Tai Chi and Balance Disorders

A recent study conducted in 2008-2009 showed that the martial art practice Tai Chi is an effective treatment for people with vestibular disorders.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an practice incorporating slow movements of the body into different postures using your own body’s coordination. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Tai Chi is helpful for those with balance disorders because it helps people concentrate on their own coordination.

http://www.medindia.net/news/Tai-Chi-Proved-Effective-Against-Dizziness-Balance-Disorders-59053-1.htm

Muscle Cramps – What are They?

A friend of mine was running the other day and caught a cramp in her leg. We were talking about her leg cramps, which turn out to happen quite often, and she asked me what exactly is a cramp and how she can avoid it in the future. I thought I’d share it with my readers!

When you exercise your muscles contract and then relax in quick succession. A cramp happens when your muscle contracts but does not relax, and becomes hardened. It may be difficult, once you have a cramp, to relax the muscle and pain may result.

Some causes of cramps include:

• Injury to the muscle: Muscles may spasm, and then cramp, around the site of an injury to stabilize the injury site.
• Nocturnal cramps:  Small movements during the night of muscles causes shortening of the muscles which lead to cramps – which is why you may wake up in the middle of the night with a Charley Horse!
• Dehydration: Fluid loss during exercise causes the muscles to shorten up and tense up. Cramps in seniors may result from poor fluid intake.

Other causes for cramps can be found on the website provided below, but my friend’s reason was most likely from dehydration. For cramps caused during exercise, it is essential that you do a proper warm up and cool down and make sure you get plenty of fluids before, during and after your workout (also can be found on the website provided below). And make sure you stretch before and after your workout!

http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm

February Vestibular Support Group Coming Soon!

Just a heads up, the next Vestibular Support Group will be taking place in February. Details will be announced soon!

The Inner Ear and Balance in 90 Seconds

Technology never ceases to amaze me. The amount of information we all have at our fingertips is astounding.

Learn more about your inner ear and how it affects your balance in this quick, 90 second video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbKU0AbbARg

Enjoy!