Whiplash 101

 By Richard DonTigney

The lack of movement in the sacroiliac joint is a myth. When walking the pelvis moves obliquely to the line of travel, to increase the length of the stride. The sacrum moves on the asymmetric pelvis to drive counter rotation of the trunk to decrease loading forces. Pelvic dynamics has profound effects on normal gait.  

The joint is vulnerable to injury through minor trauma only in anterior rotation of the innominates on the sacrum.  Idiopathic low back pain is a commonly overlooked, reversible dysfunction in anterior rotation, usually bilateral.   A diagnosis of dysfunction can be made simply by identifying a single painful point at the posterior inferior iliac spine that is caused by a vertical shear on the conjoint origin of the piriformis muscle and tearing of the capsule at S3. See pain patterns here. The anterior rotation will loosen the iliolumbar ligaments, destabilize L4,5-S1 and increase shear and torsion shear to the disks.  Correction restores stability.

Full correction in posterior rotation will provide immediate relief of pain.  More than three treatments are seldom necessary.  Stabilization of the unstable SIJ can be obtained with five to six sessions of prolo specifically to the long posterior sacroiliac ligaments.  Prolo to the iliolumbar ligaments without correction of the SIJ first can tighten the joint in the uncorrected position and may prevent correction.

Anyone not properly treating dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint is perpetuating chronic low back pain.  X-rays of innominate movement on the sacrum are published on-line at www.thelowback.com/how.htm#movement

 By Amy Price PhD  

Regenerative and preventive medicine can have an impact on quality of life by reducing neurodegeneration, optimizing the genetics we are dealt and by giving us the best shot at deflecting the damage trama has created. It appears that balance provides keys to longevity. It is tempting to chase after the newest ‘super antioxidant’ , cell treatment, medical device  or pharmaceutical in hope of the cure. The most exciting concept is the power of the human body to heal from the inside out. I have noted  the mostly  mediocre results  of multitudes of  patients  who have tried to juice their way to health, get injections of souped up grown out stem cells, live life in altered oxygen environments and inject chemical concoctions in hopes of staving off destruction.    

Recently I was invited to  join the herd of hardcore calorie restriction regimes. I did a little study on this and the results were interesting. There may be a slight bias here since I possibly value dark chocolate above hard science and only wish it was included as a food group! The study of interest was not hard core starvation but simply allowed animals to eat without limits and then the maximum amounts were reduced by 30% over a lifetime. None of the animals were underweight, they were allowed what was optimal for survival nothing more. A team of miners trapped underground in Chile were fed the same way and when they were rescued they were in remarkably good shape.  The impact of diet restriction and not starvation is illustrated by the monkey study below:    

The longitudinal Rhesus monkey (RM) study is an adult-onset study from 1989+ which explored the effects of 30% Caloric restriction (CR) without malnutrition on RM (Colman, Anderson, Johnson, Kastman, & Kosmatka 2009). Metabolic disorders and rising obesity incidence rates are complicated by the drive to eat until satiation is reached. Sedentary lifestyles, stress and environmental are contributing factors (Mattson, & Magnus, 2006). Resistance to age related illness and mortality in RM was addressed. A 5 page journal submission necessitates sharing selectively when considering research spanning 20 year+. Earlier CR research used rodents, mice, worms, flies, and yeast, however small human studies name CR as a factor for cardiovascular benefits (Colman et al, 2009).   

The 30 mature male monkey study (1989) was expanded to include 30 females and an additional 16 males (1994) to increase statistical power and enable gender CR effects. RM matures at 7-14 years with mean lifespan of 27 years in captivity and 40 years in the wild. In 2009, 50% of controls and 80% of the CR group were still alive (Colman et al, 2009). CR was found to delay onset and reduce incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and specific grey matter (GM) brain atrophy. Slowing or reversing the ageing process as evidenced by CD, metabolic disorders and neoplasms could benefit the economy. CR induced metabolic reorganization and regulation may reveal significant cross species metabolism regulatory factors and inform future research on life-span and quality life.    

Ageing effects in yeast, worms, flies or mice CR studies indicate molecules responsible for signalling including mTOR,PGC-1a and SIRT1 are sensitive to nutrient changes (Colman et al, 2009). These mechanisms were introduced but not addressed in the study. They are thought to optimize mitochondrial function by improving synaptic function. These findings will  be important if found to apply to primates and then  humans (Colman et al, 2009) CR animals (below) looked younger and healthier at 27.6 years than  controls as noted by thicker fur, elastic skin, posture, eye clarity, skin colour oxygenation, bone density seen through shoulders/hips/spine/jaw and less joint swelling in CR animals. See photo top left. 

