Convergence and divergence training with the CŌR VISION basic kit. Week 1

Week 2 progression of eye exercises. These exercises are best with standing to incorporate balance training. Continued with week 1 exercises.

Back pain less than 2 weeks? Tension to the back and pelvis? If your pain is not below the knee and you have stiffness to your hip and its ability to turn inward then manipulation to the lumbar spine or low back can be a very successful treatment. This post follows a Clinical Predication Rule based on a series of studies led by Tim Flynn PT PhD and colleagues on back and leg pain response to manipulation.

Lateral or outer thigh pain is pretty common. A common treatment is to roll the IT band with a hard roller such as a foam roller. Questions you need to ask are these; is your pain getting better? If not, is the rolling helping? Foam rolling the IT band can be harmful and does not address the underlying cause. This post discusses why we need to stop rolling our thighs.

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Vision changes with headaches are very common. An eye muscle, the superior oblique, is commonly associated with headache pain and can contribute to neck tension. Optometry evaluations are typically normal or unchanged. Symptoms to look for: eye strain, pain behind the eye, blurred or double vision, eye fatigue and even some balance issues. Also common are depth perception and driving issues as well as difficulty with grocery stores. These tests can be positive following a head injury, post-concussive syndrome diagnosis, whiplash, or with headaches.

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Vision changes with headaches are very common. There are tests that can be done to determine if there is a vision issue and eye muscle trigger points. An eye muscle, the superior oblique, is commonly associated with headache pain and can contribute to neck tension. There are symptoms of eye strain, pain behind the eye, blurred or double vision, eye fatigue and even some balance issues. Depth perception and driving issues as well as difficulty with grocery stores are also very common. If you have had a head injury, post-concussive syndrome diagnosis, whiplash, or suffer from headaches this post will help you understand how your eyes play a role.

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The first part of our Posture Program is about understanding some of the foundations of posture and what you can start right now to improve your posture.

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Breathing is something we do a lot. How can we get better with our breathing? Understanding some foundations of how our breathing works and how we can become more efficient in how we breath reduces the work of breathing and improves our posture. Why do you think so many activities such as yoga and Pilates focus on breathing?

Waking up can sometimes be tough. Feeling tired and dragging yourself out of bed? Here are some things to consider to have a better morning.

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In Part 1 of our Posture Program we learned about efficient posture and started the most important activity, breathing into our back. Part 2 of our Posture Program is about neck and shoulder posture and how to find the most efficient position for you.

Searching the internet for medical information can be confusing. Getting the wrong information or even good information that is not relevant can cause issues. There is no replacement for the one to one process with a medical practitioner. How can we use our online searches in a positive way to more quickly get the care we need?

To do life you need a team, and when it comes to your health we need a medical team. We already have some of our members. Our longstanding chiropractor, our family physician, our personal trainer at our local gym. When we have an issue that is more complex our medical team becomes more important. In a world where information is much more accessible why is communication harder? Here are some things to look for when picking our medical team. Doing this well can save you time, money and hopefully prevent bigger problems later.

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This post is about power posing. This gained popularity after a TED Talk by Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, and has sparked some controversy. What we know, is that certain postures can change our mood. Changing our posture throughout the day is a good thing.

The great thing about the internet is that anyone can post any information. That bad thing about the internet is that anybody can post anything! Here are some posture myths that are prevalent and that have come up in our practice. It is time to address these myths and shed some light.

Do you have pain with running or hiking? Reduce your risk of injury and improve your versatility while running outside. Ideas about training and footwear, common injuries and best treatments. Dry needling for knee pain can be a fast way to reduce knee pain. Chiropractic and physical therapy unite to share ideas on how to train and deal with running and hiking injuries.

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The word failure is such an emotionally charged word. No one likes to fail or lose. It doesn’t feel good. How can you take a big mistake and create a stronger team and greater customer/patient loyalty? Here's a story of how we did just that.

One way to find success in treatment is to know what not to do for your vertigo. Certain treatments say they work on treating vertigo but do not follow our understanding and knowledge of how our vestibular system works. You will be able to evaluate and treat a vertigo patient by the end of this post and know what NOT to do.

