Let's end the epidemic of preventable bicycling and pedestrian fatalities

Let's end the epidemic of preventable bicycling and pedestrian fatalities Take Action!

Tell your Representative not to sacrifice the safety of bicyclists or pedestrians

We learned last week, with the release of the League of American Bicyclists Fair Share for Safety from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) report, and Transportation for America’s Dangerous by Design report, that the federal government and many state departments of transportation have made a dangerous choice by prioritizing speeding traffic over the safety of people. From 2000 to 2009, 47,700 Americans were struck and killed while walking and another 688,000 were injured. Furthermore, since 2009, only half a dozen states actually dedicated Highway Safety Funds specifically to bicycle and pedestrian projects. This is clearly a national problem, as 67 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the last ten years occurred on federal-aid roads eligible to receive federal funding for improvements. Congress is currently contemplating the elimina­tion of key bicycle and pedestrian funding programs in the next transportation bill such as, Transporta­tion Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and the Recreational Trails program. Contact your Representative today and tell them that without dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects and the Complete Streets Act of 2011, H.R. 1780, to ensure that all federally funded road projects take into account the needs of all users, states will likely reduce spending for safety features like sidewalks, crosswalks and trails. Thank you in advance for your help!

Single Leg Squat Test Indicator for Hip Abductor Muscle Function

We use this test combined with a few others under video motion studies using Dartfish and find it to be a great method of testing or athletes. Check out the study!

Performance on the Single-Leg Squat Task Indicates Hip Abductor Muscle Function

1. Kay M. Crossley, PhD*†‡,
2. Wan-Jing Zhang, MBBS§,
3. Anthony G. Schache, PhD*,
4. Adam Bryant, PhD§ and
5. Sallie M. Cowan, PhD†

+Author Affiliations

1. ^*Department of Mechanical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
2. ^†Department of Physiotherapy, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
3. ^§Centre for Health Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
4. Investigation performed at Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

1. ‡↵Kay M. Crossley, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia (e-mail:k.crossley@unimelb.edu.au).

Abstract

Background: Contemporary clinical expertise and emerging research in anterior knee pain indicate that treatment of hip muscle function will result in greater effects, if such treatments can be provided to those with hip muscle dysfunction. Thus, it is imperative to develop and evaluate a clinical assessment tool that is capable of identifying people with poor hip muscle function.

Hypothesis: The clinical assessment of single-leg squat performance will have acceptable inter- and intrarater reliability. Furthermore, people with good performance on the single-leg squat will have better hip muscle function (earlier onset of gluteus medius activity and greater lateral trunk, hip abduction, and external rotation strength) than people with poor performance.

Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: A consensus panel of 5 experienced clinicians developed criteria to rate the performance of a single-leg squat task as “good,” “fair,” or “poor.” The panel rated the performance of 34 asymptomatic participants (mean ± SD: age, 24 ± 5 y; height, 1.69 ± 0.10 m; weight, 65.0 ± 10.7 kg), and these ratings served as the standard. The ratings of 3 different clinicians were compared with those of the consensus panel ratings (interrater reliability) and to their own rating on 2 occasions (intrarater reliability). For the participants rated as good performers (n = 9) and poor performers (n = 12), hip muscle strength (hip abduction, external rotation, and trunk side bridge) and onset timing of anterior (AGM) and posterior gluteus medius (PGM) electromyographic activity were compared.

Results: Concurrency with the consensus panel was excellent to substantial for the 3 raters (agreement 87%-73%; κ = 0.800-0.600). Similarly, intrarater agreement was excellent to substantial (agreement 87%-73%; κ = 0.800-0.613). Participants rated as good performers had significantly earlier onset timing of AGM (mean difference, –152; 95% confidence interval [CI], –258 to –48 ms) and PGM (mean difference, –115; 95% CI, –227 to –3 ms) electromyographic activity than those who were rated as poor performers. The good performers also exhibited greater hip abduction torque (mean difference, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.10-0.83 N·m·Bw⁻¹) and trunk side flexion force (mean difference, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.25-1.91 N·Bw⁻¹). There was no difference in hip external rotation torque (P > .05) between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: Targeted treatments, although considered ideal, rely on the capacity to identify subgroups of people with chronic anterior knee pain who might respond optimally to a given treatment component. Clinical assessment of performance on the single-leg squat task is a reliable tool that may be used to identify people with hip muscle dysfunction.

