Posts

Sciatica Step 1 Sciatica occurs due to compression of the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back to your calves. This painful symptom commonly results from a tear in the outer covering of a disk in your back and the subsequent leakage of its contents, which puts pressure on the nerve’s root. Sciatica can produce a dull ache in your lower back, hip, buttocks, thighs, calves, ankles, feet or toes, as well as a shooting pain that runs from your lower back down your leg....

The Achilles tendon is a fibrous cord of tissue that connects the muscles in the calves to the heel bone. When the tendon becomes inflamed from injury or overuse, tendinitis occurs and causes pain and discomfort. Achilles tendinitis often is sports-related and can lead to tears or ruptures that could require surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Exercises that include a stationary bike can be performed with proper technique when you are plagued with the condition....

The number of daily calories you need depends on your goals, body shape, body size and activity level. Image Credit: Aamulya/iStock/GettyImages Determining your daily caloric intake is a complex process that varies from person to person. The calories needed for a 6-foot man might be completely different from another man or woman of the same height. Advertisement Tip The number of daily calories you need depends on your goals, body shape, body size and activity level....

Deep squats do help strengthen your lower body but you can still get plenty of muscle-building benefits from other depths. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative In This Article Deep vs. Normal Squats How Low Should You Go? Benefits of Deep Squats How to Get Deeper Squat depth is a hot topic in the world of strength training. Some coaches argue that unless you're squatting butt to floor, you're not getting all the benefits of this awesome exercise....

These DIY recipes can help you learn a new skill while creating a delicious snack. Image Credit: golubovy/iStock/GettyImages The gentle chop on a cutting board, the rolling pin settling into the dough — cooking and baking in the kitchen not only provides that much-needed ASMR but also results in some delicious goodies. Advertisement After all, stress-baking is a real thing but it can actually be beneficial, too. Cooking and baking cause us to slow down and focus on the task at hand, and ultimately, end with a (usually) nourishing meal or snack....

A man performing a dumbbell bench press in a gym. Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images Strength training constitutes an important element of training for most athletes. The method of strength training an athlete uses, though, depends on the type of sport played and her particular goals. While athletes in general benefit from full body workouts, which build overall body strength and power, athletes will sometimes use an upper/lower body training split to achieve specific strength objectives....

Dieting may cause weakness for several reasons. Image Credit: Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images If you have cut calories and added exercise to your routine, you should feel healthy and energized but sometimes you don’t. The early stages of a diet can especially pose problems for your energy level. Your body is undergoing a period of stress and adaptation, which may leave you feeling less than perky. Advertisement Fat Burning Ketosis can cause headaches and nausea....

Image Credit: AsiaVision/E+/GettyImages Every organ in your body requires magnesium to function. Magnesium keeps teeth and bones strong, activates enzymes and regulates the levels of other minerals. Coumadin, or warfarin, is a medication used to prevent blood clots and other cardiovascular conditions. Several medications, herbs and vitamins interfere with the proper function of warfarin. Magnesium is one such compound that affects the way Coumadin works. Advertisement Coumadin Coumadin is a blood-thinning drug often prescribed for people with blood clots and pulmonary embolisms....

Flattening your belly post-pregnancy is a mixture of diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Image Credit: Hiraman/E+/GettyImages It’s only natural to want to jump straight back to your pre-pregnancy body. But give yourself a break! Your body just made a baby, and it will need time to recover and get back in shape. Advertisement The fastest way to a flat stomach after pregnancy is through healthy nutrition, getting adequate sleep, breastfeeding, exercise and decreasing stress....

Training your lower-body strength and mobility can improve your ability to get up off the floor with confidence. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages When you were a tyke, you probably plopped down on the floor to play and sprung back up just as seamlessly. But as we age, getting up with grace (and without grunting) isn’t as easy. Advertisement Fortunately, with practice, you can strengthen your getting-up-from-the-floor game. Video of the Day Here, Lee Hanses, PT, DPT, a physical therapist from Bespoke Treatments in Seattle, shares simple moves that can help you more easily get off the floor....

