Motion Specific Release - MSR

What is Motion Specific Release - MSR

Motion Specific Release (MSR) is a hands-on evidence-based technique that recognizes the strength of merging diverse perspectives and methodologies to achieve optimum results. We now use MSR procedures everyday in our daily clinical practice to achieve incredible results. Motion Specific Release has evolved from a constant desire to improve our clinical outcomes and to help our patients get back to the fully functional life they want to lead. 

MSR is used to successfully treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions-from head to toe. MSR is not your typical passive technique where the practitioner provides therapy, while the patient sits back and does nothing. MSR requires active participation of the patient in both therapy and during execution of prescribed exercises. 

The Evolution of MSR 

It has been over 25 years since I first started practicing as a musculoskeletal practitioner (MSK Practitioner). My entire career has been a constant process of education and evolution. After eight years of post-secondary education, I thought I knew quite a bit about the human body and how to help people, but in reality my knowledge base was very limit‐ ed, and my education was just beginning. 

Throughout my career I have been extremely fortunate to work with, and teach, alongside some great practitioners from a wide variety of health care disciplines in the MSK world. I have worked with amazing chiropractors, physiotherapists, medical practitioners, osteopaths, acupuncturists, myofascial release practitioners, registered massage therapist, kinesiologists, coaches, Olympic level and professional athletes, and some incredible personal trainers. Working with, and teaching, with these individuals has taught me many great lessons. These life lessons have helped me to develop the Motion Specific Re‐ lease (MSR) procedures, and the courses that we are now offering to other medical professionals. I think it's important to give you a few of my perspectives about these lessons so you can understand the basis of this incredible technique. 

Guided to New Perspectives 

My career has taught me that we all need to be grateful for those who preceded us. Every MSK technique that is now available today is built off of the work of others.

In other words “we are all standing on the shoulders of giants” a phrase that is attributed to Bernard of Chartres who used to compare us to dwarfs perched on the shoulders of giants. He pointed out that we see more and farther than our predecessors, not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted up and borne aloft on their gigantic stature. 

MSR procedures would never have been developed without the great teachers I have had, the research that has been done, or the numerous clinical experiences of those who preceded me. Therefore, I Thank my colleagues and teachers for the knowledge and truths of these various perspectives. 

After working with so many different types of professionals, I quickly learned that the best solutions usually come by merging a diversity of perspectives. No singular therapeutic modality, profession, or philosophy has all the answers. (I have also learned that anyone who thinks they have the ultimate solution for a given problem is usually deceiving them‐ selves at the expense of the patient.) There is always a better way to provide care. We may not immediately see the solution, but by going through a logical process of investigation and treatment, it is often possible to achieve a complete resolution of most conditions. Integration of multiple methods and perspectives is one of the fundamental precepts of Motion Specific Release (MSR). 

Motion Specific Release - Building New Solutions 

Just because somebody says "there is no solution" to a particular problem does not mean that a solution does not exist. Solutions to problems often require a process of exploration. This does not require us to give up standard orthopedic and neurological tests, or the incredible advances that modern medicine has provided. It does mean that when we do not achieve the results we are looking for, we should start considering alternative methods. 

For example, the work I have done in Fascial Manipulation (Stecco’s Fascial courses in Italy and Anatomy Trains) has taught me how incredibly important kinetic chain relation‐ ships are. At Kinetic Health, we have often achieved a complete resolution of difficult conditions by treating areas of the body that are not normally considered. Another example is how Traditional Chinese Medicine has taught me to step outside the normal paradigms of Western Medicine to look for viable solutions along the body's energetic pathways. 

Motion Specific Release - Getting Creative 

You often have to be creative to achieve great results . In other words, you have to "think outside the box". Sometimes we literally have to create a new procedure or exercise based on an individual's specific needs. This creative process is one of the real powers of Motion Specific Release (MSR). By being able to adapt both the procedures we have created (or other techniques) we are able to meet the specific needs of each individual. 

Avoiding the Cookbook Approach 

Unfortunately, most treatment methodologies are like cookbooks. Some people love the recipes, while others hate them. The same holds true for treatment methods. What works well for one person may not do so well for the next. 

Every person is an individual and must be treated as such. A dozen patients may be diagnosed with the same condition, yet the underlying cause of the problem may be completely different for each person. Even the anatomical structures involved can vary greatly. These many variations are the primary reasons why so many people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal conditions never achieve a full resolution with generic treatments. 

