Health blog Category: balance
What Are You Doing to Prevent Fall Sports Injuries?
The leaves turning and the cooling of the air brings back the clatter of football and the squeak of sneakers on a basketball court. Along with a return to these dynamic sports subsequently has an uptick in ankle and knee injuries. Let’s talk about how to prevent these injuries!
One of the best things to do for injury prevention is to have a well balanced, dynamic routine for stretching and strengthening to prevent those injuries to our athletes.
Read full blogIs The Room Spinning?
Have you ever had the sensation that the room was spinning and you didn’t just come off of a rollercoaster? That sensation is called vertigo. Vertigo can be classified as the room spinning or if you feel like you are spinning.
Why does this happen?
There are several causes of vertigo some of which are related to issues of the brain and others that have to do with your inner ear. Your brain is the hierarchy of balance and your brain is connected to your inner ear via a nerve. When something goes wrong with parts of the brain or inner ear it can cause lightheadedness, balance issues, and nausea in addition to vertigo.
How can you tell if the symptom of vertigo is a serious issue?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does vertigo occur when you change the position of your head and/or body?
Improving Balance and Reducing Injuries
Balance is what gives us the ability to walk on two legs and perform our daily routines. Our sense of balance changes over the course of our entire lives. Balance and the vestibular system develop as we grow from a baby all the way through adulthood, and then declines as we get older.
Most people don’t know their balance is not optimum until they suffer a sports injury, trip and fall, or lose their balance in the shower.
Balance Issues Occur in Both Older and Younger Populations
Balance issues occur in anyone, regardless of age. However, the cause of balance issues and how to treat them differ in older and younger populations.
We all have three systems that all work together to ensure we have good balance.
- We have our balance organ, which is our vestibular system in the inner ear.
- We have our leg strength.
- We also have our visual component which we rely heavily on when something else is not working properly.
How Physical Therapy Can Correct Muscle Imbalances
Many people still believe that physical therapy is only needed for rehabilitation after injury, accidents, or surgery. In reality, almost everyone can benefit from physical therapy to prevent minor recurring aches and pains or subtle losses of flexibility from becoming debilitating health issues. Physical therapists can help because many of our aches and pains are caused by muscle imbalances. This is true whether we are couch potatoes, dedicated fitness enthusiasts or athletes.
Read full blogStay in the Game: Avoid Sports Injuries
All sports we participate in, whether it be football, rugby, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, or many others, require a wide range of movements. Athletes have to be able to jump, run, change direction, and change speed. With so much variability, the possibility of sustaining an injury while practicing or playing is common. Injuries can pertain to specific muscles or joints, ranging from muscle strains (“pulled muscles: or tear in muscle tissue) to sprains of ligaments that help stabilize joints.
Read full blog“Living With” Low Back Problems
Many of us think low back problems are just something we have to “live with” so we try to push through the pain. However, physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for resolving our lower back pain thus greatly improving our quality of life.
When it comes to this condition, the number one complaint is pain and stiffness which gets worse when you stand, walk or are in one position for a prolonged period of time.
How to Strengthen Your Core Muscles in 4 Easy Steps
Have you ever had that sagging feeling at the end of a long day? You know, when your belly seems to protrude way out and your back aches. The main reason for this is your lack of core strength. Your core is made up of a variety of muscles that support your trunk and spine. These include your abdominal, erector spinal, multifidi, pelvic, and hip muscles. A healthy, strong and flexible core is the key to having great posture, a slim stomach, relieving back pain, and feeling energetic.
Read full blogCore Strength and Improved Balance
You may be wondering how core strength can help improve your balance. Well here’s your answer: When the “core” muscles around your trunk are strong, they prevent chronic lower back pain and many other injuries, but they also keep you from losing your balance and falling down. A stronger core will help to keep you upright — especially as you age and start to become more at risk of falling.
How Core Strength and Balance Are Linked
There are three systems in your body that help to control your balance.
Read full blogWhy are Strength and Balance so Important?
Why is Strength and Balance so important?
Strength is directly correlated to balance because of the benefits it has on body mechanics and joint strength. As you age, you want to continue to build muscle mass to reduce the stress on your bones and joints. The more strength you have surrounding the joints, the more support they will have in your daily activities and the less you will feel the wear and tear you put on your body.