Subjective evidence was augmented by decreased mortality rates and age related conditions in CR protocols for RM. Figure 2 shows glucose impairment was not present in CR animals,  cancer and CD were reduced. CR reduction correlating with lower glucose impairment/neoplasia/CD rates would be valuable to determine for later correlation in human studies. Diagram B (3) shows CR age related deaths 1:3 ratio. Figure C (4) shows all deaths. The higher non disease related deaths of CR animals to approximately age 20 is of concern and may be why CR effects on overall mortality failed to reach significance (p=0.16). The ratio of age related differences in mortality in contrast to this insignificance warrants further investigation.  

Age associated diseases in RM are consistent with human ageing processes specifically glucose impairment, cancers and heart disease. Assessments included nutrient intake, BMI, blood pressure, activity levels, endocrine, serum, glucose level profiles and necropsy. Animals were observed 2x daily. They had regular electrocardiograms, brain MRs, and x-rays (Colman et al, 2009). Inclusions of EEG, echocardiogram and MRI colonoscopy could yield improved preliminary disease results. Stress echo may yield early cardiac valve impairment and angiography stroke inducing blockages. EEG could measure temporal aspects of brain function and determine if impaired timing resulted in attention, coordination or processing deficits. Colonoscopy could explore whether early treatment or CR affected survival rates.    

Lean muscle mass and metabolic function was preserved in CR animals. Pre-diabetic conditions at baseline resolved in the CR condition. Neoplasm incidence and cardiovascular disease were reduced by 50% with CR. Human age related brain atrophy isn’t accurately replicated using small animals (Colman et al, 2009). Higher cognition, state/trait differences, working memory capacity and variances in somatosensory architecture complicate parallels between animal and human studies (Yankner& Loerch,2008). Common grey matter atrophy patterns exist so (GM) volume was measured. Age related cortical and temporal atrophy was resistant to CR.  Significantly less age related atrophy was found in areas of executive function and motor pathways (Colman et al, 2009).   

It is not known if genomics were applied to recruit genetically dissimilar animals to constitute a random population although animals were assigned to CR or control in a random manner. Diet was individualized in reference to volume consumed. We are not told if animals were allowed to graze or if food was given at specific times nor was there information given on sleep times and cycle differences (Froy & Miskin, 2010). This may influence insulin levels, circadian rhythms and preferred amount consumed per meal (Mattson, Chan, Duan, Aging, Joseph, Cole, G., et al. 2009). Nutritional needs over lifespan and personal variations in nutrient type were not identified (Mattson & Magnus, 2006). In animals requiring medical treatment, information was not forthcoming in relationship to drug/strategy interactions on factors measured (Heading, 2008). Libido/fertility levels with CR and CR effects on offspring DNA were not discussed.   

Identification of longevity factors for RM not in captivity and whether CR benefits are tied to lifetime commitment or are developmentally sensitive would be useful for future study. Specific restriction of foods/groups such as high fats and sugars may be as beneficial as CR (Molteni, Barnard, Ying, Roberts & Go, 2002). Linking CR application to specific phenotypes may increase CR effects (Prolla & Mattson, 2001). The higher incidence of premature deaths in CR animals could be investigated by comparing vestibular and motor function of CT animals with controls.   

Although this study may inform human ageing research, cross-species generalizations need cautious application. Human variations in genomics, phenotypes, complex cognition, stressors, diet, social responsibilities and exercise may mean successful RM studies do not transfer to humans (Carlson, 2007). It still may be reasonable to consider CR in order to enjoy the possible subjective and objective benefits described in the study.   

 References:   

 Carlson, N. R. (2007) Physiology of Behaviour, 9th edn, Pearson International, Allyn & Bacon, Boston.   

Colman  RJ,  Anderson  RM,  Johnson  SC,  Kastman  EK, Kosmatka  KJ,  Beasley  TM,  llison  DB,  Cruzen  C,  Simmons  HA, Kemnitz  JW,  Weindruch  R.  ‘Caloric  restriction  delays  disease onset and mortality  in rhesus monkeys’. Science. 2009; 325:201‐204   

Froy, O., & Miskin, R.(2010). Effect of feeding regimens on circadian rhythms : Implications for aging and longevity. Review Literature And Arts Of The Americas, 2(1), 7-27.   

