Sports Spine Specialist Chiropractic Team: Athletes strive to achieve their body’s maximum performance by participating in numerous training regimens consisting of strenuous exercises and physical activity and ensuring they meet all of their body’s nutritional requirements. Through proper fitness and nutrition, many individuals can condition themselves to excel in their specific sport. Our training programs are designed for athletes that look to gain a competitive edge in their sport.
We provide sport-specific services to help increase an athlete’s performance through mobility, strength, and endurance. Occasionally, however, the excess workouts can lead many to suffer injuries or develop underlying conditions. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s chronicle of articles for athletes displays in detail the many forms of complications affecting these professionals while focusing on the possible solutions and treatments to follow to achieve overall well-being.
Low vitamin D levels are common among football players and may put them at increased risk for injuries, a new study suggests.
“Vitamin D has been shown to play a role in muscle function and strength,” said senior study author Dr. Scott Rodeo, co-chief emeritus of the sports medicine and shoulder service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
“While most prior studies have focused on the aging population as the group most likely to experience the harmful effects of inadequate vitamin D, few reports have looked at the impact on muscle injury and function in the high-performance athlete,” he said in a hospital news release.
In the study, Rodeo’s team assessed 214 college football players, average age 22. The investigators found that nearly 60 percent had low levels of vitamin D, including 10 percent with a severe deficiency.
Those players with low vitamin D levels had higher rates of lower extremity muscle strain and core muscle injury than those with normal levels. Of the 14 players who missed at least one game due to a strain injury, 86 percent had low vitamin D levels.
LOW VITAMIN D CHANGES TISSUE COMPOSITION
Low levels may cause changes in muscle composition that increase the risk of injury, according to the researchers. But the study only found an association, rather than a cause-and-effect link, between levels and injury.
“Awareness of the potential for vitamin D inadequacy could lead to early recognition of the problem in certain athletes. This could allow for supplementation to bring levels up to normal and potentially prevent future injury,” Rodeo said.
“Although our study looked at high-performance athletes, it’s probably a good idea for anyone engaging in athletic activities to give some thought.” Rodeo said.
Adequate vitamin D is essential for musculoskeletal structure, function and strength, Rodeo explained. However, more than 40 percent of the U.S. population is vitamin D-deficient, he said.
Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” it is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. Milk and fortified foods, including orange juice and some cereals, can also provide nutrients. Supplements are usually prescribed for�deficiency, the researchers said.
The study was to be presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, in San Diego. Research presented at meetings is viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
SOURCE: Hospital for Special Surgery, news release, March 16, 2017
�Get Rich NOW! Lose 50 pounds in 5 Days AND Make $50! Eat What You Want and Still Lose Weight � GUARANTEED! We�ve heard �em all. And yes, we�d all like to be fitter (and wealthier). Are you sick and tired of reading false promises like these? Frankly, I am.
We all know that it takes hard work and dedication to become lean and fit. While both goals are attainable, they require commitment and a good amount of time to achieve the desired results. Okay, sure we may have faltered here and there, taking a few missteps on our health journey, but that�s why I�m here: to cut through the bull and tell you what REALLY works and what doesn�t.
Watch the video: 7 Fat-Burning Foods That Boost Metabolism
LIE #1: Cut carbs, lose weight
Why it’s not true: To burn fat, you must fuel your body with the calories it needs to achieve high-intensity ranges of exercise. Without that fuel (i.e. carbs), your tank will be on empty and you�ll ultimately be running on fumes. You�ll feel as though you�re working hard, but your workouts won�t be as long or effective as they would if you had fueled your body correctly.
LIE #2: Extended moderate exercise burns more fat than high-intensity exercise
Why it’s not true: While you will burn more fat than carbohydrates during a moderate exercise session, the total calorie burn depends on the duration of the workout. But there is not much post-exercise elevation in metabolic rate after this type of exercise. High-intensity exercise, however, causes a more intense �after-burn� that can last a day or more after working out. That after-burn is fueled mostly by fat, and that is when the body actually changes shape.
