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Patients with lower back pain often have hip flexor tightness. The hip flexor that is very easy to locate is the sartorius due to its strap-like form stretching from the outer aspect of the hip to the medial aspect of the knee joint. This muscle allows us to sit in the taylor sit position or the lotus position.

The sartorius muscle flexes the hip as well as rolls the hip outward (external rotation). It is also a knee flexor.

To test this muscle, the patient places the heel of the tested side on the opposite knee. Patients with pain and tightness of the sartorius tend to have difficulty placing the heel on the opposite knee.

However, difficulty in performing this function also depends on presence of pain and spasm in the lower back muscles, hip extensor muscles, hip abductor and internal rotator muscles. Tightness and shortening of these muscles will produce difficulty performing this motion which is also called the FABERE testing (this is a combination of ability of the hip to flex, abduct and externally rotate).

Nerve supply: Femoral nerve
Spinal segments: L2, L3 and L4 nerve roots
2007 copyright all rights reserved www.stopmusclepain.com low back pain - hip pain- Sartorius

jennifer Chu, M.D., founder of eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center is also President and CEO of eToims medical Technology LLC, a medical device company with training programs in eToims Twitch relief Method. She is an Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation at the university of pennsylvania, where has been on faculty for more than 30 years. www.stopmusclepain.com

jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation, school of medicine, university of pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points). The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches. This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated. The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects.

eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain.

# posted by 87468 : 7:55 PM  0 comments

In this article we're going to discuss how to tell if you've got a sick bird on your hands.

Unlike people, birds can't tell you when something hurts or they just feel like garbage. So how do you tell when your bird is under the weather?

Most sick birds get that way because of poor nutrition and stress. Poor nutrition is more from what a bird eats than from how much, as birds don't need a lot of food. Stress can come from a number of things such as poor environment and rapid changes in temperature. A happy bird is usually a healthy bird.

A problem with identifying if your bird is sick is that birds tend to hide their health from you. This is a built in ability that birds use to keep other animals from attacking them. It is part of their survival instinct. Because of this ability it may be a couple of weeks before a bird owner even knows that his bird is sick. Therefore, in order to determine that there is a problem with your bird you have to be observant at all times. There are signs to look out for. These include discharge from the eyes, change in eye color, closing of the eyes, swelling around the eyes, discharge from the nose, soiling of the feathers, sneezing, trouble eating, reduced appetite, fluffed up feathers, inactivity, droopy wings, change in routine, change in vocal habits, weight loss, problems with equilibrium, inability to perch, limping, swollen feet or joints, change in droppings, open mouthed breathing when at rest, lumps on the body, and any sign of bleeding. Some of these symptoms are very serious.

If you notice any of the above and suspect your bird is sick, immediately make an appointment with a vet. Take him there in his cage or some suitable container. Don't ever take your bird to the vet with him perched on your shoulder. Your pet will not be protected. Whatever container you use make sure it is covered. If you take it in its cage don't clean the cage. This can present evidence to the vet that can help diagnose the bird's problem.

After taking the bird to the vet and a diagnosis is made, take the bird home immediately. Home care at this stage is very important. Keep your bird warm and try to encourage it to eat. Sick birds have usually stopped eating so it is important for them to eat well to get their strength back. If they are unable to eat then they may need to be hospitalized.

Unfortunately, by the time an owner realizes his bird is sick, the bird is more than likely seriously ill. Therefore it becomes even more critical to give your bird the best care possible. Most owners go to pet stores first to try to treat the bird instead of going straight to the vet. This only makes the problem worse. However, if you catch the bird's illness quickly enough you'll have a very good chance of getting him back on his feet.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Birds
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# posted by 87468 : 6:46 PM  0 comments

Our busy lifestyles and work demands mean that we often find it difficult to exercise our bodies as frequently as we should. This leads to tiredness, stress and reduced work performance.

However taking a short break to complete a few simple yoga postures at your desk can help to relieve stress and tiredness and refresh you for another work session.

