You might have heard about concussions in sports news, specifically within the NFL. Football players incur many head injuries due to the nature of their sport, and concussion protocols have been significantly improved in recent years to ensure players get the treatment they need as quickly as possible, including changes to helmet design. But football is not the only sport with a risk of head injuries - cheerleading, gymnastics, and many other sports have an inherent risk of concussions. You do not have to be an athlete to be at risk for a concussion; falls and car accidents can also cause them. So what do you do if you or someone you know gets a concussion? What is the treatment protocol?

Every single cartwheel, back handspring, or split a gymnast performs relies on the flexibility and strength of their hip joints. Think about it: each bend or stretch can push the joint to the end of its range of motion, and with the amount of bending and stretching a gymnast does each practice, the joint can become stressed. So how do you ensure that your hips continue to stay healthy and withstand the impact of your skills?

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?

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?

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?

Stress is a universal experience. Some times of the year are busier than others, and life events can often come up unexpectedly. But for many adults, work is a relatively constant source of stress. It is easy to carry whatever pressure you have during the workday outside your workplace and into your home, where it can take a toll on anyone you live with and, most importantly, your own physical and mental health. So what can you do to manage stress from work in healthy ways? And which coping mechanisms will help in the long run?

If running is one of your primary hobbies, you probably have a routine figured out. You know the mileage you can handle and understand when to push yourself. But even if you don’t realize it, running takes a toll on your body over time, whether you’re a high school track star or a marathoner. Many runners often overtrain simply because they are enjoying themselves or following what their friends are doing. But how do you really figure out how much your body can tolerate? And how do you figure this out before getting hurt?