Benefits of regular exercise Valerie Early, RD Activity means exercise, and exercise means moving your body! You must treat exercise like brushing your teeth, shaving, or showering – things we’re not excited about doing, but we do them anyway as part of our daily routine. Exercise must be an ongoing appointment on your calendar, and [...]

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The three main components of exercise> Valerie Early, RD Once you have established an exercise routine, make sure it includes all three of the main components of exercise: 1) cardiovascular/aerobic, 2) strength training/weight training, and 3) flexibility/stretching. Each component is important if you want good health, a strong body, good balance, a lower risk of [...]

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Save your shoulders – enjoy your holidays! Martha H.Howard, MD   Going Christmas shopping? Visiting the family? Lifting heavy shopping bags and carrying heavy luggage, or practicing 100 tennis serves for your vacation game can be risky for your shoulders.   First of all, see a doctor immediately if there is heat, swelling in your [...]

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Achy Joints… pain… pain – go away Sharon M Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI, FACW, FAAN Millions of Americans experience achy joints and more! Whether at work, home, or play, the pain can range from a dull ache to somewhat disabling…and what is one to do? How about popping a pill? As a pharmacology instructor for [...]

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Fibromyalgia Drugs…solution or mask? Sharon M Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI, FACW, FAAN Fibromyalgia – we see so much more of it today? Why do you think that is? Much of it has to do with compromised immune systems, stressors in our lives, and more. Why remains a mystery, but obesity, prior injury and more certainly [...]

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Running Injuries: Prevention & Treatment by Dr. Richard Ezgur With marathon season upon us, the topic of preventing and treating running injuries is quite timely. The majority of all running injuries are overuse injuries due to the repetitive nature of the sport. The other factors are related to the runner’s structural framework and biomechanical function. [...]

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Cycling-Related Injuries by Dr. Richard Ezgur Without a doubt, the single most common cycling injury is the overuse injury, and the most common cause is an improper bike fit. Overuse injuries occur over gradually over time, so the most important thing you can do for injury prevention is to get your bike properly fit by [...]

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Physiological Footwear by Sharon Weinstein, RN So, are these shoes made for walking, for exercising, for weight loss? Wow – we continue to see more physiological footwear on the market – shoes aimed at bringing our bodies into alignment, balancing the weight, burning calories, and more! Well, I have tried several of them, and while [...]

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Get Off on the Right Foot by Sharon M. Weinstein 1. Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes. To enhance pampering, add Epsom salt, herbal soaks or oils. 2. Use a pumice stone or foot file to gently remove calluses around heels, balls and sides of feet. 3. Eliminate dry, flaky [...]

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Sit Healthy! by Dr. Helen Lee Humans have evolved from the hunched over caveman of long ago to the straighter, more upright stature of today which promote movement and increased ease of activity. However, the average American SITS for 56 hours a week! And to top it off we tend to sit hunched over, slouched, [...]

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Hamstring Muscle Injuries by Dr. Richard Ezgur As summer approaches, many weekend warriors are discovering new aches and pains of the season. One commonly strained or “pulled” group of muscles are the hamstrings. Spanning the back of the thigh, these muscles help to extend the leg backwards and are active when we “push-off” in running, [...]

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What to Eat Before Exercise by Martha H. Howard, MD, Medical Director, Wellness Associates of Chicago A full stomach and exercise don’t mix. Food that remains in your stomach during regular workouts or an event can cause nausea and cramping. Make sure you let your meal digest completely before an event. Depending on how much [...]

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Exercises for Back Pain Relief by Mark Sobor, M.D. We all suffer from back pain at some point in our life. Back pain can occur because of a specific injury or it could be ongoing, requiring changes in our lifestyle. Treatment depends on what caused the pain. Before attempting any exercises, you must rule out [...]

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Kids as Athletes by Robert C. Scott, D.C. Participation in athletics is a necessary part of growing up. The need for sports is especially great because obesity affects 25% of American children, and only 35% of school age children meet the criteria for fitness. However, we must realize participation in athletics does not come without [...]

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Massage and Cancer: How to Be a “No Harm” Therapist and an Informed Recipient by Carrie Carone, LMT, CMT, LLCC Cancer treatment has changed the rules of engagement for massage therapists, and for cancer survivors who receive massage. 30%-40% of breast cancer patients, who have had lymph nodes removed or radiated, will develop Lymphedema. The [...]