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Most positional vertigo or BPPV problems are a posterior canal and doing the Epley maneuver is the first step in treatment. This post shows you how to know that you have positional vertigo, how to treat your own vertigo, and what you should avoid. Vertigo treatment should not make you sick. You should feel immediately better or it did not work or is not the primary cause of your dizziness.

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Why am I tired? This is Part 1 of my better sleep journey and overall quest to improve my health. This post talks about Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the steps that led me to getting tested and potential treatment.

Each pelvic and back injury has three components that need to be evaluated and addressed. The first is a joint or structural problem. The next is a muscle imbalance, weakness and muscle trigger points of the trunk, hip and leg. Finally, the third is the core. What treatments are best and what should you stop doing right away!

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Developing a clear purpose statement or one-liner for what you or your business does helps with clarity and draws people in to want to know more. This post is about answering 3 questions and share some tools to help you and your business get BETTER by clarifying your what, how and why.

One quick tip for improving our posture as clinicians in our practice. This simple tool will reduce muscle tension and workload by positioning our pelvis and creating a neutral back position or resting lumbar lordosis.

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If your shoulder hurts, makes joint sounds when you move it, if you have limited your activities or even have pain while sleeping on your shoulder, you need to understand why. First, check to see if your shoulder moves like the other. Second, a common problem is a shoulder joint capsular restriction, rotator cuff trigger points, and rib pain with muscle tension

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Have you ever had an alignment issue of your car? You know there is a problem when your car vibrates at higher speeds, your steering wheel pulls to the side, and you have tread wear. A chronic shoulder problem is like a car alignment issue. This post is on how to screen for a shoulder problem and best treatment.

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Dizziness or vertigo can be caused by a neck problem. Here are a few tips when assessing the neck. The head is not on straight. History of self-manipulation or stretching means that there is a neck problem. Pain and loss of upper neck motion with testing.

There are 3 systems that can cause dizziness. Our vision or eyes, our inner ear or vestibular system, and our upper neck. This post is the beginning of a 3 part series in assessing and treating dizziness successfully.

This post helps you address positional vertigo of the inner ear treating the posterior canal with an Epley maneuver. What you should do after the Epley maneuver.

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Testing has shown you have a horizontal canal problem of the inner ear. Treatment with liberating techniques prior to rolling and what you need to know following a maneuver.

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Have you ever felt this way? Do you exercise your core only to have increased back tension and even pain? If you want to know why, read more...

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The problem with core exercise programs is that they typically do not work. Assessing your core and related issues that can affect your core function is the first step. Second, effective training that is unique to each person is important.

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Getting our patients to follow through with a home program can be frustrating and difficult. The frustration is shared, for us and for our patients. How can we improve our success rate with our clients and also for ourselves as we try to get BETTER?

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Following through with our program from our medical providers can be tough. Here are a two simple tips that can double your success! Want to reach that goal? Read more...

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Sinus pain that persists may be coming from the neck. Here are two cases with sinus pressure and pain. Antibiotics did not resolve their symptoms. Cone beam CT is a lower radiation imaging technology that was used to assist with the diagnosis.

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Sinus pain and pressure that does not respond to antibiotics may have a cause that has nothing to do with your sinuses. Yes, thats right! Sinus pain that is not an infection or disease? Here is a test that can help us determine if there is an infection or if it is something else.

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At Cornerstone we care about YOU. You are the reason we train, innovate, and work together to provide the best possible care. These videos share information about your first visit with us. We look forward to figuring out your problem together and returning you to life so that you can LIVE IT.

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How do you know if your vertigo treatment is helping? Your vertigo gets better fast! If your dizziness responds slowly to vertigo treatments then it is either not helping and the side or canal has not been identified. OR your symptoms are coming from a vision and/or neck problem.

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This post answers the questions that you have about dry needling. Answering questions about safety, what conditions dry needling helps and how dry needling works.

