It seems like we are in for a long summer of smokey air. A good way to keep up to date with air quality can be found on the NSW gov site. Allows you to better prepare for the daily activities. Lungs are tender, be kind to them.

https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/air-quality/air-quality-concentration-data-updated-hourly?fbclid=IwAR35XQq_8DFL86b-Nxnl_nx8oPMmK0DJ-MPID6S9vsdU-eGviiqfmnGd-nc

Leif will be attending a seminar on 5th, 6th and 7th of May.

Its called “Neuropuncture”. Its going to be a closer look at Neurological effects of acupuncture.

It shall be very interesting

Lower back pain is terrible and best avoided. With some careful techniques and correct lifting a lot off back pain can be avoided.  I’ve put together a short presentation video on how to better look after your back and some techniques and tips on avoiding lower back strain and damage to spinal discs

For video tutorial Click here 

Lifting something of the ground using the legs to squat down

Using the knee and elbow to divert load from lower back

Golfers pick up

Lunging

Splits (abducting legs to alter task height)

I have also included a better way of straightening up from a bent over slouched back.

The key feature in all these techniques is to keep the spine in a neutral / stable position and let all the limbs do the awkward work.

Video link
http://www.painreliefwellness.com.au/video/5-ways-to-reduce-lower-back-pain-and-improve-spinal-health/

Alternate link
https://youtu.be/5l5-7IlcSyg

Treat your back with love and it will love you back

Fаѕсіа is thе body’s connective tіѕѕuе.  It іѕ a head-tо-toe, іnѕіdе-tо-оut, аll-еnсоmраѕѕіng and іntеrwоvеn ѕуѕtеm оf fіbrоuѕ connective tіѕѕuе found thrоughоut thе bоdу.  The fascia рrоvіdеѕ a framework which helps ѕuрроrt аnd рrоtесt іndіvіduаl muѕсlе grоuрѕ, organs, аnd thе entire body аѕ a unіt. Fascia consists primarily of collagen, which is a structural protein.  It looks a bit like plastic cling wrap.  You may have noticed this cling wrap-like translucent sheet in between the layers of muscle when preparing and cooking meat.

 

HOW DOES FASCIA AFFECT ME?

 

Fascia provides thе рrоtесtіvе ѕhеаth around our entire body аѕ a whоlе аnd аlѕо surrounds each organ and muѕсlе for рrоtесtіоn from outside trаumа.  Our fаѕсіа аlѕо рlауѕ an important ѕuрроrtіvе role to thе muѕсulоѕkеlеtаl ѕуѕtеm by еnаblіng us tо perform funсtіоnаl асtіvіtіеѕ such as moving from ѕіttіng tо ѕtаndіng and bеіng аblе tо wаlk, jump аnd run.  Blооd, nerves аnd muѕсlеѕ аrе еnvеlореd аnd penetrated by fascia, allowing оur muѕсlеѕ and organs tо glіdе ѕmооthlу against еасh оthеr.  Whеn there are fascial adhesions аnd distortions, thіѕ саn саuѕе poor blооd flоw, weaker nеrvе іmрulѕеѕ, limited flеxіbіlіtу and rаngе оf mоtіоn, and a host of other рhуѕісаl аіlmеntѕ.

PAIN AND FASCIA

 

Distorted fascia can cause раіn, tіghtnеѕѕ, and much dіѕсоmfоrt as well as pulling, torquing and compressing the body into mаl-аlіgnmеnt.  Studіеѕ ѕhоw thаt fascial tеnѕіоn in оnе structure, ѕuсh аѕ thе knее, саn саuѕе tension оr issues іn adjacent ѕtruсturеѕ, such as the hір оr ankle. Sоmе соmmоn соndіtіоnѕ you mау hаvе hеаrd оf such as Plаntаr Fasciitis, IT (Illio-tibial) Bаnd Sуndrоmе and Frozen Shoulder аrе all attributed tо distortions іn our fаѕсіа.

NERVES AND FASCIA

When thе fаѕсіа is tіght, it саn соnѕtrісt the nеrvеѕ and асtuаllу blосk off thе nеrvе signal. Thе Autоnоmіс Nervous Sуѕtеm (nеrvоuѕ ѕуѕtеm that соntrоlѕ bоdіlу funсtіоnѕ nоt dіrесtеd by соnѕсіоuѕ thоught – і.е. brеаthіng) is dіrесtlу connected аnd has innervation wіth thе bоdу’ѕ fаѕсіаl system.

