Chiropractors come from a wide range of backgrounds and each has they're own unique method of treatment, but whether they use applied kinesiology or activator technique, they all have one thing in common; a belief in a non-surgical approach to pain management. This does not mean I am against surgery or even medications, but I believe in trying different methods to find the root cause of the problem and not just cover up the symptoms. In some cases surgery is the only plausible option, but in many cases surgery is used too quickly and without exhausting other resources available first.
The main long-term goals I treat my patients for includes: 1. The elimination and prevention of all types of body pain 2. Strengthen the body by increasing your lean muscle mass and improve flexibility to reach optimal muscle lengths 3. Lifestyle protocols to make sure the problem never returns (This ranges from postural training to physical therapy techniques to do from home). The short-term goal is usually to get out of acute pain, eliminate chronic pain, lose 20-30 pounds, and/or increase strength & flexibility. I focus on PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE BROOKLYN, NY for all my patients.
Optimal muscle lengths are very important to bio-mechanics because a muscle can only function properly if it is the correct length. Its called the "Goldie Locks effect." Your muscle cannot be too short or too long, it needs to be just right to function optimally. A tight muscle ends up putting more stress on a joint then normally causing pain and dysfunction, while a loose muscle does not provide the stability or strength a normally sized one produces. An example is a person who has forward rolled shoulders and horrible posture. All the muscles in the back, the trapezius m, shoulder stabilizers (Rhomboid minor/major), and rotator cuff in the shoulder become elongated and weak due to the forward rolling of the shoulders. While the muscles in the front, pectoralis m, SCM, scalenes, and the levator scapulae (located in the back) become overworked and tight, sometimes causing headaches. And if it wasn't enough that the muscles mentioned above become short or lengthened, the deep neck flexor muscles (The 'core' muscles of the neck) become weak and inhibited. These deep neck muscles are responsible for posture and keeping your neck in an upright position, when these become weak your entire bio-mechanical structure breaks down causing chronic pain.
So what do chiropractors do exactly? Well, we do much more then just "crack bones." The cracking and clicking you sometimes hear is just nitrogen bubbles being released within your joints when the area is moved through is physiological range of motion. The chiropractic adjustment is designed to provide passive movement to a joint to help facilitate proper movement and bio-mechanics. There has been excellent research to back up the use of JOINT MOBILIZATION BROOKLYN, NY, used effectively with cases involving osteoarthritis. When your joint or muscle experiences pain the first thing your body does is to tighten the area up so the movement is decreased thereby causing less pain. Now that the area's range of motion has decreased its bio-mechanical motion has been compromised. Compromised bio-mechanical movement then causes more pain which then causes the muscle to tighten up even more creating a "viscous circle of pain." A chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapist, and other muskuloskeletal specialists attempt to break this viscous cycle; by adjusting the area, applying massage & muscle stripping to loosen the surrounding area around the joint, and/or increase the Chi (Energy) flowing through in area the practitioner attempts to break the cycle of pain and restore normal range of motion back into the area in question. It has been theorized that the adjustment itself, through the use of passive motion techniques, increases the synovial fluid in the surrounding joints that are being treated therefore adding to and speeding up the healing process.
When finding a chiropractor be sure that during the history and physical examination not only are you completely comfortable with the practitioner but that they actually physically touch and test your body for bio-mechanical dysfunction. You would not believe the amount of patients I treat that have been to multiple MD's, PT's, and Chiropractors that never laid a finger on them. My profession is called physical medicine for a reason! How can you possible tell if a patient has a stiff neck if you never actually palpate the neck and look for restricted joint movement ?!?
Don't be afraid to ask questions, this holds true for any doctor or professional you plan to hire. If you are afraid of getting your neck adjusted (Cracked), have to doctor explain the process to you and ease you into the technique. If you are really too scared to have anyone move your neck like that... don't worry, all is not lost, there are still plenty of other treatment options you can have done that will help decrease neck pain. If your not satisfied with the answer or you don't like the "bedside" manner of the practitioner, don't be afraid to leave and look for another one. A second opinion never hurt, and any doctor that tells you otherwise is suspect right off the bat.
Chiropractic is a wonderful tool that must be utilized with proper flexibility training, core strengthening, and postural training in order to be completely successful. Just getting a massage is not enough, just getting adjusted is not enough, the doctor needs to find the root cause of the problem and address it through the use of adjusting, massage, stretching, physical therapy, and eventually home exercises to prevent the problem from re-occurring. Remember that physical health is a dynamic process that requires a pro-active approach.
