Theraband Use Youtube Video

The Theraband (see it at Amazon) is a useful exercise tool that some people have utilized for injury rehabilitation, particularly for elbow problems

A YouTube video discussing the product can be seen here.

The "Serratus Punch"

Disorders of the shoulder and neck seem to be linked to problems with the serratus anterior (SA) muscle. Exercises for that muscle may help in rehabilitation; the question is what movement optimally targets the serratus anterior, and what exercise does so while minimally involving other muscles, such as the pectoralis major (PM), that synergize with the serratus anterior in its function. A study has been performed, conclusion from the abstract:

CONCLUSIONS: All exercises activated the PM between 15 and 29% Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction and the SA between 15 and 43%. The Modified Push-Up Plus exercise against the wall and the floor activated the SA and PM to a similar degree. When maximum activation of the SA with minimal activation of the PM is desired in healthy subjects, the "Serratus punch" seems to be the optimal exercise.

The "Serratus punch" exercise is shown in this YouTube video. As always, consult your physician before doing any rehabilitation. Do not self-diagnose and start doing such activities without knowing whether it is appropriate for you; you may make your specific condition worse.

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

By Jean Bungartz - This file has been extracted from another file: Hühner (Geflügel-Album, Jean Bungartz, 1885).pdfKarlsruhe: Badische Landesbibliothek, 2013http://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/urn/urn:nbn:de:bsz:31-38086, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27040412 

Not for the Thanksgiving meal table?

Who will eat who?  Just joking…but those are huge chickens. Happy Thanksgiving.

URehab YouTube Channel

I recommend the URehab YouTube channel. URehab is the inventor of the Flextend Glove, which was an important part of my recovery from Golfer’s Elbow.  For more information of elbow rehabilitation, also see our training video here.

Our Golfer's and Tennis Elbow Rehabilitation Exercise Video

There have been requests for a YouTube video on some of the elbow rehabilitation exercises that we blogged about previously, and we have found the time to put something together.  

Here is the link to the video.

Please note the disclaimer:
You perform these exercises at your own risk; we are not physicians and not physical therapists.  You must get the approval of a physician or physical therapist before starting this, or any other, exercise program.  So please keep that in mind, and see a doctor or physical therapist and discuss these exercises, BEFORE attempting anything described here.

 

Below is the image link to the hand bands used in my exercises. The Flextend Orthotic Glove (also used by me) is out of stock/not sold on Amazon at this time.

Mike's Colonoscopy

Screening for colorectal cancer, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed counties is important. It was time for me to get my colonoscopy, and after some procrastination, I followed in the footsteps of Larry the Cable Guy and Mark Cuban and got it done.

The procedure itself was uneventful, and much of my anxiety and fear about the procedure was, in my case, unwarranted. I admit that the prep was not pleasant. I didn’t mind so much the day before, with the liquid diet. I also didn’t mind too much being up half the night going to the bathroom, all the endless toilet visits. I had a sigmoidoscopy done years before, so I expected that.

The worst part for me was the repulsive taste of the laxative solution (in my case, Moviprep). It was difficult getting down and difficult keeping down. Following the suggestions of the hospital gastroenterology unit, I added Crystal Light to the solution; in retrospect, that may have been a mistake. The sickeningly sweet taste may have been a combination of the prep itself (which tastes bad) and the concentrated added lemonade flavoring. It may be a good idea to make sure the additive is necessary before using it. If you think you can stomach the laxative alone (some people can and some cannot), then that might be the more prudent approach.

There are other prep solutions of course, and some people use the pill option. But I have read that, in some cases, the pill options and related prep types can cause kidney damage, so I went for the more standard prep options. Keep in mind that these preps, even with insurance, are somewhat expensive, but are necessary (in some cases, patients are told they can use a cheaper MiraLAX-Gatorade prep option).

So, based on my experience, I agree with Larry and Mark and advise to follow your physician’s recommendations about getting your screening done. There is a low risk of complications from the procedure, but in the hands of a capable and experienced endoscopist, these risks will be very low – certainly lower than the risk of cancer.

For those more interested in technical details and some recent advancements in technique, I would recommend to watch YouTube videos from a well-known MD Anderson gastroenterologist, Dr. Raju, who has helped to refine advanced endoscopic techniques that I hope will one day be the standard of care here in the USA (and elsewhere).

Actionable: Follow the advice of your physician, get screened for colorectal cancer when appropriate, utilizing whatever method you and your physician agree on.