Anti-Inflammatory Eating Habits; Decrease Pain in the Body Through Nutrition

Have Anti-Inflammatory Eating Habits to Decrease Overall Body Inflammation, Your Body Will Thank You for The Changes

Low grade inflammation of the body has been found as the root of all problems; inflamed blood vessels leads to arteriosclerosis, lungs leads to asthma, stomach leads to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), the list goes on covering every major organ. If you can keep your body from being always irritated from the inside out it will help ensure ward off the pathological processes that take time to develop (diabetes and heart disease being 2 of the big ones). Start by avoiding these foods: Red meat, dairy products, refined sugar, caffeine, fried foods, chemical preservatives, food dyes, MSG, sodium nitrite, fast foods… Wait; if you’ve been reading my articles the last 2 months are you noticing a trend? It seems the ingredients you should avoid fall in multiple negative categories from carcinogenic, increasing weight gain, to pro-inflammatory. This is not a coincidence! Man-made, synthetically altered foods in the end all tend to harm your body. Follow the basic 2 rules: Rule #1. Get as close to 1 ingredient as possible, if you are buying peanut butter it should only have peanuts, maybe salt contained as ingredients. If it has 8 ingredients… WHY? Its peanut butter! The rest are preservatives or synthetic chemicals Rule #2. If cannot pronounce the ingredient, ITS NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!! Its probably a chemical preservative, or added to give “natural taste,” or my favorite “added for freshness.” By definition the food must have been ‘unfresh’ then right? That’s why you had to add it for freshness? Watch your supermarket Jargon, if you want to help read through the marketing semantics, go to http://nutritionalpathways.wordpress.com/ to learn more about practical nutrition. Contact me at (800) 980-9172 to make an appointment for a nutritional evaluation.

Tips include:

1. Start with a goal

2. Never miss a breakfast

3. Chew your food slowly

4. You do not always have to eat everything on your plate

5. Cut out the bread all together

6. Eat foods high in fiber

7. Lose weight slowly

8. Eat smaller meals frequently

9. Stay active and add both aerobic and strength training exercise

10. Eliminate junk foods

11. Drink 10-12 glasses of water everyday

12. Avoid eating when you are depressed or angry

13. Don’t watch as much TV, especially when eating

14. Remove all the sugar and nutrient lacking food from your home

15. Learn to portion size

Fiber (also called roughage or bulk) promotes the wavelike contractions that keep food moving through the intestine. Also, high-fiber foods expand the inside walls of the colon. This eases the passage of waste. Fibrous substances pass through the intestine undigested. They also absorb many times their weight in water, resulting in softer, bulkier stools.

Studies show that rural Africans, who eat diets high in fiber, eliminate food waste in one-third the time it takes people from urban westernized cultures. Their stools are larger and softer. Because of the greater bulk and speed of foods through the digestive tract, it is believed that harmful substances are also swept out before they can cause problems. In fact, these rural people have fewer of the digestive tract diseases that plague Western man. It is thought that this may be related to the nature of their diet.

A high-fiber diet causes a large, soft, bulky stool that passes through the bowel easily and quickly. Because of this action, some digestive tract disorders may be avoided, halted, or even reversed simply by following a high-fiber diet. A softer, larger stool helps prevent constipation and straining. This can help avoid or relieve hemorrhoids. More bulk means less pressure in the colon, which is important in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis (defects in the weakened walls of the colon). In addition, fiber appears to be important in treating diabetes, elevated cholesterol, colon polyps, and cancer of the colon.

Nutrition Facts
As long as a balanced selection of foods from each of the basic food groups is chosen, the High Fiber Diet is nutritionally adequate. Some studies indicate that excessive intake of certain dietary fiber sources may bind and interfere with the absorption of the following minerals: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. However, there appears to be no problem for those adults who follow a balanced, regular diet. Occasionally, a physician may prescribe supplements.

