It is well documented that long-term musculoskeletal disorders represent the health related problem which “troubles most and costs the most” both in Norway, Australia and internationally.

Innovative and improved treatment options are therefore needed. Neurac is believed to be a step in the right direction. The method provides high-levels of neuromuscular stimulation with the use of suspension, slings and applied vibration. Clinical experience suggests that this form of neuromuscular stimulation helps to regaining normal function through normalizing movement patterns in patients with musculoskeletal pain. Here is a recent Redcord Newsletter.

The method has four main elements:

1. Body-weight-bearing exercises in the Redcord workstation using the suspension and sling system,
2. Controlled vibration of selected areas/body parts,
3. Gradual increased resistance (workload),
4. No pain or no increase of existing pain.

As a part of the treatment with the Neurac method, the patients get individualized exercise programs, which they can eventually perform independently. The purpose is to further develop and maintain improvements over time. The method includes a diagnostic element that tests for weak muscles/muscle groups or impaired coordination between deep stabilizing muscles and superficial prime movers (Weak Links). Clinical experience with the Neurac method tells us that improvements can occur fast, often during the first treatment. Recent literature provides support for the principles of the method, both for treating and training patients as well as top level athletes. However, there is a need for Neurac specific scientific investigation that reaches beyond clinical experience, so that the Neurac method can play a role in the evidence based treatment of patients suffering from long-term musculoskeletal disorders.

practitioners interested in Redcord’s impact on exercise and sport performance should read this article.

Paul Chek is a internationally-renowned expert in the fields of corrective and high-performance exercise kinesiology. For over twenty-five years, Paul’s unique, holistic approach to treatment and education has changed the lives of countless people worldwide, many of his clients, his students and their clients. By treating the body as a whole system and finding the root cause of a problem, Paul has been successful where traditional approaches have consistently failed. Paul is the founder of the C.H.E.K (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) Institute, based in California, USA.  The Institute provides a valuable resource for both practitioners and the general public looking for highly trained therapists to assist them – via CHEK Connect.

Paul has visited Australia many times and has had a profound impact – directly and indirectly – on the way people exercise and rehabilitate them selves or others. I have known Paul for about 12 years and have watched him battle many adversaries as he established his business and endeavoured to get health practitioners to think about their work differently.  This is the true impact of Paul – he challenged many ideas and forced practitioners and movement scientists to dig deeply to argue against his philosophies.  Many of you will remember the great debates with Mel Siff (deceased).  Keep up with what Paul is doing on his Blog.

Speaker & Consultant

Paul is a sought after presenter and has consulted for organizations such as the Chicago Bulls, Australia’s Canberra Raiders, New Zealand’s Auckland Blues, the US Air Force Academy and other elite organizations. His information is not only cutting-edge, but also very applicable. Participants leave his classes with information they can use and achieve results with right away. Paul was the keynote speaker for the NZ Musculoskeletal Conference in 1998, presented at the 6th European PGA Teaching and Coaching Convention in 2003, the World Junior Golf Convention in 2006 and the NUCCA Convention in 2010.

Student sitting on an AOK Duraball Pro

He has received numerous speaking awards such as Best Male Presenter by ECA World Fitness members in 2004, Most Controversial Speaker by Can-Fit-Pro in 2004, Speciality Presenter of the Year in 2007 at Can-Fit-Pro and was rated number one speaker by participants at the 1998 IHRSA conference. In 2005 Paul was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by SWIS, The Society of Weight-Training Specialists.

Educator

Paul has produced over 60 DVDs and 17 advanced-level home study courses designed for the fitness and clinical professional. He is a strong believer in the essential role provided by practical training and has developed four Advanced Level Training programs to provide hands-on instruction for the exercise and health industries.

The CHEK Exercise Coach program introduces fitness and exercise professionals to an integrated approach to conditioning; the C.H.E.K Practitioner Program is a two- to four-year advanced level program teaching corrective exercise and high-performance conditioning; the Golf Performance Series focuses on functional conditioning for golfers; Optimal Health and Fitness Through Practical Nutrition and Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Program contains three levels and shows how to reach optimal health from the inside out.  Thousands of people worldwide have been trained in one or more of these challenging and elite level certification programs.

Author

Editors clamor for Paul’s cutting edge articles on corrective and sports performance exercise techniques. He has provided numerous original contributions to the orthopedic rehabilitation and strengthening and conditioning fields and is a regular contributor to many publications and websites, such as Personal Training on the Net, New Zealand Fitness, On Fitness and PFP. Paul is the author of six books. One of these, The Golf Biomechanic’s Manual has been adopted for use by professional golf schools and was featured on the Golf Channel.

