The link between Parkinson’s disease and gut bacteria

The link between Parkinson’s disease and gut bacteria

"What do the contents of your stomach have to do with Parkinson’s disease? A new study from a group of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in Los Angeles suggests more than you might think."

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Why running could keep you awake at night

Why running could keep you awake at night

"You’ve probably heard people say they enjoy running because it lets them switch off. Perhaps you feel that way yourself. Well recent research in mice suggests there may actually be a scientific basis for this, because brain activity really does decrease when you’re performing a simple, repetitive action. What’s more, while running may tire your body out, such exercise might actually reduce your brain’s need for sleep."

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Which sports are best for health and long life?

Which sports are best for health and long life?

"Insufficient physical activity is estimated to cause more than 5 million premature deaths a year. To reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and a number of other chronic diseases, the World Health Organisation recommends adults and older people engage in physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week."

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The effect of triggerpoint compression for acute low back pain

The effect of triggerpoint compression for acute low back pain

From a clinical perspective, myofascial trigger points certainly describe a phenomenon — aching spots, that seems to at least be partially helped by massage. The issue is that there is still uncertainty on the subject of triggerpoints.

To help provide some insight and perspective for therapists, I am working on compiling studies that look at the practical application of triggerpoint compression. Here is a study out of Japan that looks at the effects of compression at myofascial trigger points in patients with acute low back pain.

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Manual therapy for post-concussion headaches

Manual therapy for post-concussion headaches

One of the most persistent symptom after a mild traumatic brain injury is post-traumatic headaches. It is proposed that a portion of post traumatic headaches are cervicogenic in nature, due in part to the concomitant whiplash injury suffered at the same time of the concussive force. Any “Acceleration/deceleration of the head–neck complex of sufficient magnitude to cause mTBI is also likely to cause concurrent injury to the joints and soft tissues of the cervical spine. These types of injuries have been shown to cause headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, nausea and many other signs and symptoms considered synonymous with concussion.” (Marshall et al. 2015)

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