LIE #3: Lose a pound a week by cutting 500 calories a day from food
Why it’s not true: Human beings are built to survive and thus when calories are severely restricted the human body goes into survival mode, slowing down the metabolic rate and holding on to every calorie. Consuming fewer calories per day propels the body into conserving fuel. However, if you cut 300 calories from your daily diet you will lose more weight than if you lowered your calorie intake by 500 calories. Eating more calories will allow you to train harder and keep your metabolic rate up.
LIE #4: Lose weight by putting the fork down after 6pm
Why it’s not true: All food contains calories regardless what time you eat it. The simple truth is that eating too many calories will cause you to gain weight. A 2012 study compared overweight people who ate carbs throughout the day and those who ate them at dinner. The nighttime carb eaters lost more weight and body fat and experienced less hunger during the day�researchers noted that the evening group had better levels of hormones that regulate satiety and hunger. The explanation may also lie in the body�s production of Growth Hormone (GH). GH is a powerful hormone that controls how much fat your body burns and how much muscle it builds. At night, your GH peaks while you sleep, ultimately shutting off the moment you eat your first meal.
�If genius really is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, then some of us must be a lot smarter than others. While sweat is a normal human function, a lucky few�seem to produce higher-than-normal amounts�especially in the hot summer months.�But before you hole yourself up in air conditioning all season, there are a few things you should know about sweat. Here�s the basics on what it is, why it happens (to certain folks�more than others), and what you can do if you�re concerned about it.
There are three types of sweat
All sweat is not created equal, says Laure Ritti�, PhD, research assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Michigan. And everyone sweats differently: Some people may have problems with all three types of perspiration, while others may really only ever notice one or two.
First, there�s body sweat�the odorless type that pours off you during a workout or when you stand out in the hot sun. This type of sweat exists to help cool the skin and keep the body�s internal temperature as close to 98.6 degrees as possible. You�ll notice it pretty much everywhere, but especially along the forehead and the spine.
Then, there�s perspiration on the palms and soles of the feet. This type of sweat helps increase adherence and grip, says Ritti�, and, evolutionarily, it�s the body�s response to a perceived threat. (That�s why some people notice it when they�re feeling anxious.) �When you want to hold onto something, you�ll do better with wet fingers,� Ritti� explains. �In the beginning, we didn�t wear shoes, so sweaty feet helped us run or climb when we needed to.�
Finally, there�s sweat that�s emitted from the armpits and the genital area. This is the type that produces so-called body odor, thanks to bacteria living in these places. �We�re not completely sure what the function here is, but we think there�s some pheromone-type of communication going on,� Ritti� says. �If one individual in a herd senses danger and starts to emit those strong smells, it could alert others around them.�
The body begins producing body sweat when it starts to heat up�either externally, from high temperatures, or internally, from muscle exertion (like when exercising). So if you push yourself harder than your body is used to, your body is more likely to kick on its internal air conditioning; that�s why a highly trained athlete may be able to run a 10-minute mile without breaking a sweat, while the same workout may�leave�a less conditioned person red-faced and drenched.
But the more you train your body, and the more time you spend in hot, humid climates, the more efficient you become at sweating. �The body will adjust and react a little earlier before you get too hot,� says Ritti�, �so your sweating will be more spread out over time and across your whole body�rather than building up and releasing all at once, and leaving one big spot on your shirt.�
Yes, that may translate into more sweating overall�just look at any NBA basketball game and you�ll see that even highly-trained athletes sweat a ton�but it�s ultimately a good thing. It means the body is better able to respond to the demands of heat and exercise, and stays cooler as a result.
How much you sweat is largely determined before age 2
Whether you sweat buckets or stay fresh as a daisy on hot days also has a lot to do with genetics. �If one or both of your parents were heavy sweaters, then there is a good chance that you will be too,� says exercise physiologist Michael Bergeron, PhD, President of Youth Sports of the Americas. Men also tend to sweat more than women, he says, although that�s not always the case.
Body composition matters, too: Larger people generally sweat more, because they work harder to carry a heavier load. �But many comparatively small people can sweat tremendously,� says Bergeron. And because muscle generates heat, he adds, people with more muscle mass also tend to sweat more than their leaner peers.
