Big Benefits of Canoeing and Kayaking Paddle Your Way to Better Health
MENTAL BENEFITS • While canoeing
The weather is getting warmer, which means you can do more activities in the water. Canoeing or kayaking is an excellent way to get outdoors and be active. Besides looking at the beautiful scenery around you, taking to the water confers several physical and mental health benefits. PHYSICAL BENEFITS • Paddling can help improve your upper-body strength and muscle tone — because you’re using your arms to guide yourself through the water with the paddle. Paddling helps strengthen your arms, shoulders, chest, and back. • You use your legs to balance, maneuver, and change directions in the vessel. In turn, this movement helps strengthen your lower-body muscles . • While trying to stay centered and balanced on the water, you will develop more core strength . Paddling helps work your lower back, abs, and oblique muscles. • It’s a form of cardiac exercise that will help your heart circulate more blood throughout your body. It will also improve your endurance , enabling you to go longer distances faster.
or kayaking, your body releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins from neurotransmitters. This will help boost your mood and self-confidence and improve your focus . • These activities can enhance your memory and learning ability . This is because it exercises your hippocampus, one of the largest portions of your brain that is responsible for verbal memory and learning. • If you have trouble sleeping, this activity can improve your sleep . Exercising during the day can make you naturally tired, which helps you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. • Since you’ll be in the sun, your body can produce more vitamin D . This vitamin is essential for strong bones and an effective immune system. Canoeing and kayaking are great outdoor activities to help you get your daily dose of physical activity and a mental health boost. So, enjoy the warm weather and be one with nature — this may be your new favorite summer hobby this year!
WHAT HAPPENS AT A CONSULTATIVE EXAMINATION Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News
By the time you file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you’ve probably already visited the doctor more times than you can count. So, it can come as a shock when Disability Determination Services (DDS) declares they need you to schedule a new appointment. These are called “consultative examinations.” So, why do they happen, and what do they entail? DDS orders a consultative examination when they feel your medical records are inconsistent or insufficient — or,
You can request your physician for the exam, but many doctors will decline due to the low reimbursement rate. Other times, a specialist is needed to conduct specific tests. DDS will send you to one of their contracted physicians in these cases. Some of these doctors are highly qualified, attentive, and objective. Unfortunately, others might have preconceived ideas about someone making an SSDI claim. When that’s the case, there’s little you can do to change their minds. We advise anyone attending a consultative exam to be honest and forthright. Do not lie or exaggerate symptoms, and if you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t guess. Any of these mistakes can be used against you later in court. Similarly, if the doctor asks you to perform tasks, do so to the best of your
ability. These doctors are excellent at spotting inconsistencies, and they will hurt you in court.
Unfortunately, a consultative exam usually does not support the claimant’s case. But the good news is that it’s not the only evidence available to present to the DDS. We will seek out second medical opinions on the test results when possible (again, this is why it’s important to do your best), and you also have your own doctor’s records and opinions backing you up. If you have questions, want to file an appeal, or are concerned about your consultative exam, Di Bartolomeo Law is here to help. We will be glad to review your case, help you understand your rights, and whenever possible, help you secure the benefits you deserve. Don’t suffer the confusing red tape alone — give us a call today.
sometimes, just because they’d like a second opinion. Unlike other medical exams you’ve undergone for your disability, the goal is not to treat you — it’s to assess your impairment level and decide whether you’re eligible for benefits.
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The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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