The Wellness Suite

The more weight that’s on a joint, the more stressed the joint becomes, and the more likely it will wear down and be damaged. “Weight plays an important role in joint stress, so when people are very overweight, it puts stress on their joints, especially their weight-bearing joints, like the knees and the hips,” says Eric Matteson, MD, chair of the rheumatology division at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. So a person who is 10 pounds overweight has 40 pounds of extra pressure on his knees; if a person is 100 pounds overweight, that is 400 pounds of extra pressure on his knees. “So if you think about all the steps you take in a day, you can see why it would lead to premature damage in weight-bearing joints,” says Dr. Matteson. That’s why people who are overweight are at greater risk of developing arthritis in the first place. And once a person has arthritis, “the additional weight causes even ...

Obesity is generally acknowledged as one of the main reasons behind back stiffness. Most fat folks tend to develop this condition at some particular point of their lives. Here, we take a closer look at the way the 2 are related to each other. It's very clear that if you are overweight, your weight is certain to exert needless strain on the spine. The body weight and the disposition of the backbone are related to one another. This pressure leads to back ache in several cases. Another thing that obesity does is it makes you prone to spinal injuries for it triggers degeneration of the spinal material. This degenerative process can lead to disk herniation and also back strain. Herniated disk is among the most frequent reasons for back pain. This problem too might be a result of excessive weight. Obesity causes the wearing away of disks in the vertebral column, which might result in herniated disk related sciatica or other forms of back trouble. Obesity also leads to the devel...

Sit up straight! Many mothers chide their young in an attempt to correct their slouching ways. Is it really worth the effort? Should kids really be that concerned about their posture? If so, what can parents do to help them understand the significance of proper posture and more importantly, what can be done to get them involved? Experts concede that a little STRAIGHT TALK goes a long way. The human spine is a remarkable and intricate piece of physical ingenuity. Typically comprised of 33 vertebrae (24 articulating and 9 fused), gestational formation begins at a mere three weeks post-fertilization. Fascinating indeed, however, teaching kids how to develop and maintain good posture can be somewhat of a challenge. The fact that little ones love to squirm and play about, or that teenagers take up permanent residence in front of a computer, makes this whole idea seem slightly implausible. Nevertheless, before you acquiesce in defeat, consider the following healthy posture poin...

Have you noticed that kids seem to outgrow most of the clothes they finish the last school year in just a couple of months.. And then, there's the usual array of binders, pencils, paper and of course the trusty backpack. If your kids are anything like the norm, it almost seems these days that they need a pack mule to carry all their new supplies to school. And, it seems like the book bags and backpacks get bigger every year. At the same time, trying to get a backpack that's big enough to carry everything, could be setting them up for future posture problems and potentially scoliosis and other health problems. Kids seem to grow like weeds. The minute you turn your back, they seem to grow an inch before you can turn back around. While it's not quite that dramatic, they really do grow rapidly. Then, somewhere around middle school most kids have what's called a growth spurt where they actually grow even faster. Girls usually have their growth spurt earlier than boys...

Sitting Will Wear You Out Have you ever come home from an 8-hour day of sitting behind a desk feeling like you've just been hit by a truck? It really doesn't make much sense does it? After all, you didn't do anything today... except sit there typing on your keyboard and mousing around. You may feel tired but at the same time you're not tired. Perhaps a better way to describe your feelings is restless. You have a stiff neck, tired shoulders, a headache, and don't feel like doing anything when you get home. When it's time to go to bed you don't go to sleep right away. Instead your restless feelings prevent you from getting the sleep you need. The tired feelings you're experiencing certainly are different than the kind of tiredness you have on the weekends when you have more time for your "therapy" chores: mindless tasks that require you to move your feet. Mowing the lawn, gardening, painting, and washing the car are examples. When...

When we would hear bad posture, one thing we tend to remember in mind is our childhood days. We were told to stand up straight, to avoid slouching, our shoulders straight, etc, etc! but how many of us have brought this up to now and apply the value of good posture? May be 2 of our classmates? Or None? Unfortunately, many of us didn't listen to that advice, not minding such reminder because all we have been doing is to play, and so what happens to us now? We are actually burdened with the health problem s that bad posture is giving us. We are also struggling to get away with the impairment of our self esteem and confidence. There are a lot of factors why such bad posture in the back happens, sometimes, it's your way of living that can be put to blame, but there are times that it is beyond our control. Fatigue Sometimes, we are pressured with life's changing world. We cope up with work and even staying late at night or 24/7 just to finish everything at school. Whe...

