Pain Management - Hope Clinic Care

Looking for a non-invasive, non-medication, easy way to treat pain? LaserTouchOne is your answer!

LaserTouchOne, abbreviated to LTO, is a high-tech portable pain relief device. It combines the technology of cold laser therapy and bioelectrical therapy to help alleviate pain and discomfort without surgery, injection, or other invasive procedures (non-invasive) and without the use of medication such as painkillers (non-opioid). The small, lightweight, and ergonomic design of LTO makes it easy for you to carry everywhere!

LaserTouchOne was first discovered and patented in 2007 by Dr. Okky Oei, the founder of Hope Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, along with a team of collaborators. This innovative treatment uses low-intensity laser light and micro electrical currents to stimulate healing and promote tissue regeneration. In 2009, LTO passed the tests conducted by the United States Food and Drug Administration, allowing it to be sold over-the-counter without requiring approval from a doctor or other healthcare professionals. In one LaserTouchOne kit, you will receive the LTO device, charger, 142 grams of electrode gel, user manual, instructional video DVD, and warranty card.

How do you use LaserTouchOne? It’s very easy! First, apply an adequate amount of gel to the painful area of your body. Then, press the “ON” button on the LTO and adjust the microcurrent electrical strength using the e-stim dial on the device. Afterwards, the device is ready to be used by rotating it over the affected area of your body.

LaserTouchOne can be used up to 5 times a day, with a duration of 2-3 hours between each usage. This is highly recommended so that the body can respond well to the pain management using LTO. The combination of low level laser therapy and microcurrent electrical therapy in LaserTouchOne stimulates the body’s tissues and supports cell regeneration, assisting the human body to heal itself. Other benefits include reducing swelling and inflammation, relieving pain, improving circulation, and easing muscle tension.

Try it out for yourself and experience the benefits! To consult with our experts, book your sessions, and purchase LaserTouchOne, hit us up at www.hopecliniccare.com. Decide to live pain-free today.

As a Holocaust survivor who just turned 97 in November 2022, I thought the horrible pain from my right leg up to my hips after a surgery I had in October would never be curable and would leave me in a wheelchair indefinitely. My doctor prescribed opioids but I was still left with unbearable pain. I visited the Hope Clinic located in Scottsdale, AZ on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022.

I had horrible pain from my right leg up to my hips after a surgery in October. My doctor prescribed opioids but I was still left with unbearable pain. I visited Hope Clinic in a wheelchair on November 2nd, 2022.

After a 45-minute treatment, the pain lessened significantly, and after 4 sessions, I was still using my wheelchair, but I was already pain free. After 12 full treatment sessions, I am still pain free—and walking!

I highly recommend the Hope Clinic for anyone with chronic pain. Dr. Oei and his friendly staff performed a fast and miraculous recovery for me. I cannot thank them enough for giving me hope again.

—Oskar Knoblauch

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Definition & Overview

Whether you’re playing on an outdoor field, an indoor court, swimming pool, or your backyard, the fact that your body is exerting a certain degree of effort makes it prone to a sports injury. Injuries can range from a simple sprain to a head contusion or a broken bone.

Due to a wide range of sports, every muscle or bone is susceptible to an injury. Some of the most common sports injuries are fractures, dislocations, strains, sprains, and shin splints. However, there are two main types of sports injuries: acute and chronic. An acute sports injury is a sudden onset of pain and/or inability to move or apply pressure on the limb while chronic sports injuries occur over time and are caused by the wear and tear of a muscle, joint, or tendon. Those with chronic injuries usually experience a dull pain in the affected area during physical activities.

Minor or mild sports injuries may not require medical intervention. In some cases, resting the affected limb and letting the body heal on its own will do the trick. However, severe cases may require surgery. Fortunately, developments in surgical processes and advances in the field of medical technology, such as minimally invasive surgery, make several procedures less invasive, allowing patients to recover and return to their chosen sports faster.

Cause of Condition

The exact cause of a sports injury will depend on the exact type of injury. However, most injuries involve the muscles, ligaments, or tendons. When these are stretched too far too quickly, they’ll tear. Severe tears will require surgery, but minor ones typically heal without medical intervention or medications other than pain relievers.

Another common sports injury is a fracture. Fractures require immediate medical attention, not only to relieve the pain but also to set the bone back to its proper form. It will take months for the bone to heal.

