Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Nadine at Xmas

Nadine walked on a walker for 300 feet the other day (on a walker but on her own). Not bad when you consider a short time ago they were happy with one foot step.

Here is some pics from Xmas day.  In one she is learning how to use a cassette player from her grandson. In the second she is using a cell phone to talk to her family. Notice which hand is being used.


Friday, December 24, 2010

The best Xmas present of all- ever!!!

Some news about Nadine in an email from her daughter. For those unfamiliar with Nadine she had a stroke 6 weeks ago and suffer complete left side paralysis. We started working on her 4 weeks ago. Check this blog for further details. Kevin Kunz

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Thanks for forwarding.  I agree with her.  There is now hope for mother's life, not just an existance, in her future. 
 
Mother finally arrived at the acute rehab center about 3:00 yesterday afternoon...
 
Prior to the move yesterday, she successfully took a few steps using a walker, and actually helped in the transfer process from her wheelchair to the transfer van's chair.  Amazing! --- particularly when one remembers her condition a month ago.  In addition, she is regaining memory of her current home, which has significantly reduced her frustration level.  She's coming back "on-line" and for that our family is exceedingly grateful.
 
There is no way to adequately thank you, Barbara and the others who have been instrumental in mother's recovery.  Without the enormous investment of time and hard work that you and Barbara are contributing, I don't believe she would be in the acute rehab center now; she would be facing an existance in a long term care facility, daily living her worst nightmare.
 
Definitely the best Xmas gift of all - ever.  Thank you.
 
--- Dale

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Good News for Nadine!!!

We just received great news about Nadine, our friend who suffered a stroke six weeks ago. She is being "upgraded" to a acute rehab center which means she did very well on her evaluation today. It means that Nadine will get more therapy.

Worked on her yesterday with the intent of giving her the best chance to do well with the evaluation. Hooray I think it worked.

Kevin

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Nadine Took Steps

We just got the phone with Nadine's daughter. Nadine took 4 to 6 steps unaided today while simply holding onto to parallel bars. Dale said she did it a couple of times.

I am getting Dale to send us an email. She was called by the head of the physical therapy department. Dale said the head and the other PT's are extremely excited and talking about past patients that should get a hold of us. They are quite eager to meet us. 

More to come...
All the best,

Barbara and Kevin 

More Nadine News

Good news! I received a call this afternoon from the woman in charge of physical therapy for mother. She reported the following (drum roll, drum roll).

* Mother was able stand, without anyone holding onto her, while she gripped the parallel bars today.

** She was able, while holding the parallel bars, to take 4-6 tiny steps unassisted today! Not only that, but she did it more than once!

Of course, this pleased mother, and the entire physical therapy staff is just overjoyed by her progress (as is her family!!!). Thank you SO MUCH for all the hard work you've put in on helping her get to this point. Without all of your help, she wouldn't have been able to grip the bars or take those steps.

This is definitely a major (no pun intended) step forward

Monday, December 13, 2010

Nadine lifted her left leg

This is latest video on Nadine who suffered a right side stroke 5 weeks ago. We are starting our 3rd week of working on her as of yesterday. This video is from yesterday. She lifted her leg a total of seven times on request.


Kevin Kunz


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Reflexology and Paralysis

More video on Nadine's progress. Notice her holding the handle on her water jug.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Nadine's Left Hand- Reflexology and Paralysis

About a month ago Nadine had a stroke. It paralyzed her left side. Because of all of the shuffling that goes on in these situations we didn't get to her until three weeks later. The family got started with instructions I phoned in. I emphasized focusing on the eye/ear area because of our unique experiences with spinal cord injury.

While we have a lot to say of this subject but pictures speak louder than words. This video was taken at her third session.


When we were working with spinal cord injury we noticed a crossover effect when you applied pressure  to the eye/ear area. This is the key area for paralysis. See http://www.reflexology-research.com/paralysisreport.htm 

The eye/ear area is not an exact mirror image area unlike the rest the reflex areas. It is according to recent functional MRI studies a "polysensory area" which means it involves several senses. Eyesight for example involves more than one sense. And the same area in the brain that lights up in brain imaging is also associated with stroke. 

