Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

Seeing many websites that sell a toothbrush holder, you might be wondering why we should use a holder when we could simply place it on the sink. That is what most of the people do. Toothbrush holder has never been a must buy item for us when it comes to bathroom accessories. Sadly, you couldn't be more wrong. Here are 5 very important reasons why toothbrush holders should be considered an essential accessory.

1. It keeps the clutter off your sink

If you live alone, there will only be one toothbrush to keep track of and so it might not seem so improper to leave it on the sink. More often than not, there may be more than one toothbrush and it might be toothbrushes that take up the hefty space on the sink. They get knocked around with people trying to find their own toothbrush and sometimes brushes get in the way of soap or any other items on the sink. So, if this big mess drives you nuts, then get a holder to clean it up. Everything needs to have its own space and a holder sits away from other items is the right place for toothbrushes.

2. It keeps your toothbrush heads safe and sanitary

It is not just about clearing up your clutter. If you don't have a holder to keep your brush, then you are brushing with an unsanitary toothbrush daily. When the brushes are kept open, its head accumulate unseen bacteria, dust, and other debris. When you take shower, have a shave, and do other things over the sink, the toothbrush head collect lots of unseen particles that are insanitary. You never know what is floating around in the air in a bathroom. So, you better think on it next time when you put those toothbrush heads into your mouth.

So, it goes without saying a toothbrush holder helps you keep your toothbrush sanitary and safe. Being in a safe holder, your toothbrush head doesn't collect the dust and other particles floating around in the air.

3. It makes your bathroom look better for company

It doesn't look good when your guests are fighting for space in the sink with their toothbrushes. Such problems never arise with a toothbrush holder hanging in there.

4. It prevents accidents

Just like humans, toothbrushes can have accidents. They can fall off the sink into the floor, or even worse, into the toilet. They are just a couple of instances that causes an unhealthy environment for teeth brushing. The resolution is to place the toothbrushes up in a holder so they cannot easily misplaced.

5. It teaches children responsibility

With a toothbrush holder for your kids, you get a chance to teach your child the importance of keeping the brush sanitary and safe. There are lots of decorative toothbrush holders designed for kids and your kids will surely find them fun to use and thus you can make sure that your dear kids take good care of their brushes.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are mainly specialized in all aspects of musculoskeletal care for infants, children and adolescents. These surgeons are specialized in both the surgical and nonsurgical aspects for various conditions such as musculoskeletal diseases, skeletal deformities and other traumatic injuries.

List of diseases treated by pediatric orthopedics include:

• Metabolic disorders
• Spina bifida
• Scoliosis
• Spinal deformity
• Cerebral palsy
• Congenital foot and hip deformities
• Traumatic injuries
• Common hip problems in the older adults
• Metachromatic leukodystrophy
• Intoeing, outtoeing, bowlegs, knock-knees and leg-length discrepancy

Here are the conditions that can be treated by a orthopedic surgeon in detail:

Most of the times, children are at risk for falls and sometimes for injuries caused by chemicals, fire, animal bites and unfortunately sometimes by violence. Sometimes, young children also suffer from injuries and lead to bodily injury, traumatic brain injury, and also death of adolescents. These conditions can be effectively treated by an orthopedic surgeon.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that can affect infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric orthopedics use comprehensive, pro-active and individualized approach to treat this condition in children. Finding a good orthopedic surgeon can help children with cerebral palsy to achieve maximum physical, intellectual and emotional development. Also, these surgeons educate the affected individuals and parents about this condition.

Spina bifida is a condition in which there is an abnormal development of the back bones, spinal cord, surrounding nerves and also the fluid filled sac that surrounds the spinal cord. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon can effectively perform pediatric spina bifida surgery to help manage the problems. But the surgery may or may not restore muscle function or sensation to the normal state.

Scoliosis is termed as a lateral curvature of the spine. In many cases the cause is not known, which means why the curvature occurs. Most of the scoliosis can be seen between the ages of 10 and 14. Though it occurs equally in boys and girls, girls are more likely to get the condition. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon can better address your child's condition.

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a man more then these four words. These words have been known to bring men to their knees leaving them weeping in a pool of tears. These words have crushed men in the four corners of the world. What are these evil words I speak of?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Yes, those horrible four words. You arrive at her house to pick her up or you come home from work to your love and she is standing there in front of you, a big smile on her face, and stares in your eyes and asks you WHAT DO YOU THINK? The sweat forms in the back of your neck and runs all the way down your spine. Your right knee begins to knock. Your left eye starts to twitch rapidly. All of a sudden that cool, calm and collected man you once were has now disappeared to be replaced by a blob of jelly.

Why do men fear those words so much? Because we have no idea what we are supposed to be looking at. Is it her hair, did she get it done? Do you have new furniture? We are not sure if it is the same furniture as when we left this morning. Maybe it is the carpet or the paint or a hundred other things. Our brains are on overdrive. We feel like our head is going to explode. God save us from this torment.

What should you do? Should you just make a general statement like, "It looks great," and hope that satisfies her? The danger here is the follow-up question. Meaning if she pushes you for more input and you can't give it because you are struggling. Now comes the moment of truth. She gets that look on her face, which tells you that your game is up. She knows you have no idea what she is talking about. She asks you and you break down in a well of tears and confess your ignorance. You beg for mercy. There is none coming. She storms into the bedroom and bolts the door. Now you have to spend the next day apologizing for something but you are not sure what it is.

You wrack your brain and look all over the house to see if anything is different. Nothing rings a bell. You check photos of your love on the table to see if she changed her hair color without you noticing. Nothing there either. In desperation you know you have to give up so you go crawling to the bedroom door and knock gently. No answer. You knock again. She tells you where to go in her best flowery language. You ask her to please tell you what it is you are supposed to notice. She shouts back in anger that she bought a new dress for the upcoming dinner party you are both going to and you didn't even notice she was wearing it.

Feeling like an idiot you continue to beg for forgiveness and plead your case. Not getting anywhere you head to the sofa to watch TV and most likely sleep for the night as you are not going to get much comfort from her.

Lesson to learn lads. Always write down what she is wearing when you leave the house and carry photos of the furniture and the inside of your home with you at all times so you can always check and see if anything has changed. God forbid you leave it up to your memory.

If your boyfriend is too shy or insensitive towards you then he might not be able to speak up or appreciate the efforts that you have put in the relationship.

Here are some cool tips that will get your boyfriend to appreciate you for life.

Appreciate him first. In order to get appreciation, you will also need to show some appreciation first. You can praise your boyfriend's new haircut or clothes and watch him slowly respond to your praise by appreciating you too.

Make him miss you. If he has started to take you for granted then it is time to burst that bubble. You too can enjoy yourself by going out a few times with your girl friends. Allow your boyfriend to miss your presence and make him live without you around for a few hours to knock some appreciation into his head.

Let him realize that you care for him. Instead of silently providing undying love to him, let him realize through carefully selected words that you care for him and that he needs to appreciate your efforts by words and actions.

This will goad your ignorant or insensitive boyfriend into action as he will feel that he might lose you forever if he does not get his act together.

Surprise him occasionally. You should surprise your boyfriend occasionally by buying tickets for his favorite game and allowing him to go with his buddies or by organizing a candle-light dinner followed by a walk on the beach only for the two of you.

Your boyfriend will surely love you for this and show his appreciation in more ways than one.

Make visible changes. Exercise your body, get that hip haircut and get that skin scrubbed and polished for a well-groomed look. Guys are visual creatures and once he realizes the effort that you have taken to get preened for him then he is sure to appreciate your new looks, clothes and hair style.

