LOST in Review

For six seasons and 17 episodes Lost - the t.v. show - was steeped in mystery, asking the characters and viewers questions about spirituality, faith, science, fate, and free will. Incomplete answers to these questions only left further questions in their wake. The final episode did not disappoint by staying true to its nature. We are left with no more story and many questions. The questions we are left with though transcend the t.v. show. Certainly there are smaller picture questions that would be fun to know the answers to, but fundamentally this t.v. show was not about those answers. It was about the larger questions that do not have answers.

Why was Walt special?
Why did Eloise Hawking know so much?
Why was Desmond so uniquely special and what happened to him on the island in the end?
Who dropped the Dharma food feeding all our Losties?
What about the Hanso foundation and their funding of the Dharma initiative?
What was Widmore's true intentions in seeking out the Island?

These, and so many more, are fun questions. But, they don't help us understand the bigger questions:

Was Jacob and his brother Man-in-Black (MIB) really special? Or were they just boys who grew up to be men believing they were special?
What does that light at the heart of the island truly represent? All that is good with the world? Was MIB spit out because he was inherently bad?
Did Jack really impart special protective powers to Hurley by having him drink from the water bottle? Or, is it more important that Hurley believed he was imparted with such power?
And, the biggest question of all is what did the ending mean? Were our losties redeemed on the island allowing them to pass through to the next phase of the afterlife? Or, did they all die in the original plane crash sending them all to purgatory, rendering the island life a mirage?

I, for one, don't think it matters. In the end, our characters that we grew to love needed purpose and love and through their life (or afterlife) on the island were redeemed. It is all a matter of perspective. Was the island life purgatory and the Flash-Sideways their next phase of the afterlife? Or, was the island life real and the Flash-Sideways the first phase of their afterlife? I don't think it really matters. We saw an incredible ensemble of characters achieve purpose, love, and redemption on their journey together. After all, it is all about the journey. Without the end, the journey is not worth taking. Richard figured that out in the end when he was returned to a mortal life. And, how you behave and treat people matters in the end. Ben figured that out as well. He was flawed, like so many of our losties, but I 'believe' he will achieve his redemption too.

I am sad Lost is over. But what an amazing story filled with excitement, love, sadness, and wonderful questions we can try to answer from hereon in.

UPDATE: More theories and explanations continue to filter in during these post-Lost days. I won't bore you with blog after blog of theories, but suffice it to say I will be happy to discuss at length as we strive for wellness in the office!

"LOST" Week

Normally I reserve this blog for writings about chiropractic, wellness, fitness, and the latest research. But, as many of you know, this is an exciting week in the world of pure entertainment. The final episodes of the greatest t.v. show ever air this week on Tuesday and Sunday. My wife and I, my brothers, parents, friends, and millions more have been looking forward to this week. Explaining LOST to you if you are not familiar with the show is too difficult for this blog. So I will not attempt such feat. Just a quick blog to remind everyone of this exciting, momentous week in t.v. entertainment.

Is this blog about health or wellness? Sort of. Having a fictional story to escape life can be very therapeutic. LOST is just that for me. The story, the mysteries, the confusion has brought family and friends together, challenged our minds, made us think outside the box and thoroughly entertained us for six years.

We'll miss you LOST ... until we buy the boxset and re-watch you!

Spinal Manipulation and the "pop"

I just read an excellent, interesting, and relevant research review of an important concept in the world of physical therapy. Serendipitously, I read this research only moments after a regular patient of mine left the office after we discussed this very topic - the topic of spinal joint "cavitation" - otherwise known as the "popping" sound you hear when you have your joints manipulated.

The question being asked is whether or not it is clinically important to hear the "pop" when manipulating a joint. Does the "pop" lead to improvement of the patient's symptoms or is it simply the act of the manipulation? The latest research sheds some light on this.

First, let's review what the "pop" / cavitation is. The popping/cracking sound you hear when your joint is manipulated/adjusted is the sound of gas escaping the joint space as the two bones are moved. Just like opening a can of soda, as the gas escapes it makes a sound. Bones are not actually "cracking", it just sounds that way. The bottom line with manipulation is that the act of manipulating improves joint mobility, realigns joint position, and reduces pain levels.

Today, in fact moments ago, my patient and I were discussing the fact that her low back spinal joints didn't "pop" when we adjusted them. My previous knowledge of this topic allowed me to explain that the "pop" is not necessary to still achieve mobility, alignment, and pain relief. Well, the research now supports this notion.

This research is and should be encouraging to both therapists and patients. Both therapists and patients can get caught up in the expectation and reliance on the "popping" sound for confirmation that a treatment has been effective. We all should rely more on the process of manipulation, rather than the audible sound it makes.

So, just a quick blog to update you on this important chiropractic topic - just in case you were wondering about the "pop".

Till next time ... thanks for reading!