Dislocations are also extremely painful injuries. However, a sports doctor or a trainer who is trained in sports medicine will be able to return the dislocated joint to its proper position thus relieving much of the pain.

Not all sports injuries occur suddenly. Chronic sports injuries develop slowly over time. For instance, runners often risk a variety of chronic sports injuries that are often microscopic. These injuries develop slowly and are caused by repeated actions.

A person’s physical attributes and bone architecture may also cause sports injuries. Some of the most common are an uneven leg length, flat feet, overly high arches, bowlegged, and knock-kneed. Structural conditions, such as lumbar lordosis, high Q-angle, and patella alta also increase a person’s risk of incurring a sports injury.

Key Symptoms

Pain is the common symptom of a wide range of sports injuries. However, the degree of pain is typically not indicative of the extent of an injury. Athletes, for example, are trained to ignore a certain level of pain and many athletes push through a painful experience in the hopes of improving their skills or physical resistance.

Doing so can result in incurring a sports injury without realizing the extent of the condition. For example, a lumbar strain normally begins with minor back pains that weight lifters normally ignore. However, continuing the exercise routine often results in a sudden deterioration of the condition accompanied by extreme pain and back spasms.

Other than pain, swelling and redness of the affected area is a common sign of a sports injury. When these appear, it’s imperative to have a doctor diagnose the extent of the injury and undergo treatment to prevent permanent damage. For instance, many amateur athletes have a tendency to push through despite the presence of signs and symptoms of tendon injuries. Unfortunately, continuing the exercise routine without giving enough time for the tendons to heal will result in a condition called mucoid degeneration, which is when inflexible fibrous materials replace a torn tendon.

Who to See & Types of Treatment Available

If you experience a sudden excruciating pain or pain that refuses to go away after a certain time, it’s best that you consult a sports doctor. However, if a sports doctor is not available, your family doctor should be able to diagnose your condition and provide treatment, or refer you to a specialist.

The consultation will begin with an interview on how the injury occurred. This is followed by a physical examination to check for visible signs of fracture. If the doctor believes that the condition is severe, an imaging test, such as an x-ray to examine your skeletal structure and check for signs of damage will be performed.

If you do not require surgery, the doctor will initiate a treatment program that is based on the R.I.C.E. principle, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Getting enough rest prevents an injury from worsening while the use of ice reduces pain and inflammation. Meanwhile, compression and elevation prevent fluid from building up in the area and reduce swelling.

If you do require surgery, most sports doctors prefer to use minimally invasive techniques to limit the amount of damage and allow faster recovery times.

Everyone who participates in sports will incur some form of sports injury in one way or another. As, it is impossible to perfect a skill without making mistakes, sports injuries are often inevitable. What’s important is that the body is allowed to recover from the injury and that the person learns from the mistake to prevent a similar injury.

Another way to prevent injuries is to train under a qualified sports trainer. Trainers are highly knowledgeable and received an adequate amount of training, helping you learn the proper posture and methods to quickly build skill while limiting the risks of an injury. They will also be able to detect the signs and symptoms of a sports injury before they cause any serious damage.

To get high quality non-invasive and non-opioid treatment for your sports injuries, Hope Clinic Scottsdale is your go-to place! Here, you can get personalized treatment for your injuries that do not require drug prescriptions or invasive procedures. Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, Hope Clinic presents a wide range of solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more.

Decide to live pain free today. Visit us at: Hope Clinic Care, 15030 N Hayden Rd ste 120, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (tel: +1 480 659 5470)

References:

Drezner JA, Harmon KG, O’Kane JW. Sports medicine. Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 29.
Lauerman W, Russo M. Thoracolumbar spine disorders in the adult. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 128.
Article source: https://www.docdoc.com/medical-information/conditions/sport-injury

Microcurrent electrical stimulation is a technique for treating musculoskeletal pain by using low-level electrical current, where the current is delivered by a particular device to certain parts of your body that are affected. This kind of therapy uses an extremely mild electrical current, which is only one millionth of an ampere. The human body also produces its own current in each cell, making this therapy suitable to treat pain and body aches. So, let’s take a look at the 3 reasons why you should choose microcurrent electrical stimulation therapy for your pain!

Microcurrent electrical stimulation has little to no side effects.

Due to its non-invasive and non-opioid nature, microcurrent electrical stimulation is considered extremely safe for everyone. From children to senior citizens, microcurrent electrical therapy can be effective in treating injured muscles and joints, repair body tissues, reduce inflammation, and eliminate pain without having to consume medicines or go under the knife.

