Below is the third Arthritis Tip of the Week. If you have health issues, check with your doctor before continuing with tip #3.

Arthritis Tip of the Week #3:

With commencement of correction of postural imbalances comes greater function of your body. As your body begins to work better it is more receptive and capable to handle increased amounts of stress. It is now an appropriate time to begin incorporating an exercise program. The three components of any exercise program must include:

• Strength: the ability of a muscle to do work against a resistance
• Endurance: the ability of a muscle to do work over a period of time
• Flexibility: the ability of a muscle and joint to move through a full range of motion

Since you are early on in the correction phase, your exercise program will begin with the endurance aspect. The easiest way to start is with a walking program-cardiovascular health. (For a more intense program, visit our webite: www.activehealingcenternj.com).
If you have any questions regarding arthritis and your health, contact Dr. Tom at 732-683-0200.

 Tip #1 Click Here

 Tip #2 Click Here

Tip #3 Click Here

Tip #2:

Based on your evaluation and x-ray findings, any joint/muscle dysfunction detected must be corrected first.

It is imperative to correct any joint/muscle dysfunction and imbalances within the body before progressing to more advanced activities.  Without proper structure and function of your joints/muscles all other rehabilitative and conditioning procedures/activities can and will lead to further degeneration.

These corrections can be achieved with a postural rehabilitation program.  Any questions regarding your condition, please contact Dr. Tom Gustafson at 732-683-0200 or tom@activehealingcenternj.com.

 Tip #1 Click Here

 Tip #2 Click Here

Tip #3 Click Here

The easiest way to view your body and the way it is structured is it’s a machine with a vast number of moving parts.  The better all of these parts move – balanced, symmetrical - the longer they will last.  The less balanced and symmetrical your body, these parts begin to break down – this is Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, or Degenerative Disc Disease (Spine).

Tip #1: Make an appointment either at the Active Healing Center or with your chiropractor and get evaluated.  Chiropractic specializes in dealing with this condition and is a great first step in the prevention of Arthritis.

If you have any questions concerning Arthritis, it would be my pleasure to assist you.  Just contact Dr. Tom at 732-683-0200 or tom@activehealingcenternj.com.

Wishing you great health!

 Tip #1 Click Here

 Tip #2 Click Here

Tip #3 Click Here

Strengthen Your Knees and Ankles

Your knees and ankles are vulnerable when you run or play sports. Work these knee- and ankle-strengthening moves into your regimen to minimize your risk of injury.

Knees

• Ball-squeeze squat: Place a ball between your thighs and squeeze. Slowly squat down until your knees are bent 90 degrees or as low as you can. Do three sets of 12 reps.
• Large-step lunge: Take a big step forward with one leg and lower your body until your rear knee nearly touches the floor. Bring the rear leg forward to return tot he starting position. Do three sets of eight to 10 reps.
• Knee-to-wall mobilization: Stand a foot away from a wall, push one knee forward until it touches the wall and hold for 20 seconds. Do three sets of 10.
• Standing-ankle ABCs: Find a semi-rigid pillow or cushion and place it on the floor. Stand on it with one foot and balance (you can touch a wall for support). Trace the alphabet with your support foot, making shapes resembling an A, B, and so on. Run through the alphabet three or four times per foot.

Ankles

]]> http://www.activehealingcenternj.com/doctor-tips/strengthen-your-knees-and-ankles/feed/ 0 http://www.activehealingcenternj.com/dr-blog/functional-test-2/ http://www.activehealingcenternj.com/dr-blog/functional-test-2/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:13:41 +0000 admin http://www.activehealingcenternj.com/?p=796 Functional Test

Another family fun activity.  The body in its architectural magnificence is supposed to be symmetrical and balanced.  This means, when looking at the body straight on, the head sits squarely between the shoulders, shoulders are level, hips are level and legs are balanced with feet pointing forward.  From the side view, imagine a plumb line running straight from the ceiling, this line should pass through the front of ear, tip of shoulder, tip of hip down to tip of ankle.  All of these should line up with each other.

