Musicians are similar to athletes in that they put their efforts in perfecting their skills through endless practice. These sessions entail long hours of pushing the arm and hand muscles to exhaustion. Some may dismiss this as simply fatigue and with a few hours of rest will solve the problem. However, if the pain is persistent and you experience a stabbing pain in the forearm accompanied clumsiness and numbness of hand, then it is possible that you have a repetitive stress injury (RSI) due to prolonged training without sufficient breaks to properly rest the muscles. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health said that roughly 50% of the work force suffers from different forms of RSI. Musicians comprise a part of this statistic as they overuse their muscles in unidirectional movement patterns such as a guitarist. Other musicians commonly affected by such condition are flute and string players, and keyboardists. This condition is a horror story for any musician as this may dictate the end of their professional career.
Slight discomfort while playing an instrument may seem trivial at first, but for musicians this should not be neglected. Tell-tale signs should be considered with utmost concern because if RSI is treated in its early stage, your muscle will definitely heal faster. Always remember that in order to keep your music playing, a dose of chiropractic care is all you need.
Dr. David P. Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
http://www.laurelregionalchiropractic.com/
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Bike Fit using Video Motion Analysis Dartfish
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010
Bike Fit using Video Motion Analysis Dartfish
Many injuries that occur as a result of ridding a bike can be traced back to poor bike positioning.
The first step to correcting a problem or gaining some watts on the bike is with a proper bike fit. There are many schools of thought and methods but I feel that SICI ( Serotta International Cycling Institute) has the best methods, training staff and the ability to know its reproducible. Using Video to analyze motion has been around for years the first exposure I had was working with Dr. Robert Roe a chiropractor that had worked at the Olympic training center in Colorado in the early 90 using a much more cumbersome and primitive form of analysis. At that time we were using it to evaluate work loads on patients. Now I have been using Dart fish to analyze bio-mechanics of all types of athletes. At SICI we trained using there fitting principles and High Def cameras to evaluate motion down to the smallest detail. It is a more dynamic fitting process that can breakdown movement to a much higher degree. When you add power and HR data things get even more interesting. The amount of information and precision is really remarkable. I have added a video of a fit I did in Northern Virginia of a Pro cyclist that is having a few problems even after several Bike fits by other professionals.
This is an example of a marker that was placed on his right leg that is short when compared to the left and is not tracking properly. The patient feels like his right leg is wobbly and dives in medialy on the power stoke. He notes hitting the top tube. I will also let you know that after the exam I also found very specific weak core strength that needed to be address. Using this software and combining that my physical exam finding I am able to find a new starting point to make small adjustments until the correct fit is obtained.
Temple Hills, MD
Friday, February 12, 2010
Effects of resistance training and chiropractic treatment in women with fibromyalgia
A recent study has found that resistance training is more helpful for women with fibromyalgia if it is combined with chiropractic treatment.
The randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate resistance training and resistance training combined with chiropractic treatment on the impact and functionality of fibromyalgia in women. 21 women with fibromyalgia, who had an average age of 48 years, took part in the study. They were randomly assigned to either resistance training or resistance training combined with chiropractic treatment, with 10 women in the first group and 11 in the second. Both groups completed 16 weeks of resistance training consisting of 10 exercises performed two times per week. The group assigned to receive both resistance training and chiropractic treatment also received chiropractic treatment two times per week.
The results showed that both groups increased upper and lower body strength and there were similar improvements in fibromyalgia impact in both groups as well as the strength domains of the functionality assessment. However, only the group receiving resistance training combined with chiropractic treatment significantly improved in the pre- to post-functional domains of flexibility, balance and coordination, and endurance.
One factor in the beneficial effects of the chiropractic treatment may have been that many chiropractors perform some myofascial release as part of their treatments. Myofascial pain is a common problem with fibromyalgia and it can cause exercise to be more painful and less effective.
Original article by: Panton LB, Figueroa A, Kingsley JD, Hornbuckle L, Wilson J, John NS, Abood D, Mathis R, Vantassel J, McMillan V. Effects of Resistance Training and Chiropractic Treatment in Women with Fibromyalgia. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):321-8.
