Matt Harvey does NOT need surgery!

I see Matt Harvey is diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). I had a case of TOS (also called brachial neuritis) that led to arm paralysis in a mountain climber. Fortunately, I successfully treated him non-surgically and he went on to a full recovery and is mountain climbing again. This case was published in a Medical Journal. http://www.journalchiromed.com/article/S1556-3707(11)00156-8/abstract I believe Mr Harvey has a similar condition to this patient with the full right arm paralysis who went on to a full recovery without surgery. (Actually he had nerve entrapment surgery before coming to our office and the patient said it worsened the condition)

Likewise, I feel Mr. Harvey does not need surgery! He does not need the rib REMOVED… he simply needs it MOVED! From what I have read in the news, it looks to me that the rib has become misaligned and it just needs to have its position adjusted slightly…not ripped out.  To reiterate, common sense dictates that if the rib needed to be removed it would have ALWAYS been a problem!

In all likelihood, without examining him, this probably occurred this year because of Mr. Harvey's emotional stress from last year which physiologically caused his pectoralis minor muscle to become hypertonic as a defense mechanism (fight or flight response). This, in conjunction with the fact that he is such an emotionally charged individual to start with, is what I believe predisposed this condition to happen now. In other words...he is physiologically tightening up his chest, ribs, and shoulders. (This is why he complained to his agent, Mr. Scott Boras that he felt like he had a "dead arm" earlier in the season)

The rib in question cannot in and of itself BE the problem otherwise it would have ALWAYS bothered him. Therefore, logic dictates the rib itself is not the problem…the rib’s newly developed lack of proper movement is the problem; and this is due to a physiological and biomechanical problem with the ribcage, not an anatomical problem. I.e. he was not born with an overgrown rib.

Last year, Harvard had its 4th International Fascial Symposium to "To advance our understanding of structure and function, educate scientists and clinical professionals" about the importance of fascia. http://www.fasciacongress.org/2015/

In my practice I focus on Maximizing Human Performance and I guarantee that if I am right, a simple realignment of the rib(s) and a releasing of the tight fascia around the pectoralis minor muscle would have Mr. Harvey as good, if not better than ever, in 10 days!

You cannot put a rib back once you take it out! I have been doing this for 30 years and I don’t flippantly make guarantees; however, I mean what I said above with all my heart.

I pray the surgery is a success and I wish Matt Harvey all the luck in the world. Sincerely,

Dr. Eugene Charles The Applied Kinesiology Center of New York 36 East 36th Street New York, NY 10016 www.appliedkinesiologycenterofnewyork.com (212) 683 -9328

Natural Treatment For Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

If you investigate any reputable source you can see a silent epidemic is affecting our children. This epidemic is most commonly called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

 

1. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)  is the most common neurobehavioral disorder diagnosed in children in the United States. While it's typically diagnosed when children enter elementary school, it is 'increasingly' being diagnosed in preschool children." http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db201.htm

 

 

2. In The Economist, “Nearly one in six boys in America under the age of ten has been diagnosed with ADHD, and a majority of these children take medication for it.”  http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21657021-childhood-conditions-such-autism-and-adhd-are-now-widespread-youthful-folly

 

 

3. The New York Times reports, “ The rising rates of ADHD diagnoses are "a national disaster" fueled largely by drug-company ads that target clinicians and parents alike."  

 

"You may wonder what accounts for the recent explosive increase in the rates of A.D.H.D. diagnosis and its treatment through medication. The lifetime prevalence in children has increased to 11 percent in 2011 from 7.8 percent in 2003 — a whopping 41 percent increase — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And 6.1 percent of young people were taking some A.D.H.D. medication in 2011, a 28 percent increase since 2007.  Most alarmingly, more than 10,000 toddlers at ages 2 and 3 were found to be taking these drugs, far outside any established pediatric guidelines. Some of the rising prevalence of A.D.H.D. is doubtless driven by the pharmaceutical industry whose profitable drugs are the mainstay of treatment.” 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/opinion/sunday/a-natural-fix-for-adhd.html?_r=0”  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/opinion/sunday/a-natural-fix-for-adhd.html?_r=0