But actually, a lot of how much a person sweats has to do with the first two years of life. That�s when sweat glands are first activated, says Ritti�; if they don�t get fully turned on during this period, they likely never will. In other words, a super-active toddler who runs around in the heat will likely develop greater sweating ability (again, a good thing) than one who�s not very active.
Heavy sweaters should hydrate more
�The more you sweat, the more deliberate you need to be about replacing the water your body�s lost,� says Bergeron. When exercising, most adults can comfortably and safely take in about 1.5 liters (a little more than 50 ounces) of water an hour. If you�re sweating more than that amount�you can weigh yourself before and after a workout to find out�you should make up for it by drinking extra water before and after you work out.
Sweat also contains important electrolytes, like sodium, that the body needs to function properly. Most people get enough salt in their diets that they don�t need to worry about this, but if you�re exercising for longer than an hour and really sweating a lot, an electrolyte-enriched sports drink can help replace what�s lost.
Ritti� also points out that acclimating your body to exercise or to heat�so that you ultimately sweat less�won�t work if you don�t drink enough water on a regular basis. �Staying hydrated before and during exercise will help train your body to fight the heat,� she says. Cold water is best, she adds, �because it helps to cool down your internal organs.�
Besides staying in shape, wearing sweat-wicking clothing, and spending two to three weeks acclimating to the heat, there�s not much people can do about heavy sweating during exercise. (Putting antiperspirant on your hairline or on other body parts may help curb localized perspiration�but, Ritti� warns, when you block sweat glands in one part of the body, others will compensate by working even harder.)
People with excessive day-to-day sweating, however�a condition known as hyperhydrosis�may have more options. If you�re already using an over-the-counter aluminum-based antiperspirant and it just isn�t cutting it, your doctor may recommend a prescription-strength solution with aluminum chloride. These work best when applied before bed, but can cause skin and eye irritation for some people.
Botox injections and certain types of medications have been shown to block the nerves that� trigger sweat production, and may be useful for people who sweat excessively under their arms or on their hands and feet. (If those don�t work, electrical stimulation or even surgery may be considered.) Friction also contributes to sweaty feet, says Ritti�, so changing up your shoes and socks�and being sure you aren�t sliding around in them�may help, as well.
If sweating is truly causing a problem in your daily life, talk to your primary doctor or dermatologist about potential solutions. Otherwise, grab your water bottle and get outside. Embrace your sweaty self, and try to be thankful your body is doing its job.
Creating an all-encompassing workout � one that gets your�heart rate up�while strengthening every major muscle group � takes some fancy fit work. But it�s something Steve Uria, founder of�Switch Playground�in New York City (original location: South Africa), does with gusto. If you�ve never been to the playground, imagine recess for adults but with more structure and sculpting�goals.
Each class at Switch includes 20 stations, with two exercises per station. You�ll work every body part � big and small � and because you only do each exercise for 30 seconds (two minutes total per station), you�ll break a serious sweat to boot. (The party vibe with a live DJ and neon lights will help you turn up the intensity, too.)
�Circuit workouts promote a functional training environment to condition the whole body,� Uria explains. �You�re maximizing benefit in minimal time, and creating a cardiovascular experience within a strength training arena.� In other words, you simultaneously pump�up the volume on�fat burning�and muscle building.
Of course, we couldn�t leave Uria�s fun and games at the playground, so we had him design a sequence you could do right at home. All you need is a set of dumbbells, a�kettlebell�and med ball, and a killer workout playlist (like�this one). Crank the volume, and you�re ready to blast through these circuits.
4 Mini Circuit Workouts, 1 Killer Total-Body Routine
Get ready for one mini�circuit�for every section of the body, plus a total-body scorcher. Each circuit features just three moves � but packs plenty of targeted�body benefits. Do 12 to 15 reps of each move and two to three rounds of each circuit before moving on to the next. If you still have some drive by that final exercise, push it into high gear and repeat everything from the top, Uria says. Sweaty, sculpted and oh-so-energized� here you come!
Fire up some of the biggest muscles in the body: your quads, hamstrings, and even more so, your�glutes. Hello, booty burn.
