Category: Arthritis Napa

Staying Limber Throughout Your Travels

At the end of September, I had the privilege of visiting a few friends in Portland, Oregon, for about three days.  The weather was the quintessential Pacific Northwest climate. It was a little colder, the air a little wetter, and some drizzle had already started in the latter half of the month.  This was a …

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Simple Fitness Benchmarks for a Long Healthy Life

It should come as no surprise that consistently practicing a fitness routine benefits long-term health and everyday functionality.  Most of us already understand, without reading research articles or sitting through a college course, that getting stronger, eating the right foods, and taking care of our bodies help us live happy, healthy, and strong lives.  Regular …

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An Overlooked Vitamin for Strong Bones

“Have you read anything about vitamin K2?” asked a client of mine at the end of a training session.  She found an article written for endurance athletes about the nutrients that support bone health, and she wanted to know what I thought. The article made a good case.  It walked through calcium, vitamin D, and …

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Strong Legs Help Manage Knee Osteoarthritis

“I have to wear stupid heels when going up and down the stairs.  That kills my knees,” commented a client of mine who works as a stockbroker in San Francisco.  She was in her fifties, climbing office stairs several times a day in shoes never designed for it, and the pain had settled into her …

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Strong Legs Get us Up and Down From the Floor

When was the last time you got down on the floor and back up again without reaching for a chair, a coffee table, or a nearby wall?  For some of us, we might not think twice about this. A new grandchild might change that.  Toddlers and boisterous seven-year-olds don’t do their business at table height. …

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An Overlooked Cause of Back Pain

Who is more likely to develop lower back pain, the framer who hoists heavy lumber all day or the programmer who has spent twenty years at a desk?  Most of us would bet on the framer. Heavy lifting looks dangerous, and desk work looks harmless.  However, an underused, deconditioned back can cause as many problems …

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Strong Ankles Keep Us on Our Feet

Have you ever been walking across the parking lot, thinking about the next thing to get done on your to-do list, when the toe of your shoe catches the lip of the curb? Usually, there is a quick stumble, and we might glance around to see if anyone noticed. Most of the time we catch …

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The Muscles Behind Our Everyday Grip

From the moment we pick up a toothbrush in the morning, our hands go to work without a second thought. We turn doorknobs, tap and swipe across phone screens, twist the lids off water bottles, thread a key into the front door, and carry bags of groceries from the car. By the afternoon, some of …

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Strong Upper Extremities Traveling

A walk through an airport terminal reveals the surprising truth that traveling is a strength and conditioning event. Suitcases are hoisted off luggage carousels, carry-on bags are pressed into overhead bins, backpacks are slung over shoulders, and rolling luggage is towed across long stretches of pavement. Before a single vacation photo is taken, the body …

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Stay Fit for Recreational Sports

An engaging and fun activity after a day of labor is playing a recreational sport.  Golf, tennis, pickleball, running, and biking are some of the most popular sports among our personal training clients.  Engaging in sports requires physical capabilities and athleticism, including the ability to endure long periods of potentially strenuous activity, consistent practice to …

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