Motion Specific Release is a technique that embraces creativity. Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ideas, patterns, relationships; it allows you to create meaningful new ideas, methods, interpretations, and techniques.

 What some more information about Motion Specific Release go to https://www.yumpu.com/kiosk/motionspecificrelease.

Resolving Iliotibial Band Syndrome (Lateral Knee Pain)

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) is an overuse injury seen in runners, cyclists, soccer players, skiers, and weightlifters. ITBS is one of the most common causes of lateral knee pain. This condition often never completely resolves with conventional treatments, since most practitioners do not typically address all of the key structures involved in this injury.

Traditional Perspectives

Traditionally ITBS is seen as a friction syndrome in which the iliotibial band rubs against the lower portion of the leg (lateral femoral epicondyle of the femur). It has been postulated that this occurs when the iliotibial band moves anterior and posterior during knee flexion and extension. This repetitive motion causes friction, micro-tears, and inflammation of the area. (including a bursa located between the lateral epicondyle and the IT band).

Numerous researchers have demonstrated that the most intense pain is experience at about 30 degrees of knee flexion (a zone of impingement). This is certainly the perspective I was taught during my orthopedic classes 25 years ago. It is also the logic that most practitioners use to formulate a treatment strategy. The only problem is that this perspective is WRONG….

What the Research is Telling Us

With recent research, this traditional perspective has definitely come into question. This is primarily due to the discovery of anatomical factors that actually prevent the iliotibial band from moving in an anterior-posterior direction.  Research has demonstrated that the iliotibial band is actually firmly anchored to the leg (linea aspera of the femur) by a sheet of strong connective tissue (intermuscular septum). In addition it is also attached by strong fibrous strands just above the knee (lateral epicondyle) and deep into the bone.  These strong attachments prevent the iliotibial band from sliding anterior and posteriorly over the lower leg (lateral epicondyle) as was previously assumed.

Anatomy and Function of the ITB

Anatomically, the iliotibial band (ITB) is a thickening of a structure known as the fascia lata. The fascia lata is a web of connective tissue (fascia) that completely covers your entire leg. Think of the fascia lata as a sock encasing your entire thigh. The iliotibial band (the fascial thickening) is located on the lateral aspect of your thighand is not an independent structure; it is a fully integrated part of the fascia lata. Which makes the postulated anterior-posterior motion pretty much impossible since it cannot glide independently.

The Iliotibial band is also part of a structure called the “Pelvic Deltoid Complex”.  
In this complex, the superficial layers of the gluteus maximus muscle from the posterior hip and the fibers from tensor fascia lata muscle at the front of the hip fuse into the Iliotibial band.  These muscles collaborate with each other to raise the hip to the side (abduct the hip).  They also assist the gluteus medius muscle (an abductor) in maintaining the pelvis in a neutral position when standing on one leg (Stance Phase of Gait).

In addition the IT band acts as a brace that decreases bending stresses on the leg (femur). It does this by converting tensile loading to compressive loading on the lateral aspect of the leg.

Look at Hip Strength! Not IT Band Length

When the muscles of the hip become weak, there is an increase in the inward motion (adduction) of the leg.  This becomes evident during the Stance Phase of Gait.  This inward motion increases the amount of force directed through the iliotibial band, which in turn causes compression of the tissue of the lateral knee.

This is exactly what researchers have found in individuals who suffer from ITBS.  ITBS sufferers have weak gluteal muscles (abductors) and an increase in inward motion (adduction) of the hip during the Stance Phase of Gait.

The Problem Lies in the Fat Pad, Not in the Bursa

Earlier, we mentioned that the conventional perspective believed compression of the bursa is the cause of the pain. (A bursa is a fluid filled sac found between anatomical structures). Unfortunately MRI studies have shown that there is no bursa between the IT band and the lateral knee.  From a biomechanical perspective, there are no bursa in this area because there is no need for one.  Without the presumed anterior-posterior motion, there is no need for reduced friction.

However is in the area between the IT band and lateral knee (the site of pain), there is a layer of highly innervated fat, a layer of fat full of neurological receptors. Compression of this area is the most likely cause of the lateral knee pain in Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

Treatment of ITBS

This new information has completely changed our approach for treating ITBS. Using this new approach we have obtained excellent results in even the most stubborn cases.  If you would more information, or to book an appointment to have this condition (or another musculoskeletal condition) treated, just give us a call. 403-241-3772.