So gather the family around and look at each one individually from the front and side.  If there are discrepancies, there are muscular and joint imbalances.  These imbalances can be a sign of scoliosis and may lead to degenerative and chronic conditions such as arthritis, headaches, migraine and tension, dizziness, disc injuries and chronic muscle pain.

For more information, please call theActiveHealingCenterto schedule an appointment at 732 683 0200.

Posture is an external manifestation of the internal spine, and controls spinal function, stance, and gait.  Posture, directly and indirectly, also has a significant impact on physical health and mental well-being.  Since both good and bad posture are produced by spinal position, the only way poor posture can be corrected is through correction of spinal form and function.  By using the Pettibon System, Pettibon trained clinicians are able to successfully treat spinal misalignments and improve a patient’s posture and spinal position, thereby improving health and mental well-being.

Effects on Physiological Function 

Multiple studies have shown that posture affects every function within the body:

• Striking postural abnormalities have been found in patients with back pain, headaches, and/or depression.  Postural abnormalities contributed to some degree of autonomic, myotonic, and sensory dysfunction in most patients with headaches.  Even a slight improvement in posture can result in increased comfort and reduction in suffering in patients.
• Posture affects and moderates every physiologic function, from breathing to hormone production.  Spinal pain, blood pressure, headaches, pulse, lung capacity, and mood are only a small portion of the body’s functions that are easily influenced by posture.  The most significant influences on posture are upon respiration, oxygenation, and sympathetic function.  Many symptoms, including pain, may be moderated or eliminated by improving posture.
• Shifts in the body’s center of gravity caused postural deviations leading to intestinal diverticula, hemorrhoids, leg varicosities, osteoporosis, hip and foot deformities, overall poor health and quality of life, and a shortened life span.
• Long-term hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system caused by faulty posture is harmful to the body in general, and specifically to individual organs affected by sympathicotonia induced by spinal and paraspinal musculoskeletal dysfunction.  Metabolic activity of skeletal muscle, sensation, circulation, bone growth, fat deposits, immune function, hormonal functions, and even enzyme activity are all sympathetically influenced functions.
• The best-known effect of sympathicotonia upon pain is reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a chronic pain condition resulting in continuous, intense pain that is out of proportion to the severity of the injury, and gets worse rather than better over time.  However, vasospasm and other tropic influences of a “facilitated” (hyper-excitable) neuronal pool affect sensation and muscle tension.  Areas of hyperactivity of the sympathetic system could be experimentally produced by postural insults, such as placing a 3/8” lift under one foot.  In summary, the focal stress of posture and spinal misalignment leads to muscle tension, hyperesthesia, altered circulation, and many visceral illnesses.
• Poor posture-induced tensions leads to decreased blood flow, and this resultant decrease in tissue oxygenation is a major factor causing all disease, including cancer.
• The following observations have been reached regarding the mechanical derangement of hard and soft tissues of the spine, as well as posture:
•  Proper lordotic curves of the cervical and lumbar spine are necessary for normal spine function.
• With a forward-extended head posture, normal lordosis is lost in both the cervical and lumbar spine, which in turn mechanically blocks optimal spinal function.
• Head forward posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage on the spine.  Therefore, abnormal position of the head can pull the entire spine out of alignment.
• Forward head posture results in loss of vital capacity.  Lung capacity is depleted by as much as 30%.  Shortness of breath can then lead to heart and vascular disease.
• The entire gastrointestinal system is affected, particularly the large intestine.  Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is a common effect of forward head posture with loss of spinal curvatures.
• Forward head posture with loss of cervical lordosis causes and increase in discomfort and pain.  Motions of the first four cervical vertebrae are blocked.  Normal movement of vertebrae is a necessary stimulus for endorphin production by the brain and spinal cord.  With inadequate endorphin production many otherwise non-painful sensations are experienced as pain.

