Medical Breakthrough: How Hanging Upside Down Improves Flexibility

Medical research has found that hanging upside down also known as inversion therapy (prescribed by a licensed medical professional) can significantly improve your health and fitness levels. Inversion tables have been developed to help people with this new health and fitness treatment. However, to ensure that you benefit from the inversion therapy, it is important for you to use the right equipment for the right purpose and consult your doctor before starting. Most people think that hanging upside down is meant for those people with chronic back pain, but this therapy has other benefits as can be seen below:

Use of gravity

Hanging upside down or inversion therapy uses gravity to gently bring into line, adjust and provide traction to the spine. This healthy traction decompresses the vertebral column, and thus creating space for the discs while at the same time straightening and balancing the spinal column. When the muscles of the vertebrae are lengthened and strengthened, your upper, as well as lower body, become more flexible. This can aide in more easily partaking is higher energy activities..

Eases strains caused by compression

As we walk and carry out our daily chores, the spine and back muscles tend to be strained in the process. On top of that, the spinal column also experiences compression from carrying the upper body. This compression causes rigidity on the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spine. But when you hang upside down you allow the muscles to stretch, relax and also decompress the vertebrae. Safely hanging upside down offers the simplest way to ease strains and pressure caused by compression and also helps to lift the weight off the superimposed parts of the body.

Helps in preventing muscle stiffness and sports injuries

By hanging upside down, you reduce stiffness in a number of body parts, which include the arms, shoulders, back legs and torso. This creates a feeling of release as the pressure on these body parts is freed. It is because of this fact that hanging upside down may be helpful in improving certain conditions, such as herniated discs, lumbar osteoarthritis, inclinatory skeletal defects, sciatica, and paralytic scoliosis just to mention but a few.

The spine is a very important part of the body, and when it is in good health our entire body benefits. Inversion therapy enhances the health of the spine and as such, promotes better health for the whole body. Therefore, not only does hanging upside down improve flexibility, but it also improves overall strength, boosts the immunity and helps to promote emotional well-being. So, if you thought that inversion therapy is only for chronic back pain, it is a high time you thought again and considered hanging upside down on a regular basis. Hang-10.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

All You Need To Know About Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are injuries which occur when a person is exercising or playing some sort of sports of physical activity. Some of these injuries are as a result poor training, accidents or improper gear. Some people get injured as a result of not warming up well prior to exercising or pushing themselves too hard.

Any part of your body can get injuries including connective tissues, bones, muscles and joints. However, some of the most affected parts are knees and ankles. Some of the most common sports injuries include Achilles tendon injuries, sprains and strains, fractures, swollen muscles and dislocations.

The difference between a chronic and acute injury

In sports, there are two types of injuries: chronic and acute. Acute injury will occur suddenly when you are exercising or playing. Strained back, sprained ankles and fractured hands fall under acute injuries. Some symptoms of acute injury include swelling, severe pain, not being in a position to move your joints, a tender arm wrist, elbow or finger, extreme arm or leg weakness and not being in a position to place weight on your knee, leg, ankle or foot.

On the other hand, chronic injuries can occur after you have played or exercised. Some symptoms of chronic injuries are pain when exercising or playing sports, a dull ache when resting, and swelling.

What to do when injured

Immediately you know that you have been injured, you should immediately stop your activity. This is important since if you continue playing, you may cause more harm. You should seek medication attention regardless of the magnitude of the injury. Do not assume that it the injury will take care of itself.

How sports injuries are treated

Treatment for sports injuries usually depends on the magnitude of the injury. For instance, the sports doctor may use immobilization method. This is the most common method for treatment of sports injuries. It keeps the area that is injured from moving, and hence preventing more damage. Casts, splints and slings are used in immobilizing sports injuries.

Physicians also use surgery in treating certain and more severe sports injuries. Surgery can fix torn ligaments and tendons or put a broken bone back in place.

Injury rehabilitation can also be critically important to the healing process. This is a treatment plan where an injured person does strategic exercises so as to help heal more quickly the injured tissues. However, it is supposed to be done immediately after an injury for best results, with the guidance of a sports rehab specialist.

Some doctors also recommend therapies. Some therapies that can be conducted include mild electrical currents also known as electro stimulation, heat packs or thermotherapy, cold packs and sound waves. You can also visit an orthopedic center especially for the more serious sports injuries.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Tips to help manage a Rotator Cuff Injury

Here are some important tips to help manage a Rotator Cuff injury:  The rotator cuff plays a key role in shoulder movement and flexibility.  It's part of the complex ball and socket shoulder apparatus, and is made up of four principle muscles that support and stabilize the shoulder joint. This joint depends on the rotator cuff to assist with functions of the humerus bone for shoulder rotation and upward movement.

Consequently, an injury to the Rotator Cuff can be debilitating and painful, as well as a morale-downer. We don't realize how much we depend on the basic movement of our shoulders in day to day activities until we happen to injure one. From opening a kitchen cupboard to taking a shower, we are constantly relying on the flexibility and proper movement of the rotator cuff.

A sign of an injured rotator cuff can include pain when lifting your arms overhead or even putting on a shirt or coat. Also, with such an injury, forget about throwing, lifting, or most any physical activity.  One can experience sharp pain, and can feel relegated to becoming a hermit until the recovery is finished.  However, with the right rotator cuff treatment, recovery is not only possible, but can come quicker than you might think.

The severity of an injured rotator cuff can be classified as either a partial or full-thickness tear, depending on if the tendon is severed completely.  The most common injury location is the supraspinatus.  If the injury was caused by a sudden accident or occurrence, the tear injury may be considered an acute tear.  Otherwise, long-term wearing down of the tendon may classify it as a degenerative tear. 

Tip 1 to Rotator Cuff Recovery:  Track your progress

Each person's recovery can differ depending on the severity of the tear or a person's individual makeup, age, general health, etc.  So, take it day by day.  Track on paper (or computer) your daily progress on flexibility and shoulder movement. Your healthcare provider can suggest different movement methods that can be easy to measure and tracked.  Share this log with your doctors, so that they can modify their recommended treatment and therapy accordingly.

Tip 2 to Rotator Cuff Recovery:  Stick to the Treatment Plan

Whether treatment calls for invasive surgery, non-invasive surgery, or Physical Therapy, it is critically important to follow the treatment plans of your specialists. They are the experts, and have helped repair more injured rotator cuffs that any of us will injure.  Stick to the treatment plans, the exercises, the rehab, and their professional advice.  With that said, it's important to maintain an open dialog with your orthopedic specialist. Be proactive, and share your thoughts and concerns.  It's truly a team effort to get you back to a healthy state.

Tip 3 to Rotator Cuff Recovery:  Help the Process

Aside from following doctor's orders and complying to recommended treatment, here are a few other items to keep in mind to help in recovery:

• Adopt realistic expectations.  Recovery time can depend on many factors, including age and overall health of the patient.
• Avoid overuse or undue stress of the injured shoulder during the recovery period.
• Maintaining a healthy diet is always a good idea, and also aids in recovery time and effectiveness. 
• Avoid smoking and overuse of alcohol.
• Getting enough rest and deep sleep are critical to help healing the body.
• Keep a positive attitude, with the knowledge that "this too will pass".

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.