COMING IN JULY

 

I am currently studying on a 5 year degree course to be a Sports Performance Coach. This will allow me to show you how to understand the way the body works in a scientific way.

For example, sitting down puts a load pressure of 140% on to L5, the fifth lumbar spine vertebrae commonly referred to as the small of the back. This can cause the following symptoms and more:

·         lower back pain

·         rotated pelvis

·         sciatica

·         joint sprains

·         shin splints

·         muscle pain

·         muscle weakness

We first need to understand how the body works.

The human body is a very complicated system that we take for granted most of the time. Today’s lifestyle, poor diet, sitting down too much and exercising without being assessed are factors that can cause something to go seriously wrong sooner or later. An assessment is used to see what is and what is not working correctly.

A simple example of this is to see if your Gluteus muscles are working. If you sit on these muscles for hours every day, week after week, month after month, the brain will turn these muscles off because of the repetitive movement of sitting down. This creates a a faulty nerve pattern making the abdominal muscles chronically shortened. This pulls the chest downward increasing the first rib angle, which is commonly associated with shoulder dysfunction and impingement of the nerves feeding the arm as they exit the cervical spine. It is also very common to find that a lot of people have chronically shortened hip flexors due to performing sit ups, leg extension and leg lowering exercises that are commonly used in abdominal workouts. This will lengthen the hamstrings and abdominals by pulling the pelvis forward and down, creating pain.

ASSESSMENT TESTS AND EXERCISES

·         Comparative range of motion assessment

·         Inner unit test

·         Outer unit test

·         Scientific back exercises for pain and poor posture

·         Scientific core conditioning exercises

·         Program design , if needed

·         Posture testing

·         Understanding lumbo-pelvic rhythm

·         Understanding physiological load

For Assessments contact Stephen Hunter at Radcliffe Chiropractic Clinic on 0115 933 4544 or 07506691008

Pain and the Inner Unit

A lot of pain in the body is caused by a lack of central generation of stabilization which is called the Inner Unit. The Inner Unit became a term describing the functional synergy between the transversus abdominis and posterior fibres of the internal obliques, pelvic floor muscles, multifidus and lumbar portions of the longissimus and iliocastalis.

To accomplish automatic reflex control of the Inner Unit requires specific isolation training to enhance sensory motor control. Once control has been established, activation of the Inner Unit must be programmed into all movement patterns commonly used by the host. Failure to condition the Inner Unit to a high level of specificity often results in spinal injury and pain due to instability.

A simple understanding of this is as follows;

The hamstrings can be phasic muscles, movement muscles, tonic muscles and posture muscles. A weakness of the abdominal wall will cause instability, so to stabilize the spine the brain will activate more of the hamstrings. It is very common to see people with hamstring dysfunction when the abdominal wall weakens. With no Inner Unit working the brain will recruit more hamstring activity causing hyperactivity in a stabilizing function and in muscle tone, which decreases blood circulation through the muscles. An increase in muscle tone of only 5-10% can decrease blood flow by 50-75%. This will starve the muscle of oxygen and nutrients and reduce the removal of waste which sets up an acidic environment resulting in muscle damage and pain. This is why a force – couple relationship of the Inner and Outer Units is extremely important in the maintenance of a pain free body.

High blood pressure?

In the course of a week I can treat many different conditions with Tui Na, acupuncture or a combination of both.  I saw a client today who on arrival had a blood pressure reading of 196/106, the ideal reading should be 120/80 for people wishing to have good health. As you can see from the chart below the clients reading was very high.

 

After one treatment of acupuncture the client’s blood pressure was taken again and the new reading was 164/96. The drop was significant and a very happy client was quite amazed at the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat high blood pressure.

There are other factors that can help to lower blood pressure such as diet, exercise and lifestyle but acupuncture can certainly help by enabling the client to relax which in turn helps to relieve stress that can be the root of the condition.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine an imbalance in the body is related to a blockage of Qi. This will cause a condition, such as high blood pressure.  The placement of needles on specific points of the body opens up these blockages and restores a healthy flow of Qi, which in turn allows the body to become balanced in a natural way.

You can help to maintain good health with regular acupuncture treatments that will aid in the following:

·         Managing high blood pressure

·         Quitting smoking

·         Maintaining a healthy weight

·         Reducing stress

·         Improving sleep

You can also help yourself with heart healthy foods such as

·         Green Tea – reduces bad cholesterol, improves platelets in the blood

·         Garlic – discourages red blood cells from sticking together and blocking your arteries

·         Fruit – oranges, grapes and pomegranate are particularly good for heart health

·         Dark green vegetables – a good source of antioxidants

·         Fish – omega 3, fatty acid

 

Thanks for reading,

Steve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facial Enhancement Acupuncture.

Have you ever thought about the benefits of Facial Enhancement Acupuncture? Not only is it a cosmetic treatment but as with all acupuncture treatments it works on many other levels. Many people are turning to this non surgical facial as an alternative to chemical treatments, fillers and invasive injections

During a treatment, tiny needles will be placed on various points and muscles on the face. After the treatment the overall appearance and the elasticity of the skin are improved, fine lines and wrinkles are reduced and the patients well being can also be greatly improved. The treatment also works on lifting the face and it is easy to target sagging jowls and jawlines.

