2 more Weeks before the National Posture Institute's Resistance Training and Posture Correction CEC Workshop April 19-20 2013 at Florida International University in Miami, FL.  To Register: http://www.npionline.org/workshops/fiu

NPI Posture Analysis-Correction and Resistance Training CEC Workshops at College/University Campuses: NPI College-University Posture CEC Workshops

6 more days to register for the  National Posture Institute's (NPI) Posture Analysis and Resistance Training CEC Workshop & NPI-Certified Posture Specialist™ Program at the University of Maryland (April 12-13, 2013 | College Park, MD)! To Register: http://www.npionline.org/workshops/um Don't miss it!

 

NPI Posture Analysis-Correction and Resistance Training CEC Workshops at College/University Campuses: NPI College-University Posture CEC Workshops

National Posture Institute News Story: Dwelling on stressful events can increase inflammation in the body, study finds

ATHENS, Ohio (March 13, 2013)—Dwelling on negative events can increase levels of inflammation in the body, a new Ohio University study finds. Researchers discovered that when study participants were asked to ruminate on a stressful incident, their levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of tissue inflammation, rose. The study is the first time to directly measure this effect in the body.

"Much of the past work has looked at this in non-experimental designs. Researchers have asked people to report their tendency to ruminate, and then looked to see if it connected to physiological issues. It's been correlational for the most part," said Peggy Zoccola, an assistant professor of psychology at Ohio University.

Zoccola is lead author on the new study, which she will present Friday at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Miami, Fla.

The research team recruited 34 healthy young women to participate in the project. Each woman was asked to give a speech about her candidacy for a job to two interviewers in white laboratory coats, who listened with stone-faced expressions, Zoccola said.

Half of the group was asked to contemplate their performance in the public speaking task, while the other half was asked to think about neutral images and activities, such as sailing ships or grocery store trips.

The researchers drew blood samples that showed that the levels of C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the subjects who were asked to dwell on the speech, Zoccola reported.

For these participants, the levels of the inflammatory marker continued to rise for at least one hour after the speech. During the same time period, the marker returned to starting levels in the subjects who had been asked to focus on other thoughts.

The C-reactive protein is primarily produced by the liver as part of the immune system's initial inflammatory response. It rises in response to traumas, injuries or infections in the body, Zoccola explained.

C-reative protein is widely used as a clinical marker to determine if a patient has an infection, but also if he or she may be at risk for disease later in life.

"More and more, chronic inflammation is being associated with various disorders and conditions," Zoccola said. "The immune system plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia and autoimmune diseases."

Zoccola is working with Fabian Benencia in Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Lauren Mente, a registered nurse and graduate student in the School of Nursing, to investigate the effect of rumination on additional inflammation markers. In addition, she hopes to study the issue in other populations, such as older adults, who might be vulnerable to rumination and health problems.

NPI Posture Analysis-Correction and Resistance Training CEC Workshops at College/University Campuses: NPI College-University Posture CEC Workshops

National Posture Institute News Story: New high heeled sneaker trend is dangerous, according to podiatrist

LAKE OSWEGO, OR–(Marketwire – Mar 14, 2013) – Podiatrist Jon T. Fitzgerald has paid close attention to the new trend of high heeled sneakers, which he asserts can prove extremely damaging to individuals who follow this new fad. In response to a recent article published by the Huffington Post, Dr. Fitzgerald has released a press statement explaining how these shoes can cause several health complications for individuals who wear them — particularly young girls who are eager to adopt this trend.

According to the article, the latest shoe craze is the high heeled sneaker. These shoes have a wedge and can have the same lasting effects on podiatric health as traditional high heeled shoes. In addition to causing issues for women, the shoes have been cited as hazards for young girls who have taken to wearing them to school. The article quotes a principal in the Los Angeles area as saying: “this is a big problem and it needs to be stopped.”

Dr. Noah Blumofe, who is a podiatrist in Los Angeles, explains why these shoes are dangerous. The article quotes: “When you look at heels in general, once you go ABOVE 1.5 inches, the entire dynamic of your body changes. When we walk, we go from a heel strike to full loading of the foot to pushing off the ball of the foot. When you are 2″ and above, you spend the ENTIRE time on the ball of the foot. This forces increased pressure on the ball, causing the fat pad to shift, and press on the heads of the metatarsal bones, which may cause nerve pain. Then you are causing the achilles [sic] tendon to shorten early, which is a major cause of foot pains, such as plantar fasciitis. Then it causes your pelvis to tilt, along with your entire body’s alignment.”

“The daily use of a high heeled shoe will ultimately create some very long standing problems,” comments Jon T. Fitzgerald. “The muscles in the back of the legs will begin to contract, causing tendonitis of the Achilles tendon. With time, this will put pressure to the back of the foot, leading to plantar fasciitis and arch pain for years to come.”

Dr. Fitzgerald encourages individuals to refrain from wearing high heels for long periods of time and to discourage young girls from adopting the trend of high heeled sneakers, as this is a shoe style that can cause permanent damage to their feet and legs.

 

NPI Posture Analysis-Correction and Resistance Training CEC Workshops at College/University Campuses: NPI College-University Posture CEC Workshops

The National Posture Institute Wishes Everyone a Happy Easter!

 

NPI Posture Analysis-Correction and Resistance Training CEC Workshops at College/University Campuses: NPI College-University Posture CEC Workshops