An In-Depth Look at IT Band Syndrome

Foot pain afflicts a majority of people in the world. 100 million Americans suffer from chronic foot pain and 75% of the people in the United States experience foot pain at one point or another in their lives. There are many different types of pain that exist or are likely to occur in the foot. Some foot pain arises from everyday experiences that can happen to anyone such as in the case of accidents like stumping your toe on household furniture or creating a stress fracture or sprain on the top of your foot while competing in an athletic event. Then, there are more long-term or chronic foot problems. Occupations that require a person to be on their feet, day after day, will most commonly lead to foot pain at some point in their lives unless preventative steps are taken. Athletes are highly susceptible to foot pain. In Fact, 25% of athletic injuries are foot and ankle related.(1) Athletes are highly familiar with not only accidental foot pain, but long-term pain stemming from years of over-usage. Those who suffer from some sort of foot-pain in their lives is constantly growing. This is because our feet do so much for us on a daily basis. 

Carrot Seed Oil's Effects on Skin

We may have all heard that carrots are good for us. They are rich in Vitamin A and (if you're like me) maybe your mom once told you that they will give you eyesight like Superman. However, most people are unaware of the oil that can be extracted from carrot seeds and can provide numerous health benefits. Carrot Seed Oil is extracted from the "wild carrot" (or Daucus Carota, commonly found in Europe) by steam distillation of the dried seeds of the carrot. This process gives us a natural, healing element that can be used for a variety of skin-care treatments.

Tips of the Month

Each month, we provide our subscribers with some insightful tips and information to help them Enjoy Living Again. Check them out and share them with friends and family:

Ways to Reduce Hand & Knuckle Pain

Compression can be your friend when it comes to pain in the hands. It may not seem like a good idea to apply pressure to an area that is overly sore, but studies show that wrapping or applying a sleeve to the area can boost blood circulation and relieve stiffness in the joints. You can use an elastic bandage to wrap around your hand to help control inflammation and pain, or there are special “gloves” available. These gloves are designed to fit snugly around the hands, knuckles, and fingers and are specifically made for people who suffer with hand pain from arthritis or other injury. You should be able to find them in most medical shops or online. If you don’t have an elastic band or a compression glove, sometimes an ordinary tube sock can work just as well. The elasticity in the band should act like an elastic wrap. Just make sure that it’s clean, especially if there are any open wounds; you don’t want the area to become infected and lead to more inflammation and pain. If the muscles in the hand are sore from overuse, compression can be used to put pressure on the muscles that are stretched. This pressure will allow the muscles to grow back together the right way, and possibly help them grow faster. Mud compression (Balneotherapy) is basically a “mud bath” that has been shown to apply pressure and feed minerals to the body, and is a beneficial way to decrease inflammation and improve blood circulation. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go to the spa to get this treatment; there are companies that sell “mud compresses” that can be used at home. The compresses are all contained in covered packs, so you shouldn’t worry about getting the mud on your skin or clothes. Treatment with mud compresses have been shown to temporarily relieve pain in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knees, and has been gaining reputation for treating pain and inflammation in the hands. (Click Here to Read More)

Ways to Reduce Runner's Knee Pain

Doctors believe that knee problems are a direct result of weak hip, thigh, and leg muscles.  One of the best ways to protect your knees and other joints is to actively engage in stretching and focus on realignment.  Yoga can be a beneficial activity for runners to engage in.  People claim that it can provide balance, open up your hips, and strengthen the stabilizing muscles that surround the joints.  "A lot of these injuries result from motion or mobility problems in the hip or low back," explains Dr. Aaron LeBauer, a physical therapist based in Greensboro, North Carolina. "Or it can be an instability issue because of lack of core engagement. If you have an imbalance that causes the leg to be unstable, it may be a hip control issue." (Click Here to Read More)

Ways to Reduce Back Pain

When people think of back pain, they don’t automatically associate it with stress or mental burnout. Studies have shown that recurring thoughts of negativity and bouts of anxiety enhance one’s chances of suffering from back pain and injuries. There is a wide range of techniques available to help with reducing the amount of stress and anxiety that can contribute to this kind of pain. Many involve acupuncture techniques that are psychological in nature. Instead of using needles on the body the therapist will use the fingers to tap certain parts of the body, and using psychological techniques, “link” that pressure with a certain thought or emotion. There has been an ongoing debate about the effectiveness of such techniques, but solid research has returned favorable results. The link between the mind and the body can never be underestimated. The daily grind many people are under such as trying to juggle work and home life responsibilities can create a significant amount of stress. Occasionally seeking treatment from a qualified counselor or therapist is necessary to find the root of the problem. (Click Here to Read More)

Ways to Reduce Arthritis Pain 

It may seem like a bad idea to try to exercise if you are feeling pain, but actually it is important for people with Arthritis because it increases flexibility and strength and can reduce joint pain.  However, if you find regular exercising to be too much for your arthritic joints, you should focus on swimming or water walking.  Water is buoyant so it supports the weight of your body and reduces joint stress: “Being in the water ‘unweights’ your joints, which is really great for people in a lot of pain” declares Patience White, M.D of George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.  Exercising in water allows you to strengthen and build muscle because it exerts 12 times more resistance than air.  An added bonus for this form of exercise is that you can find heated pools which promote relaxation for your muscles.  Both the shallow end and the deep end are viable options, it simply depends on your preference. Just remember the deeper the water, the more strenuous your workout becomes.  (Click Here to Read More)