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Roger Teeter and His Story About Inversion Therapy

Steve — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:10:42 +0000

Over the years, there has been no better spokesman for Teeter Hang Ups inversion tables than the founder, Roger Teeter. I found this article very interest in how his Teeter Inversion Table changed his life, just as it has for thousands of others. From the Teeter EP-550 inversion table to the Teeter Contour Power inversion table, Teeter continues to set the bar high for all others.

Amplify’d from www.teeter-inversion.com

Back Pain and Decompression

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Roger Teeter – Founder and President

TR 4 Triumph

When I was in my late teens, I was in a very serious car accident in a TR 4 Triumph, which is the model prior to the roll-up windows that has a cut-down door. The top was down and I remember the front wheels catching on gravel in a turn so that the car flipped end for end, flying upside down. The windshield sheared off and I landed with the car on top of me (no seat belts in those days). The driver and I were half in and half out of the car with that cut-down door just touching our chests. It was only by the grace of God that we both not only survived, but the only injury between us was a severe contusion in the middle of my back where I had landed on a rock. That contusion took 8 months to dissipate, after which I felt back to normal for the most part. What I did not learn until 30+ years later was that a significant chunk of bone had broken off the thoracic T7 vertebra and, over time, had welded T7 to T6, effectively immobilizing movement between these two vertebrae. In the X-ray, the welded chip looked like a tea cup handle joining the two vertebrae. The doctor who read the X-ray said those two vertebrae were firmly welded together by the time I turned 25.

It was 10 years after that accident when I wrecked my back testing water skis and went through 5 years of back pain problems finding no significant relief… until I tried inversion. I was skeptical that 5 minutes of inversion could do anything for me when, after all, I was upright 16 hours a day. I reluctantly gave it a try. The back pain relief was temporary, but much better than anything else that I had tried in the past 5 years. By inverting on a regular basis, I have been virtually free of back pain for the last 30 years. The dramatic relief I experienced is the reason my wife and I started Teeter Hang Ups in 1981.

OK – here is where the two stories above come together. During the first several years of inversion, every time I inverted there were about 7 distinct pops and snaps as my spine decompressed. One day about 4 years into my daily dangle routine, after the usual pops and snaps, I was doing some additional stretching such as pelvic tilts and side to side rotations. All of a sudden there was a very loud crack and my head dropped notably closer to the floor. I was terrified and sure something had broke. Testing all body movements and finding them working, I was greatly relieved but puzzled. A few days later, the crack repeated but not as loud, then it became almost daily. About that time, a doctor who taught chiropractic principles at a local college arranged for me to have full-body X-rays both standing and inverted (initially a marketing plan to prove the elongation of the body during inversion and it worked!) With full-body optically correct x-rays, anyone could take a tape measure and measure body length from the atlas (smallest vertebra next to the skull) to the ankle joints. In the first minute, I lengthened 1 inch and at 10 minutes, it was 1- 7/16″! You could see every joint was opened up, some more than others. The knee joints, for example, showed about 1/8” open space while standing and ¼” open space while inverted. We also discovered that T6 and T7, previously welded, had broken free – surely the cause of that loud crack after 4 years of daily inversion.

Teeter tables are often touted for relief of lower back pain and neck pain, but little is said about benefits to the thoracic. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the thoracic, which supports the ribs, is much less flexible and therefore less subject to injury. In my experience, a high percentage of thoracic problems are due to trauma as in my case. The benefits to decompressing the thoracic are, however, no different than the decompression benefits to the rest of the spine.

Those 8 pops and snaps that I counted every time I inverted (which have slowly one by one stopped) are proof of my continued improvement of spinal health through daily inversion. Today, I occasionally get one pop from my left S1 joint – that’s it. To me, that means a more supple, flexible spine which allows me to continue to do the things I enjoy. I will be 73 in a month and I am still wake boarding, surfing, cycling, running (on soft ground only) and resistance training. The only thing I currently don’t do that I did as a younger man for years is water ski jump using a ramp (I trust you will agree this was a prudent move).