Let him watch others appreciate you. Nothing will get your boyfriend's goat more than him watching others, especially guys appreciate you for your looks, attitude or caring nature. This will force your boyfriend to pull up his socks and appreciate you more so as to keep other wolves at bay.

Let him loose, for a little while. If your boyfriend is too dumb or insensitive to understand your needs then let him loose for a little while. Tell him that you need a short break since you are tired of his uncaring attitude towards you.

A few days and nights spent without you will get his heart aching for your love and he is sure to return back to you on folded knees and repentant lips.

If the baby is lacking the mineral of Vitamin D, then his bones will not grow properly. This deficiency mostly presents itself in children or infants. The causes of this sickness is due to lack of Vitamin D. This vitamin will be received if children have adequate sunlight exposure or right amount intake of Vitamin D. The sunlight is important in the formation of the Vitamin D - needed in the formation of the bone in human.

The rickets will also develop if phosphorus and calcium is lacking or inadequate in the child's diet. Weak bones and muscles are the symptoms of mild rickets. If not medicated earlier, the bones become distorted or deformed and have fractures. Thickening of the wrists and ankles are other early evidences of rickets. Bones of the spine, pelvis, and long bones of the legs can be distorted. Bow legs can be the result of rickets.

It generally occurs in infants six to eighteen months of age. The earliest symptoms consist of restlessness irritability and sweating of the head. The junction of bone and cartilage at the front of the ribs on either side of the breastbone, enlarge forming two rows of hard nodules because the skull bones are soft, the head takes on a square shape. Other symptoms include bowlegs or knock- knees, a protruding abdomen and constipation. X - rays will reveal poor development near the ends of the bones. The pelvis may become deformed, a special problem for girls who when mature may have difficulty at childbirth.

Rickets is demineralization of the child bone. It is caused due to a lack of calcium and phosphorus, the chief minerals elements in bone structure. It was poorly absorbed from the intestine because of the deficiency of vitamin D. synthesized in the skin when exposed to sunlight and is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The cause of this disorder includes shortage of vitamin D, a diet lacking calcium and phosphorus kidney failure in which phosphorus is lost.

Running Drills are a big help

If you have more energy at the fourth quarter then your opponent then you have won, and the best way to get endurance are running drills. Running drills will help you gain stamina so that you will be able to play to your full extent throughout the game. Though running drills can be a big help to your game, many people complain the most about the running. Whether you are tired, exhausted, and ready to throw up, if you keep running your added strength will help you win games. Running has a final help to your team, and that is learning how to push beyond your limits, you will be surprised how often that happens in football, and in life

Up Downs Conditioning Drill

Up downs is an excellent conditioning drill that will improve reaction time and endurance. Players will start this drill by running in place as fast as they can, keeping their knees high as possible. Then at random a coach will yell, "down" or blow a whistle at which the players must dive to the ground do a push up and then jump back into running in place. This drill is an excellent workout and should be worked in slowly at first and then increased in intensity and length over time.

Learning the Plays from the Playbook

Practicing the plays is fun, and also very important. When you master your part of the play it will strengthen your team and yourself. Because football plays can be intricate, it is important that you understand and follow the coach's instructions. As you start to practice the play make sure to slow it down, there is no sense in practicing errors. Practice is a great time to get some extra help, so if you are struggling with a certain play remember that your coaches are there to help you master the techniques. Always, always ask for the help that you need. After practice is over visualize the play in your mind. Go over it again and again, and you will find that your mind will help you learn the plays even when you sleep.

Forcing the Fumble

In order to win football games you need to have possession of the football. Forcing a fumble is one of the quickest ways that you can turn the tides and retain possession of the football. A great way to practice is have two players line up, one as the defense, the other with the football as the offense. The defender will practice stripping the ball by bringing his hands up quickly with a clenched fist to grab the opponent and as he does so to aim to knock out the football. Practice these movements slowly to start muscle memory and to correct bad habits.

Are you a starting entrepreneur? Is it your first month of operation?

I can hear your knees knocking. Do you wonder whether you
can hold your own against the giants that dominate your chosen
industry. The entrenched enemy tend to have vast resources, a strong
marketing machinery and of course, a powerful brand presence.

How can one compete against that?

It's easy: with a little bit of entrepreural guerrilla skirmishing. Microsoft
did it. Gateway did it. IBM did it. Do you think these companies started out
big? Of course not. Microsoft started out from Bill Gate's backyard.

You can be a Bill Gates. Here's how.

DOMINATE A NICHE

There's no sense selling soap, candies or match sticks to the general public.
Everyone from Jack to Jill sells this product. Unless you have economies of scale
and a whopping system to keep costs low, you can't fight against the Unilevers of
this world. Let the giants sell the commodities. Stick to a well differentiated
product that caters tp a small segment of society. For instance, you can market
organic dog shampoo to Doberman Owners. Or you can offer custom body kits to
Honda Type R aficionados.

Serve a small market segment which the bog boys overlooked. You'll quickly grow
loyal customer base.

DIFFERENTIATE THE PRODUCT

Do you sell pizza? If it looks like Yellow Cab, tastes like yellow Cab and smells
like Yellow Cab, your customers would rather go to Yellow Cab. You'll be regarded as
a second rate imitator.

Rather than imitate, differentiate. Provide value adding features to a product
that everyone considers commoditizes. If the features are unique and helpful enough, you'll
inspire repeat purchase and massive word of mouth marketing.

Take the example of Hammer Baking Soda. Instead of selling their product as simple baking
soda, they positioned it as a super product that removes cooler smells, cleanses, deodorizes
and everything else a housewife might need.

Apple wasn't just another PC. They positioned themselves as a lifestyle.

And Tony Robbins wasn't just a speech coach. He was an Empowerment Guru- who charges
$2000 a seminar.

COST LEADERSHIP

People fight tooth and nail to gain market share. That can be a problem when competition
boils down to price wars. Margins diminish and profits sink below the horizon.

Compete on cost leadership! Source your raw materials and labor from third world countries.
This allows you to cut prices, but maintain margins. Plus, you give people jobs!

Entrepreneurship can give a high that will make many businessowners
forsake sleep and social life just to grow the business. I know- I've been an insomniac
entrepreneur for years. Maximize your company's longevity by following the three
rules of entrepreneural guerrilla skirmishing. You might just end up the next Microsoft!

Seeing a player dribble and attack defenders, feinting one way and then the next, or performing a series of stops and starts is one of the most exciting parts about watching soccer and developing great dribbling skills is one of the mandatory skills required of anyone that is learning how to play soccer

Basically, dribbling basically running with the ball, although there are a few fundamental things that you need to know. 

Firstly

The best technique when dribbling is to use the outside of the foot where ever possible.  This enables you to run normally, and so more efficiently and faster.  Of course if you change direction or make a feint, then you will use the inside of your foot or the instep (the top of your foot), but practising running and dribbling with the outside of your foot is the way to go!

Secondly

You need to keep the ball as close to you as possible, so that the opposition cannot get the ball.  How close is that?  Well it depends on where the opposition is and how fast they are.  If they area is congested and there are lots of defenders, then you will need to keep the ball within touching distance at all times, that is about a foot or so away.   If there is a lot of space, and you want to get forward very quickly, then keeping the ball about 5 yards away whilst running fast allow you to run faster.  There are times when you are not really dribbling but running with the ball, and there will be times when it is to you advantage to "knock" the ball past the defender and chase it, especially if you are confronted with the last defender and there is a lot of space behind the defender.  Can you guess what the advantages are?  The knock and run turns the challenge into a foot race, so if you are faster, then you will probably have a chance to shoot.  If the defender gets there first, you still have an advantage because he is facing the wrong way and you will get the chance to put pressure on him while he is facing the wrong way, and may get a throw in or even better, a corner.

Thirdly

When dribbling, particularly when close control is needed, it is far better to keep as low as possible, by bending the knees a little.  By doing this it is easier to deceive your opponents and change direction.  Being lower to the ground will give you more agility with your legs, and you will be more flexible.

How should you practice?

If you are by yourself, then there is little option but to dribble around stationary objects like cones, but try and make it game like and ensure that there is enough intensity in what you are doing to put pressure on yourself.  Simply going through the motions just wont cut it!

If there are two of you, then a game of 1v1 where there are two goals set 20yards apart and you can score in either goal.  You start by both of you having your back to the goals and one player tossing the ball over their head into the playing area and the other player saying "GO".  Having two goals that either player can score in will encourage turning and faking, a much needed skill in dribbling.

If you have a whole team at training, the using the dribbling square is a fantastic drill.

Mark out a square of 20by20yards and have equal numbers of players on each side, with all players facing inwards to the other side of the square, and each player has a ball. On your command the players dribble across the square to the other side and then back again.  The traffic and sheer number of players in the square forces players to look up to avoid collisions and to look for space to explode into, much like a game.  This drill is so much better that dribbling through cones.

Look for more articles by Nigel Reed on How to play soccer

Do you have painful knees?

Do you have popping noises & cracking sounds in your knees?

Knee Braces To the Rescue!

Only someone who is suffering from painful knees would know how excruciating the pain can be. It is impossible to explain the intensity of the pain to someone who has not experienced it.

While knee pain can be attributed to several different factors, the presence of popping and cracking sounds are usually an indication of some specific type of knee injury.

What Causes Popping Sounds in Knees?

An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common causes of popping sound in knee accompanied by pain. When a ligament tears, it can produce the popping sound that you hear.

What Causes Cracking Sounds in Knees?

There is a thin layer of cartilage between the between the two bones that join at the knee. This cartilage facilitates the smooth and painless movement of the knee. With the onset of arthritis however, the cartilage gets worn away causing the bones to grind against each other causing the cracking sounds and the intense pain.

Exploring Your Treating Options

Wearing away of knee cartilage is considered degenerative and irreversible but this by no way means that you should not seek any remedial course of action. While you may not be able to reverse the damage done, you can take measures to reduce the pain and help prevent further injury. In a worse case scenario, damaged kne cartilage can render you immobile.

If you hear popping and cracking noises in knees, which are accompanied by intense pain, your immediate recourse is to try and alleviate the pain and support the knees. One of the best ways to do this is by wearing knee braces. A knee brace is a device that slips on over your leg and wraps snugly around your knee, giving it the stability and support that is so crucial if you have a meniscus tear or an MCL or ACL tear.

In many ways, wearing a knee brace is a far better option than surgery for managing painful knees. Hey, lets face it, sometimes surgery is unavoidable and it can be helpful, but who wants to rush into it?

Contrary to popular misconception, surgery cannot restore the cartilage in the knees and is very rarely carried out with that intention. When surgery is recommended, it is only to address other associated issues that need to be dealt with. Usually, surgery is best avoided as you could run the risk of exacerbating the pain if the surgery did not go as planned.

While wearing a knee brace will also not restore your knee cartilage, it will help you to maintain a proper alignment. This helps to reduce the pain significantly and helps to allow you to walk around and regain some of your independence.

Advancing technology is a great thing - after all, it's seen us progress from TV to video and now the DVD. Advancing technology for gym goers has seen the rise of the multi-gym, the Smith Machine and the Nautilus variable cam. One of the unfortunate side effects of such progress, however, is that sometimes the old, tried and true basics get lost in the rush to try out the new and exciting. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to the deadlift. Once the king of mass and power movements, the deadlift is virtually unknown by modern day weight trainers. Those who are familiar with it have been taught to leave it alone as a useless and potentially dangerous movement for bodybuilders. The truth of the matter, however, is that there's only one way to build a physique that emanates rugged power and thick, deep mass - and that is to enter the dead zone.

WHY IT'S SO GOOD

There is no other exercise that will increase your core strength while packing thick slabs of muscle onto your torso than the deadlift. Every muscle group at the back of your body is involved in this deceptively simple movement.

Here's how each of them comes alive when you deadlift:

Calves: The gastrocnemius, along with the soleus, is the part of the calf responsible for plantar flexion at the ankle, which naturally occurs when you deadlift. Result? Deadlifting will increase the size of your calf muscles.

Hamstrings: The hamstrings do two things - they extend the hip and flex the knee. So it follows that to fully develop them we need to mimic both of these movements. Leg curls, which are the start and finish of most bodybuilder's hammy program, only flex the knee. Enter the deadlift - it provides full hip extension and, therefore, a great hamstring work out (the stiff legged variation even more directly targets this muscle group).

Glutes: The gluteus maximus is the biggest, strongest muscle in your body and it gets direct stimulation from the hip extension involved in the deadlift. As well as giving you a kick-ass butt, it's development will give you tremendous thrusting power when you jump or sprint (or whatever else you choose to do).

Spinal Erectors: These are two thick columns of muscle that run alongside the spine from just above the hips to the mid back. Their prime functions are to straighten the back from a bent position and arch the spine. They are also largely responsible for maintaining a fit and problem free lower back. Deadlifts will hammer them mercilessly.

STANDARD TECHNIQUE

Place a loaded barbell on the floor in front of you. Squat down, with feet shoulder width apart, grab it with an overhand grip, arms slightly wider than shoulder width. With arms straight and back arched, lift to an upright position. Pause at the top before lowering back to the floor.

OPTIMIZED TECHNIQUE

Stand in front of the bar with feet shoulder width apart and toes pointing out slightly. With back arched, squat down to grab the bar with a reverse, shoulder width grip (one hand should be supinated (palms facing you) and the other pronated (palms facing away)). Hold the bar as high on the palm as you can to allow for any bar roll as you lift. Begin the upward pull by driving your heels into the ground as you pull the bar towards you and up. As your knees straighten, the bar should be right up against your legs. As you near the top of the movement push your hips forward and your shoulders back. Lift to an upright position with legs straight. Your shoulders should be pulled back and your lower back arched. Pause for a two count and then slowly lower to the floor. Pause and move into your next rep. Don't let the momentum of a fast rep rate do the work for you.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO WHILE DEADLIFTING

(1) Round your Back: Rounding your back is the natural reaction to going heavy on the deadlift. But, unless you want to take 20 excruciating minutes to get your pants on in the morning, you must avoid this tendency at all costs. Keep your chest high, chin up and eyes focused on a spot above you and you're back will naturally remain arched.

(2) Jerk the bar up or move so quickly between reps that momentum is doing most, or any, of the work. You want to have a smooth cadence and a slight pause at both the top and bottom of each rep.

(3) Lean back at the top position. While this was recognized as good form in decades past, we now know that it puts too much stress on your lower back. If you want to hyperextend, do hyperextensions.

(4) Move your foot position during the movement. Keep your feet planted in one spot and push through your heels as you lift. Juggling your feet with a handful of heavy iron could give a whole new meaning to the DEADlift.

(5) Lift your hips faster than your shoulders. Correct technique has the hips and shoulders moving together. If you have already straightened your legs before the bar has hardly left the floor, you need to drop the weight back and get your form on song. Failure to get this right could lead to serious back rounding with its associated problems. It would pay to have a spotter check out this aspect of your technique.

SETS, REPS & FREQUENCY FOR CRITICAL MASS

Apart from the squat, there is no exercise that will knock the stuffing out of you as quickly as the deadlift. You can't deadlift for a long period of time and hope to keep perfect form - you'll simply get too tired and that inevitable back rounding will start happening. Fortunately, then, the deadlift can be fully utilized in a sensible bodybuilding program with the addition of just three working sets per week. Place them at the beginning of your back day workout as follows:

Warmup - 15 reps

Set One - 12 reps

Set Two - 8 reps

Set Three - 6-8 reps

Clearly, that last set is an all-out effort. Try to add some weight to the bar every work-out but never sacrifice form for poundage.

Continue your back work out as follows:

Wide Grip Chins 2 x 10-15 reps

Seated Rowing 2 x 10-12 reps

Upright Row 2 x 10-12 reps

VARIATIONS

(1) Romanian Deadlift: This is a great exercise for the hamstrings and glutes because it involves flexion of the hip joint. The fact that it is neither a true deadlift nor has its origins in Romania doesn't stop this from being an excellent tool to have in your leg building arsenal. Do this movement inside a power rack, with the pins set at about knee level. Approach the loaded bar, squat down slightly, grabbing the bar at shoulder width. Step back and stand upright so that the bar is at mid thigh level (the finish position of a standard deadlift). With back arched and chest up move your hips back so that your butt pushes back behind you. This will have the effect of lowering the bar 6-8 inches to knee level. Your lower back should hardly move and should not lose its natural curvature. Now reverse the movement to complete your first rep.

(2) Sumo Deadlift: Stand before the bar with a stance similar to that of a sumo wrestler (feet wider than shoulder width and feet turned out at a 45 degree angle). Squat down and grab the bar with a closer grip than in the conventional deadlift (the arms are inside of the legs). Perform the rest of the movement as in a conventional deadlift, remembering to keep the back arched, the head up and the butt low. The extra wide stance here places more of a workload on the inner thighs and hamstrings and lessens the likelihood of lower back injury.

(3) Stiff Legged Deadlift: This variation will again place the major emphasis on the back of the legs (hamstrings, glutes and calves). Stand before the bar with a shoulder width foot spacing. With knees slightly bent - but locked in that position - lean forward to grab the bar with an overhand grip. Make sure your back is arched and your chest pushing out. Now bring the bar to an upright position. This is the start position for the movement. Tilt your pelvis forward - keeping your knees locked - so that the bar returns to the ground. At the end of the movement your hamstrings should be fully extended and your torso roughly parallel with the floor. Return to the top position to complete the rep.

(4) One Armed Deadlift: Stand alongside a loaded bar so that when you reach down you are able to grab the bar at its mid-point. With back arched and butt down low, squat down to grab a hold of the bar with one hand. Now raise yourself erect as if doing a conventional deadlift. Start with a light weight to get the correct balance of the weight when bringing it up. Do an equal number of reps on both sides. This exercise was a famous with the old timers, and for good reason - it not only hits the legs, traps and shoulders but also gives a great workout to those stubborn obliques and side intercostals.

EXTRA - THE DEADLIEST OF THE DEADLY

The deadlift is perhaps the truest test of raw power - what's the heaviest weight you can grab a hold of and stand up with? Being a competitive powerlifting movement, there are plenty of figures around that allow us to measure our pulling strength with the best of the best. Check out the cream of the crop and see how your one rep max compares:

BODYBUILDERS:

Franco Columbu - the Sardinian powerhouse was renowned for his deadlifting ability and regularly repped out with 700 pounds at the old Venice Gold's Gym in the early '70's - and that was more than three and a half times his bodyweight!

Dorian Yates - this British bulldog hoisted some heavy iron on his way to bagging 6 Mr Olympia titles - including 720 pound deadlifts for 4 reps.

POWERLIFTERS:

Andy Bolton - This guy is definitely the Alpha male of the deadlifiting pack. No one has pulled 900+ pounds from the floor more times and at the 2003 Arnold Classic he smashed the record books with a 933 pound lift - and he made it look easy!

Ed Coan - Pound for pound this guy is in a league of his own. At a bodyweight of 220 pounds he deadlifted a staggering 902 pounds (Bolton's record lift was at a bodyweight of 275 pounds). Coan is equally adept at lifting huge weights in both the conventional and the Sumo style of the lift.

Centurion Muscle - In 1990 retired dentist Collister Wheeler managed to deadlift 195 pounds for 3 reps
- not bad for a guy who was born in 1893! In his prime Wheeler could do a one handed deadlift with 340 pounds.

Depending whereabouts your fibroids are and how large they are, they may be causing you some unpleasant problems. You can use self help for fibroids symptoms and this is an option many women will try. Although doctors often seem a little unhelpful as far as fibroids are concerned, this is because fibroids are rarely dangerous and will shrink eventually when the menopause comes around.

Relieving fibroids symptoms can sometimes not only help alleviate your discomfort, but can sometimes have the knock-on effect of helping with shrinkage.

Heavy Blood Flow

Menstrual blood can be very heavy when you have fibroids. Taking vitamins A, C and E plus Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Iron can all help. Anti-inflammatory drugs (without steroids) can also help to reduce blood loss.

General Pain and Cramps

Heat therapy can be a very good method of self help for fibroids symptoms-try using a hot water bottle or microwaveable heat pad on your abdomen. Place a pillow under the knees when you are lying down or alternatively lie on your side, pulling your knees up to your chest. Many women find that exercise can help as it improves blood flow which can help with pain.

Frequent Urination

This is often caused by one large, or a group of fibroids pushing down on the bladder. Always remember to urinate before leaving the house and wear a light pad if you know it is likely to cause a problem during the day when you are out and about.

Hemorrhoids and Constipation

Fibroids pressing onto the bowel can cause both of these issues. Making changes to your diet can really help. Drinking enough fluid is very important and you should ensure you drink a minimum of 2 liters of filtered water each day. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can soften stools and make them easier to pass. Also, eating plenty of wholegrains will also help to bulk out the stools.

If you are prepared to take matters into your own hands and take charge of your own healing, you can not only help to relieve your symptoms, but you can get rid of your fibroids altogether using a natural system.

Conditioning: Five dot jump

Conditioning is meant to increase speed, endurance, and reaction time on the football field. The intent of this drill is to increase accuracy, timing, and speed. The drill set up is a mat or place on the field with 5 dots about a foot away from each other forming an X shape, exactly in the same shape as you would see diamonds arranged on a number five card in a poker deck.

The player will start by placing a foot on the back two dots and then jumps together to the middle dot and then out separating his legs to the outer dots, much like you would see in hop scotch. Next proceed around the dots one at a time jumping with one leg only, and then change to the other leg. Then continue around the dots with both legs together. The last phase is really returning to the original starting phase of jumping together and apart, however this time the athlete will change directions after they have jumped to the outer dots. Remember that speed and accuracy are important on this drill so coaches should start players off slow and then proceed to full speed constantly watching accuracy.

Protecting the football as you run

You can't run with the football until you have learned some basic ball security measures. Nothing is worse for your offensive team then turning it over carelessly to the other team in a fumble. A great way to teach tight ball security is with four points. The claw position is the first point, meaning that you grab the football clawing at the point of the football with your fingers. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. The third point is securing the other point of the football with your bicep making sure that it is right up against it. Fourth, pull the football up and tight against your ribcage closing the gap on the football from all four sides. Practice holding the football and having defensive players try and knock out the football by any means possible. By reducing the risk of a fumble you will increase the offensive strength in effectively driving across the field and scoring touchdowns.

