Your Posture
Your Posture
Importance of Massage and your Posture! (plus other tidbits of information!)
Straighten Up
No matter what your shape or size, standing up straight will make Vou look and feel better. In fact, you can look as though you’ve lost five pounds simply by standing and walking correctly.
Inot only does a good posture help to make you look stronger, taller and more graceful, it is also very good for your health lessens the chances of back and neck 1 I problems, weak stomach muscles, tiredness and poor circulation.
To determine if your posture is good, stand as you usually do, with your heels against a wall. Your calves, buttocks, shoulders and the back of your head should touch the wall and you should just be able to slip your hand between the small of your back and the wall.
If, after doing this little test, Vou decide that your posture is not what it should be, then here’s what you Can do to improve it:
, When you’re sitting pull your navel in towards your spine arid I stretch the torso so it’s upright. • When standing for long periods of time, remember to check that your abdominal muscles are pulled in tight towards your spirie/ Vour hips are tilted slightly forward and Vour knees are relaxed.
• Exercise is a good way to improve Make sure Vou are doing exercises correctly/ especially if it involves equipment at a gym. • If you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, find a chair that supports your lower back and keep your feet flat on the floor.
I To strengthen your back, squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 1 o seconds. Times. Do this regularly throughout the day.
Home Spa
and revitalizing for the skin as well as for the mind and body. While not everyone can afford the time or money for regular professional pampering, it is fortunately very easy to do a little DlV beauty at home, tr/ to set aside an afternoon when you’re unlikely to be disturbed and give yourself three hours of time. Spend the time treating your face to a thorough cleanse and4t’~v V***” S-M,-tf«n tie exfoliation, nourishing mask and stimulating massage with >our firgertips. Give your body the same attention with an invigorating exfoliating scrub followed W a lathering hands and it’s a I so a good time to give yourself a mini *D manicure and pedicure.
Facial tips:
iTo create your own ‘steamer’, fill a large bowl with very hot water. Ho Id your head about 15 inches above the water and create a tent by draping a towel over your head and shoulders and the bowl, stay like this for five to 1 o minutes.
Steaming liquifies the impurities trapped in your pores and helps get rid of blackheads. Avoid this if you’re prone to redness or suffer from broken capillaries.
• Choose a mask according to your skin type. If your skin is diY’ Qo for a rich, hydrating product. If it’s oi’y, a clay-based deep-cleansiri£ mask will do the trick.
• You should aim for a salon facial every six weeks or a home regime of gentle exfoliation and a nourish’ ing mask once a week.
• Always make sure your therapist knows your skin’s history- If it’s your first time at a salon, Vou should be required to f 111 out a detailed client card.
• The massage action stimulates and oxygenates the skin; the reason skin glows after a facial.
*A faciaI is also great for reducing stress levels. It forces you to take some time out and relax.
The keys to healthy skin
Vou can choose your friends, but not Vour family – or your genes. Genes play an important part in your overall appearance and determine how your skin behaves and ages. Although you cannot do anything about the characteristics you inherit from your parents, you can use them as an ‘age barometer’ and take certain steps to arm yourself against problems that are likely to > / come your way.
RECULAR EXERCISE
During exercise the circulation is boosted and oxygen-rich blood delivered to every cell in your body allowing nutrients to be absorbed quicker. The short-term effect is a long-term, many experts believe that exercise improves the skin’s elasticity and encourages new cell growth. However, that moderation is the key to good health. Professional sportspeople sometimes have a gaunt look due to a low body Cte That is not necessarily a good thing as you get older, it may mean you lose some of that youthful plumpness. Training outdoors also potentially means more / sun exposure.
BALA NCED DIET
Although some dermatologists don’t believe that what you eat has any effect on the state of your skin, it is acknowledged that your skin reflects the general health of your bodyClear, radiant skin is dependant on the efficient functioning of your kidneys, intestines and liver-the organs responsible for detoxification and waste removal. Excess alcohol. And fatty foods can put strain these organs, resulting in a sluggish system and pasty, blotchy skin, while smoking and high caffeine intake can compromise your body’s defence sy$tem. Regular crash dieting also plays havoc with your body and can add as much as 10 years to Vour face, while nutrient deficiencies wi 11 affect Vour for Bre example, can manifest in a dull, dry complexion; a shortage of vitamin q may result in dullness and easy bru’tsing; lack of vitamin A can cause dry skin and a disruption in cellular turnover; a deficiency in iron can produce a pale complexion; and a vitamin B deficiency may lead to breakof the mouth.