The Use of Fiber in the Irritable Bowel
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders of the lower digestive tract. There is no disease present with IBS, but it creates bothersome symptoms such as altered bowel habits -- constipation, diarrhea, or both alternately. There may also be bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, and spasm. An attack of IBS can be triggered by emotional tension and anxiety, poor dietary habits, and certain medications. Increased amounts of fiber in the diet can help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by producing soft, bulky stools. This helps to normalize the time it takes for the stool to pass through the colon. Liquids help to soften the stool. Irritable bowel syndrome, if left untreated, may lead to diverticulitis of the colon

You should also try to always follow these dietary rules:

1. Drink plenty of liquids, including fruit or vegetable juices and water. Drink at least six cups of water or fluid a day.
2. Eat slowly. Chew your food thoroughly. This allows the saliva and digestive juices of the stomach, liver, and pancreas to break down food more easily. It may also help prevent problems from developing in the lower digestive tract.
3. Eat your meals at regular intervals.

For more information go to LIVING LIFE LIGHTER PROGRAM for an effective way to lose weight in a safe, manageable way. You can also call 800.980.9172 to talk to a doctor in regards to weight-loss or treating any clinical condition with nutrition.

Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.
http://livinglifelighter.com

Decrease Pain Through Weight-Loss, Fat-Loss, Brooklyn NY

Articles from Brooklyn Voice:

JULY 2010, Page 30

LIVING YOUR LIFE LIGHTER!

Do you need extra motivation to lose those extra pounds you've put on over the last year? Are you frustrated that the weight is getting harder to lose?
Stop guessing and start learning!

Not only lose weight but LEARN why you lost the weight so you never have to pay for a "FAD Diet" again... correct knowledge is power, the internet is NOT a reference and many contain misinformation. The quarterly contest run is a scientifically based program that measures overall percentage of body mass lost over 3 months to decide the winner. The winner receives a multitude of prizes besides good health! Spa prizes include: Vegan spa manicure, organic facial with skincare consultation, 10-free movement studio classes, 3-months of nutritional maintenance, and a ‘reveal the new you’ party at the HOM store on 3rd Ave between 88th and 89th Streets. As of now the contest has already started but you can still take part in the program which is the same thing except its not a competition and the price is cheaper.

In the past, those participating in the contest or program lost 10-11.5% of body mass in 3-months, which equaled between 18-28 pounds!! This is perfect for those needing an extra bit of motivation to help lose those extra pounds. For more in depth details go to www.LivingLifeLighter.com or call 800.980.9172 to speak to someone now!

Aug. News - How to Become a Fat-Burning Machine!! via #constantcontact

Aug. News - How to Become a Fat-Burning Machine!! via #constantcontact

Postural Correction Brooklyn NY, Improve Bio-Mechanics

Posture is by far the most important aspect of your body’s mechanics and will directly influence how your muscles and joints feel as you age. Bad posture is not generally felt acutely, unless you sleep incorrectly on your arm it falls asleep or worse yet you accidental fall asleep on the couch and wake up with wicked neck pain. Aside from these events that can cause an acute problem, posture is a mechanical function that takes time to completely develop into serious pain and discomfort. The main culprit you are fighting against is gravity and in the end no matter how strong you are, if you try to fight gravity YOU WILL LOSE! You need to learn how to co-exist with gravity because it will always be there (Hopefully! LOL), always be pulling at the same force - 6.67428 x 10^-11 Newtons (m/kg)^2 Even if you can positively change your posture and ergonomics 50% of the time you are relieving a tremendous amount of pressure and stress on your body. Even if you can positively change your posture and ergonomics only 50% of the time you are relieving a tremendous amount of pressure and stress on your body. Follow these tips:

1. Your monitor position while working in front of a computer should be no closer than 14” and no further than 30”. When you sit upright in your chair and look straight ahead your eyes should ideally pass through the middle of your computer screen. If you have a lab-top stack a few books underneath to reach the optimal height, ideally using a docking station for a labtop is best

