Minimalist Shoes: Are They Right for You?
As the colder weather approaches, moving indoors to train might be on the radar for some. For many elite runners, preparing to running through the frightful weather may be the usual, but as the temperature drops, most of us are ready to move indoors to avoid the cold, the elements and the runny nose. Having the right kind of shoe for running indoors can help improve your desired training results. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Simple Forward Fold
So we’ve made it through to the last week of November! Hopefully you are feeling a little less tension in the hamstrings by now. The final stretch of this month is a “simple” forward fold. I use quotations here because for some people this stretch is not necessarily that easy. But hopefully through this guidance you can make it comfortable and within your bodies capabilities to achieve. Over time those fingers will reach those toes comfortably, just remember to be consistent! (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Head to Knee Forward Fold
This week’s stretch is called head to knee forward fold. Don’t let the name fool you! It can take years to actually get the forehead to the knee WITHOUT rounding in the back. Just do your best and be happy with where you are in it today 🙂 This stretch is great for calming the mind, relieving mild depression/anxiety, simulating the liver/kidneys and also helps to improve digestion just to name a few benefits!
Stretch of the Week: Hamstring Stretch Part II
Keeping with our theme of stretching the hamstrings for this month, I give you wide angle seated forward fold! Things you might need for this stretch: a blanket/towel and possibly a block, or something to rest the hands on as shown in the photo.
Movember Inspired Men’s Health Questions & Answers
It’s no secret that facial hair has become a growing trend over the last few years. A group of men and women from Athletico have decided to raise awareness of men’s health by joining the “Movember” movement via a team effort known as “The Athletimos.” Movember is a simple concept. You spend the month of November growing your moustache or “mo” (no beards, goatees, etc) and then bring up both men’s health issues and donation opportunities when asked about the fashion statement on your upper lip. Think of the mustache as a magical ice-breaker and trust me, it works.
Anxiety and Depression Associated with Physical Pain
“Thats the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.”- John Green
Early on in college, I decided in addition to majoring in physical therapy, I would also major in psychology. Why? I felt that if I was going to treat and understand the physical aspect of a person, I better understand a little bit about the brain, thoughts and emotion of an individual. After all, each of us is not just a body or a brain. We have both. Why is it that it’s readily accepted as the “norm” if you mention you have knee arthritis or back pain, however, it becomes taboo to discuss the psychology or emotion that may be involved with that pain? I firmly believe that the psychology of what one is experiencing is extremely important to discuss and address. (more…)
Debut Marathoner Series: Adding Dynamic Stretching to Your Race Routine
You have been training for your next Marathon for months and are about to enter the final “stretch”. You are probably starting to think about race morning and your pre-race routine that day. If not, it is a good time to start. It is important not to forget one of the most crucial and often overlooked parts of your routine…STRETCHING! I highly recommend having a pre-race plan for stretching. Check out our latest Debut Marathoner Series Dynamic Stretching Race Routine. (more…)
Screening for Breast Cancer
When was the last time you performed a breast self-exam? When I asked a number of women recently, the typical response was “not very often, but I know I should do it monthly.” Screening for breast cancer can be a scary topic, but with regular self examinations it doesn’t have to be. (more…)