Improve your golf game, with a sense of balance!

By: Dr. Terry Weyman

In the spirit of the World Cup Challenge at Sherwood Country club, a few weeks back, I decided to write about the great game of Golf. Still, I waited a few weeks for the Tiger jokes to drop off, since it was too easy and focus back on the game and how to improve your strokes for 2010. Maybe you thought with the title of this article I was going to be talking about making sure your home life was in good shape before you hit the course, but NO, I am going to talk about how to get more yards when you strike the ball without spending another grand on the newest club.

Since Golf is pure biomechanics and all about generating power from the body that transcends from the club to the ball, balance is the key! When your body is in perfect balance, your ball will go straighter and go longer. So, let's find out how we can tap into the little secret that the pros have used for YEARS!

What is balance? Let's first take a look at what happens when your balance system is not working properly. If you’re an athlete, simple things like movement, standing up, generating torque and bending down are severely effected. Balance effects all athletic endeavors and some experts have named balance training as the key to overall athletic improvement, strength, and performance.

How the Balance system works.

Human beings keep their balance when nerve signals from three different systems are accurately sent to and processed by the brain. The three different systems are the eyes (vision), pressure sensors in the legs, feet and torso (proprioception), and inner ear balance organs (vestibular system).

1. VISION- Vision provides necessary information to the brain about our relationship to the environment. As we move and see how objects in our world are changing, our brains calculate our body’s relationship to those objects.

2. Proprioception- Humans seem to rely primarily on signals from the pressure sensors in the legs, feet and torso (proprioceptors) to maintain good balance. Birds and fish rely primarily on their inner ears (vestibular) system for balance. Since humans stand on only two legs, we must continually use muscles to remain stable. This is the system that we can train, improve, and fine tune. Getting foot inserts (our KLM over the counter or more specific custom orthotics), training on balance trainers such as the INDO BOARD.


3. Vestibular- The inner ear balance organs (vesibular systems) send signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. The brain selects the most accurate signals from the three balance systems and sends messages back to the muscles of the limbs, torso and neck to keep us stable and to keep our view of the world upright. The more signals the brain receives and sends, the better the balance. Sometimes the signals the brain receives or sends are disturbed, so balance becomes difficult.

How to achieve total balance.

As described above, to achieve total balance requires the teamwork of several systems. There are several other factors that contribute to total balance such as how we breathe, our mental state, muscle tone and control, body position and how we stand.

1. Breathing- Calm breathing from your gut (diaphragm) is the breathing method of choice. The other way we breath is call “neck breathing” and that is when we use our shoulders to inhale the air. This puts our center of gravity higher also does not allow the body to completely relax. By breathing from our “gut”. We keep our center of gravity lower thus allowing us to stay more relaxed fluid and balanced.

2. Mental state- Clear your mind before beginning any form of balance training. When our mind is aggravated, stressed out or busy our body is tense. A tense body is not fluid. For example, take a bag of water and a ridged pole. Try to balance each on end. The bag of water moves with the surface in a smooth and fluid motion while the pole falls with the slightest movement.


3. Muscle tone- remember the saying “your foot bone is connected to the leg bone….”. Well this is true in that your skeletal structure is all connected from your feet to your head and the muscles tie all of these bones together and allow motion to take place. Since our center of gravity is centered on the pelvis we must be concerned with the muscles and joints that support the pelvis. Our feet are our foundation. Our Quadriceps (the front part of our legs) support the lower front of our pelvis, the hamstrings (back of leg) support the lower back half. Our stomach is opposite of our lower back which takes care of the upper portion of our pelvis. Muscle tone and flexibility is important for all of these structures to have equal tension and pull on the pelvis. If one of these areas are weak the whole system will be effected. As I have talked about many times, muscles attach to the BONE and Joints! If there is any tightness in the muscle the nerves will hold and restrict the joints. WHY DO YOU THINK the top 20 PRO Golfers have Sports Chiropractor on staff (I have been one). Why because the top Golfers get worked on before AND after every big round of golf to keep the body in perfect joint/muscle harmony. ALSO, with every injury use a balance trainer such as the INDO BOARD to rehabilitate your injury faster and to keep the proprioception in working order.

4. Body position- lower your center of gravity is the key to perfect and long lasting balance. By keeping your feet even with your shoulders, dropping your “butt” by bending your knees and keeping your back straight, keeping your arms out but thumbs down (pointing towards your center) we can achieve balance position. Keeping our knees bent and back straight is a key. The key to this is keeping your head up and looking straight ahead. Remember this, “you look down, you will go down”.

It is true that some people seem to have an innate sense of balance and others have to “work at it”. If you are considered a type “A” person then you will fall into the category of “need extra work”. Balance training is an excellent way of turning your mental intensity into focus movements for overall wellbeing.

Balance training beyond the greens.

Balance training is mandatory for any athletic event but also very important for any movement associated with life. Balance training has been shown to reduce the incidence of injuries to the ankle, knee, hips, back and upper body. The role of balance training in maintaining functional joints stability is also an excellent form of rehabilitation for injuries to the above structures. When you injure a structure, ligaments or joint capsule the proprioceptive signal is weakened. This weakened signal inhibits the normal motor response and diminishes the neuromuscular stabilization of the joint. This condition contributes to a pattern of repetitive injury. Try the following tips to help your balance achieve PRO STATUS!

• Wear inserts or custom orthotics (go to your CSI Doctor)
• Get adjusted regularly (go to CSI-get tuned up)
• Use balance trainers such as the INDO BOARD daily (eyes open and eyes closed)
• Stand on one foot while brushing your teeth (left foot first min of brushing and right foot second min)
• Try cross training with yoga

Use Balance training to break the cycle. If you want to hit father and save money on new and expensive clubs, then follow these quick steps and the only thing falling will be your handicap!

Dr. Terry Weyman
CEO Chiropractic Sports Institute
www.gotcsi.com

SLEEP IS IT OVERRATED?

By: Dr. Ed Green


Many of us do not get enough sleep. It is estimated that the average person spends a third of their lifetime SLEEPING, A THIRD!!!! It is very important that we get sleep and get good sleep. In fact, lack of sleep can contribute to some of the following issues: depression, acid reflux, irritability, hormonal changes, decrease in tissue recovery, appetite issues and many more. For a full list of sleep complications you can visit (http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/types-of-sleep-disorder/lack-of-sleep/index.php)

Sleep is something that we need in order to properly heal and recover from injuries. For those individuals who are suffering from many forms of chronic pain and or fatigue, sleep is vital to you. In this article I will cover some ways that you can help increase your sleep and make sure that it is the right type of sleep. There can be many issues keep us from getting a good nights sleep. Some of the top issues that keep us from counting those sheep are:

1) Uncomfortable beds
2) Poor diet
3) Over use of medications or alcohol
4) Injury
5) Lack of intimacy
6) Improper napping (too long or too close to normal bed time)
7) Stress

These are just a few of the items that can cause one to lose sleep. Our bodies need sleep. They need, depending on the person, between 6-9 hours of sleep. Many of us don’t get that, or if we do, it is interrupted sleep from the issues above.

So how do we get a good nights sleep?

- First thing I always try to do is go BLAND before bedtime.

- Do not watch any TV shows that cause any form of excitement at least 1 hour before bedtime.

- NO CAFEEINE after noon.

- Try and keep a normal bed time. Sets your internal clock and keeps your biochemistry more balanced.

- Keep the TV out of the bed room. The bedroom should be for sleep and private times.

- Chiropractic adjustments also help with getting a great night’s sleep. If you are sore and have pain an adjustment will help ease that pain so that you can fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. Since muscle attaches to bone, by adjusting the joints the pressure is relieved throughout the muscles. This helps restore the biochemistry and neurology and relaxes the body.

- Having something in the background like a small fan or a radio set to a timer allowing some gentle white noise will help to distract your mind to fall asleep quicker.

There are countless things that can be done to allow one to fall asleep faster. The use of prescription sleep aids may be indicated in certain cases (however these come with side effects that can be worse than the condition you are suffering from) so please check with your Medical Doctor if you are a candidate for them. In the mean time one can also take some natural Melatonin, which is naturally produced in the human body. You can get Melatonin in supplement form and it will help you to fall asleep more naturally. During the busy holiday hustle and bustle we all need to make sure and get our sleep. Sleep is the one thing that all of us do not get enough of. Getting the proper amount of sleep will help with the stress of holidays, family issues and of course WORK. I hope that this brief article will help those who are suffering from lack of sleep and at least get you started in the right direction of what to do. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at CSI Moorpark, 805-531-1188.

