ActivAided Blog

How to Stretch Before and After Exercising

Stretching may be one of the most boring parts of exercising but it’s also one of the most beneficial parts. Stretching not only leads to increased flexibility but can help prevent injuries. However, the typical type of stretching you may be used to--Static Stretching--does not help with flexibility and may in fact cause an injury when performed pre-exercise. It is better to start with a more active form of stretching before exercising--Dynamic Stretching. Nevertheless, Static Stretching is excellent for muscle…

Know the Risk Factors for Sciatica

In layman’s terms, sciatica is a pain that occurs along the course of your sciatic nerve--a nerve that begins in your lower back and continues through your hip, buttocks, and down each leg.  Normally, sciatica only affects one side of your body.  The most common causes of sciatica are pressure on the nerve from a herniated disk or bone spur.  This pressure leads to an inflammation and numbness in your leg that can be very painful. Even if you are…

Off on the Right Foot: Tips for New Runners

Many people are unsure if running is the right exercise for them, and more often than not, the answer is yes.  Running is an excellent exercise that has been proven to increase your quality of life, energy level, and health.  However, running can cause certain health issues and injuries if you approach it unprepared as a first-timer. The first step to being a good runner is being an informed one! Just Run Most believe that running further and longer is…

Straightening Out 6 Myths About Back Pain

According to the National Institute for Arthritis and Muscoloskeletal Diseases, 8 out of every 10 people experience back pain at some point in their lives. Although conditions like sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis are extremely common, there’s still some misinformation floating around that we wanted to “straighten out.” Knowledge is power (as is a strong back!), so we thought we’d pass along some common misconceptions about back pain: Myth 1 Back pain will inevitably lead to permanent disability or…

Avoiding Injury While Lifting Heavy Objects

Although we’d love if it were the case, there’s no way to live your daily life while avoiding any potential strain on your back. Be it at work, at home, or anywhere in between, sometimes you have to lift heavy objects. And yes, your back plays a large role in stabilizing your body when doing so. But by understanding how your body’s positioning affects your biomechanics when lifting, you can reduce your risk of a back strain or a more…

Use Your Brain–Vary Your Terrain!

The treadmill: It’s a godsend for serious runners who want to get their workout in even when the weather is bad. There’s no wind resistance, you can adjust the grade of your “terrain,” ease the impact on your joints--or in some gyms, even watch TV! But of course, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Running exclusively on a treadmill--or any other type of terrain, for that matter--can prevent you from achieving the well-rounded workout…

Celebrating an Honor and Looking Ahead

Pittsburgh is rapidly becoming a hotbed for the biomedical sciences and innovation--there’s a reason why some of the world’s most novel medical solutions come out of Western PA and that the President continues to make Pittsburgh a stop on his nationwide tech tours. Pittsburgh is packed with great science and business minds--and that’s just one reason we're thrilled that our CEO and founder, Kelly Collier, has been named the 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Western Pennsylvania Small…

In Recovery, Compression Makes an Impression

One of the distinguishing characteristics of our posture-training shirt is the way it hugs the user’s body. While many traditional spine braces are made of hard components that force your body into the “ideal” posture, ActivAided comfortably, naturally trains your body into better posture--equipped with scapular correction straps, an abdominal engagement system, and a lumbar stabilization belt, the shirt gently activates your core, relieves pressure on the spine, and encourages good posture. And that’s one of the ways ActivAided differs from traditional back…

How Do I Rest After Working Out?

If you've ever seen a personal trainer or done any rudimentary research on an effective exercise routine, you know that rest and recovery are a crucial part of getting--and staying--in shape. However, this idea of "rest" takes many forms. Shortening workouts, trying different exercises, and even skipping your workout altogether are all options that can provide you with some recovery benefit. And even if you choose to take a full rest day, you can optimize your body's recovery with proper…

Do I Need Physical Therapy?

You don’t need to be in your golden years or be recovering from a serious injury in order to benefit from physical therapy. In fact, physical therapists are trained to treat most common chronic issues, including the normal aging process and general wear and tear that your body experiences over the years. Although many patients are in physical therapy for knee, hip, and spine issues, there are a range of other ailments that can be treated by a licensed physical…

Reduce Aches and Pains with a Proper Bike Fit

One of the primary reasons people turn to cycling is because it’s relatively low-impact, compared to other forms of exercise like running or weight lifting. Low-impact exercises like cycling can reduce joint damage, help you lose weight, and improve your cardiovascular health--but without a properly sized and adjusted bicycle, you may miss out on these important benefits. Whether you’re a competitive triathlete or just enjoy the occasional weekend ride, a properly fitted bike can also help you improve your pedaling…