ENOUGH SLEEP
Skincare experts now believe that skin cells regenerate as the body rests, repairing damage done durin9 the day and producing new cells in preStudies have A.. 1. – vV– .~ mL have lower levels of a growth hormone that influences specific skin-growth factors like collagen and keratin production. As far most of us are concerned, there’s just no denying what a lack of sleep does to Your eyes and complexion!
DEEP BREATHING
Your skin absorbs a small amount of oxygen through the pores and so rela needs to ‘breathe’. Anything onto your face for at least a the small part of each day and always cleanse well to avoid blocked pores. Breathing properly through your lungs will also benefit Vour skin: breathing in supplies your skin with oxygen and breathing out removes Many of us breathe incorrectly by taking shallow breaths into the top of the chest. Inhaling and exhalin9 slowly through the nose. Keep the shoulders relaxed and draw each breath right down into your stomach, there to a count of four, before exhal’ ing slowly^ emptying out Vour lungs completely. Breathing is a great stress reliever: it has been shown to lower the pulse rate and its easy/ rhythmic quality is comforting.
Enemies of the Skin
CITY LIFE
fresh air combined with certain health keys is what we should all aspire to. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles mean it’s impossible to escape the city’s by* products. There’s no doubt that living in a city contributes to premature age ing of the skin. Chemicals such as car oxides of nitrogen, lead and chlorofluorocarbons (all part of what we know as pollution) set off free radicals, which lead to collagen and elastin breakdown, furthermore, car fumes (especially leaded petrol) and dust can filter in through air vents; chemicals are released into the air fc?y machines; I systems restrict the supply of fresh air in office buildings; and there’s uV radiation from unnatural liQht sources and computer screens. Our drinking water often contains chemicals, residues of heavy metals and human wastes. Add stress to this package and it’s no wonder we’re seeing so many more cases of sensitized skin. In fact, living in a polluted city can add as much as five years to Vour face. Answer-other than retiring to the Alps-comes in the form of antioxidants.
SUGAR
A diet too high in sugar or simple carbohydrates may have a negative effect on the skin’s appearance and m how fast it ages. Sugar in the human body can attach itself to structural proteins like elastin and collagen, causing them to be less flexible and potentially more prone to degeneration. If, for instance, an enzyme that repairs skin after sun exposure isn’t th< working properly because it’s got a sugar stuck to it, then that important function isn’t going to happen. Remember that the body converts anything that’s starch rice, cake and flour – into sugar. Rather opt for’good’ foods like protein, essential fatty acids (found in fatt/ fish ||ke mackerel, salmon and tuna) and iron. An iron deficiency contributes to anaemia and a low blood count, and produces a pale, sallow complexion.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Diet and Nutrition
There are many treatments available to the client who visits a beauty salon or spa. Although providing these treatments to improve the client’s skin or body condition is the main objective, it is only part of the complete treatment program.
Because of the wide variety of treatments now on offer, you will need to discuss several things with offer, you will need to discuss several ^ things with your client during consultation:
• The client’s body, facial, hand or foot condition. ^his will enable youto recommend the correct and most appropriate treatments to achieve the client’s objectives.
I The client’s medical history. This will tell you if treatment is contraindicated, or needs to be adapted in some way.
I The client’s lifestyle. This may require you to adapt treatment, offer advice about complementary treatments and home care products, provide information and motivation, and plan when the client may attend for treatment to fit in with their schedule.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Most clients comment on the lack of time available to them. They may be working in a high-powered job cl” that requires them to work long hours, sometimes ir seven days a week. Others are working parents trying le; to juggle work, home and their children, often with little help. Some clients will have elderly dependants who need constant care. Their different lifestyles may prevent them from eating regular meals, taking regular exercise or finding time to relax. To compensate for their busy schedule, some clients throw themselves wholeheartedly into a hectic social life adding further pressure to their lives by smoking, drinking, over-rich food and ‘burning the candle at both ends’! • Some become stressed, tired or run down, often putting others’ needs before their own.
Clients may need to alter their lifestyle and follow your home care advice to make sure that any improvement achieved in the salon will be maintained. There is no point having slimming treatments V to lose weight or alter body shape and then eating an unhealthy diet and taking no exercise. To be fully effective, a course of anti-ageing facials requires correct home care products and the protection of the skin from harmful damage caused by the use of sun.
e beds, smoking, drinking or partying till dawn! The client will need to make an effort to contribute to the improvements expected, and the lifestyle the client leads will have an impact on the service you provide.
During consultation, therefore, the client’s lifestyle is one of the most important areas discussion as it will present you with valuable information concerning the client’s:
I work and leisure ratio • job • family commitments $ current exercise patterns • methods of relaxation and hobbies • social habits # previous beauty treatments.