Athlete & Practitioner

Paul also lives by his philosophies of exercise, diet and living life to the fullest. Paul pushes himself through an exhaustive training regime not only because he has to “walk the walk & talk the talk” but also because he truly enjoys it. Here is a video of a typical training session to “burn the cobwebs” out of his system. The clubbells he start the session with are a traditional training tool that should be in everybodies gym. Paul promoted the AOK Duraball Pro as the best training ball in the world – a reputation we have maintained for 16 years.

You can safely wash the balls with dish-washing detergent or soap as this will get rid of the oil that seeps to the surface. It may take a couple of washes.  Avoid using strong solvents as they may permanently damage your AOK ball – mediBall, Duraball, Max Ball and Classic Ball. It also applies to our medicine balls, massage balls, Cyclone Balls, Pilates Ball and Duradisc.

We use lemon and citronella oils as they are accepted by hospitals for their natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. We recommend cleaning the balls regularly with an emulsion of lemon (you can use pine or eucalyptus) oil and water in the ratio 1 part oil to 30 parts water.

This oil blend has not changed for 15 years although in production the last balls in a batch tend to have a slightly higher oil content. This leads to slight variations in the strength of the scent.

In cooler climates where your ball is inflated in an enclosed space with central heating you will accelerate the oil moving to the ball surface and the scent will be quite strong.  This is particularly apparent in the northern hemisphere (North America and Northern Europe) where ambient room temperatures are high and fresh air circulation low.  If the scent bothers you simply give the ball a good wash and allow as much fresh air ventilation as possible over the first few days.

Wikipedia Definitions

Citronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon. The oil is used extensively as a source of perfumery chemicals and flavouring industries throughout the world.

Citronella oil is also a renowned plant-based insect repellent, and has been registered for this use in the United States since 1948. The United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ considers oil of citronella as a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action. Research also shows that citronella oil has strong antifungal properties.

Lemon oil is commonly used to deodorize, remove grease, bleach stain, and disinfect.  Its antibacterial uses because it has a low pH.  Researchers at Ohio State University reveals that lemon oil aroma may enhance your mood, and relax you.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Barefoot Running by Dr Craig Richards and Thomas Hollowell was released in March 2011. It covers:

• An overview of what barefoot running is all about, including a closer look at running shoes – and why you don’t need them.
• A thorough transitioning program designed to slowly strengthen and stretch your feet as they acclimate to going barefoot.
• Tips for running on all kinds of surfaces and in all types of weather, along with advice on determining if “barefoot running shoes” are for you.
• Training pointers to help you successfully increase your barefoot running distance and speed.
• Guidance on taking care of your feet, legs, and body to prevent injury and keep you on the shoeless path.

I have personally followed his advice and have found it extremely useful for reconditioning my feet and greatly improving my plantar fasciitis. I also use Newton Trainers to give my feet and legs some variety depending on my training schedule.

Two essential tools to help nurture your feet are the AOK Massage Ball and the Small Hard Thera-Roll

Phthalates are a group chemicals used in the manufacture of flexible/elastic  PVC  products such as Swiss Balls and clear plastic tubing (such as used in medical devices). Over recent years there has been growing concern about the health implications of injesting Phthalates and more recently about proximal contact with products containing Phthalates.

The Australian Government and the European Union have legislated to limit the amount of the single most common Phthalate (DEHP) in any product to 10%.

AOK products after rigorous testing and product development are now classed as Phthalate Free.  Independent tests for the 7 most key Phthalates  show that our product to contain less than 0.1% in total – In fact they could not be detected at all in most tests.

This keeps well and truly ahead of the European requirements and of the Australian requirement of a limit of only 10% DEHP.  It also complies completely with the strictest piece of legislation in the world – the California Proposition 65 (which has banned over 550 chemicals).

AOK truly leads the way in the best swiss balls (mediball, duraball & Maxball) and exercise products in the world.

Crafting a Great Job Application is Not Luck

The fitness industry is tough and it common for PT’s to exit the industry after 2 to 3 years.

We have recently recruited some Customer Service staff from the fitness industry and I was surprised at the poor quality of many CV’s and application letters.  Many candidates did not really seem to know what they wanted as a career.

Here are some tips from Sportspeople an excellent Australian organisation who have been linking people and employers since 1996.

Plan before applying for your next job!