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
http://www.laurelregionalchiropractic.com/
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Effects of Strength Training for Women
For women, strength training works muscles and mind
01/28/2010
Older women who do one to two hours of strength training per week may stave off cognitive impairments associated with aging, according to a study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
For the study, researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and colleagues assigned 155 women ages 65 to 75 to a once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training workout program or a twice-weekly balance and tone training exercise regimen. They found that after one year, women in the resistance-training groups improved their performance on cognitive tests by 10.9% to 12.6%, while women in the balance and tone group saw a 0.5% decline.
According to researchers, the results show that resistance training may not only improve muscular function in older women but also enhance cognitive functions, including selective attention, decision making and conflict resolution. They conclude that the findings have important clinical implications because there is currently no effective pharmaceutical treatment for cognitive impairment and resistance training is not a widespread practice among elderly individuals (Liu-Ambrose et al., Archives of Internal Medicine, 1/25 [subscription required]; Rabin, New York Times, 1/25 [registration required]; Gever, MedPage Today, 1/26).
Chiropractor Fairfax VA 22031
01/28/2010
Older women who do one to two hours of strength training per week may stave off cognitive impairments associated with aging, according to a study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
For the study, researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and colleagues assigned 155 women ages 65 to 75 to a once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training workout program or a twice-weekly balance and tone training exercise regimen. They found that after one year, women in the resistance-training groups improved their performance on cognitive tests by 10.9% to 12.6%, while women in the balance and tone group saw a 0.5% decline.
According to researchers, the results show that resistance training may not only improve muscular function in older women but also enhance cognitive functions, including selective attention, decision making and conflict resolution. They conclude that the findings have important clinical implications because there is currently no effective pharmaceutical treatment for cognitive impairment and resistance training is not a widespread practice among elderly individuals (Liu-Ambrose et al., Archives of Internal Medicine, 1/25 [subscription required]; Rabin, New York Times, 1/25 [registration required]; Gever, MedPage Today, 1/26).
Chiropractor Fairfax VA 22031
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Benefits of Stretching
The muscles tighten as a person ages which can lead to a decrease in range of joint movements. That is why as the person grows older, bending or flexing becomes more limited. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important. Simple stretches can be done everyday and can be easily incorporated in your daily activities. It does not require much of your time. So how can stretching help with your overall health?
Regular stretching exercises can lengthen the muscles and the tendons which can help in increasing the range of your movement. Stretching can prevent injury to joints, tendons, and muscles. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured. If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.
A research article appeared in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology suggests that flexibility, as defined by how far you can reach while sitting down, may be linked to the stiffness of your arteries. It’s known that arterial stiffness often precedes life-threatening cardiovascular disease. Researchers don’t know why flexibility might be linked to arteries. One theory is that people who are more flexible do stretching exercises that help slow down stiffening of the arteries. So give your tight muscles a good stretch as it could help your heart!
At Laurel Regional Chiropractic, we not only help our patients learn the proper stretching techniques but we also tailor stretches and exercises to each individual patient in regards to what they do all day.
Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
http://www.laurelregionalchiropractic.com/
Regular stretching exercises can lengthen the muscles and the tendons which can help in increasing the range of your movement. Stretching can prevent injury to joints, tendons, and muscles. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured. If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.
A research article appeared in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology suggests that flexibility, as defined by how far you can reach while sitting down, may be linked to the stiffness of your arteries. It’s known that arterial stiffness often precedes life-threatening cardiovascular disease. Researchers don’t know why flexibility might be linked to arteries. One theory is that people who are more flexible do stretching exercises that help slow down stiffening of the arteries. So give your tight muscles a good stretch as it could help your heart!
At Laurel Regional Chiropractic, we not only help our patients learn the proper stretching techniques but we also tailor stretches and exercises to each individual patient in regards to what they do all day.
Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
http://www.laurelregionalchiropractic.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)