 

4. Journal of Pediatrics article describes, "We do not know what the long-term effects of psychotropic medication are on the developing brains and bodies of little kids," said a CDC official in a news release. "What we do know is that behavioral therapy is safe and can have long-term positive impacts on how a child with ADHD functions at home, in school, and with friends.”  

http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227%3B68166233%3BTeqk%2BQ62lBqjXAv9R63Vd3wqBkRlQyxS7bJXo2FwIR4%3D

 

Most respected authorities agree that ADHD is reaching frightening proportions and most also agree that medication may not be the best first line of treatment for ADHD. 

 

Then what is?

 

I propose if The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is correct and ADHD is a "neurobehavioral disorder” then it sounds like the answer can be found in the neuro - behavioral relationship. In other words, I believe if we can take stress off of the child’s nervous system…naturally, then we can positively affect his behavior. I feel if we try to influence the effect (behavior) without addressing the probable cause (nervous tension) then the treatment is doomed to failure!

 

Here is the story of Oliver (Ollie). He was 8 years old when he was diagnosed with ADHD. He was medicated but drugs were not the answer. His parents brought him to The Applied Kinesiology Center of New York for natural therapy. 

 

In Applied Kinesiology we address a phenomenon known as “Neurological Disorganization.” You are probably familiar with signs of this. It represents a neurological overload due to stress that manifests itself in behavior such as turning left when you meant to go right; brain fog, confusion, mood swings or the jumbling of words. Athletes who go “ into a slump” are usually suffering from this.

 

Children who are experiencing this functional problem with processing information will often be diagnosed as dyslexic, hyperactive or ADHD. In Ollie’s case, besides his diagnosis of ADHD a powerful clue that he was experiencing “neurological disorganization” is that when he came in on the first visit his pants were on backwards.

Treatment consisted of applied kinesiology therapy which included: chiropractic adjustments, cranial mobilization, percussor therapy, kinesiological muscle techniques, diet and specific exercises. (Power Kinetics®)  

 

Ollie's teachers talk about the difference they saw in him here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld-5-Um-TEw

 

As you can see Ollie is showing great improvement. I feel that the greatest testament to what natural healing can do is best exemplified by one his teachers when she said that, “As a result he’s happier in school. He didn’t like coming to school before but now he runs into the room. He smiles and laughs and doesn’t feel like he is in crisis like he once did.”  

This happened because the body wants to be healthy and as long as Ollie keeps the stress out of his nervous system through periodic kinesiological treatments, verbalizing his feelings and doing his exercises he will continue to do very well and live a life where he will realize his full potential.

 

If you are interested in applied kinesiology treatments go to appliedkinesiologycenterofnewyork or call (800) 351 - 5450

 

If you are a doctor interested in learning applied kinesiology go to: www.charlesseminars.com

The #1 Cause of Disability in the World - Low Back Pain

When you were younger you probably felt invincible. It was like you were made of rubber and could withstand anything (bumps, bruises, or sitting like a pretzel for hours on end) and would snap back up again unscathed, ready for the next challenge. But how about now? Are you still invincible, or has your lower back been giving you painful reminders that you are not? According to statistics, the answer is probably YES! Sadly, you are not alone. You are actually part of an alarming global trend of people with low back pain issues. My hope with this BLOG is to teach you how to avoid becoming a statistic.

A recent Medical Journal Reported, “Low back pain (LBP) causes more disability globally than any other condition; according to two studies published online January 30 and March 24, 2014 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. As the world population continues to age, an urgent need exists for research to find out why and how LBP might be prevented or better managed…” (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822492)

Let’s read that again,

“Low back pain causes more disability globally than any other condition… an urgent need exists for research to find out why and how LBP might be prevented or better managed...”

So the question is, "why does this happen and what can you do to prevent and/or recover from low back pain?" If I may be so bold... I am positive that I have the answers to both how LBP might be prevented and better managed!

Follow these steps:

#1. Take responsibility. If you are reading this you are obviously someone who takes responsibility, and who realizes that you cannot afford to keep doing what got you in this mess in the first place. You have to treat yourself differently. You have to treat yourself and your spine better. If you are overweight you have to drop the excess poundage...NOW! Proceed to step two.

#2 Movement is Medicine. We have all heard the quote, “use it or lose it.” Simply put, you absolutely MUST move around more. Get out of your chair for 10 minutes every hour. The US Army did a study and found that resting 10 minutes out of every hour made marching soldiers more effective. I believe that getting up 10 minutes out of every hour will help soldiers in the civilian world (you) be more energetic—and healthier. So get up and walk around! Better yet, shake the dust off your spine by performing the 6 spinal movements and the “10 Things To Do at Work” on the Power Kinetics® Exercise DVD.

#3 Get your spine aligned. How anyone in this day and age does not realize that all 26 bones of their spine need to be adjusted and realigned at least once a month is mind-boggling! I believe most LBP comes from the spinal bones getting stuck or misaligned. In other words, for optimal joint and spine health you absolutely MUST see a doctor of chiropractic on a REGULAR basis.

*Just like you regularly see a dentist to take care of the bones in your mouth... you must see a chiropractor to take care of the bones in your spine, and the rest of your body for matter.

#4 Receive applied kinesiology treatments. Applied kinesiology (AK) is a system that uses muscle testing to uncover which muscle(s) is not moving right when someone has pain or cannot do something. You are well aware of the fact that muscles move bones and I feel that chiropractors who utilize applied kinesiology techniques to augment their great adjustments can accomplish more in one visit than any other doctor who specializes in spinal health. I feel you need to have your muscles tested and then treated for optimal spinal health and I know of no better way of keeping your low back healthy than having specific kinesiological work done on your muscles followed by a precise chiropractic adjustment.

So we are clear, I am partial to AK because the founder of AK, Dr. George Goodheart, properly diagnosed and corrected the cause of my severe shoulder pain when no other doctor was able to... over 30 years ago. This motivated me to become the youngest teaching Diplomate of Applied Kinesiology in the world. (or so I was told)

*If you are interested, I have a list of doctors I've trained in applied kinesiology and also have seminar DVDs available to any doctor who wants to learn and use these powerful healing tools. 

#5 Eat foods and herbs that decrease inflammation. Foods such as olive oil, nuts & seeds, fish (especially wild salmon, sardines & anchovies), grass fed beef, vegetables; and herbs such as turmeric, boswellia, ginger root, quercetin and ubiquinol work naturally with your body to decrease pain and swelling.

#6 Strengthen your stomach muscles (the abdominals). Strong abdominal muscles stabilize and support your low back. However, MOST stomach exercises are wrong. That’s right, most stomach exercises involve the hip flexors, which are antagonistic to the abdominal muscle. So you are creating tension in your low back; the very same low back you are exercising to help.

Several years ago, I developed an abdominal exercise for a man with a herniated disc who had horrific pain shooting down his legs. He needed to strengthen his stomach muscles to help his condition, yet every stomach exercise he tried was incredibly painful. Instead of having him contract his hip flexor muscles (psoas, rectus femoris), I had him contract his hip extensor muscles (gluteus maximus, hamstrings).

I developed this exercise for him and he was able to do it with no pain. So if a guy with a herniated disc was able to do this and not hurt himself, I am confident that this exercise will not injure your low back and you will benefit greatly by it. I’m a little embarrassed that it took me 30 years—plus a patient in horrible pain—to come up with this abdominal exercise. One of my students named it “The Charles Crunch.” I simply call it, "The PK Sit-up."

*You can see this low back saving exercise in the Dec 17 2014 BLOG.

There you have it. Six things you can do to avoid the greatest cause of disability on the planet. When your low back hurts, everything hurts and everyday can be a living nightmare. Be very diligent with these 6 steps and you will have a greater probability of a healthy, pain-free low back and a greater opportunity of enjoying life to the fullest.

