I Tried These 5 Stress Management Techniques, And They Changed The Game For My Headaches
Headaches can be difficult to manage and require a multitude of disciplines to be effectively treated. Not to mention that it’s important to reveal the root cause of headaches rather than just treating the symptoms of the headache. There’s also the factor of stress, which seems unavoidable at times. Stress can not only cause mental health and emotional symptoms, but also physical symptoms including chronic pain and headaches. These symptoms that occur due to stress are the body telling us something needs to change. And yes, stress is needed to invoke change, physically and mentally, so how can we manage stress while reducing physical symptoms, specifically headaches? While everyone is different, I tried the techniques below to manage my stress and noticed a significant improvement in my headaches.
The Link Between Exercise And A Strong Immune System
Exercise has been long established as a way to help boost immune function. For the general population, it is an easy way to get healthier and help prevent infections during cold and flu seasons and keep their immunity up throughout the year1. There is evidence that exercise can help decrease systemic swelling over time, which is a potent cause of disease and infection in humans, but if you look closer at the research, much of that is by way of excess body weight reduction, specifically visceral fat mass2. While exercise is good, too much can be detrimental to your immune system as well, in fact this is seen in many elite athletes by the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections they develop while training3.
An Exercise Routine to Try When You Feel Like Getting Outdoors
Spring and Summer are inspiring times of the year. Warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and the return of green leaves and fields gives us the message to wake up from a winter hibernation. This is the time of year for getting outside and getting active. Sunshine and fresh air provide benefits not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. Many people are inspired to start exercising outside when the weather warms, but often are not sure where to begin. This article will share a simple routine to help you get started.
What Does Physical Therapy Look Like After A Stroke?
During one year in the United States, 795,000 people will have a stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)1. Of these, 610,000 will be first-time CVA1. This is obviously a large number, and chances are you know someone who has experienced, or will know someone who will experience a CVA.
How Exercise Can Boost Mental Health During Postpartum Depression
Exercise is known to have many physical benefits, including improved quality of life and reduced risk of chronic disease. As most individuals know, exercise helps improve physical health and has mental health benefits. Exercise can help by improving self-esteem and cognitive function, as well as reducing mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and negative mood. Exercise plays a role in mental health care by increasing blood circulation to the brain leading to a reduced reactive response to stressors. Despite the most recent research, exercise is often underutilized as an intervention regarding mental health, specifically in the postpartum population.
Stop, Drop And Roll: Should You Be Using A Foam Roller?
Foam rollers have become a staple in many physical therapy clinics and gyms. If you have never seen one before, it is a 3 ft x 6-inch foam cylinder that can be used for stretching and massaging muscles during the recovery process as well as pre and post-workout. While it is a simple looking tool, there are many ways to use it. Many people swear by the benefits of foam rolling stating that it helps them feel more limber and reduce pain. These claims certainly sound good, but what does rolling out your muscles actually do and could it be a beneficial tool for you?
A Simple Exercise Routine To Try When You Need A Little Boost of Positivity
Feeling stuck in a rut? Or like you just want to relax on the couch and order food? Believe it or not, a little bit of exercise can go a long way in shifting our thoughts and feelings in a positive way. Below are a few suggestions for when you need a little boost of happiness in your day.
Is It Safe To Workout With Shoulder Pain?
Working out in pain can generate some fear and anxiety in many people. You have heard that exercise can help with pain, but the thought of putting yourself through more pain, especially if it’s been hanging around for a long time, can be daunting. As physical therapists, we see this fear and anxiety daily, but we have the tools to help guide our patients through this process, and the results show a stark contrast from the beginning to the end of their care.
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