Please feel free to message me with any questions or concerns about CHIROPRACTOR BROOKLYN, NY to learn more about what I do!
Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.
Showing posts with label NY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NY. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
HGH, Fountain of youth? or Grower of larger heads? Anti-aging, Brooklyn, NY
SO by now if you haven't been at least familiar with baseballs steroid scandal your either living under a rock in the middle of nowhere or someone that does not come in contact with humans. I've read articles touting the benefits and the negative repercussions of this hormone. I've seen it first hand with the size of Barry Bonds head growth in the last 8 years... its as large as a pillow. This does not happen after you go through puberty unless you have a tumor of the pituitary gland that causes a chemical imbalance in your body. But whats most interesting to think about is the effects of this hormone on the longevity and lean muscle growth. Its easy to see why Debbie Cleman's caved into the curiosity of injecting it before her swimsuit appearance in Sports Illustrated. We have athletes , actors and actresses, military, gymrats, and even doctors admitting to the use of this hormone for a variety of reasons. There is a growing population of doctors that believe in the prescription use of this hormone to increase vitality in certain demographics and ages. So do all of these reasons make a valid argument versus the negative effects.
Well it starts with the benefits of increased amounts of this hormone:
Increases energy, endurance, recovery, and immune function
Reduces fat accumulation and builds lean body mass
Lowers blood pressure
Increases cardiac function and cholesterol profiles
Improves libido and sexual performance
Can reverse the aging process
Improves mood and sleeping patterns
Learn more about GROWTH HORMONE BROOKLYN, NY, learn how HGH works in your body and how it effects you.
Hmmm, those sound like some of the most common complaints possible in the human lifetime.
SO the negatives
Taken in large amounts can cause abnormal bone and tumor growth. Think Barry Bonds' melon... or making that little benign prostate growth spurt up like a plant in a flower pot
Possibly develop unsafe cortisol levels in the body
Swelling, increased pain from arthritis, and carpal tunnel have been side effects mentioned in HGH studies in higer amounts.
You def. need to have a full examination to determine if you have any growths that may be sped up with this type of hormone use, even with the natural Secretagogues. Females are at a bit of a natural disadvantage when aiming to gain more lean muscle mass, they have lower amounts of testosterone and have a higher body percentage because of their hormones. That is why intensity level is paramount during exercise for women to gain more muscle.
Spot reducing is another use for HGH injections. Everyone should know by now there is no such thing as just getting rid of your stomach, or just making your face appear thinner. Your body loses fat as a whole, not in a region, so stop doing 1000 sit-ups a day and focus more on your nutrition to get that 6-pack. If spot reducing was possible people who chew lots of gum would all have thin faces.... def. not the case. But HGH injections can reduce the amount of fat cells in a specific area very similar to the way liposuction can.
So with all these benefits listed, am I an advocate for HGH use? Well the jury is still out and I don't think most people are responsible enough to use it correctly (doctors included!). You'll have rationalization... just like Andy Pettite... he's taken it to come back from injury quicker, but insists he's not a cheater. Well Andy, the fact that you've taken it to recover quickly has put you in a category different then other athletes and therefore gave you an unfair advantage. I do applaud him for being the few on the Mitchell report to actually acknowledge the allegations. but he cheated... But if you were getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport you love and were desperate would you have???? Hmmmm....
Well it starts with the benefits of increased amounts of this hormone:
Increases energy, endurance, recovery, and immune function
Reduces fat accumulation and builds lean body mass
Lowers blood pressure
Increases cardiac function and cholesterol profiles
Improves libido and sexual performance
Can reverse the aging process
Improves mood and sleeping patterns
Learn more about GROWTH HORMONE BROOKLYN, NY, learn how HGH works in your body and how it effects you.
Hmmm, those sound like some of the most common complaints possible in the human lifetime.
SO the negatives
Taken in large amounts can cause abnormal bone and tumor growth. Think Barry Bonds' melon... or making that little benign prostate growth spurt up like a plant in a flower pot
Possibly develop unsafe cortisol levels in the body
Swelling, increased pain from arthritis, and carpal tunnel have been side effects mentioned in HGH studies in higer amounts.
You def. need to have a full examination to determine if you have any growths that may be sped up with this type of hormone use, even with the natural Secretagogues. Females are at a bit of a natural disadvantage when aiming to gain more lean muscle mass, they have lower amounts of testosterone and have a higher body percentage because of their hormones. That is why intensity level is paramount during exercise for women to gain more muscle.
