Being a specialty skates store, we have developed and pioneered many unique systems for enhancing the performance of our clients skates. One of the many things we have done is developed and refined the concept of "aligning skate blades"
However, even after more than twenty years and many thousands of 'blade alignments' we are still often asked "what the heck is a blade alignment?"
The simplest definition of a skate blade alignment is; the positioning of a skate blade on a boot in such a manner as to be relative to the foot and the biomechanics of the skaters body that is going to be wearing the skate; or in other words...positioning the skate blade on the boot to ensure that the skaters center of gravity falls directly over the blade.
Conceptually ...aligning blades on skates is the same as aligning the wheels on a car. When it's done correctly, the wheels (skate blades) track 'straight' and 'true'.
Skate blade alignment is by no means a new concept. In fact figure skaters have been aligning their blades for more than 100 years. Because of our extensive history with figure skating we simply used what we had been doing with figure skaters for so many years, and applied it to all skaters, including hockey and ringette players.
Positioning the blade to allow for the biomechanical differences in your feet and body takes your skate fitting to the next level. The correct alignment will allow for maximum edge control, which will support you in maintaining a more efficient stride, better turning ability, smother stopping, stronger cross overs,etc. and will enhance your overall skating performance.
Because your skates are a production line item, the most that can be expected from the skate manufacture is that the blade will be mounted in the middle of the outer soul of the skates. That however does not accommodate the majority of skaters who pronate or supinate.Being certain that your center of gravity falls directly over the blade means that you will have better control of both the inside and outside edge of your skate blades.
The classic picture of the young skater trying to skate while using only inside edges is something that is easily avoided by repositioning the blade on the boot. Subtle changes to blade positioning on all levels of skaters can translate into significant gains in performance on the ice.
Just some of the indications that you may need your skate blades aligned may include; difficulty turning one direction , struggling to hold eith an outside or inside edge, weak crossovers, chronic knee strain, groin pulls, sore lower back.
The manufacturing process is not perfect,so re-mounting a a skate blade mounted on a boot from the manufacturer can make a huge difference in skating performance.
In a perfect world blade alignment should be done with the skater, in person, in that way a perfect alignment can be attained.However, skates that have been worn for a period of time, will show signs of a poor blade alignment, so it can in fact be attained without the skater. It may not be ideal but significant performance improvements can be attained either way.
Having worked with every level of hockey player and figure skater, including Olympic gold medalists. Blade alignment is an integral part of the skate fitting process and will help you attain maximum performance results from your skates.
Although L-carnosine was discovered in Russia in 1900, it is only relatively recently that its function in the human body has been recognized. This was as a result of research in the UK, USA, Australia, Japan and Russia, and now some of its amazing properties have come to light biochemists are seeking to determine what other important parts it is playing in mammalian biology.
So what is this wonderful material known as L-carnosine? From its name it is obviously an amino acid, although in fact it is a dipeptide, a combination of two amino acids, namely L-histidine and beta-alanine. However, one of the amazing facts of these two amino acids is when they decombine from L-carnosine into themselves again, they possess properties significantly enhanced over those they possessed prior to combining to form carnosine. Although they seem identical before and after, somehow the combination to L-carnosine and then breaking down into their individual parts again appears to have imparted them with enhanced properties.
What are these properties of L-carnosine that have got the scientists so excited? In fact carnosine is believed to possess a large number of properties due to it being able to change itself into a number of compounds that each has an effect on a number of our biological functions.
Details of some of these will be discussed later, but among them are the ability to detoxify the body of harmful metal compounds, fight allergies, increase the flow of blood to the brain, protect cell membranes from the effect of free radicals, and it also possesses strong antioxidant properties. There is more, in fact too many to discuss in an article as short as this. However, let's first discuss its effect on glycation.
