On Air: Dr. Brian Paris Shares Dangers of Sitting

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“Sitting is the new smoking,” Dr. Brian Paris tells News Channel 8’s Larry Smith on Good Morning Washington. A sedentary lifestyle causes a host of problems which include digestive issues, diabetes and obesity. Sitting too much is even linked with an increased likelihood of developing cancer. It may seem like an unavoidable challenge for people whose jobs involve sitting at a desk all day, but Dr. Paris shares how easy it is to overcome a sedentary lifestyle.

The first recommendation Dr. Paris makes is for a wobble chair that allows your whole body to move around while your feet stay firmly planted on the ground. This allows you to exercise your back, legs and abdominal area. Larry Smith even takes a seat, demonstrating the wobble chair himself. Another useful tool is a regular desk that has the ability to transform into a standing desk, so you can switch between sitting and standing.

To avoid sitting too much without buying new equipment, Dr. Paris discloses his personal strategy for making a sedentary routine active. Dr. Paris suggests that for every 25 minutes of time spent working, five minutes should be spent moving around. It can be as simple as getting a drink of water or stretching right at the side of your desk.

 

Andrew Bloch Talks RPT™ with Sweat RX

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Sweat RX Magazine sits down with Advanced Wellness Systems co-owner Andrew Bloch to discuss how his unique pain-relief technique, Reflexive Pattern Therapy™, helped the 12 Labours CrossFit team make it all the way to the 2015 CrossFit World Games.

New to many, RPT™ is a pain relief treatment that uses reflexes as a tool to correct patterns in the autonomous nervous system, Bloch explains to Sweat RX. The technique delivers fast, pressurized contact movements to problem areas, evoking a reflex that provides immediate pain relief.

But Bloch isn’t the only proponent of Reflexive Pattern Therapy™, Sweat RX learns. CrossFit competitor, Teresa Luz believes she never would have made it to the 2015 CrossFit Games if it wasn’t for RPT™. After pulling a ligament in her lower back while performing a deadlift at the Crossfit Atlanta regionals, Teresa found herself in excruciating pain. And with the Crossfit Games just 6 weeks away, Teresa was in a tight spot.

That was, until she found RPT™. After the first session, Teresa’s mobility improved by 60-70% and with continued treatment, she was able to compete with her team in the Crossfit Games and even made it to the World Games. Teresa’s recovery was one of many remarkable comebacks thanks to RPT™, and was even featured in The Washington Post.

Intrigued by Teresa’s story, the Sweat RX interviewer hopped on the table to give RPT™ a try himself. Just like Teresa, he was relieved of his troublesome pain almost immediately.

On Air: RPT™ Strikes Again, Literally

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Slapping pain away might sound contradictory, but Reflexive Pattern Therapy™ is a treatment that does just that. On Good Morning Washington, NewsChannel 8 reporter Eileen Whelan takes a closer look at the one-of-a-kind treatment with RPT™ creator Andrew Bloch, who uses gentle slapping, smacking and prodding to relieve chronic pain.

Whelan describes RPT™ as “a breakthrough treatment for pain” and watches as Andrew treats one of his clients, former NCAA basketball player Jon Larranaga. Before meeting Bloch and discovering RPT™, Larranaga suffered from chronic hip pain for a dozen years. Larranaga tells Whelan that “after seeing Andy for really the first treatment, the pain went away.” He goes on to describe RPT™ saying, “It looks weird, it sounds weird, but it works.”

Bloch tells Whelan about how the unusual treatment works and makes such a big difference. Bloch says “I discovered these involuntary pain patterns in the body, and once I treat them I kind of reset the neurological system, almost like a computer or phone. Once you reset that, the pain is relieved almost immediately.” Essentially, RPT™ is a fascinating solution for anyone who wants pain relief to be as easy as pressing a button. Of course, pressing that button might mean taking a little bit of light smacking.

