Sports Injury Recovery: Come Back Fast
When you’re injured, recovery must instantly become your main priority. Incrediwear has your back (and your arms, legs, shoulders and hips!). Incrediwear’s recovery sleeves and braces can be worn 24/7 and have been scientifically proven to increase blood flow to optimize the body’s natural healing process throughout the night and day – dramatically accelerating the rate of recovery from injury and workout.
Which Incrediwear Products to Wear, and When
Which Incrediwear Anti-Inflammatory sleeve or brace should you wear to optimize your recovery, and when should you wear it? Here, we break it down with some suggestions on best practices, and most popular products.
7 Down-Time Activities to Maintain Your Health
In cases other than illness and injury, most people fall out of a fitness routine because they run out of time. Try these 7 simple tips to stay on track, and healthy, with Incrediwear.
Incrediwear Partners with EF Pro Cycling!
Cycling is one of the most grueling sports out there. Rides regularly hit the double mileage digits, you burn an extraordinary amount of calories, and you use your whole body to maximize performance. That’s why we’re super excited to announce our new partnership with the EF Education First Pro Cycling team as their official recovery wear supplier! That’s right – through 2020, we’ll be making sure all 29 EF Pro Cycling riders will feel their best with our line of braces and sleeves designed to optimize recovery, which leads to top performance.
7 Ways to Stay Injury Free in Cold Temps
It’s officially winter, which means it’s time to dig out that EPIC Pass, book time off, and get up to the mountains to enjoy the season. But did you know that - in 2014 - over 290,000 patients were treated for winter sports injuries in the United States? Among these, some of the most frequent injuries were from the following sports:
- Skiing (responsible for 114,000 injuries)
- Snowboarding (responsible for 79,000 injuries)
- Sledding, tobogganing, and snow tubing (responsible for 52,000 injuries)
- Ice skating (responsible for 47,000 injuries)
For many, time spent at a winter resort doing all those activities listed above is a highlight of the winter season. With varying skill and experience levels, plus the sheer quantity of people out on the runs, there always seems to be a first-aid snowmobile towing an injured athlete to receive medical attention. Only at a winter resort will you see such disparity of talent – from the first-timer who can’t board the skilift (why are we stopping AGAIN?) to the professional in the half-pipe. But wherever you find yourself in experience level or level of STOKE, begin with the end in mind. Take a moment to consider the prevention of injuries for your activity and how to avoid risking your health and safety. Here are some helpful tips from Incrediwear on how to avoid injury, while enjoying the outdoor sports you love!
- Stay active during the off-season through cardio and strength training. This will help improve muscle tone and strength, allowing you to be better prepared during colder temperatures or activities you don’t do as often.
- Choose your activity knowing the risks of injury (more on that below)
- Wear all recommended safety and protective gear - such as helmets and goggles - and also multiple breathable layers to keep you warm. Items like gloves and beanies will help keep your core temperature up and reduce the chances of hyperthermia, frost bite and stiff muscles.
- Warm up properly - and longer than usual - before starting any activity, especially if it’s cooler than usual. The risk of tearing a muscle or sustaining an injury is higher in cold weather due to the body’s natural shiver responses and reduced circulation in cold conditions.
- Protect your muscles and joints by using Incrediwear sleeves and braces. By stimulating blood flow, Incrediwear acts as a natural anti-inflammatory allowing you to recover faster from your day on the slopes and feel refreshed and raring to go the next day. They will also help relieve pain from lingering issues such as tendinitis and muscle strains that may feel more sore during colder temps.
- Don’t push yourself beyond your limits.
- Stay hydrated. You may not be as thirsty as it’s not hot outside and you’re not sweating, but staying hydrated is essential for replenishing the liquids you’re losing exercising.
Even the professionals, who have dedicated their lives to winter sports, fall prey to injury. National Team Polish Alpine Skier - Piotr Habdas - uses his Incrediwear during workouts on and off the slope.
“Want to know what I am wearing to be a world class skier? Under my ski clothes and what I train in to be my best, is Incrediwear!”
Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or ice skating – whatever activity you find yourself doing – we hope that you take the time to get out there and enjoy the winter season. Stay safe and injury-free through injury prevention and Incrediwear, and share these tips with your friends.
