With more colleges switching to artificial turf for its supposed performance benefits, researchers uncovered significant evidence that artificial grass should not be considered safer than real grass.

By analyzing the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears that were reported to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance System, experts found that ACL injuries were 10 times more common during games than during practices, and close to five times as common during scrimmages than during regular practice. The data also called into question the use of turf; Athletes were 1.39 times as likely to be injured when playing on modern artificial turf as they were when playing on grass.

So what explains the jump in injuries?

Many argue that the “shoe-surface interface” allows players to grip better on turf, which prevents your leg from distributing force and protecting your knee.

The NFL, which has been facing this issue for a while now, has started trying to design footwear that helps players adjust their grip on turf to reflect the grip they would get on grass.

The Importance of Injury Prevention Training

Specialized footwear would help, but study leaders and sports performance specialists familiar with the study also champion ACL injury prevention training as an essential part of athletic training. The football performance specialists here at Bon Secours In Motion emphasize that athletes can help mitigate their risk of an ACL tear by spending time focused on building proper biomechanics and injury prevention training strategies.

If you are training to play high level, collegiate football, the experts at the In Motion Football/Combine Preparatory Program can assess your potential and take you to new levels of performance on the football field.

Source: Reuters

I track it all day long in an app I downloaded to my phone. From my greek yogurt at breakfast to my midday snack of almonds, I know how many calories I put in my mouth at every meal.

I don’t need to lose any weight – today. My body mass index is in the healthy range. I do at least three hours of vigorous cardio exercise every week in addition to lifting weights twice a week.

But not too long ago, I wasn’t working out at all. I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I felt like it. I was overweight.

I couldn’t blame it on pregnancy or an injury. I was just eating too much. So I stopped.

Everyone has their own weight loss journey. For me, I lost most of my excess pounds by eating healthy foods in the right amount. It took several months. I learned how to keep a food journal and how to pass on dessert. Along the way, I became a fitness instructor, which has definitely helped me maintain my weight loss. I can’t blow off going to the gym just because I’m feeling unmotivated.

But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that even though I’m thin today, I still cannot eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Those unwanted pounds appear pretty quickly.

To be honest, I’d rather watch my calories than my expanding waistline.

You see, there’s nothing sweeter than the good health that comes with weight loss.

Alice Warchol is freelance health blog writer and fitness instructor. 

+ Read about Sports Performace Programs

+ Learn about Diabetes Counseling

Surgery
If you need surgery, for example, you won’t be able to eat from 8-12 hours before the procedure and may not be able to eat a normal diet afterwards. You may require careful adjustments to your insulin dosing.

Infections
Even mild infections such as a cold can raise your blood sugar levels, so be sure to check your blood sugar more frequently than normal if you are ill. As a precaution always call your primary care physician or healthcare provider for their input.

Traveling
Traveling can make insulin therapy challenging – especially if you are traveling across many different time zones. Your eating and exercise habits will likely change, so be sure to keep careful track of your blood sugar levels.

Eating Out
Something as small as eating out can be tricky for diabetics. Food prepared in restaurants tends to be higher in calories and fat than homemade food. Check the nutrition information from restaurants or a pocket-sized reference book to keep tabs on your diet, which will affect your insulin needs.

To avoid low blood sugar, test your blood sugar often, especially before, during, and after exercise, or if you have a change in your daily routine (like those discussed above). If you find that you have low blood sugar frequently, learn to count the carbs in the food you eat and match your pre-meal insulin dose to the carbohydrate levels and your current blood sugar value.

Remember: following an insulin treatment regiment takes a lot of planning and effort, but the time you spend will pay off. Maintaining your blood sugar levels helps you feel better and avoid complications so you can live a long and healthy life!

Need help managing your diabetes? Find a diabetes counselor near you!

Source: DiabetesNet.com

1. Myth: Insulin injections hurt.
   Fact: Insulin does require the use of a needle, but the needles are smaller and thinner which means that they often hurt less than most other shots. Many diabetics find that their injections are less painful than the finger sticks required to monitor blood sugar.
2. Myth: Insulin makes you fat.
   Fact: Some diabetics claim that insulin causes weight gain. While insulin can lend a predisposition to gain weight – healthy eating and regular exercise allow many individuals who rely on insulin to avoid weight gain.
3. Myth: Diabetics who use insulin have a more serious condition than those who don’t use insulin.
   Diabetes is a serious condition. Whether you’re using insulin or controlling it through diet and physical activity alone, you should always take your condition very seriously and take the proper steps to ensure your healthiest and safest life.

Interested in diabetes counseling? Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a life-long diabetic struggling with maintenance, our diabetes educators can help! Contact us today!

Source: CDC/NIH: New Beginnings: A Discussion Guide for Living Well with Diabetes, Nov 2005.

