Back Arthritis and Treatment Techniques
Some 5% of all lower back problems is due to inflammation from arthritis rather than spinal injuries like hernia or slipped discs. One form, axial spondyloarthritis, impacting the junction between the pelvis and the spine known as the sacroiliac joint and typically first impacts people in their mid 20s. There are a number of helpful techniques, or […]
Stretching for Bike Injuries
IT Band Syndrome IT band injuries typically affect cyclists and runners. The band runs up the entire outside of each leg. Injuries tend to occur in the thinnest spot of the band by the knee joint, making the joint feel loose or ’empty.’ Sometimes the routine itself can cause the injury, such as running on […]
3 of the Best Computer Ergonomics Products
The best computer ergonomics products aren’t necessarily the most innovative. They will be modifications of common commodities for the work place. The following three items should be at the top of your shopping list when optimizing your office – they take some adjusting, but they won’t just make you feel better, but bring a fresh […]
Preventing Leg Cramping after Swimming
This is the first in a three-part series for triathletes. It’s not uncommon at all. You spend a good 15, 30, 60 minutes in the pool and walk out to stiffening leg cramps. Your legs can’t adjust to carrying the weight of your body again. It takes away the pleasure in the fun of swimming, […]
3 Points on Better Posture to Fight Carpal Tunnel
The human body is a well-integrated machine. If one gear is out of alignment, the engine won’t be able to carry the body for as many miles. We hear about carpal tunnel prevention as well as preventing back pain all the time. But we rarely connect the two. Good posture is a critical element of […]
Chocolate as a Pain-Reliever: How to Use it Right
Chocolate’s been gaining major traction the last few years as a major aid in health. Contrary to what our good-parenting instincts (and Halloween guilt) might tell us, Chocolate apparently has a number of tremendous benefits as so long as you don’t go overboard (i.e., don’t have chocolate products with tons of trans fats!). What are […]
Laughter Therapy in the Fight against Depression
As mentioned in Part I, laughter produces endorphins, much like exercise. Endorphins function as painkillers, giving you the ability to push through grueling exercise sessions. They can lead to feelings of euphoria and mimic opiates. They serve the same function as drugs like codeine and morphine, reducing pain and stress. As we mentioned, they’re produced […]
Laughing: Good for the Soul?
It would be redundant to talk about laughter’s psychological power. laughter may be the best medicine indeed when feeling depressed or bored. It wakes us up. It gets us going. It gets us smiling. Now, is it a form of exercise? Exercise certainly is renown for changing our moods for the better. But will the […]
Mocha for the Aches? Coffee as a Pain-Reliever
Caffeine isn’t intuitively a pain-reliever. Some people see it as something that will get you high-strung. It drives you through stressful situations, but other than that could cause problems. Not so, say the good scientists, at least the ones at National Institute of Occupational Health and Oslo University Hospital in Norway. In a brief study recently […]
Myths about Exercising when ‘Knocked-Up’
Erica Ziel is a motivated woman. She is the creator of the Knocked-Up Fitness series of exercise DVDs for pregnant women. She was recently featured in the New York Times where she had a few choice comments about myths and perceptions about how to go about staying in shape when expecting. The aptly named Ziel […]