the rOad less Traveled

I recently researched the neurotransmitter and learned about the basic properties and conditions that be affected when you experience too much or too little serotonin levels. Most people know that serotonin contributes to happiness and well-being, but there are serious side affects when you body produces too much or too little. While one extreme can cause depression or anxiety, the other can cause fever or even seizures. Below is a link to a video of something that I think of when talking about serotonin and the happiness that it can produce.  Hope you enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyCbBR0y58Q

     In the story “Man from the South”, the soldier bet an old man that his lighter would work 10 times in exchange for a Cadillac. He did not know, however, that he would have lost his finger whether he won the bet or lost. Thankfully, the wife stepped in and stopped her husband before he could chop off the soldier’s little finger. Although the soldier said that he wouldn’t miss his little finger because he did not feel like it was necessary, it would have cost him more functionality than he realized.       If the soldier lost the bet, he would lose 50% of his grip strength. Although the little finger may not seem like it has much of a purpose, it is extremely important for grip strength and power. The little finger works with the other fingers to carry out everyday activities and without it, the soldier would have trouble carrying anything weighted. This would not only affect his duties as an American soldier, but his personal activities, such as bru...

     During podcast "How Can Going Bling Give You Vision?", David Linden speaks about how he lost his sight and how perception of vision changed. He originally thought that blindness was the end of any life he could have and he would live the rest of his life alone. However, after working with an occupational therapist, Linden realized that, although vision is useful, it is not necessary to have a fulfilled life. Linden decided to take control of his reality and live his life with eyes wide open. He started holding himself accountable and seeing beyond his fears because they just became excuses, short cuts and surrenders. By stepping into the uncharted terrain and deciding to let his fears go, Linden was able to build a beautiful life with his family by his side. 

         I recently watched a TED talk by Dushaw Hockett, founder and Executive Director of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity and listened to a podcast by Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Both of these advocates spoke on implicit bias and how we need to approach the systematic racism that we have faced in this country for so many years. Implicit bias is a term used to describe the attitudes that we have towards people or the stereotypes we associate towards them without our conscious knowledge.      During Dushaw Hockett's talk, he spoke about the three characteristics that make a bias implicit. The first is that it operates on the subconscious level so we do not know we have the bias. The second characteristic is that it runs contrary to conscious beliefs. For example, a person could consciously say they are wanting to help others while subconsciously doing harm in the...

     Scapulohumeral Rhythm is the relationship of movement between the scapula and the humerus during upper extremity movements.  The clinical relevance of this rhythm is that in order to obtain the full 180 degrees of motion in the shoulder, there must be a synchronized movement between the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joint. The standard ratio of the scapulohumeral rhythm is 2:1. This means that for every 2 degrees the humerus moves in the glenohumeral joint, the scapula moves 1 degree in the scapulothoracic joint. So even though the majority of movement occurs at the glenohumeral joint, without that 1 degree of movement of the scapula, one would not be able to obtain the full range of motion that our shoulders can achieve. The scapulohumeral rhythm also helps in maintaining length tension relationships, meaning that muscles do not shorten as much as they would without the upward rotation of the scapula. This allows the muscles to sustain their force production...