Spot reducing is another use for HGH injections. Everyone should know by now there is no such thing as just getting rid of your stomach, or just making your face appear thinner. Your body loses fat as a whole, not in a region, so stop doing 1000 sit-ups a day and focus more on your nutrition to get that 6-pack. If spot reducing was possible people who chew lots of gum would all have thin faces.... def. not the case. But HGH injections can reduce the amount of fat cells in a specific area very similar to the way liposuction can.
So with all these benefits listed, am I an advocate for HGH use? Well the jury is still out and I don't think most people are responsible enough to use it correctly (doctors included!). You'll have rationalization... just like Andy Pettite... he's taken it to come back from injury quicker, but insists he's not a cheater. Well Andy, the fact that you've taken it to recover quickly has put you in a category different then other athletes and therefore gave you an unfair advantage. I do applaud him for being the few on the Mitchell report to actually acknowledge the allegations. but he cheated... But if you were getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport you love and were desperate would you have???? Hmmmm....
Be a Fat Burning Machine! Weight-loss Brooklyn, Burn Fat Brooklyn, Exercise Brooklyn
So what's the most effective way to burn fat during exercise? Some say to do cardio before lifting weights others, say the opposite. Ask many "bodybuilders" in the gym what kind of work out schedule they have, and many will answer one body part per day. This can be a very effective workout for a male looking to compete in bodybuilding but not necessarily so for a female looking to lose a few pounds and add some extra tone to the body. Obviously this type of regimen is also not geared for SPORTS SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT BROOKLYN, NY. Follow the link to learn about specific tools (Resting Metabolic Rate testing, VO2 MAX testing, Body fat %...) that can be used to develop a fitness program for the beginner as well as an expert! How can this personalized approach help you? and why does the way I work out matter?
Workouts are specific to the individual and their goals, but there are helpful guidelines to reach these goals. As a general rule for beginners or someone who is looking to maximize weight loss, resistance strength training exercises should ALWAYS be done before cardiovascular and aerobic activity. The reason behind this is quite simple. Carbohydrates are stored in your muscles in the form of glycogen (long chains of carbohydrates) and are used for energy first when exercising. If you start your workout with long aerobic activity you must burn off this muscle glycogen first before reaching your fat storages. When you start to strength train your body moves to an anaerobic state of exercise (little or no oxygen), therefore limiting the total amount of fat you burn. Remember, to burn fat optimally you need oxygen! There are many exercises and sports are both aerobic and anaerobic, but in most cases weight training, especially with heavy weights, is generally anaerobic. That is why you must consider this factor when developing or following a program. Your intensity level will also naturally be decreased because you have used up energy during aerobic activity which in turn will reduce the amount of testosterone your body produces because there is a direct correlation between intensity of training with testosterone production, part of the reason why working out your legs is so important when trying trying to gain strength & power. These factors will then affect how quickly you gain strength and produce Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption E.P.O.C. (E.P.O.C. is what makes weight bearing exercises a great fat burner, studies show you continue to burn calories after you lift weights for up to 72 hours!) If you perform strength training before aerobic activity you burn off all the muscle glycogen stores and circulating carb's in your blood during training. This sets your body up to be a strictly fat burning machine during the time you devote to aerobic exercise (oxygen required activity) because there is nothing left to burn except fat. This is taking into account you know what heart rate zone you should be exercising in to optimize fat loss. In addition, your workouts will be more intense because your energy levels are higher creating even greater E.P.O.C. For those people that are already have advanced exercise training (Collegiate athletes) or gym experience a combination of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise that stresses heart levels both above and below your anaerobic threshold should be performed. The recommendation made above is focused on those people with beginners to novice level gym experience. Once your knowledge is advanced change in workouts and movements should be made. Follow this link to FITNESS PROGRAMS BROOKLYN, NY to take a look at a pre-season micro-cycle of training that gives you a variety of exercises that are sport specific movements, flexibility & balance training, increasing power, strength training, and plyometrics.
Once you have the basics mastered you can learn about high interval intensity training, plyometrics, and other advanced multi-functional exercises. All bets are off once you graduate from a beginner... you need to try new things and vary the types of exercise to maximize results. Remember to always keep your intensity high, go hard or don't go at all! Follow this link about WEIGHT-LOSS BROOKLYN, NY to calculate your BMI and find out how to reach those weight-loss and aesthetic goals! You can check and see if your insurance covers any of your desired services.
