THE 5-SECOND RULE WILL MAKE YOU SICK 3 HEALTH MYTHS YOU PROBABLY BELIEVE
We live in the golden age of information. The answers to many of life’s questions are just an internet search away. Despite this readily available wisdom, we still have a bad habit of believing health-related myths. Here are three popular health “facts” that are total works of fiction.
Tavel of the Indiana University School of Medicine pointed out, over 50 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water. The same effect can be achieved with a home filtration system. Of course, if the tap water in your area has been contaminated, bottled water is a safer alternative. However, in most circumstances, bottled water is no healthier than tap water.
THE 5-SECOND RULE KEEPS FOOD SAFE
CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES CAUSES ARTHRITIS
Obviously germs and bacteria don’t really wait five seconds to pounce, but snatching your chip off the floor fast keeps most of the germs away, right? Not according to a 2006 study published by Dr. Paul Dawson. He found conclusive evidence that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, bacteria are transferred immediately. Even one second spent on tile, wood, or carpet is enough to infest your food with salmonella or another serious contaminant.
The connection between knuckle-cracking and arthritis came from studies where participants self-reported their habits. Modern medical research has shown these results to be false. The official stance from the John Hopkins Arthritis Center states, “There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints.” Still, chronic knuckle- cracking can lead to reduced grip strength, so you might want to break the habit anyway. You’ve probably heard these myths for years, but just because something is common knowledge doesn’t mean it is true. With information so easily available, always take the time to research the facts, especially when it comes to your health.
BOTTLED WATER IS SAFER THAN TAP WATER
People seeking out safer water alternatives increases the sales of bottled “spring water” each year. However, bottled water is more expensive, bad for the environment, and, as Dr. Morton
DOWN WITH THE STIFFNESS HOW POST-SURGERY PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN REALLY HELP
Surgery is hard on the body. Major or minor, surgery is a sudden trauma that the body deals with in different ways.
On top of that, this post-operative stiffness can keep you from doing the things you love and had hoped to return to after the surgery. Thankfully, there is a way to treat stiffness following surgery: manual therapy. Manual therapy is a form of physical therapy. It’s a hands-on treatment involving the manipulation of joints and muscles. It’s a very deliberate and controlled process. Unlike massage, for instance, manual therapy is highly targeted. Clinicians identity the specific joints and muscles that need to be focused on in order to treat post-surgery stiffness.
For example, after an operation, a person may feel stiff near or on the surgery site. As a result of the stiffness in the joints and muscles, they may also experience limited mobility or range of motion.
Let’s say you get surgery on your shoulder. You may expect limited range of motion for a short period of time as the surgical wound heals. The problem is that some people experience stiffness or loss of range of motion far beyond the expected healing time. This can be devastating. When you have to go through surgery to repair part of your body and you then have to endure long-term stiffness and a more limited range of motion, you may wonder if the surgery was really worth it. It can create a cloud of doubt and also cause you to wonder if you are recovering correctly.
Several studies have looked into the effectiveness of manual therapy on post-operative stiffness (versus no treatment at all). The results show it works. But keep in mind that manual therapy is just one part of a complete treatment plan.
If you’ve recently had surgery, or you’re planning to get surgery in the near future, and you have questions about your recovery, don’t hesitate to give us call. We can answer your therapy questions and talk with you about what we can do in your time of recovery.
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