KATHRYN MERROW, The Pain Relief CoachThis post relates to whatever type of pain or physical discomfort you may have… It seems like just today (because it was today, actually) I was talking with a nurse-specialist about intestinal issues. She was telling me all of the possible medical reasons for these particular issues. I asked WHY? I had to ask again, […]
Swimming and moving in water has lots of body benefits. Water acts as a support and as resistance. You may not get an aerobic workout but you’re still using and strengthening muscle when you move through water. Why would you like stronger muscles? Perhaps because you’d like less pain and discomfort? To feel more youthful […]
How To Make Your Stomach Muscles Strong! Why would you want to have a flatter stomach or better posture? 1. You will look better. 2. You will feel better in general. 3. You will have less pain! And that’s a big reason! When your ‘stomach muscles–the muscles of your abdomen–are strong, they will help you […]
Every time I run into this motivational quote I love it all over again. “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” – Janet Ackerman Why do I love this […]
Waaaay back when humans first came into being, there were no Froot Loops or Cool Whip. Everything that our ancestors was real. And their bodies knew what to do with that food. They got the minerals and vitamins and other micro-nutrients they needed as well as the fiber. Their bodies were supported by the food […]
Is there a difference between pain management and pain relief? You often hear about “pain management clinics.” You rarely hear about “pain relief clinics.” Sometimes people have a pain issue which can only be managed; it is not going to go away. Instances might be cancer or a nerve which is entangled in a cyst. […]
I just got my hands on a brand new book written by medical doctor Norman J. Marcus. His treatment of back pain is somewhat different than my usual recommendations for therapeutic massage because he uses electrical devices BUT he treats back pain the very same way I recommend: He looks to the muscles! Of course, […]
Of course, breathing will make your life much easier! We won’t be around long if we can’t breathe. But if you have trouble breathing, there are steps you can take to breathe more easily. Breathing exercises your lungs. 1. Practice using your lungs. When they are not so inflamed that you can barely breathe, try […]
Okay. So I’m not really a mermaid. But when I’m in the water I feel like one. 🙂 However, I am not an underwater mermaid. My absolutely most favorite thing to do in the water is to resist! As you move your arms or legs back and forth through the water, it supports you […]
Feeling stressed? It turns out there are different types of stress. Good stress is the kind we have when things are really going pretty well. Life may be hectic, busy and full. Events like weddings, parties and graduation events are being planned. But we are in charge and probably having some fun, too. There is […]
Did you know you can lower your stress with humor? I used to work in a restaurant kitchen. The owner KNEW how she wanted her kitchen run! She caused big stress for some of the kitchen employees. She didn’t mean it, I’m sure, but she sure could do it. At least once a month, one […]
Do you suspect that your flat feet cause problems for you? Or are they “just” uncomfortable? Did you know that fallen arches cause back pain, neck pain and headaches? Is it possible that you need arch supports for your flat feet? Maybe so. Here’s why: Your feet are the foundation of your skeleton. Your arch […]
Did you know that the muscles in your chest get short and tight when your posture is poor? While your poor back muscles are getting overstretched and complaining the front muscles shrink. The chest muscles don’t complain; they just get tight. When you collapse forward you look older and you don’t feel as well. You […]
Do you have “joint pain?” It may caused by “wear and tear” arthritis. Arthritis is bony growth or spurs on the bones where muscles attach. What causes spurs? When muscles pull on bones, the bone throws out a little extra bone tissue to try to take the pressure off itself. That’s a bone spur. Or […]
Do you have bone spurs? Bone spurs are bony protuberances on bones where the tendon of the muscle attaches to the bone. Why do bone spurs happen? They happen because muscle is pulling on bone. The bone ‘grows’ a bit to take the pressure of itself. Why is the muscle pulling on the bone? Because […]
What IS the most common cause of muscle knots in your upper back? When muscles are stretched too far too often they develop “knots.” Those knots are a special type of contraction that keep the muscles from being stretched too far and injured. This is the most common cause of muscle knots. This type of […]
I’ll bet you have tight muscles in your upper back and neck. That’s called muscle strain and most people have it. Some people have it all the time and some people only have it occasionally. What Causes Muscle Strain? Your head is supposed to sit over your spine just like a toddler’s head does. The […]
Are your chest muscles too strong? Could they possibly be the cause of the muscle knots in your back? Knots in your back can be caused by overstretch of back muscles. When the back muscles are overstretched they complain. They get knots or give you pain in some other way. That’s how muscles communicate. Poor […]
She told me she, “never dreamed that her posture could be causing her head pain.” Here you are reading this article about headaches and posture. Stop! Look at yourself. How’s your posture? Are you slumped and slouching? Is your back rounded? Where are your shoulders? Are they hiked to your ears or rounded forward? Are […]
Got jaw pain? Depending where in the jaw the pain is, here’s a natural movement that may help. TMJ pain could happen if your jaw muscles are “too tight.” So try this: Fake chewing. Here’s how: Put your lips together. Teeth apart. Pretend you are chewing. That small movement uses your jaw muscles and increases […]