In the first two parts of this series we discussed the importance of body fat and gut health to lower abdominal function. In this part we will discuss the role of stress.
Stress can be defined as any stimulus to a system. In this blog we’re talking specifically about psychogenic stress. The stress we perceive in a stimulus.
Stress can influence the appearance of the lower abdominals in a number of ways. High stress levels put the body into fight or flight altering the function of every cell in the body almost instantly. Depending on the duration and intensity of the stress it can affect the...
In part 1 we discussed the importance of body fat to flattening your lower abdominals. In this part we will discuss the importance of gut health to flat abdominals.
As the abdominals lie on top of large parts of intestinal tract a blockage, swelling or inflammation within the intestinal tract will cause an expansion in the intestine and mechanically stretch out the overlying abdominals. Alternatively pain signals from the intestines (and other organs) can refer pain signals in to the abdominal muscles that are fed by the nerves at the same level.
Constipation based blockages are most prevalent...
One of the most common things I get asked is how to flatten the lower abdominals. Even people that come in for problems with their knees, lower back and neck frequently ask about how to flatten out this troublesome region. In this blog we will be discussing how to flatten the area, get a six-pack and boost your ego. There are several areas to consider. In this blog series we will cover;
1. Body fat
2. Gut health
3. Stress
4. Lower abdominal exercise.
In part 1 we will first discuss how important body fat levels are to flat lower abdominals.
I was once told that to show a good six pack you needed...
Part 1 discussed why a patient’s sinus tarsi syndrome may have been due to cumulative trauma, driven by over pronation. Then how the patient’s anteriorly rotated pelvis on the same side may have been causing this over pronation. This part will discuss how the upper cervical spine can influence the pelvis and thus the feet.
You will recall from part 1 that this patient had an anteriorly rotated left pelvis. The question then is why? Undoubtedly there was a muscle imbalance holding it in place as shown by his tighter muscles on the front of the left leg and low back. This was coupled...
A couple of weeks ago a patient was referred to me with sinus tarsi syndrome. The sinus tarsi is a small boney canal under the talus, the bone below your two shin bones. Sinus tarsi syndrome is considered by some to be an inaccurate diagnosis in that it can be further refined (Frey et al 1999). For example the term ‘sinus tarsi syndrome’ is diagnosed on the basis of pain in the sinus tarsi. This can be further diagnosed by checking pain during movement or whether injection of an aesthetic to the sinus tarsi eliminates the symptoms. However the diagnosis essentially means ‘pain...