I wish you all the best and HAPPY HOLIDAYS.


Dr. Ed Green
Clinic Director, CSI Moorpark
www.gotcsi.com

Should you bring your sick child to a Chiropractor?

By: Dr. Amir Mahmud

With the flu season upon us and both kids and adults getting sick I decided to write an article about how kids can benefit from regular chiropractic care in boosting their immune system and keeping their bodies healthy as they grow. So can chiropractic care really help kids? Let’s take a look at different stages of a kid’s life, how they might get injured, and as a result benefit from an adjustment.
One of the first places the human body encounters stress is at birth. The birthing process can be and is often very traumatic to an infant. One easy method to tell if a baby’s neck is misaligned is to watch where he or she looks in a car seat. If the baby constantly looks in the same direction, the vertebrae in their neck are most likely fixed.

As babies grow and learn to crawl and walk, they tend to fall. As a result they start to affect proper joint and muscle motion. As they continue to grow their spines are modified by their newly acquired body positions and by gravity. It is important to have a child’s spine checked at the major milestones of development, especially at the crawling and walking stages to ensure they have proper biomechanics.

As kids start playing sports, especially contact sports they start noticing aches and pain in their backs. Heading the ball when playing soccer, sliding into bases during little league, being hit by the ball or by other players in baseball or basketball can all cause misalignments in a child’s spine.

In addition to restoring proper biomechanics, adjustments can also help kids with boosting their immune system by enhancing the communication of the nervous system. Furthermore, Infantile Colic and Otitis Media are two common childhood conditions in which research has shown chiropractic can provide beneficial effects.

Infantile Colic:

This condition is described as unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies up to 3 months of age for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days a week, and for more than 3 weeks. Additional symptoms include the baby’s knees pulled up to the chest, clenched fist, and extension of the trunk or extremities. A Denmark study (Klougart N, Nilsson N, Jacobsen J. Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. J Manip Physiol Ther 1989; 12(4): 281-8) showed that 94% of the infants who received chiropractic care noted a significant decrease of crying time within two weeks of treatment.

Otitis Media:

This condition is described as a clinical term for middle ear infection. The child can present with tugging on the ear, poor sleep, fever, irritability, ear and nasal discharge, decreased appetite and crying. By the age of 3, over two thirds of children have had a middle ear infection. A study conducted on 332 children (ages 27 days to 5 years old) with recurrent bouts of Otitis Media, who showed no response to antibiotics, showed that after getting adjusted the children healed quickly and had fewer repeat infections.Falon JM. The role of the chiropractic adjustment in the care and treatment of 332 children with Otitis Media. Journal of clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. 1997;2(2):167-183

So bring in your kids to your Chiropractor and lets all stay healthy in the upcoming holiday season!!!

Dr. Amir Mahmud is one of the Sports Chiropractors at Chiropractic Sports Institute in Westlake Village. You can contact him at www.gotcsi.com

Cell phones- are they as safe as you think?

By Dr. Terry Weyman

Some patients call me the “Cell Phone Ogre”. With the “no cell phone” signs in the office, I have set a policy that all cell phones are to be turned off when coming to CSI. Well, studies are showing that there are more reasons to turn off your phone other than, “We don’t want to hear other people’s conversations”. Cell phones are becoming a staple in the 21st century. Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 cell phones are sold each day in the United States. Over 110+ million Americans use cell phones. And worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 1 billion people use cell phones. As the number of cell phones, cell phone towers, and other wireless antennas increase rapidly in industrialized nations, should you be concerned about the effects that regular exposure to radio frequency radiation can have on your health?

If you are a parent, an athlete or one who is fighting illnesses or stress, the answer is yes, you SHOULD be concerned about the effect that wireless devices and broadcasting antennas can have on your health. We research our schools, we research before we make large purchases, but when it comes to our health or making healthy decisions we sometimes “go with the flow”. As a society we are, at times, more concerned about how we may appear to others than making the right decision that will effect our well being. There are a few websites that every parent, athlete, student and businessperson should visit. The information MAY save your health, give you some valuable tips, and or teach you how you can get more “power from your body”. The information is out there, to ignore it is well, ignorance at its best. To think this does not pertain to you, well that is just plain, shall I say it, yep, stupid. The excuse to give your child a cell phone so you can stay in touch is truly, more a control issue than a valuable argument. Please, take the time to read these studies. There are many more where these came from. After reading through them, ask the hard questions, what if they are right?

Council on Wireless Technology impacts http://energyfields.org.
Cell phone dangers http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/newcelldangers.htm
Two year study on cell phone dangers: http://www.rense.com/general26/2yrs.htm
Many Nations banning cell phones for kids http://drbenkim.com/cell-phone-warnings.htm
Europe reports on cell phone dangers http://www.rense.com/general60/tetra.htm
Mobile radiation and health http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health

Some of the highlights of all the studies point in the same direction, possible danger! Cell phones and wireless phones emit microwave radiation that can effect all the cells in our bodies. Think of putting a glass of water in a microwave oven and turn it on. What does the water do? It boils. Below are key points brought up in many of the studies

1. Regular exposure to radio frequency radiation may interfere with the electrical fields of our cells. Cell and wireless phones are bad, blue tooth ear pieces are the worst! Common health challenges that have been linked to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation include:
o Abnormal cell growth and damage to cellular DNA
o Difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and irritability
o Childhood and adult leukemia
o Eye cancer
o Immune system suppression
o Brain and jaw cancer
o TMJ disorder
o Calcium uptake issues
o Hearing and ear problems
o Attention span deficit and memory loss
o Infertility

2. Children are at much higher risk than adults of experiencing health problems related to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation; thinner and smaller skulls translate to greater absorption of radio frequency. Many countries are looking to ban cell phones usage for children under 12. Russia is looking at banning under the age of 18.

3. From the early 1950's to the mid 1970's, the U.S. embassy in Moscow was purposefully bombarded by radio frequency radiation 24 hours a day. The U.S. embassy workers experienced what the perpetrators identified as "Radio Frequency Sickness Syndrome."
After some time of concentrated radio frequency radiation exposure, the American ambassador developed leukemia. The next American ambassador also developed leukemia. Blood tests performed on embassy staff members showed irreversible DNA damage.

4. Dr. Jerry Phillips, a biochemist researcher, began studying cell phone safety for Motorola more than a decade ago. When he started generating data that indicated that cell phones have negative effects on human health, Motorola took a number of steps to delay publication of Dr. Phillips' work.
According to Dr. Phillips, Motorola's main concerns with his data were how to handle public relations and how to spin the results in a way that was favorable to the industry.
Dr. Phillips also indicates that the only significant money that is available to do research on cell phone safety issues is industry money. This is why he has no faith in studies that are coming out.

5. You can use a radio and microwave detector to measure the amount of harmful radiation that your living and work spaces are penetrated by. The detector used in the documentary is called the "Microalert Radio/Microwave Alarm."
Recommendations for Cell safety: (according to wikipedia)
Some national radiation advisory authorities, including those of Austria, France, Germany, and Sweden have recommended measures to minimize exposure to their citizens. Examples of the recommendations are:
• Use hands-free to decrease the radiation to the head.
• Keep the mobile phone away from the body.
• Do not use telephone in a car without an external antenna.

The use of "hands-free" was not recommended by the British Consumers' Association in a statement in November 2000, as they believed that exposure was increased. However, measurements for the (then) UK Department of Trade and Industry and others for the French l’Agence française de sécurité sanitaire environnementale showed substantial reductions. In 2005 Professor Lawrie Challis and others said clipping a ferrite bead onto hands-free kits stops the radio waves travelling up the wire and into the head.
It’s said we only use a small portion of our brains ultimate potential. As a society we keep advancing the technology but are these advancements always for the better? Sometimes yes, but sometimes we exchange one evil for another. My goal is always looking at ways to achieve better health, higher athletic performance and mortal wellbeing. The topic of cell phone safety is not a new one and you can find position papers on both sides of the safety issue, but what does your gut, intuition and logic tell you? The answer to THAT may be your best defense of all!

Guidelines for Head injuries in contact sports

In lieu of the recent tragedy that happened to the young football player in Simi Valley I have felt compelled to put this article together. Please share it with all your friends who participate in high action and contact sports. I have been associated with high action and contact sports for over 20 years and it saddens me when I hear of accidents such as this. Most of these accidents are just that, they are rare accidents. However, understanding brain injuries and knowing what to do is an important part of the “recovery” phase.

I recall an article that addressed head injuries in youth sports. On March 14, 1997, an Issue of MMWR of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes two cases of second-impact syndrome that resulted in deaths. One case involved a high school football player in 1991 and the other a college football player. In each case, the player did not require hospitalization, and each player was sent home for close monitoring with no follow up guidelines. The American Academy of Neurology has developed guidelines for preventing second-impact syndrome and reducing the frequency of other cumulative brain injuries. These are different than the “Famed” Colorado guidelines and air on the side of being conservative.

Summary of Recommendations for Management of Concussions in Sports

The most common head injury is the concussion. Concussions are a form of brain injury that should not be taken lightly. The after effects of a concussion, post-concussion syndrome, can linger for days or weeks. Concussions are an unfortunate side effect of collision sports such as football, hockey, lacrosse, motorcycle and bicycle riding. They range in severity from the minor (“I just had my bell rung") to major, life threatening brain contusions ("he was knocked out cold”).

A concussion is defined as a clinical syndrome characterized by immediate and transient post-traumatic impairment of neural function owing to mechanical forces. A concussion occurs when the body is moving rapidly through space and suddenly stops. Keep in mind that the brain is traveling at the same velocity as the rest of the body. When the body suddenly stops, the brain continues to move at the same velocity in the same direction. The brain then hits the skull and bounces back, hitting the opposite side of the skull until it loses momentum. This occurs due to the fact that the brain is floating in the cerebral spinal fluid, and does not actually touch the skull.

When the brain strikes the skull, a portion of it is damaged. When enough damage is done, it begins to operate improperly. This is when the outsider notices the symptoms of the concussion. The effects of these repeated blows to the brain are cumulative, that is, one blow intensifies the effects of the previous. Because of this, an athlete may take what appears to be a slight blow to the head or body and then show the symptoms of the concussion.

There is no standard classification system for concussions. Four of the leading researchers in head injuries maintain their own classification system. The symptoms of each degree of concussion are often very similar, and it is easy to be confused when assessing a head injury. However, the latest protocol that is recognized as the leader is the information by the ANA (American Neurological Association).

Definitions from the ANA and treatment recommendations for each category are presented below.

Grade 1 Concussion

• Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and a duration of mental status abnormalities under 15 minutes.

• Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity, examined immediately and at 5 minute Intervals, and allowed to return that day to the sports activity only if post concussive symptoms resolve within 15 minutes. Any athlete who incurs a second Grade 1 concussion on the same day should be removed from sports activities until asymptomatic for 1 week.

Grade 2 Concussion

• Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and a duration of mental status abnormalities15 minutes or longer.

• Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity and examined frequently to assess the evolution of symptoms, with more extensive diagnostic evaluation if the symptoms worsen or persist longer than 1 week. The athlete should return to sports activity only after being asymptomatic for 1 full week. Any athlete who incurs a Grade 2 concussion subsequent to a Grade 1 concussion on the same day should be removed sports activities until asymptomatic for 2 weeks.

Grade 3 Concussion

• Definition: Loss of consciousness either brief (seconds) or prolonged (minutes or longer).

• Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity for I full week without symptoms if the loss of consciousness is brief or for 2 full weeks without symptoms if the loss of consciousness is prolonged. If still unconscious or if abnormal neurologic signs are present at the time of initial evaluation, the athlete should be transported by ambulance to the nearest trauma hospital. An athlete that has suffered a second grade 3 concussion should be removed from sports activity until asymptomatic for 1 month. Any athlete with an abnormality on CT or MRI brain scan consistent with brain swelling, contusion, or other intracranial pathology should be removed from sports activities for the season and discouraged from future return to participation in contact sports. Source: New standards for head trauma subcommittee, American Academy of neurology 1997


With any head injury the patient needs to be monitored (no matter what the patient says, does or thinks) by a parent, mature teammate or friend. Since a head injury can alter mental function, personality and the ability to make clear and well thought out decisions, sometimes the decisions are left up to the “significant other”. Following any head injury a comprehensive exam should follow to insure the athletes safety. Also, knowing what to do if any injury occurs can mean the difference, at times, between life and death.

Patient instructions following a head injury

Before I tell you what not to do if you SUSTAIN an injury, I need to address a common problem that many athletes do prior to “game time”. Since a concussion is essentially a “bruise to the brain” anything you take prior to participation that could thin the blood is not recommended. If you participate in any high impact sport DO NOT take aspirin, advil, alleve or any other supplement or medication prior to participation due to the fact that this could thin the blood and make ANY bleed worse.

Common symptoms of a head injury include: headaches, nausea and slight dizziness. There may be swelling and pain at the site of impact. A head injury can cause slow bleeding or other problems inside the head that may not be detected at the initial exam. Make sure you consult any health care provider if any symptoms change or worsen.

Home treatment:

• Do not take any sedatives or sleeping pills
• Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, motrin, advil, alleve, nuprin or any other medication that can thin the blood
• If needed, the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended for pain only
• Do not drink alcohol or tea
• Do not exert yourself or participate in PE (follow guidelines above)
• Do not eat or drink much for the first 24 hours (clear liquids are the best)
• Sleep with head slightly elevated
• Avoid hot tubs and Jacuzzis for the first 48 hours

I hope this information is helpful to anyone involved with high action or contact sports. Be safe so you can play another day! Please pass this on to anyone you may know and have them sign up for our newsletter for more upcoming tips. www.gotcsi.com

The Swine flu

What is “Swine Flu” or H1N1?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Swine flu (official name is H1N1) is a new version of the influenza virus. The Swine flu was first detected in the US in April 2009. The reason this strand of influenza virus is called the “Swine Flu” is because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to the influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine).

How can Swine Flu be transmitted and who can it affect?

Swine flu can be transmitted from person to person just like the regular flu does by coughing or sneezing. It can also be transmitted by touching an object that the virus is on and then touching your nose or mouth.
One thing that is different between the Swine Flu and the seasonal flu is that the Swine Flu does not affect adults older than the age of 64 as much as it does affect children and adults younger than the age of 60. The reason for this is that it has been found that people under the age of 60 do not have the existing antibodies in them which would naturally protect them from the virus.

What are the symptoms of the Swine Flu?

Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. In severe cases the swine flu can progress and symptoms vary depending on the age group. The following is a breakdown on how the symptoms vary in children and adults.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough


Prevention:
Here are some recommendations on how to prevent you from getting sick:
• Practice good hygiene (cover your mouth while coughing/sneezing,wash your hands with warm water and soup prior to eating)
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals
• Drink plenty of water
• Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours/night)
• Avoid alcohol use
• Avoid tobacco use
• Avoid excessive intake of sugars
• Exercise 3-5 days per week
• Get adjusted regularly???

o So you might ask “how can getting adjusted regularly prevent me from getting sick?”

 According to a study performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, the chiropractic patients were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than those people who had not received chiropractic care, and they had 400% greater immune competence than those people with cancer and other serious diseases.

Is there a natural cure for Swine Flu?

Although there are no natural cures for Swine Flu you can take remedies, vitamins, and minerals to help with fighting the virus and its symptoms.
• Treatment for Swine Flu Chest Congestion: Eucalyptus, tea tree and lemongrass oils rubbed on the chest for congestion
• Remedy for Swine Flu & Cold Symptoms:
Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (1000-3000mg/daily); Echinacea tincture daily, Zinc (50-100mg/daily)
• Some say that the flu "begins in the gut and ends in the gut". This means that if you have good digestion, you will increase your resistance to this and other flu strains. Take a probiotic daily. Probiotics have been shown to be an effective natural treatment for swine flu.
• If you do feel the flu symptoms coming on, get adjusted to boost your immune system.
• Here at CSI we have had great success with treating the seasonal flu’s with our detox footbath combined with cold laser therapy.

Should I get vaccinated?

So here are some of the questions you might be asking yourself at this time.
Should I get vaccinated? Will the vaccine protect me? Is there a side effect to the vaccine?

Before I answer those questions let’s take a look at a few interesting facts.

According to the CDC “Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment”. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

They go on to state that “Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related (seasonal flu) complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes”.

Now back to answering the questions about vaccination.

• One thing to keep in mind is that viruses are great at mutating and changing into a different strain, so it is difficult to come up with a vaccine that effectively will prevent you from getting sick. And if you do decide to get the vaccine you are not 100% guaranteed to be safe from the virus.
• Once you do take the vaccine there might be side effects. The last ‘Swine Flu outbreak’ in the U.S. was in 1976 and according to the statistics from that outbreak:
o More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu
o 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were detected.
 GBS is auto immune disorder, affecting the peripheral nerves and causing paralysis, inability to breathe, and even death.
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
o The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
o The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
o The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected
Having said all this, I am not trying to down play the seriousness of the flu but before you go out there and inoculate yourself with a vaccine, educate yourself and learn the truth.

