Brandon Webb's Performance Questions
His shoulder is surgically repaired, but "he hasn't been able to 'let loose and let it go,'" reports Nick Piecoro.†  "He (Webb) said it might be more mental than physical."  So, is Webb working with a "mental trainer?"

Injury Rehabilitation
Returning from an injury is tricky.  It is specially so for a professional athlete.  It is his or her livelihood.  Physically, the injury may be healed, but mentally and emotionally questions generally remain.  Is my injury completely healed?  Will I re-injure myself?  Will I be able to perform at my former level? 

PNPR™* Assures Quick, Safe Return From Injury
Until now, the only way to test this out was to have the athlete physically perform the task.  Work by Dr. Raymond J. Petras has shown that, in many cases, using mental techniques, athletes can be assured that it is safe for them to return to play at a high skill level.

How is this accomplished?
PNPR™ is utilized in four steps.  A "mental trainer"**...

1. Discusses the injury and the body's and mind's mechanisms to heal safely.
2. Shows the athlete that s/he can use her or his mental skills to change the sensation, in the formerly injured area.
   
3. Shows the athlete how to use his or her mental skills to determine if it is safe and okay for him or her to return to play.
4. Deals with any fear or anxiety due to the injury.
   

Safe
These four steps are done in conjunction with the physical rehabilitation work with the athlete's team, personal physician and trainer.  The physician and trainer have the final say as to when it is safe for the athlete to return to play.  Since, introduced in 1989, there has never been any problems observed or reported with the utilization of the PNPR™ technique for athlete rehabilitation.

Physician Reports... (more testimonials at:  http://www.reliefforyou.com/page6.html)

“I had never seen such a rapid improvement in a injured athlete’s symptoms in all my 15 years of Sports Medicine.  The PsychoNeuro Pain Response™ [PNPR™] Technique is very safe and effective in reducing pain and improving range of motion.  I highly recommend his service to both professional and amateur organizations wishing to accelerate the return to play of their athletes.”  Dr. Gary Greenberg, M.D., FRCPC - Medical Director, Sports Medicine, Emergency Medicine Physician, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Research, Healing Time Decreased
Research and clinical observation indicate that healing time is reduce by 2/3 to 1/2.  Pain and discomfort are also reduced as the athlete heals.

To learn more about returning from injuries, sports performance and dealing with pressure contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.


†Article: Webb feeling 'stagnant' after bullpen session.  Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic, 3/5/10.
*PNPR™ PsychoNeuro Pain Response™.  Also called Talking Away Pain™ [TAP™]  To learn more, go to:  http://www.reliefforyou.com/page7.html
**Mental Trainer, sports psychologist (with injury, pain management experience), sports injury and performance specialist.

Did Vonn's Goals Limit Her Medal Count?
Vonn reminded the world, "I have that gold medal and despite everyone else's expectations, my goals were simply to win one medal.  And that's what I did."†  Could her goals have cost her medals?  Expectations, by others, were high.  She was supposed to be "Vancouver's answer to Beijing's Michael Phelps."  Could this pressure have caused her to ski below her capabilities?

The Opportunity to Win
If she was quoted correctly and this was her mind set, it is not conducive of a multi-gold (medal) winner.  You have to give yourself the opportunity to win.  This is accomplished by first winning in your mind.  She had the ability.  Did she short change herself?

Do you short change yourself by setting your goals too low?

Congratulations
Congratulations, for Vonn, are in order.  She won a gold and a bronze medal.

We Will Never Know
However, was the lack of good goals, fear, pressure or a combination of these that caused Vonn to perform below her ability level?  I wondered if her injury prior to the Olympics and on her last run was a "unconscious" way for her to reduce pressure and expectations?  Are these scenarios possible?  They are. 

What could have been?  What opportunity was lost?

To learn more about sports performance, dealing with pressure and injuries contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

†Reported by Howard Fendrich, AP, Alpine Skiing, U.S. Surpasses Expectations: Americans claim 8 medals, led by Miller.  In Arizona Republic, 3/1/10.

Golf Psychologist helps Villegas and other professional golfers
Villegas said, "We spend plenty of time on the range and practicing our technique and everything and sometimes we forget about our mental side of the game, which needs a little practice too."†

Mental Game
Dr. Raymond J. Petras has a unique approach to teaching golfers the importance of the mental side of golf.  It is a mind-body, personal biofeedback approach that also has the added benefit of safely relieving pain and speeding the healing process.

Be sure to spend time with your mental game, if you want to improve. 

To learn more contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.


