What are the Types of Muscle Contractions?

There are three different types of muscle contractions. A brief description follows for all three:

1. Isometric Muscle Contraction
An isometric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts but does not change in length. An example would be of this is if you were holding a box or weight in front of you, and held stationary. The biceps muscle contracts but does not change in length because the body is not moving up or down


2. Concentric Muscle Contraction
A concentric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts and shortens at the same time. An example would be of this is lifting the body up into a chin-up position. The biceps muscles contracts and shortens as the body is raised up to the chin-up bar.


3. Eccentric Muscle Contraction
An eccentric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts and lengthens at the same time. Example: the biceps brachii muscle contracts eccentrically to enable controlling the arm while lowering an object. While the arm is lowering (getting longer), it is still contracting in order to control it.


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All these tips and more can be found in the course offered by Niel Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques called The Anatomy of Sports Injuries.  Very good course with lots of valuable information. Click here to review the details of this course and many others.

When to Drink Water

Snoopy

Do You Feel Like Skipping Breakfast?

This is a sign of HCL or pancreatic enzyme need. This is a pattern seen in clients who eat a larger dinner very fat without chewing it properly. Unfortunately this causes the food to stay in the digestive system for a longer period of time, and in the morning they are still digesting and do not feel hungry. Encouragement of clients to break this habit by eating a smallish breakfast, having regular meals throughout the day and encouraging an earlier lighter dinner.
Zinc deficiency has been associated with hypochlorhydria and should therefor be assessed.

Enzymes break down food into compounds for absorption into the bloodstream. Food Enzymes has Betaine HCl, bile salt, bromelain, lipase, alpha amylase, pancreatin, papain and pepsin. Click here to see what else it can do for you.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

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Black or Tarry Stools

Black or tarry stools are usually a result of bleeding into the upper GI tract. This is a serious sign and needs immediate investigation to rule out pathology (ulcer, Crohn's disease, colitis, cancer etc). Also need to ask whether there has been an ingestion of iron, charcoal, or bismuth products. Bismuth is found in over the counter medication, such as Pepto-Bismol and other nutritional supplements. When bismuth oxidizes in the GI tract it turns black, and could therefore stain the stool. A heavy meat diet can also cause black stools.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Bursitis or Tendonitis

Bursitis:
Bursitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a pocket of connective tissue found adjacent to a joint. Lined by a smooth inner surface, it facilitates the gliding movements of muscled an tendons over bony prominence. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, which result in pain, tenderness, and stiffness and in some cases, swelling and redness. The inflammatory process can affect any bursa, but bursitis involving the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee are most common.

Although the cause of this condition is unknown, repetitive direct pressure over a bursa can be a predisposing factor. In particular, certain activities or occupations are associated with specific example because of the nature of the physical stress placed on the bursa: e.g. housemaid knee (kneeling), students elbow (leaning). Shoulder bursitis, the most common type, is characterized by an aching pain localized on the outside of the top of the shoulder. Lifting and backwardly rotating the arm intensifies the pain, Typically, there is stiffness in the morning, which diminished with heat and routine activities.

Tendonitis:
Tendonitis is an inflammation of the lining of the tendon sheath (tenosynovitis) and of the enclosed tendon (tendinitis). It occurs spontaneously or in association with injury, work and sports activities, certain types of arthritis or infection. As with bursitis, the shoulder is most commonly affected. The attachment of the biceps tendon at the shoulder is especially vulnerable to this condition. Bicipital tendinitis is manifested by aching along the biceps muscle that radiated up to the should and down to the forearm. The pain is worse with movement. Among other common locations for tendinitis are the elbow, wrist, hand, knee, and ankle.

Bursitis and tendonitis are basically due to an over-use and inflammation in the joint with a lack of essential nutrients. Balancing the overall structure of the body is essential and a general protocol for supporting the connective tissue is important.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.