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Showing posts from March, 2017
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Could driving be causing you back or neck pain? Travelling to work, shopping, ferrying the children around, getting to meetings, visiting friends and relatives; for many people driving is a routine activity, an essential part of daily life. And it’s a very comfortable and convenient way of travelling, especially in the winter, when the cold, wet weather sets in. But all this time spent sitting in a car seat is bad news for our backs because it causes 50% more pressure on the lumbar discs compared to standing up¹. In the interest of safety car manufacturers have adapted car seats, so that our knees are now higher than our hips. Unfortunately, this is a far from ideal sitting position, compromising what we (chiropractors) would recommend as ‘good posture’. On top of this, when we drive our legs move asymmetrically to use the pedals, causing us to twist and turn in order to be able to check what’s going on around us, and to stretch in order to change gears and steer the wheel.

Get fit without getting injured

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Get fit without getting injured The gym; an intimidating testosterone-filled place full of bodybuilders and fitness freaks in lycra. For some, this can already be the ‘nope’ point. I mean, who wants to rock up to a building full of sweaty gym rats?! Once you have gotten over this hurdle, and accepted that your health and fitness comes first, then you can focus on your own mission and get down to work. First, depending on your goals, it’s always a good idea to record your progress in a notebook or phone app. Shedding that extra pound or maybe even lifting an extra rep all adds up in the long run. Evidence of where you started, and proof of your progress, can keep you going through the tough times. So, you’ve got your mind on a goal, your target destination. You’re underway and loving the new body you’re getting. But how do you keep progressing whilst limiting injury? Did you know that the most common gym injury is caused by bad form (wrong or poor technique). Fo

To stand tall or not to stand tall?

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To stand tall or not to stand tall? In my experience, so many people take their posture for granted, not realising how much it can impact there lives. I grew up walking around my grandmothers living room with a book or bottle balanced on my head. 'Keep your shoulders back, look forward, stand tall' she used to say. I found this highly entertaining and saw it more of a game than something that would help me later in life. On a daily basis, I see people that are in pain brought on by bad posture, sometimes working too long at a desk, sitting in a car for a long duration, lifting something in the wrong way or carrying a baby on one side. Granted, sometimes these things are unavoidable but most of the time these very bad habits can easily be changed. Too often I'll be walking through a supermarket and see someone hunched over pushing there trolley, more often than the older generation. This is likely to be caused by a lifetime of poor posture. Not only will
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Your Wellness Profile All of us have had health-related issues at some time or other. Whether it's low back pain, headaches, asthma, gastritis, an ankle sprain, or a rotator cuff injury, we've all had a health problem that ultimately needed treatment. Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and various types of cancer are especially difficult and usually require interacting with multiple specialists over many years. However, regardless of our health history, it's worthwhile for all of us to stop for a bit, sit down quietly, and take stock of our current health status. As we carefully assess our current situation and where we'd like to be, telling the truth to ourselves is very important. Remarkably, engaging in the process of such an honest overview may create an opening for a new appreciation of the personal importance of health. It's likely that we will notice some dissatisfaction with our current health circumstances and may experience
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Regular Chiropractic Care and Effective Exercise When we work on developing new skills in sports or activities we're counting on our nerve system to perform its critical functions of command and control. These functions are required for effective training of muscles, tendons, and joints, so that these musculoskeletal structures can advance in adaptability and performance. As your body's master system, your nerve system is responsible for coordinating all the physiological processes of all your body's other systems. The interrelations among these complex activities must be addressed instantaneously and accurately. Regular chiropractic care helps ensure that your nerve system is free of nerve interference and operating at peak capacity. As a result, regular chiropractic care helps us advance in our exercise and sports activities, gain new skills, and enjoy long-term health and well-being.

Rejuvenation Versus Resignation

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Rejuvenation Versus Resignation With the new year and arrival of Spring; we should consider making the commitment to regular chiropractic care at the top of our resolutions list. By detecting and correcting spinal misalignments that are sources of nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps keep the nerve system in peak condition. With a well-tuned nerve system, the rest of our physiological systems such as the cardiorespiratory, digestive, and immune systems are enabled to function at top capacity. In this way, regular chiropractic care helps to optimize all our physiological functions so that we can enjoy long-term health. This is the time of the year when our recently made resolutions are put to the test. Were they holiday-fueled imaginings or meaningful expressions of our heart's true desires? Are our resolutions sturdy things that will help us carry out our goals and plans for the rest of the year or are they flimsy constructs composed of hopes rather than sub

The Therapeutic Science Of Adult Coloring Books

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The Therapeutic Science Of Adult Coloring Books: How This Childhood Pastime Helps Adults Relieve Stress Colouring used to be reserved for children and the occasional adult who got to babysit them, but recently, the activity has found a different demographic. What started as a niche hobby has now turned into an international trend, as adult coloring books find themselves on more and more bestsellers’ lists throughout the world. However, while this trend may be a fun way to pass the time, it’s the books’ therapeutic properties that really have them flying off shelves. Adult coloring is both beautiful and relaxing.  Maxime De Ruyck CC BY 2.0 The Healing Power Of Art Art may not be able to cure disease, but it can surely make coping with it a lot better. Researchers have acknowledged the therapeutic qualities of art for years, and today, art therapy is used to help people express themselves when what they’re feeling is too difficult to put into words, such as when they’re fac

Spring Cleaning!

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It’s that time of year! People dust the corners and break out the ladder for spring cleaning.  But many people are unaware of the potential risk of injury that may occur as the result of spring cleaning. You need to know that thousands of injuries occur every year with the use of simple gardening tools. Even more injuries occur as the result of handling a ladder improperly. So the key to avoid spring cleaning injuries is to know your LIMITS. It’s easy and tempting to take on more spring cleaning chores than your body can accommodate because you don’t feel the ‘pain’ immediately. So be sure to take breaks throughout. Another important idea is to stretch before spring cleaning.  Yes, S-T-R-E-T-C-H. A little stretching can go a long way to prevent injuring your back and neck. Here are some simple rules I want you to follow so you don’t injure your back. “Five Rules To Avoid Spring Cleaning Injuries… Inside Your Home.” Rule 1    Prepare an appropriate sc

Leeks - Did you know?

With their unique combination of flavonoids and sulfur-containing nutrients, the allium vegetables belong in your diet on a regular basis. There's research evidence for including at least one serving of an allium vegetable in your meal plan every day. If you're choosing leeks, make your individual portion 1/2 cup or greater, and try to include at least one cup of chopped leeks in your recipes. Many people are unfamiliar with how to cook leeks or how to include them in a Healthiest Way of Eating. We recommend cutting them very thinly and preparing them by using our Healthy Sauté method of cooking. Like their allium cousins, onions and garlic, let leeks sit for at least 5 minutes after cutting and before cooking. Our Tips for Preparing and Cooking and How to Enjoy sections below will give you more details on the best ways to bring leeks into your meal plan.  Leeks, cooked 1.00 cup (104.00 grams) Calories: 32 GI:  medium Nutrient DRI/DV   vitamin K 29%   mangan