†(AZ Republic, 2/26/10, Villegas breezes around course with a bogey-free round of 62 by Bob Young--http://www.azcentral.com/sports/golf/phoenixopen/articles/2010/02/25/20100225camilo-villegas-phoenix-open.html

Getting "the Feel"
Getting "the Feel" is not just for putting.  It's for living.  You have to first know what you want.  Then you have to create what it will feel like, when you have it.  You may not be able to make every shot exactly the way you visualize it.  But, if you consistently hold the feeling of what it's like to be the winner, you will win.  It just may not be in the way you envisioned.  In the big picture, everything is good.

Matt Kuchar
I got to meet Mr. Kuchar at the Waste Management Phoenix Open Xerox ProAm.  What a great golfer and wonderful person.  He smiled most of the round and was complimentary to everyone.  He played very well, too.  His team came in second.  On the 595 yd, par 5, 13th, he hit a booming drive.  His second shot stopped pin high about 7-8 feet from the hole.  He drained it for an eagle.  Good luck Matt.

Golf and Injuries
Injuries down a lot of golfers during the year.  See what new techniques are available to help these golfers get back on to the course faster, yet safely.

Read my earlier blog (http://blog.reliefforyou.com/2008/10/09/golf-injuries.aspx) on the subject.

To learn more contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

Performing When Injured
Like most athletes, Vonn has performed in pain.  Today, she was triumphant on the winner's stand, but will it hurt her in the long run? 

Unknown
One of the unknowns with injuries is; When is it safe for an athlete to return to competition?  The question may go through the athlete's mind, did the physician or trainer miss something?  Will I reinjure myself?  Will I hurt myself further?

Mental Techniques Can Help to Determine If It Is Safe to Return to Competition
PsychoNeuro Pain Response™ [PNPR™], a personal biofeedback technique, also called Talking Away Pain™ [TAP™] has been used to help physicians and athletes determine if it is safe for pain to be reduced or eliminated, using mental techniques.

Returning To Competition At A High Skill Level
PNPR™ also has the benefit of returning the athlete to competition at a high skill level.  You do not just want to return to competition and perform adequately.  You want to perform at your best.

For example: Today Vonn skied for the first time, since her injury, in competition.  She had to be unsure how her shin would feel, how it would effect her performance and finally, how she would react mentally and emotionally.  PNPR™ would have helped Vonn answer some of her questions.

Safe To Ski?
With PNPR™ Vonn would have been able to determine if it was safe for her to ski and perform her best.  How?  She would have been able to use her mind to reduce, change or eliminate her pain.  This would have told her that:

1. There were not any other contraindications that were missed by her physician or trainer that needed to be addressed.
2. She has some level of control over her injury and physical and mental readiness.
3. With her physician's approval, it was probably safe to ski.

By using PNPR™, she would have been able to reduce her fear and anxiety.  This would have allowed her to perform with minimum physical discomfort and a high level of mental readiness.

Vonn's Quest Golden
Vonn will probably continue to do very well.  She is fortunate.  Think of using PNPR™ and other techniques to improve your chances of bringing home the "Gold."

To learn more contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

Golden Opportunity
It's reported that Lindsey Vonn is still taking pain medications because her shin is very painful.  Will the injury or medications effect her performance?  No one knows for sure, at this point.  She may be able to turn this into a positive event.  How?

1. The injury could help her evaluate her skiing and make improvements.
2. She could, because of the injury, search out new methods to help her safely deal with her injury.
   • Any discovery she makes, could help others, in the future.

Help at a distance-Telemedicine
At the Olympics or on the road, as with traveling teams, it's tough to get the help you need.  Telemedicine is an emerging field that offers some hope for athletes like Vonn.  For example, an injured athlete could communicate with a distant pain specialist, over-the-phone.

Using a non-invasive, drugless technique called PsychoNeuro Pain Response™[PNPR™] also called Talking Away Pain™ [TAP™], the following individuals found relief:

1. Over-the-phone, a football on crutches safely eliminated his pain, put down his crutches and practiced, after one 40 minute session. (Caught your attention?  It's a football player.  But you will remember it, now)
2. Over-the-phone, a cancer patient totally eliminated her severe pain from biopsy surgery, after one 60-80 minute session.
3. A  female athlete with a contusion injury to her shin, in severe pain, had it totally eliminated, in moments.

Wishing the Best
We all wish Vonn the best.  Hopefully, her methods of pain relief and injury management will be sufficient in her quest for gold.  For all others, there are other safe, proven techniques available to deal with pain and injury.

To learn more contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, professional sports-injury/pain management and elite sports performance specialist, developer of PNPR™, mental trainer and health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

Ski delays working in Vonn's favor*
VANCOUVER -- Getting back to Lindsey Vonn.  [The following is a direct quote by Jeff Metcalfe]

Elite sports psychologist Dr. Raymond Petras of Scottsdale has experience working with a variety of Olympic sport athletes including in skiing, speed skating, bobsled and hockey.

