We are constantly pointing at the moon, but only looking at our finger, missing all that heavenly glory." Bruce Lee
I didn't want to spend 5 seconds out side today. 9 degrees F. Windchill probably in the negatives. There is a man across the street from my office smoking. What a powerful addiction to drive you outside in weather to get a hit of nicotine. He's been there about 5 minutes. His lunch break.
I didn't want to spend 5 seconds outside yesterday. Same weather. Same time. There is a man kitty corner across the street, that was flipping a tire, doing dumbbell snatches and push ups. What a powerful addiction to drive you outside in weather to get a hit of exercise. He was there for about 15 minutes. His lunch break.
They will both be there tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Elbow Pain Case History
Thought I would start sharing a few interesting case histories every now and then.
Patient presented with 6-9 months of right lateral elbow pain. MD diagnosed with tennis elbow. Pain came on "out of the blue." Had two cortisone injections that gave a few weeks of complete relief each time, but the pain would come back after a month.
Patient had been managing by avoidance and ibuprofen. Recently went to pick something up and had very little grip strength.
Manuel muscle testing showed right latisimus strong, but produced pain in the elbow. Right deltoid inhibited. Right wrist extensors inhibited. All three test produced pain in the lateral elbow.
Retested all muscles that were strong and weak in different head positions to see if neck was involved in the weakness or strength. Flexion and extension produced no change. Looking to the right and down produced weakness in a previously strong muscle. Looking to the left produced improvement in elbow pain on latisimus testing.
Started with first working on releasing the extensor carpi radials brevis and longs and found some radial nerve compression. Retested and muscles were strong with much less lateral elbow pain. Looking to the right recreated weakness on testing though.
Released the scalene muscles and supraspinatus on the right along with sub occipital work bilaterally. Manual adjustments applied to C1. Joint capsule work done on C5, C6 vertebrae.
Retested all muscles with right rotation in the neck and all were strong.
Thought process. Inflammation was a problem as the cortisone shots did help. Didn't last so there was an underlying mechanical issue. Elbows seem to have some neck involvement in a lot of cases that don't resolve with rest. The sharpness of the pain experienced made me think radial nerve compression versus just a tendonosis.
Patient presented with 6-9 months of right lateral elbow pain. MD diagnosed with tennis elbow. Pain came on "out of the blue." Had two cortisone injections that gave a few weeks of complete relief each time, but the pain would come back after a month.
Patient had been managing by avoidance and ibuprofen. Recently went to pick something up and had very little grip strength.
Manuel muscle testing showed right latisimus strong, but produced pain in the elbow. Right deltoid inhibited. Right wrist extensors inhibited. All three test produced pain in the lateral elbow.
Retested all muscles that were strong and weak in different head positions to see if neck was involved in the weakness or strength. Flexion and extension produced no change. Looking to the right and down produced weakness in a previously strong muscle. Looking to the left produced improvement in elbow pain on latisimus testing.
Started with first working on releasing the extensor carpi radials brevis and longs and found some radial nerve compression. Retested and muscles were strong with much less lateral elbow pain. Looking to the right recreated weakness on testing though.
Released the scalene muscles and supraspinatus on the right along with sub occipital work bilaterally. Manual adjustments applied to C1. Joint capsule work done on C5, C6 vertebrae.
Retested all muscles with right rotation in the neck and all were strong.
Thought process. Inflammation was a problem as the cortisone shots did help. Didn't last so there was an underlying mechanical issue. Elbows seem to have some neck involvement in a lot of cases that don't resolve with rest. The sharpness of the pain experienced made me think radial nerve compression versus just a tendonosis.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Random Food Cravings and Coffee Doesn't Dehydrate You
Ben Greenfield has a nice listing of what food cravings can mean. For example, have a cheese craving like my 2 year old. You may be missing essential fatty acids. What Food Cravings Mean.
If you ever find yourself wanting to help other people in terms of micro finance I've been using Kiva.org for a few years now. It's been a pretty cool experience. My goal is to lend to someone in every country in the world. Kiva.org
I've saved the best for last. I always just trusted the advice that coffee was a dehydrator. This was because of a study done in 1928. Turns out wasn't that great of study. Well that notion was put to the test and you can read the study here. No evidence of Dehydration.
Thats the great news for us coffee lovers. No evidence was seen in the hydration markers and this was done with 4 cups of coffee per day vs consuming 4 cups of water. So my advice will change from now on. No longer will I say for every cup of coffee, must drink another cup of water.
"Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK
If you ever find yourself wanting to help other people in terms of micro finance I've been using Kiva.org for a few years now. It's been a pretty cool experience. My goal is to lend to someone in every country in the world. Kiva.org
I've saved the best for last. I always just trusted the advice that coffee was a dehydrator. This was because of a study done in 1928. Turns out wasn't that great of study. Well that notion was put to the test and you can read the study here. No evidence of Dehydration.
Thats the great news for us coffee lovers. No evidence was seen in the hydration markers and this was done with 4 cups of coffee per day vs consuming 4 cups of water. So my advice will change from now on. No longer will I say for every cup of coffee, must drink another cup of water.
"Faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK
Sunday, January 19, 2014
What The Foot? A Book Review Maybe?
"Six simple exercises and you'll press the reset button on the body and be ready to go again, free, liberated and with a sense of opportunity about you.
Disclaimer
I am choosing not to give you the movements per se in this book, primarily because it would take to long to cross all the barriers of usage....ect. "
From What the Foot.
After reading through the first 146 pages...not sure I will finish this book after that.
Greatly annoyed.
Disclaimer
I am choosing not to give you the movements per se in this book, primarily because it would take to long to cross all the barriers of usage....ect. "
From What the Foot.
After reading through the first 146 pages...not sure I will finish this book after that.
Greatly annoyed.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
BMW Bobsled "Driving on Ice" Documentary
Here is a great 20 minute documentary on how Bobsled and BMW designed the new 2 man mens and women's sled for the upcoming Sochi Olympics. Get to know what it is like to ride in a sled, the pilots that are driving them and the brilliant minds designing these state of the art machines.
"It was one of the most terrifying experiences I've had in my life. The violence, vibration...it really is an extreme sport." Michael Scully, lead designer for BMW. Enjoy!
"It was one of the most terrifying experiences I've had in my life. The violence, vibration...it really is an extreme sport." Michael Scully, lead designer for BMW. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Random and Quick
One of my favorite authors was Kurt Vonnegut. On the blog Brain Pickings, (cool website) he gives a short poem about what it means to have enough. Secret of Happiness.
Still amazed people think Skim Milk is a healthy option. It's not. Because there is not fat in it, it raises your Insulin levels faster then normal milk. I'm not saying I think regular pasteurized milk is healthy either, but it's healthier then Skim. It's 2014, quit being afraid of fat.
With that being said, eat an avocado per day. Your body will thank you for it.
This is a rant. I read a lot. I always have enjoyed it. I can remember some of my happiest memories as a kid going to the library and finding a stack of books to take home. I read a lot of therapy books obviously and lately they all seem to be a 100 pages of why what I'm about to read is so different and how it came about. Fluff. Then you get 50 pages of what the book is about. Then 50 pages of why to do it. I read somewhere that a book should be an article, an article a blog, a blog a tweet. Rant over.
Are you getting excited for the Olympics? If not, this may start to get you ready.
Still amazed people think Skim Milk is a healthy option. It's not. Because there is not fat in it, it raises your Insulin levels faster then normal milk. I'm not saying I think regular pasteurized milk is healthy either, but it's healthier then Skim. It's 2014, quit being afraid of fat.
With that being said, eat an avocado per day. Your body will thank you for it.
This is a rant. I read a lot. I always have enjoyed it. I can remember some of my happiest memories as a kid going to the library and finding a stack of books to take home. I read a lot of therapy books obviously and lately they all seem to be a 100 pages of why what I'm about to read is so different and how it came about. Fluff. Then you get 50 pages of what the book is about. Then 50 pages of why to do it. I read somewhere that a book should be an article, an article a blog, a blog a tweet. Rant over.
Are you getting excited for the Olympics? If not, this may start to get you ready.
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