• Develop a list defining specific organisations you would like to work for. This keeps you from wasting time and energy on unproductive job applications.
• What kind of work do you want to do?
• Where do you want to work? City, anywhere in Australia or New Zealand or are you looking to work overseas?
• Are you prepared to accept a temporary role until something comes along that fits your longer term goals?
• Can you transition from the sport, fitness or aquatic sector to another sector that is of interest to you? The sport, fitness and aquatics sector is a very small drop in a very big ocean.
• When do you want to start work?
• What remuneration will you be seeking?

• What are my interests? What do I really enjoy doing? What type of activity or environment attracts me?
• What do I do best? What are the 3-6 of my strongest skills or competencies? What differentiates me from others seeking similar work?
• What are my values and priorities? What is important to me? How does work fit in with other aspects of my life?
• What would my ideal job look like? What do I want my life and work to look like 5 years from now?
• All things considered, is my professional objective realistic?

Once you have done some basic planning and thought about your professional objective, you should apply for roles that you really want and roles which you are suitably skilled and experienced. The more you find out about a job the more likely it is that you’ll make a decision on whether or not you are right for it and it is right for you BEFORE you apply.

Understand that once you apply you are one of many candidates under consideration. If you are unsuccessful in your application it doesn’t mean you are not a great candidate or indeed, a valuable person; it just means the employer felt someone else was better suited to the role. Understand and accept rejection as part of the process.

If you are successful, make sure you are happy with the offer that comes your way and the job satisfies your professional objective before accepting.

Importantly, try to avoid applying for a job on a whim. Outside of your family, friends and your health, your job is likely to be one of the most important aspects of your life, so spend time thinking about your next step.

It couldn’t have been easy chucking spears, running down dinner and then dragging it back to the cave — all without a note from the doctor, a program from the physiotherapist or a crack or two from the chiropractor.

On second thought, maybe it was all that constant twisting, turning, hunting and dragging prey that built those killer abdominals and caveman-strong core stability.

Cyclone Ball - One arm Horizontal

Lucky for us modern folk, the Cyclone Ball means we don’t have to carry a spear to Woolworths or wrestle the neighbourhood Rottweiler to meet our functional-exercise needs.

What Is It?

The Cyclone Ball is a rubber medicine ball with a thick rope through the middle and knots on either end. One knot fastens the ball to the rope while the other is used as handle to swing, twist and blast your way through a workout. It was developed by AOK Health in Australia and is a fantastic training tool – here is a video.

This is fitness that moves you. With a firm grip on the rope with one or both hands you can bounce the cyclone ball on the ground or against a wall. The idea is to control the ball as it bounces up and over, from side to side.

You can lunge and bounce; kneel and bounce; stand against a wall and bounce; lie on your back and bounce; or swing the ball overhead or adjacent to your body. It doesn’t matter which move(s) you choose. When you’re wielding a cyclone ball, you will be building balance, strength and core stability.

Who Would This Appeal To?

The Cyclone Ball will be a hit with fitness enthusiasts looking for a functional option for their abdominal and core-stability training.

Who Would Hate It?

If you hate loud noises, banging a Cyclone Ball around your head won’t be your favourite workout of the week.

The Klutz Factor

Without proper training, the klutz factor is huge.

The Cyclone Ball is a one-to-four-kilogram hollow, rubber ball on the end of a rope that you bang as hard as you can against the floor, above your head, between your legs, and on either side of your body over and over again.

A four-page how-to manual accompanies each Cyclone Ball which teaches proper use and safe techniques to help avoid mishaps.

What Do You Need?

If you are competent in the gym and exercise-efficient there is a terrific PDF available at aokhealth.com.

The document will lead you through laying, kneeling and standing exercises that enhance functional core stability.

If, after that, you are still not completely comfortable with the Cyclone Ball, print out the PDF and hunt down a good personal trainer. They will be able to keep you on track and not whacked.

Where Do I Find It?

You can get the Cyclone Ball at AOK Health in Australia or in Canada at Fitter First. .

What are the Costs?

The Cyclone Balls start at $125.00 Incl GST for the one-kilogram Cyclone Ball.

Bottom Line?

Cyclone Ball training is great for anger management with the added bonus of better core stability.

Pete Estabrooks B.PE /The Fitness Guy is a personal trainer and writer in Calgary and virtually everywhere in the world from petesclass.com.

By The Calgary Herald October 11, 2007

Less than 48 hours after Alex Pullin claimed Gold at the Snowboard World Championships Perisher’s Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone have completed a stunning double act to take Australia’s total to 3 Gold Medals and lead all other nations in the medal tally.

AIS-NSWIS scholarship holders Holly Crawford and Nathan Johnstone created one of Australia’s greatest moments in winter sports with their victories in the Half Pipe event overnight.

