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Spine Injuries

Do My Hamstrings Make Me Look Tight?

August 16th, 2010 by David Hawkins

Just wanted to share a short video on how to use the foam roller to loosen up tight hamstrings. Your hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis. So tightness in the hamstrings can lead to a posterior rotation or pulling on the pelvis and put undue strain on the back, setting you up for injury in the future.

Many people have worked on hamstring stretching only to become discourage when they don’t immediately become more flexible. I have certainly been there. It is important to make hamstring stretching a part of your exercise routine particularly if you sit at a desk for any length of time throughout the day. Consistency in your stretch will definitely lead to benefits over a period of time.

If you have been stretching and aren’t making progress or if you are just starting out, you may want to add a foam roller to your routine. Using the foam roller can help work out some of the muscle spasms that can keep you from improving your flexibility. Use this technique as part of your stretch routine and you will find your flexibility increasing much faster than by just stretching alone. Take a look:

Improving hamstring flexibility is essential to helping prevent low back problems in the future and using the foam roller is a great tool to assist you in that goal.

Thanks for watching,

P.S. Stay tuned for more ways to use the foam roller to help prevent injury.

P.S.S. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family to help them on their journey to “Health Freedom”

“I don’t know how to relax”

June 15th, 2010 by David Hawkins

Have you ever said these words or have you heard others say them?  I hear my patients complain of this dilemna all the time.  Is relaxation a learned response or do we just come by it naturally.  We have all experienced different personality types: those that are little more high strung and wound up, and others who are super laid back not seeming to have a care in the world.

Well, in the crazy high paced world that we live in I think everyone could benefit from some extra relaxation.  So here are 5 tips that you can try today that will help you be more calm and relaxed:

  1. Throughout your day stop and take 3-4 deep breaths.  Fully expanding your lungs helps to get increased oxygen to your tissues.  It also helps improve your posture by expanding your chest and lifting your shoulders.
  2. Turn off the TV!  With the NBA finals, the World Cup, and your favorite shows all enticing us this can be difficult.  However, giving yourself time to unwind after a crazy day of work and kids, etc. may be just the thing you need.  Television provides stimulus at a mind numbing rate.  So choose an alternative.  Talk to your spouse or friend, read a book, listen to some relaxing music, take a bath.  Doing this 30 minutes to an hour before bed may help you experience better sleep.
  3. For those of us that have difficulty with #2 – stretch while you are watching TV.  I find this is one of the ways I can stay on top of my own stretching.  I sit or lay down on the floor and go through a series of stretches while I am watching TV.  In a 30-60 minute program you can get through a lot of stretches.
  4. Do Yoga.  The practice of Yoga has helped many people learn how to control the mind and become more calm and flexible.  Don’t knock it if you’ve never done it.
  5. Couples massage.  No – I don’t mean go spend a bunch of money at your local massage place (although that is awesome sometimes), I mean work on each other.  Massage feet, hands, legs, back, neck, etc.  Set a timer and switch after an agreed amount of time.  Everybody likes a good massage.  If your partner isn’t that good at massage it is because you are not communicating.  Think about it you are the only one who knows how it feels – so communicate if it is too hard, too soft, the wrong spot or just right.

Hope these tips help, and allow each of us to enjoy a more relaxing life.  Please leave your comments below and let me know how you are doing.  If you found these tips beneficial feel free to share them with your friends and family on Facebook or Twitter.

Look for my upcoming post on a single relaxation exercise that teaches people how to really relax!