Work and leisure ratio
Find out if the client has an occupation. Does the client have to travel far to work or do they work from home? The client might have a young family or elderly relatives to look after with veiy little I time for themselves. This will indicate the client’s possible stress levels and how much free time they will lave to attend for treatment, and what time of The the day the client will be available for you to arrange appointments, particularly if the client is embarking on a course of treatments.
Job
The job a client has may contribute to a problem nee condition that requires your help. It could be that the occupation requires the client to work in an atmosphere that causes skin problems, provides little exercise or increases stress levels. Some clients will work outdoors, which will increase their exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Family commitments
Is the client married or single? Do they have children, and how old are they? This may indicate how stressed clients might be and also that you may have to fit appointments around their family’s daily routine.
Current exercise pattern
These will provide information about levels physical activity, exercise classes or programs the client is already following and whether it is regular or if he or she takes no exercise at all. This will provide you with an indication of current fitness level and self-motivation. In order to offer effective advice for clients who are not regular exercisers, You will need to consider the barriers and incentives to exercise.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Methods of relaxation and hobbies
If clients manage to make time for themselves and what they enjoy doing, this will also be a good indication of their current stress level, the time they have available for treatments and what treatments may suit them best. For example, they may have several holidays a year, and if they spend this time sunning themselves on a beach with little or no protection, this could have an adverse effect on their skin. Alternatively, they may want a year-round tan and use sun beds on a regular basis. They may have a sporting hobby that requires certain treatments before and after.
Diet
This will be particularly important if the client is hoping to lose weight during the course of treatments. Information on what, when, how much and what cooking methods are used will be required along with any other factors that affect food intake and choice, re1 such as cost, cooking skills and facilities, mood and t food preferences. You may need to provide advice about healthy eating to help the client achieve success.
Social Habits
Social habits such as consumption of alcohol, how many units the client drinks in a week (one unit is equal to one glass of wine, one measure of spirits or a small glass of beer), and if they smoke can have an impact on fitness levels and the condition of the skin. You will also need to consider the number of late nights a client may have in a week, the quality of their sleep patterns or lack of sleep.
Previous beauty treatments
What beauty treatments has the client had in the past? How effective were they?
Once you have established the client’s current lifestyle, this will allow you to make professional recommendations for the most beneficial form treatment to meet their individual needs. It also allows you to advise clients about changes they could make to their lifestyle that will help improve achieve their objectives and reduce their stress levels. It is also important to tailor a client’s beauty routines and treatments to their lifestyle to ensure that they stay motivated and are able to maintain routines.
WEIGHT PROBLEMS
When providing body treatments the client’s objectives are often weight loss or figure control. There are many reasons for being overweight, one of the most common being poor eating habits that have developed over the years, and which probably began in childhood. Other reasons may include:
# overeating in childhood and adolescence can lead to a large number of fat cells being produced which increase in size as more weight is gained
• eating too many refined and processed foods, which contain hidden fats and sugar
• insufficient exercise to burn off the excess kilojoules.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
A disturbance of normal metabolism can be a problem for a small percentage of people and they will need medical advice to deal with the cause.
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
There are several reasons why people wish to lose weight:
• Because they are obese, that is more than 20 per cent over their ideal weight.
• To reduce the risks of heart disease or high blood pressure.
»I $ To reach an ideal weight for their height and build.
• After childbirth to regain their figure.
• To lose weight in specific areas, e.g. thighs and hips.
• To ease the pressure on arthritic joints.
• For self-esteem.
