Archive for the ‘Product Review’ Category
Muscle Activation – Boost your Strength and Flexibility
Intro
During physical activity our neuromuscular pathways play a major role in alignment, movement, postural support and also responsiveness or “muscular awareness”.
Certain patterns are impressed on the motor coordination centre as a result of stimuli, be it physical trauma and injury, emotional trauma, or new and desirable learning through training or simply as part of natural progression as we favourably adapt to our environments.
Post injury, dysfunctional movement patterns impressed on the neuromuscular pathways during the time of injury results in definite dysfunction and pain. This is known as sub-clinical injury and although there is no longer any physical tissue damage, pain and inefficiencies still exist. These ergonomically inefficient use patterns inherently affect our energy levels and general state of well-being.
The unexpected benefits of Muscle Activation extend beyond the improvement of neuromuscular efficiency. By reducing the energy demand for the support and movement system, muscular definition is increased through the attainment of normal activity levels, tissue metabolism is normalized, and the availability of freed-up energy boosts brain function.
How it Works
Muscle Activation engages kinaesthetic conversation with the motor control centre. It bypasses the usual reflex spinal root circuits thereby over-riding the current natural reflex state of that specific pathway and facilitates new learning.
Initially testing is done by asking the muscle to resist an application of pressure. This reveals the responsiveness (muscular awareness) of the specific neuromuscular connection and a rating out of ten is given.
The antagonistic muscle (opposing muscle) is then tested in the same way. Imbalances in the *cooperative muscle group are thereby detected and are rectified by stimulating the neuromuscular pathway along specific pressure points.
This reawakens the malfunctioning neuromuscular pathway and immediately improves muscular awareness.
The same tests are then repeated and the results are astonishing.
Conclusion
Muscle Activation significantly improved my muscular awareness, quickening my response time to the applied pressure during post therapy testing.
Greater strength and greater flexibility is something that any athlete can put to good use. Muscle Activation really is that dam good.
Footnotes:
*Cooperative Muscle Groups consist of the following sets of muscles:
Agonists – They create the normal range of movement in a joint by contracting. They are primarily responsible for generating the movement.
Antagonists – These muscles act in opposition to the movement generated by the agonists and are responsible for returning a limb to its initial position.
Synergists – These muscles perform, or assist in performing, the same set of joint motion as the agonists. They neutralize extra motion from the agonists to make sure that the force generated works within the desired plane of motion.
Fixators – These muscles provide the necessary support to assist in holding the rest of the body in place while the movement occurs.
New Blance RC760 – First Run
Getting a new pair of running shoes is always fun, especially when they look like the New Balance RC 760.
Almost like a tennis ball - Just add fluff
For the lay man selecting a running shoe can be easy, if it looks good and falls into the right price category it’s a done deal. But now, more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of having the correct shoe.
Before the NB RC760, I was running in the Asics Gel DS Racer 7. They both fall into the supportive racer category however as little as supportive racers could vary, they are quite different. Allow me to start with the Asics.
The Asics have a large pronation block and no mid-foot support piece allowing the shoe more lateral flexibility whilst correcting pronation through the large pronation block. They are considerably soft for a racer allowing for a smoother ride and hence a smooth transition through the gait. This shoe is certainly better suited to a heel striking runner with a high toe off, offering more cushioning than most racers yet still have a low profile and are still extremely light at 195 grams.
The New Balance on the other hand has a significantly smaller pronation block, yet has an extensive amount of mid foot support which extends up along the inside of the heel. This makes the New Balance extremely supportive and considerably more rigid than most other racers. The NB is better suited to a mid- foot striker with a flatter gait as there is little lateral flexibility thanks to the extensive amount of mid-foot support. Also if you do happen to run on gravel or similar off-road terrain the New Balance is a great shoe for this purpose.
Overall the Asics offer more cushioning and flexibility whereas the New Balance offer more support.
At this stage I still cannot choose and rightly so. I had a pair of very nice elastic laces in my Asics and am yet to put a pair in my New Balance. It just wouldn’t be fair to choose right now.
Team Audi
Well, well; for most it is the final day at the office. And I’m sure all of you think it is completely necessary to be at the office too? (Repeatedly shaking heads from side to side) “No”, you say? I couldn’t agree more. If you’ve all been good children for Santa then you should have finished all your work already.