Read more at www.teeter-inversion.com

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Roger Teeter and His Story About Inversion Therapy is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

12 Items Your Should Have in Your Backpack

Grecia — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:42:34 +0000

Heading off to class in college is much different than it was in high school. In high school, you had locker where you could store your stuff between classes that served as a central hub for your life. But in college, you don’t have lockers. And when you leave for classes in the morning, you may not get back to your dorm until late afternoon. So it’s important to pack your backpack with all the items you might need throughout the day. If you’re trying to figure out what you’ll need, here’s a list to get you started.

1. Campus map
Even after you know your way around campus, it’s good to always have a map with you just in case you have to go to a building you don’t normally go to or if you get lost by accident.

2. Notebooks
If you’re in class all day, you’ll probably need to take notes. Carry a few notebooks with you (one for each subject) so you can store all your notes in the same place.

3. Books
You may not need your books during class, but in between classes you might have time to study, so bring a few books along to help you get ahead during your down time.

4. Pencils and Pens
Obviously you’ll need something to write with, so make sure you have pens or mechanical pencils available (mechanical pencils don’t need sharpening). Also highlighters are a good idea, so you can mark important passages in your books.

5. Calculator
If you’ve got math, physics, or chemistry classes bringing a calculator with you is a must.

6. Water
It’s important to stay hydrated all day, so make sure you bring a bottle of water with you. When you have a chance, you can refill it at drinking fountains across campus.

7. Snacks
If you’re going to spend all day on campus, you might want to bring some snacks for when you get the mid-afternoon munchies. These little pick-me-ups will help you keep going strong until dinner.

8. Change
You never know when you might want a soda or snack from a vending machine (if you didn’t already pack some treats from your dorm) so make sure you have a little emergency change stashed away.

9. iPod
Turn those long walks between classes into a way to catch up on the latest music and keep you entertained on the bus.

10. Wallet/Purse
Before you leave the house, throw you wallet or purse in your bag. Not only will it help you get some lunch, but it also has your student ID in it, which might be helpful.

11. Phone
Keep your phone in your backpack instead of in your pocket and put it on vibrate. That way, you won’t be distracted by it during class or when you really need to buckle down and study.

12. Camera
Of course campus life is always full of surprises. If you bring your camera with you, you’ll always be able to document your life and the world around you.

About the author: Diane Johnson primarily writes about Rasmussen College, pell grants, and anything else that interests her. She enjoys traveling, reading, and sports.

12 Items Your Should Have in Your Backpack is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Warm Weather Exercising Tips

mvr — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:12:20 +0000

Warm Weather Exercising Tips

If you are a serious athlete, you should expect to train in warm weather. You should expect to exercise in warm weather even if you casually work out to lose weight. In fact, there are certain benefits for warm weather exercising. The added perspiration helps remove extra toxins from the body. However, warm weather exercising can be more dangerous than cool weather exercising. The possibility of heat stroke exponentially increases.

You may have to adjust to hot weather exercising if you are accustomed to certain things in your routine. For example, hot weather changes the molecular makeup in paved surfaces. Therefore, running may feel different at first, or even difficult. Aside from surface changes, changes in the humidity, air, pollution and allergens may make warm weather exercising hard for athletes.

However, being accustomed to these conditions will greatly help athletes in competitions. For individuals who casually work out, it will provide added benefits along with weight loss.

Because of the possible dangers associated with warm weather exercising, there are certain precautions you should take to stay safe. Consider these tips during hot weather.

Wear White Shirts

For certain various reasons, white repels UV rays and heat. Therefore, you will have an easier time maintaining an internal thermal temperature of 98 degrees Farenheit, which is very important when exercising. Your blood pressure may still rise, but the white shirt, along with perspiration, will keep your body’s temperature regulated.

Along with a white shirt, you should also wear light clothing. Heavy shorts, wristbands and headbands are unnecessary for training and exercising since the heat already adds stressful factors to the routine.

Exercise Indoors When Necessary

If you live in a tropical or desert region, there may be days where the heat is extremely dangerous. There may be days when you have to exercise indoors. Athletes may not be able to benefit from indoor training, depending on what they are training for, but people who exercise to lose weight can find the same cardio and aerobic exercise benefits in indoor training.