• To feel fit and healthy
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Eating Vegan Port Douglas
Whatever the reason, weight loss must approached in a sensible manner. It involves eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. This may be achieved by cutting out all the unnecessary foods while eating plenty of the foods that are allowed.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
Oncology Massage And Lymph Drainage Massage
Introduction: Manual LvmDh Drainage
The human lymph system is vital to our life force (Chi) yet probably the most under-rated organization” in our body. It acts as the defence ministry> garbage collectors, Secret service and building construction industry – all at the same time. Structure extends like a honeycomb webbing across the body surface. The lymph system is also found in the deeper- around organs, intestines and connective tissue. The basic concept of Manual Lymph Drainage massage is to stimulate the lymphatic flowconcentrating on the superficial structure to enhance function throughout. Generally the main intersection” (or terminusconnection between the lymphatic and venous system) main intersection” (or terminus – connection between the lymphatic and venous system) is stimulated and ‘opened” first. Lymph fluid of the relevant body is then drained and is stimulated and “opened” first. Lymph fluid of the relevant body is then drained and emptied” towards the terminus, then guided back into venous system for elimination. In a whole body treatment the therapist always opens and clears the filter station (lymph node centre) then drains and empties fluid from the relevant body area towards it. (i.e. node centre) then drains and empties fluid from the relevant body area towards it. ( node centre) then drains and empties fluid from the relevant body area towards it. (i.e. arm, upper trunk drains into axillary filter station). Contrary to a muscular massage a MLD treatment commences on the neck area on the front of the body and then proceeds . From proximal to distal. The back of the body becomes a “secondary” importance with MLD
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
These notes were first and originally prepared in 1992, mostly from German text and video and my clinical experience and client observations. Since that time text has been added based on further studies and clinical experience. It has been beneficial to have had input from the many practitioners who have attended since 1992 and the notes have been continuously revised following suggestions from students and practitioners, as well as the presenter’s ongoing study, regular refreshers in Germany and the wealth of experience. It would be appreciated if you do not circulate these notes to others who have not completed the workshops. As you will sec the techniques require practice under supervision. The notes used in our workshops are necessarily brief, supplying greater depth and providing confidence for practice is the basis for the course. The presenter reserves entire intellectual rights of all written contents of the training manual.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
Features of the MLD techniques
Always start with terminus for all treatments 2- Stroke pressure is more or less 60 gms per square cm. ll strokes commencing proximal to the filter stations and then strokes moving distally. 4′ Each stroke is performed 5-7 times, as this time is required to overcome the inertia ot J/ymphatic fluid.
Pressure / zero phase is used on all strokes. (Diagram page HO 6- If oedema is present, treatment plan and areas treated have to be considered carefully due to possible contra indications.
^ Treatment is to be pain free and does not normally cause skin* redness (hyperemia) exlfept’ occasionally on fair skinned individuals.
1 reatment times are usually min of Hr, as short treatments are ineffective.
Stationary circles precede other strokes 9- Check normal contra-indication
10-Work in warm room, do not use oil with MLD treatment, powder is ok * 11 – Recommend high fresh WaterMtake after treatment to increase flushing effect^
12-Advise clients of possible side effects: headaches, nausea, increased urinary output, dreams,elimination.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
THE BASIC THERAPY STROKES FOR MLD
1- Stationary Circles (Stehende Kreise): this is a circular stroke used with of the other or double- handed. It can be performed using two hands working one. Stat circles can be applied with fingertips, extended fingers or whole hand.
2- pump Grip (pumpgriff) this is a milking, pumping style of stroke – squeezing and pushing
3- Scoop Grip (Schopfgriff) Similar to a pump grip but more rolling action rather than squeezing like a corkscrew. Mainly for arms and legs.
4- Combination Grip (Quergriff) acombination of pump grip and stationary circling using both hands. Usually used for large flat surfaces such as flanks.
5- Wave Grip > (^ellengriff): a wave- like stroke applied one- or two handed, preferably used over “larger” quadrant areas such as chest, thoracic and lateral thigh.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
PATHOLOGY OF LYMPHOEDEMAS
Lymphoedema is the abnormal pooling of protein, water and solute in the interstitial tissues. Protein cncourages loss of water from circulating blood by osmosis (Starlings Law)’ Removal of wastes and cellular debris is very important for healing. If the lymphatics are not working they are not removing above matters.
Stagnation of protein rich lymph causes lymphoedema and secondary fibrosis. Stagnation provides bacteria with their culture medium, hence inflammation, which leads to aggravation of oedema.
Lymphoedema pits prior to fibrosis setting. It may reduce with overnight rest temporarily. The next stage is non-pitting swelling, also loss of ROM and pain.
Oedema separates cells so diffusion of cellular gases is irritated, hence hypoxia and necrosis. Prolonged oedema causes collapse of initial lymph vessels, thus Lymphostasis occurs and the problem is transmitted backwards e.g. from breast to arm
High total tissue pressure causes closure of blood vessels, which in time leads to arteriovenous Stasis. Initial lymph vessels can grow in numbers when the body presents with a high-protein oedema (compensating device). The collecting lymphatic vessels develop fibrosis when protein-rich stagnation and lack of lymphatic circulation sets in. A high-protein oedema is a chronic inflammation.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE SEQUENCE – SUMMARY SHEET
Recommended Full Body treatment sequence for MLD application on a client with an intact lymph system.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
BASIS & STARTING SEQUENCE
1-Clear terminus (Sterno-clavicular area), using stationary circles. 2- Work neck area, lateral, posterior, anterior with stat. Circles
CHEST & BREAST SEQUENCE **
3- Clear axillary lymph nodes: pectoralis to axilla proximal arm to axilla Trunk to axilla 4- Work breast and chest area, draining to axilla
ABDOMEN SEQUENCE
5- Clear abdomen: upper inguinals/iliacais/ groin lymphatics Work abdominal area including deep abdominal breathing stroke for cisterna chylii
ARM SEQUENCE
6~ yfork upper arm: proximal to distal with pump grip, scoop grip, stat. Circles Clear cubital nodes Work forearm, hands and fingers ** Optional whether to work arms or chest/breast sequence after basis sequence.