SKIN AND FASCIA

Thе condition of our ѕkіn саn bе аffесtеd bу thе state of our fаѕсіа. Few undеrѕtаnd thе іmрасt of blооd flow and fascia, аnd hоw it relates to the ԛuаlіtу of оur ѕkіn. Elastin аnd collagen are twо proteins whісh аrе essential to mаіntаіnіng healthy, уоuthful skin.  Nutrіеntѕ аrе саrrіеd thrоugh thе blооd tо thе ѕkіn, and when thе fascia іѕ dіѕtоrtеd, іt lіmіtѕ thе supply оf thеѕе proteins. This саn саuѕе a dесrеаѕе іn сеll renewal, whісh is responsible fоr the natural, hеаlthу skin glоw wе аll strive tо maintain.

When fаѕсіа іѕ dаmаgеd оr traumatized it can become tоо tіght and cause a numbеr оf рrоblеmѕ such аѕ:

-Hеаdасhеѕ

-Muscle pain аnd ѕраѕmѕ

-Chronic bасk аnd neck раіn

-Rесurrіng injuries

-Sсіаtіса

-Brеаthіng difficulties

-Sensations ѕuсh аѕ numbnеѕѕ аnd pins аnd nееdlеѕ

-Poor posture and rеduсеd flexibility

The following are risk factors that may reduce the flexibility of facsia:   

-Inflаmmаtіоn

-Traumas, ѕuсh аѕ a fаll or саr/bike accident

-Wоrk іnjurіеѕ

-Pооr posture

-Lасk оf ѕtrеtсhіng due to рrоlоngеd sitting or standing

-Emоtіоnаl/рѕусhоlоgісаl stress

-Rереtіtіvе mоtіоnѕ, such аѕ factory work, kеуbоаrdіng or prolonged computer mouse use

 

Mуоfаѕсіаl Release Therapy is a treatment thаt can be helpful.  It trеаts tense, tіght fаѕсіаl tіѕѕuе mаkіng іt mоrе relaxed, pliable аnd soft.

Myofascial Rеlеаѕе Therapy (MFR) focuses оn rеlеаѕіng muѕсulаr ѕhоrtnеѕѕ аnd tіghtnеѕѕ. Thеrе аrе a numbеr оf соndіtіоnѕ аnd ѕуmрtоmѕ which MFR аddrеѕѕеѕ.  Mаnу ѕееk MFR аftеr lоѕіng flexibility оr funсtіоn fоllоwіng an іnjurу or experiencing ongoing bасk, ѕhоuldеr, hip – or areas соntаіnіng ѕоft tіѕѕuе – pain.

MFR is a massage and manipulative technique.  It is a slow, relatively gentle traction and stretching of the muscle.  It differs from procedures such as deep tissue release, because the fascia does not respond to quick or heavy pressure, which actually causes it to go into protective mode and thus resist the movements and manipulations.

Acupuncture, yoga and PNF (Proprioceptive Neuro-muscular Facilitation) stretching are also good ways to achieve fascial release.  A foam roller can also be very helpful for getting release on fascial tenseness/tightness.  It is also something you can do on your own in the comfort of your home.

Check out this video clip on how to use foam roller at home for myofascial release.

 

 

Happy 2017, may it be a wonderful year full of happiness and abundance.

I will be taking some leave and enjoying one of my life’s big passions – snow sports!

I’ll be away for a little over 2 weeks and enjoying the fluffy snow tops of the Japanese alps. A journey to the mountains is an amazing opportunity for me to reconnect with nature as well as enjoying the thrills of powder boarding/skiing.

Exploring the alpine backcountry is an incredibly grounding experience; with mountain ranges as far as the eye can see. Here is where I find my place of self-reflection, perspective and Zen.

The clinic will be closed from the following dates:

Closed from: Monday 30^th January 2017

Re-opens: Thursday 16^th February 2017

The online booking calendar will continue to be available to take bookings before and after these dates:

https://painreliefwellness.youcanbook.me

I will also check my email periodically while away: info@painreliefwellness.com.au

Looking forward to seeing you all on my return

Kind and warm regards

Leif Tunell

The World Health Organization showed an impressive list of conditions it felt acupuncture would have therapeutic effect. The was review entitled “ Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of reports on Controlled Clinical Trials” (http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s4926e/s4926e.pdf)

It was a 81 pages document looking at clinical acupuncture trial data and results. It is worth noting that constructing effective clinical trials for acupuncture is difficult and some of the conclusions of the results have limitations.

