Improve Your Golf Game!

Golf is a sport of repetitive motion, concentration and precision. Pain or limited range of motion can be detrimental to one’s game. The golfers I treat in my practice typically present with muscle strains, spasms, limited range of motion in the upper torso and lower back, and usually experience chronic pain. Lateral and medial malleolus tendonitis (golfer’s elbow), rotator cuff tears, iliopsoas pain, tight IT bands, and wrist pain are just a few of the most common ailments. Traditional Chinese Medicine can be quite effective to prevent injury while training and resolve acute and chronic conditions.  Often, immediate relief is obtained. This is because acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins. These are the body's own morphine-like substances. They are natural pain killers. These substances are responsible for the 'high' the runner feels after the effort.
How Can Acupuncture Improve Your Golf Game?  By increasing the blood flow throughout the body increases cellular nutrition. What this means in plain English: new muscle fibres can grow, lymphatic drainage can function properly and the synovial fluid can flow freely through the joint capsules. This will increase range of motion, resolve tightness and strain, eliminate pain and scar tissue.  The bottom line…your stroke will be freer, faster, stronger and much more precise.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If your par isn’t what it should be, or you’d like to improve that swing…come in for an orthopedic evaluation and I can develop a program to improve your game!! 
917-701-7582, k@kmondesire.com

Exercise To Reduce or Eliminate Your Low Back Pain

Let's face it, folks...the more physically fit you are, chances of maintaining a healthy low back greatly improve.  The key to low back health is to NOT perform exercises or activities that put stress on your back or elicit pain.  Aerobic exercises that engage the large muscle groups (arms, legs, glutes) in a non-impactful method are best.  these activities include:  swimming, cycling, ellipitical machines and power walking.  Performing these activities for a minimum of 30 minutes 5 times per week is not only wonderful for your circulation, but uses all the major muscles groups of the body that are important to good spine and low back health.  Stretching and strengthening your abdominals, pelvis, low back and quadraceps reduces the chances of injury to the low back and can help alleviate low back pain and recurrance of injuries.  Flexibility is key.  Yoga and Pilates are wonderful programs that can help strengthen your core and improve low back health.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Before engaging in any new aerobic program, consult your physician to ensure the activities are right for your aerobic/orthopedic level.  Be smart!  Do some sleuthing and ask for referrals when choosing a trainer or exercise studio.  Make sure the instructors are well-certified and ask to take a free trial class.  If you are not comfortable with the instructor or level of activity, then STOP and LEAVE!  Improper form or the wrong type of activity can worsen any condition, so do your homework.  And remember....ACUPUNCTURE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE WHO (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION) TO REDUCE AND/OR ELIMINATE THE SYMPTOMS OF LOW BACK PAIN.  That being said...call or make an appointment today!

Swimming is Good For You

Ok!  Everybody into the pool!!!  Swimming can be the gentler and kinder workout for your knees, but you can really kick butt and get a better butt while playing around in the water.  Every time you kick in the water, you are increasing your muscle strength, burning calories and increasing your overall flexibility.  The strokes and form of swimming enable you to lengthen your body to its max, thereby elongating your muscles and stretching your tight and shortened muscles.  The forgiveness of the anti-gravity feeling of the water gives you that 'feel good' and happiness of being a kid in the water.  Your lungs will get a great workout through rhythmic breathing and your heart will love you for the overall increase in blood circulation.  After several weeks of pretending you are a fish, you'll notice toner, firmer muscles and a 'lifeted' butt.  Swimming is one exercise that uses all the muscles groups, so you just can't go wrong.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Can't swim?  Shame on you!!!  You might have to save your own life one day just by knowing how to swim to safety.  Take this perspective and go take some swimming lessons.  If you know how to swim, check out your local community or health club pool and join a refresher class, a water polo class or some fun weekly group swim.  If you're a loner, just jump in and do your thing.  For the readers here in Manhattan:  the Reebok Club, Chelsea Piers and Asphalt Green all have wonderful facilities, multitudes of classes and lessons for all levels.  You'll feel great and look great at the end of the day and what better way to impress someone at the beach with that new butt!