“Sciatica” Sufferers… Could ‘Stretching’ Be Making Your Injury Worse?

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“Sciatica” Sufferers… Could ‘Stretching’ Be Making Your Injury Worse?

“I’ve had sciatica pain in my right leg and piriformis syndrome for 19 months."  

Said a frustrated Sarah (age 47), who injured her back during a ‘boot-camp’ exercise class almost 2 years ago... 

She had been suffering from that deep ‘tooth-ache’ like feeling in her right hip (literally a pain in the butt) which shot down her leg any time she tried to sit down or bend forward. (commonly known as ‘sciatica)

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3 Secrets To Improving Running Efficiency and Decrease Injury Risk

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3 Secrets To Improving Running Efficiency and Decrease Injury Risk

It’s the start of a new year and if you’re like most, you’ve made a resolution to be healthier.  Running is a popular choice for people who want to lose weight, join a community, and achieve their fitness goals.  With all the benefits running can provide, there’s often a misconception that anyone can do it.  Sure, you may be able to run but are you running efficiently so that you minimizes the risk for injury?  Running injuries can be frustrating but avoidable if you understand the biomechanics and the areas to focus on. Here are a few tips that can improve your performance to set that new PR.

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Fuel Good, Feel Good!

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Fuel Good, Feel Good!

When some people say they are trying to lose fat or gain muscle there is usually a laundry list of items that follows. It usually includes this diet shake, these supplements, that protein powder, that “miracle” cure and the list just goes on. A good portion of the time, people generally get frustrated with weight loss or gain because of the difficulty with it.

 

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How Do I Get Rid Of These Knots In My Muscles?

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How Do I Get Rid Of These Knots In My Muscles?

Myofascial trigger point or “knots” is a common term used to describe tightness and hard bumps in muscles that are painful when pressure is applied.  Generally, people complain of knots in their neck, shoulders and low back.  But what are knots and how do they form?  In order to explain this, we need to understand how muscles work.  

When you bend your elbow, the muscle fibers in your biceps shorten (contract) but when you straighten the elbow, those fibers lengthen (relax).  This ability to contract and relax is what allows us to move.  But what you had a muscle that was in a constant state of contraction and was unable to relax?  Overtime, it would probably feel tight, uncomfortable, and painful. The muscle becomes dysfunctional because it’s unable to relax, creating knots and trigger points.

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Great Tips For Your First Triathlon

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Great Tips For Your First Triathlon

Are you a swimmer, runner, or cyclist who feels like they need a mix up their workout routine?  Do you need a challenge because running six 1/2 marathons a year or riding 50 miles a week just doesn’t do it for you anymore?  If so, participating in your first triathlon might be the answer.

But I know what you’re thinking and it’s either 1) I don’t know how to swim, 2) I don’t have a bike, or 3) I hate running, but that’s ok!  Every triathlete can rank their comfort level when it comes to each activity.  You might be comfortable in the water because you’ve been a swimmer all your life or you can run 13.1 miles without breaking a sweat.  Whatever your situation is, that just means you’ll need to train and get comfortable with the activity that’s ranked #3.

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5 Tips For Amazing Standing Desk Posture

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5 Tips For Amazing Standing Desk Posture

Studies have shown the average American sits at least 10 hours a day and experts conclude this may lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and musculoskeletal problems.  Because of this, standing desks have become more common in the workplace.  Although standing is generally better than sitting, standing desks still need to be adjusted properly to maximize benefits and reduce the risk of injury.  If you’re thinking about making the switch, here are some tips to make a smooth transition.

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Are Text and Desk Neck Ruining Your Posture?

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Are Text and Desk Neck Ruining Your Posture?

Phones and computers have become almost essential for day to day life. They offer many different functions to make our lives just that extra little bit easier. The only challenge with them is how we use them. If we look at how much we actually use computers or electronic devices it can be really astounding.

Most people have to use a computer for work where some use is almost exclusively as well as their phones regardless if it is for work or personal reasons. It is safe to say that between phone and computer usage the average person spends 30-50 hours in front of a screen during the work week. That comes out to 25%-42% of all hours from Monday to Friday. That doesn’t include any time we spend on these devices on the weekend. Much like with a mattress or a car, if we are spending that large duration in one place or doing one thing we definitely want it to be comfortable.

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Why Does My Shoulder Click And Hurt All The Time?

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Why Does My Shoulder Click And Hurt All The Time?

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in our body and because of that, shoulder injuries are relatively common.  The most common shoulder injury involves a group of 4 small muscles in the shoulder called the rotator cuff muscles.  The function of these muscles is to stabilize the shoulder into the socket.  The muscle that is primarily involved is called the supraspinatus and its tendon can be inflamed, partially torn, or completely torn due to poor posture, repetitive movement, or trauma.  When you’ve sustained a shoulder injury, you may find it difficult to lift the arm above shoulder height because of pain, weakness, or both.

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How Will Your Body Survive Being A Weekend Warrior?

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How Will Your Body Survive Being A Weekend Warrior?

The weekend warrior usually has a busy 40 hour work week and therefore, is only active during the weekends.  They courageously step onto the court to play 5 on 5 basketball, they run, cut, and pivot across battlefields to victory, hit challenging trails to conquer the great outdoors, or schedule early morning tee times, swinging their weapon of choice at innocent golf balls. 

The weekend warrior is also known for being injury prone.  The reason?

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Case Study: How This Active Woman Finally Cured Her Back Pain

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Case Study: How This Active Woman Finally Cured Her Back Pain

Our amazing 42 year old client, Erin had been dealing with lower back pain on and off for the past 10 years. She loves to be active but feels like the small of her back and occasional numbness down her leg hold her away from the things she loves. On top of that, it is hard enough to find the time to be active since she is quite busy taking care of her children, ages 9 and 12. 

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