Well Christmas came a little early for me. As of last week I am now racing for Team Audi. Associate sponsors are New Balance, MSM: Multisport Magazine, Wasp, and Med Sport.
Team Audi is made up of a diverse group of locally talented athletes who train like professionals, yet race as amateurs whilst holding down full time
employment and or studies.
Wane Rossouw who spearheaded the creation of Team Audi says: “Our objective is to popularize the sport of triathlon and duathlon and to be the best brand ambassadors to our partners by encouraging others to participate in the sport.”
Team Audi is a strong team and has seen some impressive results thus far.
“Gilbert Lucas catapulted the team’s reputation as he proved to be an almost unstoppable force in the run-bike-run format of duathlon in which he excels. He won every duathlon in Cape Town, he earned himself a place on the South African team and competed at the World Duathlon Championships this year, finishing 14th and 1st South African home.”
Thus far this season there have been some impressive results including several category wins including my own. So far so good.
Here’s to some hard and fast racing. Thanks Team Audi.
Yah Muhl
My Experience of the Art of Living
Let me start off by explaining what The Art of Living is. (The Art of Living does however kindly ask that we do not repeat or teach any of the techniques or methods used, and I intend on fulfilling their request.)
Developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living involves using various techniques to quiet the mind in order to achieve a greater understanding of one’s existence, giving you the ability to experience a stress-free and joyful life.
“The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit, educational and charitable organisation that operates in more than 140 countries and is dedicated to serving society by strengthening the individual.
Our self-development programmes offer techniques that eliminate stress, calm the mind, improve health, expand awareness, resolve conflict and encourage people from all backgrounds, religions and cultures to come together in celebration and service.
As the largest volunteer based NGO in the world with a wide range of social, cultural and spiritual activities, the Foundation has reached out to over 20 million people from all walks of life.”
The Art of Living is not religion based. Sri Sri Ravi Shanka has spoken and presented his enlightened knowledge in a variety of holy temples and has presented The Art of Living to Christians, Jews, Islams and many other relions; where he was welcomed and applauded by all.
There is no real reason why you should not experience this for yourself and I would encourage you to attend the Art of Living: Part 1 course. It is however vital that you attend with an open mind as the knowledge you acquire is unique and the benefits cannot be fully experienced by a doubting mind.
I had an amazing experience this weekend at the Art of Living: Part 1 course. The idea of the Art of Living is to quiet the mind to such a state that thoughts are nonexistent, allowing us to become aware of our body and just exist in our most natural form.
It was interesting for me to experience the dynamics of the group attending the course. Some people appeared to be completely serious and had a stern look most of the time, which made little sense to me as part of what The Art of Living is meant to develop is a more child like state; one of happiness and intrigue. These people seemed more like business people attending a conference. Others though were having an absolute blast. They were the ones who took a liking to me and also happened to thank me for my honesty in the questions that I posed.
All in all the Art of Living is almost a must do for everyone. The stress of modern day life has such an extremely negative impact on our lives and most of us can use a little upliftment. Can you imagine being able to just forgive and forget? Can you imagine how nice it would be to be able to just let things go? What would it be like to live a life of acceptance?
The Art of Living can give you all of this. If you’d like to know more please visit www.artofliving.org.za or email gerlinde@artofliving.org.za. The next Art of Living Part 1 course will take place 8-13 December. When you do decide that you would like to attend this course please email me – nic@once-events.co.za. I’d just like know who you are.
I would like to thank Mukesh and Gerlinde for sharing the Art of Living with us and bettering people’s lives through the insight of Sri Sri Ravi Shanka.
TT Bikes from the tour of California
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The Best Suncream
Here is a huge shout out to Rob van Wieringen from Island Tribe and Creighton Products for donating sunscreen to Reach for a Dream for the coming summer months.
Since Reach for a Dream has a few outdoor activities planned this summer for their dreamers it seemed like a great idea to have some suncream at hand.
I sent an email to Rob at 09:49am requesting suncream for Reach for a Dream. At 10:52 Rob replied with “I am happy to supply you…” Now that is service.
