Recently we talked about how excited we are over the Jones Machine. We're still excited but lets face it, not everyone has a jones machine. However, most people own a cell phone. Believe it or not, cell phones are becoming a popular way of tracking fitness goals. we're willing to bet that you have a cell phone and that you also have some sort of fitness goal. If you fall into that category, check out an article written by the New York Times. The article is all about the best fitness applications for cell phones. Curiously enough, the NYT isn't the only company to notice the cell phone related fitness craze. Forbes magazine also published their own article on the same topic.
Check out these links
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/technology/personaltech/10basics.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/14/cell-phone-fitness-lifestyle-health-fitness-apps.html
Friday, October 2, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
We're Excited!
Let's be honest. Fitness equipment is boring. Not only is it boring, it's very rare to see a major change in equipment. Sure, there may be one slight modification here or there. There may in fact, be a little more of this or that on a machine. But every once in a while, something super cool and exciting comes along(yes, we've unleashed our inner dorks). So what's the nifty innovation we're so excited about? Well let's back track a little bit first. So let's say you're workin' out solo, alone, without anyone to spot you should you decide to be over ambitious and go for your max lift. That's when a self spotting system like a Smith Machine comes in handy. It basically spots for you and if you're in trouble it'll stop you from crushing yourself. Good so far right? Well, yes, but not entirely. A Smith Machine only, moves vertically. Basically it locks you into one particular motion. Well, what if you don't want that motion? What if instead of doing a squat, you want to do a lunge? Well, in comes the Jones Machine. The Jones Machine basically let's you do whatever your little heart desires, and it's totally supportive of you (in the sense that it will spot you of course ;)). So basically it will let you do all your body work with a spotter, and it won't restrict your motion, you can move vertically or horizontally. The pay off? Well, the pay off is safety and effectiveness. We're excited about this piece of equipment and are pleased to see a solution to the Smith Quandry. I think this news is worthy of adding the Song Mr. Jones to your ipod for your next strength training session.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Worcester Physical Therapy and Personal Training.
One thing that was mentioned at the last staff meeting was the fact that every member of the staff brings a set of skills to the table. In some of our recent posts we talked to Des, the resident massage therapist about the benefits of massage. Another offering at Worcester Physical Therapy is personal training. Most individuals have a vague concept of what personal training is all about. However, there are a few things that not everyone might now about it.
Training is all about adaptation. Exercise has the purpose of generating specific changes. Firmer thighs, ripped abs, bigger biceps, those are all examples of adaptations that occur from training. The question that should be asked then, is what's the best way of getting these results? To be perfectly frank, this question has given rise to an entire academic discipline, Exercise Physiology, which studies the long term and short term effects of exercise on the body. Having said that any trainer with a back round in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science or Human Movement, will be able to help you with your specific fitness needs. Not entirely sure in which direction you want to head with your health and fitness? Come to Worcester Physical Therapy and ask for a fitness consultation.
Training is all about adaptation. Exercise has the purpose of generating specific changes. Firmer thighs, ripped abs, bigger biceps, those are all examples of adaptations that occur from training. The question that should be asked then, is what's the best way of getting these results? To be perfectly frank, this question has given rise to an entire academic discipline, Exercise Physiology, which studies the long term and short term effects of exercise on the body. Having said that any trainer with a back round in Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science or Human Movement, will be able to help you with your specific fitness needs. Not entirely sure in which direction you want to head with your health and fitness? Come to Worcester Physical Therapy and ask for a fitness consultation.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sneak Peak
Today is is a busy day at the office. The staff is gathering to present their presentations for the upcoming Health Expo in October. We will be reviewing and constructively critiquing all presented material. Unfortunately, all of our videos are too large to upload, so stay tuned for some still photos of our staff meeting.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Lecture Series Brainstorm
Des and I had a chat this morning about our ideas and game plan for our upcoming lecture series on massage and self myofascial release techniques. We decided to let everyone in on our thoughts on the subject for the time being. Consider it a little sneak peak ;)
9:26 AM desmond.dowling: Hi there Andrew.
9:27 AM me: Mornin' Des
9:30 AM desmond.dowling: I thought we might talk a little about the Lecture Series on Thursday.
9:31 AM me: Yes, How do you feel about organizing that? Are there any subject areas in particular that you want to cover? I thought talking about the male perception on massage is pretty good.
