Healthy Sleep Habits
When we think about staying healthy, we tend to think about exercising and eating well. But another one of the most fundamental factors of our health that is frequently overlooked is our sleeping pattern. The quality of our sleep has an enormous impact on our mental capacity and mood, which in turn have a huge effect on our ability to stay physically fit. The power and importance of a good night’s sleep should not be underestimated, so here are a few tips to help you get the best rest you can.
Setting Your Exercise Goals And How To Achieve Them
Every January, people all over the world commit to exercising more and getting back into shape. But over 70% of people will give up on their goals before the achieve them, with about half of those giving up before mid-February. The most common reasons given for quitting early are that the new routine is too hard to stick to, or that people simply can’t find the time to follow through on their commitments. Here, we’re going to look at a few ways you can set your goals and become part of the 30% that achieves them.
9 Tips To Keep You Moving Throughout January
For most people, January is not exactly the time of year to go on long walks, cycle along the coast, or even to just go outside and play with your friends or children. January is cold, it’s wet, and for most people, it gets dark before we have even finished work.
Five Myths About Getting Injured You Need To Know About
Whether you commit to running a few times a week to try and be a bit healthier, or you are training to pull a train with your teeth at the next Iron Man competition, anyone who works out should be commended for doing so. But regardless of whether you are a beginner or a veteran at the gym, you are always at risk of getting injured. Unfortunately, there are some very prevalent myths about injuries in the workout world, so in this post, we’re going to look at 5 of the biggest myths about getting injured.
What Is Hypermobility?
We all know that one person who can pop their thumb out of place, bend their fingers back almost as far as they can bend them forward, or contort their limbs in a way that can seem completely unnatural. Commonly referred to as being double-jointed, this is actually a result of a condition known as hypermobility.
Recovering From An ACL Injury
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments in the knee, connecting the femur to the tibia. It is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee, with most injuries occurring as a result of sharp turns or sudden movements in sports. As the ACL is essential for maintaining balance and stability, it is crucial to ensure that any injuries are properly treated, particularly if you play sports.
5 Myths About Slipped Discs
We each have 23 spinal discs separating the vertebrae in our backs and acting as shock absorbers. Occasionally, these can put pressure on spinal cord nerves, which can lead to pain in both the back and the area controlled by those nerves. When this occurs, it is known as a slipped, herniated, or prolapsed disc.
How To Compare Your Stats To The Pros In Incredible Detail
One harsh reality of competitive sports that is often brushed over is that it doesn’t just matter how good you are, it matters how good you are in relation to other people. Usually this isn’t a major problem in the long run, as most of us will not go on to be professional athletes. But for people who take their sports a bit more seriously, knowing how they compare to their friends and regular teammates isn’t enough; even a terrible athlete can win best player as long as everyone else is worse.
5 Top Tips For Beginner Cyclists
When it comes to trying to get in a bit of extra physical activity, cycling can be a great choice. One of the biggest advantages of cycling as a way to get fit is that it can be done competitively, recreationally, or even practically as a mode of transport. Pretty much all of us could easily find a way to incorporate cycling into our regular routine, so we’re going to look at some of the top tips for beginner cyclists.
What’s The Difference Between A Physio, A Chiropracter and an Osteopath?
To the average person, an osteopath, a physiotherapist, and a chiropractor may seem like more or less the same job. All deal with musculoskeletal pain, require a university degree, and certification from an accredited course.
Which Is Better, Active Or Passive Recovery?
As any good athlete can tell you, allowing your body the opportunity to recover after exercise is just as important as the exercise itself. Failure to do so can lead to problems such as inflammation, lactate buildup, and overuse injuries. But the recovery process isn’t as straightforward as it seems, and there are actually two major types of recovery that you need to consider: active and passive.
6 Tips For Hikers To Prevent Injuries
Hiking can be a very rewarding activity for people of all ages. It’s a great way to get people out of the house and into nature, and gives us the opportunity to get in some vigorous exercise, while still allowing us to go at our own pace. Hiking is a very effective form of aerobic exercise that yields a lot of benefits for our physical health, and mental health as well. But like all forms of physical exercise, hiking is not without its risks, and there are certain injuries you become more susceptible to if you take it up.
Is Yoga Good For My Back Pain?
Despite being over 5,000 years old, yoga remains one of the most popular forms of exercise and relaxation all across the world. The benefits of yoga are far-reaching, with increased flexibility and muscle strength, improved respiration and circulation, and weight loss being some of the main reasons the exercise has remained so popular over the years. People also enjoy yoga because it allows them to move gently at their own pace towards achieving their own goals, whether that means improving their overall health, or focusing on a specific issue.
What Are LISS Workouts And Should I Be Doing Them?
Over the last few years, there has been a spike in the interest surrounding LISS workouts among those in the fitness community, particularly on social media. LISS, which stands for Low Intensity Steady State exercise, is a form of cardio exercise that has grown in popularity due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that it is free, relatively easy, and can be done in a variety of different ways.
What Is The CrossFit Open?
With the CrossFit Open kicking off, we asked one of our expert team, Richard, to give his top tips for athletes competing and taking part in it. Not only does he work with a lot of CrossFit boxes across Dublin, but he’s competed in the Open himself so has experience with what really happens and what you’ll be facing with the workouts.
The Difference Between A Niggle And An Injury
No matter who you are or where you grew up, there are certain memories we all share. One of the most common of these is when we would be out playing with a friend or sibling, and tragedy strikes: someone hits their head, draws blood, or falls out of something. You probably remember the feeling of assessing the injury, and trying to stem the flow of tears before an adult comes running.
What Really Are The Benefits Of Massage?
Massage is a practice that dates back over 4,000 years, with the first records of its existence coming from ancient Egypt and China. Most well-known for its ability to relieve stress and loosen the muscles, massage is increasingly being used in conjunction with other forms of treatment, and is now standard practice in areas such as rehabilitation, pain management, and injury prevention. But our knowledge of the effects that massage can have on our bodies is ever-growing, and we now know that it can be used to help treat a huge variety of conditions. So what exactly are the benefits of massage?
Is Foot Strength The Key To Better Running?
If you’re someone who takes their fitness seriously, then you’ll be familiar with the ancient proverb “Never skip leg day”. Although this is usually intended as a joke about how difficult it can be to add mass to the legs, it also highlights how a lot of people distribute their efforts unequally across the different muscle groups. Whether the goal is to increase strength or simply tone up their vanity muscles, it is quite common for people to focus their attention on the muscles they think will make the biggest difference.