Drink Plenty of Water

Every serious athlete knows how important it is to stay hydrated when training. The summer heat makes it even more important to stay hydrated. Because the added perspiration and temperature can cause heat stroke, it is important that anyone who exercises outdoors on hot days drink plenty of water.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

-Flushed Skin
-Delirium
-Sunken Eyes
-Dizziness
-Light-Headedness
-Numbness
-Less Sweating
-Difficulty Swallowing
-Muscle Spasms
-Dim Vision

Along with preventing heat stroke and dehydration, water boosts your metabolism.

Wear Sunscreen

Harmful UV rays can damage skin cells and cause premature aging. In severe cases, long-term sun exposure can cause skin cancer, such as melanoma. You can greatly reduce sun damage to your skin by wearing protective sunscreens. Sunscreens with an SPF 15 or higher will block UV rays from damaging your skin.

Conclusion

There is no need to be afraid of hot weather. Yes, it can potentially be dangerous, but with the right precautions, it is relatively safe.

Emma Martin is an avid garage sale fan, regularly scouring her city for unique finds and great deals. Weirdest thing she ever bought at a yard sale: a dinner plate with George W. Bush’s picture covering it. She is a content contributor for YardSaleSearch.com.

Warm Weather Exercising Tips is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Happy Memorial Day: A Moment Please

Steve — Mon, 30 May 2011 15:36:17 +0000

The flag image with this post is of the front of my house. We are getting ready for our back yard Memorial Day cookout, which may include around 30 people (with 18 kids!!). Right now, Stacy is getting after me to peel eggs for deviled eggs and get the potatoes ready for the potato salad, but I wanted to take a brief moment.

As we are all busy getting ready to host or go to a Memorial Day cookout or party, lets all take a moment to remember what this day is all about and give thanks. Memorial day commemorates the men and women who have laid down their lives in service to our country. Formerly Decoration Day, this day was created after the War Between the States to honor fallen Union soldiers. It was later renamed and extended after WWI to honor all soldiers who died while in military service.

On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to thank those currently in service to our country and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom.

Happy Memorial Day: A Moment Please is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Setting Realistic Weight Loss Goals

Sean21 — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:40:16 +0000

When you are on a mission to lose weight, it can be very difficult to set realistic, achievable goals. We live in an instant-satisfaction society and want everything at the moment we decide we want it. Due to the nature of weight loss, instant results are simply impossible. Many individuals are doomed to fail before they even begin because their lofty goals are simply impractical.

The first way to set realistic goals is to write down what is reasonable. With a combined effort of diet and exercise, it is healthy and possible to lose about one to two pounds a week. You can do this by subtracting 500 calories from your diet per day. The best approach to eliminating those 500 calories is to combine both exercise and healthy eating. If you exercise and burn 300 calories and subtract 200 calories from your daily intake of food, then you will be at your goal. If you were to just focus on restricting your calories or working out like a madman, you would surely burn out, but this combined effort takes a lot of the stress away.

A lot of people think if they workout hard enough then they will get to their results faster. While consistent, vigorous exercise is an important part of weight loss, jumping into an exercise routine too quickly or too intensely can end up actually hurting your results. You may injure yourself from over exertion, have to take a break and not be able to exercise at all, which would definitely curtail your weight loss efforts. Additionally, you may begin to exercise too intensely, get burnt out and never want to exercise again. To avoid these situations, set a reasonable goal and work your way up to it in sensible intervals.

For example, if you want to run a 5K, begin by running a few miles at a time and congratulate yourself on each accomplishment, no matter how small it may seem. If you focus on your end result and getting there as quickly as you can, you may become overwhelmed and throw in the towel, so it is best to focus on the little steps along the way.

When trying to achieve your fitness and weight loss goals, it can be difficult to overcome any upsets or unforeseen challenges. What are you supposed to do when there’s birthday cake? What about grandma’s famous meatball marinara? There is no way to prevent times of indulgence and you shouldn’t have to miss out on all of the good stuff! Enjoy a small portion every once in awhile to keep cravings in check, and don’t beat yourself up! If you are constantly thinking about what you can’t have, you will likely become overwhelmed, so try to keep the realistic perspective that sometimes you’ll just have to have cake, and you will still meet your goals!

To help set those goals try a rowing machine at home for easy access.

Sean enjoys Blogging and focuses on veterans education benefits and online degree programs. His expertise in weight loss comes from a personal weight battle during which he lost over 100 pounds over two years of exercise, proper nutrition and avoiding sedentary hobbies. Video games are his biggest weakness.