Heading, C, (2008)  ‘Addiction potential of medicinal drugs’, GUIDE TO ADDICTION, 1-47.SD805 (eds) ,2009, Open University, UK, Milton Keynes   

Mattson, M. P., & Magnus, T. (2006). ‘Ageing and neuronal vulnerability’. Neuroscience, 7(April). doi: 10.1038/nrn1886.   

Mattson, M. P., Chan, S. L., Duan, W., Aging, B., Joseph, J., Cole, G., et al. (2009). Modification of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders by Genes , Diet , and Behavior. Physiological Reviews, 637-672.   

Molteni, R., Barnard, R. J., Ying, Z., Roberts, C. K., & Go, F. (2002). A High-Fat , Refined Sugar Diet Reduces Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Neuronal Plasticity ,. Science, 112(4), 803-814.   

Prolla, T. A., Mattson, M. P., Prolla, T. A., & Mattson, M. P. (2001). Molecular mechanisms of brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders : lessons from dietary restriction. Review Literature And Arts Of The Americas, 24(11), 21-31.   

Yankner BA, Lu T, Loerch P. Annu Rev Pathol 2008;3:41.   

Figure 1 A&B are control animals C&D are CR all at 27.5 years (Colman et al 2009)Figure 1 A&B are control animals C&D are CR all at 27.5 years (Colman et al 2009)

 

Be Nice To Volunteers...They Live Long Lives!

DAVID FAWCETT, PhD, LCSW

                Did you know that giving your time and effort on behalf of someone else can actually improve your mood and overall health?  Although it sounds too good to be true, that is the conclusion of a number of studies on a variety of populations from around the world.  Scientists are still unraveling the specifics, but there are some intriguing clues documenting the health benefits of volunteering.

                First, there are positive physical health effects.  Volunteering was associated with reduced mortality risk in a number of studies, especially in persons aged 60 and over, although the benefits appear to hold true for all ages.    Simply put, persons who consistently give their time on behalf of others lived longer than those who did not.  More surprisingly, the health status of the volunteer didn’t matter.  Even if they had a serious medical condition themselves, volunteering provided a protective factor for their own physical wellbeing.

                Volunteering was also associated with increased positive emotions and a significantly-improved  sense of purpose.   It increased access to social and psychological resources which countered negative moods such as depression and anxiety.  People who volunteered reported a greater degree of overall happiness, with improved social support and cohesion that benefits both the individual and the community.  Finally, volunteering has been shown to improve self-satisfaction and mastery of new skills, both of which reinforce a positive self-image.

                These studies also reveal interesting ways to maximize the positive effects of service work.  The total number of volunteer hours per week was not as important as consistency and length of service.  That is, just one hour a week was more effective at promoting the health and wellness of the volunteer than lots of hours, as long as it was consistent over a period of months or even years.    Studies also revealed that there are health benefits even if the service work is informal and privately arranged, such as spending time with a homebound neighbor each week.  Volunteer work doesn’t have to be “official” to benefit, just consistent.

In the end, these studies showed that “mattering” was the crucial link between volunteering and wellbeing.  By moving beyond our own needs and helping others, we begin to make a difference and “matter” to both our community and ourselves, and we get the bonus of being healthier and happier.    

              This article was used by permission of Dr Fawcett  and originates from The Fusion group  

Vote Now and Help
AFSP Win $1 Million

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is doing something about suicide. It is preventable, If you or a loved one is depressed and do not know where to turn, confidential and professional help is available on their website. Depression is most successfully treated with early intervention. AFSP is initiating a program that will make suicide prevention available on college campuses with an interactive screening program and treatment help. Clicking on the link will take you to a page where you vote for free via facebook. AFSP can win 1 million dollars and your vote could be the tie breaker!  If you, or someone you know, is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Most suicidal individuals give some warning of their intentions. The most effective way to prevent a friend or loved one from taking his or her life is to recognize the factors that put people at risk for suicide, take warning signs seriously and know how to respond.

Know the Facts

PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

More than 90 percent of people who kill themselves are suffering from one or more psychiatric disorders, in particular:

• Major depression (especially when combined with alcohol and/or drug abuse)
• Bipolar depression
• Alcohol abuse and dependence
• Drug abuse and dependence
• Schizophrenia
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders

Depression and the other mental disorders that may lead to suicide are — in most cases — both recognizable and treatable. Remember, depression can be lethal.

