Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis is the medical condition where the spine is curved or crooked from side to side.  Viewed on an x-ray and from the rear, the spine of a person with scoliosis may look like the letter “C” or in some cases the letter “S”.  Scoliosis can be classified as either congenital (a defect or abnormality already present at birth), idiopathic (a defect with unknown cause – this is further sub-classified according to the stage of the person’s life when it was diagnosed. The sub-classifications are: infantile, juvenile, adolescent and adult.), or neuromuscular (a defect that developed as an offshoot of another symptom such as physical trauma, spinal muscular atrophy, spina bifida, or cerebral palsy).  In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 7 million people suffer from scoliosis.

Patients with scoliosis that have reached the full maturity of their skeletal systems are very unlikely to have worsening conditions.  Severe cases of this condition however can lead to highly diminished capacity of the lungs, severe physical pressure on the heart, and a lot of restrictions on a lot of common physical activities.  Scoliosis is sometimes related to other medical conditions such as hyper-flexibility, connective tissue disorders, neurofibromatosis, amniotic band syndrome, and mitral valve prolapse.

The most common signs of scoliosis are:  uneven muscular growth along either side of the spine; prominence of the shoulder blades or the ribs; uneven lengths of the legs or uneven hips; and in some cases, very slow nerve action.

Patients who are initially diagnosed with scoliosis are checked up more thoroughly to determine if the cause of the deformity could be found.  During this physical examination, the patient’s skin is tested for any indication of neurofibromatosis, the feet are tested for cavovarus deformities, the abdominal muscles are tested for reflex action, and overall muscle tone is tested for plasticity.  Also during the physical examination, the patient is asked to perform the Adams Forward Bend Test.  This is a simple task of bending forward with the shirt removed so as to show the spine.  If a prominence is observed, scoliosis is deemed a possibility and an x-ray is ordered for confirmation. An alternative to the Adams Forward Bend Test is the use of a scoliometer. 

When scoliosis is determined to be the possible condition of a patient, it is a usual practice to arrange two types of x-rays to be taken.  The first one is a full spine, coronal (front view and back view), weight bearing x-ray, and the second one is a lateral or side-view x-ray.  These 2 x-rays are needed to assess the spinal curves brought about by the scoliosis from side to side and the curves that might cause a “hunchback” condition or a “saddleback” condition.

Full length x-rays of the spine are used to determine the classification of the scoliosis.  These are also used to determine the severity of the condition and its progression.  In patients that are still in the growth stage, serial x-rays are taken at intervals of 3-12 months to allow the doctors to follow the progression of the curve.

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The properties of honey

Honey equals energy.  Honey is a very good source of carbohydrates.  It provides 17 grams of carbohydrates – the main fuel that the body utilizes for energy - for every tablespoonful, thus it is one of the best foods that you can take to provide energy for your active muscles.  Carbohydrates are also essential in maintaining the proper levels of glycogen in the muscles which in turn are needed to keep muscles energized.

Honey is great as a pre-workout or pre-exercise food.  Eating honey prior to starting an exercise routine or any athletic activity will help provide fuel for the body to burn.  Furthermore, when honey is eaten before physical activity, it is digested easily by the body and it is released into the muscle systems at a steady rate so as to provide a continuous source of energy for the muscles.

Honey is also great as a booster snack during the workout itself or during an event such as a long distance run or bike ride.  There have been studies made that showed that getting carbohydrates from honey during a workout helps to improve the body’s performance during endurance activities by delaying the onset of fatigue and by keeping the muscles nourished for a longer period of time.  In the research of these studies, it was found that taking honey during athletic activity produced a significant increase in the power levels of the athletes resulting in faster completions and reduced times.  The research also found that honey provided results that were similar to results achieved with the use of glucose – the most popular supplement used to increase carbohydrate intake.

Honey also works well for post-workout recovery.  Having some honey after an exercise session or a competitive game helps decrease the soreness of the body and the muscles.  It also helps the body refuel and get back to its normal levels a lot faster.  It helps the muscles recuperate from the intensity of the workout and it refills these muscles with glycogen.  It is also great as a partner for other post workout supplements such as protein bars and protein shakes.  Additionally, honey also helps the body to restore the sugar concentrations in the blood which have been depleted during the workout.

