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Back Attack Day * Focus on squeezing your shoulder blades together with each rep - like you are trying to crack an egg with your back - and hold! Reach out to me if interested in Certified Personal Training sessions, as I'm open to virtual sessions! - Kelly Gregory, CPT (kblonigen99@gmail.com)

Today, medical scientists have located the medicine of the new age, which is medical marijuana. Unluckily, US federal laws prohibit any marijuana deployment, because according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is categorized as a Schedule I drug. Nevertheless, although a lot of attempts on moving marijuana from Schedule I were performed since '72, there's still a huge debate around the plant, which continues to keep it listed in Schedule I. However, fourteen states have legitimated medical marijuana for treatment and almost every city in these states has at least one medical marijuana dispensary. They provide MMJ Cards and medicines. Each marijuana patient should have a Medical Marijuana Card if they want to be taken through Marijuana Treatment. There are many medical marijuana card enrollment companies in these 14 states, which supply good services. But some companies don't provide the promised services and do something like on-phone marijuana card approvals and then just send MMJ Cards to their "patients" via US post. This is incorrect because a good Marijuana Dispensary or registration group has to set a meeting with the physician, who's certified to work in the niche of marijuana treatment and who will review the patient's condition in person and check if a patient qualifies for a marijuana card and following cannabis treatment. If a company or service offers any other medical marijuana card evaluation options, it is a sign that the company is virtually phony. Therefore, if you intend to have successful marijuana treatment, you must make sure to get a marijuana card from a licensed instance. You should know that false MMJ Cards can get people into bad problems, including penalties and arrest. No doubt, you don't want anything like this to happen to you. Therefore, you should follow the regulations and plain guidelines during the process of your application for a marijuana card. Marijuana treatment is efficient, without a doubt, and it is confirmed to supply great results in patients with cancer, glaucoma, anorexia, HIV, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, migraines, loss of appetite, and disseminated sclerosis, among others. It isn't that hard to qualify for MMJ Cards when there's a real need for marijuana. Once you meet with your doctor and will then discuss your condition with the doctor, you will most probably be taken through a medical inspection, and the result will depend on the doctor's opinion. However, you will need to bring your medical files with you, so that the doctor could see a comprehensive picture of your medical condition of yours. Although cannabis treatment is allowed in fourteen states, they are still under the federal law of the USA, which means they won't give out MMJ cards to all comers. Your medicinal condition must be among the conditions classified in the marijuana law of your state. Your local department of health will provide you with information on these. As well, you can as for the data about your Marijuana Dispensary or marijuana card service you intend to go to and check if they have the MMJ Cards certificate, which permits them to provide services in this particular area. These are basic and simple guidelines that you want to follow to get a true Medical Marijuana Card and then be taken through effective marijuana treatment. If you don't want to have any offenses on your record, you won't neglect their significance.

Muscle Diseases refer to all pathological, neurological, and metabolic conditions that affect the functioning of human muscles. There are many ways of defining and grouping such illnesses. The most common classification includes primary and secondary muscle diseases. The primary group refers to disorders caused by inherent problems in the functioning of the muscles. A good example of such conditions is metabolic myopathies that surface due to the inability of the energy-metabolizing cells of the body to direct sufficient fuel to the muscle fibers. The secondary group of conditions refers to conditions that have another, principal reason of origin which eventually induce muscular problems. This is best exemplified by neurological muscular myopathies that have an origin in the problems of the nervous system. Basics of Neuromuscular Myopathy The skeletal fibers are regarded as the most critical among the many types of muscles in the human body. This is because we perform our voluntary bodily movements via these fibers. Whenever we want to make a voluntary movement, like walking or moving our arms, a nerve signal is sent to the skeletal musculature that acts accordingly. When the conduction of the essential small nerve impulses electrical impulses, from the nerve to the skeletal fibers is impaired and thus, it cannot execute the desired action properly. This is how a neuromuscular myopathy develops. Due to this, the overall activity of the muscles is compromised. The affected patient finds it hard to perform the most basic of movements without feeling cramps, stiffness, or pain. The increased state of inactivity of the musculature makes it weaker, which in turn induces a process of wasting and loss of tone. Understanding Neuromuscular Disorders with an Example The most well-documented example of neuromuscular disorder is that of Muscular Dystrophy or MD. This is a genetic disease that has an inconsistent onset, i.e. it can surface at the time of birth, childhood, or even among young adults. This is a progressive condition which means that the musculature gets increasingly weaker. The voluntary musculature gradually loses more control and the patient develops typical coordination problems such as the inability to move the neck or head in the wanted direction. The movement of the shoulders becomes labored and the upper back, hips, and pelvis might feel cramped. Such patients develop a characteristic abnormality in their gait wherein they might tend to walk on their toes. Simple, coordinated body movements such as climbing the stairs become difficult. There are some variations in the niche of muscular dystrophy. For example, FSH Dystrophy usually tends to affect one side of the body. Understanding Other Types of Muscle Diseases: Congenital Myopathies This refers to disorders present at the time of birth. Such children show distinct, impaired development in their physical and mental growth wherein their motor skills such as the ability to sit or walk are delayed. Such children are prone to have pronounced facial abnormalities. Mitochondrial Myopathies This is an example of metabolic myopathy wherein the muscle tissue is not supplied with the basic energy they need. This is caused by genetic irregularities in the mitochondria of the cells. Mitochondria are the main energy-producing part of the human cell. Due to energy deprivation, there is widespread weakness in the musculature of the patient. Glycogen-related Muscular Myopathy This is another type of metabolic myopathy that is caused by genetic causes. Here, mutations in some genes cause enzymes to irregularly metabolize glycogen/glucose deposits. Established examples of this condition include Cori's disease.

