TAX Back

April 15th is just around the corner and you know what that means. Hopefully you will have your taxes done and sent off to the IRS before this date rolls around. I recently saw a professional accountant as a patient in my office and he reported of suffering from a disease he called "TAX Back". I had no idea what he was talking about and then he started to explain it to me. He said, "You know when your neck starts hurting from leaning over a desk all day and the tension between your shoulder blades makes it feel like you are starting to grow a hump on your back. That's TAX Back."

So if you want to avoid "TAX Back" this season I suggest you give my friends at www.bertrandcpa.com a call. But if you are a glutton for punishment and just love to handle your own taxes then hurry up and file before April 15th and give my office a call to see if we can help you with your "Tax Back".

Rotator Cuff Stuff

This blog is dedicated to the athlete that has been experiencing shoulder pain.

I have been working with some of the coaches and athletes at the Capital City Volleyball Club and have been seeing a lot of shoulder injuries. So here are some tips on what to do when shoulder aches and pains seem to be getting the best of your game.

1) Get it checked out by a professional!!!!! I can't emphasize this enough. Proper diagnosis will save you pain, money, and frustration. Proper diagnosis can save you from paying for costly MRI's, probable surgery and missed practices.

2)If you are in doubt of whether to heat or ice your shoulder, it is better to err on the side of ice. In most cases inflammation is part of the shoulder problem and a good 15 to 20 minutes of ice several times a day will help you get a handle on it.

3)No pain no gain is not a great philosophy to live by! Don't continue to do exercises, practices, or movement patterns that elicit pain. The problem will not eventually go away if you continue to do the same thing over and over again. In fact you will probably irritate it more and cause further damage.

If you have any further questions I can be contacted at my office at 775-882-3555 and remember that consultations are always welcomed and free of charge.

STRESSED OUT!!!!

It is the beginning of a new year with a lot to look forward to in 2010. So why are we already soooo stressed out? Well guess what?? Stress is a part of who we are and without it we can't live. So like it or not stress is here to stay. Yeah I said it, stress is something we can't live without.

I once sat through a lecture in an undergraduate class and a professor put up an EKG of a normal heart beat. It consisted of peaks as the line rose and fell and if you closed your eyes you could imagine the lub-dub sound. He pointed to it and said, "that is what stress looks like on a normal beating heart muscle." He then showed us a slide with an EKG that was flat and stated that this is what a heart muscle looks like when there isn't any stress. The heart muscle was lifeless and you could almost hear the blaring sound of the EKG machine in a hospital as the ER doc yells "we've got a flat line!" Got the picture?

We need stress. Good stress. To not only survive but to thrive. Want to have better cardio health, you need to stress that system. Want to have fantastic muscle tone, you need to stress that system. Want to make your wife or girlfriend think your smarter than Einstein, you gotta stress that system. I could go on and on about the ways we need good stress in our lives to help us grow but for now I'll just list a few quick tips to help us out in 2010.

1. Breathe. Breathe with your diaphragm not your chest. To do this, the action will feel like you are using your tummy. Rounding it out and sucking it back in. You will increase your O2 intake and it will take less effort by breathing correctly.

2. Sleep. Get enough sleep. Turn off the TV and don't stay up all night watching infomercials on products that will help you get better sleep. Remember when you were a kid and your parents put you to bed? More than likely they had a routine. Brush your teeth, get a drink, read a story and then lights out. The same rules apply. Find a routine that helps you wind down at the end of the day and you will find that you'll be getting better sleep.

3. Exercise. Get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. Join a group of friends to help motivate you and keep you on track. My favorite form of exercise is a "Boot Camp" regime. Check out http://www.fitbodybootcamp.com/carson-city-boot-camp.html for more info on this type of exercise.

Use these three tips to help you with your stress levels and I wish all of you a very prosperous and healthy new year.

Disclaimer

The information contained on this blog is for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose or treat any health care conditions. Any advice or info contained here in is the opinion of the author. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me via the blog or ask your health care provider about your specific case.

Tis the Season for ..... Auto Accidents

Deck the halls with Black Ice???? If you were like the rest of America we found ourselves in a record amount of snow this past week. That snow has now begun to melt and freeze into a sheet of ice that is blanketing the whole city. Needless to say PEOPLE BE CAREFUL!!!

I have seen numerous patients this past week who have hurt themselves slipping on ice, shoveling snow or being involved in an automobile accident. So let me give you some advice to help you navigate this slippery season.

I like to call this the rule of threes

1. 3 HOURS; For a very minor sprain/strain 3 hours directly after the incident should be plenty of time to start the healing process by doing the following: Rest, apply Ice, Compress and Elevate if necessary. R.I.C.E.
2. 3 DAYS; For a moderate sprain/strain 3 days should be enough time to decrease the swelling, bruising, pain and discomfort by using the same formula as above. R.I.C.E. Seeking professional help at this point is advised if your signs/symptoms haven't resolved.
3. 3 WEEKS; If you are still hurting after 3 weeks you really need to seek for professional help.

Obviously if you have suffered a head or neck injury, lost consciousness, suffer from neurological signs/symptoms, can see the bone sticking out of your skin, or by just listening to that voice in your head that is saying, "something just isn't right" Then definitely seek the advice of a health care professional. And it is always a good idea to get checked out after an automobile accident whether or not you think you have been injured because chances are you have been you just aren't showing the signs or symptoms yet.

New Years Resolution Time

It happens year after year after year. We commit to an exercise program with grandiose dreams of looking like the models on the P90X commercials.

"This year I am going to fit back into my jeans that I wore in the 10th grade!" so adamantly exclaims half of America.

While the other half start flexing their biceps all the while grunting, " Welcome to the GUN show."

So why is it that we start out so dedicated and focused on improving our health and natural physiques but fizzle out before we even get started? Let me help you ditch the fizzle by following 4 simple things that can keep you on track.

1. Write it Down Write down your goal. Use a pen, magic marker, tattoo it on your forearm if necessary but put it in writing.
2. Ponder it Daily I didn't say READ it, I said PONDER it. Look at your written goal and imagine your self actually attaining it.
3. Say Your Goal Out Loud Frequently Sure it's a personal thing, but don't be afraid to say it to yourself in front of the mirror, the kids, spouse, co-workers, etc.
4. Be Positive with Your Goal Don't say to yourself, "I need to lose all this fat!" Instead
   say, "I am going to look drop dead gorgeous when I'm skinny!"

Use these tips for the upcoming new year and watch it transform your goals into a beautiful new physique.

Welcome to Carson City

Maybe this is some sort of therapy for me or maybe it will lead me to publishing a nation wide best seller and give "New Moon" a run for it's money. What ever the case may be I am blogging about a new chapter in my life.

This blog will primarily consist of information on Health, Wellness and occasional rantings.

Feel free to click on any of my articles and happy reading.