The core symptoms of major depression are a “down” or depressed mood most of the day or a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed for at least two weeks, as well as:

• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Change in appetite or weight
• Intense anxiety, agitation, restlessness or being slowed down
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Decreased concentration, indecisiveness or poorer memory
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, self-reproach or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

PAST SUICIDE ATTEMPTS

Between 25 and 50 percent of people who kill themselves had previously attempted suicide. Those who have made suicide attempts are at higher risk for actually taking their own lives.

Availability of means

• In the presence of depression and other risk factors, ready access to guns and other weapons, medications or other methods of self-harm increases suicide risk.

Recognize the Imminent Dangers

The signs that most directly warn of suicide include:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself (weapons, pills or other means)
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
• Has made plans or preparations for a potentially serious attempt

Other warning signs include expressions or other indications of certain intense feelings in addition to depression, in particular:

• Insomnia
• Intense anxiety, usually exhibited as psychic
• pain or internal tension, as well as panic attacks
• Feeling desperate or trapped — like there’s no way out
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling there’s no reason or purpose to live
• Rage or anger

Certain behaviors can also serve as warning signs, particularly when they are not characteristic of the person’s normal behavior. These include:

• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities
• Engaging in violent or self-destructive behavior
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends or family

Take it Seriously

• Fifty to 75 percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.
• Imminent signs must be taken seriously.

Be Willing to Listen

• Start by telling the person you are concerned and give him/her examples.
• If he/she is depressed, don’t be afraid to ask whether he/she is considering suicide, or if he/she has a particular plan or method in mind.
• Ask if they have a therapist and are taking medication.
• Do not attempt to argue someone out of suicide. Rather, let the person know you care, that he/she is not alone, that suicidal feelings are temporary and that depression can be treated. Avoid the temptation to say, “You have so much to live for,” or “Your suicide will hurt your family.”

Seek Professional Help

• Be actively involved in encouraging the person to see a physician or mental health professional immediately.
• Individuals contemplating suicide often don’t believe they can be helped, so you may have to do more.
• Help the person find a knowledgeable mental health professional or a reputable treatment facility, and take them to the treatment.

In an Acute Crisis

• If a friend or loved one is threatening, talking about or making plans for suicide, these are signs of an acute crisis.
• Do not leave the person alone.
• Remove from the vicinity any firearms, drugs or sharp objects that could be used for suicide.
• Take the person to an emergency room or walk-in clinic at a psychiatric hospital.
• If a psychiatric facility is unavailable, go to your nearest hospital or clinic.
• If the above options are unavailable, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Follow-up on Treatment

• Suicidal individuals are often hesitant to seek help and may need your continuing support to pursue treatment after an initial contact.
• If medication is prescribed, make sure your friend or loved one is taking it exactly as prescribed. Be aware of possible side effects and be sure to notify the physician if the person seems to be getting worse. Usually, alternative medications can be prescribed.
• Frequently the first medication doesn’t work. It takes time and persistence to find the right medication(s) and therapist for the individual person.

Richard Don Tigny , used by permission

Richard DonTigny SI Solutions used by permission

This  SI Joint information was graciously supplied by  Richard DonTigny, a well known leader in this field from Havre Montana.  Many individuals constantly go to a chiropractor to have them adjust this area but it can be very effective to learn how to gently and accurately self correct with the advantage of bringing almost immediate pain relief. Richard DonTigny has a great website where you can get detailed well explained  information and even purchase  video materials on how to get these corrections working for you.  

On the right are basic  techniques to reset the SI area. The first one will look familiar to those of you familiar with post-isometric relaxation or muscle energy technique. This series of images, shows different positions in which to do the same basic exercise. They can even be done standing up in an airplane corridor! 

 The instructions are to bring your leg up to the chest, grasp the leg with both arms, and push outward with the leg against resistance. DonTigny recommends pushing outward hard for five to 10 seconds, then alternating legs, doing each side three to five times. Note that this can be done supine, sitting, standing using a chair, or in a doorway 

 The next offering is a self traction correction.  I like this one as it can even be done lying in bed. When doing any of these exercises in the supine position be certain to hold your abdominal muscles tight when raising or lowering your leg to prevent anterior rotation of the pelvis.  There is a first class video  available for Richard Don Tigny with print out exercises which is available from the  Dynamic Core Program CD for patients. 