On air, Whelan is so intrigued by RPT™ ,that she decides to test it out herself. After experiencing the full RPT™ treatment, Whelan is shocked by how well it works. Watch the video below:

Rave Reviews for RPT™ in The Post

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“The unconventional method relieves pain in minutes,” according to The Washington Post reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel in an exclusive and in-depth look at Reflexive Pattern Therapy™ and creator Andrew Bloch. Douglas-Gabriel even tried the “slapping” treatment for herself and reports it resulted in immediate relief for her pesky lower back pain.

The Washington Post gets a first-hand account of how RPT™, a combination of physical therapy and acupuncture minus the needles, came to the rescue for 12 Labours CrossFit Columbia team member Teresa Luz. During the CrossFit Games regionals in Atlanta, she suffered what could’ve been a competition-ending injury if it wasn’t for Andrew Bloch, owner and physical therapist at Advanced Wellness Systems, and his breakthrough technique. “It was a storybook ending to the whole experience,” describes Teresa.

Read The Washington Post exclusive to see what happened to Teresa and 12 Labours, and how RPT™ treats even the most excruciating chronic pain.

RPT™ is covered by most insurance and can only be found at Advanced Wellness Systems.

ABC2 is “In Focus” with Breakthrough RPT™ Treatment

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The news media can’t get enough of Reflexive Pattern Therapy™ (RPT™) and its creator Andrew Bloch of Advanced Wellness Systems. The latest coverage, just out about the one-of-a-kind pain treatment: a comprehensive “IN FOCUS” report from ABC2 News in Baltimore. Reporter Trang Do even tries RPT™ herself, and gets a third-party chiropractor to give the treatment a thumbs up.  

On air, Do reports on the unique RPT™ process, which, when you first see it, looks like mild slapping and hitting. The treatment is fascinating to watch. Derived from Eastern and Western medicine, Bloch’s technique allows him to identify involuntary patterns in a patient’s movement and detect pain. The so-called “slapping and hitting” allows him to essentially reset the body and deliver fast results.

“When you have problems with your phone, what do you do? You want to reset it,” says Bloch. “You just reset it almost like a default button. It’s the same thing I’m doing with the body. I’m basically resetting the nervous system and when you reset it, amazing things happen.”

RPT™ has incredible results for Bloch’s patients. In the story, 12 Labours CrossFit Columbia competitor Teresa Luz discusses her treatment for a back injury during a critical competition. After RPT™, Luz was able to compete pain free, and the team qualified for the national competition.

RPT™ also helps patients with chronic pain like Billy Hunter, who suffers from arthritis. While Hunter was initially a skeptic, he’s now a believer after a few RPT™ treatments. “It sounds very strange,” says Hunter, “But it works! And that’s the important thing. It works and I’m out of pain.”

Do tried RPT™ herself and reports the treatment does not hurt at all. While she doesn’t suffer from any chronic pain, Bloch was able to identify tender spots she hadn’t noticed. After treatment, Do says her tenderness went away instantly.

GMW: Dr. Brian Paris Shares Natural Ways to Stay Energized

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Energy Crisis

More than half of American adults drink at least three cups of coffee a day. While most of us need a cup of Joe to start the day, Dr. Brian Paris of Advanced Wellness Systems says too much caffeine has its downfalls. On air with Good Morning Washington anchor Larry Smith, Dr. Paris shares natural ways to stay energized throughout the day without $5 lattes and miniature energy shots.

“We have an energy crisis,” warns Dr. Paris. Society’s chronic fatigue triggered by stress, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition is causing dependency on short-lived and unhealthy “pick me ups.”

Surprisingly, coffee, in moderation, isn’t as bad as you think. Because coffee is natural, its antioxidants and amino acids can fight conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. However, caffeinated sodas, energy drinks and coffee-based beverages (like those syrup-ladened iced coffees) lead to dehydration, sleep deprivation and irritability, because they’re loaded with refined sugars and preservatives.

Dr. Paris recommends substituting less caffeinated drinks and healthy foods for coffee for natural energy. If you must have a little caffeine in your system, particularly when you want to linearize your thoughts while completing tasks, turn to herbal teas and drinks Yerba mate that are less acidic. Super foods likes apples, avocados, apples, chia seeds, kale and strawberries provide a natural boost of energy too.

