We are sponsoring Paul’s seminar series in 2010 and feel the information you will receive will be of great benefit to your business.

Full details are available at the new Million Dollar Health Professional website www.healthbusinessprofits.com where you can also register for Paul’s FREE ” 7 Health Profit Tips ” emails and FREE e-book.

To secure your $37 “sponsor rate” use the code : AOK2010 when you register – however we only receive a limited number of “sponsor rate” tickets so register asap to secure your discount on this great seminar event.

Below is the information on Paul’s seminar series – we look forward to seeing you again at the events – they are always good fun and deliver loads of information.

The Team at AOK Health

Seminar Topics Include:

• The 3 health business breakthroughs that all health professionals MUST know to succeed in business in the new millennium – are you using them?
• How more than 90% of health professionals are losing money they don’t even know existed and how to regain that lost income
• The 3 key technological developments you must implement NOW to stay in the game – are you using them?
• Why your competition is not who you think it is and how this is negatively impacting your business.
• The 2 key reasons you are losing thousands of dollars each and every month and what to do about it.
• How to ethically take your income to a new level with no increased costs – I will show you how I am doing it.
• The 4 stakeholders in your business and how most health professionals are letting one or all of them down every day
• Why current health business models no longer work and what to do about it – are you keeping up with the trends in health care?
• How to maximise your business opportunities to make this year your best and most profitable year ever
• A simple model that if you use it correctly in your health business will dramatically increase profits – when I heard this it hit me like a ton of bricks, this can produce staggering results to your business bottom line.

Dates

• Canberra – March 3rd Rydges Lakeside
• Newcastle – March 9th Wests Mayfield
• Brisbane – March 10th Holiday Inn
• Perth – March 16th All Seasons
• Adelaide – March 17th Mercure Grosvernor
• Melbourne – March 24th Bayview Eden
• Sydney – March 31st Crows Nest Centre

Register NOW at
www.healthbusinessprofits.com
follow the link to the “seminars” registration page.

Purpose of the Push Up:

Strengthen shoulders, abdominals and activate muscles around the lower spine and pelvis.

mediBall Push Up

Instruction:

1. From Prone Feet on Ball base position, lower body toward the
   floor keeping back straight.
2. Return to base position and repeat.

Body Check

• Tongue on roof of mouth
• Head, neck & shoulder deactivation
• Chin tucked slightly
• Activate TVA (pull umbilicus towards spine)
• Activate multifidus (confirm with tape or by pressing fingers against multifidus the back muscles mirroring the belly button)
• Pelvic Floor Activation
• Maintain Neutral Spine

Postural Alignment Check

• Ear, shoulder & hips in alignment
• Knees & ankles in alignment

NB. Fatigue is always the guide to repetition i.e stop, rest & then try a few more reps.

Disclaimer: This is a basic guide to improving balance, muscle tone and flexibility. All exercises should be performed with care and caution, if unsure about an exercise please seek professional assistance, we take no responsibility for injuries caused by stretches performed incorrectly. Reproduction of any material without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.

Pink mediBall for Breast Cancer Campaign

AOK Health has recently Manufactured and Supplied custom Pink mediBalls for Escape Fitness in the UK in support of BreastCancerCampaign.org

Breast Cancer Campaign’s mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

The pink mediBall PRO PLUS is on sale for £29.50 and Campaign will receive £2.95 from each one sold.

mediBall PRO PLUS is the brand preferred by Exercise Professionals. Used exclusively by Fitness First and Virgin Active. Recommended by Paul Chek. This is the Best Ball in the World!

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), formerly know as the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS), is a professional organisation which is committed to establishing, promoting and defending the career paths of tertiary trained exercise and sports science practitioners, who are in turn committed to best practice and client well-being. The central tenet of our profession is that:

“Exercise and Sports Science is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the understanding and enhancement of human movement in the broadest sense, including general physical activity pursuits such as goal oriented fitness regimens and recreational sport as well as elite sport and the area of performance enhancement. It includes the knowledge, methods and applications of subdisciplines (ie. exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control and motor development, exercise and sport psychology) as well as how they interact”.

AAESS was officially founded in 1991, and changed its trading name to ESSA in 2010. It was founded to meet the professional needs of exercise and sports scientists in Australia. It is directed by an Executive Board comprised of leading academics and practitioners in these fields and is supported by a growing number of regional chapters throughout Australia.

AAESS Pty Ltd (trading as ESSA) is an incorporated body and its constitution has been registered with the Australian Securities Commission.

Why is ESSA needed?

Current research emphatically confirms the importance of regular moderate physical activity for public health. Authorities that recognise and support these findings include World Health Organisation (Position Statement 1995), the US Surgeon General (Position Statement 1996), the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (1997) and American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association (2007) .

As a result, there is considerable interest in the exercise and sports science fields from within the government/public and private sectors.

Responsible advocacy of broad based public participation in physical activity necessarily requires that professional service providers are available.

ESSA members are qualified to comprehensively assess an individuals exercise capacity and can ensure that participation is safe and achieves the optimum outcomes for all sectors of the population.