39 minutes
10:11 AM desmond.dowling: Yes, there is definitely a difference in perception between men and women. I would like to start out my part of the talk with the thought that where many men and women train and work out to improve and maintain their bodies, women more than men seem to view massage as an integral part of their health and fitness routines.
15 minutes
10:26 AM me: I was thinking it would be a good idea to talk about how many men are into sports and how massage can benefit their game.
10:28 AM desmond.dowling: All of the major sports teams have massage therapists on staff. They help the athletes to recover more quickly from injury and also relieve tired and sore muscles, cramps and strains.
10:30 AM me: Even for the amateur athlete or the recreational athlete, massage is a good idea. I think that would be a nice seguay into self myofascial release, what do you think?
10:35 AM desmond.dowling: Definitely. There is a lot people can do to help themselves. You could definitely talk about the techniques they would use and what equipment they would need. Of course there are some limits as to how much you can do for yourself and sometimes you just need a therapist to get hard to reach areas and to target very specific points. It is a good idea to use both methods.
10:37 AM me: How would you regulate a schedule incorporating both techniques? As a therapist what would you recommend?
13 minutes
10:50 AM desmond.dowling: I would recommend at least monthly visits to the Massage Therapist. How often do you think the self-treatment should be carried out?
10:56 AM me: I would say it can be done once or twice daily. The effects of it aren't beneficial if they aren't done on a consistent basis. Personally, I find that doing self myofascial release at two separate points in the day helps with sore spots.
11:01 AM desmond.dowling: What other self-treatment techniques can be used?
11:02 AM me: It depends on what area you are trying to work. The foam roller is a good multipurpose tool for this kind of technique. A similar things can be done for the sole of the foot using a tennis ball.
11:04 AM desmond.dowling: Also, picking up marbles with your toes is beneficial.
11:06 AM me: Yes, I think it's also an important point that for those individuals that do the SMR for the first time will usually feel a certain level of discomfort. I mentioned that in the blog last week.
11:10 AM desmond.dowling: I would also like to touch on the subject of Massage as a preventative and being proactive with your own health.
me: What are your thoughts on that?
8 minutes
11:19 AM desmond.dowling: Massage boosts the immune system which, obviously, helps to resist disease. Muscles that are massaged prior to sporting events (marathons, soccer games, competitive cycling etc) are less likely to cramp and are less liable to be strained/sprained.
Massage increases circulation, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the muscles.
11:21 AM It also helps increase range-of-motion and flexibility, giving you better performance in your chosen sport or activity.
11:22 AM me: All of which are great points. I think we have a solid set of points to bring up for this coming Thursday. Thanks Des.
9:26 AM desmond.dowling: Hi there Andrew.
9:27 AM me: Mornin' Des
9:30 AM desmond.dowling: I thought we might talk a little about the Lecture Series on Thursday.
9:31 AM me: Yes, How do you feel about organizing that? Are there any subject areas in particular that you want to cover? I thought talking about the male perception on massage is pretty good.
39 minutes
10:11 AM desmond.dowling: Yes, there is definitely a difference in perception between men and women. I would like to start out my part of the talk with the thought that where many men and women train and work out to improve and maintain their bodies, women more than men seem to view massage as an integral part of their health and fitness routines.
15 minutes
10:26 AM me: I was thinking it would be a good idea to talk about how many men are into sports and how massage can benefit their game.
10:28 AM desmond.dowling: All of the major sports teams have massage therapists on staff. They help the athletes to recover more quickly from injury and also relieve tired and sore muscles, cramps and strains.
10:30 AM me: Even for the amateur athlete or the recreational athlete, massage is a good idea. I think that would be a nice seguay into self myofascial release, what do you think?
10:35 AM desmond.dowling: Definitely. There is a lot people can do to help themselves. You could definitely talk about the techniques they would use and what equipment they would need. Of course there are some limits as to how much you can do for yourself and sometimes you just need a therapist to get hard to reach areas and to target very specific points. It is a good idea to use both methods.
10:37 AM me: How would you regulate a schedule incorporating both techniques? As a therapist what would you recommend?
13 minutes
10:50 AM desmond.dowling: I would recommend at least monthly visits to the Massage Therapist. How often do you think the self-treatment should be carried out?
