Saturday, April 18, 2009

Secrets of the Pros brought to you.

How to bring the benefits of training in altitude to your house without the hassle and expense of an altitude Tent.

At CSI, due to our professional affiliations, we are privy to new technology sometimes many years before it’s available to the public. Last year I was contacted by a company who makes a High Altitude training system (io) due to my affiliation as the team Doctor for the Professional cycling team, Successful Living. As you may or may not be aware of, Professional Cycling has been under the microscope for the past several years due to Blood doping and Drug abuse allegations. The purpose of blood doping is to enhance your RBC (red blood cell) production so that you can enhance your Oxygen Transport, thus increasing your Aerobic Capacity. The Natural way to do this is to live at Altitude and/ or, sleep 6-8 hours in an Altitude Tent. This new devise, out of New Zealand, is extremely advanced, managed by the Mayo Clinic, and requires 1 hour a day, breathing in a mask, for 15 sessions, 5 days on 2 off or 6 days on 1 off.

As you are aware of I have been involved with high level cycling for 20+ years and the last 3 years, National level motocross racing. Last year I asked the CEO of the company if I could run a trial study at CSI to prepare a few riders to race at Mammoth Mountain for their Annual Motocross race. Since this race is at 8,500’ I wanted to see how they would react after using the machine and also to see how simple it was to use. I chose three high level motocross athletes of three different age brackets. I chose a 40 year old Masters champion, a 12 year old National rider and my son Tyler who was 9 at the time. Since Motocross is an extremely aerobic sport I wanted to see if it would enhance their performance and decrease the effects of racing at Altitude. Well it did, all three made the podium and felt as if they were riding at sea level! Both the 40 year old and my son were blown away at how good they felt. My son has been to Mammoth as a skier since he was a baby and we were wondering at his age if the devise would be effective. Well it was, Tyler stated he felt as if he were riding in TO and was able to push harder when everyone else wore out.

Normally, when competing in altitude, such as Mammoth, you either show up the DAY OF competition or you go to the altitude you are competing at and live there for 2 weeks prior to the event. Your body will actually perform worse at the 4-6 day point. So, if you go up 3-4 days prior to the event you will perform worse than if you go up the day of due to the acclimatization process. Due to traveling, work schedules and time constraints going to altitude for 2 weeks is not practical for most people. With this therapy, you can go up any time and stay because you will already be acclimatized. You will not get the Headaches, breathing problems, weakness, fatigue and so on. The company name is io, and they are now available to you at your home. So if you’re into ANY aerobic sport, this devise can help you perform much better. It’s used not only by cyclist, triathletes, Motocross racers and mountaineers, but athletes in Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Runners, skier, skaters, cross country skiers, hockey players as well pilots and asthmatics.

More on io Therapy

io works by using a sophisticated altitude simulator to force the body to react as if at altitude.

io causes your body to react to differing oxygen levels by producing a higher proportion of red blood cells. The more red blood cells you have, the more efficient your body becomes at transporting and using oxygen.

All you have to do is sit back, relax and breathe. The results – boosted energy levels, better performance in life and sport, enhanced health and relief from various conditions.

io specialising in the provision of the most advanced form of altitude training technology available. io's technology is a masked based system delivering benefits of altitude in intervals, this provides greater benefits in a shorter time.

io has developed improved technology and over the last 10 years been researching and providing altitude training to World and Olympic champions through to the casual gym user. io's sessions are each only 1 hour long with the session alternating from altitude to sea level during the hour session (at altitudes of between 18 and 26,000 feet increasing throughout the program). The io program has a base program of 15 sessions and then there are 'booster' sessions every 6-8 weeks these are 5 days long and again each session is only one hour.

io is a natural way to get an advantage and has been proven to aid with sports performance improving;
- recovery,
- speed,
- power,
- endurance to name a few benefits.
Research shows an improvement in overall athletic performance of between 4-8% across the board.( www.io-usa.com/research/view/sport ) Other benefits include aiding in the recovery from injury and maintaining fitness while injured through to assisting people with asthma or those starting out on a new fitness program.

This devise is an AMAZING invention and is a critical component in the preparation phase as well as the recovery phase. If you are serous about your sport, suffer from high altitude sickness, preparing to climb a big mountain or want a secret edge in your aerobic sport, Contact THE FACTORY in Westlake Village to set up an appointment to see this amazing devise in action. Contact Rob Bolton at 805-494-4464 and mention you want information on the IO therapy and other ways to enhance performance, that only the Factory can deliever.

