Better Life Chiropractic & Wellness

Better Life Chiropractic & Wellness Better Life is an intergrated facility providing natural healthcare for acute and chronic diseases.

Hours: Monday: 8:00-12:00 2:00-7:00
Tuesday: 8:00-12:00 2:00-6:00
Wednesday: 8:00-12:00
Thursday: 8:00-12:00 2:00-6:00
Friday: 8:00-12:00

Why a "stiff neck" is actually draining your battery. 🔋đŸȘ«You’ve likely felt it: that nagging tightness in your lower back...
02/18/2026

Why a "stiff neck" is actually draining your battery. 🔋đŸȘ«

You’ve likely felt it: that nagging tightness in your lower back or a constant tension in your shoulders.

You think it’s isolated.

Maybe you've thought, "I just need a massage."

The science says otherwise.

According to a landmark study by Moustafa et al. (2022), your spine isn’t a collection of independent parts - it’s a single, continuous neurological highway.

They found that:

"A change in posture in any one area of the spine leads to increased pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots throughout the entire spine."

Read that again.

A postural shift in your neck can literally affect the nerve signals going to your legs, your gut, and your brain.

This is why you feel "heavy" in your workouts.

This is why your brain fog won't lift.

This is why you’re getting "freak injuries" doing basic movements.

Your "Master Switch" is being turned down because of structural pressure you didn't even know was there.

At our clinic, we don't just "crack backs." We use a proprietary system to decompress the system. We integrate developmental (primitive reflex) and neurological approaches to reset the "software" while fixing the "hardware" of your spine.

The result? The "pressure" comes off, and the vitality comes back.

One of the easiest ways to lower inflammation in the body is to have the proper balance of omega 3 fatty acids.When look...
02/17/2026

One of the easiest ways to lower inflammation in the body is to have the proper balance of omega 3 fatty acids.

When looking at the Standard American Diet, we see a lot of omega 6 fatty acids being consumed. These fats are pro-inflammatory (drive more inflammation).

Omega 3 fatty acids on the other hand are anti-inflammatory (decrease inflammation).

The average balance of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids is estimated between 15-20:1.

Having a balance at or below 4:1 gives the cells the building blocks they need to sustain health.

If you haven't had your ratios checked, there's no time like the present. We can perform this test in our office!

It may be surprising to find out that changes in hormones lead to changes in sleep, but here's the fact: They are more c...
02/17/2026

It may be surprising to find out that changes in hormones lead to changes in sleep, but here's the fact: They are more closely related than many realize.

When our body is making hormones, many of them go through a common pathway: DHEA.

That DHEA basically has a "choice", it can make stress hormones or it can make s*x hormones.

The stress hormones keep you alive, so if there is any kind of threat (metabolic, immune, neurological, etc...), the body shunts more resources toward the stress hormones.

What's left gets sent to the production of s*x hormones.

As resources diminish, less and less are left over, potentially. leaving your labs with glaring flags.

The solution often isn't more s*x hormones added in from the outside, though, it is turning down the stress programming.

When this is done properly, our body is able to balance the production, leaving us more healthy, vibrant and ready to face whatever life throws at us.

You aren’t “losing a step.” You’re being crushed by physics. đŸ‹ïžâ™‚ïžđŸ“‰Remember when you could go 100% on the field, wake up ...
02/17/2026

You aren’t “losing a step.” You’re being crushed by physics. đŸ‹ïžâ™‚ïžđŸ“‰

Remember when you could go 100% on the field, wake up the next day, and do it all over again?

Now, you play one game of pickup basketball or go for a long hike, and you’re sidelined for a week with "mystery" aches. You’ve been told it’s just part of "getting older".

You’ve been told to "take it easy."

They’re wrong.

Recent clinical research by Moustafa et al. (2022) revealed the "Invisible Killer" of performance:

"Abnormal posture is a direct precursor to chronic pain, as it elicits abnormal forces and strains on surrounding tissues."

