Category Archives: Health

My Pain Issues Were Gone With Myotherapy

Some people fear old age because of the many health issues it brings. When I was a teenager, my grandmother lived with us. She had arthritis and many times, we heard her groaning because of the intense pain her condition caused.

It was hard to see her suffering and I decided to do everything to protect myself from arthritis. I do not know if arthritis runs in the blood but, here I am, at the early age of 50, already suffering from arthritis.

Arthritis and Myotherapy

I searched for information regarding arthritis and how to deal with it. After trying several remedies, I did not find lasting relief. During my search, I came across Myotherapy and how the techniques it uses can treat my condition.

Arthritis is caused by the inflammation of the joints. It causes swelling, stiffness of the joints, and pain. Treatments include taking pain killers, but I heard many people have gotten rid of the chronic pain through myotherapy.

Myotherapy is a physical therapy that uses several techniques such as myofascial dry needling, hot or cold therapy, trigger point therapy or acupuncture, electrical nerve stimulation therapy, and passive stretching. It is also called neuromuscular therapy.

Myofascial therapy is an effective remedy for osteoarthritis, especially on the knees. Acupuncture and passive stretching have also been known to reduce inflammation and chronic pain.

I decided to learn more about Myotherapy and this brought me to a myotherapy clinic in Brunswick, Australia. I decided to visit this Melbourne myotherapy web site to learn more about it and it was impressive. It prompted me to drive to the clinic immediately.

Giving Myofascial Treatment A Try

Having tried several treatments already, I decided to give myotherapy a try. A big number of people suffering from chronic pain has been seeking treatment in this clinic.

Many of them are people that lead active lives such as athletes. However, people who suffer from chronic pain also seek help from this clinic. What is unique about myotherapy is that after conducting a thorough check-up to determine the cause and the kind of chronic pain, a personalised treatment program is prepared.

Each patient is treated differently because, in this type of therapy, no single treatment can fit all. The patient is assured that the treatment he gets really remedies his ailment.

Difference Between Massage and Myotherapy

Neuromuscular therapy uses massage but it is different from other massage treatments. One big difference is that a myotherapist uses several massage techniques to treat the patient.

The myotherapist has a deeper knowledge of the musculoskeletal structure of the body. He is trained to identify the parts of the body that cause pain and they can use treatment that targets the source of pain.

This means that if the chronic pain you have needs a different kind of massage treatment, your options can be limited. However, with myotherapy, any chronic pain has its matching treatment.

Aside from neuromuscular therapy, the facility also offers remedial massage and sports massage.

Treatments are available for all types of chronic pains and even pregnant women can be treated without fearing for the effects on her pregnancy and her baby. Because no medical drugs are involved, neuromuscular massage is safe for everyone.

What to Expect When Signing Up for Therapy

Physical therapy conducted by a myotherapist always starts with questions regarding the history of your chronic pain and a thorough check-up. A unique treatment program is designed for you. Then, your therapy sessions are scheduled.

The patient must attend all the sessions for the treatment to succeed. After six weeks of regular therapy, my pain gradually ceased. Thanks to my myotherapist who did everything he can to help me.

Today, I am pain-free and back to my normal life. I had a list of the exercises to perform regularly and a recommended diet plan for holistic treatment.

I look forward to getting back to my normal life after I’m home. Just the thought of a painless existence makes me feel happy and thankful.

Got Back Pain? Try an Inversion Table!

These days, a lot of people have back pains. It amazes me that as early as 25, I already experienced lower back pain as if I was already aging.

I guess I can blame it on posture and the very little time I spend exercising and focusing on blood circulation.

What’s an Inversion Table?

If you haven’t heard of it yet, an inversion table is like a cot where you lie down, strap yourself to it, and control it to a position where you are suspended upside down.

It’s like being in a handstand except that you are not putting your weight in your hands.

An inversion table is the main equipment used in inversion therapy. Inversion therapy is a technique that focuses on shifting gravity in your body to allow proper blood circulation and muscle relaxation.

Although there are barely any studies that prove inversion therapy’s effectiveness, the logic of the whole technique was enough for me to try it.

Benefits of Inversion Therapy

Of course, I still did research before deciding to buy an inversion table. I found that there are many benefits to doing inversion therapy, here are just some:

1. Fewer Back Pains

Since I always get back pains, I wanted to look for something that will address this above anything else.