In conclusion, forward head position alters head-spine posture and stance, as well as gait and body motions.  One becomes hunched, the entire body becomes rigid, and all body motions are lessened.

This information was taken from The Pettibon Institute for Spinal Research and Correction. If you have any questions regarding the health and well-being of your spine and body call today to schedule your appointment, 732-683-0200.  Questions can be directed to tom@activehealingcenternj.com.

Wobble Chair 

The Wobble Chair produces loading and unloading cycles for spinal rehabilitation and prepares the spine to be mobilized.  While the loading and unloading cycles of the Repetitive Cervical Traction lower the neck and upper back’s resistance to correction, the Wobble Chair reduces the lower body’s (thoracic, lumbar, and sacral) resistance.

Wobble Chair exercises begin with stretching maneuvers.  Stretching, followed by full range exercises, cause the hydro-gel (Jell-O like fluid) of the discs’ resting nuclei to be converted to a hydro-sol (water-like solution for ease of imbibing of fluids).  The hydro-sol form of the disc allows for fluid movement through the disc wall and the vertebral end plates.  This specific-motion exercise produces multiple functions:

-          Rehydration and nutrition delivery to and waste elimination from the discs, ligaments, cartilages, and joints.

-          These same motions aid in pumping, circulating, and maintaining the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid.  Full diaphragmatic breathing enhances the exercise action.

Stretching procedures always precede 5 to 10 minutes of exercises, which complete the disc nucleus rehabilitation.  The exercise is performed by the movement of the pelvis through full sideways figure-8 motions.

Stretching and exercise time is gradually increased until at least 120 compressive loading and traction unloading lateral figure-8 cycles are performed every exercise session.

The timing of this exercise is important.  Best results are obtained when the stretching and exercises are performed just after rising in the morning, and just before bed at night.  Evening exercises may be followed by spinal molding procedures, phase #1, #2, and/or #3.  Some soreness and stiffness is anticipated.  If it persists, reduce the exercise amount.

This information was taken from The Pettibon Institute for Spinal Research and Correction.

If you have any questions regarding the health and well-being of your spine and body call today to schedule your appointment, 732-683-0200.  Questions can be directed to

tom@activehealingcenternj.com.

Spinal rehabilitative procedures are the necessary first step for spinal corrective procedures.  Loading and unloading cycles (hysteresis) are the important first actions of all Pettibon correction and rehabilitation procedures.

Up to 95% of the force needed to mobilize the spine is reduced by repetitive cycles:

• Up to 60 repetitions, using the Repetitive Cervical Traction, are performed to mobilize the neck and upper thoracic spine.
• Up to 120 repetitions, using the Wobble Chair, are performed preparatory to mobilizing the lumbar spine and pelvis.
• Repetitive loading and unloading cycles produce the following:
• Rehydration of the disc and increased disc height
• Increased disc, ligament, and tendon strength
• Decreased potential for injury or severity of injury from sudden applied forces
• Lubrication for spinal joints and nourishment for their cartilage
• Prevention of adhesions during healing, and improved joint integrity of healed joints
• Development of the ‘core’ basis for further strength, endurance, and agility training

The patient that participates in a well devised, scientifically based and properly instructed exercise program should benefit in at least four areas:

1. Enhanced musculoskeletal performance
2. Decreased risk of injury
3. Decreased severity should an injury occur
4. Accelerated rehabilitation and return to activity after and injury

Avascular (does not receive blood supply) tissues require nourishment and waste elimination to function normally, and to repair and regenerate as they did when they were vascular.  Motion is now required to pump nourishing fluid into and waste products out of avascular tissues such as the spinal discs and ligaments.

Motion is essential for a strong, pain-free spine.  Traction and compressive motion rehabilitation should be started as soon as practical.