With often being asked about the best position to sleep in I recommend watching the following video: Best Sleeping Position

We've been told aging is natural, so why do so many people dread it? What do you think of when you hear the words 'getting older' or 'old age pensioner'? Is aging, as we perceive it inevitable? It needn't be so. No one has found a magic potion as yet, over the centuries so much energy and research has gone into the pursuit of the 'fountain of youth' but in recent years much light has been shed on the subject. Thanks to all this effort we now know there is so much we can do to slow down the aging process. The lifestyle you choose can have a profound effect on enhancing or accelerating the degenerative process. Off-course aging is inevitable but is so much suffering inevitable? Around 85 per cent of diseases are degenerative illnesses, the other 15 per cent are genetic, infectious or trauma. So what causes our body to fall into rapid decline? It never fails to make me wonder why we look after our cars better than we look after ourselves. Yet we ...

Dancing has countless benefits, both physical and mental. Physically, dancing is excellent for nearly everyone. It is a great cardiovascular workout, which strengthens the heart and improves lung function. A couple months of regular dancing and you'll not only help to extend your life span but you will likely find that you can walk farther distances and don't get tired climbing stairs any more. Improved cardiovascular function also helps to lower cholesterol and helps to lower blood pressure. The best part of improving your cardiovascular function is that it will help you to slow the aging process. Who wouldn't want that? Dancing also helps to strengthen your muscles which is beneficial for a couple of reasons. Strong muscles make you less prone to injury, and for women it can help avoid developing osteoporosis. Improved flexibility and balance is another benefit of regular dancing. Improving flexibility is another way to avoid injury to joints. Improved ...

As the new year approaches, it is time to look back over the past year and decide what you want to change about your life in the new year. For many people, New Years resolutions are an opportunity to make a fresh start. For others, it is the chance to learn new habits and live a healthier and happy life. No matter what your approach is to New Years resolutions, here are the top 10 New Years resolutions that many people start with at the beginning of the year. 1 - Quit Smoking Smoking is one of the number one health problems worldwide. Smoking can lead to a multitude of health problems, including lung cancer, emphysema, high blood pressure, esophageal cancer and many others. Quitting smoking as a New Years resolution is difficult and addiction to nicotine is extremely hard to fight. But with enough dedication and assistance, you can stop smoking. There are several methods that have proven to be effective in stopping smoking. One of the most effective tools to stop smoking is one-on...

Good nutrition is essential for your overall health. If you want to have a long life and stay healthy, then you need to eat the right foods. A balanced diet will increase your body's ability to recover, boost your energy and strength, and help you stay in shape.  When you are eating nutritious foods, you are giving your body the building blocks it needs. Good nutrition means different things to different people. However, most individuals agree that a healthy diet is one that includes fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meat, fish, grains, and good fats. Here are four key benefits of good nutrition: Increases Your Energy Levels If you are always feeling tired, then you might need to change your diet. Instead of relying on caffeine or sweets for a burst of artificial energy, eat healthy foods that boost your energy levels and help your body fight fatigue. When your body doesn't get quality food, it become weak and can not function properly. Optimal energy metabolism re...

        1   Pilates has been around for many years and many know it is a great routine for posture and fitness. It is also well known as a program to give you a flat stomach. Pilates exercises target the deep core abdominal muscles specifically to achieve spinal core stability and a better aligned posture.  There are many more benefits of Pilates, though. I have discovered the real benefits only come from actually learning how to use Pilates in your daily life. This knowledge gives a person maximum benefit to their health and well being. Pain control is one of them. Pain management for the lower back cannot be achieved unless and person uses Pilates every day all day.  This is different to attending a class and following a leader. The absolute true benefits of Pilates will only be achieved by learning Pure Pilates and how to function with deep core strength in every movement. Learning Pilates is different to attending a series of classe...

1                 Everybody knows they should exercise regularly for good health and well-being. This article outlines some of the physical benefits of exercise as well as how it can benefit us psychologically. Hints and tips are given to help you get started and make exercise a part of your everyday life. The physical benefits Carried out regularly, exercise can reduce blood pressure and help protect against a heart attack. By engaging in muscular strength training you can protect yourself against injury. Aerobic exercise will assist your heart and lungs in working more efficiently. Furthermore, by exercising, bones are kept strong and this can slow the development of osteoporosis. Exercise can also help alleviate headaches. A further benefit of course is that exercise can help maintain a healthy weight. The psychological benefits Reduces stress Exercise not only helps reduce stress, but it can also help you deal with stress long-...