Entries by Mat Boulé

To squat to live

It’s obvious that we cannot predict lifespan. That being said, it doesn’t stop researchers form looking into the issue and spot some markers. A Brazilian doctor developed a specific test that stipulates that, if you flunk the test, your risk of dying in the next five years could increase by five versus if you are […]

Movement and emotions

Italian and Canadian researchers have studied the stress response in teenagers. 150 kids between the ages of 8 and 9 years old were studied. Some already presented with anxiety traits. We studied these children until the age of 14-15 years old. What we found is exciting!  Laura Muzzarelli stipulated that when anxious kids would see […]

The cerebellum: why?

If the cerebral cortex is the brain region that best differentiates us from other species, the cerebellum is the part that is found behind the brain and it is responsible for many important functions:  – Coordination of movement: the cerebellum coordinates muscular activity so that the body can move fluidly. – Balance: it receives data […]

The hip and the knee

When interested in the human body, it is critical to make links! A recent study did just that as it looked at patello-femoral pain in runners and associated it with a lack of mobility at the hip. Individuals were studied for 6 weeks as they were asked to perform muscular strengthening exercises. Some of these individuals had pain and others didn’t. Either we chose for […]

The amygdalae and emotions

We most likely all want to know how to better manage our emotions. According to recent studies, it is possible to have an impact on our amygdalae, these nuclei located deep in the brain responsible for our reaction to stress. Up until now, technology (MRI) has allowed us to analyze the impact we have on […]

The vagus nerve and depression

The brain is made up of two nuclei that manage emotions: the amygdalae. There is a network of nerve fibers that make a bridge between the frontal cortex and the amygdalae. Researchers have demonstrated that these connections are crucial in how we manage emotions, keeping in mind that it is the role of the frontal […]

Posture and dyslexia

We know that exercise is considered generally good for learning. We even know that certain forms of exercise are more beneficial than others since they favor specific parts of the brain, more so. Recently (2015), researchers wanted to know if postural training could improve postural control of dyslexic children. 32 dyslexic children were studied. 16 […]

Degenerative disc disease and pain

It’s not very difficult to find studies that state that, in the end, the status of the physical body does not account for much when it comes to the pain the patient is dealing with. We know that pain is a subjective phenomenon and that its causes are multiple. This being said, a recent study […]

The body and the mind

Of body and spirit Are the body and spirit connected? If so, how? Neuroscientists from Pittsburgh University have identified neuronal networks that bridge the cerebral cortex and the adrenal glands, responsible for the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. The results of that study showcase how the body and the mind are actually literally connected. […]

Prevention for lower back pain

A meta analysis on prevention for back pain was performed in the JAMA in 2016. The objective was to investigate the efficiency of interventions for prevention of pain at the level of the lower back. The literature review identified 6133 studies that were potentially eligible. 23 published reports were utilized, which equates to 30 850 […]