10 Tips to Start 2020 Living Incredibly
It’s a new year and a new decade - what better way to kick start that healthy living plan you’ve been thinking about for months. To help, we’ve put together 10 tips for you to have an incredible start. Be sure to tag @incrediwear on social media to show us how you’re getting along!
1. Get more sleep
According to the National Sleep Foundation, younger adults (18-64) are recommended an average of 7-9 hours each night. Older adults (65+) have a recommended sleep range of 7-8 hours. The National Sleep Foundation also provides the following sleep tips, which can help you make sleep a priority in 2020:
- Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends.
- Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual.
- Exercise daily.
- Evaluate your bedroom to ensure ideal temperature, sound and light.
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
- Beware of hidden sleep stealers, like alcohol and caffeine.
- Turn off electronics before bed.
2. Drink more water
Water is over 60% of the weight of the human body. The risks of dehydration can carry both short term and long term side effects. But how much water should you be drinking each day? According to the Mayo Clinic, an adequate daily fluid intake is:
- About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men
- About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
These recommendations vary based on weight and activity.
The Mayo Clinic also offers the following tips for staying hydrated:
- Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
- Drink water before, during and after exercise.
- Drink water if you're feeling hungry. Thirst is often confused with hunger.
Are you thirsty yet?
3. Listen to your body
It’s SO easy to ignore that aching shoulder, or creaky knee. But make a vow in 2020 to stop! Solutions are out there, and there’s no reason to not be enjoying your workout because your body isn’t cooperating. The Knee Sleeve and Shoulder Brace, for example, are great places to start. They are embedded with germanium and carbon that, when stimulated with your body heat, increases blood flow into the target area optimizing the healing process.
4. Be active 20 minutes each day
For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines:
Aerobic activity. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise during the course of a week. Greater amounts of exercise will provide even greater health benefits, but even small amounts of physical activity are helpful.
Strength training. Do strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least two times a week. Aim to do a single set of each exercise, using a weight or resistance level heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions.
5. Go on more vacations
Less vacations = more work = more stress. Scarily, Neuroscientists have found that too much stress can actually alter your brain structure, contributing to depression and anxiety. For 2020, promise yourself just a little bit more time off. In doing so, you can improve your productivity, focus, sex life, relationship and sleep quality. Health benefits also include reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity and preventing illness.6. RECOVER
Taking time off to recover properly is important to keep yourself at your best. Whether it’s working through a muscle ache or sprain, or just catching up on Zzz, building recovery time into your program will help you:
- Prevent overtraining
- Repair, rebuild and strengthen muscles
- Adapt to training stress
- Reduce inflammation
Don’t forget your Incrediwear to help with that last one
7. Eat More Greens
Eating greens aren’t just low in calories, but they’re packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some even have powerful anti inflammatory properties (like our sleeves, wraps and braces!). Chowing down on a varied selection can also reduce your risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and cognitive decline. In general, the darker the green the more healthy they are. Here are our 5 faves:
- Sprouting broccoli
- Spinach
- Kale
- Collards
- Brussel Sprouts
8. Stretch more
Stretching isn’t always the most exciting, but it’s benefits pay off tenfold. Taking just a few minutes to stretch can help improve muscle tone, flexibility and reduce the likelihood of injury.
9. Make a Bucket List (and tick some off!)
Life happens quickly (example - can you believe it’s already a new decade?!). Make the most of it and help make some of your dreams a reality by writing them down in a bucket list style. Not only does it get your brain thinking and give you something to strive for, it’s also great for your mental health and creativity knowing you have something to work for and look forward to.
10. Take steps to live pain free
Pain can be a deterrent to living a healthy, active lifestyle. If you or someone you know is struggling to manage pain, consider natural alternatives to prescription medications and surgery. At Incrediwear, we believe that pain relief can be a reality. Our products range to cover a variety of chronic conditions by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation, all helping you on your way to recovery.
Share your new decade tips with us and keep us posted on your journey to #LiveIncredibly!
Osteoarthritis and the Incrediwear Knee Sleeve
The Incrediwear Knee Sleeve is a proven way to manage pain and can be an alternative to surgery for some osteoarthritis patients.