Don’t wait until you have low back pain to implement these six actions, do them as preventative measures NOW. As Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I will leave you with a different version of this adage that I teach all of my patients, “Be kind to your spine. Treat your back like it is hurting…and it never will.”

To your Great Health and Success,

Eugene Charles, D.C., DIBAK Diplomate, International Board of Applied Kinesiology www.charlesseminars.com

Follow Dr. Charles on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel. Share this blog with a friend!

Contact us and let us know you signed up for the BLOG and you will receive a FREE PDF to the book Antidotes For Indiscretions: What to do when you do what you shouldn’t have.

For a list of doctors trained in Applied Kinesiology http://www.charlesseminars.com/AKdoctors.html

For doctors interested in adding Applied Kinesiology to their practice http://www.charlesseminars.com/producs.html

To order The Power Kinetics® Exercise DVD http://www.charlesseminars.com/PowerKineticsVitamins.html

THE NEW "PK" WAY TO GET ABS

Here is the first step in my new Power Kinetics® (PK)

5-step program to the most intelligent and healthy way to get the perfect stomach.

BEGIN by pushing your feet into the floor and  contract your gluteus muscles. This will slightly elevate the pelvis off of the floor and increase the intensity of the abdominal contraction. Most ab exercises contract the hip flexors. (i.e. by raising the knees up towards your head) This is biomechanically unsound and creates tension in the low back—a MAJOR reason why so many “well meaning” people hurt their backs while trying to strengthen their abdominal muscles.

These PK Sit-ups are safe and protect your low back! Also, contracting your buttocks develops the gluteal muscles while you also strengthen your stomach.

FINISH by exhaling; blow-out forcibly (this further contracts and tones the abdominal muscles) as you bring your body, and your hands up—TOWARDS THE CEILING!  Do not squeeze yourself into a ball. This compresses the very sensitive abdominal organs that you are developing your stomach muscles to protect! If you find your neck muscles are not strong enough and you feel them straining then put your hands behind your neck for added support.

Do as many repetitions as you can. Do these three days a week. Perform the Power Kinetic® exercises on the alternative days, so you are stimulating the muscle fibers six days a week.

*Check with your physician before starting any exercise program.

Bonus: To help remove fat from the stomach region take 2 Relora with Bacopa daily. The PK exercise DVD and the Relora are available here:

http://www.charlesseminars.com/PowerKineticsVitamins.html

To Actualizing Your Potential and Living as Richly as possible,

Eugene Charles, D.C., DIBAK Diplomate, International Board of Applied Kinesiology www.charlesseminars.com

 Follow Dr. Charles on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.                               Share this blog with a friend!

Contact us and let us know you signed up for the BLOG and you will receive a FREE PDF to the book Antidotes For Indiscretions: What to do when you do what you shouldn’t have.

Tommy John Surgery or Dr. George Goodheart Treatments?

How applied kinesiology can be an integral part of an athlete’s recovery from injuries:

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka suffered an elbow injury that will keep him off the mound for at least 6 weeks. The Wall Street Journal's Daniel Barbarisi reports that Tanaka has a slight tear of his ulnar collateral ligament. We all know that a full tear means Tommy John surgery, and rightly so. The surgery is a modern marvel and has become more famous than the pitcher it is named after!

As these excellent doctors try their best to successfully heal Mr. Tanaka’s elbow—so he can avoid surgery—I will share with you how applied kinesiology could be added to the team approach to healing this athlete (and we are all athletes in our own way) and perhaps help save his career.

Applied kinesiology is another modern marvel started by a man who is not as famous as Tommy John. His name is Dr. George Goodheart and he developed a healing system known as applied kinesiology. It proved to be so successful that Dr. Goodheart was selected to the Olympic Medical Committee in 1980 when he healed the injured hamstring of the Medical Committee Chairman - Dr. Irving Dardik, after other therapies could not!