1. Side Step Squat How to:�With a dumbbell in each hand and your arms down by your sides, stand with feet hip-width apart�(a). Step out to the left side, push your hips back and drop your butt down to sit into a�squat�(b). Stand up straight, then step your feet back to the starting position�(c). Next, step out to the right side and sit into a squat�(d). Stand up, return to the starting position, and continue alternating.
2. Back Lunge with Knee Raise How to:�Start standing with feet hip-width apart�(a). Step your left foot back into a low lunge, both knees bent at 90 degrees and your left knee hovering just off the floor. At the same time, bring your arms straight up at a 45-degree angle�(b). Step forward, bringing your left knee up toward your chest, as you bring your arms back down to your sides�(c). Repeat, then switch sides.
3. Glute Cross Overs How to:�Start on all fours with your shoulders over wrists and your knees in line with hips�(a). Bring your right knee in toward your chest, then shoot it straight out behind you, raising it straight up toward the ceiling�(b). Then move your right leg over your left leg, and tap the floor lightly with your right foot, just outside of your left foot�(c). Shoot it back up to the ceiling and repeat, then switch sides.
You�ll work your entire upper body � shoulders, chest, back, triceps and biceps � with this muscle-burning trifecta. Remember to keep your�shoulders�rolled down and away from your ears for each exercise.
1. Lateral Dumbbell Raise into Curl Press How to:�Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet hip-width apart and arms down in front of you�(a). Raise your arms straight out to the sides to shoulder height, palms facing down�(b). Bring your arms back down to your sides and then, circle your hands inward and upward for a bicep curl�(c). When the dumbbells reach shoulder height, swiftly switch your palms to face front. Then push your hands straight up for an overhead press�(d). Bring your arms back down, flipping your palms to face you at chest height and return to the starting position�(e). Repeat.
2. Push-Up Rotation How to:�Start in a high�plank position�with your hands holding dumbbells, shoulders over wrists and your body in a straight line from shoulders to ankles�(a). Perform a�push-up�(b). Then, pull the weight in your left hand straight up to your chest, as you pivot on your feet. Straighten your arm to a T as you hit your side plank�(c). Return back to the high plank and repeat on the other side�(d). Continue alternating, with a push-up between each rotation.
3. Bent Over Fly to Row to Tricep Kickback How to:�Start with your feet hip-width apart with a slight bend in the knees. Hinge forward at the hips about 45 degrees. Maintain a flat back�(a). Holding two dumbbells down by your sides, palms facing each other, lift your arms out to the sides (slight bend in the elbows) and squeeze your shoulder blades together to complete a fly�(b). Bring your arms back down to your sides, then pull the weight toward your chest and bend your elbows.�Keeping your elbows elevated, straighten your arms behind you to complete the tricep kickback. You should raise the weights above your hips�(c). Return to the start and repeat.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Chiropractic and Athletic Performance
Many athletes who are injured performing their specific sport or physical activity, frequently seek treatment from chiropractors. Chiropractic care focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous system. While chiropractic is a safe and effective form of conservative care for a variety of ailments, chiropractic can also be utilized to enhance athletic performance.
Looking healthy and being physically fit can get anyone’s attention and for those being a part of a summertime social event, such as a wedding, being the center of attention is enough motivation to maintain overall wellness.
During this wedding season, engaging in the proper form of exercise and performing a variety of physical activities can help tone up some of the most difficult areas of the body. For women looking to increase or maintain the physical condition of their buttocks, Nike trainer and Chisel Club founder Lauren Williams demonstrates the top five exercises for sculpting your booty.
1.Step ups with knee drive: From standing, step onto a bench on your right foot, bringing your left knee into your chest. Step down and repeat on opposite side.
2.Single-leg squat to bench: Sit down on a step with your right leg extended in front of your body. From sitting, lift up to stand on your left leg, then lower back down keeping your right leg extended the whole time. Repeat on opposite side, with your left leg extended out in front of you. Stand up onto your right leg, lower back down.
3.Circle side lunges with dumbbell: Stand tall with legs in a wide straddle stance. Hold dumbbells in front of your chest, with elbows at at 90-degree angle. Hold the weights here as you sink into a side lunge on the right leg, staying low as you move through a squat and shift into a side lunge on the left side. Stand up, return to center, and repeat the circle in the other direction.