We would be working on one foot and the hand (quadriplegia) or the foot (paraplegia) would move. We called it the "crossover effect". Interestingly we had more effect on the quadriplegic than the paraplegics. 

It makes me wonder if because the interruption is outside of the spinal cord and in the brain itself if this could explain the quickness of the results.  One week is a really short time for this kind of response. 

How will this hold up with other stroke patients? We don't know. But we are damn well going to find out.

All the best,

Barbara and Kevin 





Friday, December 3, 2010

Free Friday- Free Reflexology Stuff

Free Friday- Reflexology Stuff

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Featured Freebies

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Large Interactive Charts for your Website, blog or Facebook page.

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Specials

Order 250 personalized or plain Charts and get a free copy of Complete Reflexology for Life. Offer ends next Friday (December 10th, 2010) 
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Freebees 




1. Free Iphone/ IPad/ ITouch Reflexology Chart App. Take your reflexology with you.This handy app goes on your IPhone, IPad and Itouch. 


2. Free Interactive Foot and Hand Charts

Done with a design team from Kunz&Kunz and DK these charts are wildly popular and a great teaching tool as well. 


3. Free Widgets

These interactive widgets are free to put on your web site, blog, Facebook page and other social networking sites. 

Foot reflexology widget

Hand Reflexology Widget 

Complete Reflexology for Life- Free Widget with contents of this blog

What Reflexology Research Shows. Free Widget with Reflexology Research Results. 

Yahoo Reflexology Community Forum- Free Reflexology Forum Widget with posts from the members

Nursing and Reflexology Research. Free Widget with Reflexology Research Performed with Nurses

Free Twitter Widget to Follow the Tweets on Kevin Kunz


6. Free Facebook Reflexology Forum- A causal forum on reflexology for anyone to join

Kevin's Facebook page that might as well be a forum. Lively, fast paced and a real treasure trove of information

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving Relief with Reflexology

Golf Ball Rolling

© 2010 Barbara Kunz  
Did you eat too much turkey for Thanksgiving? Or if you are a vegetarian did you eat too much tofu? Try this simple technique to relief that post Thanksgiving bloat. 
Interlace your fingers with a golf ball between your palms. Bring your wrists toward each other to create a little pressure. Now roll the gold ball around the palms of you hands. 

I do it until I start to feel things ease. It is also good for constipation and diarrhea and general indigestion.


Kevin Kunz


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Give the gift of reflexology

Giving the Gift of Health
It’s the time of year for the gift giving challenge. This year consider giving the gift of health. You’ll feel good knowing you’re giving a gift that can be helpful and healthful as well as useable all year long. Reflexology products, reflexology books, and what we’ll call “happy feet”  gifts are appreciated. In addition, reflexology gift possibilites include gifts in a wide range of prices. Also consider the gift of a reflexology session. Your time and hands-on work may be the most appreciated gift of all.

The following includes gifts for all budgets.
Cobblestone mat (reflexology path) $42.50
Foot bath
MediRub Foot Massager
Foot massagers (general)
         Expensive but highly rated
         Cheaper but still highly rated
Wooden foot roller and Porcupine massage ball
Porcupine Massage Ball
Wooden foot roller massager
     Low Cost yet functional. 
     Medium Cost but a little more to it. 
     Higher Cost but damn good looking
Fitter foot roller
Fitter Double foot roller
Yamuna Body Rolling Foot Saver Kit

Acu-Life Massage Sandals

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com 












Monday, November 22, 2010

Forest Bathing- More Than a Walk in the Park

When is taking a walk more than, well, taking a walk? The answer—when it’s done in a forest. At least that’s what research is telling us about forest bathing, immersing oneself in the sensory rich environment of a forest when walking, a popular activity throughout Asia.