Translation: Your body isn't failing; your alignment is. When your posture shifts even slightly, your muscles and joints are forced to carry loads they weren't designed for. It’s like driving a high-performance sports car with a bent frame - it doesn't matter how much gas you give it; eventually, the tires are going to blow.

If you’re struggling with fatigue, nagging injuries, or a loss of that "competitive edge," stop chasing symptoms. Rubbing cream on a sore shoulder or taking pills for a headache is like putting a Band-Aid on a structural crack in a dam.

The ability to do a lunge can tell you a lot about yourself.First, it is a good test of strength. Being able to do this ...
02/16/2026

The ability to do a lunge can tell you a lot about yourself.

First, it is a good test of strength. Being able to do this allows us the freedom to get down to, and up off of the floor - a valuable skill that many people lose as they age.

It is also a test of balance - another predictor of independence. Falls are among the leading causes of a loss of independence. Nothing good comes out of falls, including broken bones, concussions/brain trauma and a loss of confidence.

Finally, when this is done properly, the torso is kept upright. This is a predictor of certain ranges of motion and flexibility.

If you can do the first two aspects, but have to have your hands on your front knee, that's a start.

If you can do all 3, even better. That's a great sign for your physical abilities.

Nebraska commonly has one of the highest rates of Parkinson's diagnoses around the nation. It has long been assumed that...
02/16/2026

Nebraska commonly has one of the highest rates of Parkinson's diagnoses around the nation. It has long been assumed that agricultural chemicals are associated with those rates, as the other states among the top are consistently reliant on ag economies.

This study shows that a commonly used chemicals is capable of more than doubling the risk.

This may seem like a concern for those that are working in the fields - applying chemicals, delivering them, etc...

The truth is, it is an important thing to remember for everyone that lives anywhere near agriculture, as well as, those that consume non-organic fruits and vegetables.

Why?

Many of these chemicals can aerosolize and travel significant distances. There are very few places in the state that aren't within a couple miles of fields, golf courses or grass-lands that these chemicals may be used on.

As far as fruits and vegetables, many times these chemicals don't wash off very well, leaving chemical residue on the food you're placing directly into your body. Obviously, this is a setup for a bad situation.

This is one example of why one of the things that we recommend is supporting detoxifying capabilities throughout the body.

The "Chronic Pain Trap": Why a 2022 Study has doctors rethinking the medicine cabinet.Ever wonder why that one ankle spr...
02/15/2026

The "Chronic Pain Trap": Why a 2022 Study has doctors rethinking the medicine cabinet.

Ever wonder why that one ankle sprain or lower back tweak from three years ago still "flares up" every time you try to get back into a consistent workout routine?

You might think you just "got old" or that you’re "prone to injury."

The truth might be hidden in the bottle of Ibuprofen you took when it first happened.

A massive study published in Science Translational Medicine followed patients with acute back pain. They discovered a startling trend: The patients who recovered quickly had high levels of inflammatory markers in their blood early on.

Those whose pain turned into chronic, long-term suffering? They were the ones who used anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to "knock the pain down" early.

The "Incomplete Cycle" Theory

Your body is a master of biological sequencing. When you get hurt, your immune system triggers a massive "cleanup crew" (Inflammation). This isn't a mistake; it's a requirement.

The researchers found that by using NSAIDs to "feel better" in the short term, you aren't just stopping the pain—you are aborting the healing process.

1. The Block: The drugs stop the white blood cells from doing their job.
2. The Stagnation: The damaged tissue is never fully "cleaned up."
3. The Trap: Because the repair cycle was never completed, the nervous system remains on "high alert," keeping the pain signals active for months, or even years.

The "High-Performance" Dilemma

When we are in our "middle ages" this is the ultimate False Economy. You trade a few hours of comfort today for a step lost tomorrow.

You think you’re being "smart" by managing the pain so you can get back to work or play with the kids, but you are actually setting a Neurological Tripwire that will catch you later.

The Shift in Perspective:

We have to stop looking at pain as an "enemy" to be silenced and start looking at it as a "signal" that the body's immune and neurological systems are trying to do their jobs.

