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HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 9, 2016
THE JOY OF YOGA
RESEARCHERS TO STUDY ACUPUNCTURE FOR
ANKLE INSTABILITY AND SHIN SPLINTS
Ankle sprains and shin splints are two of the most common
injuries of the lower leg. Most ankle injuries, meanwhile,
are caused by an inversion sprain of the anterior talofibular
and calcaneofibular ligaments, the two primary lateral
stabilizing ligaments of the ankle. Because the ankle joint
is quite complex, it does not always return to normal
after injury; in fact, if an ankle is sprained repeatedly, the
supporting musculature becomes imbalanced such that the
ligaments become unstable, predisposing the ankle to even
further injury.
Although ankle sprains and shin splints appear to respond
well to acupuncture, it has been difficult to measure how
successful the therapy has been in making patients better. To
get a better understanding of the benefits acupuncture could
have on each condition, a pair of studies are currently being
conducted by Matthew Callison, a licensed acupuncturist,
and a team of researchers at the UCSD/RIMAC Sports
Training Center in San Diego, California.
Acupuncture and Ankle Sprains
The first study will look at acupuncture’s ability to affect
ankle stability. To qualify for the study, subjects who had
had numerous ankle sprains in the past and currently have
a feeling of “weakness” in the ankle. Patients will be divided
into a test group that will receive acupuncture treatment
that includes motor points (areas on the skin above a
neuromuscular junction) and extraordinary vessel points,
and a control group that will receive no treatment.
Callison’s team will measure ankle proprioception by
having participants balance on one foot on a computerized
platform, which will measure the number of times and
distance each participant wavers from their range of
balance. After the first set of measurements, patients will
receive either acupuncture or no treatment, then be retested
to measure any differences in balancing.
` “Using acupuncture on motor points has a profound
effect on the efficacy of treating musculoskeletal injuries,”
said Callison. “I want other acupuncturists to have
confidence in their ability to treat these kinds of injuries.”
Acupuncture and Shin Splints
The second study will determine the effects of acupuncture
in treating shin splints. Subjects will be randomly divided
into three groups. In the first group, patients will receive
treatment in sports medicine modalities from qualified
sports trainers. Patients in the second group will receive
acupuncture treatments from Callison and a team of interns
from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. The third group
will be subjected to both treatments.
Each study participant will receive an initial exam and
six consecutive treatments. After the sixth treatment, pain
levels will be measured using the Lykert scale subjective
assessment test.
“Using the acupuncture needle and electric stimulation,
we can decrease the inflammation in the immediate area,”
noted Callison. “Acupuncture is an important physical
modality, and I hope that studies like this one will prove its
value.”
References ; http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/
at/article.php?id=27682
RELY ON YOUR PRACTICE
Life is not always
joyful. We are, in
fact, experiencing
the human
condition each day. There is joy, happiness, freedom,
sadness, fear and sorrow. In fact, it’s a great thing to
be experiencing all these emotions. It means we’re
alive and listening...
It’s important to feel low (not stuck there
indefinitely), ineffective, or even lost. These times are
opportunities for mini-awakenings. They cause us to
consider such questions as “am I stuck?” “Is there an
area of my life that needs intention and surrender?”
This when your yoga practice can be the ace in
the hole! Our practice says: 1) this doesn’t have to be
hard 2) the answers are inside already and 3) take it
easy, apply stability, softness and love.
Even if your yoga starts as purely a physical practice,
spiritual development takes place. Each time we
practice, we’re making a connection to our deeper
selves. Making this connection over and over
strengthens our faith and intuition. There is huge
power in this divine connection. There are choices.
So why not rely upon your practice to live life? Why not
use it to undo stress and tension? It’s through cultivating
awareness, moving through fear and creating
nourishing, smooth breath that real growth happens.
I might add that it’s quite hard to access intuition
and clarity when we’re a stressed. Further, we
GET to be happy and joyful. Sadness, grief or guilt
are not our lot in the long term. It is not who we
are. Our true state is one of joy and light. Think
of your practice as working from the inside out.
Come to rely upon it’s answers and comfort.
Namaste, see you on the mat!
Keely Totten
FOOD AND DRINK
Mountain View Reader Dave Buchanan
is a man after my own heart. He loves a
good glass of wine and he loves to go to
the Santa Anita Race Track and watch the
horses run. As a reader of this column
Dave asked me if I had any formal
journalistic training. The answer is no - I
was an Econ Major at Cal State LA. Dave
and I have tussled about wine prices and
the right and wrongs about bringing your
own wine into a restaurant.
Reader Cheryl would like me to give the
little guys a chance - she tells me that
Monopole on El Molino in Pasadena has
some fantastic wines, and that Everson
Royce on North Raymond also has a
great selection. A few weeks ago, I took
Cheryl’s advice and had a marvelous time
sampling a Hunt and Harvest Merlot from
a five-gallon keg at Everson Royce. Ryan
was on duty and told me that kegged wine
is a great way to sample wine before you
make the decision to buy a full bottle, and
I agree. I am all about value and would
love to include the little guy in my column
more often.
Many supermarkets are “fully in” on wine
programs. Right now Vons is holding
their semi-annual 30% off wine sale.
Many of you whom I’ve met at my wine
tastings tell me that when Vons does
this program the prices are hard to beat.
Others such as Ralphs and Stater Bros.
have similar programs, although I wonder
if the “regular” price is a bit inflated to
make the savings look stronger. Whatever
the strategy, this consumer has no shame
in sending you to the supermarket
aisle when there is a sale going on.
Speaking of good deals, Central Park
Restaurant in Pasadena has an offer that
I think you’ll like. “Wine Wednesdays”
is a phenomenon on social media, and
Central Park offers 50% any bottle of wine
on Wednesdays. I have already taken advantage of getting a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for 50% off.
Wine Term of the Week
Balance: The level of agreement between acidity, tannins, fruit, oak, and other elements in a wine; a
perceived quality that is more individual than scientific.
Join me this Sunday at 3:30 PM on TV!! I check out Pink’s Hot Dogs for PBS Los Angeles, Look for
KLCS on your channel search. For more info go to www.klcs.org
Julie’s Favorite Family Recipes
LEMON-BASIL CHICKEN WITH BASIL AIOLI
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray
BASIL AIOLI:
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Preparation
To prepare chicken, combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken to basil mixture,
turning to coat.Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray.
Add chicken to pan; cook 8 minutes on each side or until done.While chicken cooks, prepare aioli.
Combine 1/4 cup basil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Serve with
chicken.
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