Dr. Amir Mahmud

HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU NEED?

By: Dr. Terry Weyman

It’s HOT. With the heat, talks of dehydration and heat related illness come to the headlines. Southern California's hot fall football games, firefighters working the fires, cycling and Triathlons, Fall Motocross races, soccer games and other fall sports. To stay safe you need to understand and comprehend water intake and the requirements each body has to function on a normal level. In the news several months ago, there was a report about 10 people who were taken to the hospital for heat related illness at a rock concert over the weekend. With the fires blazing last week, firefighters need to maintain a high level of fluid intake to maintain body function. Body water and athletic performance are directly connected, and when understood, can be the difference between a winning performance and or/ survival.

Your body needs about 1 ml of water for every calorie that you expend. For example, if you burn 4,000 to 5,000 calories per day (moderate to aggressive athletic workouts), you would need between 4 to 5 liters of fluid to replace what was lost and to keep the biochemistry in proper balance. Monitoring body weight before and after training is the best way to keep up with your body’s fluid needs, which sweating increases. If you don’t believe that hydration can affect athletic performance ask Lance Armstrong. He lost 15 lbs due to dehydration following the first time trial of the Tour de France in 2002 and suffered the next few days more than usual.

Although a 2% weight loss due to dehydration may not cause any “symptoms”, it does decrease physical and mental performance.

Water Loss as % of Body Weight
2% - Difficulty in controlling normal body temperature
3% - Reduced muscular endurance time
4%-6% - Reduced strength, power, endurance and heat cramps
6% - Severe heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke

During exercise, especially in the heat, some of the water that naturally circulates through your body is used by your sweat glands. Inadequate fluid balance can result in a chain reaction that can be severely detrimental to your health. The first step in this reaction is a decrease in blood volume, which increases the heart rate in an attempt to get the fluids to the vital organs. The body’s next reaction is to constrict the blood vessels in order to maintain proper blood pressure. However, this reaction will cause the body temperature to rise due to the heat produced by the working muscles which can’t be transported to the skin’s surface. This leads to heat illnesses such as heat cramps, exhaustion and heat stroke.

To avoid this chain reaction you must stay properly hydrated during your exercise. The recommended fluid intake for exercise or training is 8 to 12 ounces fifteen minutes before you begin your exercises. During your training, drink 4-6 ounces every 10 to 15 minutes. After you have completed your training, you should consume 16 ounces for every pound lost (weigh yourself before and after exercise to determine weight loss). If you are working out longer than 60 minutes, a sports drink may be helpful in delaying fatigue by providing additional energy for working muscles. It will also be helpful in the overall chemistry balance since it will be replacing needed electrolytes that are lost during the sweating process. A 5 to 8% concentration of carbohydrates (as seen in most sports drinks) has been shown to be absorbed quickly. The small amount of electrolytes can also aid in the absorption of water from the intestines. A great product on the market for electrolyte replacement is a powder called Endura, made by a company called Metagenics. You can find this product at some bike shops or at health care facilities. Remember, this simple equation. First hour, water only. Second hour a mix of water and sport drink, third hour sport drink (electrolyte replacement). Due to the salts and sugars in the sports drinks, drinking too early can clog the sodium and calcium channels causing the athlete to go into a state of early dehydration. You can also increase the risks of cramping by drinking a sport drink too early.

With the heat of the summer here, be smart in your training. Do not exercise during the hottest times of the day (10-3), stay hydrated and properly warm up and cool down. To avoid heat illness and decrease your overall performance, remember this: an athlete should never be thirsty!

Dr. Terry Weyman is the clinic Director for the Chiropractic Sports Institute. All the Doctors at CSI specialize in the care of the active person. For further information they can be contacted at www.gotcsi.com

A great way to lower Cholesterol a Natural way

Despite a lack of conclusive evidence, many remain convinced that cholesterol levels function as a health marker in general, or provide us with a window through which to view heart health. Many also believe that saturated fat causes disease, and one mechanism is by elevating cholesterol levels. Concerning these perceptions, a recent review of saturated fats, taken from the Framingham heart study, showed that 80% of individuals who developed coronary artery disease had the same total cholesterol level as those who did not, and that saturated fat is not likely to have a significant impact.

Cholesterol phobia is a problem, especially when we do not understand all the details about cholesterol metabolism. For example, in an article written in the journal of Medicine in 2003 by Ravnskov, there is evidence suggesting that high cholesterol may protect against infections and atherosclerosis.

The above is not to suggest that excessive saturated fat consumption and hypercholesterolemia is not a problem; on the contrary, it seems particularly problematic for those with familial hyperlipoproteinemias (any of various disorders of lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism that result in high levels of lipoprotein and cholesterol in the circulating blood)

It is also now known that the consumption of trans fats promotes inflammation. Trans fats, or partially hydrogenated oils are found in nearly all margarines, deep fried foods, and highly processed foods, and these foods are consumed at an alarming level. According to Author Enig, from the book, Know your fats, he explains that trans fats can raise total cholesterol levels by some 30 percent, and also raise LDL cholesterol in a dose-responsive manner.

Clinical experience suggests that when patients switch to an anti-inflammatory diet and take the “base 4” supplements (a good multiple, magnesium, EPA/DHA (omega 3), and coenzyme Q10)dramatic health changes can occur. For those who have chronic pain by adding a bromelain or proteolytic enzyme and garlic supplement ( to the base 4) your energy levels will improve, aches and pains are reduced, and aberrant cholesterol levels normalize in many people.

Some patients are taking medications for their cholesterol problem. Such medications are usually classified as Statin Drugs. However, many patients are complaining of muscle aches and pains, stiff joints and headaches that did not exist prior to taking the statin drugs. When statins cause pain, it is likely due to the inhibition of Co enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) synthesis. CoQ10 is an important antioxidant required for ATP (remember your High School Bio class) synthesis; clearly its inhibition should be avoided. Some of the newer statin drugs have included CoQ10 in there ingredients to counter act this problem.

For those who are in need of additional cholesterol lowering support or who need to get off statin medication due to the above health concerns, Policosanol maybe your answer. Policosanol is a natural alternative to statin drugs and it is not known to create dangerous side effects. Policosanol is known to lower the dangerous LDL-Cholesterol molecule while raising HDL levels. A study performed by J Clinical Pharmacol in 1999 showed that policosanol significantly elevated the anti-inflammatory HDL and lowered LDL cholesterol oxidation. The study also indicated that 20 mg of policosanol per day for 7 day was as effective as aspirin in reducing platelet aggregation. Policosanol is a very safe supplement to use for extended periods of time. In a recent year-long study, older patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension were supplemented with policosanol and placebo. Side effects were greater in subjects taking the placebo (17.7%) versus policosanol (9.8%); and policosanol subjects had a reduction in LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, and an increase in HDL cholesterol.

Pain and cholesterol reduction should be a natural outcome of pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Consuming an anti-inflammatory diet, exercising, and supplementing with the “base 4”, garlic, proteolytic enzymes and policosanol you could be on the road to improve your health, lifestyle, energy and normalize your cholesterol.

The following was taken in part from an article written by Dr. David Seaman, April 2005

At CSI we have collected the best supplements that there are from several different companies. Each supplement is pharmaceutical grade, most only sell to Doctors, they are run through purification test to eliminate heavy metals and toxins and are the only ones I use with my family. If you want to order any supplements go to our website and to the on-line store. If what you are looking for is not on there, contact our office manager, Michele, and she will take your order. You can pick your supplements up at the office or have them shipped to your house, your call. Michele can be reached at michele.weyman@gotcsi.com or go to our online store at www.gotcsi.com

Chiropractic can help you get a job

“Two guys walk into a bar”, wait a minute, wrong article, let me start again. “Two guys walk into a job interview, both with equally impressive resumes. The first guy walks in with a slight hunch in his spine, shoulders rolled forwards and a slow gait. The second man walks in tall and straight, shoulders back and his head held high. Which one gets the job?” The second man gets regular Chiropractic Care to keep his spine aligned, his nerves flowing strong, keeps his neck lose to keep his head balanced over his shoulders and counteract the evil forces of desk work. With his spine aligned, his head and shoulders balanced, his gait true and powerful, his presentation in his job interview is PERCIEVED as one of confidence, power, hard working, reliable and honest. The man who presented with a stiff gait, rolled shoulders, head forward, back hunched, will come across as a person who is weak, lacks confidence, shifty, unreliable and one who will complain.