2. Sit upright with relaxed shoulders; place your hands on the keyboard in a typing position. Now adjust your seat height until your elbows are bent at 90°. For a great way of keeping good posture and exercising your postural muscles, use a correct sized physioball instead of a chair or a fit disk that sits on your chair

3. When you are seated your feet should always be planted on the floor, NEVER hanging. Inadequately supported feet when sitting causes excessive stress on the spine, which can compress the sciatic nerve. If you are too short then you need a footrest or a wobble board and your knees should be at 90° while seated

4. If you must position material to type, place it next to the monitor so you can read the material using horizontal gaze versus turning your head to see what to type. A common cause of neck pain is a monitor that is placed diagonally in front of the worker making him/her keep their neck turned while typing

5. Lumbar support should be positioned in the small of your back. The convex support piece should match the concave (lordosis) curve of your lumbar spine. You can buy a fancy lumbar support pillow or just roll up a thick towel and place it in the small of your back

6. When typing for extended periods of time chronic pressure on the wrist area is what causes conditions such as carpal tunnel and forearm pain. Your wrist should be in a neutral position with a padded wrist support underneath if possible.

7. Always use a head set instead of holding a phone using your neck and shoulders. Prolonged exposure in this position will inevitably result in neck and shoulder pain. Using a headset will eliminate these problems

8. Keep your chin tucked in at all times, the opening of your ear should line up with your shoulders to keep the stress off your upper neck and shoulder region. For example, when getting out of bed lead with your forehead, not your chin

9. When getting in and getting out of a car always swing both your feet out at the same time instead of placing one foot out first and then twisting your body to push yourself out of your seat. The most common way a person herniates a disc is putting the back into a position of flexion, rotation, and then having a shear force applied while in that position (ex. bending over to pick up groceries or typing your shoes and getting a sudden 'locking' of the low back with sharp, radiating pain down the legs

10. Keep your ‘core’ (transverse abdominal, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and lumbar stabilizers) tight at all times, exercise breathing techniques, and practice your exercises to tighten this part of your body and you will help ensure that future injuries can be prevented. To read more about strengthening your core muscles to avoid injury click on INCREASING CORE STRENGTH, BROOKLYN NY.

To see if you qualify for insurance coverage of various pain management services please fill in the data fields in PAIN MANAGEMENT, BROOKLYN NY. You will be contacted shortly after to go over your options.

Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.

Weight Loss Brooklyn, Weight Loss Contest!! Nutritional Counseling Brooklyn

Do you need extra motivation to lose those extra pounds you've put on over the last year? Are you frustrated that the weight just doesn't seem to come off like it used to?

Start the new year off right! Not only lose weight but LEARN why you lost the weight so you never have to pay for a "FAD Diet" again... correct knowledge is power, internet sites are NOT references and most contain misinformation. This quarterly contest I oversee is a doctor run, scientifically based, program that measures overall percentage of body fat lost over a 3 month time period to decide the winner. The winner receives a "Spa day and complete makeover to show off the new and improved you!"

In the past, the winners have lost from 10-11.5% of total body weight in 3 months which translated to between 18-28 pounds!! This contest is perfect for those people that need an extra bit of motivation to push them over the top to lose those extra pounds they promised themselves they would lose. For more in depth details and how to sign up, go to the Living Life Lighter website focused on WEIGHT LOSS BROOKLYN Or call 800.980.9172

Let Dr. Gordon teach you how to eat out properly, shop for food, meal plan, start a basic exercise program, pick the right foods, and much more! Learn more about your body composition, click on CHECK YOUR BMI to enter your vitals to calculate your BMI. Remember, 25 or less is normal, 25-30 is overweight, 30-35 is obese, and 35+ is morbidly obese. Then make an appointment to get your body fat tested in the office, you're only responsible for your copay! Get an individualized NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM or combination of nutrition and an exercise protocol; which could be completely covered by your insurance. Just follow the MEDICAL INSURANCE CHECK link to see if you qualify, and get started on your goals right away!

Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.

Pre - Season Athletic Preparation, Exercises For Experienced People, Injury Prevention, Eliminate Neck & Low Back Pain, Performance Enhancement

So its a month before your season starts... but you haven't reached your power goals over the winter... what to do??

If this is your situation, remember you are obviously in the pre-season micro-cycle of training and should be training for this time period. That basically means that it is too late to build any significant power to your body. That part of your training should have taken place during the off-season and involved weights and plyometrics. So what you should focus on is training your body for sports specific movement, strength, endurance, and most importantly… NOT GETTING INJURED!!! For more info about FITNESS BROOKLYN, NY

Lets use soccer as an example... Soccer is a sport that relies heavily on both aerobic and anaerobic training… meaning you have to be able to do the sprinting back and forth at top speed while also lasting a full game (By FIFA rules, 2 45 minute halves with a 15 minute half-time). So what should you do?? At this point like I mentioned before, your power traits are most likely already set and my training will develop your strength and sharpen your training for practice. Lets take a look:

Warm-up:

Jogging (Preferably in cleats and on the grass) = 5-15 minute warm up. Jumping rope is also a great warm up exercise, but do not overlook this important part of an exercise plan. This is the difference between getting a great workout or pulling a muscle.

Calisthenics:

1. Calf stretching (Both the Soleus and Gastrocnemius muscle)
2. Hip flexor stretch, both sides – This stretch is key because it will lead to greater motion of the hips which equates to force behind the kicking
3. Hamstring and Quadricep muscle stretching
4. Trunk Rotations (Obliques, Multifidus & lumbar paraspinals, abdominal)

Strength Training in Gym:

Focus on building on the foundational strength you have hopefully already created in the off-season. All exercises should be done with manageable weight, meaning reps between 8-15, NOT 3 rep, very heavy exercises; it is too late for that. It is arguable that you can still build power in the preseason but why risk injury? Plus, soccer is not a sport that relies on pure power like American football does, it involves a tremendous amount of agility and balance, so if you can improve this, your game will improve!

I like to be comprehensive so lets look at select power specific exercises I recommend highly. The actual weight amounts I cannot provide because I need to do an evaluation of your strength and power to give accurate numbers, but I will give you a basic outline of my choice exercises:

1. SQUATS...Very important! Remember, not too heavy, but enough to make you work to complete the sets. If I were only allowed to pick one exercise to do, this would be it, it increases testosterone and works just about every body part. Many gym rats that want to gain size and mass overlook working out their legs, but not working out your legs will be the biggest mistake you ever make if your trying to get bigger, faster, stronger, and/or anything that involves performance enhancement

2. DEADLIFTS... although I prefer stiff legged deadlifts the standard deadlift is the bread and butter for a stronger back, glutes and upper thighs STIFF LEGGED DEADLIFTS...The stiff legged hits the hamstrings harder which is significant because your legs will rely on the hamstrings when you run for long periods of time. Quads = Short, powerful sprinting bursts. Hamstrings = Endurance muscle for runners

3. Vertical Jumping – There are 3 types, the standing in place with ¼ squat, the 1 step approach and jump, and the 3-step approach. All should be practiced and this exercise will help work on your sport specific power, NOT gym weight power. If you don't have a Vertec measurement device, get 'meathead' workout hand chalk, use a wall to touch and mark... and let the competition begin! Who has the best vertical? VERTICAL JUMPING... There are a few different video's demonstrating a running vertical, a standing vertical, box jumps, and a few other techniques. This crucial exercise will help ensure you win the battle for any sport that involves how high you can jump, what type of balance you have when you jump in various planes of movement, how strong you can push off your feet, and who can get to a specific point faster...

