Video on how to avoid injuries such as Blackberry Thumb
February 15th, 2012Here is the link to a video on how to avoid an injury such as “Blackberry Thumb”:
How to avoid workplace injuries: BlackBerry Thumb
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The Body Praxis Method for Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
February 14th, 2012The Body Praxis Method for Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
Following a detailed intake conversation with the client to find out about movement patterns based on work habits, athletic activities, hobbies, the approach to resolving the underlying causes for the symptoms involve a neuromuscular assessment using NeuroMuscular Reprogramming.
Depending on where the RSI is, the chronic tension patterns in that area, e.g. the hands for “Blackberry Syndrome” or similar, need to be resolved in order for you to experience lasting relief.
The Body Praxis Method achieves this by
- using NeuroMuscular Reprogramming (NMR)
- to assess the muscular imbalances,
- to release those muscles that prevent the others from working effectively,
- to re-assess to make sure the intended result, i.e. balanced musculature, has been achieved, making sure that the muscle just released doesn’t tighten up again and that the rebalance work holds.
- combining the NMR work with using Pilates movements, such as – to name just a few examples:
- gentle dynamic stretches for the affected areas.
- providing you with tools for self-care for in-between sessions:
- a foam roller and how to use it, or
- various balls (e.g. body rolling ball, Tennis ball, even the small Pinkie ball) and how to use it, or
- appropriate stretches and Pilates movements, or
- information about our small group mat Pilates classes during which you can learn and practice how to move your body in the most optimal way no matter what it is you do.
Since every body is different, there’s no cookie cutter approach to resolving any particular issue. NeuroMuscular Reprogramming provides all the necessary information and protocol to help tailor the solution specifically to each client to achieve the desired result.
What is an RSI?
February 14th, 2012What is a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)?
The term Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) typically refers to a musculoskeletal or neural injury or pain and discomfort caused by repetitive movements or strain on a structure of the body. For example, any overuse of your arms, hands, and fingers. You ever heard of a “Blackberry Thumb”?
If you own an iPhone, a BlackBerry or a similar PDA, or you play video games, beware of sustaining a repetitive stress injury in your thumbs (originally dubbed “BlackBerry thumb” or “Nintendo thumb” before that) since these devices rely almost solely on the use of your thumbs for typing, instead of all your fingers. And guess what? Our thumbs are not designed for this kind of use. The repetitive movement and the chronic tightness of the – in this case – thumb’s flexor muscle can lead to increased friction of its tendon, which – in turn – can lead to swelling and inflammation, causing pain and discomfort.
An RSI client story
February 14th, 2012A Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) client story
Client K came to see me after experiencing excruciating pain in his wrist. He had been working on his boat doing a lot of intricate work with his hands and tools: untightening and tightening screws and bolts, sanding, filing, etc., all very strenuous on his hands. Using NeuroMuscular Reprogramming, I figured out that the muscles in his forearm and hand were out of balance. After releasing and rebalancing them, the client left my office saying his wrist was “as good as new”.
A great series of Pilates exercises to improve your golf game
January 14th, 2012Sharing with you a wonderful series of Pilates exercises that will improve your golf game – just follow the link:
| Pilates Instructors: EP2 : Golf Inspired Pilates Workout |
The Body Praxis Method for Epicondylitis
January 13th, 2012The Body Praxis Method for Epicondylitis
The approach to resolving a case of Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis) or Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis) is very similar.
The key is to find out the underlying cause for the muscular imbalance manifested by those overly tight forearm muscles. It is often a matter of an imbalance in the shoulder girdle that causes the muscles around the elbow joint to compensate. Overly tight rhomboids, excessive tension in the upper trapezius, lack of strength in the serratus anterior or the latissimus dorsi – for example – can all contribute to creating a compensation pattern in the body that causes those smaller muscles in your arms to tighten up more and more.
It’s important to work from the center of the body out (from the spine, neck, shoulders) down towards the hand to ensure muscular balance is restored.
The Body Praxis Method achieves this by
- using NeuroMuscular Reprogramming (NMR)
- to assess the muscular imbalances in your shoulder girdle, upper arm, forearm and hand
- to release those muscles that prevent the others from working effectively;
- to re-assess to make sure the intended result, i.e. balanced musculature, has been achieved, making sure that the muscle just released doesn’t tighten up again and that the rebalance work holds.