LEG SEQUENCE
- Work legs proximal to distal with stat. Circles pump grip, combination stroke Clear popliteal nodes Work lower leg (knee bent for scoop grip), ankles, and feet
BACK OF NECK – client prone
work back of neck/head draining to terminus using stat circles and butterfly stroke
UPPER BACK, LUMBAR AND PELVIS AREA – client prone
work thoracic area posterior towards anterior draining to axilla Work lumbar area (below 12th rib) draining to inguinal Work gluteal area towards inguinal with exception of anal fold
FACE – client supine
work face and front of head draining to terminus
FINISH
draining all trunk filter stations and terminus again Work lower leg, ankles and feet.
Oncology Massage Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
The Body: The physical Causes of Pain the previous chapter, we talked about how the causes back pain are “too much” (excess)of something, “too little” (deficiency) of something, or blood circulation that’s “too slow’ (stagnation). Also, it’s important to remember that you often will find a combination of several causes that are all working together to keep you in pain.
In this chapter, we’ll focus on how these key concepts are related to your physical body. For most people, it all starts same way. You use your body in an unbalanced manner, likely without being aware of it. For example, you may sit in a chair or car seat 10 hours a day, but stand or walk only an ho ur or two.
Next, one of two things happens. Some people develop tissue-based pain, which originates in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or joints. Others suffer from nerve-based pain, a result of taut muscles pressuring a nerve or pulling the body out of alignment so the bones in the spinal column (or a joint) compress or pinch a nerve or force a disc to bulge or herniate. Often, people suffer from both types of pain at the same time. Let’s examine how these situations can develop.
Muscle Imbalances: The of War Inside Your Body
Human beings are born with well-balanced bodies, but rarely do they stay that way- Throughout our lives we learn to use our muscles to master various activities, but because we tend to favor one side, or do some activities over and over again, we work some muscles too much and others too little. Take our modern-day sedentary lifestyles, for exam Most of us sit far more than we stand or engage in activity.
We sit at the computer,a plane, in meetings, while watching TV, and while eating, driving, and visiting.
If were to log, the hours we spend sittings as opposed to other activities, we’d probably find that sitting takes up the majority of our time. We’re a society of “too much” sitting-especiaUy compared to 50 or lOO years ago.
Sitting, however, isn’t the only way we use our muscles too little or too much. Consider the course of your own typical day. Most likely you use one hand more than the other to brush your teeth, style your hair, write, and eat. That hand and arm also are probably more prominent in activities such as cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. When you drive, you use the right leg for both pedals, while your left does nothing, unless you re operating a manual transmission.
Since you do these activities most every day, these muscles are used over and over again, while others-Iike your left leg when driving—are hardly ever worked. You can imagine how the stronger muscles on one side of your body-with little counterbalancing resistance from the weaker ones on the other side—can pull your spine, hips, and other joints slightly out of alignment.
The same thing can happen with your forward and backward movements. Many people tend to lean forward more than backward for activities such as driving, reading, mowing the lawn, woodwork, crafts, playing games, and, of course, working at the computer. You lift heavy items leaning forward, not backward. For sports such as skiing, running, cycling, soccer, and baseball? You’re almost always leaning forward.
If you’re not performing backward-type stretches and exercises to counteract these “bending forward” habits, the muscles in the front of your body will become stronger and shorter, while the muscles in the back may weaken and stretch out. Again, when the front of your body is much stronger than the back, you can imagine how such unbalanced forces can subtly distort the natural curve of your spine.
There are many more examples of how we use our muscles unevenly- You may prop a telephone on one ear while doin^ other tasks, using just one side of your neck. Carrying a heavy purse, laptop bag, or backpack on one shoulder may cause you to lean to one side to support the weight while sticking & your hip out on the other side to counterbalance it.
A similar thing happens if you have young children or grandchildren and carry them on one hip. You jut out that hip to support the extra weight—without copying the action on the opposite side.
