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Between 12/1/09 and 3/1/10 receive a $10 discount off of a massage, massage package or gift certificate purchase. Call Now To Make Your Appointment! Donna Ray LMP 425-827-3102 ex 1 Easy Tips For Minimizing Muscle And Joint Strain Even though our lifestyles are very different from our ancient ancestors, physiologically our requirement for movement hasn’t changed. This doesn’t mean you need to be a marathon runner to stay healthy. Here are some simple tips to help you maximize your body’s fitness and ability to withstand strain. Keep moving! Avoid inactivity for longer than 1 hour without getting up and moving around (except of course while sleeping). A major cause of blood clots in the lower legs is sitting for long periods. When your muscles aren’t working they are pooling in their own waste and being deprived of nutrients and oxygen. If you sit at a computer, get up frequently and swing your arms around, move your shoulders up and down, shake out your legs and take a few deep slow breaths. Keep your muscles in shape! There is a link between chronic pain and tense weak muscles. Also, a major cause of falling in aging adults is muscle weakness and poor balance. Adopt whatever exercise routine is appropriate for your age and fitness level. If you are unsure, consult your physician. Use reasonable and correct body mechanics. Use your legs! When pushing, pulling, lifting and reaching, keep your legs under you and let them do the work. It is helpful to put one foot in front of the other hip width apart to provide support and so you can push off from the ground. Keep your upper body moving in the same direction as your lower body. The idea is to lead with your feet. Never plant your feet and then twist your upper body, unless this is done in a controlled way as during an exercise or stretching routine. This is especially important if you are carrying weight. Pick up your feet and step through the movement, no matter how small, always keeping your feet and shoulders going the same direction. If you need to bend to pick something up, bend at the hips, keep the lower back flat and shoulder blades pulled back and down (as if you were putting them in your back pockets). Carry your load close to your body. If you are sitting and need to reach forward, keep your back straight and hinge at the hip joint. Remember, you can’t pick up a box, drive a car, or rake the lawn with your head. Many of us hold our heads too far forward during activities, especially at the computer. This causes neck strain and headaches. Consider that the average head weighs about 8 pounds. It is meant to sit evenly on top of your spine. The small muscles in the neck and those that attach the neck to the head aren’t meant to hold heavy weight, they are meant to rotate, flex and extend the neck and head. If your head is too far off of the center of gravity these small muscles are overworked and develop fibrosis and trigger points which degrade the condition of the muscle tissue and refer pain into the head and down to the arms and hands. Try this simple exercise. It is easy over the course of a day to lose awareness of how our bodies are feeling. One quick way to demonstrate this is, after an hour or so at the computer or working in the yard, stop and close your eyes. You will become instantly aware of how your body is feeling in the moment. Your eyes and other senses use up brain power and when engaged can block conscious sensation from your muscles and other parts of your body. With your eyes still closed, start moving around, adjusting your posture, your position until you feel your muscles relax. |
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