One of the most important meals is the one you consume after working out, especially right after the type of combined training described above. Bodybuilders might tell you the absolute importance of protein when working out, and even though bodybuilders have a larger need to gain lean muscle mass the need for proper low glycemic index carbohydrates containing fiber and a combination of essential fatty acids. You can learn more about NUTRITION BROOKLYN, NY; follow that link to my blogs about nutrition and wellness,
Remember that nutrition is about making permanent lifestyle changes, not short term "FAD" diets. For in depth NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS BROOKLYN, NY follow that link to see structured programs that educate you on how to lose the weight and keep it off instead of following a list of pre-made "diet" foods filled with artificial and suspect ingredients or unsafe crash dieting plans that end up just making your weight yo-yo. Work hard or go home! GOOD LUCK!
Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.
Workouts are specific to the individual and their goals, but there are helpful guidelines to reach these goals. As a general rule for beginners or someone who is looking to maximize weight loss, resistance strength training exercises should ALWAYS be done before cardiovascular and aerobic activity. The reason behind this is quite simple. Carbohydrates are stored in your muscles in the form of glycogen (long chains of carbohydrates) and are used for energy first when exercising. If you start your workout with long aerobic activity you must burn off this muscle glycogen first before reaching your fat storages. When you start to strength train your body moves to an anaerobic state of exercise (little or no oxygen), therefore limiting the total amount of fat you burn. Remember, to burn fat optimally you need oxygen! There are many exercises and sports are both aerobic and anaerobic, but in most cases weight training, especially with heavy weights, is generally anaerobic. That is why you must consider this factor when developing or following a program. Your intensity level will also naturally be decreased because you have used up energy during aerobic activity which in turn will reduce the amount of testosterone your body produces because there is a direct correlation between intensity of training with testosterone production, part of the reason why working out your legs is so important when trying trying to gain strength & power. These factors will then affect how quickly you gain strength and produce Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption E.P.O.C. (E.P.O.C. is what makes weight bearing exercises a great fat burner, studies show you continue to burn calories after you lift weights for up to 72 hours!) If you perform strength training before aerobic activity you burn off all the muscle glycogen stores and circulating carb's in your blood during training. This sets your body up to be a strictly fat burning machine during the time you devote to aerobic exercise (oxygen required activity) because there is nothing left to burn except fat. This is taking into account you know what heart rate zone you should be exercising in to optimize fat loss. In addition, your workouts will be more intense because your energy levels are higher creating even greater E.P.O.C. For those people that are already have advanced exercise training (Collegiate athletes) or gym experience a combination of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise that stresses heart levels both above and below your anaerobic threshold should be performed. The recommendation made above is focused on those people with beginners to novice level gym experience. Once your knowledge is advanced change in workouts and movements should be made. Follow this link to FITNESS PROGRAMS BROOKLYN, NY to take a look at a pre-season micro-cycle of training that gives you a variety of exercises that are sport specific movements, flexibility & balance training, increasing power, strength training, and plyometrics.
Once you have the basics mastered you can learn about high interval intensity training, plyometrics, and other advanced multi-functional exercises. All bets are off once you graduate from a beginner... you need to try new things and vary the types of exercise to maximize results. Remember to always keep your intensity high, go hard or don't go at all! Follow this link about WEIGHT-LOSS BROOKLYN, NY to calculate your BMI and find out how to reach those weight-loss and aesthetic goals! You can check and see if your insurance covers any of your desired services.
One of the most important meals is the one you consume after working out, especially right after the type of combined training described above. Bodybuilders might tell you the absolute importance of protein when working out, and even though bodybuilders have a larger need to gain lean muscle mass the need for proper low glycemic index carbohydrates containing fiber and a combination of essential fatty acids. You can learn more about NUTRITION BROOKLYN, NY; follow that link to my blogs about nutrition and wellness,
Remember that nutrition is about making permanent lifestyle changes, not short term "FAD" diets. For in depth NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS BROOKLYN, NY follow that link to see structured programs that educate you on how to lose the weight and keep it off instead of following a list of pre-made "diet" foods filled with artificial and suspect ingredients or unsafe crash dieting plans that end up just making your weight yo-yo. Work hard or go home! GOOD LUCK!
Dr. Gordon Kuang C.S.C.S.
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