Carolina Sports Chiropractic is proud to offer a selection of tips to improve your health, increase performance, and remain injury free. Just an example of using the latest ideas in sports science to help great athletes achieve maximum output!
- Why are low carb diets bad for endurance athletes? A low carb diet is like taking a sponge and wringing the water out. You'll lose the water weight, but as soon as you eat carbs again - and you will at some point, because you need energy to function., and you can only go so long without them- the sponge is going to fill up with water. Losing water is especially dangerous for endurance athletes. For each gram of carbs we store, we also put away 3 grams of water, which is critical to staying hydrated during strenuous activity.
- What is the most common injury in amateur golfers? According to the Physician and Sports Medicine 1999, 36% of golf injuries in both men and women occur in the low back, with elbows coming in a close second at 32.5%. Most of these injuries are due to poor mechanics through the pelvis causing uneccessary strain on the low back. A proper strength and stretching program can help correct some of these mechanics.
- Aside from an occasional toe ring or painted nails, the biggest variant between women's and men's feet is the relationship between the heel and the forefoot, or the "ball" of the foot. "Women tend to have a narrower heel in relation to what's called their 'ball girth,' or the circumference of the ball of their foot," explains biomechanist Kate Bednarski, M.A., "Which means that a woman who wears a size-9 women's shoe most likely has a narrower heel, a wider ball and a bigger ball girth than a man who wears a size-7 men's shoe, which is equivalent to a women's 9." To find a shoe that fits right, test several brands in a variety of sizes before you plunk down your plastic. Lace up every pair, using the top eyelet closest to your ankle. Then run around the block, noting whether there is adequate room in the toe box and if your feet feel anchored or your heels slip--especially as you run uphill or around corners. If a shoe feels even the slightest bit sloppy on inclines or turns, it'll probably be too wide for you once you break it in.
- The most unlikely aid to your leg exercise? Bed pillows--they can make your legs stronger. When men attempted single-leg squats while standing on a cushy surface, their hips and leg muscles worked up to 13 percent harder, report Mayo Clinic researchers. It's a tricky maneuver, however, because you can easily lose your balance. If you can do three sets of 10 wobble-free single-leg squats while standing on a hard floor, bring on the pillow.