Two weeks ago a patient called and asked if I could see her at my office on a Saturday morning. I told her I would meet her there and we would work on her. When Saturday rolled around and we met at the office, she asked me what I meant by, "we will work on you", as she and I were the only ones in the office. I guess it has just become a habit of mine to say it that way. As I explained to her that morning, when I work with someone I think of their body as the key player involved.

That is, it displays to me what needs to be addressed. Either from a postural presentation, range of motion deficit, faulty movement pattern, or a combination of characteristics, the body has a way of communicating to us what is wrong and what is right if we only listen. Yes, I always consider what a patient tells me (site of pain, what makes it hurt, etc.), but more importantly I "watch and listen" to what the body tells me. The body knows best. Furthermore, the site of pain is only the structure in the body taking the biggest hit. More often than not, the actual cause for the pain is a dysfunction somewhere else along the chain.

So it is there that the dance begins. Release this adhesion here, muscle test there...isometric contraction of that muscle, mobilize this joint...activate this muscle...and on and on. Yes, once the process begins it is almost like a dance -  your body is my partner and it is leading.

The human body is truly amazing. As one patient recently commented, "How can anyone not believe in miracles when we have our body?"  That's right...the human body truly is miraculous in all it does. I could go on and on and list hundreds of things the body does to keep us alive and functioning without us even thinking about it. It is amazing in its ability to maintain homeostasis as well in its ability to repair and heal itself. It will get the job done. Our role is to create an optimal environment in which it can do its thing.

Muscle tension is oftentimes given as a causitive factor in pain syndromes. For example, tonically elevated activity of the muscles of the head and neck; ie, muscle tightness, is traditionally given as a the primary reason for headache pain. Moreover, muscle tension and tightness has been considered synonymous with various forms of back pain. However, more recent evidence is suggesting that this concept does not lead to the actual etiology of many pain conditions (Dishman).

While it is true that most forms of musculoskeletal pain are due to abnormal patterns of muscular activity, the most current research evidence is suggesting that it is not the muscle tension that is causative, but rather muscle inhibition. The evidence now shows that inflammation or injury produces inhibited muscles.

These studies show that the level of muscle activity is not higher than normal in most of the musculorskeletal conditions, but actually is reduced. The ability to contract the muscles forcefully is reduced, rather than increased, by pain. This correlates strongly with the common impression by most that pain makes muscles difficult to use and less powerful.

Muslce inhibition is synonymous with poor motor control and poor motor control goes hand in hand with decreased joint stability. This resultant joint instability is the fundamental force creating perpetuating compensation and dysfunction. The muscle inhibition is routinely ignored in many cases because many practitioners lack a tool to address the disorder.

This is where MAT (Muscle Activation Technique) becomes so valuable. MAT provides a strategy to assess these muscular impairments. Range of motion assessments and comprehensive muscle testing help to identify muscle imbalances and muscle inhibition. State-of-the-art techniques and strategies are used to restore proper neural connections (get muscles firing again), correct muscular imbalances, and get rid of compensations and pain.

For more information about MAT and my approach to resolving pain and muscular dysfunction, please go to www.therenkenscenter.com and www.muscleactivation.com

The results of several research studies suggest that consuming adequate amounts of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 may play a key role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia as we age. A recent British study (Journal of Clinical Nutrition) found a group of Alzheimer's patients had higher blood levels of homocysteine than members of an age-matched control group who were not afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.

The strongest determinant of blood homocysteine levels is the nutritional status of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. These same B vitamins are also involved in the synthesis of important neurotransmitters that are required for cognitive function and other brain functions.

In previous studies, clinical deficiencies of B vitamins have also been implicated in brain-related disorders including reversible dementia (vitamin B12 and possibly folate), depression (folate), and convulsions (vitamin B6).

There is also good evidence that deficiencies of B vitamins increase with age and are quite common in older adults. Thus, there is growing support for the premise that optimal B vitamin status can prevent, slow, or reverse the deterioration in memory and other mental capacities.

In addtion to eating foods that are rich sources of these important B vitamins, taking a multiple vitamin and mineral is another way to ensure that you are achieving a more optimal intake of these B vitamins. This may be a simple but important measure to prevent changes in brain function related to the development of Alzheimer's and other forms of cognitive decline.