There are, however, some conditions that you need to pay attention to before undergoing microcurrent therapy. Make sure that you are hydrated, drinking plenty of water before your treatment session begins. Furthermore, if you are one of these groups of people, you are unfortunately not suitable for microcurrent electrical therapy.

List of people who should not undergo a microcurrent treatment:

People with pacemakers (small devices implanted in the chest to help control the heartbeat).
People who have uncontrolled seizures.
People with implanted pumps (battery-powered devices that are surgically implanted to provide continuous drug delivery for pain management in patients with non-cancer pain).
Pregnant women.

Microcurrent electrical stimulation improves your body’s ability to repair itself.

As previously stated, the human body produces its own natural current within every cell, which provides intercellular communication through electromagnetic signaling. This signaling is interfered with and the communication is disrupted when your tissues and muscles get injured. So, this is where microcurrent technology plays its role. The low-level electrical current delivered to your affected tissues will help restore your body’s electromagnetic field back to normal, allowing the injured cells to heal. The length of the healing process is different for every individual, some take a longer time to heal than others. The good news is, other than speeding up the process of recovery, microcurrent treatment procedures can also contribute to the prevention of getting similar injuries in the future.

Microcurrent electrical stimulation can be personalized according to your injuries and needs, and it works best when combined with other hands-on therapy and exercise programs.

The frequencies used in microcurrent electrical stimulation differs, depending on the injuries and tissues involved. For every kind of tissue in your body, there is a specific frequency. Moreover, this therapy will not mess with other manual therapy or medications that you have to be under. Instead, microcurrent treatment will support other treatment methods that you require to do, and thus, accelerate your healing process.

Some injuries that microcurrent therapy can treat include:

Arthritis,
Fibromyalgia,
Sports injuries,
Back pain,
Carpal tunnel syndrome,
Tennis elbow,
Muscle sprains and strains,
Post-surgery pain,
Shoulder pain,
Nerve injuries,
And many more.

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This day and age, stress is something that we all experience quite often. Whether we feel stressed out at school, at work, at home, or anywhere else, stress can easily build up over time. Before we know it, our muscles become tense. Worry not, this is where progressive muscle relaxation technique becomes handy! Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a deep relaxation technique that is mainly used to manage stress, anxiety, insomnia, and muscle tension.

PMR is based on the simple and specific practice of tensing or tightening one muscle group at a time, followed by a relaxation phase by releasing the tension. The purpose is to recognize what a tensed muscle and a relaxed muscle feels like, so that when you begin to become tense due to stress or anxiety, you will realize it quicker and be able to control it and return to a relaxed state.

How does progressive muscle relaxation work, exactly? It’s pretty easy! First and foremost, you need to find a quiet place, free from any distractions. You can start by lying on your back or sitting down. Make sure to remove any glasses or contact lenses if you are wearing them. Loosen any tight clothing, too.

Next, take several slow, deep breaths. Let’s try doing PMR from the bottom part of your body: your feet. Take a deep breath, then pull your toes downward as much as you can to tighten the muscles around that area, and hold them for about five seconds. Afterwards, let go to release the tension. Exhale slowly as you do this step. You should feel your muscles become loose. Shift your focus on the difference between tension and relaxation; remember, it is necessary to notice how different tension and relaxation feels. Remain in this relaxed state for about 15 seconds before working on the next muscle group.

Moving on to the next muscle group: your calves. Squeeze your calf muscles as hard as you can and hold for another five seconds before releasing the tension. Stay relaxed for 15 seconds, then work on your knees and thighs by moving your knees toward each other and squeezing your thigh muscles for five seconds. Like you’ve done before, loosen your muscles afterwards.

The steps are basically the same with every muscle group. You can work on your buttocks, arms, hands, shoulders, jaw, eyes, and eyebrows. With your hands, for example, you can tighten the muscles by clenching and unclenching your fists. With your shoulders, you can raise them toward your ears, and with your eyebrows, you can just raise them as far as you can. Of course, every session needs to end with a tension-release and relaxation.

Now that you get a hang of progressive muscle relaxation, let’s jump into how it can be beneficial in managing stress and anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation has been proven to be effective in reducing symptoms or feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, and anger. By practicing PMR often, you will learn what relaxation feels like, enabling you to recognize whenever you start to get tense during the day. Progressive muscle relaxation can also improve your sleep and eases neck pain, because it induces relaxation.