Open field tactics: covering ground with angle tackles

Because not every tackle is direct and head on, it is necessary to set up an angle tackling situations during practice. This can be done by having a player run with the ball on a straight line with the defender at any angle. It is great to take this in slow steps to show the defender in a fluid motion how to the quickest angle to take towards the ball carrier, plant his cleats squarely in the middle of the ball carrier, and to always remember safety and effectiveness by placing the head in front of the offensive player. The defender follows through with the tackle by straightening his knees in a lunging type motion, wrapping his arms around the ball carrier to pull him down to the ground or push him off sides.

Running Drills are a big help

Running drills are one of the most basic ways that you can enhance your endurance. Though dull and sometimes boring, these running drills will help you play your hardest until the end of the game. Even with all of these benefits you will notice that most of the complaints in practice come from running drills. Just remember that in the end it is the fastest that win games. Running has a final help to your team, and that is learning how to push beyond your limits, you will be surprised how often that happens in football, and in life.

The still quietness soothed my mind and body as I washed the last of the lunch dishes. Both boys napped, for once without a fuss. My husband had gone back to work immediately after eating. My daughter mingled with other first graders in the school a block away. I could finish the dishes and read a few pages in that new book, finally. The shrill call of the phone interrupted my thoughts of escaping into the fantasy world of romance and excitement. Wiping my hands on a towel, I reached for the receiver. The conversation shattered all thoughts of reading.

"Vivian, would you please pick up my kids when you get Rene?" Marge, a friend whose husband had died on the job, asked.

"Sure, any special reason?" I blithely asked.

"I don't want them to find my body." Her voice seemed so lifeless.

"Your body?" What language was she speaking?

"I can't take any more. I have the pills ready. I just don't want the kids to walk in and find me."

I grasped the telephone receiver so tightly my fingers turned white. My mind at first refused to believe what I heard. Marge had retreated from life since the death of her husband two months earlier, trying to escape her grief. But I refused to accept the solution my friend chose.

"Wait, Marge, I don't understand. You can't... I mean you... your kids... Why?" I stuttered in shock. I knew first-hand how devastating the death of someone loved could be. Why hadn't I seen her considering such a solution?

The nearly monotone voice, not like Marge's at all, answered, "There's nothing left. I can't stand this... this endless pain. Everyone says I'll adapt, that I'll manage, that Rob would want me to go on with my life." A sigh breathed across the line. "But I can't. I just can't. They don't know. You don't know."

"But.. but your children. How can you do this to them? They've lost their father... aren't even used to his being gone. How do you think... oh, my, how will they survive losing their mother, too? Especially..."

"Don't you think I've thought of that over and over and over?" the mechanical voice continued. "I'm not any good to them like I am. They'll be better off without me. Now, will you please pick them up after school?"

"On one condition."

"What? That I talk with a therapist or some holier-than-me preacher?" Marge sneered, changing the thou to me, but with emotion in her voice for the first time.

"No," I sighed, "but if you want me to face your three children, I must be able to say I tried every way I could to change your mind. Facing me is the least you can do."

"I can't. I won't." Again no emotion sounded in her voice.

"Marge, you owe me this much. You're asking more than... I don't know if I can..." I could feel tears trying to choke me. "You can at least talk to me, let me talk to you for, what, ten minutes. What harm can that do? Are you afraid I'll talk you out of killing yourself?" Panic and fear caused me to lose all concern about hurting her feelings. I could live with her anger and hurt, as long as she lived.

"Then come on over." The disgust and anger in her voice sounded better than the nothingness of before.

"I... I can't leave. The boys are asleep, and I don't want them..."

"All right, all right!" she interrupted. "I'll be there in a few minutes, but you won't change my mind."

As I slowly replaced the phone, I silently prayed for a way to help my troubled friend. "Suicide, oh, dear Lord, what can I do?" I whispered as I stumbled into the living room and slumped onto the sofa. "She doesn't think I know, but I do. Oh, I do."

Rubbing a hand over the cover of the family Bible resting on the corner table, my thoughts wandered back to the insanity of a year ago. Insanity was the right word because I nearly lost my mind after the baby died: the dreams every time I slept, dreams of holding the infant, caring for her; the reoccurring shock of loss every time I awoke to find my arms still empty, so achingly empty. No one seemed to understand my torment. I was locked in a never-ending nightmare, one that started a few days before Christmas as I lay in the delivery room at the hospital. I heard the baby, my Regina, cry; I saw her when the doctor laid her on my stomach for a moment; I heard him say, "We have a little one here."

A little one? What did he mean? A nurse whisked my baby out of the room, but she returned quickly, too quickly. "Only three pounds, fifteen ounces," she announced in a near whisper.

"No, no," I moaned. "Some thing's wrong with my baby."

I tried to muffle my cries, stop the tears, but everything couldn't be all right with my baby, not with her being so small. Sobs still shook my body, tears streamed down my face into the long hair pillowed around my head, when the gurney arrived back in my room. The doctor ordered a hypo before sending one of the nurses to bring my baby to me, telling her to wrap Regina in warm blankets.

To this day, I will always be thankful for that brief visit with my baby girl. I counted her tiny fingers, touched her downy cheek, examined her long lashes, listened to her whimper, watched her chew her fist. I didn't have a camera, but the picture was burned into my heart and my mind.

A few hours later, a nurse stood in my room complaining about having to work overtime because of my baby, while, in the nursery, Regina struggled and lost her fight to live.

A knock on the door brought me back to the present and to the current nightmare. After inviting Marge to sit on the sofa, I dropped into the matching armchair and leaned toward her. Our knees nearly touched, but I couldn't speak. I bit my bottom lip as tears slid down my cheeks. Finally, after wiping my face and nose on a tissue, I cleared my throat.

"Marge, I wish I could reach you, the sane, inner you. You think you're alone, but you really aren't." I shook my head slightly. How could I reach this cold, seemingly unfeeling woman? "One person can't know exactly how another feels, but we can understand to some extent. Please, Marge, let someone help you." I reached across the corner of the table, laying my hand on Marge's arm, as if touching her physically would trigger an inner response.

"What do you know about helping anyone? You have your perfect life, a husband who comes home after work." Her eyes bored into mine, anger and hate in their depths.

"Have you forgotten Regina? I suffered. Maybe I do still have Robert, but you have your children." I wiped my tears away again. "Think of them."

"Maybe you're stronger. I don't know. Maybe you didn't really feel the pain as much. If you had you couldn't sit there and tell me I . . ." Bitterness filled her words.

We argued; I pleaded; she scoffed or ignored what I said; I felt as if the battle had lasted a lifetime. In a way it had: what was left of Marge's lifetime. Exhaustion weighted my mind, any hope I had. I was losing the battle.

Pursing her lips tightly, Marge rolled her eyes as if to laugh at my efforts. "I've tried. I've listened. Nobody knows the agony, the horrible aching in my chest." When I started to speak, Marge held up a hand to silence me. "No, don't say another word. I..." The clamor of the telephone caused her to pause and glance toward the door to the kitchen where the phone hung.

"Never mind that," I told her. "Whoever is calling will call back."

"Go ahead, answer it. I need to leave, anyway. Please, remember your promise. I'll call my mother after I get back to the house and ask her to pick up the kids here, later."