10:56 AM me: I would say it can be done once or twice daily. The effects of it aren't beneficial if they aren't done on a consistent basis. Personally, I find that doing self myofascial release at two separate points in the day helps with sore spots.
11:01 AM desmond.dowling: What other self-treatment techniques can be used?
11:02 AM me: It depends on what area you are trying to work. The foam roller is a good multipurpose tool for this kind of technique. A similar things can be done for the sole of the foot using a tennis ball.
11:04 AM desmond.dowling: Also, picking up marbles with your toes is beneficial.
11:06 AM me: Yes, I think it's also an important point that for those individuals that do the SMR for the first time will usually feel a certain level of discomfort. I mentioned that in the blog last week.
11:10 AM desmond.dowling: I would also like to touch on the subject of Massage as a preventative and being proactive with your own health.
me: What are your thoughts on that?
8 minutes
11:19 AM desmond.dowling: Massage boosts the immune system which, obviously, helps to resist disease. Muscles that are massaged prior to sporting events (marathons, soccer games, competitive cycling etc) are less likely to cramp and are less liable to be strained/sprained.
Massage increases circulation, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the muscles.
11:21 AM It also helps increase range-of-motion and flexibility, giving you better performance in your chosen sport or activity.
11:22 AM me: All of which are great points. I think we have a solid set of points to bring up for this coming Thursday. Thanks Des.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Recently we've been talking about the benefits of massage and how it relates to sports. However, massage isn't the only way to work out all the kinks. One technique, known as self myofascial release, is also effective and less time consuming. First lets talk about some basic underlying principles behind it.
Muscles aren't one giant piece of stretchy material, they are actually made up of bundles. All of theses bundles need to be compacted and organized. This organization is accomplished by an anatomical structure called a fascia. Let's say that you have ground beef wrapped in saran wrap, the beef is the muscle bundles and the saran wrap is the fascia. It should be mentioned that fascia isn't just there simply to keep things together, it also transmits muscle force to tendons and bone. Occasionally, muscles get a little knotted up and need to be worked on. One of the best ways to take care of this is by strategically applying pressure on the muscle. Hence myofascial release.
One of the most conventional ways of performing this technique on yourself is with the use of a handy dandy implement known as a foam roller. As a side note, foam rollers come in standard sizes and varying densities. For the beginner, try a foam roller of lesser density. Be forewarned, first time foam rolling is not always the most pleasant sensation. As all the knots get worked out, the unpleasantness goes away.
Click on the link below to see some of the standard motions performed on foam rollers. http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/self-myofascial-release.html
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Previously, we spoke to Des about several topics related to massage. One of the things he hinted at is that men have an entirely different perspective on massage from women. This is probably the reason why men typically aren't lining up to get one. However, one thing that a lot of men are interested in is fitness and sports. Thomas Incledon, an Exercise Physiolgost and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, talks about the benefit of massage in his book, Men's Health Maximum Muscle Plan.
Mr. Incledon states, "Studies show that massage is more effective than simple rest at optimizing recovery... If you can get a massage on a regular basis go for it." One question that can be asked is why is massage so effective at speeding up the recovery process? It boils down to simple physiology. Massage improves circulation within the body, allowing nutrients to reach muscles that have been worked out hard. Improved nutrient flow ultimately means less soreness and discomfort after a workout.
Having said all of this, the final take away is that massage is beneficial to individuals that are serious about their fitness. It's not always about relaxation, sometimes its just about getting the job done.
Mr. Incledon states, "Studies show that massage is more effective than simple rest at optimizing recovery... If you can get a massage on a regular basis go for it." One question that can be asked is why is massage so effective at speeding up the recovery process? It boils down to simple physiology. Massage improves circulation within the body, allowing nutrients to reach muscles that have been worked out hard. Improved nutrient flow ultimately means less soreness and discomfort after a workout.
Having said all of this, the final take away is that massage is beneficial to individuals that are serious about their fitness. It's not always about relaxation, sometimes its just about getting the job done.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Of the many services at WPTS, perhaps the most relaxing is massage. However, most individuals may not appreciate all of the benefits massage offers. For a better understanding, we interviewed our resident massage therapist, Des Dowling.
Andy: What prompted you to pick massage therapy as a career?
Des: I got into it because I experienced massage in conjunction with physical therapy for my back problems. I liked that it relaxed the muscles after working them out hard.