What is glycation? Also known as glycosylation, glycation is the binding of glucose and a protein molecule, resulting in the protein structure being changed, and its biological activity being reduced, or destroyed altogether. It can lead to several age-related diseases and conditions, such as hardening of the arteries, cataracts and a reduction in neurological activity. Known also as the Maillard reaction, this is a major cause of aging and it is believed that it could also contribute to cancer.
Diabetics are particularly prone to glycation, and the final products of this combination of glucose and proteins are referred to as an advanced glycation end products, appropriately referred to by the acronym AGEs. These AGEs can crosslink with neighboring proteins to form a tough mass of tissue. Any body organ depending upon flexible tissue for its proper function will hence be affected, and when combined with a side effect of glycation being a massive increase in free radical activity, arteries, some nerves, the kidneys and parts of the eyes come under particular attack.
This results in corneal problems, renal degradation, inflammation and problems with the arteries, many of which are life-threatening and can cause premature aging. The use of glycation inhibitors can significantly reduce or even prevent many of the effects that aging can cause. The chemical structure of L-carnosine is very similar to that of the proteins attacked by glycating agents, and can be used to inhibit the glycation effect.
Another thing that carnosine can do is to tag affected proteins for proteolysis, or their rapid removal from the cells they can affect. By using a supplement of L-carnosine, not only do the carnosine molecules attract those glucose molecules that would otherwise attach to proteins, but also help to remove such affected proteins from body cells before they can do damage by cross linking with other proteins. This tagging process is known as carnosinylation.
Because of these properties, carnosine can be used to treat several complications of diabetes, such as arteriosclerosis, cataracts and kidney disease and can also be used by normally healthy people to delay some the effects of aging, because AGEs is responsible for some of the effects of normal aging, not only in diabetics.
A significant property of the amino acid is its maintenance of the integrity of DNA structure. DNA suffers progressive oxidative degradation with age, the effect cumulating over time. Using carnosine as a supplement can help to reduce this effect. Not only does it prevent the cross-link age of DNA and proteins, but also possesses strong antioxidant properties that can destroy even the most powerful free radicals such as the so-called superoxide, peroxides and the hydroxyl radical.
L-Carnosine also has a rejuvenation effect on connective tissue, and is of particular use in the healing of wounds. Not only that, but as cells reach the end of their ability to divide, known as senescence, carnosine can help to extend their life and restore their normal appearance. It also helps prevent the cross-linking of skin collagen, and helped the skin to retain its elasticity with less likelihood of wrinkling.
Alzheimer's sufferers possess abnormal quantities of beta-amyloid in their brains, and carnosine appears to protect the brain from cell damage and plaques formed by this substance. That is not to suggest that the amino acid can be used to cure Alzheimer's, or even treat it, but it does suggest that a supplement can go some way towards preventing or slowing down its occurrence.
Among other claims made for this amazing substance is anti-cancer properties, protection against cellular damage from radiation and that it may be of use in treating autistic children. However more research is required in these potential applications before any significant claims can be justified.
All in all, it is its anti-aging properties of L-carnosine that render it such an attractive supplement to most people. Not only can it help existing conditions and make it less liable for diabetics to suffer certain premature aging effects, but it can delay the effects of aging in otherwise healthy people. This is as a result of its strong antioxidant effect, its inhibiting effect on glycation and its protection of DNA.
L-Carnosine is without a doubt one of the more attractive of the amino acid supplements available today, as would be expected of any substance claiming to possess any of the properties of the Holy Grail of perpetual youth. L-Carnosine is available in supplement form at your local or internet health food store.
Article Source :
About Author
Both Patrick Francey & Darrell Miller are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Patrick Francey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fundraising, Recreation and Sports. Patrick Francey is recognized internationally as a? skate fit and performance' expert.He has worked with hockey players and figure skaters, including NHL and world class figure skaters. Discover how. Patrick Francey's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
Darrell Miller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Search Engine Marketing, Arthritis Signs and Anti Oxidant. More information on is available at VitaNet ?, LLC Health Food Store.. Darrell Miller's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.