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Dry needling is a very effective way to treat knots in muscles and relieve muscle pain and improve strength. This is what to expect during treatment and what aftercare is needed.

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Core training and exercises are commonly used to treat a weak core. But why is your core weak to begin with? If you have chronic back tension, are pregnant or have just had your baby, or just want to improve your core the COR Strength Project is for you.

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This is Part 3 of our COR Strength Screen. Using diagnostic ultrasound we test different activities that should engage your core normally. We are looking for involuntary activation of your core. We will also look at voluntary core activation or tightening your core on demand.

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Through BETTER we are connecting the medical and dental professions by sharing our passion and expertise. This post is related to diagnosing a hoarseness or loss of voice. Go deeper, get better.

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Welcome to BETTER! An online group of medical and dental professionals connecting and contributing, to improve our care.

If you have symptoms of voice strain, hoarseness and even loss of voice this may be coming from a painful and stiff neck. If this is the case then there is a cure!

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Abdominal bracing for core activation is the foundation for all our future exercises. While it is not the only activity we will be using to get your core to engage it is a good place to start. To determine its effectiveness we use diagnostic ultrasound for Targeted Core Training.

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Knee pain to the front or side of the knee is very common. Dry needling can be an effective way to reduce tension and pain to the knee. This video shows me dry needling the outside of my knee with two different techniques. Don’t try this at home!

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This is part 1 of our screening process for core strength and function. Posture, breathing, and back and pelvic issues are what we look for as part of our screen. Determining a cause for a weak core is an important part of the process.

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Part 2 of our core screening process is about how we use diagnostic ultrasound to assess core function. When the core muscles thicken they are contracting. Through different actions we test to see if the core is activating.

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Following a ruptured appendix, abdominal surgery and an infection my core was not working. This limited my ability to hike and run with tension and pain to my trunk. Targeted Core Training has improved my core and my ability to live my life again. Seeing my core function in real time allowed me to start engaging my core, reducing my pain and tension, and push beyond my limits. This is my COR Strength Story. SEE IT, TRAIN IT, LIVE IT!

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Targeted Core Training is using diagnostic ultrasound to see core function. When strengthening your core muscles or abdomen seeing how your muscles engage in real time enhances any program and speeds up core activation, strengthening and recovery.

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Have you ever wondered if your core was strong? Or how to train your core? If you have had back or pelvic/hip pain during or following exercise then the COR Strength Project is for you.

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This video is on dry needling for knee pain. It includes a follow up on a return to hiking and running hours after treatment. Pain and tension had reduced and the treated knee felt better than the right! Following dry needling it is safe to exercise. Immediate pain relief can occur after a dry needling treatment.

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Only 50% or half of ear pain symptoms are from the ear. Otalgia or ear pain needs to be evaluated by your family doctor or Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. Dr. Jim Yohanan, an ENT physician, shares his expertise on diagnosing ear pain.

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Physical therapists spend a lot of time dealing with pain. One of the many influences of pain is linked to testosterone. Robert Dill PAC of Apollo Medical Associates shares his expertise on the symptoms of low testosterone and the importance this hormone plays in men and women.

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Testing testosterone is recommended through your family practice healthcare professional or through a specialist in hormone replacement therapy. This post shares some information on testing and what to look for when checking for low testosterone.

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Dry needling for headache pain can be very effective in reducing muscle tension to the neck and base of the skull. While this does not deal with the underlying problem of why the neck muscles are painful it can be very helpful as a treatment.

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This post shows us a treatment to the upper neck for headache pain. To keep the treatment safe we identify and avoid important structures.

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Following any dry needling treatment it is important to keep the muscles and area moving. Self massage can be helpful to the area. Soreness can occur but should not last more than a few hours. Contact your practitioner if your soreness lasts more than 12 hours.

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This post shows how to use a Theracane for neck and tension between your shoulders. Self massage as well as mobilizing your joints is possible with a Theracane.

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Ever have eye strain and fatigue? Headache pain that feels like this is from your eyes? Here is a video that shows how your eye muscles and nerves can be affected and causing headache pain and even dizziness.