Dr. Abelson's – Essential Nutritional Program Part 6

Fat loss 101

Think long-term…. avoid the rebound effect!

Keep your weight-loss goals realistic. It is reasonable to expect to lose about one to three pounds per week. Too rapid weight-loss almost always results in a rebound effect, where all the lost weight returns if you fall off the path. In many weight-loss programs, the quick weight that you lose is often due to loss of muscle, rather than fat loss. When you lose muscle mass, you actually lower your metabolism since muscles are the primary “burners” of carbohydrates and fats in your body.

Dramatic decreases in caloric intake leads to decreased or slower metabolism, and more weight gain.

Suddenly reduced, or too low, caloric intake leads to a loss of muscle mass as your body struggles to meet its daily energy requirements by burning muscle rather than fat. It also causes your body to STORE FAT. This can happen whenever you eat less than 1000 calories a day. Your body requires at least 1500 calories a day just to perform its basic functions. Decreases in your muscle mass results in a decrease in your metabolic rate, which in turn results in more fat being stored! This is the major reason for the failure of over 80% of all diet plans. Instead of training your body to burn fat, they train your body to store fat.

Graze, Don’t Gorge!

Frequent SMALL meals are better for weight loss. Frequent small meals serve to convince your body that you are NOT starving, that food is abundant, and that fats DON’T need to be stored for hard times. Basically, you need to provide you body with good quality food on a regular basis. This will have several positive effects:  it will help balance your blood sugar, accelerate  healing, and provide you with  the energy you need for exercising.  

Your Mother was right…. you need to eat breakfast!

Did you know that your body burns about 450 calories when you sleep at night? Your body needs to re-fuel at breakfast time. If you don’t have breakfast, your blood sugar levels can fall too low, resulting in cravings for high-sugar food. Successful individuals in any weight-loss program always eat breakfast. 

Forget the fast food.

Fast food is generally made with cheaper ingredients, such as high fat meat, lots of saturated and trans fats, lots of salt, and cholesterol. All of these ingredients lead to health problems, weight gain, high blood pressure, inflammation, and heart disease. Consider what is in a basic, medium-size,  fast food meal of a burger, French Fries, and a vanilla shake. In that one meal you will get 87 grams of fat and 1,480 calories. If you want to gain weight, inflame your body, and die of a heart attack, then by all means, go for it and enjoy that meal.

Start thinking about your body-fat percentage not your weight. 

Body-fat percentage measures the percentage of fat in your body. If you are 200 pounds and 30% fat, it means that your body consists of 60 pounds of fat and 140 pounds lean body mass. Your goal is to gain muscle (which burns fat). Remember, muscle also weighs more than fat. So initially, don’t worry about what the scales say. Your focus is to get rid of the fat while adding on muscle.

Add Muscle to Your Body

Muscles burn more calories than any other type of tissue in your body (with the exception of your brain). Muscles help to increase your resting metabolic rate, which means you burn fat even when resting. For each pound of muscle that you add to your body, you will burn an extra 50 calories each day. This means if you add five pounds of muscle mass to your body, you can burn 250 extra calories a day, even when you are just sitting around.

Strength training (or muscle building) should be one of the fundamentals of any weight loss program. (Note: diet changes alone will not give you the results you want!) Strength training builds muscle mass and increases your resting metabolic rate. Exercise and strength training are the keys for getting rid of all that already stored, excess fat.

It is important to differentiate between weight-lifting exercise and cardiovascular exercise. There is no doubt, that cardiovascular exercise does burn a lot of calories. The problem is, it is not nearly as efficient at turning up your fat burning furnace as weight lifting can be.  In fact when you compare the two exercise formats,  cardiovascular exercise is about 40% less efficient at burning fat than weight lifting . I am not saying you should give up your cardio-routine.  Cardiovascular exercise is great for your overall health, especially your heart. The problem is that using only cardio as your primary exercise will not help you to achieve the fat loss you what.

I am currently developing an weight-loss exercise routine that is designed to help you increase muscle mass (lose fat). I will be presenting this in a future blog. 

Get a good night’s sleep!

You need to sleep at least 8 hours every night if you want to lose weight. Lack of sleep increases stress, stress increases cortisol levels in your body, and  increased cortisol levels result in weight gain. Lack of sleep affects the level of hormones which control weight-loss – melatonin and human growth hormone. Both of these are produced during sleep, and interruptions and lack of production inhibits their positive effects on your body. In fact, research has shown that the probability of your being obese is 73% higher if you get only four hours of sleep per night.