 Richard DonTigny  makes excellent additional  seldom heard points regarding SI dysfunction.1)Periarticular injections are superior to intra-articular injections for diagnosis of SIJ dysfunction.(2) Murakami Fukushima (3) found that many times cervical strain will not release until the SIJ is corrected. (I have certainly found this to be accurate) 

 The last form of correction is in the color photo on the left hand side. You can  self-correct any time during the day no matter what position he happens to be in at the time. Just by pulling the knee into the axilla or bringing the axilla down to the knee. Stretch firmly several times on each side, alternating sides each time. Remember to hold those abdominals tight as you raise and lower your leg for protection against an anterior pelvis rotation. 

  Stretching the psoas is usually counter productive as a dysfunction of the SIJ will cause the psoas to become tight while correction of the dysfunction will loosen it.  If you stretch the psoas you will increase the dysfunction in anterior rotation of the psoas. Similarly the SIJ dysfunction will cause a vertical shear on the piriformis at the S3 segment. Correction of the dysfunction corrects and relieves the vertical shear.  The piriformis, the G. max and the iliacus all have origins on both the sacrum and the ilia.  The shear is the cause of the piriformis syndrome.   Similarly the sacral origin of the G. Max will tend to separate from its ilial origin and the ilial origin of the iliacus will tend to separate from a small slip on the sacrum. 

 References: 

 1.DonTigny, RL: A detailed and critical biomechanical analysis of the sacroiliac joints and relevant kinesiology: the implications for lumbopelvic function and dysfunction.  In Vleeming A, Mooney V, Stoeckart R: Movement, Stability& Lumbopelvic Pain: Integration of Research and Therapy. 2nd edition. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone, 2007, Chapter 18, pp 265-278 

 2.  Murakami E, Tanaka Y, Aizawa T, Ishizuka M, Kokubun S: Effect of periarticular and intraarticular lidocaine injections for sacroiliac joint pain: Prospective comparative study.J of Ortho Science  12(3):274-280, May 2007 

 3.  Fukushima M: Radiographic findings before and after manual therapy for acute neck pain. International Musculoskeletal Medicine, 30(1): 1-19, 2008

Brain and Body Repair Together

By Amy Price PhD

 

 

 Brains can be empowered and grow with healthy lifestyles and targeted training. The stemcells of the body are mobilized into action by creating favorable conditions and a climate for growth. Like wise pain, social rejection and inflammation can slow improvement in healing factors and getting a head start by cultivating health brain and body lifestyles has been shown to stave off the onset of certain dementias

Research on cognition that shows transfer of training and increase in quality of life  can be very successful when individual differences are professionally assessed and programs targeted to individuals.  This is why one size fits all ‘brain training’ shows limited success. The brain requires novelty and positively graded accomplishment to reach full potential. [1-4].  

Brain age related deficits are noticed primarily in the prefrontal and parietal cortical regions  which tend to shrink as individuals age with men exhibiting more extensive shrinkage than women [5]. These areas are crucial for planning and for connecting input from other brain areas. The areas of shrinkage initially demonstrate increased regional activation. This may be a time sensitive window where neuroplasticity growth factors can be leveraged to best advantage. Combining several strands of behavioral and neuro-imaging evidence, the argument can be made that functional plasticity has the capacity to alter the course of cognitive aging. Losses in regional brain integrity may drive functional reorganization through changes in processing strategies and domain specific cognitive training.

These same deficits can be present in brain injured persons but the route to successful training would take a different though just as effective path.

Factors such as cognitive training, regular exercise, nutrition enrichment and  positive relationships can increase Cortical thickness . These findings were first published on animal studies but are also noted in human studies [5-10].  A combination targeted personalized brain and physical training produces specific volume changes in white and grey matter [9]

Physical exercise boosts the brain’s rate of neurogenesis throughout life, while mental exercise increases the rate at which those new brain cells survive and make functional connections into existing neural networks.[7-10] Both physical exercise and the challenge from mental exercise increase the secretion of nerve growth factor, which helps neurons grow and stay healthy.[8-10] This makes sense if we think of how exercise helps to clean out the sludge and provide oxygen so the body can make more effective use of tissues needed for regeneration and repair.  In fact scientists are now finding compounds that can increase our stem cells within the body and even then are finding that targeted solutions are needed for optimum stem cell growth health and production [14]

Nyberg found that although older brains exhibit less plasticity than do young brains overall, the benefits of training—particularly domain-specific training—can be substantial and durable [13]. Studies are showing these gains to be of 5 years + More- over, the training benefits were found to be similar to the amount of decline anticipated over 7–14 years [3, 12, and 13].

