Dynamic Balance

Get It Started

From the moment of birth we come out screaming and its  a wild trip of up's and downs, confusion, discovery, and hopefully at least a touch of enlightenment. We are human; it is our pride and our excuse at the same time. I am a consummate study of the how's and whys of life. Most specifically in the last 9 years it has been of Massage therapy but in all my life I have studied "just to get a glimpse behind this illusion."

Recently I happened upon a book given to me by a physician, who thought I might find interest in it's contents. It was a great book of discovery about a simple trace element that we generally disregard; Iodine. You will be amazed how much we need it and how little we get of it, and how important it's detoxing job is in our body.

On another note, next month I will be taking the 2nd part of 4 of the lymphatic series. It covers more of LDT and more specifically

"Iodine naturally occurs in the environment chiefly as dissolved iodide in seawater, although it is also found in some minerals and soils."

Did You know?

iodine deficiency gives rise to goiter

"Pesticides are not 'safe;' they are produced specifically because they are toxic to something" US EPA citizens guide to pesticides

In 1821, the average refined sugar intake in America was only10 pounds per person a year; today this has gone up to 170lbs

Just a thought: I often wonder how many extra arms we would have to grow before scientists would agree that the toxin that caused it was to much.

Body Balancing of Central Florida

Good Health is not just an absence illness. Take a minute and think about that statement! Have you fallen into that mind set that since your not sick, you are healthy?

Being healthy is not a deficiency of drugs and surgery! We have, without a doubt the finest trauma based medical care in the world. But when it comes to being healthy or refining our healing after an injury, we figure if it works we are good. About a year or so ago I got into a car accident - rear ended. I didn't realize how good my health and mobility was until subsequent injury restricted it. I had a real hard time finding anyone who was able to treat the problems I could identify; but could not treat on myself. Physicians and chiropractors looked at me quizzically when I described "in their language" what was wrong and what needed treatment but couldn't help. Then the insurance co stepped up and said "according to our scales your fine." Because I could move my arm, I was ok. Despite the fact that I had lost part of that quality of movement was not their concern. Movement was enough! I did find someone who opened up the problems and helped restore the quality to my arms and hands.

What if I were a surgeon and lost a qualitative ability to do surgery. Is it enough that I would still be able to do it but not quite as good. Which me would you want working on you?

There is much more to "healing & recovery" from an injury, or procedure.

Lets not just accept health as an alternative to being sick.

"iodine deficiency gives rise to goiter"

"The therapeutic use of iodine in treating breast cancer was first described in the medical literature in 1896."

"There is a direct relationship between breast cancer (as well as goiter) and regions of the world where iodine deficiency is prevalent."

When was the last time you did something nice for your body? LDT helps to flush to sewer!

The position of the SCM demarcates the posterior cervical triangle and the anterior triangle but also marks the spot of the jugulo-digastric and deep cervical nodes. From just below the ear to the outside of the SCM across the front  of the clavicles and back along the anterior line of the trapezius. Are also located along the line of spinal accessory nerve XI.

This line of nodes while not associated with any specific pathologies can be another aspect of problems as a result of adhesions, shortness and/or trigger points in the SCM. Most of the lymphatic circulation of the face and anterior cranium will drain through this area. Subsequently restrictions in fluidic flow  increase operation efficiency.

I have found...

Preemptive actions

Rolling your neck occasionally if you are sitting in front of a game system, computer or desk can help the SCM to catch a break from holding your head still.

sternocleidomastoid TrP’s are usually activated during an acute episode of mechanical overload, for instance, by protracted neck extension in overhead work (painting a ceiling, writing on a blackboard, hanging curtains, sitting in a front row seat in a theater with a high stage); by overuse in sports (wrestling); or by accidental injury (a fall on the head, "whiplash" in an automobile crash).

Muscle of the month

Sternocleidomastoid  ster-no-kli-do-mas-toyd     (WOW, that's a mouthful)

The "SCM" is the most prominent muscle of the neck. Once most people are introduced to it they know it right away. It is named for its attachment sites. It attaches to the Sternal bone, (right in the center of your chest below that neck notch) and clavicle (the collar bone) and at the skull on the mastoid bone (right behind the lower part of the ear). As shown in the diagram it is actually 2 muscles. It attaches in two different places at the bottom and similar at the top. It brings your ear down towards your collar bone, and tips your head so that you lift your chin. It helps in station keeping for your neck/head and balances the levator scapula (the "slept wrong muscle") it is also a tertiary muscle of inspiration (you activate it when you take a deep breath)

Trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscles actually cause an incredible amount of pain, but it's all sent elsewhere. Trigger points in the SCM can subvert correct diagnosis of facial neuralgia, tension headaches or cervicocephalalgia, Persistent Dry Cough or sore throat, Trigeminal Neuralgia,  facial pain  or scalp tenderness, Blurred Vision, visual disturbances. eye pain, excessive lacrimation, and difficulty raising the eyelid, inflamed or congested sinuses, hearing loss, postural dizziness, vertigo, disequilibrium, ataxia, sudden falls and nausea.

It is a critical aspect of both the Superficial Front Line, and lateral fascial lines.  The superficial front line starts with the SCM and goes down the front of the chest, the front abdominal muscles and attaches to the pubic bone. When this line gets shortened it exacerbates a slumping posture. The lateral line goes in a similar direction but goes deeper into the body

The superficial Back Arm Line & Lateral Line

This line demonstrates the  importance of taking the opportunity to sit up straight It is very easy and convenient for one to succumb to the gentle pull of this line to exacerbate poor posture and thus over work the back muscles to pull one upright.  Tightness or shortening of any of these muscles from the feet up can worsen existing trigger points or set the stage for new Trigger points in any of the muscles of these lines.

Case Study

Kate, age fifty-one, was a case that illustrates the unexpected effects that sternocleidomastoid trigger points can have and the dramatic and swift relief that can occur with appropriate treatment. She'd lived with TMJ pain in both jaws since the age of nine, when she'd had several teeth removed to compensate for a small jaw. She also had frequent headaches and pain deep in her left ear.

One day, while reading an article about myofascial pain that suggested neck muscles as the source of many mysterious symptoms, she began feeling her neck muscles with her hand. She was startled to find a big knot in the side of her neck that she hadn't realized was there-she said it felt just like an egg. While she was massaging the muscle, she experienced a release in her left jaw that was so sudden and intense that it frightened her. The side of her neck felt like it was expanding like a balloon. She ran to look at it in the bathroom mirror but could see no swelling or anything else wrong. Then she noticed the pain in her ear and jaws was gone and her bite felt different. Her jaw felt like it had shifted position. Her dentist, after inspecting the change, told Kate that her TMJ dysfunction had somehow resolved itself and she now had a proper bite.

Bob, age thirty-five, slight of frame often lifted heavy suitcases. The periodic vertigo, was an annoyance until he almost fell down an elevator shaft. Work on the SCM TrP's and balancing the posterior cervical muscles removed the vertigo, w/o a return of symptoms to date.

Rachel,  forty-one sat for hours and hours in front of a computer screen . Her posture was never great but when the headaches started out of nowhere over her eyes, she thought she had a brain tumor. When the headaches hit, she would get dizzy, her ears would ring and then would feel like she was going to vomit. Extensive medical testing ruled out other problems and the best the physician could offer is stronger pain killers, anti nausea medication and a suggestion to get a massage. Discovery of the trigger points relieved her headaches, ringing and nausea after 3 sessions, and her physician took her off the meds.