Improving physical fitness – Exercise can improve your muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Maintaining a healthy weight – Exercise can help you burn calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Reducing the risk of chronic diseases – Exercise can help reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Strengthening the bones and muscles – Regular exercise can help build and maintain strong bones and muscles.
Improving mental health – Exercise has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and improve mental health.
Promoting better sleep – Regular exercise can help improve sleep quality and duration.
Enhancing cognitive function – Exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory and concentration.
Boosting energy levels – Regular exercise can help increase energy levels and reduce fatigue.
Improving quality of life – Exercise can help improve overall quality of life by increasing self-esteem, reducing the risk of falls in older adults, and improving overall physical function.
Women are often afraid to lift weights for fear they will look too “bulky”, but actually that’s not what happens.
Women can and should do weight lifting exercises if they want to shed body fat and achieve a toned physique. Strength training 30 to 40 minutes twice a week for 4 months, could increase an average woman’s resting metabolism by 100 calories a day, meaning you’ll be burning calories even when you’re not exercising.
The list of obstacles to training is long but one thing that I’ve seen over and over is the four mentioned above by Gerry DeFilippo are almost always in the top 5. Sleep, hydration, nutrition and time management have derailed almost as many careers as Father Time.
If you find yourself unable to get a good training session in without supplementation to “get you going” I’d take a long hard look at these four items immediately, fix them and then see how you go. My money is on a significant improvement as soon as you get them fixed up.
I will not be stopped; my fitness journey gives me an edge in all areas of my life. Dedication, drive and discipline all increase my success at work, home and sports.
I am determined and I am using what works for me.
I don’t pay attention to the numbers or the scale, I focus on how I feel and how I look. I have a goal and accountability for where I want to be, in this case it’s at my favorite beach in my hometown; Cannes, France.
So far, the journey has been one heck of a ride.
Fitness is a powerful tool that enables me to achieve my potential and goals.
I have learned that I am stronger than I think.
I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I think.
I have learned that I can do whatever I set my mind to, whatever that may be.
I have learned to plan, prioritize and time manage better; to stay focused on what’s important.
Impingement syndrome is an irritation of the structures between the upper portion of your arm and your shoulder blade mainly during overhead arm movements.The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles that help position the humerus, your upper arm bone, into the shoulder socket during arm movement.The shoulder has great mobility but at the same time is prone to injury during falls or accident, or when there is a lack of motor control (altered biomechanics).Men over 40 performing manual labour are the most affected with this condition. It is also present in young athletes practicing sports involving repeated overhead motion such as swimming, baseball or tennis.
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Structures involved
The tendons of the rotator cuff, ligaments of your shoulder and subacromial bursa are the most commonly affected structures. The subacromial space gets smaller during overhead movements. This can cause, over time, irritation, inflammation and/or a lesion of the rotator cuff tendons.
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Signs & Symptoms that you may experience
Everyone will react differently after an injury and recovery will depend on the severity of it.
Impingement syndrome can cause but is not limited to, pain at the front of the shoulder and localized swelling. Pain or tightness is often felt when you lift your arm overhead or when you lower it from an elevated position. Pain can also be felt around your shoulder blade in your back.
Other early symptoms can include light pain with activities or during rest and in some cases, irradiating pain around your shoulder. In severe cases, you might feel pain at night and a loss of strength or range of motion. Impingement syndrome can lead to rotator cuff tendinitis or shoulder bursitis when left untreated.
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Recovery
Your rehabilitation plan, health, fitness & nutritional status will affect recovery speed. Most of the time, you can expect to recover fully from impingement syndrome. As a rule of thumb, this condition can take up to three months to fully recover.
Relative rest is a good way to protect your shoulder and prevent further damage, but it’s important to avoid overprotecting your injury. A few days rest where you avoid pain-inducing movement and activities might be necessary. A quick but progressive return to your activities of daily living, light cardiovascular exercise and specific range of motion and strengthening exercises will allow better recovery.
Rehabilitation
Follow your practitioner’s advice. It will help you manage the different phases of the recovery process and will increase the likelihood of successful rehabilitation. Your practitioner will assist you during your rehabilitation program in order to regain your normal range of motion, strength and endurance, optimal motor control and functional status.