Keywords:

patellofemoral joint

core stability

clinical assessment

subgr

Mike Easton Doing Compound Rehab. Post Surgery

What Are Compound Exercises?
Today's fitness programs tend to focus on functional fitness, which refers to exercise that simulates real-life activities and uses a wide variety of movements through a wide range of motion. At the heart of these routines are a variety of compound exercises. Compound exercises are multi-joint movements that work several muscles or muscle groups at one time. A great example of a compound exercise is the squat exercise, which engages many muscles in the lower body and core, including the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the calves, the glutes, the lower back and the core.

Pregnancy, chiropractic – and why your shoes should fit! (22)

Pregnancy, chiropractic – and why your shoes should fit! (22)

Pregnancy can have a profound effect on a woman’s body. The body changes due to the added weight of a child; which can induce back pain, loose ligaments and a poor center of gravity. Chiropractic care and comfortable, supportive footwear can benefit women in all stages of maternity.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, “During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis.... As the baby grows in size, the woman's weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well .

During pregnancy, misalignment of the spine and pelvis are common changes that women may experience. This will put stress on the lower back and midsection. Chiropractic manipulation to these areas of the body can help reduce discomfort and prepare women for childbirth. For mothers that are wary about consuming temporary pain-relievers during pregnancy, chiropractic adjustments can provide a solution.

As the baby grows inside the mother’s belly, more weight is added to her body, meaning more pressure on her feet. As a result, the medial longitudinal arches will drop, making the feet look bigger. Dropped or flat arches can be detrimental for other parts of the body. The knees, low back, and spine can become misaligned, inducing stress to these parts of the body.

Aside from receiving routine adjustments, pregnant women with fallen arches can help relieve pain by wearing comfortable and supportive shoes. Tennis shoes with a high medial arch support that can absorb shock help alleviate pain for pregnant women.

High heels are not recommended for pregnant women, as the potential for injury can be heightened when their center of gravity is off balance. According to a BBC News Health article, “High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees. In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain - which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls."

High heels and ill-fitted shoes add stress to the body and disrupt the normal gait pattern even for women who are not pregnant. These types of shoes should be worn in moderation to avoid injury. Having a pair of comfortable shoes handy to slip into can prevent a night out from ending early.

Ill fitted shoes can have a harmful effect on women’s feet. According to Larry Keller, “Nine times more women develop problems from improperly fitting shoes than men, and nine out of 10 women wear shoes too small for their feet.” Shoes that are too small can be rough on pressure points in the feet, creating calluses or painful bunions. Tight shoes disturb the gait pattern and can have a formidable effect on joints throughout the body.

Properly fitted shoes should leave space (around ½ inch) for the toes to have wiggle room. Women should shop for shoes during the afternoon, as the feet naturally expand during the day. Above all, shoes should be comfortable and supportive.

A chiropractor’s systematic approach and expertise of spinal manipulations provide an option for pain relief. This is especially beneficial for pregnant women seeking pain relief without risking harm to their baby.

