The Pain Relief and Wellness Clinic

Acupuncture or Alexander Technique both proved clinically significant in the reduction of neck pain.

A randomised controlled trial of 12 acupuncture sessions or 20 one on one Alexander Technique lessons proved a better reduction in pain and associated disability vs usual care (physical therapy and drugs).

Criteria for trial inclusion was neck pain for more than 3 months . Median duration for neck pain was 6 years. 517 Participants were requited and randomly assigned into the 3 groups.

At the 12 month follow up the results were:

Acupuncture = 3.92 % reduction in NPQ pain questionnaire (Northwick park questionnaire)

Alexander Technique = 3.79 %  reduction in NPQ pain questionnaire

As compared to usual care of physical therapy and drugs.

Compared to baseline measure at the start of the study they were

Acupuncture = 32 % reduction in NPQ pain questionnaire (Northwick park questionnaire)

Alexander Technique = 31 %

12 month follow up

What is Alexander technique:
A form of postural training that teaches people how to avoid unnecessary muscular and mental tension during every day activities.

Read more

Sourece : http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/853883
http://annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-0667&an_fo_ed#

Klaus Obermeyer , 95 and still skiing

Amazing story. Klaus Obermeyer,  life long skier and still doing it well.
He is  95, still gets out on the planks , does martial arts daily (akido), swims, tries to eat vegan (but cheats a little) and still runs a business. What an amazing bar he has set … also inspiration it can be done.

Read full article 

Its pretty much what you would expect. Eat better food and do regular activity and you will reduce negative effect of plaque building up on the pipes of your body. Which is a good thing. Atheroscleorisis is a major risk factor for heart disease and heart attack. Having a heart attacks has been described as a “crushing chest pain with a feeling of impending doom”. Sounds like something to be avoided.

In this study they found that the damage happening to arteries could be improved or revered with weight loss. This also led to reduced use of medication to treat the problem

Recently I heard on a radio science show something very interesting regarding antioxidants. Apparently they negate the training effect of exercise. One of the usual goals of exercise is to become healthy, stronger and more capable. We do this by over loading the muscles, causing slight damage and then when they repair they come back stronger. In damaging the muscles we cause oxidative stress. As it turns out the, we need these free radicals to stimulate the body’s own antioxidants and cause the wonderful training effect of exercise. If you train and take antioxidants supplement you won’t get this effect and you won’t change physically.  If you want to get buff, throw away the pills and get some tasty, good whole foods.

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/antioxidants-and-exercise-more-harm-than-good/

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/11/12/4124033.htm

Paul Keating

One of Australia’s former Prime Minister used acupuncture to calm nerves and gain focus before high pressure work commitments. Acupuncture can give you the calm focus you want without have the negative chemical effects of pharmaceuticals.

One of Paul Keating’s 7 top tips for winning at life.

*Acupuncture works

During that ’92 self-doubt wobble, Keating’s first call was to his Canberra acupunturist, who came to The Lodge to steady the PM’s nerves before a 7.30 Report interview. “Acupuncture makes you relaxed but sharp. Valium makes you relaxed but dull.”

Source: Huffington Post

Acupuncture on the back

In recent times, dry needling has gained momentum as a great alternative treatment for muscular problems. It has some similarities to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  However, it can be quite confusing as to what both methods of treatment entail and what they offer to alleviate pain.

This article explores the difference between acupuncture and dry needling.

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American Express are having their “shop small promotion” again in November. If you spend $20 at participating stores you get a $10 credit from American Express.

https://shopsmallaustralia.com/

Feel free to use your American Express card on your next visit

Acupuncture is not a one-shot deal. It works cumulatively, meaning one treatment builds on the next.

There are certainly instances of acupuncture producing immediate results. However, this is more an exception than the rule—and when it happens, the results tend to be short lived.

If you want lasting results from acupuncture, especially for a chronic condition, you must commit to the process.

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This is an interesting article written by Aaron E Carrol in the New York Times AUG. 24, 2015. Aaron is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Drink your water with measure and balance. It good to note that a lot of our daily water needs comes from our diet.

If there is one health myth that will not die, it is this: You should drink eight glasses of water a day. It’s just not true. There is no science behind it.

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A very common source of back pain has been linked to the cartilaginous disks in the spine.  These are soft tissue structures between the vertebrae that provide shock absorption and mobility to the spine.  They also form the “weak spot” under load or activity.  This being the case, they are usually one of the first structural places in the spine to suffer injury.  Previously it was believed the disks had no nerve supply or sensory innervation.  The only time you would become aware of a problem was when the disks would become damaged in such a way that the spinal nerves or cord would become encroached or “pinched”.  The previously-diagnosed injuries were disk herniation/rupture and disk degeneration (height loss).   However, it is now recognised that the discs themselves have a nerve supply.  This is the outer one-half to one-third of the posterior annulus fibrosis, or that part of the disk closest to the back and the outer fibrous ring of the disk.

Clinically this means the disks are an important consideration in the treatment of pain and mobility issues of the back.  Not just for the impact they can have on spinal nerves but the trauma they can be subject to themselves. There are two specific entities that cause disk pain:  torsional injury and compression.  One of the worst things you can do is to lift something that is too heavy while twisting over (straight leg) and not bending the knees.  Just about everyone has experienced this…a classic way to “put your back out”.  Correct lifting technique.

Correct posture, correct exercise and correct lifting/working technique all have a major impact on our spine health.  Look after it. You only get one.

Source: Clinical Sports Medicine, Brukner & Khan 2012, p.465