But that’s not all! PMR helps decrease the frequency of migraine episodes as well, and it does so by balancing your serotonin levels. Furthermore, a high level of stress might lead to the clenching of jaw or grinding of teeth, which may cause you to develop a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ is the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull, and a temporomandibular joint disorder may cause facial pain, tenderness at the joint, and trouble in moving the joint. Through a consistent practice of progressive muscle relaxation, tension or stress levels can be reduced and TMJ disorder symptoms will be alleviated.

Progressive muscle relaxation is a simple practice, yet it turns out to have many benefits! So, if your days are filled with fast-paced activities, or if you tend to get stressed a lot, we recommend you to set aside some quiet time to do the PMR method regularly as one way to improve or maintain your overall well-being. Your body, and your mind, will definitely thank you!

Waking up with a stiff neck is definitely not a pleasant way to start your day. It can be painful, extremely inconvenient, and interfere with your daily routine and activities. With a stiff neck, even simple movements can be a little more difficult to do. In a lot of cases, strained neck muscles are a result of incorrect sleeping positions, but how could you have noticed the way you sleep when you are… well, asleep?

Fret not, although it might sound impossible to control how you sleep, there are some things you can do to minimize awkward sleeping positions! In addition to that, take a look at these main causes for a stiff neck and how to treat one.

Awkward sleeping positions

We all have our own preferred sleeping positions, but there are 3 main positions: back, side, and stomach. The position that is a total no-no is sleeping on your stomach! Why so? When you sleep on your stomach, your lower back will become strained, because your belly sinks into the bed, adding pressure on your spine. Your neck may also be twisted to one side for a long time, leading to strained neck muscles. Thus, in the morning, you will wake up feeling sore instead of feeling refreshed.

If you continue sleeping with this pattern for quite some time, your stiff neck problems may develop into something more serious, such as herniated disc or radiculopathy. Meanwhile, sleeping on the back may cause brief episodes of sleep apnea and some problems on the lower back as well, which is why professionals recommend sleeping on your side.

Unsuitable pillow

Choosing an appropriate pillow is crucial for a good quality of sleep. You need to make sure that your pillow can support your head and neck properly. A hard pillow might feel a tad uncomfortable, but oftentimes, neck problems are actually caused by a pillow that is too soft. Soft pillows cannot hold your head and neck properly like firm pillows do, creating tension in your neck muscles. When you use a firm pillow to sleep at night, it will help you in keeping your spine straight and aligned—from your atlas (located in the neck) to your tailbone, posing less of a risk to having a stiff neck. Using a feather pillow or pillows made with “memory foam” is recommended because they can conform with the shape of your head and neck, but make sure to change your pillow once they lose their firmness and shape.

Sudden movements

Sudden movements during your sleep, especially when you’re dreaming, such as flinging your limbs, rolling over, tossing and turning may create tension in and sprain your neck muscles.

Now that you know the primary causes of a stiff neck, what should you do when you experience it one morning? Should you just accept it and go on with your day with discomfort and pain? Absolutely not! Here are some simple, easy, and fairly quick ways to deal with a strained neck.

Ice or heat therapy

When you wake up with a stiff neck, put some ice on it for about 20 minutes to limit the swelling and cut down on inflammation. If the pain lingers until the next day, try replacing ice with heat (perhaps by using a warm towel or a heating pad). Put it on your strained neck for 20 minutes as well. Heat is known to relax your muscles and improve blood flow, which may reduce the pain and increase your neck’s range of motion.

Stretching and massage

Massaging the sore area of your neck gently can also help relax the muscles and increase blood flow, gradually improving your flexibility. However, you need to be careful to not overdo it and make it worse. Other than massaging, doing some stretching will help with your stiff neck, too.

Some stretching techniques that you can do:

Touch your right ear to your right shoulder and push the left side of your head gently for 10 seconds. Do the same with your left ear and left shoulder. Repeat these movements for 10 repetitions per side.
Slowly turn your head to the left until you feel a slight stretch (it’s alright if you cannot turn too far due to the strain) while standing with your neck and your back straight. Hold it for 10 seconds, then turn to the right and do the same thing. Repeat for 4-5 times per side. This is to increase your flexibility little by little without causing more pain.
Stand up straight, look up to the ceiling as far as you can, hold it for 10 seconds and come back to the starting position. Next, look down to the ground as far as you can (while still standing straight) and hold it for 10 seconds as well. Do 10 repetitions for each up and down movement.

