Articles

Pulling your leg: When muscle strains are no joke!

July 1, 2021

Many muscle strains are minor and usually heal with rest.1,6 An example of this is feeling sore from lifting furniture. Lifting requires our muscles and lifting something too heavy can result in small muscle fiber tears. Typically, muscle fiber tears that occur from healthy exertion heal quickly, and the muscle remains intact and whole. However, muscle strains can also be significant and result in large tears, bruising, and even reduced movement or loss of function.1,2,3,6 Use that same bundle of rubber bands from earlier, cut several in half, or even break most of them by overstretching. Your pliable bundle cannot...

No longer the bee’s knees: Knee pain

June 15, 2021

Knee pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages. The knee is a hinge-joint providing our body with flexibility, support, and a wide range of motion for our legs.1 This weight-bearing joint bears significant stress as we perform our usual routines, and it serves a powerful role in gait (walking patterns) and locomotion (the ability to walk forward)....

Carpal Tunnel: Hands-On!

June 1, 2021

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can come on suddenly or gradually1,4, depending on the cause. Acute injuries can damage or tear ligaments and tendons, fracture bones, create inflammation, cause swelling, and compress or pinch the nerve directly. Repetitive injuries, such as working an assembly line, grasping a steering wheel to drive, or typing on a keyboard, can cause injury to the wrist tendons. This causes swelling and other mechanical problems in the wrist, including carpal tunnel syndrome....

Vitamin D: The Truth

May 30, 2021

Vitamin D is an essential fat soluble vitamin that is essential for bone and immune health. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated commonly with rickets, but recent research suggests that deficiency is prevalent in other disease states. These include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, falls among the elderly, overall mortality, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cognition, and chronic pain. Most citizens of Westernized countries are deficient in Vitamin D, making it a pandemic!...

Really…I’m Deficient

May 24, 2021

Vitamin deficiencies are prevalent, some even reaching epidemic status in the United States. Deficiencies that are common in developing countries are appearing en masse from much the same reasons: (1) Dietary consumption of nutrients are inadequate due to overconsumption of meat, processed, and convenience foods and (2) under consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Many Americans underestimate the importance and impact of nutrient deficiencies on health. Below are five common nutrient deficiencies and how to correct them....

Is it Back Pain or a Herniated Disc?

May 13, 2021

If you are one of 31 million Americans experiencing back pain, neck pain, or low back pain, a "slipped" disc1 or herniated disc may be the cause. But what exactly is a herniated disc, and how does it become injured? The spine consists of 24 blocky bones (vertebra) stacked on top of each other in a flexible column that allows our body to move. Between each vertebra sits a soft, rubbery cushion made of cartilaginous fibers and hydrated proteins known as an intervertebral disc2. Intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers2 for our spine, much like brake pads in a vehicle. Discs absorb the...

Uncovering the Facts of Different Types of Muscle Strains

April 29, 2021

A muscle strain is an uncomfortable injury or trauma to the belly of a muscle. Minor strains often result in a stretch to the muscle, like pulling a rubber band. More severe strains can overstretch the muscle to the point where the muscle can have a partial or even complete tear. Strains often occur in the low back or hamstring muscles1, but any muscle in the body is vulnerable to a strain injury! ...

How to Eat Your Inflammation Away!

April 15, 2021

Inflammation is the body’s best defense for healing, however when it becomes long-standing and chronic, disease and pain occur. It has been speculated to be the underlying cause of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, strokes, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, disease, and even cancers. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet will slow or reverse progression of many diseases and painful conditions. It will even slow the aging process and protect against disease. ...

CBD: Fact VS. Fiction

March 26, 2021

CBD or cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid that has recently gained popularity. Now, everywhere you turn, CBD is in everything. In Woodbury, you can find CBD everywhere. With all the hype come claims of curing this and that disease. So…does the research back up the claims? What is CBD? CBD is one of over 100 known cannabinoids with most of the current research focusing on THC and CBD. CBD does not have any psychoactive properties. Simply put there is no potential to get “high”. In fact, the endocannabinoid system was recently discovered as a signaling system, which is laced throughout the entire nervous...

Who’s Ready to Run?!

March 10, 2021

It’s getting warmer in Woodbury, MN! Who’s ready to get outside and run? Did you know that running has become one of the most common forms of exercise? It can be a community building activity, a personal challenge, a stress reducer and most importantly a great work out. It is a sport that everyone can participate in; all you need is a good pair of shoes and a little motivation. That being said, due to the repetitive nature of the sport, running can be extremely hard on your body, especially when you are just starting out. From shin splints to rolled...