Balance Chicago

Most people have had a minor knee injury at one time or another…

Did you know that LifeStyle treats knee injuries?! If you ever suffer from one of the following injuries, LifeStyle can and will help!

• Sprains, strains, or other injuries to the ligaments and tendons that connect and support the kneecap.
• A tear in the rubbery cushions of the knee joint (meniscus).
• Ligament tears, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee.
• Breaks (fracture) of the kneecap, lower portion of the femur, or upper part of the tibia or fibula. Knee fractures are most commonly caused by abnormal force, such as a falling on the knee, a severe twisting motion, severe force that bends the knee, or when the knee forcefully hits an object.
• Kneecap dislocation. This type of dislocation occurs more frequently in 13- to 18-year-old girls. Pieces of bone or tissue (loose bodies) from a fracture or dislocation may get caught in the joint and interfere with movement.
• Knee joint dislocation. This is a rare injury that requires great force. It is a serious injury and requires immediate medical care.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and if you still need to get a gift for mom, you’ve come to right place for recommendations! Here is a list of some simple gifts for the most important lady in your life:

1. Flowers

2. A Personalized mom bracelet

3. “Why a child will always need their mother” (book)

4. A spa package

5. A personalized keep-sake vase

We hope these suggestions might have sparked an interest in some of you. If you have other ideas feel free to comment below!

Happy Mother’s day to all of the mothers out there!

Now that the weather is FINALLY beginning to show signs of Spring, it is the time to put on those running shoes and exercise!

Since last week’s blog was dedicated to running tips for men, this week’s is obviously for women. So here are three easy tips for those of you ladies out there who love to run:

1. Stay in good form. Hold your head level, look about 10 to 20 feet ahead, and keep your chest up, which helps keep your spine aligned and airways open. Avoid rounding your shoulders. Your arms should bend about 90 degrees, swinging easily at your sides, not crossing in front of you. Hold your hands in loose cups rather than tight fists.

2.Don’t over stride. Instead of reaching with your forward foot, push off with your rear leg, and let your front foot land directly under your body. Overextending your forward foot breaks up your gait, causing a slight hesitation as your foot strikes the ground.

3. Breathe. Inhale and exhale through your mouth, not your nose. Breathing in through your nose and out your mouth may work in yoga class, but it won’t give you the wind you need for running. Try to take deep belly breaths. Think of your stomach going in and out with each breath, as well as your chest rising and falling.

HAPPY RUNNING!

1. Accept the challenge
“Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not.” —Dr. George Sheehan, runner/writer/philosopher

2. Shoot for this (at least)
“Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors.” —Dr. Kenneth Cooper, aerobics pioneer

3. Be a minuteman
“The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments—1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles.” —Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach

**Keep these easy tips in mind!

**Also keep all those who were affected by the terrible tragedy in Boston in your thoughts and prayers!

It’s that time of the year again! It is finally SPRING! Which means the weather is great and people will be heading outside to exercise. IF you are new to outdoor exercise and would like to start off with something simple like running, you have come to the right place!

Here are 3 tips every new runner should know:

1. Get the right running shoes- Wearing the right running shoes is the key to comfort and injury prevention. Visit a running specialty store to get fitted for the right running shoes for your foot type and running style. Also, make sure you don’t run in worn-out running shoes – they should be replaced about every 300-400 miles.

2. Warm up and cool down- A good warm-up signals to your body that it will have to start working soon. By slowly raising your heart rate, the warm-up also helps minimize stress on your heart when you start your run. So you should start your runs with a brisk walk, followed by very easy jogging for a few minutes. The cool down allows your heart rate and blood pressure fall gradually, so it’s important that you end your run with a slow 5-minute jog or walk.

3. Don’t worry about pace- As a beginner, most of your runs should be at an easy or “conversational” pace. You should be able to breathe very easily and carry on a conversation. Starting out with this type of easy running will help prevent over training and overuse injuries.

I am sure that most of you do not want to see another Peep, Chocolate bunny, or jelly bean again for quite some time! It was estimated that people bought about 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies, 700 million marshmallow Peeps, and about 16 billion jelly beans — enough to circle the Earth three times — for this past Easter holiday. THAT IS A LOT OF CANDY!

So what do you do with all of that egg-stra candy you have lying around after the Easter Bunny leaves? Here are three ideas that may spark your interest:

1. Donate to the homeless shelter. Wrap up some candy in treat bags and donate it to children who probably did not receive any candy for Easter.

2. Chop up those Chocolate bunnies! Chop up chocolate bunnies and chicks that won’t get eaten, freeze the pieces, and pull out to use like chocolate chips in cookies and other goodies.

3. Donate to Operation Shoe Box. Any candy that is heat-resistant can be added to shoe-boxes along with other needed items for our troops as part of Operation Shoe Box (shoe-boxes filled with anything and everything are sent overseas to deserving troops). If the kids are off from school this week, this might be a great project for them to choose all the non-melting candy in their stash, shop for the rest of the items, and box it up and send it off before school starts again.

Hopefully one of these ideas are right for you! We hope you enjoyed your Easter!

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes. Morton’s neuroma may feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or on a fold in your sock. Morton’s neuroma involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. In some cases, Morton’s neuroma causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. Your toes also may sting, burn or feel numb.

It’s best not to ignore any foot pain that lasts longer than a few days. See your doctor if you experience a burning pain in the ball of your foot that’s not improving, despite changing your footwear and modifying activities that may cause stress to your foot.

If you are experiencing any sort of pain like this, do not hesitate to call us. Call us TODAY to make an appointment- we are here to help heal YOU!

Its that time of year again- the time of year when everything starts to turn GREEN!

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner (March 17th) and Chicago always celebrates in style. This year, the Chicago Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on March 16th at noon. Also, if you are in the downtown area near the Chicago River that day, be sure to take a look at the water because it will be dyed GREEN at 10:00 a.m.!

The parade is a part of Chicago’s Irish history and is something every Chicagoan should experience at least once in their life, even if they aren’t Irish! But then again, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!!!

Please visit the SPDP website for more information… http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/

Happy (early) St. Patty’s Day!

“Spondylosis is a term referring to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the center of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. If this condition occurs in the zygapophysial joints, it can be considered facet syndrome. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent sensory and/or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs.”

Treatment is usually conservative in nature. Patient education on lifestyle modifications and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, chiropractic manipulative therapy(CMT), and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have been shown to manage such conditions. Other alternative therapies such as massage, trigger-point therapy, yoga and acupuncture may be of limited benefit. Surgery is occasionally performed. There are a few forms of treatment for Spondylosis. Physical therapy may be effective for restoring range of motion, flexibility, and core strengthening.

So if you are suffering from any sort of back or neck pain, be sure to contact us at 773.525.5200! We will be sure to help you get rid of the pain and you will be back to your healthy self in no time!

LifeStyle Physical Therapy and Balance Center is here to heal YOU!

Stay balanced