Each year in the late summer/ early fall, when the weather begins to get a little cooler, my family and I like to go apple picking at a local orchard. There is such a wonderful variety of apples to choose from (depending on whether they are in season that particular day). I especially like the Cortland's and Jonathan's. The tart but sweet flavor, tender crisp flesh, and juicy insides are literally mouthwatering. And there is no apple like the one just picked off the tree!

As young people are getting back into their normal school routines, the homework piles up and extracurricular activities turn into high gear. Sometimes the stress of due dates and practicing to get ready for the game/ competition can take its toll. Everyone wants to gain the competitive edge, right? Here are some tips that might just give your student the extra advantage:

Some of those textbooks can be pretty big. Just a few of these can place a significant burden on your spine, and this can cause upper back pain, neck pain, and headaches - particularly in smaller framed individuals. Click on the following link for more information from one of our previous newsletters: http://abcwellness-rehab.com/node/64

Bicycling is a great exercise: minimal stress on joints compared to jogging, great toner of leg muscles, good for circulation of blood – however, there are some things to consider if you bike frequently.

Our postures are so important in all body positions whether laying, sitting, or standing. On a bicycle, it is difficult to have good posture. Even if you are riding an expensive bike, you will invariably find yourself in a bent over position. This posture causes the head to be projected forward and the shoulders to be rounded. As a result, you could experience numbness and tingling in your arms and hands, neck strain, or back pain. Couple this with the fact that if you are riding competitively, you are continually turning your head from side to side to view your opponents. This puts further stress on your neck in addition to an already abnormal position.

We've invited Herb Schuh, owner of Ladies Workout Express in Joliet, to provide a follow-up guest article to "5 Components of Physical Fitness."

I previously wrote about the “5 Components of Physical Fitness”
(http://abcwellness-rehab.com/5-components-physical-fitness). This follow-up article will give you more information on how to structure your workout routine. There are basic principles of exercise that you or your trainer should consider if you are starting a new workout, reached a plateau, or are simply unhappy with your current results. Some of these seem obvious but are often overlooked.