To enjoy a vibrant retirement, we don't want to mask symptoms, we want to ensure we have the resources to resist the stresses we face on a daily basis.

We have seen a tremendous rise in mental health challenges over the past 2 decades. Even kids are at a significantly gre...
02/14/2026

We have seen a tremendous rise in mental health challenges over the past 2 decades. Even kids are at a significantly greater risk of suffering these challenging disorders.

We are also fighting a more silent enemy in that process - gut health.

With the chemical bombardment we face on a daily basis - many of which have antibiotic effects - our gut is faced with more and more difficulty maintaining the balance it needs.

This may show up as diarrhea, constipation, bloating or more.

There is a 𝙃𝙐𝙂𝙀 link between these two areas, too.

As shown in this study, scientists are looking at the possibility that the gut is đ™©đ™đ™š đ™§đ™šđ™–đ™šđ™€đ™Ł
our brain has been able to develop to the level it has.

For those suffering from gut health, there are bigger consequences than an uncomfortable conversation. Gut health affects the whole body and may be a large part of what's driving the explosion in the rates of mental health conditions.

A 2025 report by Raksh*t and McGough confirms that Americans now have a 4.1-year shorter life expectancy than people in ...
02/14/2026

A 2025 report by Raksh*t and McGough confirms that Americans now have a 4.1-year shorter life expectancy than people in comparable countries.

But for the average American those years lost don't mean anything right now.. it’s about the vitality that's being lost in this moment.

You feel it, don't you?

You’ve lost a step.

You’re fatiguing earlier.

Injuries that used to heal in days now linger for months.

You’re told by your doctor that your "labs are normal," yet you don't feel normal. You feel like a shadow of the athletic youth you used to be.

The reason?

The American healthcare system is designed to manage symptoms, not optimize human systems.

We don’t do "normal."

We do Optimal.

We use a proprietary framework to bridge that 4-year gap by rebuilding your health from the foundation up:

Metabolic: Fueling the engine properly.

Immune: Ending chronic inflammation.

Neurological: Sharpening focus and decision-making.

Developmental: Resetting primitive reflexes and vertigo.

Stress: Optimizing sleep and recovery.

We are opening 10 spots for our MINDS Vitality Intensive.

It’s a fully remote-capable program (with hybrid in-office options) designed to help you regain your energy, lose the "extra step" weight, and maintain peak performance well into your 70s.

Our system was built for the high-performer who wants to maintain a lifestyle of high energy and sharp focus well into their retirement. To apply for our hybrid or remote program, send us a DM today.

Is your "quick fix" for pain actually making it permanent?We’ve all been there. You wake up with that familiar ache in y...
02/14/2026

Is your "quick fix" for pain actually making it permanent?

We’ve all been there. You wake up with that familiar ache in your lower back or a flare-up in an old sports injury. You reach for the bottle of Ibuprofen or Naproxen (NSAIDs) just to get through the day.

It knocks the pain down for a few hours.

Problem solved, right?

According to a groundbreaking study published in Science Translational Medicine (Parisien et al., 2022), you might be making a dangerous trade-off.

The researchers found that blocking inflammation with NSAIDs in the short term might actually lead to chronic, long-term pain.

Here is why this happens (and why it matters for your future):

Inflammation has a bad reputation, but it’s actually a vital part of your body’s "Repair Sequence."

When you get injured, your body deploys specific white blood cells (neutrophils) to manage the repair process. The Parisien study discovered that if you block these inflammatory cells early on with drugs, the body never "finishes" the repair.

The result?

The injury doesn't fully resolve. It lingers. It becomes "stuck," turning what should have been a temporary ache into a permanent, chronic issue.

In fact, the study showed that those who used anti-inflammatory drugs to treat their pain were much more likely to still be suffering from that same pain 2 to 10 years later compared to those who didn't.

The "Software" vs. The "Mute Button"

Think of inflammation like a fire department. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s uncomfortable - but it’s there to put out the fire. Taking NSAIDs is like cutting the power to the fire alarm while the building is still burning.