Specific Dietary Recommendations

If you want to lose fat, decrease your body fat percentage, and feel the best you have felt for years here is what I suggest.

Stay hydrated: 

Drink two glasses of water before each meal.  Then continue to drink water on a regular basis throughout the day. Read my blog about the importance of hydration for more information.

Drinking lemon or lime water is a great way to make your body more alkaline.  The amazing thing is that lemons can turn even regular tap water alkaline. 

Meals and snacks:

My basic dietary program is quite simple, eat three meals per day and 2 or 3 snacks.  Avoid processed or packaged foods, refined carbohydrates, high fat foods, and eat your foods in as natural a state as possible. You should also do everything can to make your food taste great. Use spices and herbs liberally but take it easy on the salt you add to your food.

Each meal should contain protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fatty acids.  You should also try to make choices that will make you meals more alkaline in nature (See PRAL list for more information).

Please note:  The links I have included to recipes in this section do contain some great ideas.  This being said, all recipes will not be appropriate for all individuals.  Please consider what each recipe contains, especially if you are allergic to certain foods. Remember,eating health foods can be a very enjoyable experience.  You can lose all the fat you want, and still enjoy your food.

Breakfast

First off you need to eat breakfast, "DO NOT SKIP THIS MEAL" Breakfast should contain a serving of protein, dairy, fruit or grains and any amount of vegetables you would like.

You can have coffee (espresso is more pH balanced - drip coffee is quite acidic), tea (ginger or green tea), or "FRESH" vegetable or fruit juice with your breakfast. Benefits of fresh juice is a blog on its own, please follow this link if you would like to learn some of its benefits.



Please note: If you are having grains, then make sure you are not reacting to wheat or gluten. Again a topic for a future blog. In the meantime,  if you would like to read an interesting article, here is a link to an interview of Dr. William Davis, the author of "Wheat Belly".

I hope you enjoy some of these breakfast recipes 

Breakfast Recipe Suggestions:

1. Scrambled Eggs
2. Herbed Egg White and Spinach Omelet
3. Spinach & Tomato Omelet
4. Breakfast Quinoa
5. Healthy Breakfast Burrito
6. Oatmeal Recipes That Will Change Your Life
7. Whole Grain Breakfast Cereal Recipes
8. Healthy Muesli Cereal Recipes 
9. Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (When you are in a hurry)
10. Gluten Free - Breakfasts

Lunch

At lunch, you should have a serving of protein, fruit, and any amount of vegetable that you would like.  Remember to drink two glasses of water (lemon water preferably) before you eat your lunch.

Lunch Recipe Suggestions:

1. Chicken Sandwich Recipes
2. 16 easy, healthy lunch ideas that don't involve sandwiches 
3. 12 Simple Soup Recipes 
4. Lunch Salad Recipes
5. 10 Health Lunch Ideas
6. 22 healthy lunch ideas (cooking light)
7. Soup Recipes
8. Healthy Lunch Recipes
9. Simply Yummy 123 (Gluten free and dairy free cook book) - excellent

Dinner

Again, as with the other two meals, you need to get a serving of protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fatty acids.

For many individuals this is the main meal of the day.  Try not to bulk up on this meal, and be sure to spread your total food  intake throughout the day. As with the other meals, take a look at the PRAL chart to balance out the acidity of the meal. 

Dinner Recipe Suggestions:

1. Healthy Grilled Salmon Recipes 
2. Grilled Salmon Salad 
3. Easy Crockpot Chicken Chili 
4. Healthy Chicken Recipes 
5. Turkey Chili
6. North African Orange & Lamb Kebabs
7. Alkaline Greek Salad
8. Health Spinach Salad Recipes 
9. Healthy Salad Recipes 
10. 101 healthy soup recipes 
11. Low fat soup and stews
12. Healthy Indian Recipes
13. Mediterranean Recipes 
14. Moroccan Recipes
15. Simply Yummy 123 (Gluten free and dairy free cook book) - excellent 

Snacks:

There are numerous healthy foods that you can use as snack throughout the day.  Just be sure not to eat too much of these foods, otherwise you may find that you are sabotaging your fat-loss program.  

