June 23, 2017
June 12, 2017
“… a large and growing body of research…” (on exercise and the brain)
“This extensive review resulted in three main observations. First, the most consistent behavioral effects of acute exercise are improved executive function, enhanced mood, and decreased stress levels. Second, neurophysiological and neurochemical changes that have been reported after acute exercise show that widespread brain areas and brain systems are activated. Third, one of the biggest open questions in this area is the relationship between the central neurochemical changes following acute exercise, that have mainly been described in rodents, and the behavioral changes seen after acute exercise reported in humans. Bridging this gap will be an important area of future study.”
June 11, 2017
Priority #1 Video
It is amazing where and from whom you learn the most important stuff: in this case it was while having my teeth cleaned.
What I like about this video is that, first, tai chi is never mentioned one time. And second, all of this wisdom and life-changing advice flows naturally in the learning and practice of… tai chi!
The last thing about this video that makes it priceless is that you are not hearing any of it from me. If you have heard it all from me in the past, perhaps this video will impress upon you the value of the information. If not, please take every word seriously – she makes one technical, little tiny, mistake, but the message is huge and everyone needs to hear it. You especially need to hear it if you plan to deliver via c-section, plan not to breast feed, or plan to feed your baby cow products… or if any of the above happened to you. (I know, you are wondering how and if all of those things are really related. They are.) Enjoy this amazingly important presentation.
June 9, 2017
Foam Rolls
I am putting this here so that patients can find both the phone number and the description/item number to place Orders.
Power Systems
(800) 321-6975
Closed-Cell Foam Roller 36 in. Long X 6 in. diameter $20.95
This may also be available on Amazon. I don’t know.
Teens and TV (in the bedroom)-> Obesity
http://neurosciencenews.com/obesity-tv-children-6836/
Think of it as a “risk factor”.
I was talking with a friend not too long ago about raising kids; his came out as near perfect and any parent could hope for. He took very little credit for it, in fact in one case he said that it was an honor even knowing that kid. Mostly, he said, it was about not messing it up.
His trick was to always use just one standard: what is in their best interest.
Not always easy, admittedly, but the consequences for indulging youthful excesses isn’t really that easy either. It is kind of like health: pay for health now, or pay for sickness later. Choose.
June 7, 2017
Today Show covers the Blue Zones
The Blue Zones are now all over the networks news apparently. I was told today about the coverage on the Today Show – the person who told me knew about the Blue Zones because her and I talked; she wanted me to know that it is now on The Today Show all week. Here is the link: notice the Ad that comes first!
If you have followed this Blog at all you know that I am a big fan of the Blue Zones. Here are a few Posts on the subject.
June 6, 2017
Hearing What Isn’t Said
Yesterday a new patient with a fairly typical bad low back story, told me that he wasn’t much for going to doctors. His current episode of back pain was just about over – the pain was worse when he made the appointment – and he is getting good physical therapy (they recommended he come here).
He had already told me about his lifestyle, which is good: diet conscious – with a full garden, fit, and active – a thoughtful guy. I suggested that there is another way to think of doctoring when it comes to chiropractic: more like exercise, something that he would never think of starting and then not continuing in the sense that he might not want to continue “going to doctors.”
It was an attempt on my part. Today my first phone message was him saying that he has had a change of heart, and cancelling his next appointment.
It occurs to me that he heard something that I did not say, namely that, like exercise, he would need to come in for chiropractic care often (like exercise). He missed the point, failed to stay in the conversation long enough to get clarification, and may end up missing out on the benefits of chiropractic care.
After that message my first patient arrived. A guy who started his care here 7 weeks ago and has no symptoms at all now – hasn’t for weeks. He has been shown and is compliant with doing the things that will help him hold his adjustments (keep the joints that I adjust moving properly). He was shown how to properly bend and lift (knee rule, neutral spine, and hip hinge) and how to get up and down off the ground safely (knee rule) – something that he needed. And he as been given the exercises he needs to work on spinal stabilization (core strength) if he wants to.
He now goes two weeks between visits, and soon will be going a month between visits. It is possible that someday he will go three months between visits, enjoying little to no symptoms, and fully confident that every day he is using his back properly and maintaining his health. He is using chiropractic like exercise: regularly, and for the right reasons.
June 5, 2017
May 26, 2017
For Tai Chi Students: Running Thunder Hand (Wim Demeere-Brussels)
We talk about this a lot in class; and practice it almost every session. Here, Wim, has fleshed out some nuances and applied it ways that, once you see them demonstrated, seem intuitive and natural – given everything else that we do.
May 16, 2017
May 10, 2017
Consumer Reports: Real Relief from Back Pain
(How many safety features can you find on this WSDOT site photo – arguably the largest organization in the State dedicated to safety? Yet, he doesn’t bend over correctly at all.)
I keep forgetting to mention that the current issue of Consumer Reports features a cover story on back pain. It is a very good review of what most of mainstream medicine recommends, and therefore what most people are doing – the lack of effectiveness, cost, and risks associated with that approach. And it covers alternative methods of addressing back pain, the proven effectiveness (which is why it is the cover story), cost savings, and safety. All of that is old news if you have been reading this Blog long (and if you search any of the key words in this Post you will find many posts – there are over a thousand here – on that subject).
Two things are interesting to me about the article: what is right in plain sight, but missed entirely due to mindset; and how, still, the recommendations regarding how to bend and lift are erroneous – harmful even.
First, the mindset thing. Modern medicine is about treating symptoms: some will argue that but just look at what is said and what is the object of all the focus – back pain (a symptom) in this case, but it is everywhere all of the time if you look. And while they fairly accurately talk about the causes, they fail to conclude that substantially addressing these causes would be a means of preventing the symptom. Instead they point out, for example, that abnormal findings on X-rays is common among people who do not suffer with back pain. (That should be a clue, why isn’t it?)
Secondly, but related, is this whole business of correct bending and lifting technique – how could they get it so thoroughly wrong so consistently. How could they not connect the dots – remember the ‘they’ is the authoritative bodies of professional experts spewing opinions, guidelines, and recommendations (shifting gazillions of dollars within the economy)… but let’s not go down the cynical path.
I share all of this because we have a copy in the reception room – with the best parts highlighted (be me:-). Read it, but ignore the part about how to bend and lift, and talk with me about that.
DrD