Other properties of honey include moisturizing properties, antibacterial properties, and antioxidant properties. 

Honey has very good moisturizing properties because it is hygroscopic in nature.  This means that honey actually absorbs moisture from the air and keeps it in.  The moisturizing properties of honey make it very ideal for keeping the skin hydrated and preventing it from drying and peeling.  It also makes honey very useful in treating and dressing wounds.

As an antibacterial, honey is very effective in prohibiting the proliferation of certain bacteria.  This is due to the presence of some enzymes in honey that produce and contain hydrogen peroxide.  Thus, honey can be used for treating minor skin imperfections such as mild acne and light burns. 

The antioxidant properties of honey allow it to eliminate and destroy the free radicals that are present in the body.  These properties also help in making honey very helpful in promoting the growth of new muscle tissues.

With all these properties of honey, there is no doubt that honey is a great choice for an easy and delicious sports food.

The importance of stretching after training

Beginner exercisers usually skip stretching after their training, thinking that it is not that important and that it is just a waste of time and energy.  Most just go ahead into their training, work their muscles out hard, and look to get out of the gym as fast as they can thinking that they can avoid some of the muscle soreness long enough to get home.  But then, that is why they are just beginners.  Contrary to this perception, stretching is a very important part of any workout.  Stretching after training is very important just as stretching before training is essential.  It is not a waste of time and it certainly is not a waste of effort.   

The importance of stretching after training cannot be over emphasized.  It should be taken seriously and it should not be left out as much as possible.  Stretching is actually a part of the training; it is not just an extra set of exercises meant only to prolong the workout.

There are many benefits to stretching after training. It helps cool your muscles down after a long and intense workout, it relieves the tightness in the muscles that resulted from the workout, it reduces the soreness of the body, it revitalizes the circulation of blood around the body, and it helps maintain the flexibility of the ligaments and the joints.

Stretching after your training is a great way to cool your muscles down.  With the proper cool down, your muscles will be primed to recover more efficiently from the effects of the workout and your body will be able to get back to its full potential much faster too.  Remember that during your training, your body undergoes a number of very strenuous processes.  The muscle fibers, the tendons, and the ligaments all endure a certain amount of damage, to help them recover well it is very important to stretch them properly after your training.

Stretching after your training will also go a long way in preventing your body from experiencing a lot of post training body soreness.  This is the kind of soreness that is usually experienced by the body the next day after strenuous training.  It is brought about by several factors. 

First, training causes very small tears in the muscle fibers and these tears in turn cause the muscles to swell. When the muscles swell, they put pressure on the nerves and this pressure causes the body to feel sore.  Stretching after training helps prevent the swelling that is caused by the tears in the muscle fibers.

Second, training causes “blood pooling”.  This is when some of the blood that was pumped into the muscles by the heart during training remains in the muscles along with some lactic acid and some other waste products because the training was stopped abruptly.  To prevent this abrupt stoppage in training and to continue the smooth circulation of the blood through the muscles and the rest of the body, the right amount and the right kind of after training stretching exercises are indispensable.

Hair removal: different depilation methods

de cultural, religious, medical, or even sexual reasons.  The methods for hair removal have changed and evolved over time and in different parts of the world, but the most common method for hair removal is still shaving.

In terms of form, there are two forms of hair removal: Depilation and Epilation.  Depilation is the form of hair removal that only removes the part of the hair that is protruding outside the surface of the skin.  The most common example of this form of hair removal is shaving or in some cases, trimming.  Epilation on the other hand is the form of hair removal that removes the entire hair, that is, it removes even the part of the hair that is embedded in the skin, the roots. Examples of Epilation are hair plucking and hair waxing.

There are many different depilation methods.  As mentioned earlier the most common method is shaving. Other methods are trimming, depilation with the use of chemicals, and depilation with the use of friction.

