Health & Wellbeing Archives - Page 20 of 20

Are Core Stability Exercises A Good Idea?

November 17, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Everybody knows the plank exercise, but does performing this type of core stability exercise actually help people with low back pain? Physiotherapists, Professor Peter O’Sullivan from Curtin University and Professor Paul Hodges from The University of Queensland, wrote the book on spinal stability exercises. They did a lot of research into the abdominal muscles in the 1990’s and the focus on Transversus Abdominis came from their work. So what are they
saying now?

The plank exercise involves a person on their elbows and toes while holding their body stiff for a period of time. This is not what core stability means, says Professor Hodges. If you think about most functions, we actually need the spine to move. Core stability is about getting the spine to move. Professor O’Sullivan says many people with back pain are already too rigid. Their muscles have already tensed up as a protective mechanism due to pain. Static
exercises like planking can actually be counterproductive. Tensing up a structure that is already tense doesn’t make much sense. Instead we should be relaxing the muscles around our trunk when we have back pain.

So where does that leave us? Should we be telling the gym instructor to take a jump next time they ask for a plank? If we don’t have low back pain planks are fine. Better still are dynamic exercises that require us to naturally activate our core muscles such as squats. If we have low back pain, core activation exercises along with movement and learning to turn off over active muscles beat planks hands down. The spine is designed to move.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly

One In Five Suffer From Pollen Allergy

August 18, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Pollen from grasses, weeds or trees can trigger symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma. Pollen seasons can last for several months and exposure is difficult to avoid. Pollen grains can be spread by birds, bees or wind, with airborne pollen causing most allergies.

Allergic rhinitis symptoms are the body’s immune response to inhaled pollen, resulting in chronic inflammation of the eyes and nasal passages. Symptoms include runny, itchy and congested nose; irritable, itchy, watery and red eyes; and itchy ears, throat and palate. Allergic rhinitis affects around 1 in 5 people in Australia and can lead to frequent sinus infections.

Pollination times vary with the plant variety and its location. For example, trees pollinate in late winter and early spring. Grasses flower next, and the weed ‘Plantain’ flowers from August to May.

White Cypress (Murray) Pine is the only Australian tree that produces highly allergenic pollen. Its growth extends from the western slopes and plains of Eastern Australia to Western Australia, and it flowers from late July to the end of August.

Many species of Casuarina produce pollen throughout the year and may cause allergic rhinitis symptoms at any time.

Tips for reducing pollen exposure
• Stay indoors until after midday, if possible.
• Try to avoid going out on windy days or after thunderstorms.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Do not mow the grass and stay inside when it is being mown.
• Consider planting a low allergen garden around the home.
• Keep windows closed both at home and in your car.
• Do not picnic in parks or in the country during the pollen season.
• Try to plan holidays out of the pollen season or holiday at the seaside.
• Remove weeds or trees outside your bedroom window you are sensitive to.
• Research plants less likely to trigger allergic rhinitis or asthma to plant in your garden.
• Shower when you arrive home and rinse your eyes frequently with water.

Medications or treatments will relieve symptoms, but do not cure allergies.
• Antihistamine tablets or syrups (nonsedating) help to reduce symptoms, but they are not as effective in controlling severe nasal blockage and dribble.
• Intranasal corticosteroid nasal sprays (INCS) have a potent action on inflammation when used regularly.
• Combination medications containing an antihistamine and intranasal corticosteroid nasal spray offer the combined advantages of both medications.
• Decongestant sprays unblock and dry the nose, but should not be used for more than a few days.
• Decongestant tablets unblock and dry the nose, but should be used with caution.
• Natural products such as salt water nasal sprays or douches can be effective in relieving symptoms.

Source: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)

Customer Service at the Forefront of Eyewear Specs’ Plans

February 18, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Forbes, there is a new eyewear and optometrist outlet in town. Meet Eyewear Specs, a store that will sell all your needs for glasses and provide two optometrists, which is due to open next week.

Fiona Hayward, an experienced optical dispenser, is the business owner, and said where her business will differ from others is in customer service.
“I want to be available to anybody that needs glasses…it’s not about price, it’s about quality, and we’ll reach out to everybody,” she said.

“Customer service is number one. I want people to feel like this is their local place to shop, that they don’t have to travel away, and I want everyone to think they can come in and get glasses, no matter how much they want to spend.”

Ms Hayward, who is originally from Sydney but has lived in Parkes for the last 10 years, decided to set up business in Forbes because she grew fond of the community and people in it. “We have always loved the quaint town. It [Forbes] is a real country town. It’s so friendly, and it just seemed logical. I’ve
been wanting to do this for a very long time and the opportunity has come up,” she said.

After working for a larger eye care company for the past 25 years, Ms Hayward felt the time was right to branch away and form her own business. Besides optometrist work, she is trained to do anything with a pair of glasses, including fitting frames and lenses.

The two optometrists will job-share, with one working the first half of the week, while the other works the second half of the week. “I’m a trained optical dispenser… I choose the right pair of glasses and lenses for people, I can make lenses up to fit the frames. I’m the technical person,” she said.

When speaking about her new business’ future, she said she was in Forbes to stay. “This is my life. I love it. I’m so passionate about what I do. I couldn’t think of doing anything else. I’ll be staying here,” she said.

Are Core Stability Exercises A Good Idea?

One In Five Suffer From Pollen Allergy

Customer Service at the Forefront of Eyewear Specs’ Plans

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