References

1.            Posner, M., & Rothbart M. Educating the human brain. Washington, DC US: American Psychological Association.; 2007:189-208. doi:10.1037/11519-009

2.            Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Perrig WJ. Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2008;105(19):6829-33. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18443283

3.            Willis SL, Tennstedt SL, Marsiske M, et al. Long-term effects of cognitive training on everyday functional outcomes in older adults. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296(23):2805-14. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17179457

4.            Gordon E, Arns M, Paul RH. Research Report THE INTEGRATE MODEL OF EMOTION, THINKING AND SELF REGULATION: AN APPLICATION TO THE “PARADOX OF AGING”. Thinking. 2008;7(3):367-404.

5.         Greenwood PM. Functional plasticity in cognitive aging: review and hypothesis. Neuropsychology. 2007;21(6):657-73. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17983277

6.            Joseph J, Cole G, Head E, Ingram D. Mark P. Mattson, Sic L. Chan and Wenzhen Duan. Physiological Reviews. 2009:637-672.

7.            Kramer AF, Bherer L, Colcombe SJ, Dong W, Greenough WT. Environmental influences on cognitive and brain plasticity during aging. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2004;59(9):M940-57.: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15472160.

8.            Kramer, AF; Erickson KI, Colcombe SJ (2006). “Exercise, cognition, and the aging brain”. J Appl Physiol 101 (4): 1237–42. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00500.2006.

9.             Valenzuela MJ, Sachdev P, Wen W, Chen X, Brodaty H. Lifespan mental activity predicts diminished rate of hippocampal atrophy. PloS one. 2008;3(7):e2598. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18612379.

10.          Ernst C, Olson AK, Pinel JP, Lam RW, Christie BR. Antidepressant effects of exercise: evidence for an adult-neurogenesis hypothesis? Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN. 2006;31(2):84-92. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16575423

11.          Ball K, Edwards JD, Ross La. The impact of speed of processing training on cognitive and everyday functions. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 2007;62 Spec No(I):19-31.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17565162.

12.          Willis, SL; SL Tennstedt, M Marsiske, et al. (2006). “Long-term effects of cognitive training on everyday functional outcomes in older adults”. JAMA 296: 2805–14. doi:10.1001/jama.296.23.2805.

13.          Nyberg, L. (2005). Cognitive training in healthy aging: A cognitive neuroscience perspective. In R. Cabeza, L. Nyberg, & D. Park (Eds.), Cognitive neuroscience of aging: Linking cognitive and cerebral aging. New York: Oxford University Press.

 14.         New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16383-drugs-unlock-the-bodys-own-stem-cell-cabinet.html}

Retrain Your brain and Increase Joy and Thinking Skills!

By Amy Price PhD

  Do you need to get your life back and restore relationships after trauma? Extensive research indicates our brain needs to overcome the negativity bias ingrained through the fight/flight response produced by trauma or social rejection to operate at maximum potential. It is more than positive thinking as the mind has a specific ratio of positive to negative input it accepts plus the input must be genuine to release the feel good chemicals that promote brain learning and healing.  Many people involved in an auto crash must fight for insurance rights and social acceptance during an era of limited capacity and chronic pain. All these aspects take a critical toll on the brain and promote inflammation cascades that lead to long term functional loss. The great news is that with targeted brain training in small manageable steps you can get back the edge taken from you though trauma, bad relationships, or serious illness. Your brain wants to work for you!

Clicking on Train Your Brain , Save Your Mind here will take you to a fascinating short video on the power of personal brain optimization and contains a clinically validated assessment tool. This video is presented by Dr Evian Gordon of Brain Resource Company  and speaks about the highly acclaimed wellness program My Brain Solutions. It is well worth investigating, in less than 15 days I showed improvement on several measures of cognition. If you would like to sign-up for MyBrainSolutions please email me ….read on for why training your brain matters…Our minds and brains become so starved for approval and acceptance that we accept input and relationships that are harmful and not genuine.

 Your own brain even when it is damaged can pick up emotional cues in 1/20 of a second  which will determine how we respond to others.  How can you tell the difference between a forced and genuine smile? For a smile ask your self if the eyes crinkle slightly and the pupils enlarge, smiling with only the mouth is not genuine expression. Interestingly this insight has been validated by multiple behavioral, FMRI, GSR and QEEG studies, yet like many insights it is rooted in wisdom passed down from successful individuals who are at peace with themselves. Dr David Whitehouse, an eminent Harvard trained Psychiatrist put is this way  ”PEOPLE NOT ONLY SEEK AN EMPOWERING MIND, BUT ONE THAT IS AT PEACE WITH ITSELF”.  My Brain Solutions can help you learn to discern emotion and train your brain from a negative to a positive bias and offers a clinically validated personal assessment with a presonalized prescription to increase your brain function. Dr Evian Gordon states in his book ‘The Brain Revolution’ that  “THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AND EXPERT AND A NOVICE LEARNER IS A MODEL” One critical component of cognitive skill is one’s ability to speedily reframe or re-appraise the circumstances that surround you. People that successfully reframe have better life satisfaction and long term survival rates than those who are fixated on negative events, this ability can be trained.

Research on cognition that shows transfer of training and increase in quality of life is dependent on carefully assessing individual differences with  clinically accepted tools which provide personalized training to meet these perimeters[1,2,3,4,]

Learning and novelty are partners yet many brain fitness programs offer rote repetition of weak areas without variation in task or content in a bid to target learning, However research shows us this is not the way meaningful learning occurs. Tasks must be individually challenging to hold engagement and yet structured enough to be doable. Ideally tasks will adapt to changing learning curves to build neuroplasticity. The best learning capitalizes on emotional and intellectual strengths already present while strengthening areas of weakness in a positive atmosphere. For example, teaching a university student mnemonics and concept mapping may make the memory more efficient however teaching an individual with organic damage or early dementia how to remember names and faces with a mnemonic is an exercise in futility.

Specific training alone can lead to plastic changes in the brain as demonstrated by expert Braille readers who show an enlarged hand area and smearing of finger representations in the somatosensory cortex. This result was observed in expert, but not in novice Braille readers suggesting that the training and not the blindness which leads to the changes in cortical representation [5]Similar domain specific results were noted in London taxi drivers and expert violinists. Kramer et al [6] states recruitment of additional brain regions helps performance only if the recruited area complements processing of the task in question. This is likely why rote memorization fails to increase working memory whereas training that targets attentional networks and processing speed increases working memory limits. We are incapable of processing in depth what we have not attended to and our capacity for material attended to is limited by the speed at which we process stimuli.

My Brain Solutions has an inviting Dashboard where you can  Empower Your Own Life….See you at the Dashboard!

References:
1. Posner, M., & Rothbart M. Educating the human brain. Washington, DC US: American Psychological Association.; 2007:189-208. doi:10.1037/11519-009

2. Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Perrig WJ. Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2008;105(19):6829-33. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18443283

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cold light laser

 By Amy Price PhD

Laser  therapy has been reported helpful in wound healing and chronic pain. It is a fast, painless modality which can be administered by a medical professional or self administered in some localities by a patient trained and licensed in laser protocol. The light that the laser uses is not visible to the naked eye and special laser light spectrum goggles are needed. They are sensitive to the spectrum of the laser used. According to the Cochrane report results for wound healing and chronic pain relief are evident however more study is needed to determine protocols for effectual wave lengths and time exposure 

What is a cold light laser?

Low-level laser light is compressed light of a wavelength from the cold, red part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. It is different from natural light in that it is one precise color; it is coherent (it travels in a straight line), monochromatic (a single wavelength) and polarized (it concentrates its beam in a defined location or spot). These properties allow laser light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin and no known side effects. Rather, laser light directs biostimulative light energy to the body’s cells which the cells then convert into chemical energy to promote natural healing and pain relief. 

These are ways laser treatment has been found to help

Speeds Up Tissue Repair:   Increased energy to the cells means increased cellular activity for all of the cell’s components that rely on this energy including collagen formation. Speeding up tissue repair  means less scar tissue formation. 

Increases Endorphins: Endorphins can  produce analgesia (pain relief) and feelings of well-being. They are known as the bodies natural  pain killers. 

Increased Lymphatic Drainage:  Studies have shown that cold laser therapy can increase the size of the lymphatic ducts thus facilitating protein waste removal. 

Increased Blood Flow: to the tissues because of increased capillary formation. This helps healing. The laser affects deeper tissues as well including  muscles and tendons. 

It appears Laser can generate  relief for chronic pain treatment

Ligament injury refers pain see chart

 By Amy Price PhD

The ligaments act like duct tape to hold our bones and joints together.  When ligaments lose their elasticity the bones and joints move too much and irritate the structures around them. Ligaments provide boundaries for movement.  For example when we bend our fingers backwards the ligaments will stop us from pushing them too far back and breaking the bones. It is this way with most of the joints in our bodies. The ligaments cause them to work within a safe range of motion. When one of the ligaments is torn or stretched, the excess movement will cause pain and swelling. In an injured joint and you may notice more popping, cracking or even a grinding feeling.  The joint may have become unstable.