For years the Japanese have explored the possibilities of enhancing health while walking in the forest. A name for it, Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing), was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982. And, more recently Japanese researchers have been involved in a project titled the Therapeutic Effects of Forests. One study summarizes the healthful components of forests in terms of the five senses—sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Researchers note, “We have conducted physiological experiments, both in actual forests and in physiological effects on individuals of exposure to the total environment of forests or to only certain elements of this environment, such as the odor of wood, the sound of running stream water, and the scenery of the forest.”

In another study, the researchers compared the stress of walking in a forest with that of walking in a city. Study participant walked in a forest and then a city. Physiological measures of stress were taken after each walk. When the two were compared, forest walking was found to create a more relaxed state: lower concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure. “The results show that forest environments promote lower concentrations of (stress hormone) cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments” 

Results from further studies demonstrate that forest bathing: decreases blood glucose levels; increases the immune system’s human natural killer activity; reduces stress levels; increases relaxation as well as significantly decreases hostility and depression with “liveliness” increased significantly. Physiological measures were utilized to reach the conclusions in all studies.


Barbara Kunz






Friday, November 19, 2010

Ho-Ho-Ho Oh-Oh-Oh Save Your Feet During the Holidays

Here's a quick list of ways to save your feet from the holiday blues.

1. Be aware of your feet. Do not get so caught up in the rush of the season that you forget your poor feet. Stay in tune with how they are feeling and don't over ride them.

2. Take frequent breaks. Feet were not meant to stand or walk on hard surfaces for hours at a time.

3. Wear sensible shoes. Save those stylish shoes for times when you are not doing combat at the malls.

4. Interrupt stress and do it frequently. Try a reflexology session or a massage. A nice session allows your body to relax helps your feet relax as well.

5. Stretch prior to events like shopping or cooking or standing at parties. You don't have to be doing a marathon in order to get the benefit of stretching.

6. Use a trick that waitresses use. Lie on the floor and prop your feet up on a chair or coach. It helps reverse the flow of all that blood that has accumulated in your feet after a long time of standing and/or walking.

7. Break up the pattern of stress by rocking side to side. Stand with your feet about shoulder width wide. Bend your knees and rock side to side across your feet.

8. Just rub them. Really rub them to keep the circulation going. You don't have to be a professional reflexologist to get results. (But hiring one isn't a bad investment.)

9. Buy your feet a treat. A simple foot roller can do wonders and isn't costly.

10. Recruit your family. Even amateur foot-workers can make you feel better.

But above all enjoy your holidays.

Free Reflexology Friday- New Freebies

Free Friday- Reflexology Stuff

***********************************************************************
Featured Freebies

New Widgets and Apps

New app for your Iphone or Android- Definition, research, forums and more


Large Interactive Charts for your Website, blog or Facebook page.

*******************************************************************
Specials

     $29.95- Special $19.95 (one week only)
      $19.95- $9.95 (one week only)
*******************************************************************
Freebees 





1. Free Iphone/ IPad/ ITouch Reflexology Chart App. Take your reflexology with you.This handy app goes on your IPhone, IPad and Itouch. 


Get it here.

2. Free Interactive Foot and Hand Charts

Done with a design team from Kunz&Kunz and DK these charts are wildly popular and a great teaching tool as well. 


3. Free Widgets

These interactive widgets are free to put on your web site, blog, Facebook page and other social networking sites. 

Foot reflexology widget

Hand Reflexology Widget 

Complete Reflexology for Life- Free Widget with contents of this blog

What Reflexology Research Shows. Free Widget with Reflexology Research Results. 

Yahoo Reflexology Community Forum- Free Reflexology Forum Widget with posts from the members

Nursing and Reflexology Research. Free Widget with Reflexology Research Performed with Nurses

Free Twitter Widget to Follow the Tweets on Kevin Kunz


6. Free Facebook Reflexology Forum- A causal forum on reflexology for anyone to join

Kevin's Facebook page that might as well be a forum. Lively, fast paced and a real treasure trove of information