Figuring out the terms in your insurance plan can seem like reading a foreign language, especially health insurance. However, it is essential to understand what the terms mean so you can have a reasonable estimate of your out-of-pocket costs for different services. Two terms you may have seen are co-insurance and co-pay - what do they mean, and how do they affect your total cost?

We all know the strength required to participate in a sport like gymnastics, but how do gymnasts develop strength? What is their normal workout routine? When you think of these workouts, weightlifting may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Gymnasts must be incredibly agile - they can’t be too bulky by lifting heavy and still perform at a high level, right? This thought process is a common myth throughout the gymnastics community, but in reality, weight training can be instrumental in staying healthy, preventing injury, and promoting the longevity of a gymnast’s career. But what would this look like, and how would you have the time to fit it into an already-packed training schedule?

In, out. Lungs fill up with air, and lungs compress. Breath is the most natural thing in the world, and most people may never think about it, but it is essential to life. But you may not realize that breathing is more than taking oxygen in and exhaling carbon dioxide out - how you breathe can be correlated to many components of your overall health. So how do you breathe properly? And what are some breathing habits you should avoid?

When you are looking for a gymnastics gym for yourself or your child, it can be challenging to narrow down your options. Many communities have multiple options for gymnastics, and Birmingham is no exception. We have a thriving gymnastics community in our city with many nationally-ranked competition teams. With so many choices of gyms in the area, how do you decide which one to join for your or your child’s gymnastics career?

Think about how your feet feel after a long walk or hike. They hurt a little, right? Typically the pain goes away after resting for a while, but if you continue to have pain in the bottom of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis. It’s a common condition, especially if you have flat feet or don’t have correctly-fitted shoes. But what can you do? Should you ice it and hope for the best?

If you’ve been to a zoo or watched a nature documentary, you’ve probably seen flamingos. Besides being a beautiful shade of pink, these birds are also known for their unusual resting position: they often stand balancing on one leg. There are a few theories about why they do this, including one study that showed it conserves body heat. But whatever reason they do it, it is a fun behavior for humans to try and imitate. Standing on one leg for a while is an interesting skill, but you may not realize it is necessary for healthy movement.

E. Joseph Cossman, entrepreneur and author, once said: “The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” Most of us take good sleep for granted until we can no longer seem to have it. You may try staying away from the screens for an hour before bedtime, taking a hot shower, meditation, or even taking melatonin to help your body and mind fall asleep. While these are all excellent bedtime habits to try, you may not know how the position in which you sleep can affect your sleep quality. Some positions are better to sleep in than others, and finding the most comfortable one for you can make all the difference. This article will discuss the dos and don’ts of sleeping positions and why sleep positioning can be so important. With these tips, you can hopefully find your way back to the deep REM sleep your body needs. Good quality sleep is a huge factor in overall health, which we tell each of our clients at EW Motion Therapy. While our services may not fit your needs, we still want to discuss the best positions to rest and find your way to dreamland.

Think about the last time you were asked to touch your toes. You could probably do it easily when you were a kid, right? That may not be the case if you stopped reading this, stood up, and tried it. You would probably describe the ability to touch your toes as “flexibility,” but you may also use the term “mobility.” While you may have used these terms equally in the past, in reality, they are two different things. So what makes flexibility and mobility different? And why is it so easy to get those terms confused?

When you’re running, pain is likely the last thing you want to think about. But any runner knows that when you are in pain, it’s one of the only things you can focus on. Pain in some areas is ok to run through and work out, but other types, especially foot pain, could point to a more problematic condition or issue than regular soreness. So what do you do when your feet start hurting during a run? Do you have to stop altogether?

It is easy for any level of athlete to feel the pressure to succeed, whether from peers, parents, or coaches. You don’t want to be a weak link in your team, and to not let them down, you have to keep yourself fit and performing at your highest potential. You can achieve this through customized coaching and some extra practice, but it is too easy for a little extra practice to become overwhelming and even harmful to your body. So how much is too much? And what can you do if/when you get hurt?