Researchers in the US studying people with chronic diseases found that physical activity may reduce depression and fatigue by increasing self-efficacy, or the belief that one can master physical goals and attain a sense of accomplishment from applying oneself.
These were the findings of a study by lead author Dr Edward McAuley, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and colleagues, and appears in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
A person’s self-efficacy is the belief they can attain a certain goal: an example of my self-efficacy would be that I believe I can climb several flights of stairs or jog around the block without stopping.
While there is lots of evidence that physical activity influences well-being, the reason why is less well understood. Read more…
What is kinesiology and exercise science? The study of movement is kinesiology and the science of exercise is the exploration of specific movements in relation to fitness and health. The kinesthetic aspect of the program relates to motion as it realates to health and mental functioning.
Movement, Mental Processing and Mood
Many studies suggest that activity has a direct effect on mental functioning and mood. A sedentary person is more likely to develop depression, inattention, and the inability to focus. Kinesiology is related to language development and communication skills as well.
The motor theory of language suggests that all language is rooted in neurological motor systems based in movement. Fundamentally, all communication arises out of motion. Mental processes, though appearing to be sedentary are based in activity and motion.
Kinesiology
Kinesiology explores movement in regards to intellect with the combination of motion. The field looks at various populations including the elderly, children, athletes, and people with physical challenges due to disabilities or health disease. The approach explore motion in the following realms:
* Life skills * Exercise * Physical fitness * Dancing * Playing * Working * Engaging in sports
The study of human movement is a field that brings together a number of different elements. When you explore motion, you naturally touch upon the following topics, especially in regards to alternative and complementary medicine.
This topic is applicable to health as well as various treatment modalities, including forms of alternative and complementary medicine. The better that an individual understands the science of human motion, the better able he or she is to adopt health practices that are most effective.
What is Exercise Science?
What is exercise science? Not everyone makes the connection between science and exercise, but the two are deeply connected. Every movement, even the most seemingly simplistic motion involves complicated neurological and physical components that work together to make the motion possible. In addition, each movement has ramifications on the mind, body and spirit.
Exercise science explores everything about movement from nutrition to injury and illness. This field of study helps us understand how the body functions from the fundamental origins of movement, including biological, chemical and nutritional realms.
Kinesiology and Exercise Medicine
Kinesiology and exercise medicine relate to more than fitness and workouts. The fields of study look at the inner workings of motion and exercise as well as their impact on the body in various realms. The comprehensive perspective on motion offers new insight into the importance of activity and health
Each approach looks at the body as a machine that drives the mind and emotions through motion. Thought, emotional processing and motion are each interconnected and those who explore the fundamentals of the connection between the body and the mind may want to consider the motor theory of language, kinesiology and exercise medicine.
With any sort of sport, injuries are not unusual. You can often avoid getting injured in a particular sport by determining what injury is likely to occur, and then do what it takes to avoid it. The truth is, though, that sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to take good care of your body to make injury less probable, or less traumatic. Prior to starting a sport, such as golf, the most important thing you can do is to be confident that you have the proper fitness level. You may very well keep your body safe from injury if you stick to these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; prepare your body before to activity; use proper form and good postures during activity; give yourself sufficient cool down and relaxation time.
It isn’t just amateur golfers who experience injuries. It has been conjectured that close to a third of pro golfers playing at any given time are playing with injury. The good news is that overall good health and fitness can lessen the number of injuries that you may acquire and might conceivably deter them altogether.
It is very important for you to have good body strength in the muscle regions most used while playing golf. But, it’s important to determine that your spine is in healthy alignment and that it has good mobility prior to setting out to build muscle strength. A successful golf swing hinges on your spine’s facility to adequately rotate adequately. Back injuries are the most prevalent type of injuries suffered by golfers. Your Sacramento chiropractor will establish that your spine is in appropriate alignment and that there is effectual movement of the vertebrae. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to prevent back injury.
Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. Being prepared to play your game is crucial to a safe, injury-free day on the green. You can warm up your muscles and make injuring them less likely by doing golf stretching and flexibility exercises. Flexibility in all areas of the body can be escalated fairly quickly as the result of full body range of motion (ROM) exercises. In addition, elastic band conditioning affords targeted golf range of motion advantages and can increase needed energy in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, such as your chiropractor, are including elastic band training in their golf conditioning programs because the bands offer dynamic resistance that ordinary weight lifting does not provide.
