When to go to a doctor, osteopath, etc

I go when I feel a SHARP pain. Sharp pain suggests that you didn't just pull something. It suggests torn soft tissue or broken bones. Not fun. That is what doctors can do for you. They are also the only ones that can give you a prescription and help you with major sicknesses like pneumonia and strep throat.

So if you wonder if it's bad enough to brave the doctor ask yourself is this a sharp pain or a dull ache?  Is it going away or is it getting worse?  If it's a muscle with a dull it's really not that hard to stretch or better still Ice (for 20 min or less).

(Naturally, I am not a doctor. So, you should consult your favorite medical expert and not take my advice as law. Be smart.)

There are many amazing practitioners I love to remind clients about:

Osteopaths & Chiropractors

Dieticians/Nutritionists

Physical Therapists/Occupational Therapists

Rapid Eye Therapists

Theta Healers

Acupressurists (I don't like needles so I prefer the pressure)

Reflexologists

NAET specialists 

Rolfers/Structural Integrators

Alexander certified instructors

Cranial Sacral Therapists

My personal favorite?  Licensed Massage Therapists who do a combination of many things and can modify their bodywork according to each client.

Most of you know that I don't have an affinity to doctors.

You probably ask why? I went to doctors for years and they said that my foot problem could be taken care of by stopping what I love...dance. My doctors tried to figure out if I was anemic, low in Vitamin B12, or simply allergic to the dirt in the air. One doctor was too embarrassed to tell me what my symptoms would be if I were Lactose intolerant, (I probably projected my own embarrassment on him and he was trying to be senstive), so I was guessing for 7 years.

Well, my Dance therapist, Ronald Nuttal at BYU, is the one who figured out I probably have hypoglycemia. Afterward, I spoke to a doctor, explained my symptoms, then received a "he's probably right but it's very difficult and expensive to truly diagnose."  I'm glad.  I don't want a diagnosis; I want a prognosis of how to deal with my tendency to high insulin levels.

I am the one who figured out that I am allergic to Soy, (not milk, although many cows eat soy meal which means fatty milk bothers me some), raw onions, Brazil nut protein, and Peanuts (after I birthed my first child). So he was right the intolerance was making me sick. He was just wrong about the allergy.  

I have since learned how to work with acupressure and remove my allergies.  Before this they were very real and very dangerous to my very existence.  Be careful with allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Ron also explained how to treat my Tendonitis and Fasciatis that had made it so I couldn't walk for two weeks. Now I simply have to treat occassional Fasciatis. My "Tendonitis" is completely gone.

90% of injuries are preventable by stretching? Yup. That's what Ron taught us in a Conditioning course at BYU. I learned how to address and fix injuries not from doctors, but from my dance trainers and professors; however, I am grateful for what I have learned from some doctors.

DanceCore Photos (by Brian & Kristy)

New Dance Photos with Emteriors photography

This in an excellent and easy read on athlete neurology.

The Brain, Why Athletes are Geniuses

For those unwilling to take the time to read the article I'll paraphrase it.

Athletes are more efficient in the neurons they use.  They have this skill because the brain is maleable and when it sends a command it takes into account the response.  It improves the efficiency of its commands with each outcome.

Athletes who are more practiced perform better and are better able to anticipate an outcome with only seeing the beginning movement.

Athletes with less experience in practice can only guess what outcomes will be.

"These studies are beginning to answer the question of what makes some people great athletes: They are just able to rewire their brains according to certain rules. As neuroscientists decipher those rules, they may find ways to give people better skills."

They tried out a theory of using an electrode whenever patterning a new skill.  Those with the electrode remembered better how to do the exercise after months of not practicing.

It definitely questions what is the future ethics in sport training.

DanceCore

DanceCore primarily teaches the unteachables such as how to get your deviations to adjust and allow you to move more freely and with more efficiency.

We base our teaching in kinesiology, anatomy, movement analysis, and several posture and relaxation techniques such as Pilates, Alexander Method, Feldenkrais, and Structural. With this background we also teach movement training to other forms of dance, athletes, singers, actors, or anyone that moves. The instruction is based on principles of movement that create the foundation of stability, flexibility, strength and quickness.

We currently teach private lessons in both competitive and social ballroom dance, traveling workshops, as well as teach the unteachables.  We also facilitate licensed massage therapy and core training.  

Long Beach California Ballroom Competition.

This is Aydin Aksoy, a new friend of ours. He is the Vice President of the USA Dance chapter we joined. It was due to his and others' hard work that this competition in Long Beach was so successful.

He is awesome. We had a great time talking with him. We must have charmed him. He said we were his "favorite couple" and he was so sincere we know it's true. Just don't tell anyone else. :) He also gave us a nifty device that allows five headphones to connect to one Ipod, or two ipods to connect to four speakers. Talk mixer fun. Mmmmmhmmmm.

The pictures are from Aydin. Isn't he great?



This is a great shot of the new dress Kristy Made. Brian is also sporting the Shirt Kristy made for Smooth. It works. We think next time he'll use the vest as well.
Check out those Jepp/S pants. Nice eh?



This is Kristy's favorite part of the new dress: Swish, Swish.
The weight of the fabric bounces off of my knees and gastroc. It's very fun.



We made a few lovely friends at this competition. It is so nice to meet such wonderful people when we travel so far from home.