Clean-Pick: Back-Friendly Dog Equipment

Anyone with a four-legged friend knows the ache of stooping to pick up after him/her – not to mention the messy accidents that can happen even with the inside-out-bag method. With Clean-Pick, you can not only avoid “handling” your dog’s business yourself – but you barely have to bend to attend to it. The contraption is at once a leash, a bag dispenser, and a mechanical hand to use instead of your own to perform this duty.

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Ayurveda and Back Pain

India

If you’re unfamiliar with the healing principles of ayurveda, the system of alternative medicine (rather, traditional medicine, according to Sanskrit culture) based on maintaining an equilibrium between the human body’s three doshasthis post on Srikant Nair’s blog will walk you through some of the basic principles of ayurveda and how they relate, specifically, to back pain. (Nair established the Kerala Ayurvedic Center called Ayuryog in Vadodara, India, which offers consultations and treatments in keeping with the traditional medicine.)

Functional Fitness: Study Shows Strong Benefits

ACE, the American Council on Exercise, sponsored a study in 2007 that assessed the effects of functional fitness rehabilitation programs, aimed to help older adults remain active and independent as they age. The results were decidedly positive: read a writeup on the study, which details examples of the kinds of exercises the participants performed and tracks changes over the course of the study. The website also has a trainer search function so you can get started with a fitness program.

 

Whitfield Reaves, Boulder Acupuncture Sports Medicine

Colorado

Whitfield Reaves, one of the bigshots in sports medicine and acupuncture, developed Acupuncture Sports Medicine in Boulder, CO, which integrates orthopedics and acupuncture into a thorough treatment program for athletes suffering from sports injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions.

You can also read an article by Reaves titled “Low Back Pain: The Quadratus Lumborum Muscle.”

Chad Bong, Philadelphia Sports Acupuncture

Pennsylvania

Chad Bong’s Philadelphia Sports Acupuncture institution uses a combination of massage therapy, acupuncture, targeted muscle strengthening, and stretching to treat athletes for injuries and simply to maximize their movement and activity on whatever field they play. He’s Whitfield Reaves’ right-hand man in the teaching of sports medicine acupuncture (see entry on Whit Reaves for more acupuncture resources).

Pushcart Rides for Golf Clubs

An article in Golf Magazine reports that golfers who use pushcarts both suffer fewer injuries and burn more energy than golfers who carry their clubs. Without further ado, here’s where you can find these upgraded caddies by several companies, in a number of different models to suit your needs and taste.

Bag Boy Company’s three-wheeler is collapsible and has a few other handy additions like a foot brake and a scorecard holder.

Sun Mountain’s Micro Cart also folds down and has four wheels for added stability, as well as adjustable handle height.

ClicGear models have everything from collapsibility and airless tires to a beverage holder and storage net.

Ogio Syncro offers carts and a great golf bag specifically designed to affix to a pushcart.