You can have an Impact! Egypt today!

Have you been following the facts of what has been taking place in Cairo?  Mubarak steps down!
The reactions some have stated are similar to when the Berlin Wall Fell!
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/11/egypt-tgif.html

Ever wonder how much impact you as a person can make to an entire country?
Yes...No...Maybe? Whether you have thought about it or not, you as an individual not only have an impact on the United States Economy but others as well. We have all been on the edge of our seats wondering what will be the next step during the Egypt protests. After all of the recent events that have happened in the past weeks, How do you think Egypt will rise up in regards to the people, businesses, and tourism?

As you can imagine the economy is suffering as well. Take a look at this article that we have recently read upon (link is at the bottom). It is amazing how much traffic brought to the Pyramids can impact Egypt's well being. If you take a look at the staggering number on the bottom of the article it states that one bank of Egypt is estimating that their country is loosing $310 Million a day. That number all by itself is enough to hurt any economy.

So... with that being said our question for you today is...

If you knew that your Country was struggling with a Political outrage, would you sacrifice your political stand to help your Country's Economy well-being? Why or Why not?

Let us know, we are looking to have some dialog to see what everyone was thinking?

Have a good Weekend!

News Article: http://bit.ly/gFuRbN

Today's post provided by:  Drake Marketing Intern Tokunbo Pillot

Superbowl XLV

What a game!!!

Steelers vs Packers 25 - 31

Where's the fun for you?

1. All about the game?
2. A commercial critic?
3. Halftime hotspot?

What was your favorite part of the Superbowl XLV?  

Highlights and news Superbowl XLV

Low back ache ~ Psoas (psóās)

The most frequent low back pain seen in this office comes from the grouping of muscles seen below.

When tight, overworked or just plain exhausted, the psoas muscle can cause many complications.

Directly:

• Sore or painful low back
• Back pain that hinders your daily activity
• Deep low abdominal pain
• Pain when trying to stand after sitting for a while
• Not being able to stand up straight
• Tightness straight across the belt line of your low back

Indirectly:

• Piriformis Syndrome
• Knee Pain
• Heartburn
• Leg Length discrepancies (shortened leg)
• Rotation of the pelvis (making it hard to stay in alignment)
• Excessively tight hamstrings
• Tight calf muscles
• Soreness on the balls of the feet
• Plantar fasciitis

Abdominal Surgeries

After an abdominal surgery, whether it be from C-Section, Hernia surgery, or women that are dealing with endomitriosis, scar tissue develops where there was an incision.  The way that scar tissue works, it adheres much like glue to create more strength around the area of surgery.  With nearly every person that I have seen here in the office that has had some form of abdominal surgery, the scar tissue development glues to the deep hip flexors (muscles diagrammed above).  

In order to keep those muscles loose and mobile, there are a few things you can do.

• Stretch 
• Trigger Point work
• Orthopedic Massage

Most often times, when someone is having an issue with the deep hip flexors, their hamstrings are so tight, they can't seem to get them stretched out or loosened up, no matter how much work they do with them.

It may sound backwards, but in regards to low back pain and psoas issues.  If you stretch your hip flexors first, then stretch your hamstrings, you'll get greater results and your hamstrings won't pull as much.

STRETCHES

• Lunge
• Back knee down on the ground, front knee at 90 degrees

• Back knee straight, both feet straight forward, front knee at 90 degrees

• Back knee straight, back foot rotated at 45 degrees to the outside, front foot straight, front knee at 90 degrees

• On any of the lunge stretches, make sure you are keeping your torso vertical

• If you want to deepen the stretch, raise your arm up in the air on the same side that the leg is extended back, this you should feel pull from your leg, all the way up under your rib cage.

This is a very quick and simple solution to overcoming low back pain that is associated with the deep hip flexors, predominantly the psoas muscles.  

Make sure you do one or all of these stretches BEFORE stretching out your hamstrings.  

If you're on a run (especially if it's a hilly course) and you feel your hamstrings start to tighten up, stop for 10-20 seconds do a lunge/psoas stretch, then continue your run. You'll be amazed at the difference stretching out these deep muscles can make when incorporating them into your daily routine. 

As always, if you need a little extra help, deep hip flexors are some of my favorite muscles to work on due in large part by the fact that the can ease pain so quickly with some of the simplest techniques.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like me to cover a specific topic in the coming weeks.

Have a healthy month of February and great pain free training my friends!

~Cindy