Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Low Mobility Workouts & Exercises

Exercising and being active is important to everyone regardless of age and current fitness level. A regular exercise routine helps strengthen muscles, relieves stress, controls weight gain and best of all exercise increases endorphins and boosts your mood! Unfortunately patients suffering diabetes, arthritis, obesity and the elderly are prone to mobility restrictions making it difficult for them to get a regular workout the gym. Having a condition that limits your ability to move does not mean you can’t exercise; this article outlines tips and specific exercises that are designed to get you moving and attain your goals!

Before starting a new workout routine, get medical clearance from your doctor, not a friend or personal trailer. Your medical professional has a complete understanding your condition and can recommend activities that are suitable for you that will not aggravate preexisting conditions. It’s also important to pace yourself when starting with a new activity. Trying to accomplish fitness and exercising goals too quickly can result in an injury and loss of motivation. Setting short-term goals like improving your mental state and reducing stress helps your confidence and gives you more motivation to reach your long-term goals.

Warming up cold muscles and joints is a must before every workout. Starting a workout by stretching and doing slow range-of-motion exercises increases blood flow and reduces the risk of injury. Do not exercise if you experience pain or discomfort as pain is your body warning you that it doesn’t like the way it is being used. The below list’s contain exercises for the lower body, low mobility cardiovascular exercises and specific upper body workouts for people in wheelchairs.

Wheelchair/Upper Body Exercises:
•    Rowing Machines
•    Overhead Fist Punching
•    Elastic Band Resistance
•    Lifting Dumbbells
•    Stationary Arm Cycle
•    Nintendo Wii & Xbox 360 video games

Lower Body Exercises:
•    Stationary Exercise Peddler
•    Yoga/ Tai Chi
•    Wall Squats/Body Weight Squats
•    Aqua Jogging
•    Standing Heel Lifts
•    Sitting knee Extensions

Cardiovascular Exercises:
•    Elliptical Machine
•    Tennis
•    Dancing
•    Water Aerobics
•    Swimming

Save money today with MMAR Medical’s SUMMER SPECIAL deals. Enjoy 10% off Breg, DonJoy and Ossur products using coupon code’s BREG10, DONJOY10, OSSUR10. Please note these coupons are valid on regularly priced inventory and cannot be combined with wholesale pricing discounts or other sale priced coupons. First time customers can use our SHIP75 free shipping coupon with them, though!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Summer Exercise Safety Tips

The summer months allow athletes and rehabilitation patients to move their exercises outdoors and away from stuffy indoor offices and gyms. Extended hours of daylight and warmer temperatures are welcomed by many and help break up the tired routines of a long winter.

There are some safety concerns you should be aware of when exerting energy in the heat. In this post we’ll share tips and warnings to help ensure the time and effort spent outside exercising is beneficial and safe.

Scheduling
Just finding free time to exercise is almost as difficult as some workouts. Work and personal obligations are top priorities for many of us; add kids to the equation and you’ll find yourself wishing for more hours in a day. While schedules often dictate our daily routine there are safer times of the day to spend in the sun. When exercising outside, we recommend going as early in the day as possible before the daily temperatures reach their peak. In the mornings the radiation from the sun is lower and the chances of heat related injuries are greatly reduced.

Hydration 
Extreme temperatures can turn an outdoor workout into a dangerous event quickly if one has not prepared to be in the heat. The #1 Rule when exercising outside is hydration. Before beginning any physical training, indoors or outdoors, your body needs to be hydrated to perform at the highest level. A body will lose fluids through sweat faster in the heat so it is imperative you are properly hydrated before, during and after being outside.

Renee Melton, MS, RD, LD and developer of Sensai recommends drinking >15 ounces of water 1-2 hours before a workout, 8-10 more ounces about 15 minutes right before you start, and continuing with 8 ounces for every 15 minutes of exercise during the workout. Drink lots of water and avoid diuretics like coffee and caffeinated drinks which cause rapid fluid loss. When finished exercising outside you need to re-fuel your body with nourishment in the form of food and vitamins to aid in recovery.

Dress the Part 
Protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays with sunscreen and light colored clothing. Applying SFP 40 or higher will protect vulnerable skin cells from the damaging sun radiation. Wearing light and pastel colors will reflect the UV rays and help to keep you cool in the heat. Avoid dark colors.

For endurance athletes training in the sweltering heat we recommend CEP Arm Cooler Sleeves which are designed to shield athletes from the sun. These non-compressive arm sleeves are manufactured with high-density knit structure and UV absorbing yarn which provides over SPF 50 protection. CEP’s Cool-Cell technology reduces the skin temperature by up to 6 degrees, keeping the athlete comfortable and reducing fatigue while training. These cool arm sleeves come in pairs and are perfect for runners, triathletes, cyclists and other outdoor endurance athletes.

Educate Yourself
Even the most vigilant person and in-shape competitor can be overwhelmed when exercising outdoors, so it’s important to understand the risks and symptoms of heat related illnesses. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious medical illnesses common for anyone outdoors during hot summer months.
  • Heat exhaustion is caused by a loss of water and salt; symptoms include: headaches, heavy sweating, dizziness, fainting, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. If you or someone you’re feel feels these symptoms, it’s recommended to find a cool, shady place to rest and drink lots of water. 
  • Heat stroke is a much more serious condition that may cause death or permanent disability if not treated. When a body is going through heat stroke and unable to cool itself down, warning signs include: warm dry skin, body chills, hallucinations, high body temp, confusion, slurred speech and throbbing headaches. It is imperative 9-1-1 is called ASAP and the sufferer is moved to a cool area until help arrives.
Exercise safely at a bargain this summer with MMAR Medical’s SUMMER SPECIAL deals. Enjoy 10% off Breg, DonJoy and Ossur products using coupon code’s BREG10, DONJOY10, OSSUR10. Please note these coupons are valid on regularly priced inventory and cannot be combined with wholesale pricing discounts or other sale priced coupons. First time customers can use our SHIP75 free shipping coupon with them, though!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Breg Freestyle OA Knee Brace Review: A Comfortable Knee Brace for Active Lifestyles

For active people and athletes, osteoarthritis of the knee can become a debilitating condition that can alter their entire lifestyle. What’s worse is that because they put stress on their joints more often, active people tend to develop osteoarthritis earlier in their lives and, if they continue to remain active, can have it worsen more quickly once they are diagnosed. It’s simply the nature of joint overuse that causes this, and of course can become more of an issue if other knee injuries have also occurred.

