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Tag - ActivAided Orthotics

Why Piriformis Syndrome Is a Pain in the Butt

The piriformis is a muscle in your buttocks, right behind the hip joint, running from your lower back to the outer hip bone. Piriformis syndrome is caused when the muscle and its tendon are too tight and pinch, rub, or tether against the sciatic nerve, causing pain and irritation to the nerve. It also leads to a decrease in blood flow to the area. There are no specific tests that can be done to accurately diagnose the syndrome, which leads…

Roads Hurting Your Knees and Back? Try an Elliptical Trainer.

While streets and roads can offer consistent flat surfaces for running, they’re not great for your body. Constantly running outside or even on treadmills can lead to anterior knee pain, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures. Elliptical training is a low-impact exercise that can help alleviate back pain. Ellipticals have pedals suspended off the ground that move in an oval motion. These pedals help simulate walking, running, stair-stepping, and even cross-country skiing, but without the impact on your joints. Most ellipticals have varying incline…

Can Pilates Alleviate Back Pain?

Pilates is a great low-impact form of exercise. Not only does it increase your core strength and endurance level, but it has also been proven to decrease chronic back pain. Pilates focuses on how our body parts are lined up in relation to each other -- our alignment. These exercises work to improve the strength and flexibility of your body and muscles. It concentrates on the hip and shoulder areas in particular to prevent unnecessary strain on the back. Pilates…

Can A Chiropractor Help My Back Pain?

Have you tried almost everything to fix your back pain? If so, you may benefit from seeing a chiropractor. The chiropractic profession has gone through quite the revolution since its inception back in the late 1800s. Today, it is seen as a legitimate form of medical care, with over 22 million visits to a chiropractor every year in the U.S. Role of a Chiropractor A chiropractor is a healthcare professional that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders.…

Massages: Rub Back Pain the Right Way

We know how you feel sometimes, sitting at your desk all day, stretching your back and neck. All you want is to go home and get a massage from your loving significant other. But why don’t you invest in a professional massage? A licensed masseuse has underwent the rigorous training to become board certified. They know what areas to focus on to alleviate pain versus stress. Although a massage from your roommate or loved one might be passable, we think…

Ankylosing Spondylitis: It’s Not What You Think

Simply speaking, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that causes some of your vertebrae to fuse together. Classified as a type of Arthritis, this condition isn’t just painful but it can also lead to hunched over posture. The symptoms of AS usually start in your lower back in your lumbar vertebrae. However, the pain can move quickly up your spine, and if your ribs become affected, breathing can become very difficult. Symptoms AS affects men more than women, usually…

Backpack Safety Isn’t Just for Kids

With school back in session, homework and life is beginning to weigh down on kids’ backs. The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has calculated that carrying a 12-pound backpack to and from school and lifting it 10 times a day for an entire school year puts a cumulative load on youngsters’ bodies of 21,600 pounds — the equivalent of six mid-sized cars. But it’s not just kids: College students and professionals weigh themselves down with heavy backpacks too. It’s extremely…

How to Prevent Back Pain When Golfing

Golf is a fun and relaxing sport that requires time, patience, and skill. It is one of America’s all time favorite sports and you don’t necessarily even have to be good at it to go out, walk 18 holes, and have a great time--it’s also great exercise. However, there are injury risks in golf just like in any other sport. The most common golf injuries are muscle strains and disc injuries.  Most recently we have seen a large amount of…

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…