Exercise helps us achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Exercise burns calories - crucial for maintaining a healthy weight.  But exercise also builds muscle.  Muscle tissue is more insulin sensitive and burns calories at a faster rate than adipose (fat) tissue.  Exercise along with a healthy diet is crucial for a successful weight loss plan that not only allows you to get the weight off, but keep the weight off.

Exercise helps prevent and treat chronic disease processes. Exercise reduces blood pressure, improves insulin sensitivity, increases HDL or good cholesterol, reduces LDL or bad cholesterol and reduces triglycerides.  Did you know that there is an enzyme in skeletal muscles that is activated by aerobic exercise that actively breaks down triglycerides?  Overall, exercise reduces one's risk of heart disease by lowering BP, improving lipids and reducing insulin resistance.

Exercise improves mood and cognition. Aerobic exercise helps the body release endorphins, which can help relieve stress and anxiety.  Aerobic exercise also increases a substance called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that can help treat and prevent depression.  BDNF also keeps the brain healthy and can reduce the risk of dementia as we age.  Studies using functional MRIs showed that people with depression had certain areas of their brain that did not light up correctly.  Aerobic exercise 45 minutes four days per week over several months reversed these changes and the brain was then lighting up as it should.

Exercise reduces inflammation. Many disease processes have inflammation at the core of their pathophysiology.  Aerobic exercise reduces markers of inflammation such as CRP (C-reactive protein). 

Exercise improves strength and balance. A regular exercise program can help improve muscle strength, which can prevent musculoskeletal injuries.  Improved balance can reduce fall risk.

Exercise helps keep our bones healthy in order to prevent fracture. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, running, jumping and light weight-lifting stimulates the bone to grow.  Over time, this helps improve bone mineral density, which reduces our risk of fracture.

Exercise can improve our sexual health. Exercise has been shown to help improve libido, stamina as well as reduce risk of erectile dysfunction.

Exercise improves our sleep. Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and help deepen your sleep.  Just don't exercise right before bedtime!

We have been providing our "cold laser" therapy for about 3 months and wanted to update you on our successes and experiences. Read about some of our success stories below!

Post-surgical swelling and pain  We received a call from a mother whose 30 year old daughter had recent knee surgery. She was concerned as she had healed both poorly and slowly from previous surgeries. The patient, who was unable to drive and was in severe pain, came in for laser therapy that week. She was barely able to walk even with the use of crutches four days after her second knee surgery. Her knee was swollen and she was using a lot of pain medication. We started her laser treatments and by Day 2 the swelling was 70% better! By Day 3 she was driving herself and full of energy. She told us she was stopping in for her laser treatment on her way to work. A few more treatments and she was feeling great. 

Back or neck pain triggering headaches; chronic muscle aches/spasms  A recent male patient relayed that he had "tried everything" - injections from the spine/pain doctors, epidurals, PT and more for his upper back pain. It was clear on exam that his neck muscles and upper back were incredibly tight. Within 10 minutes of starting his laser treatment, his muscles relaxed and he felt relief from his 8 years of chronic pain. He finished his course of treatment and is very happy with his results. Our chronic headache, shoulder pain, and knee pain patients are also noticing great results. We find that 6 laser treatments is average for pain reduction, and 8-10 treatments are needed if the pain is chronic and includes tendon or nerve involvement. 

If you are wondering if laser treatments might help you, schedule a quick laser evaluation visit by calling our sister office, Resilient Health, at 512.717.9775, or by sending an appointment request through the portal. Usual copay/deductible will apply to the office visit, and laser treatment itself is an additional charge ranging from $35-$85 per treatment. For more information about laser, visit  Resilient Health's website.