It’s quiet for a while... but the damage continues underneath.

What does this mean for you? If you are in that 30-50 age bracket and you want to stay active, athletic, and vibrant through your "retirement years", we have to stop muting the body’s signals.

Instead of blocking the immune and metabolic response, we need to support it. We need to give the body the neurological and nutritional environment it needs to finish the job it started.

Healing isn't about stopping the pain; it's about resolving the problem.

Did you know when we consume food and our digestive system breaks the molecules apart light is release?Even more interes...
02/13/2026

Did you know when we consume food and our digestive system breaks the molecules apart light is release?

Even more interesting, when we eat, our blood tends to pool toward our gut - a system designed to wirelessly charge our cells by absorbing this light. A similar thing happens when we get out into the sun and blood goes to the extremities.

Light has an incredible impact on our health and the wrong types of light at the wrong times of the day can provide us with better health, or more sickness.

No matter how unaware of these mechanisms we are, humans are eletrical beings that emit light. When our time on this earth is done, that light gets extinguished.

Is your environment leading you toward - or away from - health?

Why your "rest days" might be keeping you in chronic pain.If you’re in that 30-50 age bracket and you grew up playing sp...
02/13/2026

Why your "rest days" might be keeping you in chronic pain.

If you’re in that 30-50 age bracket and you grew up playing sports, your instinct when something hurts is usually one of two things:

Push through it until it breaks.

Stop everything and "rest" until it feels better.

But if you’ve noticed that your injuries are lingering longer, your energy is tanking, and "resting" just makes you feel stiff and sluggish... there’s a biological reason for it.

It’s not your age. It’s your Autonomic Nervous System.

A 2022 study by Yeater et al. revealed something fascinating about the relationship between movement and pain. They found that exercise provides analgesic (pain-killing) effects specifically by altering the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

Here is the breakdown of why this matters for your lifestyle:

Your ANS has two main gears: Sympathetic (Fight or Flight/Stress) and Parasympathetic (Rest and Digest/Recovery).

When you are dealing with chronic "dings", old sports injuries, or constant fatigue, your nervous system often gets stuck in a "Sympathetic Dominance." You are essentially red-lining your engine while parked. This state actually magnifies pain signals.

The Yeater study shows that specific, intentional movement acts as a neurological regulator. It’s not about "burning calories"; it’s about sending a signal to your brain to dial down the sympathetic "threat" response and ramp up the parasympathetic "recovery" response.

The Result?

The exercise itself triggers a systemic "kill-switch" for pain. By modulating your nervous system, you aren't just getting stronger - you’re literally changing how your brain perceives and processes pain.

The Takeaway: If you’ve been trying to solve your "physical" problems with just ice, ibuprofen, or total rest, you’re ignoring the "Software" (Neurology) that runs the "Hardware" (Your Body).

The goal isn't just to "move more" - it's to move in a way that recalibrates your nervous system so your body feels safe enough to be vibrant, energetic, and pain-free again.

Stop trying to fix the symptoms. Start addressing the underlying neurological "tone."

Address

605 1st Corso
Nebraska City, NE
68410

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 6pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+14028736999

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Get to Know Dr. Jeffrey Cumro, DC

Have you ever been asked a question so profound that it totally changed your life?

There haven’t been a lot of these occasions through my life, but there have been a couple. Four years ago was the most recent one, and the effects on my life have been overwhelming. The effects that question will have on the community is also something that I find exciting.

Before I tell you what the question was, I want to give you a little background on myself. Fifteen years ago, I got really sick. I was always in great shape, but after not being able to sleep for about a month, losing 20 pounds in that time period and not being able to complete 1 lap around an indoor track without stopping I knew it was past time to get to a doctor. I had delayed because I was scared what I would find out.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This thyroid issue is an autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself) and I was told that I would have to deal with it for the rest of my life. Today, I help others who live in the Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska City areas and are fighting against thyroid diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, or Grave’s disease, as well as, diabetes and migraines.