To help you reduce the effects of working long hours at a desk or in front of a computer, Total.yoga.practice suggests you periodically perform 2 simple yoga practices at your desk. The first part of this work relaxation series can be found in our free yoga newsletter

Office yoga - part 2

Take a moment to clear your mind. Be conscious of your thoughts and how they erratically pop into and out of your mind. Actively still your mind by focusing on your breathing. Vigorously rub your hands together until you feel warmth on your palms. Place your hands on your face with your palms cupping your eyes and your fingers on your forehead. Open your eyes into your cupped hands and keep your body and mind still for a few moments.

Nadi Shodhana (alternate breathing)

Sit comfortably in your chair with your back straight. Hold your right hand in front of your face with the middle two fingers resting between your eyebrows. Your thumb should be above your right nostril and your ring finger above the left. Close your right nostril with your thumb and breathe in slowly and silently through your left nostril, until your lungs are full without straining. Release the right nostril and close the left nostril with your ring finger. Exhale through the right nostril slowly, keeping the duration of the exhale the same as the inhale. Inhale slowly through the right nostril. Release the left nostril and close the right nostril with your thumb while you exhale. Repeat the sequence 10 times making sure that your breathing is silent. This Pranayama is good for relaxing your mind.

Pandanguli Naman (Toe curling)

Sit upright in your chair with your back straight. With your feet on the ground, shoes off, inhale as you stretch the toes of both feet backward away from the floor. Exhale as you stretch your toes downwards to make fists with your feet. Hold each position for several breaths as you feel the stretch. Repeat 10 times.

Goolf Naman (Ankles bending)

Still sitting erect with your legs slightly extended, heels on the floor. Inhale as you bend at the ankle pulling the feet back towards your leg. Exhale as you push the foot forward trying to touch the floor. Hold each position as you feel the stretch. Repeat 10 times.

Goolf Chakra (Ankle rotation)

In the seated position with your legs slightly extended, heels on the floor. Starting with the right foot, keep the leg still as you rotate the foot at the ankle clockwise 10 times. Rotate 10 times in the opposite direction. Repeat with the left foot. Next rotate both feet together in a clockwise direction 10 times. Repeat, rotating 10 times in an anti-clockwise direction. Try rotating both feet at the same time, but in different directions, clockwise with the right foot, anti-clockwise with the left foot. Repeat, with the right foot rotating anti-clockwise and the left foot rotating clockwise. Throughout the exercise, inhale as the foot is rising, exhale as the foot in falling.

Janu Naman (Knee bending)

In the seated position, clasp your hands under the right thigh, raise and straighten the leg keeping your spine straight. Bend and contract the leg bringing the knee towards your chest, and heel towards your buttocks. Straighten the leg. Repeat 10 times and switch to the left leg and repeat 10 times. Inhale while straightening the leg, exhale as you bend the leg.

Seated forward bend

Sit with your back straight and your knees together. Bend forward allowing your head to move close to your knees. Remain in the bend for the count of ten as you relax all the muscles in your back. Breathe normally through your nose. This posture helps to relieve tension from your back.

Meru Wakrasana (Spinal Twist) - variation

Sit with your spine straight and your knees together. Keep your legs facing forwards and both buttocks on the chair as you slowly rotate your upper body to the right. Start the twist with your abdomen then chest, shoulders and neck as you look behind you over your right shoulder. Once you start the twist you may hold the back of the chair with your left hand to assist the twist, but with care not to over twist. Twist your spine as far as is comfortable and hold for the count of 10 as you breathe slowly through your nose. Repeat the spinal twist to the left.

Bent knee leg lift

Turn sideways in the chair so you can hold the back of the chair for support. With the legs bent, and without holding your legs, lift your feet off the ground and pull your knees close to your chest, without leaning forwards. Pull your knees towards the chest for the count of 10 while you breathe normally through your nose. Release your feet to the floor and relax for the count of 10. Repeat 3 times.

With our busy lifestyles, we can't always exercise as frequently as we should. At Total.yoga.practice we're helping our members fit a full yoga practice into their busy schedules. To find out how we can help you by bringing professional yoga instruction into your own home 24/7, try out our 14 day free trial membership.

Please note the following important cautions before using Total.yoga.practice.

Not all exercise is suitable for everyone, and this or any exercise programme may result in injury. Consult with your doctor before you use the Total.yoga.practice services.