Have you or a loved one been struggling with pelvic pain?  Rachel Everett, DPT with the In Motion Physical Therapy Portsmouth Boulevard clinic, will be presenting next week on Non-surgical Therapies for Pain Down There. Come learn about the latest physical therapy treatment options for women suffering from pelvic pain or pelvic floor disorders.

Participants will hear from a variety of local health experts on health topics including hormone replacement therapy, minimally invasive options for women’s surgery, weight loss & metabolic syndrome and teenage issues. Private mini-consults available with women’s rehab specialists to discuss turning back the clock below the belt, building strength for better days and nights.

“What Women Put Up With”: A Free Seminar Series for Women
When: May 17th, 2012; Mini-consults: 6–7:00 pm, Seminar: 7–9:00 pm
Cost: Free!
Who: View our list of speakers and seminars!
Where:
Hilton Garden Inn, 5921 Harbour View Blvd, Suffolk, Virginia
Map and Directions.

Space is limited, so registration is required to attend. Register online for this free seminar. For more information or to register on the phone please call us at 889-CARE (2273).

Massages and some private time for relaxation are something every mom can use. That’s why we’re offering a 10% discount on all massage gift certificates in honor of Mother’s Day on our In Motion Facebook Page.

Participating locations include

• Hampton
  • Boo Williams Sportsplex: (757) 224-4601
• Norfolk
  • Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center: (757) 217-0333
• Suffolk
  • Health Center at Harbour View: (757) 673-5971
• Virginia Beach
  • In Motion at Hilltop: (757) 437-0471
  • Health Center at Virginia Beach: (757) 463-2540
• Yorktown
  • Victory YMCA: (757) 952-1900

There is no limit to number of purchases and the offer is good through Sunday (5/13) for any massage! Visit our Facebook page to pick up the coupon and get started today!

You might want to think twice about that.

Not only do sports drinks contain calories that sabotage your weight loss goals, they can also ruin your teeth.

A new study shows that the high acidity levels in these drinks erode tooth enamel, particularly among adolescents.

“Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda,” said lead author Poonam Jain, in a news release from the Academy of General Dentistry. “Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

Damage to tooth enamel is irreversible. Without its protection, teeth are sensitive, prone to cavities and more likely to decay.

Dr. Jennifer Bone, a dentist and spokeswoman for the AGD said teens usually are unaware of what’s causing their symptoms when they come to our office.

“They don’t realize that something as seemingly harmless as a sports or energy drink can do a lot of damage to their teeth.”

To reduce exposure, Bone recommends minimizing the number of sports and energy drinks a person drinks. Rinsing the mouth with water and chewing sugar-free gum after consuming these beverages increases saliva, which helps return the mouth’s acidity levels back to norma, Bone said.

Additionally, people should wait an hour to brush their teeth because they could spread the acid in their mouth onto the tooth surfaces, eroding the teeth more.

And if you find yourself at the gym without a water bottle, look for a drinking fountain. Water doesn’t hurt your teeth or your waistline.

Alice Warchol is a freelance health blog writer and fitness instructor.

+ Learn about Nutritional Analysis

+ Find a Sports Performance Program

That’s why our experts are partnering with these programs to help educate Hampton Roads women on latest news regarding urinary incontinence, minimally invasive options for women’s surgery, weight loss & metabolic syndrome and a variety of other issues. The schedule is as follows:

1. Tuesday, May 15th in Virginia Beach
   Holiday Inn Executive Center
   5655 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia
   + Learn about our experts and topics!
2. Thursday, May 17th in Suffolk
   Hilton Garden Inn
   5921 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk, Virginia
   + View our list of speakers and seminars!
3. Wednesday, May 23rd in Newport News
   Marriott City Center
   740 Town Center Drive, Newport News, Virginia
   + See our speaker list and discussion topics!

Learn more about this free women’s health seminar, “What Women Put Up With,” see our list of expert speakers, or register today for one of our dates and locations!

For the study researchers evaluated 77 women aged 70-80 who had been diagnosed with “probably” mild cognitive impairment then assigned the women to either a strength-training, walking, or basic balance class. The evidence was significant among the strength-training group, which demonstrated cognitive improvements when compared to the walking and toning groups. Researchers were able to find changes in areas of the brain associated with cognitive behavior.

Study co-author Teresa Liu-Ambrose, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Center for Hip Health and Mobility and the Brain Research Center, speculates that lifting weights requires more cognitive involvement than walking, which may account for the improved mental functioning among that research group.

One thing is still for certain; physical activity is good for people of all ages and fitness levels. So get up and get active!

Need help getting started on a fitness program? Contact an expert at In Motion; we have sports performance clinics throughout Hampton Roads, including locations in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Hampton!