4. PHYSIOBALL KNEE TO CHEST... Add a few exercises for your abdominal and low back exercises. Stability ball balance with a knee to chest, the Pike, ball crunches, back extension, abdominal tuck and oblique stability ball crunches to name a few. DO NOT underestimate the importance of balance and your need for core strength.

** There is a reason why the military uses obstacle courses, push-ups, sit-ups, and sit-ups…. Because it works!!! You get the most growth with the least possibility of injury... You would be amazed how much exercise you can do with just a physioball, mat, a wall to use, and 3' foam roller **

Sports Specific and Plyometric Training:

Bounding – This is when you take long strides while running, works your ability to “turn on” on the speed while already running. ALTERNATE LEG BOUNDING... There are different types of bounding, including: Single leg bound, double leg bound, and single leg lateral bound. A mixture of all types over the span of week is a great plyometric exercise.

Lateral Jumping – Jump from side to side over a 12” box, stay on the ground as little as possible and be light on your feet, “like a rabbit.” LATERAL JUMPING Remember… controlled and light on your feet is the key to this exercise. As you progress you can elevate the box and/or increase the speed/reps

Depth Jumping – Walking from an elevated position and doing a vertical jump as soon as you touch the ground. DEPTH JUMP What I suggest you do is after the jump you sprint 20-40 yards in a given direction to add a reactionary movement at the end. You do jumps to increase your overall lower body strength and power. You can also set up 2 boxes and step off 1 and jump onto the next and so on… DEPTH JUMP WITH REBOUND... There are many variations that all help in strengthening your running, jumping, and agility. Practice different ones to keep it interesting.

Jump Tuck – Jumping while kicking your legs to hit your butt or bringing them in front of you to touch your toes JUMP TUCK

Last but not least… RUNNING!!

Agility Training:

T-Cone Drills – Requires forward movement, lateral movement, and backstepping. The exact steps are:

Three cones are set five meters apart on a straight line. A fourth cone is placed 10 meters from the middle cone so that the cones form a 'T'.
· The athlete starts at the cone at the base of the 'T'
· The coach gives the signal to 'Go' and starts the stop watch
· The athlete runs to the middle cone, touches the cone
· The athlete then side steps 5 meters to the left cone, touches that cone
· The athlete then side steps 10 meters to the far cone and touches that one
· The athlete the side steps 5 meters back to the middle cone, touching that one
· The athlete then runs 10 meters backwards to the base of the 'T' and touches that cone

This drill is basic but teaches agility, short distance explosive sprinting, and footwork! T-CONE DRILLS

After putting together and using all this make sure to do a cool down walk or jog (10 minutes or so) and drink plenty of liquids afterward, only minimal during to ensure you don’t cramp up. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and if your interested in a sports specific plan for you! I outlined some basic tools I believe can sharpen any athletes game!!! Bring it!! For more info about PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT BROOKLYN, NY and FITNESS PROGRAMS BROOKLYN, NY click on those links.

Dr. Gordon C.S.C.S.

Brooklyn Back and Neck Pain, Sciatica Brooklyn, Herniated Disc Brooklyn

A disc herniation is a common problem associated with trauma or repetitive injury to the vertebral disc of the spine. The disc is designed to act as a shock absorber of the body through the use of a gel like liquid in the middle of the disc that helps dissipate the force and energy that occurs through axial loading or any type of manual work that requires the use of the spine. A disc herniation occurs when the gel like portion (The nucleus pulposes) escapes from the disc; this gel like liquid is extremely irritating to any body part it touches, especially nerves and muscles. Disc herniations usually cause tremendous pain, abnormal gait, numbness and/or tingling, possible muscle weakness, and overall poor standard of living. Most people who suffer from chronic discogenic (Herniation) pain will end up opting for surgery to solve the seemingly never ending cycle of pain. Once the disc herniates it is theorized that the disc can never be as strong as it was, although plenty of research supports that proper treatment can ensure that pain does not reoccur and that one can lead a perfectly normal active life. In order for this to happen the person must always be conscious of their posture and bio mechanics, maintain flexibility, and perform basic rehabilitation exercises for the rest of their life. That it is part of the reason why so many people fail at maintaining a pain free life after a disc herniation, they stop doing the exercises and stretching after the pain goes away. Pain is a poor indicator of a condition such as a disc herniation because once the pain goes away it does not mean the area is fully healed. In fact its during this time that rehabilitation is most crucial and re-injury is common. Once an area of your body is subjected to multiple injuries it is harder for that area to heal after the initial injury due to scar tissue formation, improper mechanics, and weak muscles; if improper rehabilitation was followed. Click on the link for more information regarding proper treatment of DISC HERNIATIONS BROOKLYN, NY. To check and see if insurance covers your PAIN MANAGEMENT BROOKLYN, NY, we can help, follow the link or call 800.980.9172

