TRANSVERSUS MAGIC

Dr Mel C Siff

“By focusingon yourthe transverse abdominiswhen you move,you can improveyourcorecontrolduring exercise”, saysNY City physicaltherapist

and personal trainer Suzanne Countryman. “Plus you’ll suffer less wear and tearon yourback, neckand knees;”.

***Comment. Activation of transversus abdominis(TA)appearsto be the

latest “hot”advice for corestabilisation and trainingamong PTs and

fitness instructors.While voluntaryactivation of TA sometimes;may be

useful in contributing to trunk stability in fairly staticpostures before

a dynamicmulti-dimensional movementoccurs,it becomes impossible and

unwise to mentally involveyourself;in any dynamictrainingor sporting taskswhichactivatenumerous differentpatterns of contractionand relaxationof many stabilisingand moving muscles;.

Moreover, the morerapid, moreforceful or morecomplex the activity, the

less ableone is ableto focus on controlling;the moment-to-momentaction

of any givenmuscle. The inadvisability of doingthisto TA or any other

musclefor thatmatter has often been fondlyreferred to in exercise

physiology as “paralysis by analysis.” So,while you may be ableto activateTA at the start of a squat, press,

jump, cleanor deadlift, the moment thatcomplex dynamicactionbegins,the

neuralprogramsthatcontrolthe pattern of movementwill set off a series ofinvoluntaryreflexes and motor actions;over whichone has littleor no

control. In fact,deliberate attempts to activateTA often tend to

activateabdominalcontractionand lumbar spinalflexion, whichis the last

thing thatyou wantduring a heavy lift or complex action.

It is unnecessary to try to intervene in controlling;in any givensingle

muscleonceyou are an experienced exerciser, becausethe correct

repetition of any exercise will ensurethatyourneuralprogramsactivate

or relax the necessary musclein the most effective and safestmanner.The

veryreason thatwe practisetechniqueis to create automatic neural

programsthatwe don’t haveto ever think aboutduring an exercise or

sporting action.

I leave the comment aboutTA controlhelpingto protect neckand knees;to

others;for theirscrutiny.

————————————

ISOLATION PHILOSOPHY

Dr Mel C Siff Thetherapeuticand fitness trainingworlds stillseemto placea heavy emphasison an isolationist;approach to physicaltesting and conditioning,

without;carefullyidentifying the situationallimitations and scope

whenever suchas approach is used.

Attempts are madeto test and train muscles;individually.Few dayspass

without;comments being madeon isolating the upperor lowerabdominalsfor

training, selectively trainingthe coreof the body, activating

transversus abdoministo ’stabilise the trunk’, testing for weaknesses or

imbalances;in certainmusclegroups or explaining poor performance or injuryon the basisof imbalancein someisolatedsystemof the body.

The bodyconstitutesa linked systemand,unlessthe sc&#
111;peand limitations

of any givenisolationist;approach is meticulously identified, it is misleadingand unwarrantedto use and extrapolatefindingsbased on

isolationist;methods. If one unquestioninglyapplies isolationist;methods,

thenit is being assumed thatthe isolatedareaconcerned;constitutesa

closed system. Thisimplies further thatthisisolatedsystemis not

affected by or does not affect whathappensin adjacent or otherlinked

systems;, or at least thatany suchinteractionwithothersystems;is insignificant. Thetrunk, abdominals, lowerextremity, kneeand so forth are not closed

systems;and any actioninvolving thesesubsystems;influences whatis

happening in all partsof the bodyand the bodyas a whole. It is vital

thatthe bodybe regarded in terms of a systems;theoreticalapproach,

rather than one whichmakesverytenuous assumptions aboutthe closedness

of convenientlyisolatedsubsystems;whose apparentisolationfromother

systems;invariablyis based entirely;on convenience or convenience.

Even if one attempts to apply a systems;theoreticalapproach,it may still beinadequateto regard the entirebodyas the superordinateclosed system,

as is implied, for instance,by the current somewhatsimplistic emphasison

so-called “coretraining”. The limitations of the latter concept;may readilybe noticed if one observes thatit is veryrare in land-basedsport forcorestability to be manifestedin the absence of contactwiththe

ground or external objects. Peripheralstability,whichusually is reliant

on solid contactbetween the extremities of the bodywithsomesurface,is essentialbefore corestability becomes implicated in a givensporting

actionon land. Withoutadequate peripheral stabilisation, the functionalcapabilities of

the “core” are meaningless. The entirebodyor the body-surface constitutes

the appropriateclosed systemfor our attention. Thus, if terms suchas

“corestabilisation” are to be used, thentheyneed to be carefullyapplied

within;the appropriatecontext. Thisis not to negatethe value of approachesthatuse isolationist;

approachesfor valid therapeuticor analyticalreasons,suchas those

involving EMG mediatedbiofeedback, “Kegel” exercises,and post surgical

respiratory exercises,but it is to stressthatthe unqualified application

of isolationist;approachesto sports conditioning needs to be viewed with

careful circumspection.

If we do so, thenwe may alsobecome far morecareful to avoidreferring

rigidly to certainmuscles;as stabilisers, movers,agonist,antagonists,

flexors, adductorsand so on, instead choosingto refer to the stabilising,

moving, agonistic, antagonistic, flexor and adductionrolesof a muscle

during any givenphaseof a specificmotor action.

————————————

Someone fromthe original group whichinitiated the discussion on a sq&
#117;attingarticlein thatbod&#121b;uilding;magazine remindedme thatI also

sent in thesecomments aboutbelt wearing and squats. Hereit is, just in

case somefolk feel thatthe critiquemay be incomplete without;inclusion

of thisaspect. ———————————- DrMel Siff

Dr Mel Siff
Author of Supertraining + Facts and Fallacies of Fitness
http://www.drmelsiff.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/dr-mel-siff-on-transversus-abdominus-core-training-part-1-991243.html

Lose Fat and Keep Lean Muscle Mass

The discovery of Leptin resistance is a giant step forward in our understanding of how we gain and lose fat. Before this discovery it was believed that fat was just the way our body stored unused calories. Most believed that losing weight was a simple solution of eating less and exercising more to burn stored fat.

Recent discoveries have proven that most fad diets do not address the root cause of weight gain. The low-carbohydrates, the Atkins, Zone, and South Beach diets got it all wrong. Losing fat is not about eating certain proportions of fats and carbs. It is about Leptin—the hormone that controls our fat gain and how we burn and lose excess fat.

New research reveals that fat is not some inert mass stored in squashy bulges in all the wrong places in our body, but it is an active organ that produces its own hormones.

Leptin is the primary hormone generated by fat cells that is supposed to suppress our appetite and increase our metabolism rate when our body is functioning correctly. If this system is not working as it should then we can suffer from a specific hormonal imbalance now known as Leptin resistance.

This remarkable discovery was made at the Rockefeller University in 1994. Shortly thereafter, the University of Minnesota spent seven years perfecting a formula that controls our body’s production of Leptin. The University of Connecticut conducted a double-blind study on the effectiveness of this formulation that was named MaxWLX—weight loss accelerator.

Researchers now know why dieters who lose 30 or so pounds of weight often gain it all back plus an additional 5 pounds or more within a relatively short span of time. The production of Leptin by fat cells signals the brain to either store fat or to burn it. Leptin controls our metabolism and the rate that we burn fat. If our production of the Leptin hormone is out of balance then we stack on pounds. This condition is Leptin resistance, and usually occurs after a combination of years of overeating and a lack of exercise.

Fat around the waist is unhealthy and can lead to Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Gallbladder Disorders, and Metabolic Syndrome.

If you have tried in vain to lose that bulging belly fat, if you have fallen off every fad diet you have tried, if your determination to lose weight has been hampered by sugar and starchy food cravings then it is not because you have low will-power or lack determination, it is due to your Leptin levels that are out of balance.

MaxWLX can restore Leptin levels to normal and free you of “yo-yo” dieting, food cravings, and with endless struggles of trying to lose weight by starving yourself.

You can take charge of your excess body fat, out of controlled food cravings, and a sluggish metabolism with MaxWLX weight loss accelerator.

MaxGXL can help restore your Leptin balance and speed up your metabolism to burn unwanted and unhealthy body fat and eliminate food cravings when used together with healthy eating practices and moderate exercise.

Get more information: http://www.maxweightloss.net/

The author has been involved in the healthcare industry for over 20 years. He has authored hospital web content articles and designed wellness products. He is actively engaged in the implementation of data management systems for hospitals and web based healthcare marketing systems.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/leptin-resistance-and-weight-loss-991305.html

India is a promising medical destination for affordable price infertility treatment. Low cost budget, availability of American class surgical facilities with quick medical appointments, plus medical care and service operations at the hands of experienced infertility treatment experts at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, Bangalore and Goa is attracting many patients and infertile couples from, USA, South Africa, Europe, East Asia and Canada to get various procedures of infertility treatment in India like IVF (invitro fertilization), ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), Surrogacy, IVF egg donor program, sperm freezing, Oocyte cyropreservation, etc

Infertility treatment is recommended by the doctor when a person or couple is not able to conceive a child upto one year or more inspite of having unprotected sexual intercourse. The main kinds of infertility treatment procedures provided at advanced infertility treatment centers in India at Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai. The main and most sought procedures of infertility treatment in India by local and foreign patients are: Artificial Insemination, tubal ligation reversal, vasectomy reversal, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Donor Oocyte Program, Assisted Laser Hatching, Fallopian Tube Recanalisation and operative laparoscopy. All one can say is that medical experts of Indian hospitals are well versed in providing the above mentioned procedures and have achieved a high success rate with them

India coupled with medical tourism services provides affordable price infertility treatment. Indian healthcare and infertility cure centers have guided all patients and childless couples in a fine way to get them cured from various kinds of male and female infertility disorders. The quality of medical treatment and healthcare amenities in India is absolutely fine plus Indian doctors and medical staff set the fulfilment of patients expectations as their primary target. The cost budget for procedures of infertility treatment in India is quite friendly and medical rehabilitation facilities being provided to patients makes them feel at home. You may get more info on low cost infertility treatment in India at http://www.indianmedguru.com or mail your queries at contact@indianmedguru.com

Online medical content writer

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/india-a-promising-medical-destination-for-affordable-price-infertility-treatment-995394.html

If you are searching for a yeast infection home cure, then you are in good company. There are many homeopathic and natural cures for this aggravating health condition that is sure to happen to every female on earth from time to time. Many of these cure have been handed down through generations but, all may or may not work for you.

Any concerns with using a yeast infection home should be talked over with your physician so he or she can address any questions or concerns you may have with using them.  Most are safe and effective, but it is always better to check with your doctor first.

As with anything, what works for one individual may not work or be right for another so allowing for the possibility of a cure that is not scientifically tested or proven may require that you keep an open mind. There are many things that you can do to help rid yourself of the overgrowth of yeast that are of a natural nature. Bear in mind that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers likely resorted to a natural yeast infection home cure before today’s medications were even available.

You can first start by lowering your intake or cutting out all together sugars that may be behind your yeast overload.  Diet is an important factor in controlling yeast.  If you make a few small changes such as snacking on fresh vegetables instead of sugary donuts, you can begin feeling better rapidly.

Learn to keep an eye on what triggers an infection and start eating yogurt regularly.  Increasing your consumption of yogurt to treat yeast overgrowth can greatly diminish or lessen your the annoying effects of an infection.  Keeping your stress levels in check as well as wearing clothes that are loose fitting and are not to snug can help immensely in the prevention of these types of infections.

Yeast flourish in damp, warm areas, so using a starch or a light fragrance free powder can keep moisture levels down and yeast at bay. Summer months tend to sometime bring on more overgrowth of yeast than colder months in that we stay hotter and sweat a great deal more. If there is a serious issue with staying dry or being able to keep moisture levels in check, then try switching anti-perspirant products to see if that helps, otherwise you’ll need to check with your doctor.

Furthermore, a yeast infection home cure can be greatly aided if you make the choice to wear clothes that are made of all cotton and materials that allow for the body to breathe better. All these things, if we will do them on a regular basis, can keep us free from yeast overgrowth or at least reduce the chances of having to do battle with a dreaded yeast infection.

Are you sick and tired of yeast infections? Visit TreatYeastInfectionToday.com and download a for a free report about more cures for yeast infection that can really work!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/yeast-infection-home-cure-what-really-works-991484.html

In women ages 65-75 taking DHEA along with calcium and vitamin D increased their bone density 2% each year during a 2 year study. “The results of our study are very promising. Similar studies have demonstrated much smaller benefits for bone than we found. However, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, which are present in half of older adults, may have prevented DHEA from improving bone density in the earlier studies,” said Edward Weiss, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences and lead author of the study. “In addition to its beneficial effects on bone, DHEA replacement may have other benefits including improvements in risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, improvements in immune function, and improvements in psychological health,” Weiss said. This study used a fairly high dose of DHEA, 50 mg. Because basic DHEA can be converted to testosterone or estrogen, it is not an appropriate supplement for many people. However, the form of DHEA I recommend to women is called 7 keto DHEA metabolite, and it does not metabolize to estrogen or testosterone, offering a safer approach. In general health you make about 25 mgs of DHEA per day, and that level steadily declines after at 30 and by age 70 is only 20% of youthful levels. DHEA is an important adrenal reserve hormone, released at the time of cortisol production – but staying relatively stable in your blood as it is cleared more slowly than cortisol. It appears to have a buffering effect, in that when it goes low cortisol is more likely to enter a wear and tear mode – which is certainly the case with weight gain. I am more conservative with DHEA supplementation, suggesting anywhere from 8 – 25 mgs per day of 7-keto DHEA. I feel that some is helpful for many women but you also want to focus on building your overall adrenal function.

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc., is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/dhea-helps-older-women-build-spinal-bone-density-992030.html