In This Issue

• Oh, My Blooming Back!
• Preventing Heat Illness
• School's Out, but Learning Isn't

Know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care?  Of course you do, because EVERYONE can benefit from some level of chiropractic care.

Refer a friend or family member to Finn Chiropractic, and if they become a patient, you'll receive a gift package valued at more than $50!  

We care about our patients.  So we've developed a newsletter designed to give you helpful information in a quick, easy-to-read format.  We encourage you to read the articles, all designed to help you live a healthy and happy life!

And we look forward to seeing you at your next appointment.  Don't have one?  Call 724-776-2673 to schedule a convenient time.

Oh, My Blooming Back!

The daisies aren't the only thing that's blooming these days.  You've probably been doing a lot more yardwork and gardening lately, right?  And you've probably also felt it a day or two later.  We're using different muscles in different ways during these activities, so it's not unusual to have some aches and pains afterward.  To make yardwork fun and enjoyable, it's important to prepare your body.

Stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools or the lawn mower.  The back, upper legs, shoulders, and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when working outside.  A warm-up and cool-down period is as important as it is for any other physical activity.  Performing simple stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness. 

• While sitting, prop your heel on a stool or step, keeping knees straight.  Lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of the thigh (hamstring).  Hold for 15 seconds.  Do once more and repeat with the other leg.
• Stand up, balance yourself, and grab the front of your ankle from behind.  Pull your heel towards your buttocks and hold for 15 seconds.  Do this again and repeat with the other leg.
• While standing, weave your fingers together above your head with the palms up.  Lean to one side for 10 seconds, then to the other.  Repeat three times.
• Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, stretching as far as you can comfortably go.  Hold for 10 seconds and reverse.  Repeat two to three times.
• Finally, be aware of your body technique, form and posture while doing yardwork.  Kneel, don't bend, and alternate your stance and movements frequently.

If you already feel muscle aches and pains, there are ways to alleviate the discomfort.  Apply a cold pack on the area of pain for the first 48 hours or apply a heat pack after 48 hours, and consider making an appointment with us.  Chiropractic care works on correcting misaligned or out-of-place vertebrae and can remove the pressure.  This will reduce your pain and improve flexibility and function.  Then you can get back outside - afterall, there's grass to be cut and weeds to be pulled!

Preventing Heat Illness

The Dog Days of summer are here.  Your body is working overtime to keep you cool, but stay alert for signs of heat illness.  Here are ways to avoid three types:

• Heat cramps.  When you sweat a lot, you lose electrolytes, which leads to cramping.  These muscle spasms usually hit the arms, legs, or stomach a few hours after running around in hot, sticky weather.

TIPS:  Drink lots of water, but also replace electrolytes by grabbing a replenishing drink like Gatorade.  Limit salt intake, since salt exacerbates dyhydration.  Get rest.

• Heat exhaustion.  As your body works to cool you down, the surface blood vessels that enlarge to try to cool the blood may collapse from a lack of body fluid and lost minerals.  You can start to feel weak, anxious, or dizzy.  You lose coordination and sweat a lot, and you may lose consciousness.

TIPS:  Move to a cool, shaded area, lie down and elevate your feet.  This helps restore normal blood volumes.  Make sure your clothes are loose enough so your body can breathe, place a wet cloth on your forehead, and fan yourself.  Down more electrolyte-replacing liquids.

• Heat stroke.  The most serious of heat illnesses, heat strokes occur when the body's supply of fluids and salt is depleted and the body temp rises to a deadly level.  Symptoms include a 103 degree or higher body temperature; a lack of sweat; hot, red, dry skin; a rapid pulse; difficulty breathing, and constricted pupils.

TREATMENT:  Call 911.  You must cool down as quickly as possible.  Wrap a potential heat stroke victim in wet blankets or clothes, immerse them in cool water, or pour water over their body.  Use ice.

School's Out, but Learning Isn't

Just because the schools have shut down doesn't mean your kids' brains should do the same.  Here are a few quick ways to make sure they're exercising their minds this summer:

Library:  Make regular trips to your local library and take advantage of the programs and activities (usually a nominal fee, but some are even free).

Next Year's Curriculum:  Find out what the kids will be learning about next year, and then plan a trip that will give them a head start and pique their interest.  If they're going to learn about rocks and fossils, plan a vacation to a national park or museum.  Or if they'll be learning about the Civil War, visit one of the historic battle grounds that are just a short car ride away.

Math:  Kids lose more math skills than anything else over the summer.  Enroll them in a math-related activity.  And use everyday opportunities to incorporate age-appropriate math challenges.  For example, ask young children to count objects that they see, and have older kids figure out which items are a better deal at the grocery store. 

Finn Chiropractic Group   |   724-776-2673   |   info@finnchiro.com
www.finnchiro.com