Fortunately, buying an inversion table can focus on lessening the back pains that I have since it targets the muscles around my back and the spine itself.

There’s even a study that shows the reduced chances of getting back pain just by spending 3-minute sets on the inversion table.

2. Stronger Spine

The spine is one of the most underrated bones in the body. Without it functioning properly, you could cease to walk, jump, stand, or do anything that you love.

Going through inversion therapy can help increase the fluids that protect the spine and all the bones that make it.

3. Relaxed Legs

We spend most of our days standing up or sitting down. Either way, our feet carry all our weight so it just feels right to let it relax.

The best way to do it is to go upside down so that you shift all your weight from your feet to the inversion table.

Picking the Right Inversion Table

If you’re wondering where to buy inversion tables, you can buy online or at brick-and-mortar shops so that you can see each model for yourself.

But before doing this, I suggest that you know what to look for in an inversion table.

First, you have to check the sturdiest brands. It should be able to support your weight or heavier. If possible, you can look at videos or ask for a demo so that you can see how sturdy it is when someone is already lying on the inversion table.

Second, you want to consider its design. It’s more than looking nice and sleek. The design I’m talking about is its ergonomic design.

When it comes to going upside down, you have to make sure that its design will help support not just your back, but also your neck.

Another thing I recommend checking is the handlebars. Well, you have to know how many angles the inversion table is allowing.

For inversion therapy, going upside down isn’t the only position that can help relieve back pain. In fact, you have to do a few sets of different angles.

And lastly, I personally would buy an inversion table that has other features. For example, if it has heating pads, then that would be nice since heat helps warm the tension in my back.

There are a lot of inversion tables out there but before you shell out money for this, know your preferences and standards in inversion tables.

5 Factors to Consider When Buying an Exercise Bike

Biking brings about numerous health benefits, which is why a growing number of people nowadays have become bike enthusiasts and gyms consider exercise bikes as staple equipment. Among the benefits are increased cardiovascular fitness, improved circulation, weight loss, stronger bones, and more toned muscles.

Despite the advantages, not all bikes are created equal. There are those that cause accidents and those that do not fail to deliver results. Some are intended for athletes while others are specially designed for beginners. If you are intending to buy one for personal use, here are some factors you need to consider:

Noise

Exercise bikes are stationary machines run by applied leg force. Old exercise bike models create noise, either humming or squeaking, when in full motion. While the noise may appear tolerable, it unconsciously seeps in through your mind, disrupting your focus. In Australia, there is a plethora of exercise bike options to choose from and among those with noise-free design is the Vortex V1600.

Size

The size of your bike matters, lest you stretch a specific muscle group unnecessarily. If you’ve tried riding a big mountain bike when you were six or a mini kiddie bike when you were 30, you know exactly about the body strain caused by a bike-body size mismatch. Ideally, you must be able to reach the pedals comfortably. The distance between your body and the handlebars should be at an arm’s length, enough for you to slightly bend your elbows or to fully rest your forearm on the bar. Again, different sizes and features are available nowadays. So it certainly helps to read Australian exercise bike reviews, so you would be better guided.

Features

You should be able to track down the number of cycles you’ve undertaken without the arduous task of manual counting. That said, exercise bike features truly matter. Purchase those that have an embedded digital counter. Also pay attention to the bike seat; it should be comfortable and durable enough to withstand the weight of the users. Handlebars should preferably be adjustable and the controls should be user-friendly. If you want, you can even choose exercise bikes with a heart-rate monitor. This feature helps avoid medical emergencies, such as stroke and heart attack.

Most importantly, when deciding on features you should be able to realistically assess your skills and health condition. Upright exercise bikes are better suited for beginners as they resemble closely the traditional bikes. Recumbent exercise bikes, on the other hand, offer the riders a reclining position because of the back rest. They also allow more rigorous training and wider coverage of muscle toning. Then again, the decision rests mainly on your expertise level.

Alternative Programming

Focusing on a single exercise regimen over and over again for a long period of time is stifling. You definitely need a breather in the form of an alternative exercise set. Your exercise bike programs, therefore, must be able to accommodate different resistance levels and other fitness requirements. For instance, the York Fitness’ C410 model allows a complete 12 variations in resistance levels, thereby enabling the users to achieve their fitness goals, apart from offering them an elegant design. Furthermore, there are newer models that allow users to watch videos, play music, or play games while exercising through the embedded video screens. This creates a fun experience.