The most common way to herniate a disc for people is bending over to pick something up from the ground and the most common age for this to occur is between the ages of 21-50. Proper postural training, flexibility training, and core stabilization will help prevent or treat this problem. One type of cutting edge technology used to treat disc herniation's is spinal decompression therapy. Decompression Therapy is done by reducing pressure on spinal vertebrae, discs, and nerves by decompressing the spine. A computerized traction device alleviates pressure of joints, discs, and nerves. Decompression therapy causes a negative pressure within the spinal disc or “vacuum effect” that sucks any bulging material back into place. In addition, it is this “vacuum effect” that allows crucial nutrients to be ‘sucked’ back into the disc allowing it to heal optimally. If you are interested in decompression therapy or if your insurance covers any of these services including decompression, chiropractic, and massage Click HERE...

You can also find out more about Dr. Gordon Kuang and the services he offers by visiting his main WEBSITE

Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.

Brooklyn Chiropractor - Treatment of Pain - Back Pain - Neck Pain - Nutrition, Brooklyn - Decompression Therapy

For more information regarding nutrition, pain management including: Back pain, neck pain, sciatica, numbness/tingling, chronic stiffness, herniated discs, arthritis, sports injury, sprain/strain, shoulder pain, and all other pain related issues; please visit
OPTIMUM HEALTHCARE NY

Please feel free to email info@optimumhealthcareNY.com with any questions related to overall health and wellness... To see if your health insurance covers MASSAGE OR CHIROPRACTIC please follow the link and fill out the data collection section and a staff member will check your insurance coverage and then I will follow up with you personally. Or call 800.980.9172 to speak to some one now!

Dr. G

Back and Neck Pain Relief Brooklyn

Today I'd like to make a quick announcement and introduce you to our new website aimed at residents of Brooklyn, NY who may be in pain and suffering with back or neck pain.

Please take a look at our new site - any feedback is greatly appreciated!
BROOKLYN CHIROPRACTOR, NY

Sciatica Brooklyn NY, Treating Sciatica, What is Sciatica? Spinal Decompression Treats Sciatica

You probably have heard someone complain about they’re “sciatica acting up” in your lifetime, but most people don’t realize that true sciatica is not as common as disc hernations or sprain/strains of muscles.

The sciatic nerve starts in the low back with a combination of nerve roots and runs the entire distance of one side of your leg. This nerve impacts sensations (Pain, numbness, etc…), blood supply, and muscles. The most common areas for sciatica irritation are the low back and under the piriformis muscle located underneath the gluteal muscles of each side.

When the sciatic nerve is irritated the patient can experience referral symptoms anywhere along the whole length of the nerve, from the low back to the toes. This is why sciatic pain seems to always be described as a broad stroke covering so much surface area. Those who have suffered from an inflamed sciatic nerve will likely never forget the misery they endured at the time. The idea behind keeping sciatica treatment successful is to focus on making sure it does not get inflamed in the first place. The only true proven method of eliminating inflamed body parts (without injections or medicine) is rest. The problem with this scenario is that once the area is irritated sitting, walking, and extended periods of standing all contribute to slowing the healing process down.