Keeping your back and body healthy goes beyond health and increased athletic performance but now transcends into vitality and strength in these trying times. If your body does not function internally at its max how can you function in life at your max ? How can you make a big presentation during an important meeting if you are bent over or your body language screams “lack of confidence?” This is not your fault, but how you are being PERCIEVED. If your cars alignment is off, how does your car run? Do the parts wear out faster and do you burn more gas going down the road? The same thing happens when your body is not aligned properly; you burn more energy just getting through the day and your parts (ie, discs, tendons, ligaments) wear out faster leading to more advanced injuries.

In these economic times, seeing your Chiropractor is not a luxury but one of necessity to not only save money in future medical bills, but to keep achieving maximum output so your outward Perception equals your Inward DRIVE. www.gotcsi.com

Deflaming vs Inflaming, the Diet maybe the answer

The following article was taken in part from a research article by Anabolic Labs, a supplement company that I use due to their intense research team and constantly search of the best ways to keep you healthy

As you live your life and try and stay active, you will notice that your body will ache. Some people say “I am getting older, my body hurts all the time”. Have you ever thought of looking at your diet as the cause instead of your age? Each of us needs to focus on reducing our individual inflammation issues and diet is the foundation to reducing inflammation or “deflaming”. The following is a simple guide to a no-nonsense approach to healthy, anti-inflammatory eating that will help you avoid unhealthy, pro-inflammatory foods that are inflaming.

PRO-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

• All Refined Grain products- Researchers at Penn State had a group of 50 obese people receive all their grain servings from either whole grains or refined grains for 12 weeks. Both groups followed a weight-loss plan that included fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean meat, fish or poultry. People in both groups lost weight, but the whole-grain group also saw a 38 percent drop in CRP levels. They also lost more abdominal fat (the most dangerous kind). If you have bowel pain or Chronic Head Aches after eating grains you may have celiac Dz. Try removing all grains from your diet and go with a Gluten Free diet
To get more good grains in your diet, try eating oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain cereal and whole-wheat crackers – all foods where the majority of the grain comes from whole grain. While breads, refined pasta and packaged foods.
• Partially Hydrogenated Oils (trans fats)-Found in margarine, deep fried foods, most fast foods and most packaged foods.
• Seed and Legume Oils (inaccurately called vegetable oils)-Corn oils (anything made from corn, safflower oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil and foods made with these oils such as mayonnaise, tarter sauces margarine, salad dressing and many packaged foods. These oils/foods contain extremely high levels of inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids.
• Soda and Sugar
• Dairy and soy (when consumed as staple)
• Meats and eggs from grain fed animals (opposite of free range)

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

• All Fruits and Vegatables-eaten in the rawest state is the best
• Red and Sweet Potatoes-Eaten with protein such as eggs, fish, meat or fowl (free range)
• Fresh fish- Avoid farm-raised tilapia, catfish, basa and bronzini for they can have elevated levels of inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids. If you have a choice, cold water fish is the best for Omega 3
• Meat, Chicken, Eggs from Grass-fed (free range) Animals- You can go to www.eatwild.com for producers of free range products.
• For Meats, wild game
• Anti-inflammatory Omega 3 eggs and/or egg whites
• Whole grains
• Raw Nuts
• Spices-Such as Ginger, Turmeric, garlic, dill, oregano, coriander, fennel, red chili pepper, basil, rosemary, etc
• Oils and Fats-Moderate amounts of organic butter, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil
• Beverages- Water, organic green tea, no juices with high fructose corn syrup.

Supplements that can help reduce inflammation are proteolytic enzymes, antioxidants and probiotic enzymes. Everyone should be on a quality Multivitamin, Magnesium, Anti Oxidant and Fish oil. Contact the Doctors at CSI for the Supplements that we recommend. You can purchase them off our website (csi store), saving time and money if you wish. www.gotcsi.com Any questions please do not hesitate to ask. We use Anabolic Labs, Metagenics and Nutri-west to name a few. We only recommend the highest grade and quality supplements on the Market.

Until Next time, live well,

Dr. Terry Weyman

How can regular chiropractic care improve an athlete’s performance?

Since I started my chiropractic career I have been asked on several occasions how can chiropractic care help me become a better athlete and perform better on the field? And why should I come back when I’m feeling fine? The way chiropractic can help is by evaluating the neurology, biomechanics, spinal/postural alignment, and/or any injuries which the athletes may have sustained during an event and applying the proper care to get the athlete back on the field as soon as possible. It is also important to keep in mind that since an athlete’s body is under constant stress from training they need to be treated regularly, even though they don’t have any pain, to keep them performing at their best.
A research study conducted by Drs. Anthony Lauro and Brian Mouch, published in the journal of Chiropractic research and Clinical Investigation, 1991, indicated chiropractic care might improve athletic performance by as much as 16.7% over a two week period. The report also concluded that subluxation-free athletes react faster, coordinate better, execute fine movements with improved accuracy and precision, amounting to an overall better athlete.
In addition to the traditional chiropractic care, we at CSI use both the cold laser therapy and ionic footbath therapy to speed up tissue recovery by providing the body with more cellular ATP. When your body is in better alignment, your nervous system is finely tuned. This leads to better performance, fewer injuries and quicker recovery after an event.

Dr. Amir

PS please tell us how Chiropractic has improved your athletic performance. Your story may inspire someone else. Post your comments now!

Back to School, should not be a pain in the neck!

As our kids return to school we need to be aware of a new trend that has been gaining “popularity” in the last few years, an increase in neck and back pain. With more and more school districts removing lockers, increase in homework and textbooks and the disallowance of roll along backpacks, students are being forced to carry their books in their backpacks all day long. Not only will this potentially cause a painful problem, but if one already exists, it can exacerbate it. This new and disturbing trend shows America’s youth are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor. The new trend among youngsters isn’t surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks – usually slung over just one shoulder.
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Preliminary results of a study being done in France show that the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes for a curvature or deformity of the spine to correct itself. Like with any problem, it needs to be recognized and addressed if change is to take place to correct the situation. If your child begins to feel pain in his neck or back, consult your Chiropractor, Physician or therapist immediately before the condition worsens.

A few basic guidelines should be followed to insure proper fit and address spinal health and biomechanical stability.

• Limiting the backpack’s weight to 10% of the child’s body weight and urging the use of ergonomically correct backpacks are essential.

• The backpack should never hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

• A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively.

• Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.

• Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry and the heavier the backpack will be.

• Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low back pain.

• Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child’s shoulders.

• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.

• If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks. Or encourage your local school district to purchase textbooks on CD-Rom.

• Although the use of rollerpacks, or backpacks on wheels, has become popular in recent years, it is recommended that they be used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those students who are not physically able to carry a backpack.

• Encourage your child to exercise and strengthen the muscles of the back and neck.

By following these simple guidelines you may help your child get more out of school than an aching back.

School Physicals done at CSI

Don’t wait in line at the school for your Fall sports physicals. We do them here at CSI. We also will donate a portion of the fee to your sports booster program. This is a win/win. Your team/school gets money and you get your physical in a short time frame. Call and let Robin or Mikaella know that you want to get your sports physical at CSI. 805-371-0737

TOO FOOTBATH OR NOT TO FOOT BATH

I am writing this blog this month in response to an article that was posted in the American Chiropractic Associations monthly magazine. In this article the IONIC FOOTSPA is given a bad wrap. There are parts of the article that I agree and disagree with. There is also a YouTube video to go along with this article. Since we at CSI are not only on the cutting edge of tissue recovery, we also will stand up to our products and will always keep you informed when we run across articles such as this. This article basically states that the science behind the footbath is false and that there is nothing to benefit from doing this therapy. I DISAGREE.

The article claims that most providers of this therapy are claiming that the color of the water is PURE toxins that are withdrawn out the body. I AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR, THIS IS NOT TRUE. That dark rust/brown color is in part to the break down of the array itself. When you add water, metal and electricity you will get RUST. So a part of the color is from the break down of the array. I have never gone against this. The article also references a link on YOUTUBE with a man showing how (In his opinion) the IONIC FOOTSPAS are FALSE. This person does not take in account the multiple benefits that these machines offer besides the idea of DETOXIFICATION.

