Therapeutic Reflexology and Massage Judy Kaski CR LMT

05/17/2021

Today Hank explains your unsung lymphatic system and how it supports cardiovascular function by collecting, filtering, and returning interstitial fluid back ...

05/17/2021

The sign has been described as a ‘curious finding’.

05/08/2021

What Are Fallen Arches?

If you look at an adult foot from the inside, you'll usually notice an upward curve in the middle. This is called an arch. Tendons -- tight bands that attach at the heel and foot bones -- form the arch. Several tendons in your foot and lower leg work together to form the arches in your foot.

When the tendons all pull the proper amount, then your foot forms a moderate, normal arch. When tendons do not pull together properly, there is little or no arch. This is called flat foot or fallen arch.

Test Yourself for Flat Feet

You can easily test yourself to see if you might have fallen arches or flat feet. Follow these three steps:

Get your feet wet.

Stand on a flat surface where your footprint will show, such as on a concrete walkway.

Step away and look at the prints. If you see complete imprints of the bottom of your feet on the surface, then you're likely to have flat feet.

Many young children have flat feet, a condition referred to as flexible flat feet. When the child stands, the feet look flat.

But when the child rises to his or her toes, a slight arch appears. In most cases, as children grow older, the arches develop.

Causes of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Flat feet in adults can arise from a variety of causes. Here are the most common:

An abnormality that is present from birth

Stretched or torn tendons

Damage or inflammation of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT), which connects from your lower leg, along your ankle, and to the middle of the arch

Broken or dislocated bones

Some health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis

Nerve problems

Other factors that can increase your risk include:

Obesity
Diabetes
Aging
Pregnancy
Symptoms of Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Many people have flat feet -- and notice no problems and require no treatment. But others may experience the following symptoms:

Feet tire easily
Painful or achy feet, especially in the areas of the arches and heels

The inside bottom of your feet become swollen

Foot movement, such as standing on your toes, is difficult

Back and leg pain

If you notice any of these symptoms, it's time for a trip to the doctor.

Diagnosing Flat Feet and Fallen Arches

Your doctor examines your feet to determine two things:

Whether you have flat feet
The cause(s)
An exam may include these steps:

Checking your health history for evidence of illnesses or injuries that could be linked to flat feet or fallen arches
Looking at the soles of your shoes for unusual wear patterns
Observing the feet and legs as you stand and do simple movements, such as raising up on your toes
Testing the strength of muscles and tendons, including other tendons in the feet and legs, such as the Achilles tendon or the posterior tibial tendon
Taking X-rays or an MRI of your feet

This and MORE here: http://bit.ly/JWSJ0l

05/08/2021

Bruxism
Definition By Mayo Clinic Staff

Bruxism (BRUK-siz-um) is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night, which is called sleep bruxism.

Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. Because you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.

Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:

Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
Increased tooth sensitivity
Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
Tired jaw muscles
Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
Headache
Chronic facial pain
Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
Indentations on your tongue

MUCH more info here: http://mayocl.in/1mDnTc2
Image by Haderer Muller

05/08/2021

Thyroid Gland by University of Maryland Medical Center

Anatomy of the thyroid gland:

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, below the larynx (voice box). The small, two-inch gland consists of two lobes, one on each side of the windpipe, connected by tissue called the isthmus.

The thyroid tissue is made up of two types of cells: follicular cells and parafollicular cells. Most of the thyroid tissue consists of the follicular cells, which secrete iodine-containing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The parafollicular cells secrete the hormone calcitonin. The thyroid needs iodine to produce the hormones.

Functions of the thyroid gland:

The thyroid plays an important role in regulating the body's metabolism and calcium balance. The T4 and T3 hormones stimulate every tissue in the body to produce proteins and increase the amount of oxygen used by cells. The harder the cells work, the harder the organs work. The calcitonin hormone works together with the parathyroid hormone to regulate calcium levels in the body.

Levels of hormones secreted by the thyroid are controlled by the pituitary gland's thyroid-stimulating hormone, which in turn is controlled by the hypothalamus.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism is the chemical activity that occurs in cells, releasing energy from nutrients or using energy to create other substances, such as proteins. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a measurement of energy required to keep the body functioning at rest. Measured in calories, metabolic rates increase with exertion, stress, fear, and illness. More Here: http://bit.ly/1ntuHKS

05/08/2021

What is Fascia?
Fascia is tough connective tissue that creates a 3-dimensional web extending without interruption from head to toe. Fascia surrounds and infuses every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, and organ, all the way down to the cellular level.

The fascial system affects every system and function in your body- musculoskeletal, neurological, metabolic, etc. The white, glistening fibers you see when you pull a piece of meat apart or when you pull chicken skin away is fascia.

What is Fascia made of ?
Fascia consists of a complex which has three parts:
1. Elastin fibers - This is the elastic and stretchable part of the complex.

2. Collagen fibers - These fibers are extremely tough and give support to the
structure.

3. Ground substance/matrix: A gelatinous like substance that transports metabolic
material throughout the body

What does fascia do?
The fascial system generally supports, stabilizes, and cushions. Fascia creates separation between vessels, organs, bones, and muscles. It creates space through which delicate nerves, blood vessels, and fluids can pass.

What are Fascial Restrictions?
In a healthy state, the collagen fibers wrap around the elastic fibers in a relaxed, wavy configuration. Trauma, repetitive motion, inflammation, or poor posture can cause the fascia to become solidified and shortened. These thickened areas are referred to as a fascial restriction. Fascial restrictions have the capacity of creating up to 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch in a restricted area. That crushing pressure can compromise any physiological system in the body resulting in pain and dysfunction.

The fascia throughout the body is all interconnected like the yarn in a sweater or a complex spider web. A restriction in one area of the body creates tension throughout this web pulling on other distant structures. This explains why some people may have pain that appears unrelated to their original injury. Furthermore, myofascial restrictions do not show up on common standardized tests such as x-rays, MRI, CAT scans, etc.

Fascial restrictions can pull the body out of its normal alignment, compressing joint surfaces and bulging disks, resulting in pain, loss of motion, and weakness.

Info collected from Spine - Health, Mayo Clinic, NIH & Medterms
Art by Dan Beckemeyer

03/06/2021

03/05/2021

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The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The aorta begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart's muscular pumping chamber. The heart pumps blood from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve. Three leaflets on the aortic valve open and close with each heartbeat to allow one-way flow of blood.
The aorta is a tube about a foot long and just over an inch in diameter. The aorta is divided into four sections:
• The ascending aorta rises up from the heart and is about 2 inches long. The coronary arteries branch off the ascending aorta to supply the heart with blood.
• The aortic arch curves over the heart, giving rise to branches that bring blood to the head, neck, and arms.
• The descending thoracic aorta travels down through the chest. Its small branches supply blood to the ribs and some chest structures.
• The abdominal aorta begins at the diaphragm, splitting to become the paired iliac arteries in the lower abdomen. Most of the major organs receive blood from branches of the abdominal aorta.
Like all arteries, the aorta's wall has several layers:
• The intima, the innermost layer, provides a smooth surface for blood to flow across.
• The media, the middle layer with muscle and elastic fibers, allows the aorta to expand and contract with each heartbeat.
• The adventitia, the outer layer, provides additional support and structure to the aorta.

09/24/2020

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