Dr. Terry Weyman
www.gotcsi.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Stress, how to use it to win, not lose

With the tax season upon us and the economy being down many people are stressed out of their minds and as a result are experiencing aches and pains all over their bodies. We as humans tend to store our stress, whether physical or emotional, in our muscles. So as a result we start developing muscle tightness which can lead to headaches, general pain, decreased range of motion, altered sleeping patterns, altered bio-mechanics and very easily affect our immune systems. So here are a few tips on how to avoid these problems before they start affecting our daily lives.

Exercises regularly:

o Physical activity plays a major role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week.
Exercise can decrease ‘stress hormones' like cortisol, and increase endorphins, your body's ‘feel-good’ chemicals, giving your mood and body a natural boost.

Progressive muscle relaxation:

o By tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups in your body, you can relieve tension and feel much more relaxed in minutes. Start by tensing all the muscles in your face, holding a tight grimace ten seconds, then completely relaxing for ten seconds. Repeat this with your neck, followed by your shoulders, etc. You can do this anywhere, and as you practice, you will find you can relax more quickly and easily, reducing tension as quickly as it starts!

Get adjusted:

o Anxiety and stress frequently attack the weak spots of the spine, and as a result you can get general muscle tensions, headaches, neck pain and back pain. This pain can then aggravate the stress and anxiety. A chiropractic treatment which includes adjustments, soft tissue and muscle work is aimed at relieving any physical complaints which will in turn help with the mental conditions.

Eat a healthy diet:

o Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.

Reduce caffeine and sugar:

o The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.

• Get enough sleep:

o Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

If you guys have any question or want any advice on proper nutrition, specific exercises, or other stress reliving techniques feel free to comment and I will give you the information.

Dr. Amir

Monday, April 6, 2009

The good, the bad, the ugly

The Good, the bad and the ugly

Well, spring has sprung and the days are getting longer and people are coming out of their cocoons. I love this time of year and the energy it brings.

The Good: Life is good. During this past weekend I was North of Reno at a Regional qualifier for my son and his motocross team. Not that I want to bore you with details of a bragging father but Tyler had the race of his career, getting the hole shot (first one to the first turn) leading the race for 3.5 laps ahead of the two national title holders and placing third in a stacked field. (more on this later).

The Bad and the Ugly: Well, let’s just say that was me. I had an allergic reaction to something, I don’t know what, but on Thursday (yes, the day we left) a rash began to grow on my body and by Friday, I was covered head to toe. It made helping my son and others a difficult task but his riding made all the pain and itching a little more tolerable. By Sunday I looked like Will Smith in” Hitch”. After a visit to the hospital and Dermatologist office today, I am back to normal with just a little itch left. Wish I knew what hit me. Thank God I have incredible Doctors such as Dr. Derek , Dr. Ed and Dr. Amir to step in and care for all of you and to keep CSI open and helping all the patients.

With the down time and to keep my mind off the itching I began to think about the incredible profession I am in. Chiropractic and sports really showed their power this weekend. My son has only been riding 2 ½ years, at the National level 1 year. The last month he has been in the top ten and now the top 5 surpassing kids who have been at the level for 4+ years. The father of the current national title holder came up to me and said “what ever you’re doing with Tyler keep it up, he has come on faster than any rider and he is the talk of the circuit. What is your secret?”. At first I was shocked but then I started thinking. He trains, like the others; he eats and sleeps like the others; and he has natural talent, like the others. What is he doing that the others are not? The answer was simple: he is a Chiropractic Kid. When he gets a cold, he gets adjusted. When he feels tired or sore, he gets adjusted. After training to recover, he gets adjusted. To keep his balance and coordination in check, he gets lasered and adjusted. My 9 year old asks me to adjust him on a regular basis, not because he has back or neck pain, but because he wants to stay healthy and on top of his game. He has taught me so much on the importance of staying biomechanically aligned. Not just to stay out of pain but so much more. FULL BODY HEALTH. When the body is in line things just work. Stress is lessened, sickness is reduced, you think more clearly and you will have an edge on your competition whoever they may be.

Chiropractic is about removing interference or restrictions from the brain to the tissue cell. When a joint is fixated and muscles are in spasm, the nervous communication is compromised. Every organ, every cell, is controlled and coordinated by the nervous system. Even the slightest compromise can affect the function. Since muscles attach to the bones, than anything that can affect the muscles can indirectly affect the bodies function.
I am looking forward to coming back to work today, the first thing I am doing before I start treating patients? Getting Adjusted!!

See you soon,

Dr. Terry and the staff at CSI