Preventing injury - how to warm up and cool down properly

Preventing injury - how to warm up and cool down properly

Making the decision to start exercising is great, but if it is your first time hitting the gym, or you have been out of practice for some time, you need to remember that it’s not just a matter of putting on the gear and going. The importance of warming up and cooling down cannot be underestimated, as you can easily injure yourself if you become overzealous. While most people, regardless of athletic ability, are familiar with the idea of warming up, not everyone is used to hearing about cooling down. In this blog, we will look at how to do both.

The link between back pain and studying

The link between back pain and studying

If you have a big exam coming up or an assignment to turn in, the last thing you want is any sort of distraction. As annoying as incoming texts or little sisters may be, one distraction you cannot escape from at any moment is physical pain. If you are feeling sore, it is hard to get comfortable, concentrate, and do the work you need. But could the work you’re doing be the cause of your pain? If you are experiencing back pain, then the answer could be yes. Below, we break down the link between back pain and studying, and offer tips on how to avoid this problem.

What is the placebo effect?

What is the placebo effect?

Often referenced in both scientific studies and pop culture, a placebo is a substance with no active effect. In simple terms, it does nothing. They are often just sugar pills given to a participant who is told they are something else, such as a painkiller. The reason this is done is because of something called “The Placebo Effect”. In this blog, we will look at what the placebo effect really is, and the scientific basis behind it.

Why we should make an effort to sit up straight

Why we should make an effort to sit up straight

Ever since we were children, we’ve all been told to sit up straight, and yet many of us choose to ignore this advice. We know that it’s good for our backs, but sometimes it’s just easier to slouch or slump, and our backs feel just fine, so what’s the problem? In this blog, we’re going to look at other ways sitting up straight can affect your body, and why you should make an effort to do so.

Is my bag too heavy?

Is my bag too heavy?

Whether you’re carrying it for school, work, or just day-to-day errands, it can be tempting to overstuff your bag with things you think you might need, “just in case”. This might seem harmless enough, but if you are carrying these bags all day long, it can have negative effects on your health. Odds are that if you’re asking if your bag is too heavy, it probably is, but in this blog, we’re going to look at several signs that your bag might be too heavy.

Most common boxing injuries

Most common boxing injuries

Despite being considered by experts as less dangerous than horse riding, gymnastics, and scuba diving, the visual brutality of boxing leads many people to believe it is one of the most dangerous sports out there. In fact, several countries, like Norway, Cuba, and North Korea, have banned boxing altogether. Regardless of your feelings of the sport, boxing can result in both minor and major injuries. Here, we’re going to look at some of the most common injuries sustained by boxers.

What happens when injuries go untreated

What happens when injuries go untreated

Some people will head to the hospital when they feel the slightest itch, while others need to have their head hanging off their body before they decide to go. Many people dislike doctors and hospitals, while others simply underestimate the severity of their injury. In order to offer some perspective on the matter, we’re going to look at what happens when various injuries go untreated.

Groin pain in athletes

Groin pain in athletes

It is estimated that groin injuries account for 2-5% of all sports-related injuries, though the real number may be higher, as it is also believed that up to 30% of groin injuries go undiagnosed. Groin injuries most commonly occur in sports that involve running at speed, and quick changes of direction, and are more common in men than women.

Most Common Ski Injuries

Most Common Ski Injuries

A skiing holiday can be a fantastic experience, one that even the least-sporty person can enjoy. Despite how it may look to someone who has never skied before, it is actually a relatively easy sport to pick up. But it is also a fast-paced sport, one that involves sliding downhill over snow that could be concealing rocks, ice, or ditches. Even as a non-contact sport, serious injuries can happen suddenly. In this blog, we’re going to look at what some of the most common injuries are, and how they occur.

Sport recommendations for adults

Sport recommendations for adults

Whether you’re a sports fanatic who just fell out of practice, or someone looking to throw a ball for the first time in your life, it’s never too late to pick up a new past time. You might be put off by the idea that you won’t be as good as the rest, or understand the rules of the game, but lots of people start a new sport in adulthood, and you’ll be able to find people on your level. The benefits that picking up a new sport can have to your health are countless, so below we have listed some of the most popular sports for adults.

The steps you should be covering every day

The steps you should be covering every day

If you have any sort of interest in fitness, or even just a friend with a smartwatch, you’ve probably heard that we’re all supposed to take 10,000 steps a day. The idea of taking 10,000 steps every day has helped a lot of new people take an interest in their levels of physical activity. But is this all just a marketing technique, or something with an actual scientific basis?

Which mattress is best for back & neck pain?

young woman stretching in bed.jpg

Buying a new mattress is not a small purchase, so it’s one you want to make sure you get right. If you are experiencing neck and/or back pain, you might be desperate to replace yours immediately. But when you’re in a showroom, most beds will look and feel much nicer than the one you’ve had at home for years, so how do you know which one to go for?


Go for Medium

There are two main extremes you can go to when buying a new mattress: firm, or soft. Some people may be tempted by the soft mattresses, thinking that lying down on something soft will be less painful. More often, people who experience pain are more inclined to go for firmer mattress, as they believe the increased support will help alleviate their pain.

In reality, it’s generally best to go for a mattress that falls somewhere in the middle. A study in which 300 people with lower back pain were assigned new mattresses, those who were given medium-firm mattresses felt the most improvement.

Alignment Matters

Although the importance of having a firm mattress is overplayed, it is important to keep your spine aligned. A mattress that is too stiff will push against your spine, while one that is not stiff enough will fail to support it.

Your weight may also play a role in helping you decide which mattress to go for. If you are heavier than most, a mattress with a little extra cushioning will contour to your back better. If you are a particularly light person, you would be better off with a firmer, less cushioned mattress.

Memory Foam

There are three main curves in the spine that can contribute to neck and back pain, two C shapes at the upper and lower back, and a reverse C shape in the middle. Since these curves oppose each other, finding the right support can be quite the balancing act.

Memory foam mattresses can often be the answer to this. Not only do these contour to the shape of your spine, but they also come in varying levels of firmness and cushioning.

Trial Run

Whatever mattress you do buy, you’re going to be sleeping on it for years to come, so you want to make sure you make the right choice. The best way to do this is with a trial run. Most major retailers will now let you buy a mattress and return it in either a month or 100 days. This will not only help you avoid making the wrong choice, but can also help you identify what you do or don’t like about the new mattress.

Everyone’s body is different, so the mattresses we like will be too. Hopefully these guidelines will help you pinpoint exactly what it is you’re looking for. If you are regularly experiencing back pain, you should see a physiotherapist and learn more about back pain, such as how it can be caused by too much time spent sitting.

Physiotherapy at work

No matter what you do for a living, you will generally spend about a third of your time at work. While some jobs will always carry with them a greater risk of injury than others, spending such a significant portion of your time doing any activity means it will take its toll on you in one way or another.

Physiotherapy and Sports - Hand in Hand

The more we learn, the more physiotherapy becomes an effective tool for preventing injuries and training our bodies. An increasing number of sportspeople are now using the techniques they have learnt from physiotherapy in this way, so we’re going to look at some of the main ways this is done.

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