You cannot do rehabilitation when you are in excruciating pain and even if you could force yourself to, the process would be counterproductive. I will give you an outline to focus on keeping your sciatic nerve happy and how to strengthen your body so that the times you decide to overexert your body you won’t be paying for it the next day.

SCIATICA TREATMENT, BROOKLYN CHIROPRACTOR, NY Follow the link and input your insurance information to see if your covered, or call 800.980.9172

Step 1 Flexibility Training

All muscles have a direct affect on the bone it is attached to and can have an indirect affect on the other bones the surrounding the muscle in question. For example, a tight hamstring muscle pulls on the pelvis and directly affects the movement of the hip, but because the pelvis is attached to the low back it will have an indirect affect on the spinal column. This is why it is important to ensure all muscles in the lower extremity are at optimal length of functioning. The main muscles we focus on are: Hamstring, piriformis, hip flexor (psoas, iliopsoas), quadriceps, calf, tensor fascia lata, abductor, and adductor muscles. The majority of people do not have a problem with every single muscle; usually only 2-3 is the main culprit causing the biomechanical dysfunction.

Step 2 Postural Corrections

“Structure dictates function.” This holds true no matter if it’s building a house or addressing your posture. Incorrect posture in the upper body results in extra pressure being placed not only on your neck but also the vertebral bodies in the cervical spine, ultimately leading to pain or even worse, disc herniations. Making sure your shoulders are back and not rounded, your ears line up with your shoulders, and your chin is tucked in are all major points that must be addressed when addressing your posture. Correcting your posture is a technique that takes time to see results but in the end is paramount in prevention and elimination of pain. If you can’t change your biomechanics then you will be doomed to have the same physical problems repeat themselves. For sciatica specifically, you should be aware of how to maintain a posterior pelvic tilt (called imprinting the pelvis in Pilates) and squeeze your pelvic floor (Kegel muscles) to stabilize your low back and decrease the amount of pressure being put on the sciatic nerve. Every body part has a correct position to decrease stress on the bones and muscles in the area, so it is important to learn them all.

Step 3 Strength and Stabilization

The last step in any treatment is to strengthen the stabilizing muscles around the area that has been injured. You have probably already been doing basic postural correction and range of motion exercises already, but his step is building upon this base of knowledge and adding complimentary strength to the muscles that surround the area. If you have sciatica its not enough just to strengthen the piriformis muscle and lumbar stabilizers, you must also increase the strength of the gluteal muscles and the muscles of the lower extremities (hamstring, quadriceps, and calves). Once these muscles become stronger they will shift the stress placed upon the stabilizing muscles and pick up the “slack” whenever the area is overworked (ex. Moving, weight lifting, etc…). The reason this is the last step, or towards the end of treatment is because you cannot strengthen an area if it is causing you immense pain. Even during rehabilitation you walk a thin line between doing to little and not improving your condition and doing too much and hurting yourself.


Step 4 Decrease Stress

Stress levels will affect ALL the problems associated with the human body, whether they are systemic or physical in nature. Decreasing your stress levels and getting enough sleep are often overlooked but is the cornerstone of good healing. If your suffering from sciatica a good massage or warm bath will not only help the pain but also ease your stress. Stress causes low-grade inflammation and new research has shown that low-grade inflammation is the culprit in just about all known disease processes. The best way to decrease stress is to do the activities you enjoy and find relaxing. If playing basketball decreases your stress, this would be an incorrect choice while suffering from sciatica! The more relaxed you are the better you will feel overall; so don’t take stress for granted because it is quite literally a killer!

Conclusion

Sciatica is a condition that involves irritation of a major nerve that runs down your entire leg. Treatment of this condition involves addressing the structural, chemical, and even emotional components of the injury. To learn more about the options for treating SCIATICA BROOKLYN, NY... follow the link to start your journey to complete recovery and the prevention of future symptoms.