With fond memories of walking to school when we were children. Sometimes walking by yourself and other times walking with friends. I’m sure we always enjoyed the stroll.

Well, now there’s a bit of research that supports the positive vibes we got from walking to school. A study, called the “Mass Experiment 2012,” which took place in Denmark, examined the school transportation habits of nearly 20,000 children between the ages of 5 and 19. The article, “Walking to School Improves Students’ Ability to Concentrate,” reported that the study found that kids who walked or biked to class performed better than kids who were driven to school by their parents, or who took public transportation. The daily, morning exercise was the key that helped kids unlock their concentration “skills.”

Here are a few other reasons why walking to school is so great for your kid: 

Walking keeps kids healthy

This is obvious, but still worth mentioning. Staying active helps children stay physically fit. Also: Walking to and from school every day can help kids get in the habit of engaging in physical activity.

Walking allows kids to stop and smell the roses

Kids have to examine every new neat thing they come in contact with. And that’s why walking outside is so great! Walking to and from class allows kids to get acquainted with the natural world.

Walking = friend making

Allowing your kid to walk with a group of kids to class allows your child to get to know new children.

Just make sure before you send your child out the door, you make them a hearty breakfast. Also, keep in mind: If your kid is walking to class, she/he may very well may be walking home, too. To make sure their hunger is satisfied until dinner, consider making an  after-school snacks.

Not content with the Southport triathlon on 20th May David was mad enough to compete in the Coniston Standard Distance Triathlon just a month later on 24th June 2018. 

The calm before the storm!!

The Storm!!

Photographs courtesy of  Epic Events @epiceventsmanagement

Held on Sunday 20th May 2018 

The Southport sprint and standard distance triathlon attracts triathletes of all ability levels, from complete novices to elite competitors. Based at Waterside Lodge a modern, purpose built two-storey Activity Centre on Southport Marine Lake, it has become one of the biggest local events, reaching maximum capacity every year. The sprint distance event is a 750m swim / 20k cycle / 5k run, the standard distance is 1500m swim / 40k cycle / 10k run. The cycle course takes place on closed roads and the run course is based around the marina on tarmac paths. 

Guess who was mad enough to take part….

 

WOW – Click the photo to read this clinical blog about Achilles tendon differential diagnosis. By Peter Malliaras & Carly Johnson.
“Worth spending 5 minutes reading.”

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What Causes Hand Pain and Numbness?

The carpal tunnel is a structure in the wrist that contains the tendons that control the fingers and then median nerve, which innervates the thumb and first two fingers.

When the carpal tunnel is too small and/or inflammation occurs in the tendons that run through it, the median nerve becomes compressed, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist, hand, and fingers.

   

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Tingling and numbness in palm, thumb, or first two fingers, especially during the night or in the morning. The sensation may cause people to want to “shake out” the hand.
● Aching pain in the wrist and hand, with occasional shooting pains up the forearm
● Weakness in the hands and fingers and trouble gripping or holding objects
Carpal tunnel syndrome is treated with nonsurgical methods such as splinting, ice therapy, and behavioural modifications. It can also be treated surgically with a procedure called carpal tunnel release.

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…and could wreck your neck!

The human head weighs about a dozen pounds. But as the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15-degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds.

That’s the burden that comes with staring at a smartphone — the way millions do for hours every day.