"I'm not finished. You can't leave yet, please, please, don't leave yet," I begged, leaning forward in the chair as if my intensity could influence the other woman. "Wait at least until I tell the person on the phone that I'll call back. Don't leave yet, please."

"Okay, answer the phone. I guess a few minutes more won't matter."

I hurried to the kitchen to stop the jarring ring. Soon, frustration swamped me as my mother continued chattering for several minutes after I explained I couldn't talk.

"Mother, I'm sorry, but I must hang up. I really can't visit. I'm in the middle of an emergency. I can't give any details, but, please, pray that God will give me wisdom."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize... I'll talk to you later, and I'll be praying."

When I reentered the living room, Marge looked up from a handful of multi-colored sheets of paper. The opened Bible on the table revealed more sheets of blue, pink, and green. Tears streaked the gaunt woman's face.

Pointing to the words on the top page in her hand, Marge sobbed, "You do understand. You...you really do understand. You have it.. all written right... here." Motioning toward the other sheets still on the open Bible, she continued, "Page after page. How did you... you survive the desolation?"

After a sniff, she read aloud from the sheet in her hand, "I can't stand this. I'm going crazy. I dreamed about Regina again. I held her. She snuggled in my arms. Finally they felt so right, so full. No one told me how empty arms could hurt, really hurt, matching the horrible pain in my chest." She looked into my face. "You know."

Blowing my breath in a silent whistle, I sank to the sofa beside my friend. "I had forgotten those were in the Bible."

"I, uh, I didn't mean to be nosy, but I saw colored papers sticking out, and... well, I found these."

Handing Marge several tissues, I started my story. "Those pages saved my sanity after Regina died. I was afraid to sleep. I told you how I dreamed of her being alive, caring for her, holding her. Then when I awoke, I couldn't stand the reality that she was gone." I took a tissue for myself before continuing.

"I had a new pad of that colored stationery. One night after a particularly realistic dream and devastating awakening, I started writing the dreams, the feelings of disorientation, the thought of going crazy, everything. As I finished a sheet, I placed it in the Bible. After that, every time I awoke from one of those dreams, I wrote." I sighed as I briefly paused. Taking a deep breath, I added, "Before too many weeks, the dreams came farther and farther apart, and I wrote less and less." I nodded toward the papers. "You've read some of the results of my struggle to stay sane."

Marge bowed her head and wiped her eyes again. "Now I know I'm not really alone. You put into words what I've been feeling."

"At least my experience helps you." I smiled wanly. "My mother always said God could use even the worst of things for His good if we allowed Him to. Well, I guess He gave me the idea to write so that I could cope; now, He's used those colored pages of despair to help you."

"Whew." After a time of healing tears, Marge shivered. "I, uh, I can't believe...I almost..." Stopping, she covered her face with trembling hands. "Yes, what you wrote helped, more than I can explain. Maybe later I'll even listen when you tell me about your God." Lowering her hands, she smiled a small, sad, but real smile. "Thank you." She stood and touched me on the shoulder. "I need to go home and wait for my children."

I watched her walk from my door to her car, her head lifted higher than when she had arrived. I returned to the living room, replacing the pastel pages in the Bible, gently touching some of the new tear stains.

The pages still reside in the Bible, thirty-nine years after they were written, with two photos of a tiny baby dressed in a pink gown, lying in a white casket. When I wrote through my heartbreak, searching for sanity all those years ago, I never thought the words would ever mean anything to anyone but me. I also didn't know the pain could, and would, last so long.

Why another story on Our Lady?

Why another story on Mother Mary? Our question is, Why not another story on Mary? Where is our greatest hope? Where have been our greatest victories? Who really loves you? Who will take care of you if you but reach out and ask for help? If you want to know how much Our Lady loves you, and is there for you, read the chapters of this book. Meditate on them. Think about what your needs are. Ask for them. Don't just think about them; get down on your knees and plead for them! Mother Mary is there for you. She listens to you. She has great Friends in high places. If anyone can do it, She can. If anyone will do it, She will.

What this story and our first story on Mother Mary have been saying is simply, when Her children are in danger, Mother Mary, great and loving Mother that She is, comes to give us hope, to protect us from the enemy, to save us. Read the Apparitions in our first book on Mary; you will see Mother Mary comes at the most crucial times in our lives.

For example in Mexico City (Tepeyac Hill), in 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe came, averted holocaust, stopped the merciless sacrifices of innocents to a blood-thirsty pagan god, and created Family.

In Paris, in 1830, She came to a little postulant and gave her and us hope for the world - "Come to the foot of the Altar, great graces will be poured out to those who ask for them."

In La Salette, in 1846, She wept and prophesied what disaster would come to pass if we did not convert.

In Lourdes, in 1858, Mother Mary came and introduced Herself as the Immaculate Conception, affirming Her son - Blessed Pope Pius IX - and his dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which dispelled the heresy of Pantheism.

In Pontmain, in 1871, She came and ended the Franco-Prussian War; She gave us hope.

In Knock, in 1879, although She said nothing, She spoke volumes: Protect the Eucharist. If you destroy the Eucharist; you destroy the Church. Protect the Word, which is in danger. If you destroy the Word, you destroy the Church. Protect the family; if you destroy the family, you destroy the Church, you destroy the world.

In Fatima, in 1917, Our Lady warned that unless we convert, Russia would take over the world. And but for Her precious son, Pope John Paul II, this growling bear would have done just that. In Fatima, She warned us that unless we change, many souls would be lost; and that unless we pray and sacrifice many would go to hell. Did we listen?

Our Lady, 16 years after Fatima, appeared in Belgium and again warned us. Did we listen? Do we listen?

Mother Mary went to Belgium and warned us; and in less than a month, the path to total world domination was paved. The world had not listened to Mother Mary and the table of contents of the devil's book to hell was getting near full. Hitler became chancellor to Germany and began his conquest or scorch campaign. World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and here it was, and another World War was on the horizon. World War II was upon us, before we knew it. Everything moved so fast. People were not praying, not yet. They thought the answer was accommodation and compromise. Powerful countries compromised smaller nations. After all, it was not them. The enemy was not threatening them. All of a sudden, it was their turn. Did we then go down on our knees?

When the Lord comes, people will be so busy running to the malls, trying to buy up happiness, they will miss Him and His salvation completely. Is that why Mother Mary keeps on appearing? In our last book on Mary, we traced these circumstances that weave a pattern of salvation if heeded or destruction if not. We didn't listen!

In this story, we are tracing, once again, the many times Our Lady has always come in dire times. We have come close to holocaust once again. My father was a student of ancient history. He told his children that sadly no one learns from history and keeps on repeating it - the ancient becoming the modern. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Our Lady has been appearing and appearing, begging us to return to Jesus and His Church. Are we listening?

What can we do?

More than anyone on earth, our Pope understands the seriousness and gravity of the crisis in the world. Having lived through one of the most tragic World Wars in the history of mankind, and then domination by a godless despot, our Pope knows the only way to peace is on our knees, pleading with Our Lord to intervene with the Father.

There is no doubt that the enemy of God is lining up all his troops in a last desperate attempt to drag all God's children to hell, to burn with him through all eternity. But he has powerful adversaries to stop him from accomplishing his deadly plan: Mother Mary and Her Pope John Paul II.

Knowing more than he dare disclose, a Pope has once more come to the front line and asked the world to pray the Rosary. And if we do what he says, victory will be ours, war will be averted and violence will cease. Then, perhaps, at long last, all who inhabit the earth,

".... shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise its sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." And only then, "....the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to lead them."