Budget

The average price of exercise bikes is within $200 to $2,500, depending on the features and brand. If you are new to the routine or still testing the waters, it is recommended that you purchase the low-cost bikes first, lest you find the exercise inappropriate for your health status or personal preference. From there, you can gradually upgrade to more advanced features.

While biking is great, it may not be for everyone and spending $200 at the very least is no joke. You need to ensure the value for your investment. Consider the 5 factors above and surely you will make wiser purchase decisions.

The Health Benefits of Water

drinking waterHealth is considered the most important aspect in our lives but unfortunately, many of us disregard its importance not until a problem is encountered. The cliché ‘health is wealth’ is actually true and thus we should not take this for granted.

Even if we are feeling well, strong and energetic we should not forget the fact that sickness can always occur in the future. At one point or another, each person gets sick for reasons such weather change, acquiring a virus from a different place, or sometimes due to fatigue. At the onset of any health issue, seeing a doctor is the smartest move. In addition, practicing a healthy lifestyle should also be carried out. One way of living healthily is by keeping the body hydrated. This, therefore, brings us to the topic of drinking water. What exactly are the health benefits of water? Let’s go ahead and learn more.

Scientifically, our body weight comprises 60 percent of water. Our body uses water inside tissues, organs and cells so that these would function normally and at the same time regulate the temperature in the body. Knowing that our body loses water through digestion, breathing and sweating, this has to be replaced by means of rehydration or drinking fluids. Another healthy method of rehydration is eating foods which contain plenty water. In that case, fruits and vegetables are the best source.

There are a number of factors which affect the amount of water your body needs. These are: how physically active you are, climate you live in and whether an illness or health problem is being experienced. As recommended by health professionals, 8 glasses of water is the ideal amount to be taken every single day. While water is the best thirst-quenching liquid, it also promotes a number of benefits. Here they are:

Water Protects the Joints, Spinal Cord and Tissues

Water keeps the tissues in the body moist. When the tissues run dry, it can be associated to the feeling when your mouth, nose and eyes gets dry. Hydrating the body means allowing sensitive areas of the body such as bones, brain and blood to retain their optimum levels of moisture. Furthermore, water protects the spinal cord and functions as a lubricant in cushioning the joints.

Water Aids in Digestion

Digestion starts in the oral cavity where the breakdown of food is initiated with the aid of saliva, the basis of which is water. The process of digestion takes place through the presence of enzymes and liquid that help dissolve nutrients and minerals. Water aids in the digestion of soluble fiber which results to a healthy bowel movement.

Water Helps Your Body Remove Waste

The excretion of waste from the body is manifested through defecation, urination and perspiration. The liver, intestines and kidneys need water to flush out waste from the body regularly. Water eliminates the problem of constipation by helping move the food in the intestinal tract and softening the stool before excretion. One important thing note is that increased amount of water intake does not guarantee cure for constipation. Severe cases must be under the advice of a doctor.

Water Prevents Dehydration

When the body engages into vigorous activities such as exercise, dancing and running, plenty of fluid is eliminated from the body through perspiration. Loss of fluids also occurs when a person experiences high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Fluid intake, particularly water, can help restore the body’s hydration level. In the case of urinary tract infection, bladder infection and renal stones, the doctor would recommend increased amount of water intake above the normal 8 glasses a day. For pregnant women or nursing mothers, water intake is also increased due to the utilization of more fluids in the body when conceiving or breastfeeding. Caution is required though on the amount that is why you need to consult with your physician.

Upon knowing how important water is in our lives, it is also necessary to learn the ideal amount that the body needs. This brings us to the question – how much water do you need?

One good indication whether or not you are dehydrated is by determining the color of your urine. If the color is clear, then you are pretty in good shape however, when the color is dark, you are probably dehydrated. Dehydration can be prevented by drinking enough water when you get thirsty. And in order to achieve good physical health, always include water or any healthy beverage with each meal of the day.

Water does not only facilitate proper digestion, it too does many wonders for the health which include, healthy skin and hair, cleaner teeth and gums, good hygiene and others. Make it a habit to drink water not only when you get thirsty but in between meals as well. Prevention is always better than cure therefore, make it a lifestyle to become a water drinker. It is the most inexpensive wellness regimen which is very safe for everyone.