I have lectured to many doctors and individuals on the therapeutic benefits of the FOOTSPA. Do I think that the FOOTSPA just detoxifies the body NO. It is one of the effects. Many ask me how do I know what is being pulled out and what parts of the body are being DETOXIFIED. This I cannot answer. In my opinion you would have to take a pre and post water, blood and organ sample in order to truly determine. There are some out there that use a COLOR chart to determine what the color of that water means, which is nothing more than a selling tool. The color is a small part of the treatment process. The FOOTSPA also provides the body a low electric stimulus, which has been shown with other therapy modalities to enhance cellular activity. By doing this the body can heal quicker and allow the body and its cells to work at a higher function. On this premise is what I see is the most dramatic effect of the IONIC FOOTBATH.

In our clinics we use it to help deal with allergens, colds and especially tissue healing post surgical. In combination with chiropractic treatments, cold laser therapy, proper nutrition and exercise habit, the IONIC FOOTSPA is a perfect addition. That article was written to spark a response and it got mine. At CSI we use the Cellular Cleanse Platinum FOOTSPA and we could not be happier with the results. If anyone would like to try the Cellular Cleanse Therapy please contact CSI at 805-531-1188 for Moorpark or 805-371-0737 for Westlake and either I or Dr. Amir will personally walk you through the process and explain what is going on. Also don’t forget that SUMMER is upon us and with all the SUMMER activities and sports, CSI is here to help keep you healthy and happy.

Sincerely:

Dr. Ed Green
Clinic Director, CSI Moorpark

Next secret from the pros, Compression socks!

We will be hosting and “selling” products used by the pros that in most cases are not yet available in stores. Most of these products will be sold through our CSI store so check it out from time to time. This month you can buy Oxy Socks at a pro deal direct from the manufacture.

Oxysox® Compression Technology

Dr. Graham Kelly, a vascular specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience, developed patented Oxysox® Compression Technology (OCT®) to help meet the unique demands of athletes. Improved circulation and reduced muscle fatigue always translate into better performance, and OCT® is all about performance. Utilizing over-the-calf graduated compression, socks knit with OCT® actually stimulate circulation in the foot and ankle with snug compression that tapers off as the socks extends up the leg.

How Oxysox® Compression Technology Works:

There is much more to muscle support than a snug fit. Typical compression hose boasting mmHg ratings higher than 22-23 are designed to provide tight support in response to medical complications. For the healthy athlete, however, too much support can actually reduce circulation and hamper performance. TCK's Oxysox® Compression Technology, on the other hand, is specifically designed for the athlete by way of GRADUATED COMPRESSION. Graduated compression begins with snug support that tapers off as the sock climbs the leg. In other words, the greatest amount of support is in the foot and ankle where it is needed most. This keeps the points of impact securely snug, protecting against injury, fatigue, and discomfort. A progressively reduced amount of support reaches its nadir as the sock hugs the calf, the point where maximum circulation is vital. We're not talking about an absence of support at the top of a sock with OCT®, but just enough to minimize wasted motion of the muscles, keeping them stable and compact, without hampering the blood's ability to return through the heart and lungs. What ultimately results, then, is a quicker delivery of oxygenated blood to the legs and feet. This translates into:

Higher VO2 levels
Faster Muscle Recovery
Less Muscle Fatigue
Reduced Muscle Swelling
Protection Against Cramps, Strains, or Sprains in the Lower Leg
What Racesox with Oxysox® Compression Technology Do:

The answer is simple: Racesox with Oxysox® Compression Technology boast the fusion of graduated compression with the performance-enhancing features that typify Racesox and all TCK products. What you get is durable longevity that lasts 3-4 times longer than standard socks, blister resistance, superior odor control, breathable comfort, enhanced moisture management, and quick-drying resilience combined with the unique merits of graduated compression. So, whether you are a world-class athlete, a regular on the racing circuit, a weekend warrior, or simply into occasional exercise, you need Racesox with OCT® to augment your workout and improve your performance.

As a patient of CSI you can now have these socks at a PRO DEAL, CSI only price.Since I know the owners very well, they are offering ALL CSI patients these socks for below wholesale!!. When you order from their website, use these codes to get your deal, CSI09 or DRT09. Their website is http://www.racesox.com. My son Tyler has been using these socks during his Motocross practice and says after 2 hours of riding his legs are no longer sore. I use them at work when I am on my feet all day and I feel great at the end of the day. Go on line to oxy sox website (listed above) and get the super CSI pro deal discount(by using the CSI or DrT code). For any questions on the socks or techical questions email Scott Davis at Race Soxs for assistance. Let him know you are referred by CSI and he can help you in anyway. sdavis@racesox.com.

True health starts from within,

Dr.Terry

Secrets of the Pros brought to you.

How to bring the benefits of training in altitude to your house without the hassle and expense of an altitude Tent.

At CSI, due to our professional affiliations, we are privy to new technology sometimes many years before it’s available to the public. Last year I was contacted by a company who makes a High Altitude training system (io) due to my affiliation as the team Doctor for the Professional cycling team, Successful Living. As you may or may not be aware of, Professional Cycling has been under the microscope for the past several years due to Blood doping and Drug abuse allegations. The purpose of blood doping is to enhance your RBC (red blood cell) production so that you can enhance your Oxygen Transport, thus increasing your Aerobic Capacity. The Natural way to do this is to live at Altitude and/ or, sleep 6-8 hours in an Altitude Tent. This new devise, out of New Zealand, is extremely advanced, managed by the Mayo Clinic, and requires 1 hour a day, breathing in a mask, for 15 sessions, 5 days on 2 off or 6 days on 1 off.

As you are aware of I have been involved with high level cycling for 20+ years and the last 3 years, National level motocross racing. Last year I asked the CEO of the company if I could run a trial study at CSI to prepare a few riders to race at Mammoth Mountain for their Annual Motocross race. Since this race is at 8,500’ I wanted to see how they would react after using the machine and also to see how simple it was to use. I chose three high level motocross athletes of three different age brackets. I chose a 40 year old Masters champion, a 12 year old National rider and my son Tyler who was 9 at the time. Since Motocross is an extremely aerobic sport I wanted to see if it would enhance their performance and decrease the effects of racing at Altitude. Well it did, all three made the podium and felt as if they were riding at sea level! Both the 40 year old and my son were blown away at how good they felt. My son has been to Mammoth as a skier since he was a baby and we were wondering at his age if the devise would be effective. Well it was, Tyler stated he felt as if he were riding in TO and was able to push harder when everyone else wore out.

Normally, when competing in altitude, such as Mammoth, you either show up the DAY OF competition or you go to the altitude you are competing at and live there for 2 weeks prior to the event. Your body will actually perform worse at the 4-6 day point. So, if you go up 3-4 days prior to the event you will perform worse than if you go up the day of due to the acclimatization process. Due to traveling, work schedules and time constraints going to altitude for 2 weeks is not practical for most people. With this therapy, you can go up any time and stay because you will already be acclimatized. You will not get the Headaches, breathing problems, weakness, fatigue and so on. The company name is io, and they are now available to you at your home. So if you’re into ANY aerobic sport, this devise can help you perform much better. It’s used not only by cyclist, triathletes, Motocross racers and mountaineers, but athletes in Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Runners, skier, skaters, cross country skiers, hockey players as well pilots and asthmatics.

More on io Therapy

io works by using a sophisticated altitude simulator to force the body to react as if at altitude.

io causes your body to react to differing oxygen levels by producing a higher proportion of red blood cells. The more red blood cells you have, the more efficient your body becomes at transporting and using oxygen.

All you have to do is sit back, relax and breathe. The results – boosted energy levels, better performance in life and sport, enhanced health and relief from various conditions.

io specialising in the provision of the most advanced form of altitude training technology available. io's technology is a masked based system delivering benefits of altitude in intervals, this provides greater benefits in a shorter time.

io has developed improved technology and over the last 10 years been researching and providing altitude training to World and Olympic champions through to the casual gym user. io's sessions are each only 1 hour long with the session alternating from altitude to sea level during the hour session (at altitudes of between 18 and 26,000 feet increasing throughout the program). The io program has a base program of 15 sessions and then there are 'booster' sessions every 6-8 weeks these are 5 days long and again each session is only one hour.

io is a natural way to get an advantage and has been proven to aid with sports performance improving;
- recovery,
- speed,
- power,
- endurance to name a few benefits.
Research shows an improvement in overall athletic performance of between 4-8% across the board.( www.io-usa.com/research/view/sport ) Other benefits include aiding in the recovery from injury and maintaining fitness while injured through to assisting people with asthma or those starting out on a new fitness program.

