4.11.2011

92 Year Old Woman Finishes Marathon!









HONOLULU -- Gladys Burrill wasn't thinking about breaking a world record when she power-walked and jogged through the Honolulu Marathon at age 92.

But Burrill, a part-time Hawaii resident nicknamed the "Gladyator," learned soon after finishing the Dec. 12 race with a time of nine hours and 53 minutes that she likely qualified for the recognition. Her advice for others wanting to live a long and healthy lifestyle? "Just get out there and walk or run," she said Monday. "I like walking because you can stop and smell the roses, but it's a rarity that I stop."

Alternative Therapies for Back Pain


Musculoskeletal Pain: The most common and shortest-term back pain is often caused by the out-of-condition back doing normal things, or the conditioned back doing extraordinary things. If you've strained a muscle or aren't properly aligned, alternative therapies such as physical therapy (PT), Feldenkrais, pilates and yoga will gradually soothe you. Feldenkrais (which is minimal movement, analogous to minimal music) promotes proper use of the proper muscles. Massage may also be a good idea, but be careful; if you have a neurological problem, massage may make you worse.

Herniated Disk: The McKenzie technique of physical therapy works to draw the offending material from behind the vertebrae, where the nerves are, and out of harm's way over 75 percent of the time. Even large disk herniations that may suggest a need for surgery can respond to physical therapy within a few weeks. By properly arching the back, a partial vacuum develops in front of the herniation. The disk reacts by moving the herniated material toward the vacuum, lowering pressure on the nerve. While you're waiting for McKenzie physical therapy to work its magic, acupuncture can reduce the pain.

Piriformis Syndrome: This is a combination of muscles and nerves. The piriformis muscle in the buttock contracts and compresses the sciatic nerve, so the symptoms are neurological -- sciatica -- but the cause is in the muscle. After a steroid injection, yoga and physical therapy are quite effective in stretching the muscle and teaching you to relax it yourself. Acupuncture can sometimes expedite the healing process.

Sacroiliac Joint Derangement: The last lumbar vertebra fits into the sacrum, and the sacrum fits into the iliac bones, the two bones that wrap around the pelvis. When there is misalignment, there is lots of severe pain. Most establishment doctors aren't as good at diagnosing and treating this as osteopaths, chiropractors and PTs., so it might be a good idea to go to these professionals. Acupuncture, Feldenkrais and yoga can augment injections, pain patches and non-steroidals.

Spondylolisthesis: In Greek: 'listhesis' means slipping. In your back, one vertebra slides out of alignment. It usually slips forward, but sometimes back or to one side or the other. It's a radiological diagnosis, and state-of-the-art EMG techniques can determine if that's your problem. PT to strengthen abdominal muscles (front back and sides) and possibly an abdominal binder are good treatments, but some yoga also helps, as does Alexander Technique, which can work wonders with posture.

Spinal Stenosis: This is where the canal inside the spine gets too narrow, compressing nerves. You may need an MRI to be sure of the diagnosis. Posture is the best conservative solution -- Alexander Technique is probably the single best treatment, though PT is helpful too. Stenosis may worsen inexorably over time, and then it's one condition where surgery may be the best option.

Arthritis: The little joints in the spine -- the facets -- have the components that are structurally like knees and shoulders, which are other favorite sites for arthritis. And like knees and shoulders, facet joints are also vulnerable to intense pain. You can't stop arthritis, but you can slow it down. Conventional non-steroidals and more sophisticated anti-inflammatories are a great help, as is acupuncture. There are physical therapists who specialize in this condition. Yoga will improve your range of motion, and there are some good studies that suggest yoga is an effective anti-inflammatory.

by: Dr. Loren Fishman

Spring Clean Your Brain

There's something about the ritual of spring cleaning -- whether it's reorganizing your closets and drawers or giving your house a good sweep -- that is both comforting and reinvigorating. Likewise, giving your brain a spring makeover will not only help you think clearer, but it will keep you looking younger and more radiant. The reason is that aside from its other duties, our brain directly impacts our mood and physical appearance. Did you know, for example, that your face mirrors the chemical activity taking place in your brain? This activity produces micro-facial expressions -- those tiny, involuntary reflections of our thoughts that exude from within and give us that healthy glow. In other words, when your brain is at your best, you will look and feel your best.

Here are three ways to give your brain a makeover this spring:

1) Enjoy spring's bounty.

Take advantage of the fresh produce cropping up at your local supermarket this time of year. Studies show that people who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are not only leaner but have sharper memories. Aim for a rainbow of colors in your meals so that your body and brain will reap the benefits of phytonutrients, nature's powerful beautifying agents. These compounds create the distinctive bright colors you see in apples, oranges and red or green peppers.

2) Go for the glow.

Now that the weather is warmer, go outside and get your heart pumping by engaging in some outdoor activity. Getting your blood flowing will put that rosy glow back in your cheeks, and moderate sunlight will give you that much-needed rush of vitamin D. This increased blood flow rejuvenates our skin, making it smoother and suppler. Physical activity that spikes our heart rate also bathes our brain in a cascade of growth factors that promote the rebirth of brain cells and stronger neural connections. Studies show that aerobic exercise actually increases the size of our brain, which improves our mental capacity. It is the most natural way to improve your mood and self-confidence after months of hibernating from the cold. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression.

3) Get your beauty rest.

Once we turn the clocks forward, the days get longer, which often prevents us from getting enough sleep. We tend to stay up later in the evenings, and sunlight wakes us up earlier in the mornings. Light exposure, both natural and artificial, inhibits the release of the sleep hormone melatonin that is known for its powerful antioxidant and beautifying effects.

Work Hours and the Correlation to Heart Disease

Could the number of hours spent at work predict an individual's chance of developing coronary heart disease?

One group of European researchers thinks it's a possibility.

Based on the group's findings, presented in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, people who worked more than 11 hours per day had a 1.5-fold increased risk of developing coronary heart disease when compared to other subjects working seven to eight hours per day. Coronary heart disease, a condition that causes the blood vessels to the heart to narrow, is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Other heart conditions such as angina and heart attacks contribute to the disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.