Mitochondrial DNA was unheard of until it was discovered in 1963 that the mitochondria have its own unique, separate DNA make up. It is also referred to as maternal DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing is a genetic test performed to know more about the mother's side of the family. This article will give you an idea of what this is all about and how it is different from nuclear DNA testing. The mtDNA is passed on by the mother to her children (both sons and daughters), but only the female children will be passing the mtDNA to their own offspring. This happens during fertilization where the tail of the father's sperm cell containing the mtDNA is left behind, and only the mother's mtDNA is then passed on to their offspring. Nuclear DNA is a mix of both the mother's and the father's DNA; compared to mtDNA, which is only inherited from the mother. Similar to nuclear DNA testing, mtDNA testing is done by collecting a DNA sample - blood or a cheek swab. For mtDNA, a cheek swab is more preferred by doctors to produce results that are more accurate. An mtDNA test is usually done as a way of establishing a direct family link to the mother's side of the family by an individual. This particular DNA testing is also done to trace an individual's ancestry in relation to the mother's family. It is also done in forensic investigations. In the 1980s, a well-known doctor pioneered the use of mtDNA testing in solving cases where the parents of a child are not known. The mtDNA provided evidence to determine an individual's real mother, or grandmother. During that same time, doctors concluded that since mtDNA is directly passed by the mother to her offspring from generation to generation, even maternal aunts and uncles could be a match to that of the child who has missing parents. One last thing, in addition to ancestry testing, mtDNA testing can be used to find mutations in the mitochondria that could have adverse effects on the development and functions of the body and its systems. Mutations have been observed in common diseases like dementia, diabetes, and kidney failure.

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. The body essentially "tags" its own tissue and begins to destroy it. Many advocate the use of medical marijuana as opposed to traditional treatments in order to treat this debilitating disease. Multiple Sclerosis causes the onset of sudden blindness, weakness in the legs and muscles, extreme fatigue, shock sensations in the face and hands, burning sensations in various parts of the body, muscle pain, poor word recall, bladder failure, sudden muscle jerking, sudden muscle collapse, and organ dysfunction. Immediately after smoking or ingesting marijuana, users describe feeling relaxed and mellow. Marijuana contains four hundred chemicals, the same found in cigarettes, sixty of which are cannabinoids. A cannabinoid is the major active ingredient, and THC is the chemical most often associated with marijuana's effect on the human brain. THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and is the plant's main psychoactive chemical. The concentration of THC and other cannabinoids varies and depends on genetics and processing after the marijuana is harvested. As a multiple sclerosis patient, it begs the question; Why would you want to use a substance that affects muscle coordination, and short-term memory, raises levels of anxiety, and increases heart rate when the disease already does that? THC mimics, blocks, and interferes with normal brain function. There are three cannabinoid receptors in the brain; the basal ganglia, the hippocampus, and the cerebellum. The basal ganglia are responsible for unconscious muscle movement, the cerebellum controls coordination, and the hippocampus is responsible for the recollection of events and short-term memory. When marijuana is ingested or eaten, the stomach breaks it down, and the blood absorbs it carrying it to the liver, and the rest of the body. Although THC levels are lower, the effects last longer. Marijuana has been around for thousands of years and is believed to be a native plant of India where it originated in a region in the North Himalayan Mountains. The resin of the cannabis flower produces a much more potent product called Hashish which may be helpful in the treatment of pain caused by the onset of cancer and other debilitating diseases since Morphine is the first line of defense in making the patient comfortable and the pain bearable. The bottom line is that, although medical marijuana has been proven effective in other medical arenas, it should not be considered an effective treatment or a reasonable drug to be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Stem cells (SCs) have the ability to develop into many other types of cells. Totipotent cells known as blastomeres have the additional ability to develop into an individual organism. Pluripotent cells can develop into any kind of cell. Multipotent cells can develop into a variety of cells in a given lineage such as connective tissue cells or epithelial cells. Pluripotent cells include embryonic stem cells, certain cells isolated from umbilical cord blood, and adult stem cells which are found in bone marrow, the brain, and other locations. Overall, SCs may be able to provide replacement tissue for the treatment of many life-threatening diseases. Specialized cells and tissues derived from SCs may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, research on SCs may lead to the ability to grow organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, and pancreas. These brand-new organs would be used for transplantation, solving the ongoing severe shortages of suitable available replacements. Ultimately it may be possible to grow organs from stem cells derived from a person's own somatic cells (such as a skin cell). A skin cell would be reprogrammed to become an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell), and the iPS cell would be directed to