- combining the NMR work with using Pilates movements, such as – to name just a few examples:
- using a Pinkie ball or Tennis ball to release the upper trapezius muscle and the upper rhomboids,
- using appropriate stretches of the extensors, flexors and pronators in the forearms,
- using shoulder stability and mobility exercises such as rib cage arms, shoulder slaps etc to remind the body of when and how to stabilize and when and how to mobilize the shoulders,
- using exercises such as side-bending, Mermaid and similar side-bending and rotational movements to restore full range of motion in the trunk (esp. for rotational sports such as tennis and golf) so that the shoulder girdle and the arms don’t have to make up for any limitations
- providing you with tools for self-care for in-between sessions:
- a foam roller and how to use it, or
- various balls (e.g. body rolling ball, Tennis ball, even the small Pinkie ball) and how to use it, or
- appropriate stretches and Pilates movements, or
- information about our small group mat Pilates classes during which you can learn and practice how to move your body in the most optimal way no matter what it is you do.
Since every body is different, there’s no cookie cutter approach to resolving any particular issue. NeuroMuscular Reprogramming provides all the necessary information and protocol to help tailor the solution specifically to each client to achieve the desired result.
What is Tennis Elbow? What is Golfer’s Elbow?
January 12th, 2012What is Tennis Elbow? What is Golfer’s Elbow?
Tennis Elbow – or: lateral epicondylitis – as well as Golfer’s Elbow – or: medial epicondylitis – are both a case of tendinopathy (i.e. a tendon injury).
The tendons in question can become inflamed or – worst case – tear because the muscles that these tendons attach to the bones are excessively tight.
Tennis Elbow is generally caused by overuse of the extensor muscles of the forearm (in the picture: left) and Golfer’s Elbow is generally caused by overuse of the wrist flexors and pronators (in the picture: right).
Overuse, poor technique, and muscular imbalance can all be the cause for this at times very painful condition.
Note that just because you’ve never swung a golf club or tennis racket doesn’t mean you can’t have a case of Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow: any activity that puts the lateral or medial muscle groups around the elbow under similar repetitive stress and strain (e.g., hammering, turning a key, screw driver use, computer work, excessive hand shaking) can cause these symptoms.
The diagnosis of epicondylitis is made based on symptoms (x-rays are usually normal): pain or tenderness when the tendon is gently pressed near where it attaches to the upper arm bone, over the outside of the elbow; or pain near the elbow when the wrist is extended (bent backwards, like revving a motorcycle engine) against resistance.
A Tennis Elbow client story
January 11th, 2012A Tennis Elbow client story
Client L came to see me with a case of Tennis Elbow she’d had for a while. Tennis had been one of her favorite things to do and she’d had to cut back quite dramatically because of the pain. She’d tried one of those elbow braces, she’d tried some stretches, but nothing had provided much relief. She was worried that she might have to give up playing.
I worked on her using NeuroMuscular Reprogramming to determine any muscular imbalances that could be contributing to the excessive tension in her forearm muscles, starting with evaluating the musculature from her neck and shoulders down into her arms and hands.
I found instability in her shoulder girdle and a lack of grip strength in her hand. After releasing and rebalancing the muscles in her shoulder girdle (specifically her rhomboids and upper trapezius), her forearm muscles started to release and her grip strength was restored.
We did another session soon after the first one, and she reported significant improvement in her elbow. Another session later, her symptoms were gone. Client L comes in every few weeks for a tune-up to make sure all stays nicely in balance.
Holiday Hours
December 24th, 2011Holiday hours
The office will be closed for the holidays starting Saturday, Dec 24, 2011, until Sunday, Jan 1, 2012.
As always, please feel free to schedule appointments and register for classes online anytime by clicking here or straight off our website: www.thebodypraxis.com.
Fresh Start – Pilates and Detox with Julia Hollas
December 21st, 2011In collaboration with Brooke Leverone, Naturopathic Doctor at the Berkeley Naturopathic Medical Group, Julia Hollas is offering a new program here at The Body Praxis:
Fresh Start begins Friday, Jan 13, and offers both individual attention tailored to your health and fitness needs as well as group support and community.
To fit your schedule, you can choose between a Two-Week Mini Program or a Four-Week Complete Program and one of two class times:
- 10:30 – 11:30am Mondays or Fridays, or
- 12:30 – 1:30pm Mondays or Fridays
Participants will meet for a kick-off meeting on Friday, Jan 13, during which Julia and Brooke will introduce the detox program and Pilates, and schedule one-to-one consultations with Brooke.
For the next two or four weeks, as the group detoxes, the participants will meet twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays for Pilates classes. At the end of the four-week program, all participants will meet individually with Brooke, and as a group with Brooke and Julia to discuss their progress and make a plan for continued well-being into the new year.
A full outline of the Fresh Start program is available online. You can also register online or simply by contacting Julia directly: 415-490-7371 or julia.hollas@gmail.com.