Holly Crawford - courtesy Getty Images

The dual Gold medals come just 48 hours after Alex “Chumpy” Pullin became the snowboard cross World Champion, securing a historic first win for Australia.

The incredible achievements in Spain this week, combined with Perisher Resort Ambassador Torah Bright’s heroic gold medal at last year’s Olympic Winter Game  in Vancouver, have clearly elevated Australia to international snowboard powerhouse status.

For 26-year-old Crawford and 20-year-old Johnstone, who have both trained and developed their skills in Perisher’s Superpipe, the World titles are their highest achievements.

Crawford grabbed the lead in her first run with a stunning performance despite a testing howling wind that caused havoc for most of the other athletes.

Nathan Johnstone - courtesy Getty Images

She finished on 26.7 points, 3.3 points ahead of Swiss rider Ursina Haller with China’s Jiayu Liu making up the other podium place with 22.5 points.

Johnstone also secured his championship in the first run and, like his teammate, handled the conditions better than the other 12 finalists finishing on 26.8 points, 0.6 ahead of Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov. Fin Markus Malin was in third place, a further 2.5 points behind the Australian.

For Johnstone, the win will erase the bitter disappointment of fracturing an ankle in a routine training mishap 12 months ago, which wiped out his dream of competing in the Vancouver Games.

Crawford, a veteran of five years on Australia’s national team and 11 World Cup podiums, now adds a gold medal to the silver she won in the 2009 World Championships in Gangwon, Korea.

Copy from Perisher News

We have 2 vacancies at our Newcastle Head Office:

1. Sales Superstar – here is the link to the PDF

2. Customer Service Champion – here is the link to the PDF

Working with AOK Heath Pty Ltd brings rewards that few other companies in the Hunter can match. AOK is a world recognized company and has achieved many awards:

• 2009 Hunter and Central Coast Exporter of the Year Award
• 2007 Hunter Manufacturers Exporter of the Year
• 2004 Trainer of the Year – Transport & Distribution
• 2003 Fastest Growing Wholesale Distributor

These awards are testament to the high ethical and business standards that AOK have within their organization and business operations.

With a strong focus on service, safety and well-being in the workplace, we value applicants who:

• Thirst for knowledge and are able to relay their learning to others
• Can work to deadlines with a mind for the ‘revenue clock’
• Feel comfortable contributing ideas and adapting to change
• Can be mindful of the needs of customers and work colleagues
• Can follow direction and display leadership skills when required
• Can follow and design procedures for most efficient results

Those individuals who bring such qualities to AOK will be nurtured and grown in the direction of a long lasting career.

Technology is hard to keep up with – nowhere more so than in the video capture and evaluation of human movement.  When I completed my biomechanics thesis in the mid 1980’s this meant filming in high speed – 35 fps or better (TV is about 24 fps) then digitising 16 marker points for each consecutive frame, printing stick figures from each frame, hand measuring each joint angle with a pencil and protractor of each stick figure, then using this data to calculate angular velocities. For a single 10 second exercise it would take nearly 2 days to extract any meaningful data – my study had 8 woodchopping subjects each doing three repetitions – weeks of data analysis. Today this could be done in a day with more accuracy and analysis of more variables. Here is an interesting post on woodchopping.

Motion Analysis of Woodchopping 1984

Why is this important? Motion capture gives a researcher, coach, health practitioner or personal trainer  a quantitative tool to study “dynamic ergonomics” (physical parameters both in two & three dimensions) and qualitative tool in observing pure motion. This provides insights for understanding the physical limitations of users and/or a therapy/exercise products’ suitability for a task (particularly  in the early stage of a product development process rather than the later usability testing stage).

For some great research articles on motion capture and analysis in sport and exercise visit the Motion Time Journal. Subscribe for regular updates and abstracts.

Motion capture and analysis has been used extensively in sports such as golf and tennis for many years.  Here you have applications for teaching/coaching skills, competitor analysis and racquet or club suitability.  There have been a number of workshops held internationally that are worthwhile investigation – here is an example from the University of Sussex in 2010. There are also a number of very good short courses on the technology of motion capture – broad ranging as this technology is used primarily for CGI special effects (Movies like Iron Man 2) or video game development. Deakin University in Australia has a very well regarded course.

The ready availability of technology for home users that was once the exclusive province of scientists, will mean that more and more innovative applications are developed on a weekly basis.  We have seen its applications in Wii Fit and my mind boggles at the future applications of the Microsoft Kinect System – currently a gaming system – but the future??