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Spring
into Health
With the recent wonderful weather, many of you will start to venture
outside, to enjoy the sunshine and get some exercise. Unless you’ve
been training all winter, you’ll want to observe some precautions.
First
of all, start slow. Warm-up by doing some walking, or light running
for 5 minutes. After you warm-up do some light stretches. Now you’re
ready to participate in your activity. Remember to take it slow
at first. It’s going to take some time to get back in shape.
We have a name on my soccer team for people who only participate
occasionally in sports. We call them “Weekend warriors”.
These are the folks who go out, play hard and usually get hurt.
Remember to stretch after your activity. This is actually the most
important time to stretch. You’ve been contracting your muscles
and you need to take the time to stretch them back out. This will
help with lactic acid build-up and help to prevent soreness. You
should expect to be slightly sore until your body adapts again to
the new activity.
If
you do get injured, here are some helpful hints. Remember the acronym
RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. It’s
important to give the injured body part time to heal by resting
it. Don’t push it too soon. You’ll just re-injure it and
will delay the healing process. When tissues are swollen it’s
important to use ice to reduce inflammation. Many times our patients
mistakenly put heat on their backs when hurt. Although it might
feel good at the time, in the long run, you’ve increased the
swelling and will make it worse. Ice should not be used for longer
than 20 minutes at a time. Compressing the injured area with something
like an ace-wrap will help to prevent swelling. Elevating the body
part will help to push the swelling back toward the heart so it
can be re-absorbed by the body.
We
can help as well. Spinal adjustments will improve nervous system
function to speed the healing. We also have a low level or healing
laser which increases oxygenation to the tissues and improves the
cell’s ability to produce ATP or energy which rapidly speeds
the healing process. To find out more information about it go to
www.erchonia.com.
We also have a wonderful massage therapist that can help relax the
tight muscles and speed the healing process.
Yours
in health,
Lynne
Sullivan D.C.
www.drsully.com
Ps:
For you golfers, our office is supporting Chabot College Athletics
in their 4th annual golf tournament. It will be held Monday, May
23rd at the Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton. The cost is $150 which
includes dinner, a box lunch, green fees, cart and tee prizes. If
you are interested, please contact me.
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