Even though road trips offer you a break from the monotony of your office, the stiffness in your muscles and joints that comes from sitting in one position for too long can follow you onto the road if you’re not careful. Whether in front of a laptop or behind the wheel, taking the opportunity to stretch and exercise on your summer road trip is a great way to prevent the soreness from following you back to the office. Here are a few stretches to keep in mind for the next rest stop. FOR THE NECK Reach your left arm over the top of your head and touch your right ear. Then, gently pull your head to the left and hold it there for 15 seconds. Repeat this process with your right arm. FOR THE CHEST Stand in front of a door frame with one hand pressed on either side and your elbows at 90-degree angles, then lean forward. This will cause your chest muscles to open up. Hold this position for 15 seconds. You can do a similar stretch by bending downward while keeping your hands on your car door in front of you, stretching your entire upper body. FOR THE HIPS While you’re driving, a good way to prevent sore hips is by making sure your knees are slightly elevated above them in your seat. Once you have the opportunity to stop, try doing some hip flexors. Kneel on one knee, slowly push your pelvis forward, squeeze your shoulders back, and open your chest. Hold this position for 15 seconds, then repeat while kneeling on the other knee. FOR THE LEGS To stretch out your hamstrings, place your right heel on a small step. Extend your arms upward, and then lean your upper body forward. You’ll feel a pull in the back of your upper leg. Once you’ve done this for about 15–30 seconds, repeat the process with your left heel. The road may be long, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel it in your muscles. If you stop every couple of hours and take some time to limber up, your body will thank you. LIMBERING UP For Your Next Road Trip
Many of you have expressed concerns about getting the same health problems as your mother or father or a friend who suddenly died. Sometimes, a certain amount of fear and confusion about what you should do leads to doing nothing. Health isn’t just defined as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease; it’s also about having enough energy to do the things that matter to you in life. There are things we can control and things we can’t. Over the past 10 months, you’ve been receiving our monthly newsletter with tips designed to help you create a healthy lifestyle, so you can minimize your health risks. In this article, I want to continue to educate you with “the facts” about what you can control. Prevention is the key! GET OUT AND STAY OUT OF PAIN Drug dependence for pain relief is a major public health crisis. Chiropractic care is safe, effective health care without the risks of drugs and surgery. Once you’re out of pain , I encourage you to continue care to correct your problem and utilize maintenance care to minimize future problems. Share your success with your family and friends. Chiropractic care is mechanical, not chemical. If we tested you for Tylenol, you would not be deficient! WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS Metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, are linked with abnormal insulin metabolism . Insulin , THE main fat-storing hormone, is rarely tested in ordinary medical care, which leads to greater drug dependence and continued lowering of measurements by drug companies to produce even greater drug dependence. To understand this relationship, be sure to get your copy of “Get Healthy to Lose Weight” at my office for only $10. It’s easy to understand, and you’ll become an expert on how to handle the insanity of drug management for these major problems. MOVE YOUR BODY Regular exercise is critical to overall health. Find something you enjoy doing. I saw a story last week where a 90-year-old finished a 26-mile marathon. I thought, “Wow, I’d rather drive.” I do what I like: walking, weight training, swimming, and yoga. Do something you like and do it often. MINIMIZE STRESS We all have to control stress and its negative hormonal response of cortisol and adrenalin causing cellular damage to our bodies. Avoid people you don’t like and spend time with people you do. Get enough sleep. Remember, pain contributes to stress. DR. BRAADT’S HEALTH TIPS Minimizing Your Health Risks
I’m always available to help you as needed!
–Dr. Paul Braadt
CedarCrestChiropractic.com
PAGE 2
610-776-2005
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker