Save the date - our next open day will be on the 2nd of October 2021. In celebration of spring; to be active and out in the open we will be hosting a FunDay full of activities and competition. Get your team ready for the festivities and fun.

I facilitated such a powerful interview on genetics and epigenetics on Friday afternoon. Interesting how much is still to be learnt that can enhance or supress your genetic potential. 

The biochemist I was interviewing sent me this simple link to an understanding how genetics and epigenetics work. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/twins/ 

Play hard to ensure your genetics express fully!

As spring and the warmer weather kicks in I notice more and more people exercising past our front gate. 

The American Academy of orthopaedics gives the following information for injury prevention. 

Prevention

Injuries often occur when people suddenly increase the duration, intensity, or frequency of their activities. Many soft-tissue injuries can be prevented through proper conditioning and training. Other prevention tips include:

Use proper equipment. 
Aim for balanced fitness. 
Warm up. 
Drink water. 
Cool down. 
Stretch. 
Rest. 
Avoid the "weekend warrior" syndrome. 
Whether an injury is acute or due to overuse, if your symptoms persist, contact your doctor.

Exercise safely and specifically!

Such a great model of understanding for the spine

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9m37cpgl85jc9f5/Screenshot%202021-09-08%20at%…

Spinal flexibility with abdominal control is vital for spinal health. To test: 

- stand with your back to the wall, heels and head against the wall. 
- there should be a slight gap between your lower back and the wall
- attempt to close the gap with your abdominal muscles and your spine. You will need to tilt your pelvis backwards to achieve this
- however watch for the compensations / cheating mechanisms
1) head has to come forward
2) shoulder have to come off the wall
3) holding your breath
4) going up on your toes
5) bending your knees 
6) other...?

How flexible is your spine?

Have a great week and be conscious of your spinal habits.

The spine constantly absorbs load everyday. From the physical loads you carry, to the poor postures you hold yourself in. From the emotional and mental stressors to the toxicity that surrounds us. 

Stop for 10minutes everyday and off load your spine. 
1) Lying on your back on the floor with a rolled up towel under your neck
2) have a small rolled up towel between your shoulder blades
3) have your legs raised against the wall or bent over the bend
4) concentrate on slow relaxing breathing

Stride length is such an important feature of the effectiveness of your walking. Walking correctly is vital for the self-healing mechanism. 

To test your stride length: 
1) stand with your heels against the wall. Take a step from the wall as far as you can with the other heel still against the wall. Measure from the wall to the back of the heel in front. 

2) standing on one leg, jump as far forward as you can, landing on the opposite leg. You must land as softly as you can and maintain your balance. Measure the distance from the one heel to the back of the other. 

The 1st test will represent your walking stride length; the 2nd will represent your running stride length. 

Send me your measurements.

Constant spinal compression is the largest cause of chronic back problems. 

Spinal compression occurs usually from an injury or so. However, poor posture and deactivation of abdominal and spinal muscles maintains it! 

Over time this is what erodes the disc, damaging it and eventually causing it to burst and encroach the nerve and spinal cord. 

Daily decompression and spinal off-loading is the solution.

Take care of yourself

Acute problems should resolve within 7 to 14 day; unless there are subacute issues (pre-exisiting; often below the surface and unknown). Then they take a long time to resolve...in many cases, episode after episode occur leading to chronic permanent problems.

AHC bookclub - book of the month; I am loving it already. What you reading now?

Your sympathetic nervous system (stress) should be at its highest at 2-3pm. Which means your energy and capabilities should be at its best at that time.

Your parasympathetic (relaxation and digest) should be at its highest at 2- 3 am. Which means you should be at your deepest sleep at that time. 

For many with autonomic disturbances; they tired at 3pm and wide awake at 3am. 

How is your internal clock?

There are 5 normal elimination mechanisms of the body:
1) urination
2) defecation
3) perspiration
4) respiration
5) emotion processing

If one of these or more are not working effectively it will put pressure on the other mechanisms. As the other mechanisms are overloaded extraordinary mechanisms with be used:
1) diarrhoea
2) excessive perspiration and urination
3) coughing
4) runny nose
5) watery eyes
6) vomiting
7) post nasal
8) discharges of all sorts

Where you at?

Lessons learnt from my interview with the Lymphatic Specialist: 
1) the lymphatic system requires quality movement every day in order to function correctly
2) elimination cannot occur correctly unless your lympahtic system is flowing
3) hydration and electrolytes is crucial for great lymphatic system
4) all systems depend on the lymphatic system to function correctly
5) hot baths with Epson salts or cold showers help to facilitate the lymphatic system
6) detox every 7 days to help the Lymphatic system
7) dry lymph brush 10 Min every day
8) rebound trampoline every day

Please send me a message if you wish to see the whole interview.

Babies that cry, do not sleep, arch their spine, do not feed well, do not burp / fart or have poor bowel motion is often diagnosed as colic or reflux.

A huge surprise and difficult time especially for new parents!

https://www.aspirehappyness.co.za/blog/chiropractic/babies-colic-chirop…

I wrote this article sometime ago; if you know anyone that this applies to please message us...We will happily be in contact with them to discuss what are the underlying causes and best solution.

Ineffective movement vs effective movement

In most patients there is a spectrum of movement quality - 
1) super stiff, inflexible, restricted movement
2) hypermobile, great flexibilty, overstretches in all directions. 

Most fit somewhere between these two extremes; some have features of both in different parts of their body. 

The training, exercise and conditioning requirements for each are different! Make certain because injury can occur otherwise.

The fundamentals of spine health depends on: 
1) your posture, 
2) the conditioning and stability strength of the muscles around the spine, 
3) the flexibility and control of all direction movement; 
4) the stressed state of the body.
5) previous injury recovery