Twice-daily, full range of motion, called osmosis and imbibition, is essential for daily metabolic interchange.  This is described as nutrition intake and elimination of waste products in order to maintain healthy, well-hydrated spinal discs, ligaments, and tendons.

It has been found that up to 500 days is required for metabolic interchange by sedentary patients and patients who do not engage in full-range spinal workouts.  This full range is necessary to mix the glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and proteoglycan aggregates that nourish the discs.

Vitamins and minerals do little or nothing unless sufficient loading and unloading exercises are performed to the extent that the avascular discs have a complete metabolic interchange.  In other words, the discs absorb the supplements from the surrounding fluids during contraction and expel tissue cell waste during compression.

The following are researched conclusions regarding the repair and healing of avascular tissues (i.e. spinal discs and ligaments) during the healing of mobile tissues:

• Immobility is harmful
• Continuous passive motion caused healing of interarticular fractures.
•  A defect in the annular ring alters the mechanical characteristics of a disc.  Loading and unloading traction cycles cause an adjustment that restores near-perfect disc function.
• Degenerated discs are actually stronger than normal discs when subjected to compressive loading and traction unloading cycles.

Repetitive Cervical Traction

Cervical traction lowers the neck and upper back’s resistance to correction.  It also improves the cervical and lumbar lordotic curves.  It rehydrates thin discs and reduces aches and discomfort in the neck, arm, mid-back and low back.

Repetitive Cervical Traction is important because of the effect it has on cervical and lumber lordosis and lateral spine angle deviations that cause impedance on the cord tracts connected to the brain, low back, and legs.

If you have any questions regarding the health and well-being of your spine and body call today to schedule your appointment, 732-683-0200.  Questions can be directed to

tom@activehealingcenternj.com.

Pain is deceiving.  The absence of pain does not equal health.  Function is the key element that must be focused on.  In our first article we offered two quick tests to help determine proper function of the upper spine. In this article, we offer a third test that looks at proper function between your brain, muscles and joints.

The test is as follows:

• Stand up looking straight ahead (not at the ground)
• Walk heel-to-toe 10 steps forward (I want you to touch heel-to-toe), with eyes open
• Do the same backwards
• Notice if you were able to walk without swaying to one side or the other, or loss of balance

If able to perform without losing balance:

• Perform again, the same way, with eyes closed
• Notice if you were able to perform without swaying or loss of balance

This functional test is a great look at the communication level between your brain with the muscles and joints of your body.  You should be able to perform this test without swaying or losing balance with eyes open and closed.

If this is a problem, give us a call today and schedule an evaluation, 732 683 0200.  We would be happy to discuss with you the relevance of this functional test and how it is important to your overall health.

Health has to be about proper function of your body.  A loss of proper function leads to the following:

• Body works harder to do primitive functions, such as: keeping body upright against gravity and looking forward.
•   Overall decreased energy levels
• Lack of proper sleep
• Diminished ability to perform higher level functions, such as: proper function of nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular system, etc.
•  Overall breakdown of health
• Endless cycle until you break it

There are many ways to check function of your body.  Over the next several installments in our “Dr.’s Tips” section of www.activehealingcenternj.com, we will provide easy tests or movements to help determine how your body is functioning.

Our quick test today is as follows, and you will need a partner to watch you:

• Stand up looking straight ahead, have partner at your side
•  Extend neck back, looking up toward ceiling as far as you can without contorting or exaggerating upper body position.
•  Have partner note position of face relative to ceiling.
• Normal motion = face should be 80 degrees of parallel relative to ceiling.

Inability to move your head in this manner denotes restriction of neck joints and muscles.  Dysfunctional joint movement expedites the degenerative process of joints.  This should be checked to determine if degeneration, a.k.a arthritis, is occurring.

Remember:

• Proper function with no symptoms = Great health
• A lack of proper function with no symptoms = health breakdown
• A lack of proper function with symptoms = Improper health

We would be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns.  Please call today at 732-683-0200 and let us know how we can help.