become a kidney, liver, or whatever organ was needed. The astounding benefit of being able to use iPS cells is that the donor and the recipient are the same person. The organ created is an automatic immunologic match, thus avoiding the need for immunosuppressive drugs. Treatment of a child with leukemia would no longer require a time-consuming and possibly fruitless search for a bone marrow donor. Those requiring a new kidney or new lung could provide skin cells that would be directed to grow the needed organ. Replacement parts would no longer be sought from parents, siblings, or first cousins. Graft-versus-host disease, which has the potential to kill the recipient, would be eliminated by using the patient's own tissue to create the transplant. SC research will also lead to new developments in gene therapy for conditions such as muscular dystrophy and Huntington's disease. At present, a significant roadblock to successful gene therapy is the mechanism of delivery of the replacement genes. Early approaches packaged the replacement genes into viruses, using the viral particles as the delivery vector. The field of gene therapy effectively came to a sudden halt in 1999 when a teenager died as a result of being treated with such a viral vector. Insertion of replacement genes in stem cells derived from the patient will eliminate the possibility of such harm. Stem cells have been used in the successful treatment of chronic disease, slowing of the aging process, organ transplantation, and improved methods of treating severe injuries. Stem cell research and the possibility of regenerative medicine are pointing the way toward improved health and well-being for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Many practical roadblocks remain and there are many grand challenges in this brand-new field. The key is to make possible ongoing research.

The science behind stem cells What sets stem cells (SCs) apart from other cells is their ability to turn into any other type of tissue in the body. A stem cell from the bone marrow, for example, can be transformed into a neuron or nerve cell in the brain. Types of stem cells: Embryonic stem cells versus Adult stem cells Broadly, there are two types of stem cells in humans - embryonic and non-embryonic. Embryonic stem cells (ESC), as the name suggests, are isolated from the inner cell mass of an early-stage embryo (4-5 days post fertilization, and consisting of 50-150 cells). On the other hand, non-embryonic stem cells which are also known as adult stem cells (ASCs) are found in adult tissues. ESCs are pluripotent as opposed to ASCs which are multipotent. What this means is that ESCs can differentiate into any of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body (to be able to give rise to any mature cell type) while ASCs can only form a limited number of cell types (closely related family of cells). Utility of stem cells The importance of stem cells lies in the fact that they can be converted into any type of other cells or tissues in the body - neurons, pancreatic tissue, heart muscle cells, etc. So, for example, stem cells harvested from your bone marrow can be used to repair the damage in your heart muscle caused during a heart attack or to correct blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia (anemia) through transfusions of stem cells. SC therapy is believed to have the potential to dramatically change the treatment of human disease. Embryonic stem (ES) cell therapies have been proposed for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease. But, it should be noted at this point that ESC therapies are not in use yet. They are still only in the stage where medical researchers are testing them on animals. On the other hand, ASCs have been successfully used to treat leukemia (leukemia) and related bone/blood cancers utilizing bone marrow transplants. The controversy The controversy behind SC research pertains only to human ESC research and not all stem cell research. What is controversial is the fact that the source of the research material, human embryos, is destroyed in the process of harvesting the SCs. Pro-life activists oppose the research arguing that a human embryo is a human life that is entitled to protection. Another area of controversy is that ESC technologies are a slippery slope that may lead to reproductive cloning which may devalue human life. The production of ASCs, on the other hand, does not require the destruction of an embryo and therefore, ASC research and therapy are not as controversial. Though, ASC treatment does carry a risk of rejection by the body's immune system. The present state of stem cell research Some countries offer treatments using SCs (read about medical tourism) but in such therapies, only ASCs derived from the patient's body are used (autograft). When possible, autografts are preferred as they remove the risk of rejection by the recipient's body. There is promising research ongoing in the field of SCs to derive treatments for a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, lung disease, arthritis, organ failure, and muscle damage, amongst several other impairments and conditions. The future The ultimate question on the minds of many is - "Why can't we simply use adult stem cells instead of harvesting embryonic stem cells?" Theoretically, ESCs are considered better because they work as a biological blank slate and are the most versatile of all SCs whereas ASCs are sort of semi-specialized cells and are not as versatile as ESCs. Though the field of ASCs is not marred by controversies, the problem with them is also that they are often present only in minute quantities, are difficult to isolate and purify, and their numbers may decrease with age, according to a primer by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative disease that affects the neurons in the body. Although rare, there are around 20,000 people in the US currently suffering from this disease, and around 