4.Split stance single-legdeadlift: From standing, place your right leg a few inches behind your left leg and raise your heel so your weight is on the ball of your right foot. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, lower the upper body toward the floor with the arms extending down, so the dumbbells almost touch the ground. Raise the upper body back up to stand and repeat movement with the left leg back and the right leg forward.
5.All-four rainbow leg raises: From all fours, raise your left leg off the ground and extend it out behind you. Tap the left toes to the ground on the right side of your body, then tap the toes on the ground on the left side of your body, as if you�re drawing a semicircle with your leg. Repeat movement on the right leg.
Maintaining as well as improving your body’s overall health and wellness doesn’t just enhance your physical look, you can also benefit from an improved physical conditioning. Before attempting any of the above exercises, however, be sure to consult a healthcare professional and make sure these are proper for you.
If you have an injury or condition which may be aggravated as a result of these injuries, your medical specialist can recommend a different variety to these exercises to avoid further complications.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Chiropractic and Athletic Performance
Many athletes who are injured performing their specific sport or physical activity, frequently seek treatment from chiropractors. Chiropractic care focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous system. While chiropractic is a safe and effective form of conservative care for a variety of ailments, chiropractic can also be utilized to enhance athletic performance.
Socializing with Relatives and friends may help you stay mentally sharp as you age,
A new report co-sponsored by AARP finds
“It’s not uncommon for our social networks to shrink in size as we get older,” said Marilyn Albert, professor of neurology and director of cognitive neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
“This report provides many helpful suggestions about the things we can do to improve the quality of our relationships with family and friends, which may be beneficial in maintaining our mental abilities,” Albert said in an AARP news release.
The report also discusses the social benefits of having pets, how age-friendly communities boost social ties, how close relationships benefit both physical and mental health, and how social media (including Facebook and Skype) helps older adults maintain social connections.
The report is from the AARP and the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH). Albert is chair of the GCBH.
In related news, a new AARP survey found that nearly four in 10 adults aged 40 and older said they lack social connections. Those people also reported worse brain health.
Sarah Lock is AARP senior vice president for policy and GCBH executive director. She said, “We know that loneliness and social isolation can increase physical health risks for older people.”
So, Lock added, “The GCBH’s consensus that people who are socially engaged have a lower risk for cognitive [mental] decline shows us just how important social connections are to brain health.”
The AARP said older adults can boost their social ties by making new social connections, including with younger people. Other suggestions include joining a club or taking a class; visiting, calling or emailing regularly with relatives, friends, and neighbors; and volunteering or visiting a lonely neighbor or friend.
SOURCE: AARP, news release, Feb. 14, 2017
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Skipping Across Time Zones More Than Just Tiring For Pro Baseball Players:
The resulting jet lag may actually harm their performance on the field, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 Major League Baseball games played over 20 years. The conclusion: jet lag may have a significant impact on players.
The Northwestern University researchers said they found that jet lag slowed the base running of home teams but not away teams. And both home and away pitchers gave up more home runs when jet-lagged.
“Jet lag does impair the performance of Major League Baseball players. The negative effects of jet lag we found are subtle, but they are detectable and significant. And they happen on both offense and defense and for both home and away teams, often in surprising ways,” study leader Ravi Allada, a circadian rhythms expert, said in a university news release.
The researchers also found that the negative effects of jet lag were generally stronger when teams traveled eastward rather than westward.
“This is a strong argument that the effect is due to the circadian clock, not the travel itself,” Allada said.
What that means is that players’ internal 24-hour body clock falls out of sync with the cycle of sunlight, the study authors explained.
The findings suggest — but don’t prove — that team managers should pay close attention to their players’ body clocks. And even consider sending pitchers ahead of the rest of the team for upcoming games, the researchers added.
“If I were a baseball manager and my team was traveling across time zones — either to home or away — I would send my first starting pitcher a day or two ahead, so he could adjust his clock to the local environment,” Allada said.
The study was published Jan. 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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