 In the neck and spine, ligaments are crucial for holding vertebrae together. Spinal ligaments are especially vulnerable to overstretching or tears in a car wreck.  If you experience these symptoms after a wreck you may want to be examined for a ligament injury:

•             popping, cracking, or grinding in the neck with movement

•             pain or spasms that get much worse with activity

•             Numbness or tingling into the hand(s) or feet that gets worse with activity or accompanied by popping, cracking, or grinding.

 Flexion-extension x-rays, or digital motion x-rays can be a good way to help diagnose ligament instability.  A good physician will want to test the spine segment by segment to test for stability and this is  an essential step for enabling accurate treatment. The diagram above shows some of the ways ligament pain is referred in the neck area. For referred pain in other body areas look at our dermatome pages

Treatment usually proceeds as follows:

•             Specially trained medical practitioners such as Chiropractors or Osteopaths can mobilize any stiff segments that may be overloading the unstable segment

•             Posture Training can improve stability, injury can increase tightening of muscle structures which can cause guarding of the painful area. This throws posture off balance and  can aggravate instability.

•             Strengthen any weak, deep supporting muscles (like multifidus) that may be allowing too much movement. Core strength exercise like modified Pilates with the guidance of a trained physiotherapist can be helpful

•             Don’t be talked into mobilizing or manipulating an unstable segment as this can bring a temporary improvement but over time can make things worse. Sometimes bracing is used and while this may seem like a good solution to reduce pain initially prolonged bracing can cause further weakening of the surrounding muscles and later slow recovery.

•             Prolotherapy may prove helpful, adult stem cell therapy using your own cells has been reasonably successful in initial trials.

•             Surgical stabilization is sometimes used when no other treatment brings improvement.

DMX for diganostics

DIGITAL MOTION X-RAY® is a diagnostic test that records real time, full motion x-ray imaging of any body joint in motion. DMX® can often unlock the mystery of spinal pain. It is common knowledge among spinal care professionals including surgeons that damage to ligaments, tendons and underlying support structures can not be corrected with surgery or physiotherapy alone. Until now it has been difficult to diagnose these injuries objectively. Serious ligamentous and facet joint injuries are well documented at autopsy however this is not a working solution for live patients in need of care! Should you ask your doctor to order a DMX® exam for you?…. To find out ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have pain in one or more of my joints that increases with motion?

• Did I injure myself with a sudden jolt to one or more of my joints, as a whiplash injury, slip and fall or blow from a sporting activity?

• Do I have joint pain, the cause of which has not been determined by conventional x-ray, MRI or other diagnostic tests?

If you have answered yes to any of the above, consider a DMX® examination.

Stretched and torn ligaments can result in a condition called “kinesiopathology” or abnormal motion of the bones that make up the joint. This abnormal motion results in ongoing rubbing and grinding of the bone surfaces during motion, preventing normal healing, and leading to premature onset of degenerative joint disease, a wear and tear type of arthritis.  DMX® can fully evaluate internal joint motion, and properly screen for kinesiopathology

What Makes DMX® unique?

Good question! Auto accident injuries occur in milliseconds, too quick for the human nervous system to react and protect. This leaves only bones and ligaments to protect the body. Since cervical bones are rarely broken, the connective tissues are most commonly injured.

The Hidden Culprit – Ligaments

Ligaments are connective tissue that attach bone to bone. The purpose of ligaments is to keep bones in proper position, and work similar to hinges on a door. It has been suspected that ligaments are damaged easily, but until now, it has been difficult to diagnose ligamentous injuries. DMX® can demonstrate these injuries in as little as 15 minutes.

DMX® visually demonstrates aberrant movement of bones, allowing the radiologist to specifically determine which ligaments are injured. Treatment can then be tailored to the patient’s need and progress can be assessed with the help of DMX®. Promising solutions for tissue regeneration are currently in development at the Spinal Injury Foundation.

With the help of DMX® these injuries can be seen from the inside out

A perfect egg sample

Common sense will tell you that one cannot determine the injury an accident victim has suffered by merely looking at the outer shell of the car. When we buy eggs, how often do we open the carton to check if the eggs on the inside are broken? Every time!

Experience teaches that we cannot determine the condition of the egg by looking at the container. The same holds true for a person’s body – the evidence is in the person’s body, not the car.

Although high TESLA MRIs can pick up ligament damage they are sometimes less available that DMX. For information on MRIs see this link