5,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It has been seen that people between the ages of 40 and 60 years are susceptible to Lou Gehrig's, but even young people can be diagnosed with it. The symptoms in the early stages of the disease include numbness in the arms and legs, pain in the muscles, muscular fatigue, and twitching of the muscles. A person suffering from this disease will find it difficult to lift or pull objects due to the weakening of the muscles. Even mundane tasks like washing or dressing can be difficult. As the motor neurons degenerate, the person is unable to move his or her arms. The person may also begin losing strength in the muscles of the legs which causes problems while walking, falling, and tripping. As the leg muscles are unable to support the weight of the person, it is quite common for people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to have frequent loss of balance. In addition, it has been seen that people suffering from this disease are unable to keep a check on their emotions and may end up laughing or crying excessively. In the later stages of the disease, all the above symptoms are present along with slurring of speech. As the disease progresses, the person will find it difficult to chew and swallow food and drinks. Also, there is a loss of control over voluntary movements and this may cause the person to be bound to a wheelchair. As the weakness of the muscles progresses toward the chest, it affects the respiratory muscles leading to shallow breathing. However, this is also the last stage of the disease as once the effect on the respiratory muscles worsens, the person will be put on a ventilator and this means that death is imminent. Usually, people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis tend to ignore the early symptoms of the disease. Hence, most diagnoses are made when the disease has progressed. Some of the diagnostic tools used to make a diagnosis include an electromyogram, nerve conduction velocity test, extracting the spinal fluid and analyzing it, MRI scans, X-rays, blood tests, urine tests, and biopsy of the affected muscle. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. However, getting early treatment for the disease can help to improve the quality of life of the person.

The American Medical Association, which is the largest doctors' organization in the USA, has reconsidered its position towards marijuana and currently supports exploration and medical research on marijuana for medicinal use. On Tuesday, the group has persuaded the federal government to re-evaluate its controlled substance categorization of marijuana in Schedule I, which unfairly maligns the plant alongside with some of the most hazardous narcotic substances, such as LSD and heroin. AMA officer of the board, Dr. Edward Langston specifies that just the least number of controlled, casual tests have ever been maintained on ingested marijuana in spite of medical research by marijuana doctors and other experts, which encompasses more than thirty years. As for now, the group encourages new research on marijuana's effectiveness in spite of its support for the classification of marijuana as Schedule I, since 1997, because more and more marijuana doctors appear over time. During the Obama administration, federal narcotics agents were ordered to stop prosecuting people who use and distribute marijuana (including medical marijuana doctors) in the states that have legalized it, which indicated an alteration of the course from past administrations' stringent opposition to the use of medical marijuana, even for people that have marijuana cards in the states that have legalized the plant for medical use. At the moment, fourteen states lawfully permit the use of medical marijuana and around twelve other states have started to think about doing so. The American Medical Association is interested in a study, which takes into account alternative methods of using marijuana, apart from therapeutically smoking it. Lawyers for medical marijuana speak about other helpful modes of medical marijuana use, involving THC-rich cannabis oil extraction, which is claimed to be able to heal cancer patients. Today, no one is persecuted for the use of cannabis if a legal medical marijuana card is present. The reaction of the federal government to the AMA's stance has been pretty silent in spite of loosened federal prosecution of medical marijuana use and medical marijuana clinic workers. DEA - the Drug Enforcement Administration - repeated the status of marijuana as a Schedule I substance and the FDA - Food and Drug Administration - refused to give any commentaries on the situation. The American Medical Association was one of the sole groups to object to the first federal limitation on cannabis, which was established back in 1937. It still persists to decline the casual idea that marijuana is a myth, in spite of its past support of Schedule I narcotic classification. The organization even objected to an offered amendment, which would have settled its managerial policies in resistance to ingested marijuana as a safe way of use for marijuana treatment. In fact, almost any marijuana clinic provides edible products of medical marijuana for patients with marijuana cards. Marijuana support groups are joyous about the new stance of the AMA and the extending change of attitude towards marijuana and everything related to it - marijuana doctors, marijuana clinics, etc. While the federal administration still resists marijuana legalization, referring to the FDA's consideration in objection to its secure use as medicine, the popular belief persists to change in favor of further study and medical use of marijuana. Last year, the second largest doctor group, the American College of Physicians has uttered similar support for improved research and reassessment of marijuana. Also, the California Medical Association passed its own opinions that referred to marijuana criminalization as a "failed public health policy."