Purpose of Russian Twist:

Strengthen hamstrings, bottom muscles and activate muscles that control the lower spine and pelvis. Strengthen abdominal wall in rotation.

Russian Twist on the mediBall

Instruction:

1. With knees bent and ball behind back, slowly roll backwards until ball is under shoulders and back is straight.
2. Raise arms toward the roof and clasp.
3. Roll arms and shoulders from side to side.

Body Check

• Tongue on roof of mouth
• Head, neck & shoulder deactivation
• Chin tucked slightly
• Activate TVA (pull umbilicus towards spine)
• Activate multifidus (confirm with tape or by pressing fingers against multifidus the back muscles mirroring the belly button)
• Pelvic Floor Activation
• Maintain Neutral Spine

Postural Alignment Check

• Ear, shoulder & hips in alignment
• Knees & ankles in alignment

NB. Fatigue is always the guide to repetition i.e stop, rest & then try a few more reps.

Disclaimer: This is a basic guide to improving balance, muscle tone and flexibility. All exercises should be performed with care and caution, if unsure about an exercise please seek professional assistance, we take no responsibility for injuries caused by stretches performed incorrectly. Reproduction of any material without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.

Over the past 10 years I have received many requests for assistance from physiotherapists, personal trainers and other therapists about starting their businesses. Recently we have developed a web site development and hosting business for our many health/fitness industry clients. One of the most often asked questions is “what shall I call myself?”

What is in a name?

Many entrepreneurs in the fitness and health industry deliberate and spend too much effort trying to come up with an appropriate business or product name. In many cases it can stall the progression of a business. The truth is that no business name is critical to success, regardless of how memorable or well-established it is.

A name is only as valuable as the marketing plan (and often the dollars you can invest) and the business behind it. A business needs to be both well run and have a marketing budget to make a name or trademark meaningful. Otherwise, it is irrelevant how memorable or clever the name is. Simplicity of often a godsend.

Just consider some of the leading names in the world today – Google, Twitter, Amazon, Rebel Sport, Fitness First and Virgin Active. It is possible that some of the most successful names were conceived by teenagers at a university bar, not by some high powered marketing executive. Keep in mind that many companies with great or even long-established business names have failed. Great names cannot make up for the lack of a good business model or adequate financing. Every name – no matter how seemingly valuable – can be changed. It is easy to believe that customers know a name so well that it cannot be changed, but that is simply not true. Here is a site with some naming strategies and and cool things to think about.

Small companies often change names when they change ownership, typically with positive rather than negative effects. Even very large companies change corporate names and are able to keep, or even expand, their customer base.

Here are some things for a business to keep in mind when deciding on a business name:

1. Ensure you business name is available. Your business name should be available as both a registered business (or company if you want protection Australia wide) and as a web address.
2. Marketing beats a good name. No matter how good a name is, a business has to be able to first reach customers. A lot of marketing exposure is a lot more powerful than the best name. If there is a choice between spending resources on obtaining a name, versus the opportunity to reach customers, the marketing path is normally the most effective. Do what has to be done to place your service or product in front of customers.
3. There is no ‘must-have’ business name, product name or trademark. No matter how great the name conceived, there is always another name out there that will work just as well.
4. Many businesses use similar names. It is easy to lose sleep over the fact that other businesses use names that are similar. Do the marketing and customers will find you.
5. A simple name may prove more effective than a clever one. A company with a straightforward name, such as ‘Highlands Dental Clinic,’ may develop a better business than a company with a seemingly memorable or clever name. Do not under estimate the obvious names.

Here are some handy sites you should visit when thinking about starting your business:

Company and business names ASIC Searches.

Web names and availability from Ipera or Melbourne IT

Starting your business in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA or from the Commonwealth.

By Odd-Egil Olsen et al – Sports Trauma Research Center, University of Sport and Physical Education, Oslo, Norway

BMJ  2005;330:449 (26 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.38330.632801.8F (7 Feb 2005)

Introduction

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality in general and of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, obesity, and diabetes mellitus in particular.

Balance Pad Drills For Throwing & Catching

However, participation in sports also entails a risk of injury for all athletes, from the elite to the recreational level.   Studies from Scandinavia document that sports injuries constitute 10-19% of all acute injuries seen in emergency departments, and the most common types are knee and ankle injuries.  Serious knee injuries, such as injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, are a growing cause of concern.  The highest incidence is seen in adolescents playing pivoting sports such as football, basketball, and team handball. In these sports, women are three to five times more likely to contract a serious knee injury than men.

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament may require surgery, always entail a long rehabilitation period, and drastically increase the risk of long term sequelae.  Although treatment methods have advanced notably, there is no evidence to show that repair of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament or isolated cartilage lesions prevents early development of osteoarthritis. 

Wobble Board Drills While Catching & Throwing

Effective methods for preventing injuries therefore need to be developed. Some studies report promising results, indicating that it may be possible to reduce the incidence of knee and ankle injuries among adults  and adolescents. However, these studies are small and mainly non-randomised, with important methodological limitations.  Prospective randomised intervention studies are therefore needed, especially among children and adolescents, to assess the efficacy of interventions aiming to reduce injuries. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of a structured programme of warm-up exercises used to prevent acute injuries of the lower limb in young people playing sports.  To minimise overlap within clubs, we used a cluster design.

Conclusion A structured programme of warm-up exercises can prevent knee and ankle injuries in young people playing sports. Preventive training should therefore be introduced as an integral part of youth sports programmes.

Here is an interesting article on proprioception and ankle rehabilitation.

On the bright side, you can prevent most back pain.  If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics will often heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul.  Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.

You may be able to avoid back pain by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.

To keep your back healthy and strong:

• Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities — those that don’t strain or jolt your back — can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices. Talk with your doctor about which activities are best for you.
• Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises (core-strengthening exercises) help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels.
• Quit smoking. Smokers have diminished oxygen levels in their spinal tissues, which can hinder the healing process.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts strain on your back muscles. If you’re overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.

Use proper body mechanics:

• Stand smart. Maintain a neutral pelvic position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
• Sit smart. Choose a seat with good lower back support, arm rests and a swivel base. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
• Lift smart. Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid lifting and twisting simultaneously. Find a lifting partner if the object is heavy or awkward.

This article was prepared by the Mayo Clinic and you can get further information by visiting the Mayo Clinic web Site

By: Dwayne Sheehan, MA, B.Ed., B.PE 

Active gaming is growing up.  It’s no longer the infant that requires nurturing and protecting.  Progressive thinkers who have recognized the link between video games, fun and physical activity have been quietly advancing the industry for years.  With the popularity of Wii and DDR leading the way, the child we call “exergaming” is now enjoying the adventurous and rebellious years of being a teenager!

Ironically, it’s the children and teenagers of today’s society that need the physiological benefits of active gaming more than anyone else.  Children today see screen technologies as integral to their daily lives, thereby influencing how they spend their spare time and impacting time spent doing physical activity. Excessive sedentary screen time has contributed to an increase in childhood obesity, higher incidences of disease, and difficulties learning in school.  With sedentary screen time at an all-time high, research is showing that interactive gaming technologies are motivating children to be more active in an environment comfortable to them: one based in technology and gaming.  The applications of retail exergaming technology as a motivational tool to help children and adolescents achieve physical literacy could have a significant impact in the fight against childhood inactivity.

At the heart of increasing physical activity is the development of fundamental movement skills upon which more difficult motor tasks are built.  Balance is one such fundamental skill which can be further dissected to include postural stability.  The potential for a beneficial change in postural stability, and other basic motor abilities, as a result of using exergames, may affect children’s perceptions of physical activity by engaging them in activities that they have confidence in, are successful with, and enjoy.

According to Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) plan, the most influential years in the development of physical literacy occur during the optimal period of readiness prior to puberty.  The Canadian Exergaming Research Center (CERC) has been designed to study the impact of active video gaming on the acquisition of fundamental movement skills in children.  Located in a public elementary school in Calgary (Canada), the CERC is a dedicated living lab with 27 active gaming stations that are age appropriate and intended to help children improve balance, agility, coordination and laterality.  When students are participating, direct connections to the Alberta Physical Education Program of Studies are made to ensure that the outcomes of exergaming activities align with the relevant standards of physical education.

There is no doubt that during this exciting stage of exergaming growth, ideas will continue to evolve and the technology will continue to amaze us.  Growing up, as we all know, also has its share of responsibility that may not always be attended to.  In order to for the active gaming industry to continue maturing, research must continue to keep up with the pace of the field.  By constantly finding ways to scientifically connect the games to physical and health benefits, society will continue to see the tremendous potential of active gaming as a tool in the fight against childhood obesity.

 For more information on the CERC and their current research, click HERE

Purpose of Hip Extension:

Strengthen back of thigh (hamstring) and bottom muscles. Activate muscles that control lower spine and pelvis.

Hip Extension on the mediBall

Instruction:

1. Lie on floor with feet on ball.
2. Raise hips until back is straight.
3. Raise one foot off ball.
4. Return to base position and repeat alternating legs.

Body Check

• Tongue on roof of mouth
• Head, neck & shoulder deactivation
• Chin tucked slightly
• Activate TVA (pull umbilicus towards spine)
• Activate multifidus (confirm with tape or by pressing fingers against multifidus the back muscles mirroring the belly button)
• Pelvic Floor Activation
• Maintain Neutral Spine

Postural Alignment Check

• Ear, shoulder & hips in alignment
• Knees & ankles in alignment

NB. Fatigue is always the guide to repetition i.e stop, rest & then try a few more reps.

Disclaimer: This is a basic guide to improving balance, muscle tone and flexibility. All exercises should be performed with care and caution, if unsure about an exercise please seek professional assistance, we take no responsibility for injuries caused by stretches performed incorrectly. Reproduction of any material without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.