Stretch of the Week: Easy Seated Twist
For the month of March we will be focusing on twisting the spine! Twisting is extremely healthy for the body. Benefits include: helps to improve digestion, strengthens and stretches the spine, helps to reduce back pain, and twisting aids in detoxing the organs, just to name a few! (more…)
19 Ways to Relieve Muscular and Joint Pain on a 19-Hour Flight
I just got back from an amazing trip to the Philippines! The country, the culture, the people who live there were all fantastic! The airplane ride, however, was not so fantastic. I painfully scrunched myself in economy class, where my knees were especially angry with me on the way there. However, on the way back, I implemented these 19 ways to relieve pain on a 19-hour flight, and my body was very thankful! (more…)
Specialization in Athletics
High school sports have more exposure now more than ever. This is partially due to nationally televised games such as football and basketball. There are now showcases for potential recruiters where young athletes can participate while still developing. Competition for an athletic scholarship has never been greater. Now, athletes are specializing in their sport to earn a competitive advantage and be the best at young age. Should specialization in athletics be touted, or should they continue to play multiple sports year round? Multiple researchers and college coaches state that single sport specialization is not the best practice. (more…)
A Variety of Ways to Position Your Pillows to Reduce Pain
Patients often report difficulty sleeping as a result of having pain when they lay down in bed. In response, therapists will commonly ask the patient what position they sleep in, how they position their pillow(s), and how many pillows they like to use. Pillow positioning is a strategy that can be different for each individual. Below are a few of the many examples of ways to position your pillows to reduce and prevent pain and improve your body alignment for a better night’s sleep!
Benefits of Foam Rolling for Hockey Warm-Up
As a medical professional who not only works with the Chicago Blackhawks but also a large number of hockey players of all levels, one of the more recurrent questions I receive is, “how to adequately warm-up before taking the ice?” My answer is the foam roll, for a variety of reasons.
Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy this Season
The seasons are changing and it’s that time of year to keep your health top of mind as we enter cold and flu season. There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself from getting sick this fall and winter. (more…)
Should we take the “Ice” out of R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E., which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, is an acronym familiar to many. Whether you are an “average Joe” or an athlete, coach, doctor, therapist or trainer it’s fairly common knowledge that if you are experiencing an acute soft tissue injury, R.I.C.E. is the standard operating procedure to get on track for a speedy recovery. As medicine becomes more evidence based we look to research to support much of our clinical decision making. Does current research still support the R.I.C.E. protocol? (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Frog Stretch I
This month we will be focusing on stretching our quadriceps and hip flexors. These group of muscles can be very tight on quite a lot of people because of all the sitting and driving we do as a society. This can sometimes lead to knee pain or hip pain. Even just the simple act of sitting back on our heels can cause a great deal of discomfort for some, so please be patient with yourself this month! Practice these regularly and the front of the thighs will eventually loosen up! Please listen to your body as always, and back off if you feel pain that is not a “stretchy” discomfort. (more…)
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