This devise is an AMAZING invention and is a critical component in the preparation phase as well as the recovery phase. If you are serous about your sport, suffer from high altitude sickness, preparing to climb a big mountain or want a secret edge in your aerobic sport, Contact THE FACTORY in Westlake Village to set up an appointment to see this amazing devise in action. Contact Rob Bolton at 805-494-4464 and mention you want information on the IO therapy and other ways to enhance performance, that only the Factory can deliever.

Dr. Terry Weyman
www.gotcsi.com

Stress, how to use it to win, not lose

With the tax season upon us and the economy being down many people are stressed out of their minds and as a result are experiencing aches and pains all over their bodies. We as humans tend to store our stress, whether physical or emotional, in our muscles. So as a result we start developing muscle tightness which can lead to headaches, general pain, decreased range of motion, altered sleeping patterns, altered bio-mechanics and very easily affect our immune systems. So here are a few tips on how to avoid these problems before they start affecting our daily lives.

• Exercises regularly:

o Physical activity plays a major role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week.
Exercise can decrease ‘stress hormones' like cortisol, and increase endorphins, your body's ‘feel-good’ chemicals, giving your mood and body a natural boost.

• Progressive muscle relaxation:

o By tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups in your body, you can relieve tension and feel much more relaxed in minutes. Start by tensing all the muscles in your face, holding a tight grimace ten seconds, then completely relaxing for ten seconds. Repeat this with your neck, followed by your shoulders, etc. You can do this anywhere, and as you practice, you will find you can relax more quickly and easily, reducing tension as quickly as it starts!

• Get adjusted:

o Anxiety and stress frequently attack the weak spots of the spine, and as a result you can get general muscle tensions, headaches, neck pain and back pain. This pain can then aggravate the stress and anxiety. A chiropractic treatment which includes adjustments, soft tissue and muscle work is aimed at relieving any physical complaints which will in turn help with the mental conditions.

• Eat a healthy diet:

o Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.

• Reduce caffeine and sugar:

o The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.

• Get enough sleep:

o Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

If you guys have any question or want any advice on proper nutrition, specific exercises, or other stress reliving techniques feel free to comment and I will give you the information.

Dr. Amir

The good, the bad, the ugly

The Good, the bad and the ugly

Well, spring has sprung and the days are getting longer and people are coming out of their cocoons. I love this time of year and the energy it brings.

The Good: Life is good. During this past weekend I was North of Reno at a Regional qualifier for my son and his motocross team. Not that I want to bore you with details of a bragging father but Tyler had the race of his career, getting the hole shot (first one to the first turn) leading the race for 3.5 laps ahead of the two national title holders and placing third in a stacked field. (more on this later).

The Bad and the Ugly: Well, let’s just say that was me. I had an allergic reaction to something, I don’t know what, but on Thursday (yes, the day we left) a rash began to grow on my body and by Friday, I was covered head to toe. It made helping my son and others a difficult task but his riding made all the pain and itching a little more tolerable. By Sunday I looked like Will Smith in” Hitch”. After a visit to the hospital and Dermatologist office today, I am back to normal with just a little itch left. Wish I knew what hit me. Thank God I have incredible Doctors such as Dr. Derek , Dr. Ed and Dr. Amir to step in and care for all of you and to keep CSI open and helping all the patients.

With the down time and to keep my mind off the itching I began to think about the incredible profession I am in. Chiropractic and sports really showed their power this weekend. My son has only been riding 2 ½ years, at the National level 1 year. The last month he has been in the top ten and now the top 5 surpassing kids who have been at the level for 4+ years. The father of the current national title holder came up to me and said “what ever you’re doing with Tyler keep it up, he has come on faster than any rider and he is the talk of the circuit. What is your secret?”. At first I was shocked but then I started thinking. He trains, like the others; he eats and sleeps like the others; and he has natural talent, like the others. What is he doing that the others are not? The answer was simple: he is a Chiropractic Kid. When he gets a cold, he gets adjusted. When he feels tired or sore, he gets adjusted. After training to recover, he gets adjusted. To keep his balance and coordination in check, he gets lasered and adjusted. My 9 year old asks me to adjust him on a regular basis, not because he has back or neck pain, but because he wants to stay healthy and on top of his game. He has taught me so much on the importance of staying biomechanically aligned. Not just to stay out of pain but so much more. FULL BODY HEALTH. When the body is in line things just work. Stress is lessened, sickness is reduced, you think more clearly and you will have an edge on your competition whoever they may be.

Chiropractic is about removing interference or restrictions from the brain to the tissue cell. When a joint is fixated and muscles are in spasm, the nervous communication is compromised. Every organ, every cell, is controlled and coordinated by the nervous system. Even the slightest compromise can affect the function. Since muscles attach to the bones, than anything that can affect the muscles can indirectly affect the bodies function.
I am looking forward to coming back to work today, the first thing I am doing before I start treating patients? Getting Adjusted!!

See you soon,

Dr. Terry and the staff at CSI

Hey Doc, can I crack my own back?

This month’s blog is all about being interactive with the patients. We get asked numerous questions a day and it is hard to remember them all and then write about them. So this month and next I would like all of you to respond to this blog and ask a question. I will check back on a regular basis and answer any question that you may ask.

This is a good way to get all of you interactive with our website. We here at CSI want to make sure that all our patients get the most out of all our services. 2009 is a new year and with it being a new year I would like start this February blog with the first question. I will also be adding other blogs about certain topics that are of a concern.

But now onto the question.???????

1) Is it bad to twist my back while I sit in class and make it CRACK several times a day?????

A: YES, YES, YES, YES. Continual adjusting of the spine, several times a day will lead to what is called HYPERlaxity. Now we are talking about someone who adjusts himself or herself more than 4 times a day. So those of you who see us three times a week are not going to experience this issue.
What happens is the spine after it gets adjusted multiple times starts to loosen the surrounding ligaments and tissues and it is called VISCOELASTIC CREEP. This will cause joint laxity and then lead to you wanting to crack it more because it is sore. So to fix it STOP adjusting yourself and do exercises to strengthen the area that you are CRACKING. The stronger the area the less you want to CRACK. OK, SO THERE IS IT IS. STOP ADJUSTING YOURSELF.

Dr. Ed Green is the Clinic Director at CSI Moorpark, he is big and will get angry if you do not ask a question. Let him have it.

ASPARTAME- The Silent Killer

This blog was sent to me from a friend of mine. Read and learn.

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick, she just knew she was dying. She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.

She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd..

On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.

I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister i f she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.

I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda!

I e-mailed her the article my friend, a lawyer, had sent.

My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better. She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.

Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind.

In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda...and literally dying a slow and miserable death.

When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.

If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME,' marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'

In the keynote address by the EPA, it was=2 0announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant.

I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people were be being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!
Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not
know that the Aspartame is the cul prit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition.
We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.

This also applies to cases of trinities and firma.

During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!'

People were jumping up during the lecture saying, 'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?'

Yes! Yes! Yes! STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem.
Dr.. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice, a nurse stated that six of her friends, who wer e heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. Th is is beyond coincidence!

Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!

These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.' Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.

Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics..
We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame.
The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.

Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, seizures, depression, manic depression, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger and rag e.

Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well.

Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turn around in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet. So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'

It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy.

Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners. There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'

Herein lies the problem:

There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED!

There are now over 5,00020products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.' I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.

And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?

This has been recently exposed in the New York Times.

These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.

Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants. The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms.
The bill was killed.

It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an un suspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're Informed now!

How Altered foot Mechanics can cause Pain throughout the body, and how chiropractic care and specific orthotics can help

When initially seeing a patient that is very active, which present with back, hip, knee, and chronic ankle and foot problems; the first place I look to is the foot and how it is moving and functioning. Why? Our feet are the foundation to our bodies. The feet are the first joints that withstand forces thru our body during movement. These forces, if altered can cause a dramatic effect on how the rest of the body is going to move leading to different pain syndromes. If the foundation is not able to stabilize the rest of the body, then it is not long before we start to see wear and tear on other parts of the body.

The gait cycle is a term that represents the period of time between successive ipsilateral(same side) heel strikes; that is, it begins when the heel first strikes the ground and ends the moment that the same heel strikes the ground with the next step. So what happens to the foot that can cause pain during the gait cycle? Two of the most important motions that occur during the gait cycle are pronation and supination.

Pronation refers to the inward roll of the foot during normal motion and occurs as the outer edge of the heel strikes the ground and the foot rolls inward and flattens out. A moderate amount of pronation is required for the foot to function properly, however damage and injury can occur during excessive pronation, more commonly know as hyperpronation. An easy way to check if you are hyperpronating is to look at the back of the Achilles tendons. If they are bowing inwards, you are hyperpronating! Also look at your shoes, either dress or athletic, if they are worn out on the outside of them, guess what. Hypronation flattens the arch and stretches the muscles, tendons, and ligaments underneath the foot.