Another thing that you can do to manage a stiff neck, especially if it’s getting worse, is to visit Hope Clinic and get appropriate treatment. Located in Scottsdale, AZ, you can get non-invasive and non-opioid treatment for your injuries. With an over 93% success rate, Hope Clinic offers excellent treatment procedures that are 100% drug-free!

Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, our therapists and professionals provide solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more. It’s time to say bye-bye to neck pain!

Contact us and book your session through (1) 480 659 5470 or visit https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

Learn more about stiff neck here:

Have you ever pulled a muscle and had to visit a physiotherapist to treat it? Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is beneficial in many ways! Generally, physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when a person is injured or disabled, and it is suitable for people of all ages. Physiotherapists usually perform a combination of hands-on manual and exercise-based techniques to help patients achieve the best results, such as improved range of motion and flexibility.

Some of the health problems that physiotherapy can help include:

Bones, joints, and soft tissue – for example: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries.
Brain or nervous system – for example: movement issues resulting from a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.
Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.
Lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

Other than these, physical therapy encompasses a wider range of varieties and benefits. There are several specific kinds of physiotherapy that serve different purposes. Here are 5 types of physiotherapy that you may not know!

Sports physiotherapy

This branch specifically deals with sport athletes and professionals, assessing and treating sports injuries at all levels. The main goal is to ensure that the athletes are not in pain anymore and are in their best condition, supporting their athletic performance and their overall health development.

Rehabilitation and pain management

Physiotherapy can help patients manage and get rid of various body aches and pains. The treatment methods are typically personalized to cater to specific patient needs and requirements.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy

This type of physical therapy deals with pain experienced throughout the musculoskeletal system, which consists of the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. The purpose of the treatment is to increase mobilization, relieve pain, manage injuries, treat soft tissue damage, improve flexibility, and decrease the risks of getting injuries in the future.

Paediatric physiotherapy

If you have infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents who experience neuromuscular, developmental, or skeletal disorders, paediatric physiotherapy is the answer you need! The treatment techniques basically aim to enable children to move around freely and participate in the day-to-day activities, but physical therapy may also alleviate pain, improve fine and gross motor skills in children, help them regain range of motion & strength, and facilitate better cognitive processes.

Vestibular rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. Signs of dizziness include: feelings of unsteadiness, being lightheaded, floating, tilting, sensations of moving and whirling (vertigo). Before the treatment plan is developed, a few tests must be conducted, such as balance, leg strength/flexibility, gait (the way an individual walks), neck mobility, neck & arm strength, visual stability & mobility, and positional testing (including an inner ear exam). The goal of your treatment plan is therefore to improve any deficits that were identified through the tests and the overall function of the body.

If you would like to book a physiotherapy session, feel free to contact Hope Clinic! Located in Scottsdale, AZ, Hope Clinic provides non-invasive and non-opioid treatment methods to treat your chronic pain. Our therapists and professionals are equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to give you the best possible personalized treatment. Reach out to us through +1 480 659 5470 or visit our website: https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! …right? Supposedly, yes, but for some people, it can be hard to participate in the Christmas holiday tradition. Chronic pain does not take a vacation in honor of Christmas. For those who experience that kind of pain, and for the caregivers as well, it may be difficult to participate in shopping, decorating, or partying. They may feel isolated and abandoned. So, to help you have a beautiful, less-stress season while not giving up the fun, here are 5 tips on how to manage chronic pain during the holiday season.

1) Keep things simple and delegate tasks. You don’t have to spend all of your time putting together an elaborate gathering. If you’re having a small gathering, ask your family and friends to help. Involve everyone and delegate the tasks.

2) Know your limits. Holiday invitations are often open-ended, allowing celebrations to last well into the night—but they don’t have to. And if you are dealing with chronic pain, they shouldn’t.

3) Seek support. Let your loved ones know if you need anything, or join a support group to help you cope. It’s so important for you to not deal with your struggles alone. With the right community, you will be able to overcome it and not lose hope.

4) Take breaks as much as you feel necessary. It’s okay to let go of certain traditions, go easy on your decorations, and withdraw from social gatherings and Christmas holiday activities to take a break. No celebration is fun enough if you’re hurting.

5) Plan a recovery day. Include resting into your schedule. You can also make appointments with a professional at Hope Clinic before or after the Christmas celebration to ease your pain!

