Your foot pain has been diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, and you have been told that stretching will help relieve it. What kinds of stretches should you do? We have a good knowledge of how to successfully treat plantar fasciitis because it is so common—about 2 million Americans are treated for it every year. Plantar fasciitisContinue Reading »
Your back is killing you, and the last thing you want to do is exert yourself. Unfortunately, for most cases of back pain, lying around in bed can only make the problem worse. Numerous studies have shown that exercise improves back pain, and the more regularly you engage in physical activity, the better. Exercise alsoContinue Reading »
The term “country club elbow” evokes pleasant images of green lawns, polo shirts and tall glasses of iced tea. Unfortunately, this moniker refers to a far less pleasant condition: the combination of tennis elbowand golfer’s elbow—a chronic, painful syndrome associated with the two sports. The condition can cause a shooting pain down the forearm andContinue Reading »
It is a glorious Saturday morning; you have put the stress of work behind you. All week long, you have been looking forward to playing golf. But when one of your foursome suggests walking the course, you suddenly become a little nervous. Yet riding in a golf cart robs you of much of the healthContinue Reading »
Improve your fitness Cross-training involves engaging in different types of physical activity and brings multiple benefits. It is an excellent way to prevent sports-related injuries, improve your skill in a variety of sports and improve your overall health—all while keeping workout boredom at bay. You can cross-train within the same workout (e.g., doing a combinationContinue Reading »
Quick checklist to follow prior to starting a stretching program:Warm up for 5-10 minutes before stretchingStretching should be pain free! Mild discomfort is fine.Don’t bounce when stretchingAvoid stretching that causes ‘tingling”, “numbness” or “burning”Hold stretch position for 3 times for 30 second holdDon’t hold your breath during stretchDon’t stretch an injury! Within 48-72 hours of gettingContinue Reading »
But precisely because it is a habit, you may easily fall into the trap of doing only one form of exercise that works on a limited set of muscles. However, recent research suggests that health as well as fitness benefits can be gained from a variety of exercises. One study found that people who performedContinue Reading »
In the past, a ruptured Achilles tendon could end the career of a professional athlete and significantly impact the quality of life for others with the injury—even after treatment. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. If you suffer from this serious injury, you can most likely return to your normal life again. However, long-termContinue Reading »
Low back pain is common and can result from overuse, muscle strain or injury. It is one of the leading causes of job-related disability and missed work in the United States and is considered chronic when it lasts for more than 12 weeks. One study suggests that trunk balance exercises are especially important for treatingContinue Reading »