Setting Realistic Weight Loss Goals is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

Karen Schweitzer — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:34:28 +0000

Seasonal allergies can create unpleasant symptoms like nasal congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose. If you don’t like taking pills and other pharmaceutical remedies, there are a number or natural treatments that you can create with a simple list of ingredients. Here are a few tried and true homemade remedies to try this season.

Decongestant Steam

An aromatic steam can really help a runny or stuffed up nose. You can make a decongestant steam by mixing 3 tablespoons of fresh peppermint and 3 tablespoons of fresh eucalyptus in a medium sized bowl. Pour boiling water over the herbs, lean over the bowl with a towel draped over your head, and inhale the steam for five to ten minutes.

Decongestant Salve

Image via Wikipediaa

If you like the effect of Vicks Rub, you can duplicate it at home with just a few ingredients. To start, mix 1 cup of olive oil with 1 ounce of peppermint oil and 1 ounce of eucalyptus oil in a double boiler over low heat. When the oils are warm, add in 1 ounce of grated beeswax. Stir until the beeswax is melted. Allow the mixture to cool before rubbing a small amount under your nose, on your chest, and on the bottoms of your feet. Excess salve can be stored in a clean jar in a cool, dark place for two to three weeks.

Sinus Spray

Most store-bought nasal sprays consist of salt and water. You can easily duplicate this recipe at home by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of table salt with 1 cup of warm (not hot) distilled water. You can get the spray in your nose with an ear bulb syringe, a small teapot, or a neti pot. Whatever method you use, be sure to breathe through your mouth as you are flushing your nasal passages so that the water doesn’t drain down your throat.

Nasal Inhalant

Sometimes a quick sniff of something sharp smelling is all you need to unclog your nasal passages. You can make a transportable inhalant by placing 1/2 teaspoon of rock salt in a clean glass jar (with a lid.) Put 4 drops of peppermint oil and 4 drops of eucalyptus oil on the salt. Place the lid on the jar and give it a gentle shake to mix the ingredients. When your nose feels stuffed up, unscrew the lid and sniff the contents of the jar.

Oatmeal Bath

If your seasonal allergies give you itchy skin, you can get quick relief with an oatmeal bath. Grind 1 cup of oatmeal (instant oatmeal, quick oats or slow cooking oats) in a food processor or coffee grinder. Sprinkle the ground oatmeal into a bathtub of warm running water. Stir the water with your hand before getting in to ensure even distribution. Soak in the tub for at least 15 minutes. When you get out, pat yourself dry with a towel.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for InsuranceQuotes.org.

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Better Health Innovations Newsletter Launch!

Steve — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:28:44 +0000

This is the week. After years of loyal customers and blog readers asking for it, we are launching the Better Health Innovations Newsletter! We will be bringing you valuable news directly related to health, wellness, and fitness on a weekly basis. Here is what you can expect from our team of expert writers:

Diverse problem solving articles related to health, fitness, and wellness
Tips on how to achieve your health & fitness goals
Product reviews
Exclusive special offers for our favorite products

Our newsletter team will be providing you only the most up to date information about issues that affect your health. The team has two rules: (1) Provide You Solutions and (2) Provide You Value In Every Issue.

I would like to personally invite you to subscribe and to let me know what you think!

- Steve

Better Health Innovations Newsletter Launch! is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

26 Yoga Poses (INFOGRAPHIC)

Steven — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:17:36 +0000

A nice chart to take a look at if you are becoming board with your normal yoga routine. It may remind you of positions you haven’t done in a while.

Amplify’d from sport.visualinformation.info

See more at sport.visualinformation.info

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26 Yoga Poses (INFOGRAPHIC) is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog

Great Healthy Fast Foods for After You Work Out

Steve — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 02:57:15 +0000

Life moves too quickly for you to always eat healthy food. If you’re like me, you invest so much time in working out and staying fit, that you don’t want to blow it by eating calorie laden, fat filled fast food when you don’t have the time for a real meal. Here’s a good list of eleven fast food snacks for after you work out. It’s not perfect, but these are better choices than a Big Mac. Click for more.

Great Healthy Fast Foods for After You Work Out is a post from the Better Innovations Health, Fitness, and Wellness Blog