Let us help you get through the holidays. With Hope Clinic, pain-free living is possible. Hope Clinic provides non-invasive and non-opioid treatment methods to treat your chronic pain. Our therapists and professionals are equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to give you the best possible personalized treatment. Reach out to us through +1 480 659 5470 or visit our website: https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

Working out and exercising are important for so many reasons. From cardio to strength training, it is beneficial for your body and overall well-being. However, do you know what’s also necessary? Yes, warming up and cooling down before and after working out! Lots of people skip these steps without thinking much about it. Maybe they want to save time, maybe they assume that the main workout is the only thing that counts, but here are 3 reasons why you shouldn’t skip warming up and cooling down before and after exercising!

Warming up prepares your body before committing a more intense workout routine, while cooling down helps the body to safely transition to a steady state of rest.

When you warm up, the low-intensity physical activities increase the blood flow to your muscles and raise the temperature of your body. By doing so, the stress and strain put on your muscles once you add the intensity of your exercise is less severe. Thus, the possibility of getting injured decreases. Warming up also minimizes the muscle soreness you would usually experience a few hours after a workout.

On the other hand, the purpose of cooling down after your workout is to gradually bring your heart rate and blood pressure to its normal level—the level it was at prior to exercising. While working out, your heart rate works harder than it does normally. So, once you’re done, ease it back down slowly instead of stopping abruptly. When you gradually decrease the pace and intensity of your exercise, it helps to regulate your blood flow as well.

Warming up

Warming up improves oxygen-efficiency, and cooling down speeds up your body’s recovery.

During an intense workout, your muscles demand more oxygen. Warming up allows oxygen to be released at a higher temperature and at a steadier rate, which improves muscle flexibility and contraction/relaxation, making your workout more effective. Then, after a heavy workout, lactic acid builds up within your system, and it takes time for your body to clear it out. Cooling down can assist this process of releasing and removing lactic acid, speeding up your body’s recovery.

Warming up also prepares you mentally, and cooling down reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

Another side benefit of light warm up exercises is it helps your brain become more focused and motivated. This will get you through your workout routine, helping you train and improve your flexibility, strength, coordination, and technique. Afterwards, muscle soreness is expected, which usually happens several hours or a day later. This is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), and it can get extremely uncomfortable. Cool down exercises can alleviate excessive muscle soreness, allowing your body to bounce back before your next workout.

Now that you’ve learned of the 3 reasons why you shouldn’t skip warming up and cooling down before and after exercising, let’s move on to the simple warm up and cool down exercises that you can do!

Side lunges

Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
Take a wide step out to the left. Keep your right leg in its original position, and bend your left knee as you push your hips back. Make sure that both feet are flat on the ground throughout the lunge.
Pause briefly with your left knee over, but not beyond, your toes. Lift your hips and return your left foot to the starting position.
Repeat the same process with your right knee.
Do 1 to 3 sets of 8 to 15 reps.

Dynamic stretching

Leg swings

Raise your right leg out to the side, balancing on your left foot.
Swing the right leg in front of the left, and then swing it back out to the side.
Complete three sets of 10 reps, and then repeat with the left leg.

Side bends

Stand straight and reach both arms straight up overhead as you inhale.
Lower your right arm down the right side of your body. Exhale as you lengthen the left arm over the head while bending your body gently to the right.
Inhale as you return both arms overhead to the center and exhale as you repeat on the left side.
Repeat for 10 times each side.

Jogging

Jog at a slow pace for 3-5 minutes.

Quad stretch

Stand and hold onto a wall for balance if needed.
Grab the top of the left foot and bend your knee while bringing the foot towards the glutes. Make sure that your knee points straight at the floor.
Squeeze your hips forward for a deeper stretch.
Hold for 15 to 30 seconds and switch sides, repeating one to three times per leg.

There are plenty of warm up and cool down exercises out there, you just need to find what works for you. However, one thing that you should pay attention to is: never rush your warming up and cooling down sessions. Both are beneficial for your workout routine, your body, and your overall health. Happy warming up and cooling down!

It’s almost that time of year again. The weather is changing, the temperatures are dropping, and the holidays are coming! Some people may look forward to the winter season, but some… not so much. Especially if you’re struggling with chronic pain. You might be familiar with people complaining of how the cold weather makes their pain worse. But, how does it happen? What’s the correlation between pain and cold weather? Well, there’s a valid explanation for that! These are the 3 ways how cold weather affects pain.

Our bodies are naturally trained to tell the brain that we are in danger or pain once it gets cold. It’s a form of protection, trying to keep us out of the weather conditions that could potentially harm us. So, when the colder weather hits, our bodies begin to store heat by pumping more blood to the vital organs in the center of the body, such as the heart and lungs, to ensure survival. Therefore, it causes the blood vessels in other areas to constrict and experience less blood flow. It leads to stiffness, discomfort, and pain—especially in the arms, legs, shoulders, and knees.

The cold changes the barometric pressure in the air as well. Barometric pressure (also called air pressure or atmospheric pressure) is the force or weight of the air surrounding us. Generally, a rise in barometric pressure is deemed an improvement in the weather, while a fall in barometric pressure usually means that the weather is deteriorating. When barometric pressure decreases, it means that there is less pressure against the body, and thus, allowing the soft tissues and joints to expand and swell in an attempt to get more oxygen. Even just a slight drop in barometric pressure can lead to increased nerve fiber sensitivity, causing joint pain and discomfort—which explains why people with arthritis can “predict” the rain or cold weather.

Lastly, cold weather means reduction of physical activities. People don’t feel like going outside as much as they usually do when it’s warmer. Less time spent outside, less exercising, less movement… all of this can make us feel worse. Why so? Because when we’re actively moving, the brain releases endorphins, hormones that escalate feelings of pleasure and reduce pain. Physical activities also improve blood flow to different areas of the body. So, the lack of it may result in declining strength and flexibility.

Does winter sound awful to you? Well, you shouldn’t dread it! You can still enjoy the season, because we’ve got some practical tips for you on how to ease this cold-induced pain and discomfort.

First, keep yourself warm, obviously. Take a warm shower, dress in layers, snuggle under your thick blanket, relax on your couch in front of your fireplace with a glass of hot chocolate… sounds pretty dreamy, doesn’t it?

Second, perhaps you could try a paraffin bath. It’s a small machine that melts paraffin wax. It works by dipping your hands and feet in, and then you let the wax harden on your skin. Afterwards, your body absorbs the heat, which may soothe achy joints.

And finally, one of the most important things to do is to move around and stay active. Do exercises that are gentle on your joints, such as swimming or yoga. Going for a jog is also a good idea, just make sure to stretch beforehand.

If you are looking for further treatment methods to ease your pain due to cold weather, Hope Clinic Care is your answer! Located in Scottsdale, AZ, you can get non-invasive and non-opioid treatment for your joint pain and any discomfort you experience here. With an over 93% success rate, Hope Clinic Care offers excellent treatment procedures that are 100% drug-free! Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, Hope Clinic Care provides solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more.

Don’t let this winter season make you feel helpless or defeated! Make an appointment now at www.hopecliniccare.com, or call (1) 480 659 5470.

Looking for a non-invasive, non-medication, easy way to treat pain? LaserTouchOne is your answer!

Try it out for yourself and experience the benefits! To consult with our experts, book your sessions, and purchase LaserTouchOne, hit us up at www.hopecliniccare.com. Decide to live pain-free today.

—Oskar Knoblauch

Definition & Overview

Whether you’re playing on an outdoor field, an indoor court, swimming pool, or your backyard, the fact that your body is exerting a certain degree of effort makes it prone to a sports injury. Injuries can range from a simple sprain to a head contusion or a broken bone.

Cause of Condition

Another common sports injury is a fracture. Fractures require immediate medical attention, not only to relieve the pain but also to set the bone back to its proper form. It will take months for the bone to heal.

Dislocations are also extremely painful injuries. However, a sports doctor or a trainer who is trained in sports medicine will be able to return the dislocated joint to its proper position thus relieving much of the pain.

Not all sports injuries occur suddenly. Chronic sports injuries develop slowly over time. For instance, runners often risk a variety of chronic sports injuries that are often microscopic. These injuries develop slowly and are caused by repeated actions.

Key Symptoms

Who to See & Types of Treatment Available

If you do require surgery, most sports doctors prefer to use minimally invasive techniques to limit the amount of damage and allow faster recovery times.

Decide to live pain free today. Visit us at: Hope Clinic Care, 15030 N Hayden Rd ste 120, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (tel: +1 480 659 5470)

References:

Drezner JA, Harmon KG, O’Kane JW. Sports medicine. Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 29.

Lauerman W, Russo M. Thoracolumbar spine disorders in the adult. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 128.

Article source: https://www.docdoc.com/medical-information/conditions/sport-injury

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Microcurrent electrical stimulation has little to no side effects.

List of people who should not undergo a microcurrent treatment:

People with pacemakers (small devices implanted in the chest to help control the heartbeat).

People who have uncontrolled seizures.

People with implanted pumps (battery-powered devices that are surgically implanted to provide continuous drug delivery for pain management in patients with non-cancer pain).

Pregnant women.

Microcurrent electrical stimulation improves your body’s ability to repair itself.

Microcurrent electrical stimulation can be personalized according to your injuries and needs, and it works best when combined with other hands-on therapy and exercise programs.

Some injuries that microcurrent therapy can treat include:

Arthritis,

Fibromyalgia,

Sports injuries,

Back pain,

Carpal tunnel syndrome,

Tennis elbow,

Muscle sprains and strains,

Post-surgery pain,

Shoulder pain,

Nerve injuries,

And many more.

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Fret not, although it might sound impossible to control how you sleep, there are some things you can do to minimize awkward sleeping positions! In addition to that, take a look at these main causes for a stiff neck and how to treat one.

Awkward sleeping positions

Unsuitable pillow

Sudden movements

Sudden movements during your sleep, especially when you’re dreaming, such as flinging your limbs, rolling over, tossing and turning may create tension in and sprain your neck muscles.

Now that you know the primary causes of a stiff neck, what should you do when you experience it one morning? Should you just accept it and go on with your day with discomfort and pain? Absolutely not! Here are some simple, easy, and fairly quick ways to deal with a strained neck.

Ice or heat therapy

Stretching and massage

Massaging the sore area of your neck gently can also help relax the muscles and increase blood flow, gradually improving your flexibility. However, you need to be careful to not overdo it and make it worse. Other than massaging, doing some stretching will help with your stiff neck, too.

Some stretching techniques that you can do:

Touch your right ear to your right shoulder and push the left side of your head gently for 10 seconds. Do the same with your left ear and left shoulder. Repeat these movements for 10 repetitions per side.

Stand up straight, look up to the ceiling as far as you can, hold it for 10 seconds and come back to the starting position. Next, look down to the ground as far as you can (while still standing straight) and hold it for 10 seconds as well. Do 10 repetitions for each up and down movement.

Using verified hands-on techniques and dual modality devices, our therapists and professionals provide solutions to relieve pain by facilitating your body to maximize its healing and repairing ability. No drugs needed, yet just as effective—if not more. It’s time to say bye-bye to neck pain!

Contact us and book your session through (1) 480 659 5470 or visit https://hopecliniccare.com/contact-us/.

Learn more about stiff neck here:

Some of the health problems that physiotherapy can help include:

Bones, joints, and soft tissue – for example: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries.

Brain or nervous system – for example: movement issues resulting from a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.

Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.

Lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.

Other than these, physical therapy encompasses a wider range of varieties and benefits. There are several specific kinds of physiotherapy that serve different purposes. Here are 5 types of physiotherapy that you may not know!

Sports physiotherapy

Rehabilitation and pain management

Physiotherapy can help patients manage and get rid of various body aches and pains. The treatment methods are typically personalized to cater to specific patient needs and requirements.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy

Paediatric physiotherapy

Vestibular rehabilitation

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1) Keep things simple and delegate tasks. You don’t have to spend all of your time putting together an elaborate gathering. If you’re having a small gathering, ask your family and friends to help. Involve everyone and delegate the tasks.

2) Know your limits. Holiday invitations are often open-ended, allowing celebrations to last well into the night—but they don’t have to. And if you are dealing with chronic pain, they shouldn’t.

3) Seek support. Let your loved ones know if you need anything, or join a support group to help you cope. It’s so important for you to not deal with your struggles alone. With the right community, you will be able to overcome it and not lose hope.

4) Take breaks as much as you feel necessary. It’s okay to let go of certain traditions, go easy on your decorations, and withdraw from social gatherings and Christmas holiday activities to take a break. No celebration is fun enough if you’re hurting.

5) Plan a recovery day. Include resting into your schedule. You can also make appointments with a professional at Hope Clinic before or after the Christmas celebration to ease your pain!

Warming up prepares your body before committing a more intense workout routine, while cooling down helps the body to safely transition to a steady state of rest.

Warming up improves oxygen-efficiency, and cooling down speeds up your body’s recovery.

Warming up also prepares you mentally, and cooling down reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).