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This post shows us how we test to see if there is an ocular or eye muscle problem using convergence or 'crossing our eyes'. Both eyes need to work together and this test will tell us if this is happening or if there is a problem.

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Here is a post on testing for headache pain. We have included a simple test that you can do for yourself and a video on testing of the neck and how it can cause headache and migraine pain.

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This session talks about how we test the eye muscles for trigger points or knots and the nerves that work the muscles of the eye. Headache and eye pain can be related to this finding and testing the eye muscles is important in determining the cause of headaches.

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Relax the Back shows us different options for sleeping on our back to reduce tension. Reducing back tension and pain is easier than we think.

Relax the Back shows us the difference between memory foam and gel for current mattress types.

This video shows an evaluation, treatment and re-evaluation with imaging of a gentleman suffering from vertigo or BPPV.

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This video shows our process in treating a common muscle trigger point using dry needling and electrical stimulation or TENS to enhance the effect.

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A forward head posture is common with headache pain. A great exercise to help reduce tension and muscle guarding is nodding. This post includes a video on 'how to' treat headache pain through daily exercise.

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Dry needling can be a very safe treatment option in the hands of a skilled practitioner. While complications are rare lung punctures and other injuries do occur. Here is a video of a real patient and dry needling treatment using imaging to improve safety.

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Have you ever been diagnosed with Ocular Migraines? What if there was a reason for the headaches and visual disturbances and treatment was possible? Here is a young woman's story and her years of headache pain.

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Sometimes headaches can be relieved by neck traction. Here is a video showing how to do this on someone you care about. Remember to go slow and get feedback.

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Here are two muscles that are common with headaches, the temporalis and the superior oblique. This video shows how to massage these muscles to reduce tension and headache pain.

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This is how we test the neck when looking for a cause of headache pain. The upper portion of the neck, or the upper cervical spine, is a common source of headache pain. Testing the atlas and axis and how it moves not only gives us information on movement and pain but also a guide for treatment success.

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Chronic ear pressure, plugging and even pain can come from a Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. This condition is most common with a neck or cervical problem. Other symptoms include tinnitus or ringing, headaches, and neck pain and stiffness. Here are two people sharing their story.

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What is the cause of ear pressure, plugging and pain? This video explains an Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and the causes. Most ear pressure issues that are persistent are because of muscle tension to the neck and throat.

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Neutral spinal posture or a relaxed posture for your spine can be achieved in a zero gravity chair.

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Here is a step by step video on the left Epley maneuver.

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If you are suffering from vertigo or dizziness one type of vertigo can be related to the movement of crystals in our inner ear. This is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. This type of dizziness feels like the room is spinning.

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This video reviews the different tests to check for vertigo or BPPV. The most sensitive and currently best test is video oculography. A correct diagnosis of BPPV improves the success of treatment.

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What if what you thought were migraines had a treatable cause? What we commonly describe as migraine pain may have a source. It is through finding the source of your head pain that treatment options become a reality. Here is a story of a young woman's journey with constant headache pain and ocular migraines.

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This video is about the process in picking the right pillow for you. For side sleeping remember to 'fill the holes' and keep the spine straight with enough support. If you have tried 2 or 3 pillows and your neck pain or headache pain continues then the problem is not your pillow but your neck.

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Is there an alternative to neck manipulation? This video looks into the different treatment options to restore normal neck mobility and resolve pain.

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Here is a video that discusses vertigo or what we call Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

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Dry needling during pregnancy can be a safe way to reduce pain quickly.

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Shoulder pain that is chronic or gets worse with activity is usually the result of changes in how the shoulder moves or a biomechanical problem. Impingement Syndrome or rotator cuff strain are common diagnoses. Restoring normal joint mechanics is the goal of treatment before exercising.

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Have you ever felt dizzy? Have you changed your daily activities because of dizziness? Do you know someone that experiences frequent dizziness? This information is for you.

One form of dizziness is vertigo. This is usually associated with our inner ear or vestibular system and is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. BPPV is an inner ear problem related to loos crystals (Otolith) that are not where they should be.