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POWER BALANCE BRACELETS
it’s fondly remembered for its uniquely ‘80s aesthetic and its wealth of unintentional comedy.
Really, it made you look like a gyrating fool while offering almost no health benefits. Ironically enough, studies have shown that the amount of time many Americans spend seated each week is a serious health risk. While standing and variable desks are gaining popularity, don’t expect the Hawaii Chair to make a comeback anytime soon. Rock-hard, six-pack abs have become a symbol of a well-sculpted body, so there have been plenty of nutso-crazy products and schemes designed to target that area of the body. From belts like the Slendertone to books like “Zero Belly Diet,” there are dozens of ab fads to choose from. The most iconic, though, has to be “8 Minute Abs.” Featuring a buff, spandex-wearing host named Jaime Brenkus, “8 Minute Abs” was a VHS-based program that promised to take you from flab to fab in just eight minutes per day. The craze was so popular that it inspired spinoffs like “8 Minute Buns.” Today, 8 MINUTE ABS
One of the funniest subcategories of fitness products are those that claim to improve your performance through little more than magic. In the case of Power Balance bracelets, that magic was called “holographic technology.” Simply by wearing this bracelet, the company claimed, you would become more agile and lithe. Of course, independent studies put the lie to Power Balance’s claims in a hurry. However, the company is still in business today, albeit with a very different marketing strategy.
WII FIT
So much of the Nintendo Wii’s world- conquering success looks improbable in hindsight. It was a game system that was equally suitable for preschools and assisted living homes. It was built on the promise of motion controls, which only worked well for a couple of games. Oh, and it was also marketed as a home fitness machine. Debuting in 2008, “Wii Fit” and its sequels used an electronic balance board to provide guided exercise routines and rudimentary statistical feedback. At the time, it felt like a revolution. But just a few short years later, after Fitbit and other tech-centric fitness products emerged, it felt like a relic. While “Wii Fit” was more scientifically grounded than most fitness fads, today you’re most likely to find one of the balance boards at your local thrift store.
PRANCERCISE
There are no words to describe this one. Just go look it up on YouTube. You won’t be disappointed.
Physical Therapy May Be the Solution You’ve Been Looking For
Options Beyond Pain Medication
WHEN TO TALK TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST
affected part of the body. Instead of relying on prescription drugs, a physical therapist helps relieve pain through education, hands-on care, and movement.
If you go to your doctor with pain, chances are they’ll prescribe you pain medication. While pain medication can help in certain situations, such as acute pain, cancer treatment, and end-of-life care, in others, it’s not always the only solution. Relying too heavily on medication for chronic pain can lead to bigger problems. To manage long-lasting pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, highly recommends seeing a physical therapist.
Pain that lasts less than 90 days is considered acute; anything over that is chronic. When a condition becomes chronic, it’s recommended that you speak to a physical therapist about the pain you’re experiencing instead of continuing pain medication. The CDC guidelines note that non-opioid therapies are “preferred” for chronic pain and state, “Clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient.” Suffering from pain doesn’t have to be part of your life, and there are other solutions than relying on medication.
MYTHS ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY
You may have heard that physical therapy is painful or that a center will only accept someone who has been injured, but that’s not true. Physical therapy works with a patient’s range of motion and limitations to heal and restore their body’s proper function. The PT’s goal is to relieve your pain, not create it. Patients include older people experiencing age-related wear and tear, athletes, and individuals hurt in accidents. Physical therapists specialize in restoring mobility and relieving pain as well as detecting and diagnosing problems before they become worse.
THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
When you suffer from chronic pain and take pain medications to cope, you’re not solving the problem. The pills only mask the pain, but the issue remains. A physical therapist works to resolve the problems causing the pain and manage pain by strengthening the
2 • www.mhrpt.com
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