Blog Archives

Stress Busters - for an Instant Hit of Relaxation

3/18/2014

When talking to friends who are active gym users and who also like to get some exercise in the outdoors on weekends, I’m amazed at how many times they tell of their latest muscle strain or minor ailment. They usually admit either that they have not warmed up properly or have not taken the time for proper relaxation or recuperation between exercise sessions. Those two steps are critical in any kind of exercise routine, and are especially important for those who are 50+. As always, I issue this warning: if you haven’t been active in a while, you should check with your medical team before jumping in.

But in addition to the standard methods of helping us get those muscles to unwind and give us a little reprieve from our aching bodies, there are some innovations in the products available that are extremely effective helping folks prepare for and recover from strenuous exercise.

The first product is a heated seat and back massager. This device effectively gives you the equivalent of a full back massage to the upper back and shoulders even reaching to the lower back and hips. Most of the devices have settings to choose from and the option of heat can give relief to the normal aches and pains associated with a little too much exercise or work related strains.

The motors on some of the massagers can create different waves of massaging pulses controlled by a hand-held remote so as a user you can choose what setting feels right for you.

Another great idea is to invest in a circulation booster. This gadget has electrode pads and allows you to sit back and enjoy a heat and muscle stimulation experience that gets the blood flowing, rejuvenating tired muscles and aiding a faster tissue recovery.

Circulation boosters come in a range of models and at varying price points but they all do pretty much the same thing: they use “Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (T.E.N.S.) body pads that send pulses of gentle electrical stimulation to the muscles. By placing the pads at different parts of the body a wide range of areas can be targeted for relief.

The devices are controlled via a remote control device so you can adjust the level of intensity to your preferred setting. One thing to bear in mind with circulation boosters is they are not suitable for users with pace makers, pregnant or those with epilepsy.

Another great idea, just for some gentle exercising in-between your other activities is a pedal exerciser. Not to be confused with a normal exercise bike, the pedal exerciser gives a gentle workout and stretch to the arms or lower limbs. The pedal mechanism can be fitted to a table or can be used on the floor from a seated position. The benefits of using a pedal exerciser are that you are getting a passive exercise that can ease aches and minor knocks and injuries. Also, you can be doing this activity while watching TV or reading. Safe, low impact and able to be transported anywhere, a pedal exerciser is an inexpensive way of keeping your muscles active, even during recuperation, and can be used for an easy cool-down or warm-up.

These are just three particular products that can help you keep in top shape either in addition to your gym sessions, or just for general wellbeing. When searching the web for products such as these, you’ll find that Googling mobility and healthcare products will take you to firms selling products geared for those with disabilities. Most of these companies also offer the kind of exercise equipment discussed here. By adding the word “exercise” to your search you’ll find many more products used to help you keep fit.

This post was written by MobilitySmart director Andrew Atkinson. Mobility Smart is a UK based online retailer of mobility and healthcare products.

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The Good Ole Days? Not so Good? Or Just Nostalgia

3/6/2014

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Recently I’ve gotten emails celebrating the “good old days” and showing old pictures of toys we used to play with, gadgets that were new years ago and now gone, and screen shots of old TV shows. The headline is usually something like, “Do You Remember These?” And the last paragraph talks about how good the good old days were, when kids could ride their bikes without helmets, play on the street, didn’t have to wear seat belts, and could choose from 3 or 4 black and white TV stations.

Really? Were they the good old days? I don’t think so. Yes, for many life was simpler. But how many of those kids without helmets fell or got hit by a car? How many of them would have escaped serious injury if they had worn a helmet. How many kids playing in the street were hit by cars? I know I had a few close calls. How many lives have been saved by seat belts? And what was so great about having only 3 or 4 TV stations or watching only in black and white?

I hear the same nostalgia when I hear baby boomers reminisce about the 60’s and 70’s. “Oh, wasn’t it great? We were so free. We were so experimental.” Sure, we were experimental. And if you’ve read my blogs you know I’m a huge advocate of baby boomers. But let’s be real here. The 60’s were awful. We had turmoil in the streets, we had world leaders assassinated, we had violent protests, and lots of other things that were far from wonderful. Too many of us OD’d on drugs (but since those people are not around to reminisce, we don’t hear their side of it). Many of us went to war 12,000 miles away. Most returned, many didn’t. Those that returned were treated with disdain. Many of us were lonely, desperate, out of touch, or depressed. We clung to each other because we didn’t know what else to do. We survived and moved on. And now we glorify those past years.

To me, there wasn’t that much glory living through those turbulent times. In fact, when I think back and compare today with back then, with what some call the good old days, I’m so happy those times are over and we’re here now. I’m not saying that there weren’t also some great times. There were many for me personally. I’m also not saying that the baby boomers didn’t shake up the world and make it a better place. We did. But let’s not forget about all those bad times we had or about the ones who didn’t make it through whole.

When I hear or read these nostalgic emails, I’m reminded of a very long bike ride I took about 15 years ago. It was a fundraiser for AIDS research and treatment. For 4 days I cycled through the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia before riding onto Constitution Avenue in Washington DC. Just about every minute of the ride I hated. There was nothing good about how my butt felt or the fatigue gnawing at my legs. But when I rode onto the mall having accomplished the tremendous feat, I was exhilarated. I totally forgot about the 4 days of hell. All I knew was that I had done it and it was one of the best feelings I had ever had.

I didn’t like that bike ride. I loathed the ride. I loved the accomplishment. And as for the 60’s and 70’s, I didn’t much like them either. But boy, did we ever accomplish something. And for that I too can celebrate. I just don’t want to say those times were better than now. We’ve progressed so far. We have so much farther to go, and in particular, to make the progress we’ve made available to everyone, not just the haves.

So my message is, “Sure, let’s look back and remember. Let’s laugh at the primitive technology we had then. Let’s remember the innocence and feeling of safety most of us had. But let’s not forget the fear we felt when we had to “duck and cover” under our desks during air raids. Let’s not forget the black and white pictures of the Vietnam War being broadcast into our living rooms. Or seeing your friend freak out on a bummer trip. And let’s put it in perspective, happy to have survived some awful times, but also sad that some didn’t.

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