Sage spa

Warm Compresses During Labor Help Prevent Trauma

Help me pass the word to all of our moms-to-be.  New research shows the warm compresses on the pelvic floor during the second stage of labor help prevent tears.  This is really good news, and it's such a nice low-tech solution.  Midwives have been doing this for generations; but, the medical establishment is just starting to get a clue.  According to the research, warm compresses reduce the incidence of tears by 52%. Unfortunately, they don't give the details of what materials, what temperature or how often to use the compresses; but, I bet your midwife can tell you  If you want to read the scientific data look here MORE

I've Got Feet On My Mind

The New York City Marathon is 1 day away and, in the past few months, runners have been coming into Sage for relief from various physical pains or just to relax prior to the race.  Combine this with my return to ballet dancing after 20 years and you can see why I've got feet on my mind.  Mostly painful feet, mind you. Sore ankles, achy ball-of-the-foot, bunions, bent toes, sprains and of course calluses and blisters, oh my!

Massage can most certainly help with soreness and sprains after they occur; but, what could possibly help runners and dancers to prevent these injuries from happening in the first place?  I've been looking around and have found a product called the AFX or Ankle Foot MaXimizer.

Its unique design has a variety of resistance bands which allow a post-injury patient or a high performing dancer to achieve balanced stretching AND strengthening.Balancing strengthening with stretching is often key to preventing injury.  Some sports focus too much on stretching and not enough on strengthening or vice versa.  

 

Progressive Health Innovations' Innovative Resistance System provides balanced strengthening from early stage rehabilitation to high-performance athletic training. I plan on buying it.  It may not help you out with this year's marathon or next week's ballet class; but there's always next year!