He believes that the mental/non-invasive side of pain management is as important as any medical treatment. And that the pressure three-time Olympian Vonn is under to win her first Olympic medal (or more) can be used in a positive way to make it easier to perform.

"The mind is important. I can show athletes how they can adjust pain and make it less (through mental techniques). They didn't know they could do this, and then ask what else am I capable of?"

[An excerpt.  To read full blog article, go to www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/jeffmetcalfe/73940]

To learn more about elite performance and injury management contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

*Jeff Metcalfe quoted Dr. Raymond Petras in his, Saturday, February 13,2010 at 04:40 PM, Winter Olympics blog(http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/jeffmetcalfe/73940).  His Winter Olympics blog may be found on azcentral.com. He is in Vancouver for The Arizona Republic.

Dr. Petras Suggests - A Balance Approach Is Needed

To be effective, an obesity program needs a balanced approach. It needs to address the mind and spirit, as well as the body (nutrition and exercise).   Reducing obesity through exercise and nutrition alone has not worked.  Obesity continues to rise.

A positive self-image is important in losing and keeping weight off.  Mental techniques have been found to be at least as effective as supplying nutritional information and encouraging exercise.

White House Obesity Campaign

First Lady Michelle Obama's Obesity Campaign, dubbed "Let's Move."  (Article: First lady unveils child-obesity campaign by Darlene Superville, AP, Arizona Republic, 2/10/10)

1. FDA with food manufacturers and retailers need to make food labels more "customer-friendly."
2. American Academy of Pediatrics encourages doctors to monitor children's body mass index.
3. Serve more healthful food in schools.
4. Tax breaks for grocery stores and farmer's markets requiring congressional action.
5. Encouraging children to exercise; an hour per day is recommended.
6. Set up a web site, www.letsmove.gov with shopping, recipe finder and other resources.

Good But--Not Enough to Succeed
There are many good elements to Obama's campaign.  However, unless it also addresses the mind and spirit, too, its success will be small to negligible.

To gain control of your mind and obesity contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Member of Arizona's Governor's Commission on Obesity in the workplace, medical hypnosis, developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

Vonn takes "Bunch of Painkillers"

Lindsey Vonn twitters (http://twitter.com/lindseyvonn) that she used a bunch of painkillers and "some creams"  to numb her bruised right shin.  Hopefully, this will help.  As we all know there are side-effects to most painkillers.  These painkillers and creams may help with the pain, but it's anyone's guess how these painkillers will effect her reflexes and mental clarity.

Non-invasive pain/injury management

Non-invasive pain/injury management methods have helped reduce pain and speed healing, safely.  PsychoNeuro Pain Response™ [PNPR™] also called Talking Away Pain™ [TAP™] is one such method (http://www.reliefforyou.com/page7.html).  It has been successfully utilized by Olympians, elite and professional athletes (testimonials: http://www.reliefforyou.com/page6.html).  PNPR™ has also been made available to non-athletes.  It not only relieves the pain, but deals with aberrant behaviors associated with the injury.

The RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) technique and acupuncture may also be beneficial.

USOC--Medical Failings?
The USOC needs to inform and make these techniques available to their athletes.  Not many athletes are aware of the benefits for one reason or another.

To learn more contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Developer of PNPR™, elite sports performance specialist, mental trainer, professional sports-injury/pain management, health/media expert.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://www.reliefforyou.com/page3.html.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.

Positive Attitudes-Improve Profits
Mrs. Shellenbarger, Columnist-The Wall Street Journal, wrote an article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704905604575027042440341392.html), Thinking Happy Thoughts at Work, in The Wall Street Journal, 1/27/10.  She reported that a positive attitude can help earn higher profit and better customer-satisfaction ratings.  It can also help employees think more broadly, creatively and accept a wider view.

Positive Attitudes-Improve Health.
Not only can a positive attitude help earn higher profit and better customer-satisfaction ratings, it can improve health, eliminate pain, speed healing and reduce health-care costs and insurance premiums.

Since 1989, a non-invasive pain management technique called PsychoNeuro Pain Response™ [PNPR™] also called Talking Away Pain™ [TAP™] has been used to eliminate pain in acute, chronic and “incurable” painful conditions.  In 1998, the City of St. Paul, MN, Workers’ Compensation Division, commissioned a research study to test PNPR™ .  PNPR™ was a significant part of a initiative that saved the City over $1 million in worker’s compensation costs.  The results were published, as the featured article, in the California Workers’ Compensation Endeavor, January 2001 (www.cwce.com).

For help with pain, injury or performance contact:
Dr. Raymond J. Petras, Non-invasive Health Management, Elite Sports Performance (Psychology), Professional Mental Trainer & Media Specialist.  His website is www.reliefforyou.com.  He may be contacted by email at http://drpetras@reliefforyou.com/.  View his videos by going to YouTube.com, and typing relief4u2 in the search bar.