3 Tips for Sports Fans
October 28, 2010
Fall is here. For sports lovers that means football and hockey, plus basketball will start soon and baseball is wrapping up with the World Series. Whether you’re going to games or watching them at home, there are a few things you can do to make sure your body doesn’t pay the price of spectating:
- Stand up for 10 minutes every 50 minutes. Don’t sit for more than 50 minutes. While the game might encourage a jump to your feet every once in a while, make sure you intentionally stand up and walk around. There is no perfect posture, pillow or chair to be in for hours at a time, so get up to refill your water at half time or make a trip to the restroom between periods.
- Mind your posture. How you sit will affect how your body feels for days or weeks following the game. Your hips and knees should make 90 degree angles while sitting, and focus on tilting pelvis forward, pulling in your bellybutton to your spine, shoulders down and back and neck elongated.
- Watch your food intake. A lot of stadiums or arenas offer tasty food – nachos, hot dogs, etc. While it’s okay to indulge once in a while, keep moderation in mind. Pick out one special treat – then stick to water, fruits and veggies. This applies to those watching at home, too. It’s easy to mindlessly eat a lot of chips or sweets. To control how much you eat, put the food in another room and monitor what you put on your plate.
What additional tips do you have?
What Is A “Routine Procedure”?
October 26, 2010
What does this mean? Many are performed? Many are ordered? Certainly it doesn’t mean that it is without risk. Although when we say that isn’t that what we are thinking? “It’s just routine, no big deal, nothing could go wrong.”
A friend of a friend went in to the hospital for a routine test a few weeks ago. Something went wrong during the test, he was kept overnight and released the following day. This man suffered for the next few days at home until he was transported back to the hospital where every effort was made to help him. The sad ending to this story is that after spending 2 weeks in the hospital,he died. This was a routine test and he was a young man.
Photo Credit: aaron_anderer @flickr.com
There are risks to all seemingly simple procedures. Do your homework, get informed, find out if there may be other options and ask yourself- what am I going to do with the information I will get from the test? Will it change what I am currently doing?
So how do you stay well and limit your participation in the medical system? LIFESTYLE. Is there something in your lifestyle that you know you need to change? Stop thinking about it or beating yourself up and just make one small change today that will make you feel good about your future.
What will you do today to ensure a healthier future?
Yet Another Benefit to Water
October 21, 2010
We’ve mentioned how important water is for your general health before, but did you know it can actually help you lose weight effectively, too?
According to CNN.com, drinking 2 cups of water prior to a meal can help you shed pounds at a healthy rate and keep the weight off – a much safer alternative to dangerous drugs and highly questionable chemicals!
Drinking 2 cups of water prior to each meal isn’t enough for the whole day, though. Take your body weight in pounds, divide in half and aim for that many ounces per day. Bring a water bottle to work with you, or keep one in your car so you remember to keep drinking water throughout the day. Want a little bit of flavor? Add a squeeze of lemon!
Since our bodies are 70% water, not only does it make sense to ingest enough for proper bodily functions but it also keeps soft tissue more pliable and less prone to injury. This study shows that drinking water as opposed to sugary substances helps our bodies reach and maintain a healthy weight, too.
Have you been drinking enough water lately? How do you remind yourself to drink plenty of water?
Photo Credit: mapper-Montag
“You Run Like A Turkey….”
October 19, 2010
That’s what I felt like anyway, when I first started running again! I began this adventure again after working with Sara Stern of San Vitum Health. After working with her at least once a week for the last 4 months, she has taught me all about pacing and breathing! I really do enjoy running now and I NEVER thought I would say that!
Because we want to involve all of our chiropractic family with fun things we are trying, why not join us to run the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 5K this year! When you bring us your registration confirmation or fill out a registration form in our office, we will give you an original, one of a kind, RFC T-shirt so we can all run the race as a team!
Photo Credit: shoothead@flick'r
Also, if you have friends that get inspired by what you are doing and want to run with you, register them with us and they will get a T-shirt AND a complimentary evaluation in our office. Running is terrific exercise if you are running on a balanced spine, if not, you could actually be doing more damage. Get your friends together for a little pre-turkey fun and exercise! See you there!
Be Like a Ballplayer
October 14, 2010
Baseball fever is alive in the Bay Area thanks to the San Francisco Giants – 2010 National League West Division Champs – and their upcoming NLCS series against the Phillies. But did you know that chiropractic care is an important part of baseball?
Earlier this season, the San Francisco Giants Baseball Fan Shop posted an article about chiropractic care, and how it helps professional baseball players stay in shape and at the top of their game. The article states:
Chiropractic adjustments can guarantee that the body can keep up with an athlete’s lifestyle and functions as competently as possible. Chiropractic can also speed up the recovery of common athlete injury such as lower back pains, ankle sprains, or relocated shoulders.
A research study also indicated that athletes who are subluxation-free have better coordination, can react faster, and exhibit improvements in accuracy and precision.