Shaving is the removal of hair with the use of a sharp blade to cut off the hair from the surface of the skin.  It is the most common and most popular hair depilation method because it is the easiest to do, it is the cheapest, and it is the fastest.  Shaving can be done by a single person on him or herself without any help at all.  The prices of very effective shaving blades are very affordable and so are the prices of shaving creams and oils; they are also very easy to purchase because they are available everywhere.  A lot of electronic shaving gadgets have also been produced and these gadgets perform very well in terms of hair removal.  Most of the time, shaving blades, shaving gadgets, and shaving creams are packaged to make a “shaving system”.  Although individual shaving items work just as well, “shaving systems” are usually a lot more fun to use and they look much better in the bathroom too.

Shaving works on almost any part of the body.  It is great for removing facial hair, arm hair, chest hair, and leg hair.  It is also great for removing back hair, although a little help from a partner would be needed for this kind of shaving.

Clippers and scissors are used for the hair removal depilation method of trimming.  Just like shavers, trimmers can be used for hair removal on any part of the body.  Trimming is just as easy to do as shaving but it does not provide as good a result as shaving.  Because of the design of scissors or trimmers, they cannot get as close to the skin as a shaving blade can.  One advantage of trimming over shaving though is the depilation of nose hair.

Many different chemical hair removal depilation creams are offered by cosmetics companies and are easily available on the market.  These chemicals differ in alkalinity and acidity so choose the one that best suits your skin.  Chemical depilation is just as time-consuming to do as chemical epilation but it provides an inferior result.  If you want to use chemicals to remove hair from your body, you would be better served by chemical epilation creams and waxes.

Friction depilation is usually used only by women because this only works to remove the very fine hair that is found on women’s bodies.  The hair on men’s bodies is much too thick and too course for friction depilation to work effectively.

Avocado and its properties

The avocado, also known as the alligator pear, is native to Mexico.  It is commercially valuable and it is cultivated in many different tropical countries around the world.  The trees are usually propagated through grafting so as to maintain the good quality and the desired quantity of the fruit.

Avocados are very rich in various vitamins, fats, and minerals.  Avocados have plenty of potassium, they contain up to 60% more than the potassium found in bananas.  They also contain plenty of vitamin K and vitamin E as well as having plenty of the B vitamins.  Avocados are a great source of fiber.  They contain a very high fiber level especially compared to other fruits.  75% of the fiber in avocado is insoluble fiber while the remaining 25% are made up of soluble fiber. 

High intake and regular consumption of avocado has been demonstrated to benefit the cholesterol levels in blood serum.  In the study, where participants were given a week long diet filled with avocado rich foods, the patients with mild hypercholesterolemia displayed decreases in cholesterol levels in blood serum reaching up to 17%.  They also showed decreases in LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels which reached 22% and an increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels which reached 11%.

The high potassium content of avocados make it an invaluable food for making the body more resistant to circulatory system diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, and heart attack.  A cup of avocado has approximately 23% of the recommended daily folate intake. Folate is another nutrient that is very important in maintaining a healthy heart.  Folate rich foods, such as avocado, also promote lower risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Avocados also provide oleic acid, a fatty acid that has been shown to increase the body’s protection against certain cancers, including breast cancer.  They are also a very good source of “carotenoid lutein”.  Lutein helps the body fight against cataracts and macular degeneration.  It helps the eyes become healthier and more resistant to age related ocular ailments.

Additionally, aside from providing its own carotenoids, avocado also helps the body absorb other carotenoids from other fruits and vegetables that it consumes.  A few servings of avocado blended into salad, or a few slices mixed into salsa for example, will not only make the recipe so much more creamier and delicious, it will also make the dish a lot healthier.

Although avocados are a great addition to a diet because of the health benefits, taking too much could result in additional weight gain.  It is true that most of the fats in avocados are the good kind, thus they are very helpful for the circulatory and cardiovascular systems of the body, but they are still fat and calories which lead to packing on some additional pounds.

Because avocados turn sour when they are cooked and they do not respond well to freezing and cold temperatures, it is highly recommended to eat avocados fresh and raw.  If it is necessary to store the avocados, do so only for a short period of time and in room temperature.