Supination is the opposite of pronation and refers to the outward roll of the foot during normal motion. A natural amount of supination occurs during the push-off phase of the running gait as the heel lifts off the ground and the forefoot and toes are used to propel the body forward. However, excessive supination, which is called hypersupination (excessive outward rolling) places a large strain on the muscles and tendons that stabilize the ankle, and can lead to chronic ankle sprains.

Symptoms of excessive pronation and supination are

Arch pain, heel pain, flat feet, corns and calluses, ankle sprains, shin splints, plantar fascitis, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, knee pain, hip pain, and chronic back pain.

Prevention and Treatment

1)At CSI we do a comprehensive gait analysis of what your foot is doing while standing and in motion thru our footmaxx system. www.footmaxx.com
2)Specific Biomechanical adjustments to the foot, ankle, knee, and low back to help restore normal motion through out the body.
3)Specifically made orthotics tailored to your foot and to what kind of activities your like to participate in. Footmaxx orthotics can also be designed not only for athletic shoes but also for mens and womens dress shoes.
4) Specific exercise and stretches to help restore strength and flexibility to the
Foot.

Taking care of your feet are very important to the rest of your body. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, please, listen to your body, and don’t wait for it to lead to something else.


Dr. Derek Pelofsky is a certified chiropractic sports practioner. He is currently practicing at the chiropractic sports institute in Westlake Village. To schedule an appointment, Dr Pelofsky can be reached at 8053710737. WWW.GOTCSI.COM

Breathing treatments not as affective as once thought

Last night while watching the TV program, “The Biggest Loser”, I was blown away at a segment that showed the “contestants” talking to the Doctor regarding their past medications. One gentleman had over 20 pills he was taking, for everything from high blood pressure to high cholesterol to diabetes. The Doctor estimated that over his lifetime, he would spend in excess of $750,000 in prescription medication if he lived long enough to see a normal lifespan. $750,000.00 !!! All it took to get him off his pills and to save him close to a million dollars, was a few simple things: eat right and exercise. That was it. What a concept! We as Americans want it now and don’t want to have to work for it. Why sweat when I can take a pill; “I tried it and it did not work!”. “How long did you try it for?”. “6 months”. “How long have you had these problems?”. “4 years”. “So let me get this straight, you have felt this way for 4 years, which means it took probably another 4-6 years to develop and in 6 months you expect everything to be perfect?”. These are conversations I have every day at the office. These are conversations we hear on the news with the latest election. Yet, we want change but are not willing to stick with something long enough to enjoy the change. Some change is instant, at other times it is slow, but change is change. With this economy, do you want to spend your money on a quick fix of the symptoms (pills), or on a stronger fix of the long lasting problem?

The nervous system controls and coordinates the entire functional body. When the muscles change, it affects the biomechanical structure. This change affects the biochemistry, which in turn affects your movement, health and homeostasis of the body. When I get sick, I get adjusted and then hit my body hard with naturally assimilating vitamins and minerals to help the body get the job done. When I get hurt, I get adjusted (to realign the structure to take pressure off the nervous system and restore the biochemistry) then supply my body with the correct vitamins and minerals to get the job done. When I am low on energy, I look at why. Why is my body working harder than normal and where did my energy go? When your car gets bad gas mileage, you look at the structural alignment and check the engine to see if its running efficiently don’t you? So what is so different with your body?

Below is a new study out this month which falls in line with what I am talking about. Eat right, NO JUNK FOOD or FOODS HIGH IN CORN SYRUP AND FATS, Exercise a minimum of 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR AT LEAST 20 minutes. Take your vitamins and get ADJUSTED to keep your biomechanics in proper alignment!

People/Doctors who say “vitamins don’t work” or, “getting adjusted is just a band aid and does not work”, do not READ the research and the journals. Use your common sense. It’s not voodoo or alternative science; its very, very mainstream. If the highest paid athletes in the world who demand the most from their bodies go by this philosophy, maybe you should too. Let the “nay sayers” and “non believers” get sick.




STUDY SHOWS STERIODS FOR KIDS DON’T WORK AS WELL AS THEY THOUGHT.

Steroid Drugs, a common treatment for young children prone to wheezing and colds, do not help and may even be harmful, according to a new research study.

Preschoolers, in Britain who were hospitalized with a wheezing attack and treated with the steroid prednisolone stayed just as long as other children who were given “dummy” pills.

In another study, Canadian children who had previous wheezing trouble and who took the steroid fluticasone as a preventive measure showed modest improvement, but the side effect of possible stunted growth outweighed the benefit, researchers said.

Both studies were reported in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, one of the highest regarded Pub Medicine journals on the research circuit. All studies are independent and double blind.

I was born with Asthma and as a child I was told to swim to build up my lungs (with moisture) and when it got bad , to sit in a steamed room. When I was climbing high mountains, getting bronchitis or having an asthma attack was a real concern. I ate right, got plenty of sleep, got adjusted twice a month, (more if I felt a cold coming on) and took my vitamins. I never missed a summit. I did go down the “medical route” once, taking meds such as Advair, Provental and Albuterol. What I found was I felt terrible, jittery, weak and was still sick. After several weeks, I realized that all the times before when I would get sick I was better in less than two weeks with “my methods”. I went back to getting adjusted (daily during my breathing bouts), taking supplements (anti inflammatory, lung strength and immune system), laser work, diet and rest. BAM I was better in no time and have not looked back since. I practice what I preach.

“Stretching Smarts”

Ever since I started playing competitive sports stretching was always part of the process. It is quite interesting today, that whether you are aware of this or not, but there are many researchers, health professionals that say stretching does not help decrease injury or prepare you for competition. Now on the other hand there are many that say the complete opposite. So which is it? Let me give you my rundown on how I think stretching can be effective.

You must learn three basic principals while stretching:

1)knowing when is the best time to stretch.
2)knowing two basic approaches to lengthening the muscle-tendon unit and which is best for your situation.
3)Realizing that as your body or your activities change, so to must your stretching routine.

When should I stretch?

Immediately prior to your exercise warm-up, by stretching only the tight muscles identified by testing or those that lack needed flexibility relative to your chosen activity.
If you lack normal or optimal flexibility in any muscle group and wish to balance the body for injury prevention and/or pain reduction, then you want to stretch at night as close to bedtime as possible. This is because your body does most of its healing at night, and if you lengthen tight muscles before bed, they will heal in a lengthened state, progressively balancing your body. If you want to stretch to improve energy levels, you can get a favorable response whenever you are tired. So stretching first thing in the morning can help with energy flow and mental clarity.

Regardless when you stretch, the best results are when your body is warm. About the temperature that causes a light sweat.

What is the best method of stretching my muscles?

If you are preparing for an athletic event, I suggest a form of stretching called “contract-relax.” This method requires that you place the muscle to be stretched under tension and then activate it against immovable resistance (usually another person) for five seconds, followed immediately by five seconds of relaxed lengthening. You will find that breathing really influences your stretching; a general rule of thumb is to inhale as you activate a muscle and exhale as you relax and stretch it. It is very important that, after contracting for five seconds, you immediately move into the stretch positions as you relax and exhale.

If your muscles are chronically shortened(tight) and you need to improve joint range of motion beyond what can be done with contract-relax stretching, or if you have shortened connective tissues, than I suggest static stretching. This is best done at night, warm with a light sweat, in a steam bath or even in a hot tub. I recommend holding each stretch for a minute or more. But don’t be overzealous with your stretching efforts or your body will react against the stretch to protect you from injury..

When do I change my stretching routing?

If your work or sports activities change, so too must your stretching routine. Become familiar with what muscles are involved with your sport, hobby, or work. For example, as a golfer, I would want to take particular interest in low back and hip stretches, since so much pressure is put on the low back during a golf swing. For those that are at computers all day, knowing neck, upper back and wrist stretches can save you from significant pain and loss of work. I realize that most of you aren’t biomechanical specialists like us, but listen to your body and you wont be disappointed. If anybody would like recommendations for specific stretches for specific sports please feel free to contact me or come into the office for a thorough evaluation.

While the topic of stretching can become complex, I’m sure that if you apply these tips I’ve shared you will be on your way to improved posture and reduced pain and enhanced performance. Comments are welcome.

Dr. Derek Pelofsky is a certified chiropractic sports practitioner. He is one of the Sports Chiropractors at Chiropractic Sports Institute.