Healthy Snack Suggestions:

1. 5 reasons why Greek yogurt is the perfect healthy snack
2. The top five healthiest nuts to snack on
3. Non-fat cottage cheese
4. 10 healthy and tasty snacks to eat at work
5. Are bananas a good idea when you are dieting 
6. Best and worst snacks in your supermarket

I hope you will consider following the fat loss program I have just laid out for you.  This program can literally transform your life.  It has taken many of my patients out of pain, returned their energy, and literally revitalized their lives.  I hope it can do the same for you. 

Do you want more information about this, and other topics. Our books (eBooks and hard-copy) provide more information about soft-tissue injuries, rehabilitative exercises for injury recovery, and how to use these to activate and restore all the structures of your kinetic chain. 

To purchase our internationally best-selling books, visit www.releaseyourbody.com.  



For information about our clinic in Calgary, Alberta, please go to www.kinetichealth.ca. Or call us at 403-241-3772.



(COPYRIGHT KINETIC HEALTH 2013 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Dr. Abelson's – Essential Nutritional Program Part 5

Weight Loss

Is this section of the my dietary protocol, I  will cover some of the consequences of obesity.  My hope is that you will take this issue seriously, not because of the superficial way society judges overweight individuals, but because of how it is affecting your health - physically, emotionally and mentally.  

Then, on the next installment of this blog, I will provide you with viable solutions that I have used with my patients to bring their body fat percentages into a healthy range.  

Please note that weight loss is now a multi-billion dollar industry that is full of hype, empty promises, and quick fixes that seldom deliver on their promises. My objective of this weight-loss section is to help you cut through that hype so you can find effective ways of dealing with this common condition. 

After we get through the section on conditions related to obesity, I will give you viable solutions to help deal with this issue. As we go through this information please keep in mind two key factors:

1. Just because you have never been able to reach your weight loss goals does not mean there are no viable solutions for you.  Over 90% of individuals who follow my weight-loss recommendations reach their goals. 
2. Please, don’t beat yourself up over your current weight. Our society has some very warped ideas about what your ideal weight should be.  As I say to my wife, I would be very disappointed if she lost all her curves. 

Before we get into specific recommendations about how to get your body-fat percentage within normal ranges, let us first review why we should take the extra weight we are carrying around seriously.  

Conditions Related to Obesity

It always amazes me that patients do not see the correlation between their current health status, and the extra weight that they are carrying around in their bodies. 

Here is a list of conditions/states that are directly related to obesity: 

• Asthma.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
• Cancer (obesity has been linked to the following types of cancer: breast, colon,endometrium, kidney, esophagus, gallbladder, pancreas , and ovarian).
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Cognitive decline (Individuals who are obese, with high blood pressure, and other risk factors (metabolic abnormalities) can experience a faster decline in their cognitive function.  August 21, 2012, Neurology)
• Depression (Research has shown that obese people have clinical depression scores that  are as bad, or worse than, for patients suffering from chronic pain).
• Diabetes.
• Erectile dysfunction (obesity damages your cardiovascular system and decreases your testosterone levels).
• GERD.
• Gout.
• Heart disease (coronary heart disease, congestive cardiac failure).
• Headaches.
• High Cholesterol.
• Hormonal dysfunctions/imbalances.
• Hypertension - High blood pressure (two-thirds of obese individuals are at risk of hypertension).
• Inflammatory conditions.
• Insomnia.
• Migraine headaches.
• Musculoskeletal Injuries such as  back pain, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, wrist pain, and hand pain. 
• Osteoarthritis.
• Osteoporosis.
• PMS.
• Sexual dysfunction (impairs sexual performance and decreases sex drive).
• Slow healing.
• Strokes.
• Testosterone decrease. (In both men and women this fat-burning, muscle-building hormone is critical to weight loss).
• Urinary Incontinence.

At Kinetic Health, our clinical specialization is the treatment of  musculoskeletal injuries.  In most cases, we can help the patient resolve 80%-90% of their injuries in only a few short weeks (depending on severity of the condition and age).  In the remaining cases, where I see little or very slow progress, the lack of response is often related to the patient's  body-fat percentage issues. 

Like it or not carrying too much weight around is like a ticking time bomb, especially if that weight is around your mid section. 

• People who store fat around the middle (abdomen, chest, and internal organs) have an "apple" shape, and are more prone to diabetes (type II diabetes is at epidemic levels), heart disease, high blood pressure, gall bladder problems, systemic inflammation, and the wide array of health issues associated with inflammation.
• People with a "pear" shape, who store weight on their hips and thighs are at a lower risk for these conditions.