In this case, and with the information available to me—Mr. Tanaka complaining of arm fatigue, pitching on less rest than he did in Japan, and the assurance that there was no traumatic event like a loud pop—here is my suggestion of what applied kinesiology can add to the therapies being used:

1. It sounds like his elbow is not moving properly and has what is known as a subluxation. A subluxation is where the joint is NOT dislocated, however it is not moving 100% properly either. It is stuck somewhere in between, literally! The elbow is comprised of three joints (humero-radial, humero-ulnar, proximal radio-ulnar) and it appears that at least one of the joints is not functioning in the proper manner.

*A manual adjustment is needed to realign one or all three of the joints. Most likely in this case the humero-ulnar joint is subluxated and causing excessing strain on the ligament that connects the two bones—the infamous ulnar collateral ligament. This joint is probably not moving properly with many pitchers and this may be a major reason they end up tearing the ligament due to the elbow’s compromised position. After all, if it was just a case of overuse then ALL pitchers would get this when they hit a certain cumulative pitch count (This adjustment helps to heal the joint).

2. Kinesiological techniques to restore optimal function to the muscles around the elbow (pronator teres, supinator, wrist flexors etc.) These are specific massage techniques that restore the muscle to its pre-injury status. These techniques should be employed BEFORE physical therapy is initiated (This helps to heal the muscles).

3. Percussion therapy over the ulnar collateral ligament to induce the fibroblasts to synthesize collagen and promote the healing and strengthening of the ligament (This helps to heal the ligaments).

4. NUTRITION—The last aspect that is so often overlooked in ALL injuries is the need for the nutrition that the body needs to heal. Nutrients to stop inflammation and promote the healing of muscles, tendons and ligaments are needed for a complete recovery. This is an entire topic in itself.

Briefly, Vitamin C and the mineral manganese are essential to heal ligaments; omega oils and herbs like curcumin, ginger and boswellia help stop inflammation; and my PROFESSIONAL SPORTS INJURY SECRET—natural anti-histamines! That’s right, natural anti-histamines. Why? Because when a joint is injured it disrupts mast cells which release histamines and cause excessive pain and inflammation. I have used natural anti-histamines with amazing results in healing injured ankles, shoulders, wrists….and yes, elbows (This helps to heal the joint, muscles and ligaments).

Now you have it. How applied kinesiology can be an asset in assisting the medical team working on Masahiro Tanaka’s elbow. It can bring another set of tools to the "Medical Pit Crew” working earnestly to help this athlete do what he loves. This goes for all athletes and remember WE ARE ALL ATHLETES IN OUR OWN WAY!

To Actualizing Your Potential and Your Great Health and Success,

Eugene Charles, D.C., DIBAK Diplomate, International Board of Applied Kinesiology www.charlesseminars.com

Follow Dr. Charles on Twitter, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

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FIFA World Cup 14'

If you're watching the 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL, you saw American soccer star Jozy Altidore suffered a hamstring injury in America's 2-1 victory over Ghana this week.

"In the first half Monday, Altidore was running down a ball with Ghana’s John Boye when he lowered his head to attempt to control it. He immediately grabbed the back of his left leg and fell to the ground in pain.."

Most hamstring injuries are due to three scenarios:

1. The covering around the muscle known as fascia tightening up around the hamstring.

2. The nerve endings at the ends of the muscles gets too much impulse from the athlete trying to either accelerate or decelerate and these nerve endings—Golgi Tendon Organs—send an inhibitory signal to the muscle to shut it off.

3. The third scenario is the Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome that we covered last Blog regarding NBA player Lebron James.

How Applied Kinesiology Can Help:

A doctor trained in applied kinesiology would be able to discern which one of these (or other possible causes) is the culprit and apply the proper treatment.

If the fascia is too short, then a deep massage is needed to lengthen the fascia and release the muscle from its self-made prison.

If the muscle is a true strain from excessive neurological bombardment from the Golgi Tendon Organs the doctor/therapist would apply pressure to the ends of the muscle to signal the inhibitory impulses to stop shutting the muscle off.

To Your Potential!

Be well,

Dr. Eugene Charles www.charlesseminars.com

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