Pother example: If you have a wallet or cell phone in your back pocket all the time, it tends to tilt your hip and the rest of your body to one side whenever you’re sitting.
The result of all this uneven body use is that certain parts of the body grow strong while other parts weaken, creating a literal tug of war-where both sides lose.
You can find several videos about muscle imbalances on my website by going to: . Lose vww.losethebackpain.com/backpainvideos.html
Common Muscle Imbalance Examples
One of the most common examples of a muscle imbalance that causes back pain occurs in many people today who work in sedentary positions. We call it “forward-tipped pelvis. Al that sitting tightens the hip flexors (fronts of hips). Meanwhile, the stomach (abdominal), buttock muscles become weak from being underused.
The tight muscles pull the pelvis down and forward, creating an excessive curve in the lower torso and causing the abdomen to protrude forward. The resulting pressure on the lower spine can eventually cause dysfunction and injury, such as sciatica, a herniated disc, or a muscle spasm.
Another widespread muscle imbalance is one we like to call “forward head and shoulders.”
This occurs frequently because people spend so much time hunched over computers,steering wheels, office desks, stoves—almost every activity we do requires us to lean forward.
Xhis causes the muscles in the chest and at the base of the neck to tighten up, while the muscles in the upper back and shoulders weaken and stretch putting pressure on the upper spine and causing upper back and neck pain.
There are other common muscle imbalances, but perhaps you can begin to see how our everyday routines work our muscles unevenly* create bad posture, and eventually lead to pain.
Your Muscle Strength: Use It or Lose It
The body is truly an amazing machine. The more you work it, the stronger it gets. In contrast, if you drive your car for thousands of miles, it’s not going to drive any taster or get better gas mileage. If you play your upright piano for years, it’s never going to grow into a grand piano. The human bod/’ on the other hand, responds to work by becoming stronger and more efficient—especially in the muscles.
Asyou go about your daily routine, using one hand, arm, or leg more than the other, that part of the body becomes stronger. Imagine if you lifted weights with only your left arm for several months and did very little with your right arm. Pretty soon you would notice a definite difference between the two.
When you exercise or use a muscle, stimulated, stressed, or slightly “damaged.” This is why you may feel sore after a particular activity. During rest, the bod/ repairs the muscle, building it back up to withstand similar the future. The fascinating thing is that the body goes the extra mile in reconstruction, building the muscle up stronger than it was before, so you can handle the same activity with greater ease.
However, the opposite also is true: When you don t work a muscle, it not only doesn’t grow stronger, it actually grows weaker, sort of like a basketball that isn’t inflated regularly* you ve ever had an operation on one leg or arm and had to build the muscles back up again, you know this fact well!
Or, if you’ve ever been confined to bed for a week or two due to a medical condition, you’ll remember how wobbly you felt when you tried to get up again. This is because your muscles had already started to weaken from inactivitySo, how do these uneven muscles result in a tug-of-war inside your body?
Striving for Balance
VC/Tien we think of balance, we often imagine two tilings working in opposition to one another, may visualize two children on a teeter-totter, for instance, or the two ropes that lift and lower a flag on a pulley. Muscles work much the same way—in twos. In order for you to be able to move forward and back and side to side, each muscle needs a partner muscle to pull the opposite way.
If you bend your elbow to touch your neck, your biceps (the muscles on the front of the upper arm) pull, or contract and shorten, and the triceps (the muscles on the back of the upper arm) relax and go into a stretched position. Didn’t have the triceps muscles to pull your arm back out, it would remain bent, fortunately* when you re ready > the triceps contract while the biceps relax to straighten your arm again. This is why it’s so important to keep both muscles in an opposing muscle group balanced.
I’m not saying here that both muscles need to be of equal strength, as some muscles arenaturally designed to be stronger than others.
Rather, each muscle should maintain the state of strength and flexibility that keeps the nearby Joints functioning optimally- This allows you to move easily in all directions in the way the body was designed to move.
It comes to eliminating and preventing back pain* the goal isn’t necessarily to have muscles as strong and flexible as possible—though that certainly helps. The goal, as we said in Chapter 3, is balance: Your muscle pairs need balanced strength and flexibility to support your body height and weight and allow for normal movement.
Unfortunately, for most of us, keeping all the muscle pairs equally balanced is a tall order. Not only do we suffer from working some too much and others too little, we suffer from stretching some, too much and others too little. But the even bigger challenge is that most people aren’t even aware of this. While this basic understanding of how our bodies work should be common knowledge, it isn’t, and that’s why so many people struggle with nagging aches and pains.