As per the principles of rehabilitation for impingement syndrome, movement training through therapeutic exercises is an important part of functional recovery. A progressive exercise program performed over a few weeks period is pretty standard.
▶ WHAT TO AVOID
Don’t rely on passive treatment only. Each phase of the rehabilitation process is important. Patients that are actively involved in their treatment plan tend to recover faster. Keep in mind that pain is not always a good indicator of tissue damage. As soon as you feel better and the pain is well managed in collaboration with your therapist, you should reintroduce light strengthening exercises as tolerated.
A recent research study found over 75% of people experience at least a moderate amount of stress every day!
Chronic stress is not fun to deal with, but did you know it can also affect your weight?
When you are stressed your body goes into survival (or “fight or flight”) mode which changes your hormonal balance. You don’t need to be running from a saber tooth tiger to enter fight or flight mode. Even everyday events like traffic and stress at work can cause you to have that physiological response.
Why it Matters:
Recent research suggests that chronic stress can result in:
high blood pressure,
changes in your brain,
and weight gain.
When you are stressed out, it is more likely that you will over-eat and less likely that you will get enough sleep and exercise. Stress causes your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can produce a build-up of fatty tissue and cause weight gain. Cortisol increases both your appetite and the amount of fat the body stores. By recognizing your stressors, and engaging in a few simple relaxation techniques, you can learn to reduce your body’s natural stress response.
The hormone Cortisol is released in response to stress and increases your blood sugar.
Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels.
An association has been found between increased cortisol levels and obesity.
Next Steps:
Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or even simple breathing exercises can help your body counter the stress response. Also, exercise has been shown to decrease stress levels substantially.
The next time you are feeling stressed out, take a moment to breathe a few deep breaths and try to get some exercise into your schedule that day. Not only will you feel better mentally, but your body will be able to reduce the amount of Cortisol produced which will limit your body’s fat storage and help curb any thoughts of over-eating. Staying fit and trim does start in your head!
Science Source(s):
Hair Cortisol and Adiposity in a Population‐Based Sample of 2,527 Men and Women Aged 54 to 87 Years. Obesity 2017
You’re busy and you’re stressed out. Well, you’re not alone.
These are two of the most common reasons people give for not exercising consistently. Ironically, these are the two exact reasons you should be exercising and moving your body!
Moving your body releases endorphins which help you feel good, relaxes your mind which reduces stress, and burns calories to keep you looking great.
Why it Matters:
Your body is meant to move. Long hours commuting in your car or sitting at a desk can place a lot of stress on your musculoskeletal system.
If your spine and core muscles are weak and unstable, then you are more likely to suffer an injury which can cause a downward spiral that impacts your relationships with food, sleep, and exercise. So taking a pro-active approach to your exercise routine is crucial to live your best life. Chiropractic adjustments are an essential part of the picture because they can help you feel good mentally and keep you moving physically.
Maintaining a healthy weight can decrease the risk factors for cardiovascular and heart disease.
Even 15 minutes of light exercise can make a difference in your overall health.
Exercise can help you feel good both physically and mentally.
Next Steps:
Schedule time every day to exercise. But, don’t get discouraged if you feel like you aren’t doing enough. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
Even 15 minutes of walking during your afternoon break can provide you with the health benefits you are looking for. Burning an extra hundred calories per day (which could be accomplished with 10 minutes of walking) adds up to thousands of calories each month. Continue that trend, and you will notice inches falling off your waistline before you know it!
Science Source(s):
The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Weight Loss and Maintenance. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2015
Wise words indeed. When we are out of sorts with ourselves we get what professional athletes call “rabbit ears”. We hear everything going on around us and it distracts us from what we need to do.
Get your body, your conscious mind and your subconscious mind all pulling in the same direction and those outside distractions become nothing more than white noise.
Chiropractic: Prevention Is Key to Avoid Back Pain.
The American Chiropractic Association offers these suggestions to help protect your back and improve your spinal health: maintain a healthy diet and weight, exercise regularly, maintain proper posture, avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest, quit smoking, and use good body mechanics when lifting.