October 5, 2009
By Anthony Ohm
The negative effects of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss due to aging can be reversed or held off from rapid acceleration by using the techniques developed by Aaron Mattes’ Active Isolated Stretching (AIS). Virtually every person afflicted with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or age-related memory loss has muscular rigidity in the neck. Although, researchers are unsure why this happens in Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, rigidity of the neck muscles interferes in the circulation of blood to the brain. While Active Isolated Stretching treatment is not a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, it is very effective in reversing many of the negative effects of the disease.
According to Carol Turkington, author of The Encyclopedia Of Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s is caused by a degeneration of brain cells which results in those cells being unable to communicate with one another and eventually dying off. Scientists are unsure what triggers brain cell degeneration typically found in Alzheimer’s patients.
What is known, is that brain cells need nutrients and oxygen to function properly. Through blood circulation, the brain receives necessary nutrients and oxygen. If the brain does not receive adequate blood circulation, then cognitive abilities of the brain can decline: memory decreases, concentration falls off, decision-making is impaired. Why? Because the brain is lacking fuel. There are other factors for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, namely, the presence of plaques, tangles, and inflammation in the brain. These factors may or may not be affected by Active Isolated Stretching.
Nonetheless, muscular rigidity is another characteristic that aggravates mental function in dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. And this aspect can be helped through Active Isolated Stretching.
The neck muscles lie above the arteries that bring blood flow to the brain. The principal pathway of circulation to the brain are the carotid and vertebral arteries. The carotid artery delivers the majority of blood flow to the brain. And the carotid artery is directly underneath a major neck muscle: the sternocleidomastoid. A shortened sternocleidomastoid neck muscle is likely to be inflamed. Inflammation and shortness of this muscle can place pressure onto the carotid artery, potentially limiting circulation from reaching the brain.
Another critical muscle group to correct are the scalene muscles of the neck. As the scalenes become inflexible, the head is pulled forward and the jaw drops downward. Circulation to the brain is upward travel through the arteries. If postural problems cause the head to jut forward, then the pathway (the artery) may also be contorted which impairs circulation.
While muscular rigidity of the neck is characteristic of Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers, a person over fifty-five years of age may notice memory loss and not be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s. This person’s memory may only be affected by neck muscle rigidity causing a reduction of “fuel to the brain.”
Most life activities encourage us to pull our shoulders and necks forward. Computer work, for example, encourages us to jut our heads forward. Furthermore, the aging process causes muscles to become inflexible. Active Isolated Stretching treatment can unwind these muscular restrictions that are impeding mental processes.
As Alzheimer’s and dementia problems begin for one person, that person’s entire family is affected. Family members begin considering hiring an in-home caregiver or changing their schedule to provide supervision for their afflicted. This can lead to sending an elderly person to a supervised day care facility and in later stages, sending that person to a nursing home. According to Joy Glenner, author of When Your Loved One Has Dementia, more than 50% of nursing home admissions are due to Alzheimer’s disease. Active Isolated Stretching can help put a halt to this downward spiral. Individuals that receive treatment may regain or improve upon much of their lost mental cognition. Mood swings and irritability may decrease as the brain receives more nutrients and oxygen. Rather than letting a person continually slip into mental decline and depression, Active Isolated Stretching offers hope to return to independence. To take back what has been lost. This is the greatness of Active Isolated Stretching: a return to life.
—————————————-
Active Isolated Stretching (AIS): The Mattes Method is a type of flexibility training with therapeutic benefits to a broad scope of people.
Benefits of AIS can be applied to three categories:
Highly beneficial for all physical ailments, including: back, neck, shoulder, foot, etc.
More specifically: herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc, sciatica, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, bunions, frozen shoulder, bursitis, arthritis, tendonitis, kyphosis (dowager’s hump), temporomandibular jaw dysfunction (TMJ), migraines/headaches, bunions, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, nerve pain.
Highly beneficial for neuromuscular diseases and disorders, including: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia, memory loss, complications from stroke, multiple sclerosis (ms), spinal cord injuries, paralysis, cerebral palsy.
Highly beneficial for athletes, including: athletes of all ages and abilities; anyone interested in improving health, weight loss, or sports performance.
Anthony Ohm is an advanced practitioner of Active Isolated Stretching & Strengthening.
He has studied over 460 hours directly with the developer of AIS, Aaron Mattes.
Many people in California may be unfamiliar with Active Isolated Stretching. Study with Aaron Mattes requires traveling to Mr. Mattes clinic in Sarasota, Florida. The long distance from California means that there are only a few AIS practitioners in Los Angeles county. Furthermore, Aaron Mattes has avoided large scale publicity. He was invited on Oprah Winfrey’s show three times, and each time Aaron Mattes declined the invitation. He felt that such large scale publicity would result in an overload of clients seeking him specifically for treatment.
Contact Oasis to schedule an appointment with Anthony Ohm: 310-454-5855
