Posts Tagged ‘exercise’

Foam Rollers Work

August 21, 2008
Top 5 Foam Roller Exercises

The Foam Roller is a simple and effective tool used for balance and alignment.  A foam roller helps in developing core stabilization, stamina, and body awareness.  Foam rollers are excellent exercise tools. They can be very effective props in pilates and other exercise classes and  they are fun to experiment with.

Foam rollers do provide a compression massage which does improve circulation. By placing the large muscles you wish to compress on the roller and allowing your your body’s weight to press them into the hard foam, you improve circulation and loosen tight body knots in your muscles and tendons ensuring  proper muscle quality.

Foam Rollers come in different sizes

Foam Rolling:

You place the roller between your muscle and the floor and use your body weight to gently and slowly roll for the entire length of your muscle.

When you reach a painful spot, stop rolling and use your body weight to press down. Hold that spot until the pain goes away. If the pain does not seem to go away, don’t worry, just continue rolling and hit all of your “spots”.

Start off slow eventually it will be come a part of your exercise routine and you find relief and start feeling better all over!

Sold at MedEx01.com

How do you BOSU?

April 9, 2008

The best thing about the BOSU Balance Trainer, besides its versatility, is that it adds fun to your usual workouts. Use it in place of your step for aerobic workouts (very tough) and while doing some traditional yoga poses, like warrior and triangle. It makes the workouts challenging and interesting.

Using the Bosu Balance Trainer can help improve:

Balance Because the BOSU Balance Trainer is never stable, you’re constantly engaging the small stabilizer muscles in the upper and lower body to keep you in place.

Kinesthetic awareness This is just a fancy word for your awareness of how the body is positioned at any given moment. This awareness is something that often declines as we age, so the Balance Trainer can help you stay connected with how your body moves.

Proprioception This is another fancy word describing how your body responds to external forces to keep your joints in the right position. When you stand on a Balance Trainer, all of your muscles are forced to contract to keep your joints in proper position. This helps make normal activities easier.

BOSU Balance Trainer Sold at MedEx01.com

Reclined Hamstring Stretch

January 13, 2008

The hamstring stretches done while lying on the back are gentler and place less stress on the back than those done while sitting. Depending on a person’s specific medical condition and level of pain, the lying down position may be preferable and comfortable. In particular, a person with low back pain should choose whichever position is most tolerable for their back while still giving a gentle stretch.

Check out the Hamstring Stretch-Rx  Sold at MedEx01.com

Prescription for Tight Hamstrings

January 13, 2008

Working like a personal trainer, the patented Hamstring Stretch-Rx puts the athlete or patient in complete control of their hamstring stretch.

The superior supine (back lying) positioning isolates hamstring muscles for optimal stretching while preventing injury by protecting the low back.

Hamstring Stretch-Rx  is light, portable and convenient for use at home as well as travel yet durable enough to be used in the clinic or training room.
 

The unique handle with its rapid line-length adjustment and release lever allows for dramatically increased flexibility (range of motion) improvement. In addition, contract-relax and hold-relax routines formerly requiring assistance of a therapist or trainer can now be done independently to further enhance flexibility.

Includes exercise guide designed by a physical therapist and comes with a drawstring bag for easy transport.

Hamstring Stretch-Rx Sold at MedEx01.com

The Bongo Board is a Blast to Ride

January 6, 2008

The Bongo Balance Board Lets You Have Fun As You Improve Strength and Stability

Condition Muscles to Increase Coordination

This balance board works by conditioning your muscles’ core stability and reflexes that act upon the body’s sense of equilibrium, allowing proper distribution of body weight. The Bongo Board develops balance and coordination skills essential to most sports and daily activities. Skateboarders, snowboarders, and surfers will find that the Bongo Board helps to improve skills during the off-seasons.

Complete Exercise Guide Included

While your own creativity sets the limit, the included booklet offers tips and maneuvers to try and to master, ranging from basic to advanced. Be sure to start out using a spotter or support of some sort until you become accustomed to the movement of the board. Consult a physician before starting this or any other exercise program.

