Thursday, June 21, 2012 Massage Therapy Research for the Pain of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Research supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) showed that sixty minute sessions of massage once a week for those with osteoarthritis of the knee significantly reduced their pain. Each massage therapy session follow...ed a specific protocol, including the nature of massage strokes. This is the latest published research study indicating the benefits of massage therapy for those with osteoarthritis of the knee. • The study involved a total group of 125 subjects, with 25 receiving the 60-minute massage over 8 weeks, while others received less massage or usual care without massage. • Previous studies on massage for the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee showed similar results, but were on a more limited number of subjects. Perlman AI, Ali A, Njike VY, et al. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012; 7(2):e30248 June 6, 2012 Now here's an interesting article I came across recently. More for my Gardening page than about Posture, but health-related nonetheless. Enjoy! Why Gardening Makes You Happy and Cures Depression

Written by Robyn Francis

While mental health experts warn about depression as a global epidemic, other researchers are discovering ways we trigger our natural production of happy chemicals that keep depression at bay, with surprising results. All you need to do is get your fingers dirty and harvest your own food. In recent years I’ve come across two completely independent bits of research that identified key environmental triggers for two important chemicals that boost our immune system and keep us happy - serotonin and dopamine. What fascinated me as a permaculturist and gardener were that the environmental triggers happen in the garden when you handle the soil and harvest your crops.

Posture Trends

We've been teaching posture correction for over 20 years. Finally it has become the mainstream trend. Everyone is writing books and making videos about how to correct your posture. And I think it is fantastic that the public is being made aware of how important this is in terms of avoiding pain and joint degeneration. I tried for a good while to incorporate this education into the school systems, but they just weren't ready for it way back then. Someone new will have the energy to put that in place in the next decade I feel sure, and if they'd like my input, I'd be happy to accommodate.  But I have a concern about all the new programs that promise you better posture in x weeks if you just follow their program. The real results are going to be attained by addressing the specific needs of YOUR individual body. The assessment is the key. Knowing what applies to you and what doesn't. What you need to strengthen and what you need to stretch. How it all ties in together from head to toe on your particular framework.