Inflammation and Obesity

Here is one fact you cannot get around. If you are obese/overweight, your body produces an increased level of pro-inflammatory compounds (such as prostaglandin E2). On the surface, these inflammatory compounds may not seem like a big deal, until you do a little investigation.  Take a look at some of common conditions that are related to increased levels of inflammation in your body:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Arthritis
• Atherosclerosis
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Emphysema
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s disease

Unfortunately, obesity and inflammation creates an escalating cycle of dysfunction.  Inflammatory hormones ,such as prostaglandin E2,  inhibits your body's ability to burn fat.  This lowers your metabolism, makes you gain even more weight which increases the levels of inflammatory hormones.  This really is a nasty cycle of dysfunction

Osteoporosis and Obesity

Take a good look at this diagram, wouldn't you rather have the silhouette of the 40 year old at age 70, than the 70 year old at age 50.  Sounds like a silly question but it really is not. There are numerous steps you can take to slow down osteoporotic  degeneration. 

The first step is to get rid of any extra weight you are carrying.   

Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when the quality and quantity of bone tissue is weakened, making your bones more susceptible to bone loss and breakage. It also prevents your bones from re-modeling and re-building themselves.

The relationship between obesity and osteoporosis has been widely studied.  Initially studies indicated that obesity (increase weight ) may help prevent osteoporosis, but this is not true.  More recent studies have now indicated that the same nutritional problems associated with obesity lead to Osteoporosis. The two conditions are linked. 

Relationship of Obesity with Osteoporosis Lan-Juan Zhao, Yong-Jun Liu, Peng-Yuan Liu, James Hamilton, Robert R. Recker and Hong-Wen Deng - The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 92, No. 5 1640-1646

Osteoporosis - Some Important Facts

Osteoporosis should be take seriously, and you should do everything you can to avoid it.  Consider some statistics about osteoporosis. 

• Over 80% of all fractures in people over fifty years of age are caused by osteoporosis.
• Osteoporosis causes 70-90% of hip fractures annually.
• 37% of men and 28% women and who suffer a hip fracture will die within the next year.
• Only 44% of people, discharged from hospital after a hip fracture, return home.

Osteoarthritis and Obesity

Osteoarthritis is a complex degenerative condition that affects the joints in your body. Primary Osteoarthritis affects the weight-bearing joints in your knees, feet, hips, and lower back, as well as the fingers and neck. 

Osteoarthritis is a condition that is caused by excessive and long-term wear-and-tear of your joints, and is often accompanied by inflammation of the area with pain, swelling, and stiffness.  

Primary Osteoarthritis begins by affecting the cartilage of your joints. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over each other and assists in absorbing the shock and stress of movement. In osteoarthritis, the top layer of the cartilage breaks down and wears away, allowing the bones under the cartilage to rub against each other. The rubbing causes inflammation or swelling, pain, and decreased mobility of that joint. Over time, bone spurs may grow and the joint may lose its normal shape.

Obesity increases the chances of developing osteoarthritis since the excess weight multiplies the pressure and forces on the joint, leading to more wear and tear over time.

Osteoarthritis and  Weight Loss -  the GOOD NEWS

Even moderate decreases (15 lbs over 6 weeks) in weight can significantly reduce the amount of pain caused by osteoarthritis. Stephen Messier, a lead author of a noted study showed that "The accumulated reduction in knee load for a 1-pound loss in weight would be more than 4,800 pounds per mile walked".  In other words, for every pound of weight-loss, you will find a four-pound reduction in the stress experienced with each step! 

The effects of even a moderate weight-loss is especially noticeable in weight bearing joints such as the knee and hip. This can result in significant improvement in quality of life. This is an achievable goal, and can help you to live a more pain-free and enjoyable life.

In Part 6 of  "Dr. Abelson's Nutritional Program" we will give some great ideas on what YOU can do to lose the excess weight, and bring your life back into balance.   

Do you want more information about this, and other topics. Our books (eBooks and hard-copy) provide more information about soft-tissue injuries, rehabilitative exercises for injury recovery, and how to use these to activate and restore all the structures of your kinetic chain. 

To purchase our internationally best-selling books, visit www.releaseyourbody.com.  



For information about our clinic in Calgary, Alberta, please go to www.kinetichealth.ca.



(COPYRIGHT KINETIC HEALTH 2013 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)