Why did the Pope declare 2003 the Year of the Rosary? It is time for us to get down on our knees and, as they did in the Philippines in 1987, fight fire with the Rosary and petitions to the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.

Mothers don't want war! Mary is foremost our Mother and the Mother of all mankind. Jesus gave Her to us all, at the foot of the Cross. She weeps when She sees Her children slaughtered.

Can change come about? There has been more than one holocaust threatening God's children - the slaughter of the innocents. More Americans have been killed in the abortion clinics than in all the wars we have fought, combined!

At a given point early in 1993, it seemed as if the plight of the unborn was a lost cause. How would we explain this to our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Would they be able to make any sense out of not invaders, but mothers killing their own flesh and blood? What would we say?

But then, when all reason had failed, and it seemed as if the senseless, horrible murder of the unborn would never end, a few people went and prayed the Rosary outside of abortion clinics, and slowly but surely, change came about. The Pro-choice contingency has complained bitterly that there are fewer and fewer abortions being performed each year. What did we do? We turned to Mother Mary. What can we do now? Turn to Mary.

So we come back to the question we posed at the very beginning of this chapter. Why another story on Mary? After reading what we have just said to you, it should be very obvious. Remember Who you're appealing to. Mary has been with us, since the time of Genesis, when God planned our redemption through the Fiat of a Woman. Even as one woman was sinning, causing God to close the Gates of Heaven, God had in His Mind the Woman He would use to open them once again. In God's Eye, She was there for us then; She's here for us now; She will always be for us.

Read on and learn what Mother Mary is saying to you. Pick up your Rosary and meditate on the Life of Jesus and Mary. All the Saints read holy books and then made decisions. Our Popes have all done the same. Tolle Lege (St. Augustine).- Take and read! The Lord will speak to your hearts through His Mother.

Listen to Her! We love you.

There are over 45 forms of mixed martial arts in the world. With these variations, there are millions of different practitioners worldwide. Dojos are built and maintained to cater to this number of martial artists. However, the need to eliminate costs and generate more profits seems to be much more of a challenge compared to teaching the arts.

One of the main areas where profit seems scarce is the Karate business. Karate means the art of kicking or punching. Based on the meaning, it is likely to knock any opponent out but in Karate business its strength does not seem to take effect.

Everyday, more karate dojos lose business because of the stiff competition surrounding it. These dojos may have the best locations in their area. They may have the best teachers and facilities, yet their operations have gone into a standstill. Why? I believe the reason is poor business strategy.

Developing strategic methods does not necessarily mean conducting extensive researches, no; we do not have time for that. It simply means understanding your market and using your advantages as your edge. Just like in the art of Karate, you have to learn how to use your bare hands and knees as weapons. Create a plan and stick to it.

A karate business plan does not need to be all that grand. It only has to include four main parts: A. Objectives, B. Mission, C. Keys to Success, and D. How to Use these Keys. The objectives should include your goals. It may a combination of tangible and intangible. Under the mission portion, it should have what you envision your Karate business would look like. It's like seeing it from dream, only that you know it's not. The keys to success are those factors that you find unique to your Karate business. It could be that the location is convenient for all your students. It could be the cleanliness of the dojo and the quality of the equipments that you have. Most importantly, it could be the kind of instructors that you hire. And lastly, using the key elements that you have discovered; what are the steps that you should take in order to realize your mission and achieve your goal? Formulate your own Karate business plan using this formula and watch your profits grow.

It is vital that you include in your karate business plan the impression you wish a student would have as soon as he/she steps into your dojo. Statistics say that one of the primary reasons why a martial arts student would quit is because of the first impression he had. Remember, it's all about giving the correct mindset.

With a very good plan, martial arts success would be at hand. Martial Arts success has two faces. One is for the shihan or he who owns the dojo. Success for him would mean the satisfaction of seeing new faces as well as the profit he would get. Not to mention keeping illness at bay through regular exercise. Martial Arts success would also benefit the student. Not only will he learn the different levels of discipline, he will also add another hour to his life free from stress. Studies show that mixed martial arts is a form of exercise and meditation that leads to reduced tension, anxiety, depression, and anger.

So, start developing your own Karate business plan and welcome to the world of success.

Knee arthritis mostly affects people who are over 50 years. It is also common in people who are overweight. Weight loss tends to reduce the symptoms associated with this disorder. Heredity is said to be one of the factors that contributes to this condition. This disease has been found to run in families. Other factors that contribute to this problem include trauma to the knee and meniscus tears. Ligament damage and fractures to the bone around the joint are other probable causes of this disease.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of this disease. Osteoarthritis also referred to as degenerative joint disease is characterized by progressive wearing away of cartilage. Knee arthritis makes the cartilage to degenerate and this may leave the bone bare and exposed within the joint.

Symptoms of this disorder tend to progress as the condition worsens. The symptoms however do not progress steadily with time and therefore you may report good and bad months. Sometimes the symptoms may also fluctuate with the weather. Common symptoms of this condition include pain when going about various activities, limited range of motion as well as stiffness of the knee. Other symptoms are swelling of the joint, tenderness along the joint and deformity of the joint leading to knock-knees or bow legs.

Diagnosis of this disease involves a physical examination as well as the use of x-rays. The first findings are normally used as a basis for evaluating future examinations. They are also used to determine the progression of the disease. Treatment of knee arthritis can be through weight loss, walking aids, physical therapy, cortisone injections as well as total knee replacement surgery.

Have you ever thought that you would rather jump off a bridge than to get up and deliver a verbal presentation in front of your peers? If that thought ever entered your mind, relax. You are not alone. Studies show that the fear of public speaking ranks right up there!

The other studies show that the person who has the capability to deliver an effective verbal presentation will earn more money, advance faster and be highly recognized in the business field.

Regardless of how much training you have, it is natural to have a bit of fear.  Experts say that fear makes you more aware of your delivery, thus put more practice into the program to make it better!

It is important to realize that when you have the capability to get up in front of a crowd and speak intelligently that you instantly gain expert status. Why? Because you have the courage to state your convictions and be subject to scrutiny. Now, keep in mind that you do not need to be a world-wide expert on the topic, but if you know more than the others in the room, and can convey that knowledge properly, you at least are on your way to a higher degree of respect. Fear is common whenever you do something new for the first time. Your knees may even knock as mine once did, but at least you are beginning the process of conquering the fear.

Have the courage to be a speaker at the next public event that takes input from the audience. It's your first step.

It's incredibly important to deal with foot and ankle pain at a young age. Your feet are what carry you for your whole life. It's important to build a strong foundation for your body. If you don't have that strong foundation you may develop knee, hip, back, and shoulder pain, just from problems in your feet.

In a young child's feet the bones are soft and more apt to develop deformities with abnormal pressure. This includes wearing shoes that are too tight, which may halt development. In the first year of life a child's foot develops to almost half the size of an adult's foot. This first year is critical to their development.

While a child is growing it is very important to change shoes and socks sizes every few months. This gives their feet the room to grow and develop that they need. Shoes should also be flexible and comfortable for the child. You should be aware of your child's walking pattern in order to catch any underlying defect or condition. We are able to treat foot and ankle conditions and address any concerns you may have.

Sports injuries are on the rise in children as more and more become actively involved. One of the most common sports injuries are ankle sprains. X-rays are often the best way to detect any fracture or break, which can be treated with a fiberglass cast. There are other treatment options for ankle sprains such as soft casts and pneumatic walking splints that help treat both ankle and foot problems. Soft casts can be used for fractures and are more comfortable than fiberglass casts. It allows more movement, but still provides support. A pneumatic walking splint immobilizes the foot and ankle, but still allows the patient to walk with the splint on. After patients are taken out of a boot or a splint, a light or structurally sturdy ankle brace is usually dispensed to them.

