After all of the effort our client has put in to get rid of the injury, we want to make sure that the injury does not come back. In fact, we want to prevent virtually all possible injuries. This is accomplished through proper training.
Think of the injury this way: the problem resulted from a long period of time spent building up improper ways of using the muscles. The ARP treatments laid a new foundation by teaching the muscles to work correctly. From that foundation, you can move forward in two possible directions. One is to go back and start using the muscles improperly again until they once more forget how to absorb force and cause another injury. The second is to continually reinforce the proper ways of using the muscles so that they can support a healthy and active life.
Believe it or not, one of the most effective ways to teach the muscles to work properly involves no movement at all. When you are holding an isometric position, you are not moving and are not at risk of re-injury. Therein lies the brilliance! Our isometrics are performed in a very unique way to accomplish several major objectives.
First, by actively pulling into position we are causing the muscles to contract eccentrically. Eccentric contraction is the key to injury prevention, because a longer muscle can absorb more force.
Second, the active pulling induces contractions at very high velocity. So even though we aren't moving, the muscles are turning on in the same manner they would be during a max effort sprint. This allows us to improve performance dramatically in a shorter period of time than traditional training.
One final benefit is that holding these positions trains the body's energy systems. During the hold, the body has to cycle through its anaerobic energy stores and then progress to the aerobic system, which it uses to recharge the exhausted anaerobic stores. Such a stimulus improves the efficiency of the body's energy delivery and is just one more way in which this type of training can benefit everyone who uses his or her body for any activity.
To learn more about this training program, visit our UltraFit Training Site.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
ARPwave Step 2: Find the Origin of Injury and Repair It
Now that the nervous system is working properly after step one, we finally get to use the ARP. The ARP is an amazing machine, but the machine alone will not achieve results. To maximize the benefit of the machine, we must use it with the ARPwave protocols. These protocols involve movements and exercises designed to rid the body of compensation patterns and restore proper function.
First, we begin by using the ARP to pinpoint the origin of the injury. We'll start by placing a pad on the area where our client feels the most pain, and move the ARP around to find the "hot spot," which is the spot that causes the most intense sensation and is the real source of the problem. More often than not, we find the real problem to be elsewhere. The symptom that you feel is where the problem ended up, not where it began.
Next, we begin treatment with the ARP on the hot spots. Remember that the reason the injury happened in the first place was the inability of muscles to absorb force. We have now found those muscles that could not absorb the force that entered our client's body, and will have our injured client move while the ARP is properly activating those muscles. Most importantly, this combination rapidly reprograms compensation patterns. During this phase the ARP is also helping us achieve joint mobility and build strength, which allows us to compress into one phase what traditional physical therapy will break into several, much longer steps.
As we continue through the ARP treatments, the muscles that could not absorb force rapidly learn to do so. They are able to keep more and more force out of the injured area, sparing it from the further aggravation that can slow the healing process. At the same time our treatments are drawing massive amounts of blood to the area and flushing inflammation out, which allows the body's innate healing mechanisms to work at their highest potential.
Most cases that we see will call for a ten treatment protocol. During this time we usually see a dramatic decrease in pain and a sharp increase in physical function. The end result is that the true origin of the problem is repaired, and we are ready to progress to step three.
In step three, we will see how to prevent injury from happening again in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at garrett@arpwaveaustin.com, or check out our web site at arpwaveaustin.com
First, we begin by using the ARP to pinpoint the origin of the injury. We'll start by placing a pad on the area where our client feels the most pain, and move the ARP around to find the "hot spot," which is the spot that causes the most intense sensation and is the real source of the problem. More often than not, we find the real problem to be elsewhere. The symptom that you feel is where the problem ended up, not where it began.
Next, we begin treatment with the ARP on the hot spots. Remember that the reason the injury happened in the first place was the inability of muscles to absorb force. We have now found those muscles that could not absorb the force that entered our client's body, and will have our injured client move while the ARP is properly activating those muscles. Most importantly, this combination rapidly reprograms compensation patterns. During this phase the ARP is also helping us achieve joint mobility and build strength, which allows us to compress into one phase what traditional physical therapy will break into several, much longer steps.
As we continue through the ARP treatments, the muscles that could not absorb force rapidly learn to do so. They are able to keep more and more force out of the injured area, sparing it from the further aggravation that can slow the healing process. At the same time our treatments are drawing massive amounts of blood to the area and flushing inflammation out, which allows the body's innate healing mechanisms to work at their highest potential.
Most cases that we see will call for a ten treatment protocol. During this time we usually see a dramatic decrease in pain and a sharp increase in physical function. The end result is that the true origin of the problem is repaired, and we are ready to progress to step three.
In step three, we will see how to prevent injury from happening again in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at garrett@arpwaveaustin.com, or check out our web site at arpwaveaustin.com
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
ARPwave Step 1: In-Balance
Whether we are eliminating chronic pain or dramatically speeding up recovery from injuries and surgery, the process is as simple as one, two, three. The first phase in the progression is called In-Balance.
Developed by Dr. John Pietila (Dr. J), this technique combines Applied Kinesiology with advanced Neurology to lay the foundation for the healing that will take place in the next two phases. This foundation comes in the form of restoring the body's ability to absorb force.
When the nervous system is activating the muscles properly, the muscles absorb the force that enters the body and everything works as it should. When the nervous system does not turn the muscles on properly, then force gets diverted into other areas like tendons, ligaments, cartilage, vertebral discs, etc. that cannot handle it. Force entering these other areas is the CAUSE of pain and injury.
Application of In-Balance allows us to find where in the nervous system that signal is being obstructed and get rid of that block. The process is similar to opening a highway with lanes blocked off for construction -- the In-Balance therapies open up those additional lanes of traffic, so that more information can be sent to the muscles.
With the appropriate neurological signal reaching the muscles, they can turn on and keep force away from the injured area. At this point we have laid the foundation for healing, and are ready to move on to step two.
If you are curious to learn more about In-Balance, one great resource is the In-Balance Discussion Board. Dr. J has added a lot of great information, and he may respond to your question if you post it.
Developed by Dr. John Pietila (Dr. J), this technique combines Applied Kinesiology with advanced Neurology to lay the foundation for the healing that will take place in the next two phases. This foundation comes in the form of restoring the body's ability to absorb force.
When the nervous system is activating the muscles properly, the muscles absorb the force that enters the body and everything works as it should. When the nervous system does not turn the muscles on properly, then force gets diverted into other areas like tendons, ligaments, cartilage, vertebral discs, etc. that cannot handle it. Force entering these other areas is the CAUSE of pain and injury.
Application of In-Balance allows us to find where in the nervous system that signal is being obstructed and get rid of that block. The process is similar to opening a highway with lanes blocked off for construction -- the In-Balance therapies open up those additional lanes of traffic, so that more information can be sent to the muscles.
With the appropriate neurological signal reaching the muscles, they can turn on and keep force away from the injured area. At this point we have laid the foundation for healing, and are ready to move on to step two.
If you are curious to learn more about In-Balance, one great resource is the In-Balance Discussion Board. Dr. J has added a lot of great information, and he may respond to your question if you post it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)