Because modern life doesn’t require us to be active, movement and exercise can often feel like a chore. Humans have had no evolutionary pressure to develop a love of exercise because it used to be built into daily life. It can feel like something we should do, instead of something we naturally want to do. Dance can keep us physically fit, make us smarter, and get us in touch with the joy of movement.
What allows us to balance on a bicycle without having ridden for years? Do our muscles remember? Well yes and no. When we’re learning how to do something for the first time, it takes conscious effort. But after we’ve got it down, it’s stored in our procedural memory bank, located in our trusty cerebellum.
It's okay to be a little skeptical about fascia. Scientists have only started paying close attention to it in the last few decades. So if you're over the age of 30, you might find yourself wondering if fascia is just one of those woo-woo West Coast things. But it's real, and really important. Let's have a look!
As we age we’re more likely to fall, and are more vulnerable to sustaining serious injuries if we do fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older, and we’ve all had our share of slips on ice, trips over stairs, or falling while playing sports. Let’s learn how to fall gracefully, and teach this important skill to our loved ones.
Our society is at its most sedentary point in all of human history. Movement used to be an essential part of our survival, but in the past few decades more jobs require less activity. We’ve gone from strolling through the jungle to scrolling through spreadsheets and Instagram. Nothing wrong with that, except that it’s, um—killing us.
Habits. They make or break us. Maybe you've heard the quote, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” And you may know that sleep is really important for our health. Even if your life is anything but routine in other ways, this is one area where it pays handsomely to establish a routine, or at least a small set of rules that you follow faithfully.
High-intensity workouts went mainstream a few years ago. Even the New York Times began touting a 7-minute workout. They’re great for busy people, who are already in good shape—but that intensity is not for everyone. If you’re a bit out of shape or recovering from an injury, you’ll need another way to work your way toward your fitness goals.
Ah, fresh air! Natural light. So nice. Remember being completely awestruck at the sight of a vast landscape? The kind where your whole body relaxes, your mind is humbled, and you feel immensely grateful that you get to be alive and witness such vast beauty? Turns out these mental and physical effects have been observed and measured by scientists, proving that time in nature is good for our physical, emotional and social health.
When walking up and down a mountain with weight on your back, it’s almost inevitable to end up with a sore and stiff body. Dr. Beck recommends a trail break every 3-4 hours to snack and stretch and another longer stretch session once you reach camp for the night. Here are some stretches to keep your body in hiking shape on the trail.
Given that people are spending about five hours a day on their smartphones – it’s no surprise we are seeing a lot of patients come in with what we call “Tech Neck”. It’s a result of looking at their devices with their neck and head facing down. This type of posture creates a lot of stress on the neck, upper back, and shoulders.
As we pass the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reflect on all the changes this last 13 months has thrown our way. As chiropractors, we are seeing changes as well. Those changes come in the issues our patients are experiencing. In this blog, I want to share with you the musculoskeletal issues that arise from work from home and how Parkside Clinic is Southeast Portland is your chiropractor of choice.
