracticlifestylestudios.com) in Royal Oak with Erica Michaels in October 2021, said that by integrating baseline concussion testing, parents and sports programs can ensure a comprehensive approach to their athletes' well-being, making sports participation a healthy experience for everyone involved.
“We work a lot with kids and professionals who have had concussions. In fact, we offer free concussion screening for high school athletes,” Riekeman says. “With concussions, the problem is that people think when the symptoms go away — for example, the athlete doesn’t have headaches anymore — that their brain is okay. But it is not.”
Riekeman explained that when a concussion is suspected, comparing post-injury tests to the baseline results helps determine the severity and specific impact of the concussion. This comparison enables more accurate and individualized treatment plans.
“We hold that baseline on record so that if they do get a concussion, we can ensure, through treatment, they return to the baseline and recover fully,” he says.
Riekeman recommends a baseline test for any child who plays sports and that parents obtain a similar baseline for the child’s neurological development.
“When (a child) develops, their nervous system goes through many stages. These stages are so subtle that parents won’t notice them. So one of the things we do is we check children to ensure these developmental stages are progressing as they should — we do a deep dive into the nervous system,” he says, adding that these tests are different from regular pediatrician visits, which monitor growth stages, weight, nutrition and other factors.
“The two together are magic,” Riekeman says.
PROVIDING HOLISTIC CARE
Since 2021, CLS has been a vital resource for families seeking natural, noninvasive health solutions. Dr. Riekeman, a seasoned chiropractor, was the fourth president of Life University in Marietta, Ga., and is currently Chancellor Emeritus. At CLS, he partners with Michaels to offer a unique blend of chiropractic care and neurological wellness grounded in the belief that “the human body is a self-developing, self-maintaining and self-healing mechanism,” he says.
“We are our nervous system. When you interfere with it, many things can happen in the body. There are three interferences to the nervous system: physician trauma — for example, a concussion or spinal injuries — environmental toxins and emotional stresses, such as PTSD, and child or domestic abuse,” he says. “Our whole goal is to eliminate this interference to the nervous system so that the body can function better and be healthier.”
The CLS care philosophy extends beyond symptom relief, including prevention and wellness, emphasizing movement, vital nutrition, reduced environmental toxins, healthy weight control and mental flourishing.
Patients come to CLS for treatment of conditions such as TBI, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases and stroke. Others seek care for vertigo, stress management and whiplash. In addition, staff work with parents to improve children’s ability to focus, increase academic performance and drastically improve reading skills and physical performance, treating patients with ADD, ADHD, PTSD, MS and Autism.
THE GYROSTIM: A GAME-CHANGER
Last February, CLS introduced the GyroStim machine to their practice — one of only two in Michigan. A computer-controlled, multi-axis rotational chair that stimulates the vestibular (balance and spatial) system, the GyroStim aids recovery from traumatic brain injuries and other neurological disorders. FDA-approved, it became widely known when it helped National Hockey League star Sidney Crosby recover from a concussion.
Michael O. Husmillo, D.C, D.A.C.N.B, F.A.C.F.N with a focus on nutrition and neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, is the functional neurology director of CLS’ Functional Neurology Center, where the GyroStim is housed. The center, he says, “provides the most advanced and comprehensive treatment approach to children with behavioral or developmental delays. State-of-the-art testing allows the center to provide a holistic, individualized approach.” The treatments using GyroStim and “other brain-based exercises address the child’s specific needs to improve their overall health,” Husmillo says.
For Riekeman, the GyroStim's origins are deeply personal. Invented by his friend and colleague Kevin Maher, a robotics engineer, the machine was created to help Maher’s daughter, Mackenzie, who has cerebral palsy.
Riekeman explains that traditional vestibular rehabilitation therapy proved challenging for her, prompting Maher to develop a more effective solution. The GyroStim now allows clinicians to administer precise, quantifiable vestibular stimulation, significantly improving neuroplasticity and aiding brain healing.
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH: BEYOND THE BACK
Many people associate chiropractic care solely with back issues, but as Riekeman explains, it's fundamentally about the nervous system.
“Chiropractic care is about getting the spine to function because it is designed to protect the brain stem,” he says, adding that preventive, regular care is essential. “Human beings should be examined regularly, not just when they are sick. The only thing that really heals is a large, well-functioning body, so we need to get the body to function properly — it wants to be healthy.”