Knees are needed Knee pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages. The knee is a hinge joint providing our body with flexibility, support, and a wide range of motion for our legs.(1) This weight-bearing joint is exposed to significant stress as we perform our usual routines. It also serves a large role during activities such as …
Understanding Pain: Why do we “pick the scab?”
Back pain is the #1 cause of disability globally, with 50-80 percent of the adult population experiencing back pain at some point in their life (1). This means there is a high likelihood you will, at some point in your life, experience an episode of back pain. To many, back pain can seem mysterious. It can be difficult to comprehend …
The Adverse Effects of Blue Light
Screens and Sleep Don’t Mix A recent study of 1,500 Americans found that 90 percent of adults use an electronic device within 1 hour of bedtime at least a few times per week. And while many factors can contribute to one’s sleep quality, devices may be an important contributor to insomnia because of the short-wavelength-enriched light that is emitted from …
All About Sleep
Oxygen, water, food, and sleep. These are four essentials to life. Without them peoples’ health suffers. Sleep is an important factor that heavily influences our performance at work, our risk for chronic disease, and our overall quality of life. Sleep researchers, however, aren’t clear on the exact reason why humans even need to sleep. From an evolutionary perspective sleep would …
How to Shovel Safely
Winter is no joke Snow adds a beautiful touch to these cold, snowy winter days. That is until you have to drive in it or remove it. Unfortunately for those of us without snow blowers, shoveling is one of those necessary evils we must do as homeowners. Des Moines gets an average of 3 ft (36.5in) of snow per year, …
Safety Tips to Prevent Slipping on Ice
Rule #1=Prevention! Plan ahead. Give yourself sufficient time and plan your route. (1) Wear proper footwear. Try to wear flat-soles shoes and avoid shoes with heels. (1) Products are available with abrasive soles or cleats that provide increased traction while walking on snow and ice. Keep both hands free for balance rather than in your pockets. (1) Wear a heavy …
Tennis Elbow versus Golf Elbow
Tennis elbow and golf elbow Tennis elbow and golf elbow are very common. Despite the names, you don’t have to be a golfer or a tennis player to develop either of these elbow tendonitis-related injuries. Both of these injuries typically develop when certain tendons in your elbow become overloaded, overused, or poorly used. Typically, these elbow injuries occur from repetitive …
New year, new deductible
The new year can bring many things. For those who have a calendar-year deductible health insurance plan, it means a deductible reset. If you’re unsure how a deductible plan works and how to navigate insurance coverage to meet your healthcare goals, here are some details for you. What does a new deductible mean for you? Let’s dig into that by …
The Value of Stretching at the Office/Home Office
4 Stretches for the Office Take a few minutes at different parts of your day to make some changes to your posture, your flexibility, and potentially some of your discomfort. The next time you feel poor posture or immobility plaguing you, try these four stretches at your desk: 1. Chin Retraction Chin retraction stretch step 1 Chin retraction stretch step …
All About Sciatica
VIDEO: Sciatica relief in two at-home exercises What is sciatica? Sciatica is pain that’s felt along the back of the leg following the sciatic nerve, often on one side of the body. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body. At its widest point, it’s about the size of your thumb. It runs from the low …