Andy: How would you highlight the benefit of massage?
Des: I would say that it has a beneficial effect on every body system. It lengthens, contracts, and relaxes muscles. It also improves circulation and lymph node drainage. There really is an extensive list of the potential benefits of massage, almost too many to name really.
Andy: I've talked to several people that are extremely hesitant about having a massage. Is there anything that you would suggest to people that aren't sure if massage is right for them?
Des: I would recommend that they try a chair massage first. It may help you get comfortable with massages in general. The one thing that I do have to say, is that it's difficult to get men involved in massage due to the perception that they have of massage.
Andy: Is there anyone that you wouldn't recommend massage to?
Des: I would have to say that it isn't always recommended to people in the acute stage of an injury. However massages are always modifiable depending on the persons condition. For example, I do typically modify massages for pregnant women.
Andy: On the subject of modifications or differences in massage, what are some of your more popular massages requests?
Des: I would have to say deep tissue and reflexology.
Andy: Could you explain a little bit more about reflexology?
Des: Reflexology is basically massaging the feet to affect other areas of the body. It's based on the idea that certain areas of the foot correspond to other parts of the body. I'd also like to mention Thai Massage which is another great way for people to get comfortable with massage.
Andy: What's the difference between Thai and regular Massage?
Des: Thai massage requires more participation from the client. They are actively moved and stretched. The good thing about it is that its done with the client being fully clothed. The disadvantage is that it's a very up close and personal experience, which can make some people uncomfortable.
Andy: For your final comment...?
Des: I'd like to mention that I'm offering a discounted massage for the first ten people to leave a post about any previous massage experience they may have had, or they can ask a question that's related to massage.
Des: Thanks for your input and thoughts about the benefits of massage Des. We also look forward to hearing from you on our next lecture series date on September 24th at 7 p.m.
Be sure to check back on Wednesday to check out our next topic.
Andy: What prompted you to pick massage therapy as a career?
Des: I got into it because I experienced massage in conjunction with physical therapy for my back problems. I liked that it relaxed the muscles after working them out hard.
Andy: How would you highlight the benefit of massage?
Des: I would say that it has a beneficial effect on every body system. It lengthens, contracts, and relaxes muscles. It also improves circulation and lymph node drainage. There really is an extensive list of the potential benefits of massage, almost too many to name really.
Andy: I've talked to several people that are extremely hesitant about having a massage. Is there anything that you would suggest to people that aren't sure if massage is right for them?
Des: I would recommend that they try a chair massage first. It may help you get comfortable with massages in general. The one thing that I do have to say, is that it's difficult to get men involved in massage due to the perception that they have of massage.
Andy: Is there anyone that you wouldn't recommend massage to?
Des: I would have to say that it isn't always recommended to people in the acute stage of an injury. However massages are always modifiable depending on the persons condition. For example, I do typically modify massages for pregnant women.
Andy: On the subject of modifications or differences in massage, what are some of your more popular massages requests?
Des: I would have to say deep tissue and reflexology.
Andy: Could you explain a little bit more about reflexology?
Des: Reflexology is basically massaging the feet to affect other areas of the body. It's based on the idea that certain areas of the foot correspond to other parts of the body. I'd also like to mention Thai Massage which is another great way for people to get comfortable with massage.
Andy: What's the difference between Thai and regular Massage?
Des: Thai massage requires more participation from the client. They are actively moved and stretched. The good thing about it is that its done with the client being fully clothed. The disadvantage is that it's a very up close and personal experience, which can make some people uncomfortable.
Andy: For your final comment...?
Des: I'd like to mention that I'm offering a discounted massage for the first ten people to leave a post about any previous massage experience they may have had, or they can ask a question that's related to massage.
Des: Thanks for your input and thoughts about the benefits of massage Des. We also look forward to hearing from you on our next lecture series date on September 24th at 7 p.m.
Be sure to check back on Wednesday to check out our next topic.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
October Ongoings
October will be a busy month for us at WPTS! At the top of our agenda is the Healthy Living Expo at the DCU Center. The Expo is a great way of delivering the knowledgeable answers so many many of you are looking for regarding health, fitness, and rehabilitation. So, no idle time for the WPTS staff! On our list of topics is nutritional supplements, stretching, massage, and much much more. Anything you want to know about? Leave a post and we will review your questions for a potential presentation topic.
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