ActivAided Blog

Bad Posture and Back Pain: Are They Really Linked?

Aside from flowing off the tongue nicely due to some awesome alliteration, is there any link between back pain and bad posture? The correct answer is yes. The correct answer is also no. The No Argument In general, it is hard to specifically pinpoint any cause of back pain. Even structural injuries to the spine, such as stenosis, fail to be good statistical indicators of an increased likelihood of pain. One person will experience extreme pain, while another person will be…

Let’s Get Physical: How Music Therapy Can Benefit Your Health

Almost everyone has experienced the emotional effects of music from time to time. Whether it’s chilling out to your favorite tunes or blasting the pump-up tracks before a workout, there’s no denying that music can change how we think and feel. But did you know that music can be utilized by allied health professionals to improve their clients’ physical health? Enter music therapy, defined by the American Musical Therapy Association as “an established health profession in which music is used…

Dos and Don’ts of Healthy New Year’s Resolutions

With all of the holiday cookies, parties, and eggnog, this season sounds like it would be the worst time for a healthy resolution. Despite that, thousands of us make New Year’s resolutions, vowing to finally lose some weight, save more money, and be a better person. Of course, it’s no surprise that these dreams rarely come true, and plenty of us end up with another year of the same. But don’t worry! With a little help, this could finally be…

Workplace Wellness: Adding Daily Burn to the Daily Grind

We don’t need to tell you that work can be rough, but what you might not know is that your job can have a huge impact on your health -- good or bad. We’ve written about how sitting can make a mess of your posture, and with obesity affecting almost one quarter of the working population, it’s easy to say that too much time on the job is bad news. But with a little effort and know-how, a workplace wellness…

Stay Safe During National Running Safety Month

November is National Running Safety Month, and it also happens to be the first of many challenging, wintry months for runners. Now more than ever, it’s important to stay safe on the roads and trails. Take a look at some the best running safety tips for a worry-free November! Get The Right Gear The dwindling sunlight in late fall means that it’s getting colder and darker outside each week. Before winter hits, take the time to pick up a weatherproof…

Save Your Shins: Avoiding Shin Splints

If you hang around the finish line after your community 5K long enough, you’re bound to hear someone complaining about an achy, consistent pain around the edge of their shins. In fact, medial tibial stress syndrome, or MTSS, is the most common musculoskeletal injury in runners, and it affects everyone from weekend warriors to seasoned pros. You probably know them by another name: shin splints. Most athletes know how much this injury can slow them down, so take some time…

Straighten Out Your Spinal Health

Between the Halloween candy and pumpkin-spiced-everything, October can be a tough month to stay fit. But not everything this month has to be out to spoil your healthy fall -- in fact, October is National Spinal Health Month! So put down your latte and caramel apple, and check out some of our favorite spinal health tips. Maintain a Healthy Bodyweight It’s no secret that your weight has health implications, but did you know that shedding a few pounds could help…

Timing (Your Meals) Is Everything

Image Courtesy of Flickr Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the building blocks of any diet. What you eat, and how much, has a massive impact on your energy levels and body composition. But have you considered the impact of when you eat? Metabolism is extremely complicated. It is constantly changing due to the time of day and the body’s level of activity. Health-minded people like yourself probably already know the basics of dieting, but read on to learn about meal…

5 Unique Pittsburgh Running Spots

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia Humans are creatures of habit, and plenty of runners are perfectly happy striding through familiar territory. But variety is the spice of life, so it may not be long until your thirst for adventure becomes unbearable! Luckily, Pittsburgh’s got you covered. With almost 100 beautiful neighborhoods to choose from, it’s easy to mix things up with a run through a new trail, vista, or community. Check out some of our favorites! Squirrel Hill If you haven’t…

Fit Body, Fit Mind: A Little Goes A Long Way

Let’s take a look at some numbers: there are 168 hours in a week, and even if you’re one of the few athletes who exercises one hour a day, you’re still spending less than five percent of your time improving your fitness. When you look at it this way, it’s easy to see exercise as a waste of time. But did you know that just a few minutes of activity a day can pay dividends throughout every other hour of…

Ditch the Excuses and Get the Facts About Yoga

Yoga: some hate it, others are obsessed with it. With such polarized opinions about the activity, it can be hard to know the truth and even harder to reap the benefits. You’ve probably heard all the common complaints, but worry not! We’ve separated fact from fiction to respond to some of the most popular excuses. “It Doesn’t Do Anything” Yoga provides substantial benefits: it can improve strength, flexibility, cardiovascular health, and much more. The American Osteopathic Association has outlined these…