Back Pain Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
Back Pain Port Douglas
Induction of Labour – Acupuncture
Induction of Labor
One of the choices faced by as many as a third of US women in late There are legitimate medical reasons for induction. These include cancer, hypertension, small for dates baby, a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid or an intrauterine death followed by a long wait for labor to begin (we’re talking weeks, not days) In these cases, the risks posed )J the induction method are more likely to be outweighed by those associated with waiting for the natural kick in studies agree that fewer than ten percent of women A consensus meeting .anized by the world health Organization on Appropriate Technology for ^th held in portaleza, Bra*ilN jn 1985 recommended “No geographical region should have rates of induced labor over ten percent).
Obviously, nonmedical reasons to induce labor have increased over as working women and obstetricians try to crowd more into already busy schedules and as new drugs have become available.
The US Induction rate doubled between 1989 and 1998 (from 9 percent to 192 percent) and is apparently still rising, although there was no corresponding rise in the size of babies, the length of pregnancies, or the incidence of maternal llnesses requiring inductions many inductions taking place, a common misconception has arisen with no disadvantages from the procedures used. Most (US Working women, with only six weeks of maternity leave to look forward to, are understandably
ready to start labor if there are no risks associated with induction. They assume-often wrongly that their caregiver will inform them of any risks induction might carry.
Disadvantages to the Mother from Induction
Labor (including its onset) involves an extremely complex interplay of hormones that cannot be altered without upsetting the normal physiological pattern. Changing the normal pattern often causes other problems, necessitating more obstetrical interventions. An induced labor is quite a different process from spontaneous labor, fcfomen tend to have harsher, stronger, significantly more painful contractions with chemically induced labors, so one who can cope with a spontaneous labor of ten finds that she needs pain medication to bear the moreens istent of an induced one. When labor is induced with J>itocin (see p> 210)5 an intravenous infusion has to be set up. The laboring woman s mobility is automatically restricted in these cases because of the discom fort caused by the t V- needle in her vein and the tubes that attach her to the | V. stand. Even though J.V. Stands have wheels, they are far from Rarely, but far less rarely than in spontc pharmaceutical induction can rupture the uterus. Event cal) * for emergency cesarean section and, sometimes, hysterec tomf* Increased postpartum blood loss is another problem associated with artificial i^liction of labor.
Pisadvantages to the Baby from Induction
main justification for artificially inducing labor is a reduction the number of compromised babies. The problem with at least half the artificial inductions taking place in the Jnited States at present is that the induction method itself can compromise the baby* OxTtonn and prostaglandin inductions are well known to cause longer, more thus interfering with the flow of ‘iWflwietil jn9oi ot theirijus fetal monitoring is usually part of the protocol of the m^or the fetal-monitoring machine to record the feta.)heartbeat, the mother must lie still in bed. If she wants a little more mobility, she can opt to have an internal scalp electrode needle inserted into the baby’s head, but this is painful to the baby, requires breaking water bag, and can cause infection to both mother and baby, Another heightened risk to the baby from labor induction is related to the higher incidence of fetal distress in induced labors compared with labors that begin spontaneously: A cesarean is more likely to take place t induced labor than in one that begins naturally. In one study, rate for abnormal fetal heart patterns doubled.5 The uterine contractions of labor squeeze out the fluid that is naturally in the baby s lungs during pregnancy; with a cesarean, this process is circumvented, and the baby’s lungs are more likely to be wet at birth, causing breathing difficulties.
Oxytocin and prostaglandin inductions are both known to increase the passage of meconium during labor, probably because the baby js more stressed than it would be during a labor that began on its own. Se^ era} tudies of labors have documented high rates of meconium in those induced by the rwest prostaglandin, Cytotec (discussed in more detail on p. 21 !).*•# ^hen there is thick meconium in the amniotic fluid during labor, the baby sometimes inhales it with its first breath and has serious breathing problems. Newborn jaundice is another problem encountered more frequently after induction than in natural labors, whether the baby has meconim aspiration or jaundice, it is likely to spend its first few days in the speciaJ-care nursery instead of in its mother’s arms. Jiave you ever heard of iatrogenic prematurity) ‘fhe term means doctor-caused prematurity and had to be invented because so many pre; bora after labors were induced or cesarean operations “due dates, rhe myth is that obsterric science is so highly evolved that it is no longer possible to be mistaken ibout when a baby is due. The reality is that iatrogenic prematurity is far mfre common than most obstetricians like to admit. Too often, it hapis after a “convenience” lnduction-the kind performed for nonmedical reasons.
