3 Simple Steps to Avoid Drowning in Liquid Calories
By Dr. Leslie Van Romer and Dr. Narinder Duggal

For all the counting, measuring, weighing, fussing and fretting most Americans do to watch calories, we often allow liquid calories to sneak in. Almost one-quarter of the calories Americans consume come from beverages. Shockingly, sodas and other sweet drinks are the single-largest calorie contributors to the American diet and to America's ballooning waistline. By simply making better beverage choices, you can boost health and shed layers! Here are simple steps to reduce empty liquid calories -- starting as soon as your next smart sip.

1. Ask yourself: 'What am I drinking now?'
For seven consecutive days, write down every drink you consume, how many ounces (approximately) and the calorie count. Look at the label or go online if you have to. At the end of the week, calculate your grand total of liquid calories. Eye-opening, isn't it?

For example, a Starbucks grande (16 oz.), nonfat, cafe latte has 160 calories. If you order that with whole milk, it adds up to 270 calories. One latte a day tallies to 1,120 calories a week. Yikes! That's almost a whole extra day of calories you're getting in one week (eight days of calories in just seven days) -- just from that one drink! (To read the complete article, please see the August/September 2008 issue of Dance San Diego.)

Advanced Healing with BioLaser Therapy
By Jane Blount

Dancers put their blood and sweat into their careers in an effort to refine the physical intelligence of their bodies in service of the dance. And at times, we're driven to push our bodies beyond their capabilities, sometimes acquiring injuries that can compromise our livelihood. I shed many tears when the pain in my body asked me to look for another way to be engaged in this dance world I love.

In January 2007, I was at a turning point in my career, moving away from my identity as a professional dancer and dance educator, in part because of osteoarthritis in my right hip. The pain and associated tension in the joint and surrounding musculature made it difficult to maintain the high level of physical conditioning dance and performance require. At its worst, my adductors would go into spasm, a gasp-inducing instant 9 on the 0-10 pain scale. I would have to breathe patiently, enter into a meditative state of mindfulness, call upon my studies of the Alexander Technique and invite the intelligence in my body to gently guide the spasming muscles in my leg into release. While the spasms always eventually did subside, the threat of it coming on was never far from my awareness. (To read the complete article, please see the August/September 2008 issue of Dance San Diego.)

Dancers' Health Corner: Pointing you in the right direction
By Katherine Ewalt

Note: The Dancers' Health Corner is a regular column for DSD written by Katherine Ewalt from Performing Arts and Athletic Restorative Training Specialists (PAARTS) in San Diego. The column presents information and/or advice about dance-related injury and injury prevention. The information is provided as a resource and should not be used to self diagnose or treat. Dancers who experience ongoing pain should seek the advice of a physician or clinician to avoid aggravating current symptoms or potentially causing other more-serious injury. Due to legal limitations, no individual diagnosis or treatment plans will be provided through this forum. If you have questions, e-mail them to info@PAARTSsandiego.com.

Q. I am a professional modern dancer and have had trouble with my hip for several years. It feels like it is shifted to the outside and like it pops out of place. I have been treated for this injury numerous times but it has never completely gone away, and I feel like I am no longer able to address this problem in my technique classes. This issue is affecting my dancing, and I think possibly causing other problems. What can this be? -- Jillian Chu

A. The hip joints are of significant importance in the aesthetics of dance as they connect the lower extremities to the torso, allowing the dancer to communicate intent, motion and purpose without actually moving. Due to the nature of dance activity and the use of the turn-out position, as seen in all forms of dance, it is common for dancers to develop muscular imbalances, including tightness and/or weakness in the anterior (front), lateral (outer), and posterior (back) thigh and hip muscles. (To read the complete article, please see the August/September 2008 issue of Dance San Diego.)

Fold & Hold: A 90-second guide to relieve muscle aches and pains
By Dr. Dale L. Anderson

He was a strong, energetic, active young man. But now, suddenly, he was suffering from agonizing pain! So much right lower back pain that he stood bent forward and stooped to the right. He was unable to stand or walk erect. His friends said he looked like a "little old man." Also, he was sleeping poorly at night. He awoke often in search of a comfortable position. Usually, by bringing the right knee to his chest, the pain improved and he could doze off again.

He endured the discomfort for several months. Heat, ice, liniment, shoe-inserts, pain-medication and healthcare practitioner adjustments brought only temporary relief. After sleepless nights and painful days, his energy was down at work and so was his productivity. Life was a pain! And then, suddenly, the pain was gone! The young man announced this "miracle" to his friends. He celebrated, saying, "One night, I curled up, slept like a baby through the night and my pain was gone when I woke up!" Sound familiar? (To read the complete article, please see the August/September 2008 issue of Dance San Diego.)