10Feb 2023 by Patrick Donovan
3 Home Health Tests For Posture

3 Home Health Tests For Posture

Health content
Today, we're sharing 3 home tests you can do for to gague and improve your posture. Ultimate Spine and Shoulder Posture Test The Dowel Overhead Test measures an overlooked aspect of health - your posture. By taking this measurement, you can improve flexibility and reduce restrictions in your arms and spine for a lifetime of upright posture. Get started today with improving your posture, but measure your baseline first! The Easiest At-Home Posture Test This test is a part of every physical exam I do for osteoporosis. So why not get started with it at home? Measure the fingerbreadths to the closest whole value. It could kickstart your motivation to expand your chest muscles, improve lung capacity, and decrease your risk for vertebral compression fracture. Your goal is 4 fingerbreadths,…
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18Apr 2022 by Patrick Donovan
Gait Speed as the Sixth Vital Sign

Gait Speed as the Sixth Vital Sign

ankle, foot, Health content
Hello everyone Dr. Donovan here and today, we will be talking about travel speed as the sixth vital sign. The 5 commonly accepted vital signs are: Blood pressure, Heart rate, Oxygen saturation, Respiration, And temperature. One of the biggest things I have observed in my work is that any adult's walking or hiking behaviors are a marker of their health. You can also find greater control over your mental health and environmental control by improving your travel speed, and measuring the speed of movement according to the predicted health condition. There is something to be gained by improving your gait speed for everyone. For example, if you have a single gait speed, which is another name for walking speed, you can potentially increase it for an overall positive impact. There…
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18May 2021 by Brigitte B
Join Deep Breathing and PT for Powerful Results

Join Deep Breathing and PT for Powerful Results

Health content
Juggling life’s responsibilities causes many individuals to live in a constant state of stress. At any age, these stressors overwork our autonomic nervous system (ANS), affecting our blood pressure, breathing, and stamina. Below we discuss how your ANS works and how controlling it positively affects your rehabilitation. What Is the Autonomic Nervous System? The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions that keep your body functioning, such as your heartbeat and breathing. It also regulates your blood pressure, your digestive system’s response to food, the contraction of your bladder, the focusing of your eyes, and your body’s internal temperature. The ANS can be broken down into two separate systems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls your body’s “fight or flight” response. It prepares…
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09Apr 2021 by Brigitte B
How Better Breathing Helps Prevent COVID-19

How Better Breathing Helps Prevent COVID-19

Health content
Breathing may seem like a natural function, but did you know you can use it to optimize your physical health? Your breathing mechanics can play a significant role in the way your body handles viruses and other ailments; more specifically how better breathing can help you prevent COVID-19.   How We’re Supposed to Breathe   While it may seem like breathing is as simple as a breath in and out, the physiology is much more complex. Proper breathing mechanics include inhalation through the nose and diaphragmatic breathing.  The diaphragm is the main muscle involved with inhalation. For optimal function, it requires both appropriate ribcage position and mobility. When you use your diaphragm to breathe correctly, you can improve airflow and reduce stagnant air in the lungs.  The nose also humidifies…
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