Another article we found shared the following sentiments:
With baseballs coming at you 100 miles per hour on a slow day, and sliding into home plate to make that last inning saving run for your team, as well as swinging a bat at all speeds to connect with a fastball, the chances of a neck or back injury or pain are good… This probably accounts for why so many baseball teams seem to be getting on board with chiropractic and chiropractors in recent months and years.
It’s not just professional baseball players and athletes that need chiropractic care, though – we all do! Even if we’re NOT sliding into home plate, swinging a bat regularly or watching baseballs thrown at nearly 100 miles per hour in our direction, subluxation still builds up in our bodies and can still affect our performance at home and at work.
Factors that can cause subluxation include poor sleeping habits, bad posture, strenuous exercise, sports injuries, stress, tension & anxiety, chemical exposure (i.e. drugs and medications), injuries at work, automobile accidents, and stumbles and falls. Chiropractic adjustments can progress your health, happiness and improve productivity.
With positive side effects like better energy, better elimination, better digestion, more energy and better sleep, why not follow the lead of professional athletes – people who depend on their body working properly – and get your body functioning at peak levels, too?
Photo Credit: randychiu
7 Key Things To Remember After An Accident, Pt.2
October 12, 2010
This is a continuation of a previous article from Tim Gill, a personal injury attorney in San Jose. ( The first 4 tips for what to do after an accident are found here.)
“5. You can consult your lawyer before signing any documents. Any document can affect your claim, so be sure to consult your lawyer before signing anything. For example, a “release” may give up rights you have against other parties who are liable to pay for your injuries. It could also force you to pay for medical bills and other expenses that you would not otherwise have to pay.
6. Importance of legal help. You should have a lawyer’s help when making a personal injury claim. Among other things, a lawyer will explain your rights, guide you through the process of making your claim, and handle all calls an negotiations with insurers.
7. Your choice of lawyer makes a difference. Though lawyers can handle different kinds of cases, after an accident it’s usually best if your claim is handled by lawyers experienced in personal injury claims, such as our office. Accident claims are complex, and a lawyer’s training, skills and experience can result in a higher recovery.
These are some important things to remember about personal injury claims. Following them can help your claim go much smoother, minimize the disruption to your life, and help you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.”
If you or a loved one has had a car accident, the faster you seek care from a chiropractor, the better off you’ll be in the long run! Call us today, 408-979-9999
Halloween Safety Tips
October 7, 2010
Photo Credit: epSos.de
It’s October – the time of year when we start thinking about Halloween and what we (and our kids) plan to wear. Halloween can be a fun experience for all ages – and there are a few ways to make sure it’s safe, too!
- Pick a costume with light colors and carry a flashlight. This will keep you and your kids visible to each other and any drivers that are out, and will ensure you can see any bumps or cracks in the sidewalk.
- Think about your footwear. You and your kids will be walking around in these shoes, so make sure it’s good quality to prevent tripping. Bad shoes are never good for your feet – even for a short period of time – so protect yourself!
- Make sure you can see. If you’re wearing a mask, hat or wig, make sure you can see everything around you clearly.
- Keep it light. There are some cool costumes out there that require a bit of strength and awkward positions, so make sure your costume isn’t too heavy and that you’re standing/sitting with good posture.
- Watch the sugar intake. There are a LOT of goodies out there, so limit how many sweets you eat, and make sure your kids don’t eat anything without your approval. One strategy we use at our house is to let the kids pick out 5 pieces of candy and eat it at whatever pace they like. Then they can trade the rest of the junk food for a toy, and we get rid of the rest (it’s not good for you to eat all those sweets, either). This way it’s a win-win for everyone!
What additional Halloween safety tips do you have?
After An Accident: 7 Key Things To Remember
October 5, 2010
Today’s post comes from Tim Gill, a local personal injury attorney in San Jose. We have worked with Mr. Gill in the past and have found him to be easy to work with and he does a great job for our practice members!
“If you have been in a car, slip and fall or other kind of accident, there will likely be many things going through your mind about what to do, who to talk to and other factors. Here are some of the most important things to remember if you are in an accident.
1. Your interests differ from the interests of insurance companies. Insurance companies like to say they are “on your side” after an accident, but the truth is they’re in business to make money. One way they make more money is to pay less for accident claims. So your interests and the interests of the insurance company are different. In fact, your interests and even the interests of your own insurance company may conflict. That is why it’s vital to have a lawyer on your side right after the accident and before you start dealing with insurance companies.
2. Be careful what you say. You are not required to give an interview or a recorded statement without first contacting your lawyer. Because anything you say can be used against you and lower the amount of compensation that you will receive, always consult your attorney before you make a statement.
3. Making and keeping records. After an accident, it’s important to make and keep good records. This includes keeping track of all lost wages and ways that the accident affects your daily life. It also includes keeping track of all medical expenses, and saving receipts for them as well.
4. There’s a deadline to make a claim. The law imposes strict deadlines for making personal injury claims. If you wait too long after your accident to make a claim and the deadline passes, your claim will be dismissed, even if it’s valid.”
Next week: The last 3 things to remember!
Thank You Silicon Valley