Without getting technical here's how it works:
Increasing blood circulation improves oxygenation of the skin, detoxification and lymph drainage resulting in improved skin tone and texture.
Skin is more plumped up due to collagen production being stimulated.
A temporary lift is achieved as the muscles in the face are stimulated and tightened.
Cell regeneration fills out and smooths lines and wrinkles.
Hormones are regulated and balanced, which helps with acne, stress related skin problems and aging skin.
Improved sleep, energy and digestion are some of the other positive side effects that can be expected, which in turn will make you look and feel better.

So, if you want to look good and feel good too, facial enhancement acupuncture could be the treatment for you.

Thanks for reading,
Steve.

Electro Acupuncture - What is it?

 

 

 

 

Hi,

If you want to know a little more about electro acupuncture then read on.

 

Electro acupuncture has its origins in traditional acupuncture and uses the same points, but it is a relatively new treatment . It is another form of complementary therapy that is becoming increasingly popular as it can be used to treat many different conditions.

During a session of electro acupuncture, needles are inserted in to the body at specific points, these are then attached with clips to a machine which generates electrical pulses. The device also controls the frequency and intensity of the impulses, which is adjusted according to the condition being treated. Two needles are used together allowing the impulses to pass from one to another, and several pairs can be used at the same time. A variation to this is a TENS machine which works on a similar principal but without using needles.

The aim of electro acupuncture is to stimulate the body's healing processes by sending these electrical impulses through the channels, muscles and nerves. According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, illness is caused when the qi doesn't flow properly around the body. The acupuncturist will determine why the qi is out of balance to establish the points to be stimulated. Electro acupuncture is most commonly associated with pain management and as a treatment for neurological disorders, acne and acute nausea . There is also some evidence that the electrical stimulation of acupuncture points activates the endorphin system, which could reduce heart disease and lower blood pressure

A treatment will last for no longer than 30 minutes and during a treatment a tingling sensation may be felt due to the electrical current. Some minor bruising or bleeding may occur as a result of a needle hitting a small blood vessel.Patients with a history of seizures, epilepsy, heart disease or strokes, or patients with pacemakers are not suitable for electro acupuncture treatments. It is aslo recommended that with a treatment where needles are connected to an electrical current, that the current should not travel across the midline of the body , and should not be performed on the patients head, throat or heart.
Thanks for reading,

Steve.

What is Auricular Acupuncture?

Hi,

Auricular acupuncture is a treatment you may not be familiar with. It is highly effective is becoming more and more popular. Keep reading to find out why.

Auricular acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine based on the ear representing the entire body. Auricular Acupuncture has its origins in the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture but was developed by a French Neurologist, Dr Paul Nogier. His research concluded that specific points on the ear corresponded to different areas of the body. He believed that pain and other symptoms in the body could be alleviated by stimulating the corresponding region of the ear. There are over 200 acupuncture point on the ear, each named after a specific part of the anatomy.

 

 

So why would you receive it, what is it good for? Auricular acupuncture is now widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, mood disorders, obesity and pain. Ear points are excellent for treating mental disturbances and emotional imbalances, for example anxiety, depression and insomnia. It can be used in its own right as a treatment or incorporated into regular acupuncture treatments. It can also be used as a quick "tune up" if time is of the essence in between regular treatments.

Thanks for reading,
Steve.

 

Acupuncture and its benefits.

 

Hello again,

Let's explore another aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this time - acupuncture.

Acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular treatment and often it can be combined with a Tui Na treatment for even more benefits. I have so many positive things to say about acupuncture as it treats so many conditions, but here I will just scratch the surface.

Traditional acupuncture is a healthcare system based on ancient principles which go back nearly two thousand years. It has a very positive model of good health and function, and looks at pain and illness as signs that the body is out of balance. The overall aim of acupuncture treatment, then, is to restore the body's equilibrium. What makes this system so uniquely suited to modern life is that physical, emotional and mental are seen as interdependent, and reflect what many people perceive as the connection between the different aspects their lives.

The focus is on the individual, not their illness, and all the symptoms are seen in relation to each other. Each patient is unique; two people with the same western diagnosis may well receive different acupuncture treatments.

 

Traditional acupuncturists believe that the underlying principle of treatment is that illness and pain occur when the body's qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely. There can be many reasons for this; emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, infection or injury are among the most common. By inserting ultra-fine sterile needles into specific acupuncture points, a traditional acupuncturist seeks to re-establish the free flow of qi to restore balance and trigger the body's natural healing response.

Traditional acupuncture has a long history of adapting to new cultures in which it is practised. Its growing popularity and acceptance in the West may well promote yet more new and exciting variations on the ancient themes.

A growing body of evidence-based clinical research shows that traditional acupuncture safely treats a wide range of common health problems.

I hope this brief overview has taken away some of the apprehension about receiving acupuncture as a treatment, as many aren't comfortable with the idea of needles, and I personally believe that it is a treatment which everyone can benefit from.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time visit my blog,

 

Steve.