GMW: Dr. Brian Paris Shows How to Wear a Backpack

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Imagine hauling around a microwave. It’s no different than what students carry in their backpacks every day, according to Dr. Brian Paris. Backpacks filled with textbooks, gadgets and supplies are literally weighing students down. Nearly 22,000 U.S. students are treated for backpack strains, sprains, dislocations and fractures every year. Dr. Paris demonstrates the right way to wear a backpack on NewsChannel 8’s Good Morning Washington.

Dr. Paris says students shouldn’t carry more than 10 percent of their body weight. However, elementary and middle schoolers are carrying as much as 30 pounds every day. Dr. Paris sees more backpack-related injuries than hockey injuries at his office, Advanced Wellness Systems in Rockville and Columbia.

At the top of Dr. Paris’ list of recommendations for avoiding backpack injuries is better organization and strategy. Only bring the books and materials you need and take advantage of assignments available online. In addition to packing light and distributing weight evenly, lift with your knees and carry backpacks above the hips. If your backpack has a sternum strap and hip belt, use them!

Watch Dr. Paris’ backpack tips live on NewsChannel 8 above just in time for Backpack Safety Day on September 16.

GMW: Dr. Brian Paris’s Ways to Prevent Vacation Injury

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Summer vacation is a time for relaxation and rejuvenation, but millions of Americans suffer from or worsen neck and back pain while having fun in the sun. Dr. Brian Paris of Advanced Wellness Systems sits down with anchor Autria Godfrey to discuss the surge in summertime injuries and tips for preventing vacation injury on NewsChannel 8’s Good Morning Washington.

Without fail, Dr. Paris sees an uptick in visits from patients who come back from trips in pain every summer. He attributes the increase in seasonal injuries to people going on vacation and doing what they don’t normally do, whether it be participating in extreme sports, a poor diet, heavy lifting or extended periods of sitting.

In the video above, Dr. Paris shares some tips to help your next summer getaway safely and smoothly:

  1. When traveling by car, sit upright in the driver’s seat with your hands at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock.

  2. Get up and move every two to three hours during long car and plane rides.

  3. Pack lighter to lessen the strain on your back and joints.

  4. When lifting luggage, use your legs and knees instead of back.

  5. Stay hydrated to keep your muscles from stiffening.

  6. Prepare your body for extreme recreation such as rock climbing and kayaking.

  7. “Work in” instead of workout by focusing on activities that rest and recharge the body–reading, walking and yoga.

For more summer travel wellness tips, click here.

 

ABC 7: Using Physical Therapy to Cope with Chronic Lyme Disease

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Lyme Disease is on the rise, putting health officials on high alert. The infectious disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of a tiny deer tick. It starts off as a bulls-eye rash for some, but other early symptoms include fever, headache, and tiredness, The scariest symptom however, is that the disease often goes undiagnosed.

This was the case for Kathy Fowler Silverstein, who suffered from the frightening disease for 15 years before finally being properly diagnosed in 2006. She was featured on ABC 7 News to discuss her terrible experience with the debilitating disease. At her worst moments, Kathy felt “extremely fatigued, couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t think” and at times “couldn’t even remember things.”

Now, she manages her illness by receiving physical therapy twice a week from Dr. Brian Paris of Advanced Wellness Systems. The physical therapy from Dr. Paris, combined with eating well and keeping stress-free, has Kathy living a relatively healthy life again.

Every year, about 300,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maryland saw an increase in reported cases from 801 in 2013 to 1,373 in 2014, while Virginia saw a similar rise from 925 to 1,346 cases.

While the reasons for the recent spike in reported Lyme disease cases are relatively unknown, some experts think warmer temperatures are improving tick survival. Others believe that improved awareness has led to more diagnoses.

If you find a tick on your body, save it in a bag or container so that it can be tested for Lyme disease. The tests to see if the tick has the disease are much more accurate than the tests to see if the disease has been transmitted to you.