To reduce the risk of injury, never force or strain yourself during exercise. If you feel pain, stop and seek medical attention if necessary.

Any liability, loss or damage in connection with the use of Total.yoga.practice and its yoga instruction, including but not limited to any liability, loss or damage arising from the performance of the exercises demonstrated here, or any advice or information provided by Total.yoga.practice in the videos, or on the website, is expressly disclaimed

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jez Heath is helping real people learn yoga online so they can make the commitment necessary to improve their yoga and their health - mind, body and soul. learn how yoga streaming video can help you transform your life

# posted by 87468 : 3:50 AM  0 comments

"You are what you think. This statement and others like it can be found in the works of Shakespeare, Chekov, and Emerson, in the teachings of Lao-Tzu and Socrates, and even in the Bible. So, is there any current scientific proof or is this statement simply a wishful thought?

There is a great deal of evidence that shows that we really ARE what we think, in a genuine physiological fashion. The medical field of research is called Psychoneuroimmunology or PNI. It is the study of interactions between a persons perception of the world around them, their behavior, the way their brain functions, and their immune system. The field of PNI studies the measurable interaction between psychological and physiological processes. The psychological portion is the Psycho aspect, the central nervous system aspect is the Neuro aspect, and the body's defense against external infection and mutant cell division is the Immunology aspect. There is also an endocrine system portion of PNI involving the release of various hormones in coordination with the other three aspects.

UCLA has the leading research facility in the nation to explore the intricate relationships between how our thoughts directly affect the production of certain hormones that, in turn, causing identifiable reactions within our body. The overall concept is very simple. Positive thoughts lead to positive changes in the body while negative thinking results in negative changes. Basically, negative thinking can be viewed as placing stress on the body and its functions.

Studies have shown improvement or complete remission in various diseases from such things as laughter, positive imagery, and other similar therapies. Likewise, research demonstrates that individuals that focus on the negative aspects of their life tend to deteriorate more rapidly. Clearly, the body responds better to a positive mental message. Perhaps Norman Cousins, researcher at UCLA, said it best:

The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription. The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.

How can you take advantage of this connection between your mind and your body? There are several methods and each one is simple to put into practice. Being persistent is the biggest task. Developing the habit of positive thinking does require some practice but wouldnt you rather spend your time thinking about good things instead of focusing on the downside of life? Here are a few things that might help you get control of the dark side of your thoughts.

Nutrition is a good first step. If youre eating foods with antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and hormones in the food or on the food, then you are actually contributing to the imbalances and the negative thinking. You see, the channels are open both ways your mind affects your body and your body affects your mind. Take a look at your diet and see if you can eat more raw foods and less processed or pre-packaged items.

stress places a drain on certain vitamins and minerals in your body. Deficiencies can lead to or contribute to a number of diseases. Take a high-quality multiple vitamin/mineral supplement to make certain that you are supplying your body the nutrients that it needs to repair the damage caused by stress and negative thoughts.

Exercise is another tool to good thinking. Its been said that every motion begins with a thought another indication of the connection between mind and body. Make an effort to move as much as you can; your attitude will reflect the difference that effort really makes. Exercise at any level has been shown to relieve tension and stress.

Meditation and other relaxation methods are key aids in clearing your mind of negative thoughts and alleviating stress in the body. deep-breathing techniques, such as those practiced in yoga, are helpful and can be done anywhere at any time. The inward focus of the mind on the act of breathing in a slow, controlled manner quiets the complex web of thoughts that constantly erupt in a persons mind. Calming that bubbling fountain of thoughts allows you to focus on your connection to the higher power that we are all a part of. Keeping in touch with that higher power cleans up the negative thinking as you establish a pattern of positive thoughts and actions.

The information in this article is a small portion of my 8-week online class called The Answers Right Under Your Nose. Find out more about this life-changing course at www.JerryRyanPhD.com under the Personal Coaching heading.

Jerry Ryan, Ph.D. is a Natural Health Coach who teaches individuals and group classes on the scientifically documented benefits of natural health techniques. He is also an internationally published author and has been a guest speaker at such places as nike world Headquarters. For more information, his website is http://www.JerryRyanPhD.com

# posted by 87468 : 12:44 AM  0 comments