Routinely visiting a chiropractor and making simple lifestyle adjustments can help relive pain from pregnancy. It can also help alleviate stress from everyday life. This could be as simple as opting for more supportive footwear. On your next visit with your chiropractor, ask how you can make changes to start living a more stress-free life

1 American Chiropractic Association. (2011). Chiropractic Advice for Moms-to-Be. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=85

2 BBC News Health. (2010). Stiletto warning for pregnant women. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10309086

3 Keller, Larry. (2011). How to Stop Tight Shoes From Hurting. http://www.ehow.com/how_7718116_stop-tight-shoes-hurting.html



Chiropractor, Fairfax VA 22031

MMA Pro Mike Easton Getting Graston

Mike Easton Doing ROM Kinematic ex. Post Surgery

Lactate Minimum is Valid to Estimate Maximal Lactate Steady State in Moderately and Highly Trained Subjects

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research:

May 2011 - Volume 25 - Issue 5 - pp 1355-1359

doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d6dbf4

Original Research

Lactate Minimum is Valid to Estimate Maximal Lactate Steady State in Moderately and Highly Trained Subjects

Knoepfli-Lenzin, Claudia1; Boutellier, Urs1,2

Abstract

Knoepfli-Lenzin, C and Boutellier, U. Lactate minimum is valid to estimate maximal lactate steady state in moderately and highly trained subjects. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1355-1359, 2011-

Some evidence exists that the determination of maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) with lactate minimum (LM) in highly trained athletes is not as accurate as in less trained athletes. Therefore, we compared power output at LM with power output MLSS in moderately up to highly trained subjects. 63 subjects performed a test on a cycle ergometer to determine power output at LM and 3 or more constant-load tests of 30 minutes to determine power output at MLSS. Mean power output at LM (245 ± 29 W; mean ± SD) was slightly lower than power output at MLSS (255 ± 32 W). The correlation between power output at MLSS and LM was high, and the regression line runs parallel to the line of identity showing that the results of highly trained subjects agree with the results of less trained subjects (LM and MLSS r = 0.867, p < 0.001).

The modified blood-lactate kinetic in highly trained athletes compared with less trained persons does not impair accuracy at LM. Therefore, we suggest LM as a valid and meaningful concept to estimate power output at MLSS in 1 single test in moderately up to highly trained athletes.

Volleyball and Oxidative stress Biomarkers

Oxidative Stress Biomarker Monitoring in Elite Women Volleyball Athletes During a 6-Week Training Period

Martinović, J, Dopsaj, V, Kotur-Stevuljević, J, Dopsaj, M, Vujović, A, Stefanović, A, and Nešić, G. Oxidative stress biomarker monitoring in elite women volleyball athletes during a 6-week training period. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1360-1367, 2011-

The objectives of this study were to determine (a) if reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) are a reliable parameter for monitoring oxidative stress in athletes alone or in association with other parameters of oxidative stress and depending on whether antioxidant supplements are taken or not; (b) the level of oxidative stress in athletes before the competition season; and (c) if oxidative status could be improved in volleyball athletes. Sixteen women athletes (supplemented group) received an antioxidant cocktail containing vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc gluconate, and selenium as a dietary supplement during a 6-week training period, whereas 12 of them (control group) received no dietary supplement. Blood samples were taken before and after the training period.

The following parameters were measured: ROMs, superoxide anion (O−2), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), biological antioxidative potential (BAP), paraoxonase activity toward paraoxon (POase) and diazoxon (DZOase), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total sulfydryl group concentration (SH groups), and lipid status. Reactive oxygen metabolites were taken as the dependent variable and MDA, O−2, AOPP, and LOOH as independent variables. In the group of athletes who have received supplementation, linear regression analysis revealed that the implemented model had a lower influence on dROMs (70.4 vs. 27.9%) after the training period. The general linear model showed significant differences between parameters before and after training/supplementation (Wilks' lambda = 0.074, F = 11.76, p < 0.01). At the partial level, significant increases in ROM levels (p <0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 286-337), SOD activity (CI: 113-144), and BAP (CI: 2,388-2,580) (p < 0.01) were observed.

The association between ROMs and other parameters of oxidative stress was reduced in athletes who received supplements. During the precompetition training period, treatment with dietary supplements prevented the depletion of antioxidative defense in volleyball athletes.