It is funny to remember when NLP (Neuro-Linguistic-Programming) became famous in the early 80’s that people were shocked to hear behaviour and personality defined as programs. It was shocking to compare a human being to a computer!

Today, science is going far beyond this notion. Quantum physics specifically affirms that we can’t be only observers in this world but contributors. This notion changes everything. The universe would not exist without consciousness and our own mind is building reality. Is that hard to believe?

We can’t look at something without influencing it and it seems that we are part of a gigantic Universal computer. Depending on our beliefs, we allow different kinds of events to happen in our lives, exactly like a program allowing you to open some documents. It actually makes perfect sense. Our beliefs are framing the territory of possibilities and if you don’t believe in the magic of life, it does not mean that it does not exist but that you can’t access it.

Our beliefs change our environment and health. The placebo and nocebo effects are well known and obviously important in the way we can either improve or damage our health. What is interesting is that all the double blind studies conducted for new molecules are showing an increase of the placebo effect. It is as if the program for self-healing is getting stronger.

Our beliefs seem to be a major factor in the whole process. If you want to make a presentation and you don’t have Powerpoint on your computer, it is much more difficult. In the same way, without the right beliefs, you cannot access certain levels of reality where, for example, your own inner power can heal you efficiently.

Don’t try to convince someone of anything. If the person does not have the right program, it will be almost impossible to believe you, because the reality of the person does not include this possibility.  The famous St Thomas quote: “I believe what I can see�. Do you see electricity, do you see air, viruses, energy..?

Because we are the architects of our life and environment, our beliefs are creating our life and vice versa. If I see the glass half empty, my life is unfolding according to this belief. So I have every reason to keep believing the same thing and to reject the ‘half full’ notion. In other words, changing beliefs is a gamble and needs strong commitment and faith to succeed.

The only hope, seeing how someone else’s life is different, is for some people to question their beliefs. What is he/she doing differently to obtain this result? Too often the notion of “they’re just lucky� gives an easy reason not to questions your own beliefs and patterns. Exemplarity is the only way to perhaps make people move on from the half empty position.

The only advice that I can give you is to stay as open as you can in order to be able to download more programs allowing you to have a wider range of experiences. And what if the all notion of beliefs and programs is true- do you believe it?

It is all up to you.

This article was written and supplied by Denis Gorce-Bourge of www.gblifecoaching.com

According to Britain’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, up to 60% of sports injuries are caused by worn-out or unsuitable footwear.

Proper footwear can potentially prevent, reduce and/or treat mechanical factors associated with injuries to the lower extremities and the lower back. The foot provides dynamic stability for a person’s entire body weight, while simultaneously maintaining flexibility for shock absorption and propulsion along uneven surfaces. As a result, there are unique biomechanical demands on the foot.

One of the body’s adaptations to these demands is through specialized movements in the foot, such as Pronation. Unless there is a severe, acute injury, pronation develops as a gradual biomechanical distortion. Several factors contribute to developing pronation, including tibialis posterior weakness,  ligament weakness, excess weight, flat feet, knock knees, subtalar aversion, or other biomechanical distortions in the foot or ankle.

Tibialis posterior weakness is one of the primary factors leading to pronation. Pronation primarily is controlled by the architecture of the foot and eccentric activation of the tibialis posterior. If the tibialis posterior is weak, the muscle cannot adequately slow the natural pronation cycle. This can become a contributing factor to lower back pain and lower extremity disorders, such as plantar fasciitis, ankle injuries, foot pain, shin splints as well as various knee and hip injuries.

Back pain due to foot pronation

The inward rotation of the leg that occurs as the foot pronates causes the pelvis to lean forwards (anterior tilt) and drop. This increases the curvature of the lower spine (see picture below) and the muscles become tight and sore. If the foot pronation occurs more in one foot than the other, this will cause the pelvis to become uneven. The leg will become shorter on the more pronated side and the lower spine may tilt in the opposite direction to prevent leaning. As a result, muscles and joints become painful and walking becomes less efficient. Pronation usually is corrected with orthotics, which are especially designed shoe inserts helping to restore the natural position of your foot and/or strengthening exercises for the tibialis posterior.

Here are some strengthening exercises for the Tibialis Posterior:

1. Use a ‘theraband’ or the inner tube of a bicycle-

Place two fingers on the outside of your knee to stop it moving to the side.

Now contract the Tibialis posterior muscle by letting the ankle pull against the rubber tubing, trying to lift the foot arch off the floor by rolling the ankle outwards. Here, it is still only partially raised off the ground.

Note that this is the situation in a healthy, fully functional lower leg and foot. In the situation for an already over strained and insufficient tibialis muscle, the foot arch would not lift even this much.

2. Form foot arch as seen above.

Place the fingers inside of the knee, and encourage the knee to move to the side.

The femur thus laterally rotates to catch up with the lateral rotation in the tibia, and the knee is no longer twisted.

Note how the foot arch fully lifts by combining the twin strategies of contracting the Tibialis posterior muscle and moving the knee laterally.

Also, Deep Tissue Massage treatments can relieve myofascial trigger points in the tibialis posterior, and other muscles, and address any resulting neuromuscular dysfunction in the leg or foot.

Do I need Orthotics?

Many foot symptoms ranging from general aches to painful bone and foot problems such as heel pains, bunions, calluses and knee or back pain, can be caused by collapsed and fallen arches.

Orthotics are especially designed shoe inserts which help to restore the natural position of your foot and realigning the joints within the foot in order to relieve the various symptoms. Left foot is corrected with a casted orthotic.

Do I wear Orthotics all day?

Orthotics, like glasses, work only when you use them. They do not change the structure of a foot, but help realign its joints to improve posture and function and relieve foot pain.

All day use of your orthotics is generally recommended to control or reduce pain or fatigue.

This article was written and provided by Barbara Brunner of www.brunnertraining.com