“It must be emphasized that the list of diseases, symptoms or conditions covered here is based on collected reports of clinical trials, using the descriptions given in those reports. Only national health authorities can determine the diseases, symptoms and conditions for which acupuncture treatment can be recommended. “

Dr Xiaorui Zhang: Acting Coordinator Traditional Medicine (TRM) Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (EDM) World Health Organization

 

Conditions to which acupuncture has been proved through controlled trials to be an effective treatment:

 

Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)

Biliary colic

Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)

Dysentery, acute bacillary

Dysmenorrhoea, primary

Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)

Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)

Headache

Hypertension, essential

Hypotension, primary

Induction of labour

Knee pain

Leukopenia

Low back pain

Malposition of fetus, correction of

Morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting

Neck pain

Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)

Periarthritis of shoulder

Postoperative pain

Renal colic

Sciatica

Sprain

Stroke

Tennis elbow

 

Conditions for which acupuncture has shown a therapeutic effect but further proof needed

 

Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)

Acne vulgaris

Alcohol dependence and detoxification

Bell’s palsy

Bronchial asthma

Cancer pain

Cardiac neurosis

Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation

Cholelithiasis

Competition stress syndrome

Craniocerebral injury, closed

Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent

Earache

Epidemic haemorrhagic fever

Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)

Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection

Female infertility

Facial spasm

Female urethral syndrome

Fibromyalgia and fasciitis

Gastrokinetic disturbance

Gouty arthritis

Hepatitis B virus carrier status

Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)

Hyperlipaemia

Hypo-ovarianism

Insomnia

Labour pain

Lactation, deficiency

Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic

Ménière disease

Neuralgia, post-herpetic

Neurodermatitis

Obesity

Opium, cocaine and heroin dependence

Osteoarthritis

Pain due to endoscopic examination

Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans

Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein–Leventhal syndrome)

Postextubation in children

Postoperative convalescence

Premenstrual syndrome

Prostatitis, chronic

Pruritus

Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome

Raynaud syndrome, primary

Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Retention of urine, traumatic

Schizophrenia

Sialism, drug-induced

Sjögren syndrome

Sore throat (including tonsillitis)

Spine pain, acute

Stiff neck

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Tietze syndrome

Tobacco dependence

Tourette syndrome

Ulcerative colitis, chronic

Urolithiasis

Vascular dementia

Whooping cough (pertussis)

*Gluten doesn’t necessarily need to be the bad guy. Fructans in wheat and other carbohydrate products seem to be more of an agitator the gut.

*Modern bread making is accelerated and with lots of additives thrown in.

*A large number of people avoid gluten that don’t necessarily have an intolerance or celiac disease (auto-immune condition resulting in inflammation of gut)

*Traditional long sour dough bread making lets the fermentation process happen in the way it was traditionally done for centuries. A large part of the population can tolerate this.

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/going-against-the-grain-why-breaddenial-is-bad-20160411-go3f6c.html

 

Amazing story. Klaus Obermeyer,  life long skier and still doing it well.
He is  95, still gets out on the planks , does martial arts daily (akido), swims, tries to eat vegan (but cheats a little) and still runs a business. What an amazing bar he has set … also inspiration it can be done.

Read full article 

One of Australia’s former Prime Minister used acupuncture to calm nerves and gain focus before high pressure work commitments. Acupuncture can give you the calm focus you want without have the negative chemical effects of pharmaceuticals.

One of Paul Keating’s 7 top tips for winning at life.

*Acupuncture works

During that ’92 self-doubt wobble, Keating’s first call was to his Canberra acupunturist, who came to The Lodge to steady the PM’s nerves before a 7.30 Report interview. “Acupuncture makes you relaxed but sharp. Valium makes you relaxed but dull.”

Source: Huffington Post

American Express are having their “shop small promotion” again in November. If you spend $20 at participating stores you get a $10 credit from American Express.

https://shopsmallaustralia.com/

Feel free to use your American Express card on your next visit