After a full recovery from an ankle sprain the ligaments are still weakened. Custom made and over the counter orthotics can help provide the support needed to the weak ankle. Our over the counter orthotics can be dispensed directly to the patient. These orthotics are low cost if they are not already covered by insurance. Physical therapy is also an important step in the recovery process so that your child can get back onto the field as soon as possible.

Heel and arch pain is a major condition treated in the podiatric world. Heel and arch pain are usually symptoms of an underlying issue. Heel pain is often felt by 8-14 year olds because their feet are still growing and developing. During the growth their heel bone is weak and any stress put on it can often cause this pain. Heel and arch pain can be treated with orthotics. If this pain is not treated during childhood years later on they will experience worse pain. Treatment with orthotics is often a way to keep children with heel and arch pain from seeing an orthopedist for these problems later in life.

Limb length discrepancy is often a problem experienced by young children. This problem is simply when one leg is longer than the other leg. The difference can be anywhere from 1 centimeter to more than 6 centimeters. The greater the difference the more the patient has to compensate in their walking technique, posture, etc. Leaving this untreated can lead to many problems including back, ankle, and hip problems. Orthotics can help to correct any walking and posture changes. A simple adjustment to an orthotic can help to easily treat any length discrepancy.

Another common issue experienced by many children is called knock-knees which is when your knees touch but your ankles are not touching. This becomes apparent from age 2-3 and gets progressively worse until age 4. This can develop when a child is learning to walk and is trying to achieve balance. Sometimes it only occurs in one knee. Leaving knock-knees untreated can result in difficulty running and walking. Knock-knee can be treated with braces. Often night braces are used to correct the position of the knee.

In toe and out toe are 2 of the most common gait issues. This type of gait, or walking, causes abnormal stresses on the foot and ankle as well as hip, knee, and back. Many deformities in the foot such as flatfoot and a high arch foot can cause a weakening of musculature. There are multiple types of braces can help a patient walk better. Sometimes the muscle of the upper leg and torso are weakened by the foot deformity; certain types of physical therapy and muscular strengthening exercises need to be addressed. Toe walkers don't land on their heels when walking; because of it certain muscles in the back of the foot, leg and ankle area become very tight and certain stretching exercises will help along with certain types of braces. The shoe a child wears is extremely important to the way they land on their foot and need to be evaluated.

There are many common concerns over the type of walking pattern, pains, etc that children experience during growth. It is important to have these problems evaluated by a podiatrist so that this problem does not turn into a long-term malady. It's important to keep a close watch on these issues because often time there is a quick fix.

Copyright (c) 2010 Mitchell Wachtel DPM

A runner's decision regarding which shoes should be made from a number of factors. One of these will be personal style and taste, but of course, this should not be the sole determination. Cross country running is good exercise and great fun, but with the wrong shoes, it can be tedious, painful, or even pose a risk of injury. Find a brand you like, and a color and style you think suit you, but don't stop there. Find shoes in those categories that also cover such aspects as fit, feel, and support.

The Name on the Shoe

There are some famous brand names that appear to cost more just because of the logo on the shoe. In truth, these shoes often cost more because they are of better quality than other brands that use cheaper materials and cheaper methods of manufacture. It is absolutely vital that your running shoes have the right kind of support, so you can avoid all sorts of future problems. There will be some foot pain, doubtlessly, but poor support can also strain you back, knees, and ankles, at the very least. Most running injuries are caused by ill-fitting shoes that have improper support.

Knock-offs, which do not have a famous brand name, are less expensive, because they are less expensive to manufacture. Lesser, and less durable, materials tend to be used. Knock-offs are also often put together poorly, which means they are more likely to fall apart far before their time. It is also possible that these sorts of shoes are made in factories that employ child workers for substandard wages or improperly pay their workers in order to make their shoes for such a low cost.

The Style of the Shoe

Shoes are released in lines, much as cars are marketed, with a certain number of styles and colors comprising each line of shoes. Puma cross country running shoes are divided into a number of appealing lines that will suit any sort of runner. No two runners are alike, so every company has to try and make enough variation to attract the most customers. Puma follows this philosophy whole-heartedly, offering a little bit of something for everyone. This is more important than it may seem on the surface, but the truth is that the right running shoe is every bit as important as good training. Warming up and stretching before a run is necessary. So are the right shoes.

On the Internet or in the Store?

There are a number of disadvantages to buying online, despite the convenience of it. In general, if you have never worn a certain style or brand of shoe before, it is best to get assistance from a salesperson to be absolutely sure you have the right shoe for you. Different companies, and sometimes even different lines within a company, have slightly differing shapes and sizes which may impact your running in a negative manner if you don't get the right size or width. Once you've determined the style, brand, size and type of shoe that's perfect for you, feel free to buy them online - the prices there are often better than the in-store prices.

Since Fila introduced their Skeletoes line, much attention has been called to whether or not this new shoe is a direct competitor to Vibram's Five Fingers shoe. Fila Skeletoes were in no way designed to be a knock off or competitor to Five Fingers. Even Fila's marketing tends to shy away from any tone of being a competitor to Five Fingers. Instead the shoe has been marketed more as a means to complement Vibram's shoe. Fila Skeletoes are actually an ideal companion to anyone who has used the VFF or other performance barefoot shoes for running or climbing. The Skeletoes shoe can be easily slipped on (especially with the EZ Slide feature) as an alternative to those wanting to avoid continuous wear and tear on their high performance footwear at times when they aren't engaging in heavy physical activity. Fila Skeletoes allow them to slip on another shoe and still maintain the physical benefit of a shoe that contorts with the natural form of their foot and simulates a barefoot feel while being protected from the elements.

While Fila Skeletoes provide the same experience to an active demographic of going barefoot, they are not a running shoe like Five Fingers. The shoe is built more for casual activity like yoga, biking, walking, gardening, and basic lifestyle activities. Durability in all terrains is also a huge selling point of the Fila Skeletoes line. The Skeletoes shoe can withstand anything from rocks, sticks, gravel, pavement, dirt, mud, and water. Runners have nonetheless enthusiastically embraced Skeletoes with some praising that the shoe's extra padding reduces stress on their hips and knees while running.

Skeletoes were made with a four-way stretch, 2 ply nylon, and a Polyurethane design making them water resistant and light on the feet. If you scan online comments, you'll find that many people wear Fila Skeletoes during days at the lake, hikes involving creeks, or even while jet skiing. This should come as no surprise since this particular Fila shoe looks like a water shoe with toes. Keep in mind, just like other barefoot simulating shoes, your Skeletoes shoes will still need a bath from time to time.

One thing you'll notice when comparing Fila's shoe line with Vibram's Five Fingers and similar shoes is the fact that Skeletoes can be purchased for a fraction of the cost. This is an incredibly affordable shoe that has been the recipient of praise for its comfort, durability, and flexibility. The shoe can't really be compared to the Five Finger line since it looks different and has many additional benefits that make it either a viable alternative or a complement to similar shoes on the market. Try a pair on and see for yourself how Fila Skeletoes feel on your feet. From there it's just a matter of deciding how well Skeletoes shoes will work in your daily routine and overall lifestyle. Judging by the shoe's initial sales and feedback, many consumers are satisfied with their Fila Skeletoes purchase and you should be too.