Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Cardiovascular Exercise Is Important to Health



Many avoid exercise due to their chronic conditions and their pain level.  While this is certainly understandable, you're not doing your body any favors. While Sore No More can be your saving grace, there are still some things you can do to help your body help itself.  It's true that some exercises are not appropriate for certain conditions, but in most cases there is something you can do to get moving and get your heart rate up.

Let's discuss a few types of cardiovascular exercise, specifically. Cardiovascular exercises helps eliminate toxins from your body, burns calories, helps build muscle (which in turn will burn even MORE calories), maintain a healthy weight, and upholds the integrity of your immune system amongst other things.

Swimming
Pros: Weightless exercise is gentle on the joints.  Swimming at a moderate speed can burn approximately 300 calories per hour.
Not Recommended For:  Those with osteoporosis will benefit more from weight bearing exercises like walking.

Running
Pros:  Running is great for getting your heart rate up, improving circulation, which benefits all the systems in your body.  Plus, it burns nearly 500 calories per hour!
Not Recommended For: Those with knee weakness or pain.  Running is a high impact sport and can have negative repercussions.  Ask your doctor before using running as a primary source of cardiovascular exercise.

Dancing
Pros: Dancing is not only good for the body but it’s good for the mind and soul. It can be highly beneficial in relieving stress and improving mood.  The number of calories burned depends on the style of dancing you choose.
Not Recommended For: As with running, if you have any joint weakness, dancing may not be for you. However, with so many styles of dancing available, there is something for nearly everyone.

Walking
Pros: Walking is probably the most versatile form of cardio.  It tends to be good for just about everyone. The young, the old, and the pregnant.  It increases joint mobility, increases your heart rate gradually and provides a great opportunity to catch up with friends.  Walking a a moderate pace on a smooth surface burns about 170 calories per hour.
Not Recommended For:  Consult your doctor, walking is ‘recommended’ for most everyone, but your physician can tell you if there are any hazards in it for you.

Biking
Pros: Biking is great exercise that can double as transportation.  It gets your heart rate up quickly and keeps it up while toning the muscles in your legs. It can burn roughly 550 calories in an hour when going at a moderate pace.
Not Recommended For:  Depending on where you choose to go, biking can be a high impact sport that will also often put you in the vicinity of other bikers or motor vehicles.  Caution is advised, always where protective gear.  Those who have any bone weakness issues should consult their physician before beginning a cycling routine.  


Remember! Sore No More is good for pre and post exercise aches and pains.  After a great cardio work out, put a couple of tablespoons of Sore No More in your bath to wind down from the day and sooth your newly aching muscles. 

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Managing Your Pain Through Exercise Part II

So you've decided that you want to try to manage your pain naturally. You've got your trusty tub of Sore No More! on hand and you know what inflammation is and how it can cause you pain. You've looked into an anti-inflammatory diet and now you're ready to start an exercise program!

The following websites will provide you with some great resources to manage your pain via exercise.

Back
Exercises to Help Back Pain
Back Strengthening Stretches
Upper Back Exercises

Legs
Five Stretches for Knee Pain
Stretches for the Legs
11 Exercises to Decrease Knee Pain

Head Neck & Shoulders
Neck Exercises for Pain Reduction
Five Stretches to Relieve Neck Pain

It is generally considered a wise idea to start a basic cardio regimen. If you find that walking for an extended period of time is too hard on your body, consider joining a water aerobics class or just hanging out at the pool a few times a week, swimming or wading laps. One of the best things you can do to manage your pain is to just keep moving!

Pretty soon you'll be applying your Sore No More! to relieve sore muscles left over from your great exercise routine instead of from your chronic pain!

*Please check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen. Sore No More! is not a licensed physician and is not qualified to give medical advice.*

Sore No More
150 East Center Street
Moab, Utah 84532

Tel: (435) 259-5931
Toll Free: (800) 842-6622
www.sorenomore.com

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Managing Pain Through Exercise

Sore No More! is designed to help relieve many types of pain, but being based out of an outdoor recreation mecca like we are, often it gets used specifically for exercise-related pain. Rock-climbers, mountain bikers, marathon runners, and many others use Sore No More! to manage their post exercise aches and to keep their muscles feeling limber.

On the other hand, exercise can also be used to help you manage your chronic pains or day to day muscle tension. While we don't advise that you go out tomorrow and run a marathon without training first, beginning some light weekly exercise can improve your quality of life.

How Does Exercise Help You Manage Your Pain?
Most of us know that exercise can loosen up tense muscles and help balance our bodies, which can decrease pain and make us feel better all around. There are exercises that target specific areas (i.e. shoulders) that can keep the pain in those areas manageable by keeping the muscles toned (as in resistance training) or loosened (as in stretching.)

However, exercise also releases endorphins, serotonin, and is thought to help balance hormones.

Endorphins produce a similar affect to opiates in the body and are often what people inadvertently refer to when they say they get a 'natural high.' They are credited with being pain-relieving, feel-good chemicals produced by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Endorphin release is increased while exercising, giving you a much-needed break from your pain and providing a valuable tool in your pain-management arsenal.

Serotonin is found in the Central Nervous System. It's a 'feel-good' chemical, the lack of which is often associated with depression. It's been found to regulate mood, appetite, sleep patterns and even muscle contraction! Exercise increases Serotonin production which can help you feel better all around!

All in all, exercise can be a valuable asset when trying to manage your pain, so why not get out of the house today and go for a walk around the block? Apply a bit of Sore No More to your problem areas before you go and by the time you're back home you'll have the boost you need to finish your day!

We suggest you speak with your doctor before starting any strenuous exercise program.

Check back next week to get recommendations on basic stretches, cardio, and resistance training that may help you manage your pain!

For More Information Check Out:
For More Info On Managing Pain with Exercise
http://www.mamashealth.com/exercise/expain.asp
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/articles-submit/tanja-gardner/natural-pain-management.htm
For More information on Endorphins
http://www.mens-total-fitness.com/endorphins.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/ExerciseandTheEndorphinRush
http://www.ehow.com/how_5082222_release-endorphins-pain-relief.html
For More Information on Seratonin
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/TheSeer/seratonin.html
http://www.fitcommerce.com/BLUEPRINT/WebControls/Announcements/ViewAnnouncement.aspx?ItemID=787&mid=112&portalId=2&cid=112
http://www.ehow.com/about_5066420_effects-exercise-serotonin-levels.html
For More Information on Hormones and Exercise
http://www.liftforlife.com/HormonesAndExercise.htm
http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Ha-Ja/Hormonal-Response-to-Exercise.html

Sore No More
150 East Center Street
Moab, Utah 84532

Tel: (435) 259-5931
Toll Free: (800) 842-6622
www.sorenomore.com