Laser Therapy Comes to Maryland Sports Injury Center

In an effort to stay on the cutting edge of technology for patient treatment we have decided to use the next four to six weeks as a testing period for multiple laser therapy devices. During this time frame patients will not be charged for their treatments with the laser. The laser manufacturer states that patients should notice results within three to six treatments.

Cold lasers have been in use for about thirty years experimentally. With newer technology and increased safety levels lasers have now became FDA approved for use as a soft tissue treatment therapy. Each device that we will be testing has no chance of causing burns such as earlier devices. Lasers are now prominently used by all teams in professional sports (NFL, Major League Baseball, NHL, and the NBA) and by the military special forces in 7 different countries. The most famous use of laser therapy was by Lance Armstrong during his seven Tour de France victories. 

 Without going too heavily into the physics and biochemistry of laser therapy the way  a laser works is on the premise of increasing energy production within the cells so that they can heal faster. When a cell is hit with a form of light it absorbs energy from that light and turns it into ATP. ATP is a type of energy that the cell can use for both repair and removal of waste products. With increased levels of ATP there is greater speed of repair, decreased inflammation, increased circulation, and improved healing.

Please call ahead to make an appointment to try the laser therapy. Again, there will be no charge for laser therapy during the next several weeks as we test the different laser devices

The much anticipated 2008 Beijing Olympic games are now in full swing. I find it inspiring to watch athletes perform at the top of their game, don't you?

It's amazing to see what the human body is capable of when it's trained for a particular event.

Every athlete in the Olympics has trained for thousands of hours in a very specific way for their sport. These athletes know precisely what they want their bodies to do and they train in a focused manner to be the best. You can bet that they see a gold medal every time they close their eyes. Now that's focus.

What about you? What do you train for?

You see, whether you realize it or not, you too are training for a specific reason. Maybe your goals are more in line with losing 15 pounds rather than winning a gold medal, but your training needs to be just as specific in order to achieve your desired results.

Do you know why you exercise? Is it to lose weight? Is it to lower your blood pressure? Is it to shrink your waist? Is it to pick up a bag of groceries with more ease?

The first step toward getting the body of your dreams is to set a goal. This simple act, when done correctly, will instantly calm your frustrations and fill you with hope.

Here's how to make your goals SMART.

Specific: Ask yourself questions like: How many inches do I want to lose? What pant size do I want to be? Be painstakingly specific with yourself. It has been proven that the more specific your goal is the more likely you are to achieve it.

Measurable: You've got to be able to measure your results. It could be in pounds or body fat percentage or inches. It could even be fitting into a particular pair of pants that you haven't worn in years. The key is that you need to be able to physically measure your progress.

Attainable: If you have fifty pounds to lose it won't all come off in one month. Setting unattainable goals simply sets you up for failure. If you have a major fat loss goal then break it down into small attainable goals. As you achieve each smaller goal you will reinforce your progress and ultimately can attain any desired goal.

Realistic: This step is all about knowing yourself. What type of program would you realistically stick with? If you despise running then don't base your weight loss program on 6am jogs. Look honestly at your abilities, but don't underestimate yourself either. You'll need to push yourself to achieve your goal.

Timely: Every great goal is set on a timeline. Keeping the above steps in mind, give yourself an exact date and time that your goal needs to be accomplished by.

Now it's time to get to work. Write down your SMART goal and place it somewhere that you see often then tell three people of importance in your life about your goal.

Have the focus and the drive to pursue your SMART goal, just like the Olympians, and go make yourself proud!

I love nothing more than seeing my clients achieve their goals. Call me at the number above or reply to this email to get started on a fitness program that is specific to your goal.

When you find yourself reaching for a snack-WAIT! Are you really even hungry? Or are you simply snacking out of habit? Next time you find yourself gravitating toward a junk food fix do a short burst of physical activity like a dozen jumping jacks, 15 crunches and then ask yourself if you really need those extra calories.

Transform your boring chicken dinner into a tasty, tangy delight with this amazing glaze. Spicy mustard, apricot preserves, and orange juice make this dish one to remember. Preparation time is only 25 minutes. Servings: 2

Here's what you need...

• 1/2 up frozen sweet peas
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 cup uncooked couscous
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon apricot preserves or honey
• 1/2 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1. Place the peas, water, salt and ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in couscous. Cover; let stand 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine orange juice, preserves and mustard; mix until well combined. Pour half of mixture (about 2 tablespoons) into another small dish; reserve for topping. Brush chicken with remaining orange juice glaze; place on broiler pan.
3. Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat for 5 minutes. Turn chicken. Brush again with glaze; discard any remaining glaze. Broil an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is fork tender and juices run clear.
4. Stir couscous mixture lightly with fork; divide evenly onto 2 serving plates. Top each with chicken, drizzle with reserved orange juice mixture.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 370 calories, 4g fat, 49g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 34g protein

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