Leg heaviness can occur if you excessively walk up and down stairs. Image Credit: JimmyFam/iStock/Getty Images Unusual leg heaviness can occur suddenly while you are climbing up stairs, making it virtually impossible to continue to the top. Because heaviness in the legs can sometimes signal a serious medical condition, understand why it occurs and how it can be treated. Advertisement Symptoms Leg heaviness while climbing up stairs can vary from mild to severe....

Close-up of a raspberry on a fork. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images The sight of blood in your stool can be alarming. Common causes, however, such as constipation and hemorrhoids, are typically mild and no cause for alarm. A nutritious, fiber-rich diet can help manage or prevent your symptoms. Discuss dietary changes with a qualified health-care professional for best results. Because bloody stools can derive from serious diseases, however, seeking guidance from your doctor is recommended, particularly if your symptoms are severe or long-lasting....

Trampolining is a great low impact exercise. Image Credit: Orange line Media/Hemera/Getty Images If you’re into the rebounding craze, you’ll be happy to hear that it’s an effective exercise that can help you lose weight and improve your health. The calories burned on a trampoline depend on many factors, so wearing a heart rate monitor while jumping is the only way to get an accurate count. Advertisement Tip How many calories you'll burn jumping on a mini-trampoline for 10 minutes depends on your weight, the intensity of your workout and other factors....

A slice of pepperoni pizza can have up to 450 calories, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Image Credit: Olesia Shadrina/iStock/GettyImages Pepperoni pizza lovers, prepare for heartbreak. Here’s what you need to know about the amount of carbs in pepperoni pizza and its calorie content. Since it’s not the healthiest meal, it is best eaten occasionally and replaced by healthier options whenever possible. Advertisement Read more: How to Keep Thin Crust Cheese Pizza Healthier Video of the Day Tip A slice of pepperoni pizza can have up to 450 calories, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)....

Cycling at a vigorous pace will encourage weight loss. Image Credit: Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images The optimal way to drop excess pounds is to use a combination of exercise and lowered calorie intake. If you have decided that you will lose 2 lb. weekly through exercise alone, you will need to perform activities that will expend a total of 7,000 calories, as 1 lb. of body fat equals 3,500 calories. You’ll have to exercise enough to burn around 1,000 calories daily if your calorie intake remains the same....

The human digestive system is the organ system responsible for extracting nutrition from consumed food items and absorbing the nutritional molecules into the bloodstream. Doing this requires breaking food into smaller pieces mechanically and chemically, so that nutritional molecules are isolated and can be absorbed. This process involves the help of the muscular system. Function The purpose of the digestive system, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book “Human Physiology,” is to take in food and extract from it the macro- and micronutrients that body cells require to meet their nutritional needs....

Combining plyometrics and weight-training can increase your strength. Athletes looking to increase their strength and power often incorporate both weight-training and plyometrics into their workout programs. However, scheduling your weight-training and plyometric workouts appropriately is essential to maximize the effectiveness of your training. To build strength with your weight-training session and explosive power with your plyometrics, you need to give your muscles an adequate amount of rest between each workout. The days off between workouts are when your muscles heal, recover and adapt....

You can bake a homemade hamburger in your oven that rivals the patty of your favorite takeout spot if you follow a few tips. Image Credit: Hugo Goudswaard/Photodisc/GettyImages In This Article Best Practices How to Bake Burgers Finishing in the Oven Cooking Tips Burger Recipes Hamburgers are a staple of any good barbecue, but you don't need it to be grilling season to enjoy a homemade burger. That's because you can make juicy hamburgers in the oven (or on the stove or with an indoor grill, for that matter!...

Donkey kicks target different muscles in your glutes, including the gluteus maximus, the largest muscle. Image Credit: erikreis/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Instructions Benefits Mistakes Donkey Kicks vs. Squats Variations The donkey kick exercise goes by many names — including quadruped hip extension and bent-leg kickback. No matter what you call it, adding more donkey kicks into your fitness routine can strengthen your glutes and core, helping improve your performance in workouts and daily life....

Instead of reaching for the coffee pot first thing in the morning, grab a cup or two of warm lemon water as soon as you wake up. Image Credit: elenaleonova/iStock/GettyImages Constipation can be uncomfortable, painful and prevent you from feeling your best. Advertisement If you experience common constipation symptoms like infrequent bowel movements or pain and difficulty passing stools, know that about 16 percent of American adults do too, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases....