Advanced Practice Physical Therapy - July 2020

THE KEY TO BOOSTING YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE GYM 3 DEVICES TO IMPROVE YOUR BREATHING

When you’re running or lifting weights, oxygen is the fuel that keeps you moving. It rushes into your lungs and blood with every breath you take, and your heart pumps it out to your muscles, where it becomes vital energy. Ensuring your airway is open is the key to making this process run smoothly. If you’re a regular in the gym, you probably know how important proper breathing is. You might even be employing breathing techniques already. But did you know you can also buy your way to better breathing?

even found that wearing an Under Armour mouthguard boosted college athletes’ endurance, exercise intensity, and recovery. PUTTING YOUR BEST NOSE FORWARD Since the 1996 Olympics, athletes all over the world have been using nasal dilators to improve their breathing. These devices make it easier to breathe through your nose, either by pulling open your nostrils from the outside (like the Breathe Right Nasal Strips you see on football players) or pushing them open from the inside (like Nas- Air that clips into the nose, a bit like a bull’s ring). These devices aren’t exactly fashion statements, but they work, particularly the internal ones! According to an Italian study published by Acta Biomedica, athletes using an internal dilator made by Nas-Air felt less fatigued after working out than athletes using Breathe Right strips or no device.

CREATING AN OXYGEN SUPERHIGHWAY

Mouthguards aren’t just to protect our teeth during sports anymore. According to specialists, wearing a mouthguard can help open up your airway by moving your jaw forward and keeping your tongue stable. This lets more oxygen in and lets more carbon dioxide out! One study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association

but they’re the most accessible options for athletes just starting to dabble in the practice. To find out more about the products above, visit UnderArmour.com for mouthguards, BreatheRight.com for external nasal dilators, or RhinoMed. global for internal dilator options.

Mouthguards and nasal dilators are just the tip of the breath-enhancing iceberg,

THE BEST GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com

TAKE A BREAK!

Contrary to popular belief, vegetables are delicious. Most of our parents just didn’t know how to prepare them well. This summer, revolutionize your cookout with a serving of delicious, colorful veggies.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning • 1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced • 2 lbs assorted vegetables, trimmed and halved (asparagus,

3. Prepare the grill at medium- high heat. 4. Grill vegetables in batches, cooking 3–5 minutes on each side until browned and tender. (Carrots will cook longer, 6–9 minutes per side.) 5. Remove from the grill, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot. mushrooms, red onion, red bell peppers, baby carrots, and yellow squash are great on the grill) • 5 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine salt,

pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic.

2. Brush vegetables with olive oil

and place in a large bowl. Top with lemon juice and seasoning mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours.

• 3 406-770-3171

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs