Have you noticed a relationship between diet and migraine? For many people, the foods they consume have a notable effect on their migraine frequency. Many different diets have been touted as the ideal “migraine diet” however, there have not been studies that demonstrate one specific diet being superior to another for migraine management. A recently published study showed that: “Adherence …
Disc Bulge and Back Pain
Many things that are diagnosed on imaging appear to be present in a large number of people without low back pain as well. In this study, 52% of 30-year-olds had disc degeneration (and had no pain or loss of function). And the percentage went up with each decade of life. This means we might need to reframe our thinking about …
Exercise and Anxiety
The majority of us have been experiencing more anxiety over the last year for a variety of reasons. We know exercise can help, and you’ve probably felt the effect of less anxiety after exercise, but did you know why? The relationship between exercise and anxiety is multi-factorial and includes both psychological and physiological components. Psychological benefits include distraction, enhanced self-efficacy, …
How long does it take to recover from an injury?
How long does it take to recovery from injury? That’s a question I get asked almost daily. Here’s my response: It doesn’t go from acorn to oak tree overnight.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A difficult part of recovering from injuries is that there are certain components of them we’re unable to control, such as our age, the type of tissue that was injured, …
Minimal Equipment Strength Training
Who knew that in the second half of 2020 exercise equipment would become the new toilet paper? With the world forced to change their workout routines, fitness equipment manufacturers can’t keep up with demand. There’s now a shortage of dumbbells, kettlebells, and most other fitness equipment. However, you can still get your strength training by filling up a backpack with …
Headache and Migraine Relief Workshop
Finding relief for headaches or migraines is possible by getting a better understanding of what’s causing your pain. Educating yourself about health, wellness, and the specific ailments you are dealing with provides the best foundation for progress and recovery. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES The most common headache and migraine types and how to identify yours. Why prescription …
Bra 101 – Fit Matters!
What do bras have to do with back, neck, or headache pain? Well, in many cases, they can have a direct influence on the the musculoskeletal system. A bra that fits you correctly, and is the right size and shape, will allow the body to function at its maximum potential. It’s common for me to treat women with neck or …
All you need is love. But a little Vitamin D doesn’t hurt.
We’re already halfway through February, but we’re far from halfway through winter in the Northern Rockies. Which brings up the important topic of Vitamin D levels! Vitamin D is sometimes called the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because it’s produced in our body from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to the sun. Vitamin D is critical to maintaining bone and muscle health and also plays a …
Less Sleep Can Equal More Pain: Part II
In Part I of this topic, we talked about sleep and pain and the sleep, stress, pain triad. If you’re looking for more detail regarding sleep and pain specifically, the New York Times recently published an excellent article on the complex relationship between these two elements. They discuss a study that demonstrated lack of sleep created a ramped up sensation to pain, and …
Less Sleep Can Equal More Pain
We all know that lack of quality sleep has numerous detrimental effects on our day to day life and our overall health. But, one thing you may not have realized is that lack of sleep can actually increase your perception of pain. Let that sink in for a minute… Less sleep can increase the intensity of pain or discomfort you’re …