Common Induction Methods
most common medical methods used to induce labor are breaking waters (ammotomy) and various chemical methods: pitocin intravenous drip and the administration of various prostaglandins vidiL Prepidil,and Cytotec).
Breaking the waters
Breaking the waters is a crude but r sometimes effective way to start labor when a woman is about to go into labor on her own. This method will initiate labor within twenty-four hours in seventy to eighty percent of women. The problem is that the remaining twenty to thirty percent of women who will experience a high incidence of intrauterine infection, breaking thewaters alone does not increase the danger of uterine rupture. However, this method puts a time limit on labor to start and conclude in most pitals because of the heightened risk of infection. Sometimes am niotomy causes the umbilical cord to fall out of the cervix below babys head, causing a life-threatening emergency for the baby.
Pitocin Intravenous Drip.
-pitocin is a synthetic version of oxytocin, a natural hormone that is released from the mother’s pituitary gland in tiny amounts during (not be $cre) labor. Given intravenously, a dose that is far larger than that which is naturally secreted in early labor is increased every few minutes until the desired contraction rate is reached, pitocin induction is more apt than a spontaneous labor to result in a vacuum-extractor or forceps de livery or a cesarean section because of fetal distress stemming from too strong uterine contractions, oxytocin doubles the odds of the baby >t cause interfere with the flow of oxygen-rich blood from mother to baby. Another hazard of oxytocin induction is an increased incidence of postpartum hemorrhage.
Oxytocin, by the way, is also used to strengthen contractions in a slow-moving labor.
Oxytocin induction is often unsuccessful, even when it is combined with amniotomy. This is especially true when the cervix is not yet rijtr (soft and thin). Some women undergo attempted pitocin induction for three or four days without evergoing into effective labor.
Obstetricians a generation ago were taught never to leave a mother alone during an oxytocin induction.1* ^hen there is an overdose (some women are more sensitive to the drug than others) resulting in abnor mally strong and lengthy contractions, the intravenous drip can be turned off. Pitocin has a half-life in the body of ten to fifteen minutesThere is a much higher incidence of uterine rupture in chemically induced labors than in spontaneous labors. Generally, the unscarred uterus does not contract so hard as to destroy itself in naturally occurring labors. With induction, between one and three percent of women have a ruptured uterus. Add the factor of previous cesarean to induction, and the rate rises. Nearly six percent of the women in one study had ruptured uteri after a chemically induced labor.
Headache Treatments – Acupuncture
THE CHINESE MED1CAL TREATMENT OF HEADACHES
F undamental to Chinese medicine is treatment based f on what is called ‘p^m discriminationWestern medicine bases its treatment on a disease diagnosis. Traditional Chinese medicine does take the patient’s disease diagnosis into account, but the choice of treatment is not
based on the disease so much as it is on the patient’s ‘pattern’. This aspect of Chinese medicine makes it holistic, safe and effective.
In order to explain the difference between a disease and a pattern, let us take the symptom of a headache as an example. All headaches by definition must involve some pain in the head. In modern Western medicine and other medical systems prescribe primarily on the basis of a disease diagnosis, there is likely to be some sort of specific headache medication given. Headache sufferers can, different – man or woman, young or old. Overweight or thin, for example. The actual symptoms of the headache can also vary- the£ain may be on the left or on the right side, it may or sharp but intermittent, etc.
One sufferer could also have the following symptoms: indigestion, a tendency to loose stools, cold feet, red eyes, a dry mouth and desire for cold drinks, whilst another sufferer might have a wet, weeping, crusty skin rash with red borders, a tenderV to hay fever, ringing in their ears and dizziness a tendency to hay fever, ringing in their ears and dizziness when they stand up. Whilst according to both Chinese ‘dern Western medicine both people suffer from a headache, they also each suffer from a whole host other complaints and so may have very different types of up rom all these other signs and symptoms and further information. The pattern entire pattern of imbalance as well as addressing the major complaint, symptom medicine: ‘One disease, different treatment different diseases same treatment.’
This means that, in Chinese medicine, two patients with same named disease diagnosis may receive different treatments if their Chinese medical patterns are different, while two patients diagnosed with different named diseases may receive the same treatment if their Chinese medical pattern is the same. The result always is that each person is treated, individually.
Since every patient gets an individually tailored treatment to restore balance there are usually no unwanted side-effects. Side-effects come from forcing one part of the body to behave while causing an imbalance in another part. The treatment may have been appropriate to relieve part of the problem but it does not take into account the whole. This is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. The fact that Chinese medicine takes many aspects of a person into account and looks at the body as a single, unified whole means that a problem is treated without creating further Imbalances.
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