Simply by buying Island Tribe you will be indirectly making a sun safe environment in which kids with cancer can enjoy the little time they have. You will helping them reach their dreams.
I know which suncream I will be using this season.
Free Burgers
Yes that’s right. Get FREE burgers at Spur on a Monday. Buy 1 get one free.
Yes please. Thanks Spur for being legendary!
Linebreak Update
So I have been using the Linebreak calf guards and compression tights for quite a while now. In fact, I am wearing the compression tights as we speak (It’s cold in Cape Town today).
I must say that compression really does work. I have just completed my own little test over the past 2 months to see if they really do work. I noted the days I “kept it tight” and the days I never. I cycled and ran in both the calf guards and the tights. This is what I found:
Running
| Wearing the tights | Wearing the calf guards | Wearing just a regular running short pant |
| No downward shockwave through the thigh followed by a reverberation as the quad bounces back up – This makes for seriously (and surprisingly) comfortable running. | Because the calf guards are more focused and isolate… calves they are a little tighter than the tights (This is known as graded compression and has been researched) I felt less stress on my Achilles tendon especially. | A little more airy but it doesn’t quite feel as nice. |
| They are warm in the winter time. They fit better than regular tights are just leagues above running in your Adidas Originals tracksuit pants. | I had an operation on my lower legs (Compartment Syndrome) so the calf guards are a big help with that even now that I have fully recovered. |
Cycling
| Wearing the tights | Wearing the calf guards | Cycling shorts |
| Kept my working quads in check | The calf guards are definitely better suited to running but they did prevent that niggle of a “cramp” kind of thing I occasionally get in my right calf | You wear these with the tights and the calf guards |
| Better suited for recovery after a long ride | ||
| They kept my pins warm |
Right, so to sum it all up, my benefits are:
- Temperature control
- Cramp prevention – They won’t always prevent cramp but they do help A LOT.
- Comfort
- Recovery
- They just make you look faster
Have a look at my original entry for Linebreak called Overcoming Muscular Fatigue. (http://onceinspired.co.za/product-review/overcoming-muscular-fatigue-%E2%80%93-linebreak-compression-garments/)
For more product information contact Justin Maddock on 082 467 8877 or justin.maddock@gmail.com
Lekker Woensdag verder
Overcoming muscular fatigue – LineBreak Compression Garments
Athletes have been frustrated by the onset of muscular fatigue for quite some time now. Muscular fatigue results in loss of power and efficiency and occurs as a result of the depletion of muscular glycogen, a lack of oxygen and an increase in muscle lactic acid (increase in hydrogen-ion concentration). Muscular fatigue occurs during brief intense exercise. However over an extended period of time by training without significant recovery from muscular fatigue you will experience accumulated muscular fatigue. And recovery from this is not just a few days to a week… so you may want to avoid that.
It is important to avoid muscular fatigue during training, especially accumulated muscular fatigue as this will affect your technique. (Look out for the “Perfect Execution” piece in a few days. This will give some insight into the importance of technique.)
Applying graded compression by using LineBreak Compression Garments to working muscles improves blood circulation which means that you will:
Improve your performance
Compression gets oxygen rich blood from your heart to your muscles faster. This means that they perform better. This also means that you get fresh blood into the muscle and thus getting nasty by-products out of them. (Yes – Lactic Acid. You may proceed.)
Recover Faster
Again, getting oxygen rich blood to tired muscles is the key. Like a massage, compression promotes better blood flow to traumatized muscles. Better blood flow means faster and more effective recovery to the muscle cells. It’s recommended they be worn for a couple of hours after exercise for maximum benefit.
Reduce your Risk of Injury
Picture a “Time-Warp” (New show on Discovery Channel – super-slow-mo video) of a runner’s foot striking the ground. Imagine the downward shockwave through the thigh followed by a reverberation as the quad bounces back up. All this violence causes the muscle fibres to tear. This is the natural degradation of muscles that lead to fatigue. Quite simply compression reduces the shock. This means less damage so you can go for longer and have less damage to recover from, thus avoiding accumulated fatigue.
Oh, and Linebreak Compression Garments also help regulate body temperature.
Need I say more?
Keep it tight!