The Breg Freestyle Osteoarthritis Knee Brace aims to alleviate pain and performance issues that stem from osteoarthritis and also prevent osteoarthritis from worsening. For athletes, runners, and others that live active lifestyles, having an OA brace that allows them to keep participating in the activities they love is essential.

Light and Comfortable Design

The issue with many OA knee braces is that wearing them becomes a chore. Not only are they clunky, but they are also uncomfortable and can sometimes create more issues than they are solving. The Breg Freestyle OA Brace features a low profile hinge that doesn’t interfere with activity or get in the way of your opposite knee. The brace is secured with a set of soft, comfortable Velcro straps. The Velcro attachments allow the brace to remain free from snagging on clothing and the brace can be worn just as easily under pants as it can with shorts.

The Performance Athletes Need

Athletes, particularly long distance runners, will love the performance that the Breg Freestyle Brace provides. Whether you’re in need of a lateral or medial brace, the Breg Freestyle gives your knee proper support by providing firm but gentle pressure to the joint, preventing your knee joint from grinding. This OA knee brace model features a numbered adjustable wheel on the hinge that allows you to change the amount of offloading easily and quickly.

Visit our store today for full specifications on the Breg Freestyle Brace. For a limited time, we are offering a summer discount for 10% off “Our Price” on all Breg products. Simply enter the coupon code BREG10 at checkout and receive 10% off today!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Orthofeet Naples Diabetic Sandals Review

Orthofeet Naples diabetic shoes are one of the highest selling and most stylish products offered by MMAR Medical. These shoes are made with comfort and safety in mind. They are specifically designed to optimize breathability and support to help reduce pressure. Naples diabetic sandals are also designed with a wide, easy open design. This design helps the user easily slip the shoe on or insert custom insoles.

Breathability:

Most shoes are made with material that doesn’t allow an adequate amount of air on to the foot. Without adequate air and an increase in pressure the foot begins to sweat and blisters can form. The blisters caused from sweat and too much pressure can turn into extremely painful foot ulcers. Orthofeet Naples diabetic sandals allow increased airflow, so skin irritations and blisters due to sweat is dramatically reduced.

Support:

Support is crucial when searching for diabetic shoes and that’s exactly what Orthofeet Naples diabetic sandals offer. These diabetic shoes have several different areas of support. The heal of the shoe has a custom designed heal fitting strap that allows for reduced heal slippage. Also equipped with extra support padding this diabetic shoe ensures that your feet are comfortable throughout even the longest days of walking.

If you’re looking for a great diabetic shoe for men or women then look no further. The Orthofeet Naples diabetic shoe offers superior support, breathability, and comfort. At only $99 these shoes are a deal you can’t pass up. Keep your feet comfortable and safe with our phenomenal diabetic shoes.

At MMAR Medical our goal is to provide you with the best medical products at a price you can afford. If you have any questions about our Naples diabetic shoes, please contac
t us at 800.662.7633 and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Products & Strategies to Reduce Hip Pain

Relief from hip pain may seem impossible when you are in the middle of an intense pain cycle after injury. There are strategies, however, that can reduce if not eliminate your level of discomfort so that you can return to your normal activity level. If you find that stretching, exercise, weight loss and ice/heat therapy are not enough, then you may need to invest in braces, proper shoes or other supplies for a more intensive rehabilitation.

A regimen of basic leg stretches and daily exercise can work wonders for someone who has a sedentary job and may be experiencing more hip pain through the years because of osteoarthritis or other issues. In other cases, too much exercise or rough play on the field or in practice can lead to muscle strain. This type of strain may settle into the piriformis, a muscle that can affect the sciatic nerve and cause pain to radiate through the hips and the back of the legs. In these cases, regular icing and heat can be beneficial. For pain such as this, you may want to use a cold therapy system that controls the temperature in a more efficient manner than ice for a deeper, consistent level of pain relief.

For more intense support, braces and rehab supplies can give hips the protection they need in recovering from falls, sprains and strains or other injuries. One of the more common injuries is hip flexor strain. This type of pain can be debilitating if left untreated. Various hip protector garments, compression gear and hip abduction orthosis can assist to stabilize the affected muscles, which will help you get back on your feet or on the field as an athlete.

Weight loss also can be instrumental in reducing the amount of stress placed on your hip muscles. With an increase in exercise, you may not only see overall pain reduction in your body, but also the subsequent weight loss can bring an added amount of hip pain relief. Weight loss is an important tool in battling the symptoms of chronic disease such as diabetes. As part of disease management, therapeutic shoes can be essential for circulation and balance to help maintain even weight distribution in your daily activities. With the stylish types available from manufacturers specializing in this footwear, you will find that these types of shoes look just like any other shoe. The one difference is that these shoes can provide a superior level of comfort and quality.

MMAR Medical can assist you with finding the right high-end orthopedic rehab and sports medical products for hip pain relief.