Besides back injuries, a large number of golfers suffer from “Golfer’s Elbow.” There is a minor difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow although they are nearly the same. Tennis elbow disturbs the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow impinges the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can result from a single violent action, such as (in golf) hitting the mat at the driving range or hitting a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, though, is most often the cause. In addition, it can happen to those who all of a sudden start playing too much golf. For example, if players that usually play golf once or twice a month decide to play in a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for contracting the injury.
Golf makes exclusive requirements on the body. Fatigue can be a challenge because the game generally lasts longer than the majority of other sports. Poor posture and impeded coordination are normally the consequences of a fatigued body. Together, these two components can create a number of injuries. Additionally, the shoulder muscles are liable to injury as a result of the constant swinging of the golf clubs. Just as it is essential for you to stretch and warm up prior to starting your golf game, be sure to rest your body appropriately between games.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is, sometimes, a surprising injury associated with golf. But, because it an affliction that occurs due to repetitive stress, many games of golf played over several months repetitively may produce this injury. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury producing incapacitation and occasionally necessitating surgery. However, chiropractic treatment and, sometimes the use of a brace will help the condition if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage.
Many golfers seem to feel that injuries are simply an unavoidable part of a golfer’s life. Nonetheless, a healthy, mobile spine, judicious preparation, proper exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and sustaining a a good fitness level, and sensible rest and recuperation after your game is over, can make injuries a good deal less a part of your golfing experience.
Dr. Yong Kim is a chiropractor in Sacramento with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org
Repetitive melodies encourage less energy use, more growth, study finds
By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) — Could the music of the 18th century classical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart help tiny infants born today?
Yes, suggests an Israeli study that found that listening for just 30 minutes a day helped premature babies use less energy, which may help them grow faster.
“Within 10 minutes of listening to Mozart music, healthy infants [born prematurely] had a 10 percent to 13 percent reduction of their resting energy expenditure,” the study authors wrote. “We speculate that this effect of music on resting energy expenditure might explain, in part, the improved weight gain that results from this Mozart effect.”
The findings were published online Monday in Pediatrics, and are slated to appear in the January print issue of the journal. Read more…
What are the different types of headaches? The painful condition has many different causes and the pain manifests itself in a number of different ways. Figuring out which type of headache you have is an important part of treating the condition.
A headache can be classified as a neurological problem but there are many different reasons people experience pain in the head. The symptoms of the headache are indicators of the type of headache you are experiencing. Following are four common types of headaches people experience.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches can occur occasionally or they may be chronic in some individuals. Reasons behind tension pain in the head include but are not limited to:
Depression
Underlying medical problems
Stress
Fatigue
Depression
Psychological problems
People who have chronic tension headaches may notice the onset of the problem occurring as early as 20 years of age while others find the onset of the headaches in their late thirties.
Hormonal Headaches
Some headaches occur because there is an imbalance of hormones in the body. The endocrine system is responsible for manufacturing and releasing hormones and this system works in collaboration with the nervous system. When there is an imbalance, headaches can occur.
Migraine Headaches
The painful onset of a migraine headache is enough to put someone out of commission for a day or two. Telltale signs of migraine include pain on one side of the head. The problem occurs when the levels of serotonin change in the brain.
The biochemical changes have and effect on the trigeminal nerve in the head experiences chemical changes that force it to set off a series of occurrences that lead to pain in the head. Part of the reaction involves blood flow moving away from capillaries and into the veins around the head. Nerves close to the veins and arteries become inflamed sending pain signals to the brain.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting roughly one percent of the population. These painful surges have a sudden onset and they leave as quickly as they begin, often with a rush of endorphins that cause a feeling of calm sedation and relief. The attacks occur in groups that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
The clusters of headaches may follow a cycle with occurrences appearing in the late night hours or early in the morning. People who have these outbreaks tend to experience them in the fall or spring seasons. Some cycles appear for several weeks, month or years.
Headache Treatment
Getting proper treatment for headaches begins with recognizing the type of headaches you experience on a regular basis. In addition to the four mentioned above are headaches associated with many other conditions, including allergies and underlying medical problems. Anyone experiencing recurring headaches should visit a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.