Fitter Bongo Board Sold at MedEx01.com

Trigger Points Can Occur in any Muscle

December 17, 2007

Trigger points can occur in any muscle. Remember that every person is unique, and that you are the best judge of your pain and discomfort. Regular use of The Original Backnobber II tool can help you better understand the source and nature of such problems and can be an exceptionally valuable aid in your pursuit of a healthy, pain free lifestyle. The guidelines listed below can be followed when using The Original Backnobber II tool on any muscle in the body.1– Isolate a trigger point by pressing firmly with your fingertips or The Original Backnobber II tool over a specific part of the neck, shoulders, upper, middle or lower back, buttocks or thighs.2- When you feel a hard knot (like a lump) or soreness, apply pressure to determine the level of tenderness in the area. Some sensation of pain is to be expected from the pressure; although for many people, this sensation is quite pleasurable and satisfying. Experiment to determine a tolerable level of pressure.3Once you have located the trigger point and know how it feels, you’re ready to begin using The Original Backnobber II tool. As you become more accustomed to detecting trigger points on your body and how to apply pressure, you can begin immediately with The Original Backnobber II tool instead of performing the preliminary search.

4- The Original Backnobber II tool can be hooked over the shoulder or under the arm. Apply direct, steady, pressure to the trigger point in the muscle.
5- Pressure preferences vary widely among professionals and patients alike, but for many, pressure can be effectively applied for between 5 and 30 seconds. It often takes time for muscles to begin to “trust” the pressure, so the first 20 seconds may be a mere beginning. In general it is best to start slowly and gradually increase pressure as desired following your own best intuition and feelings.6- Apply pressure firmly to the affected muscle. Move along the muscle band at one-inch intervals. Stop and apply longer or deeper pressure to any knots or lumps as you work. Although almost any pressure on a muscle will usually have some releasing effect, it is best to apply pressure along the entire muscle from one end to the other, in approximately one inch intervals, and then stretch before moving onto another area.

7– Harmony and balance between both sides of the body are vital to achieving proper posture and function. It is best to work both sides of the body, just in case any pain is referred to the other side after being “detriggered.”

8- Remember to breathe! Sit back, relax and take some deep breathes both before, during and after using The Original Backnobber II tool.


9– Specific concentration on breathing can enhance the desired results of the trigger point technique. Take a deep breath and begin applying pressure as you exhale. Continue deep breathing as you perform this trigger point technique.

10- In addition to using The Original Backnobber II tool, paying attention to healthy lifestyle habits may also produce noticeable and desired results. Drink plenty of water, participate in physical activity at least 30 minutes a day, eat properly and get plenty of sleep. As you notice improvement in function and movement, you may also find yourself relaxing and enjoying life more than ever before!The Original Backnobber II tool is a wonderful gift. It is on Sale at Medex01.com for $37.66

Therma Moist Heating Pad by Drive

October 10, 2007

 

The Therma Moist Heating Pad requires no water to be added, as an outer flannel cover draws and retains humidity from the air. As the heating pad warms, the moisture is released from the flannel cover and onto the treated area. The heating pad is ideal for the treatment of arthritis, back pain, sprains and strains, muscle soreness, neck pain, headaches and sports injuries.

To clean, remove cover from heating pad. Machine or hand wash. Use mild detergent in cool water. Hang to dry or use set on cool gentle cycle in dryer.

Features:

* The positioning strap with Velcro-type closure ensures a secure, proper fit for maximum treatment

* The easy to use hand control features four heat settings and four time settings (Heat settings: 115/130/150/165 degrees Fahrenheit, 45/55/65/75 Celsius – Time settings: 15/30/45/60 minutes)

* Moist heat therapy is more effective than dry heat because moisture transmits heat more efficiently than air

* The heating pad will automatically shut off after treatment

* Three sizes are available to provide added convenience

Drive Therma Moist Heating Pad – Sold at Medex01.com