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Running Season by Dr Steven Arculeo, DC Running season in Chicago is here, and runners from all walks of life have started training for events over the next 6 months. Whether you are training for a 5k run/walk or the big Chicago Marathon, there are a few simple things you can do to help prevent [...]

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Orthotic Therapy For Happy Feet by Dr. Robert Scott DC CCSP Each day the average person walks about 4 miles which equals 115,000 miles in a lifetime (that’s equivalent to 4 trips around the earth). Some people are on their feet all day long. Your foot is a very complex structure which provides a base [...]

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Fibromyalgia by Dr Martha Howard, MD Back in the early 1980’s, when I first saw people having the kind of pain that is now called fibromyalgia, they came to see me in desperation because other medical doctors had told them it was all in their heads, and that what they needed was to take antidepressants. [...]

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Power Stretching by Dr Steven Arculeo, DC As our lives get busier and busier with our jobs, home projects, parenting, travel, and family obligations, etc., exercise can become less of a priority. The most common excuse is, “I don’t have the time to work out”. We have all heard this at some point, whether it [...]

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Self Treatment Advice On The Proper Use Of Heat And Ice by Dr Richard Ezgur and Dr Robert DiDomenico Many people are not sure when to use heat and when to use ice in the self-treatment of pain and injuries. As a rule, any treatment should be individualized to the unique needs of the patient. [...]

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Restless Leg Syndrome: Causes And Remedies by Ian Wahl, DAc, Lac, CH What is Restless Legs Syndrome? Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a condition distinguished by tingling sensations in the legs, and sometimes the arms, while sitting or lying still, especially at bedtime. According to the National Institutes of Health, the person with RLS needs [...]

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Fibromyalgia by Dr Mark Sobor What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is defined as long term, body wide pain radiating from tender points in tissues, muscles and tendons. It is linked to chronic fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in feet and hands, depression and anxiety. If you have experienced 3 months of widespread pain in [...]

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How to Care for your Back by Dr Richard Ezgur Recovering from low back pain requires first and foremost that further irritation or injury to the spine is avoided. This will create an environment conducive to healing. The most common source of strain to the low back occurs when bending. It is important to learn [...]

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Protect Your Back: Proper Lifting Techniques by Dr Richard Ezgur Traditionally, the most important rule in lifting has always been to “keep your back straight” and “bend with the knees – not the back.” Recent literature suggests that it is better to maintain the normal curve in your low back at all times and avoid [...]

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The Importance of Ergonomics by Dr Richard Ezgur Over time, the human body has adapted very well to the task of hunting for and gathering food. It performs and feels its best when it is in motion during the day, and resting at night. Sitting all day, on the other hand, puts an enormous strain [...]

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The Importance of Micro-Breaks by Dr Richard Ezgur Over time, the human body has adapted very well to the task of hunting for and gathering food. It performs and feels its best when it is in motion during the day, and resting at night. Sitting all day, on the other hand, puts an enormous strain [...]

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What you Need to Know About Back Pain by Dr Richard Ezgur Back aches and pains are usually not due to any serious disease. Most back pain settles quickly, allowing you to get back to a “normal life.” However, it is true that 50% of people with back pain will have another episode within a [...]

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Benefits of regular exercise – by Valerie Early, RD The three main components of exercise – by Valerie Early, RD Save your shoulders – enjoy your holidays! – by Martha H. Howard, MD Achy Joints… pain…pain – go away! – by Sharon M. Weinstein Fibromyalgia drugs… Solution or mask? – by Sharon M. Weinstein Running [...]

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Preparing for your Spring Athletic Season by Robert C. Scott DC CCSP Prepare for your spring sports adventure by first receiving a pre-participation exam. This examination is done months before the actual date of beginning the sports activity and is in addition to the typical physical examination done by an athlete’s family doctor. Get your [...]

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How to Get Kids in Shape after the Holidays by Dr Harry Hong, Ph.D, OMD , L.Ac. Holiday is fun but can be very stressful. The stresses are basically adrenal stress and dietary stress. Adrenal stress is from playing too much and not sleeping enough. Our body has an internal rhythm that follows the sun [...]

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