Incrediwear Holiday Gift Guide
The Holidays are here! This year, give the gift of pain relief to your loved ones. Browse our stocking stuffers or buy a bundle.
Surviving Breast Cancer Is A Lifelong Journey
Post-Cancer Lymphedema: Incrediwear Can Help
Pink ribbons tell only part of the story for breast cancer survivors; the truth is many challenges remain. Most people do not realize that breast cancer survivors undergo a lifetime of living with the after-effects of cancer treatment. According to the Modern Medicine Network, 80-90% of breast cancer patients will develop lymphedema within three years. Breast cancer patients are the most vulnerable to this condition, but it can develop from other types of cancer as well.
Lymph node dissection is a common procedure used to prevent the spread of cancer. After the lymph nodes are removed, lymphatic flow drastically slows, causing lymphedema. The most common symptom of this condition is swelling of the arms and legs. Other symptoms include fibrosis, aching, reduced mobility, and recurring infection. Today, treatment for lymphedema is very limited, as care providers primarily recommend wrapping limbs or wearing compression.
Incrediwear products can help cancer survivors live their best life. Our arm and leg sleeves help alleviate the symptoms that come along with lymphedema. Our circulation socks have also shown to alleviate the symptoms of neuropathy, which can be an unexpected side effect of cancer treatment.
Incrediwear is proud to support efforts to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors by contributing a portion of our October online sales to the Celebration Foundation, and by continuing to develop Incrediwear products that relieve the symptoms associated with lymphedema.
We are currently at $7,850 (Oct 25) and with your help, we can grow this amount even more. We will be providing weekly updates on our goal through our newsletter and social media!
4 Stretches To Help You Relieve Stress & Pain
According to Harvard Health; stretching helps our health by keeping muscles flexible, strong, and maintain the range of motion in our joints. The most critical areas are calves, hamstrings, and hip flexors in the pelvis and quads. Keep in mind, stretching the shoulders, neck, and lower back are also valuable to maintaining healthy muscles. It is recommended to have a daily stretching regimen three to four times a week.
Using Incrediwear during or after each regimen accelerates your recovery time and keeps your muscles from getting sore, especially if you are just starting out or have just recovered from an injury. Don’t allow fatigued muscles or injury keep you from living happy, healthy, and active. We have put together some basic stretching techniques that can help keep you moving and keep your muscles healthy.
1. Cobra Pose – Relief for Back Pain
Lie down on your stomach, with your face resting on the floor. Put your hands on either side, about the middle of your ribcage. Bring your legs together and press the tops of your feet to the floor. Press evenly with your hands as you bring your elbows close to your ribcage. Using the strength of your back only, lift your head and chest while sliding your shoulder blades back. Inhale deeply 5 to 10 times before slowly and gently returning to lying flat on your stomach again. As you release to the floor, turn your head to one side.
2. Supported Warrior – Relief for Knee Pain
Stand up straight and place both hands at shoulder height against the wall. Step forward with your right foot making your toes touch the wall. Next, bend your elbows as if you’re trying to push the wally away from you. Step with your left foot behind you, slightly bending your left knee toward the floor. Hold and take about 10 to 15 deep breaths, then slowly straighten your left leg while bending you right knee. Make sure your knee does not extend past your ankle. Hold this position for 10 to 15 deep breaths before slowly stepping your left foot forward to meet your right foot. Then switch leg positions and complete the process again.
3. Butterfly – Relief for Hip Pain
Sit flat on the floor, using a pad or blanket. Bring the soles of your feet together, tucked in as close to you as possible. Your knees should be wide so that your legs form a diamond shape. Keep your back completely straight and shoulders relaxed. Take a couple of deep breaths, then gently and slowly let your legs drop, allowing your knees to lower toward the floor. If you need more support for relief, you can place blocks or pillows under your knees.
4. Wall Walk – Relief for Elbow & Shoulder Pain
Face the wall with your feet about hip-width apart. Put your palms against the wall with arms extended. Slowly and gently lean forward, allowing your body to rest on your hands. Keep your body in a straight line with your arms in as you are bending your elbows, moving closer and closer to the wall. When your nose touches the wall or if you start to feel any discomfort, slowly push back to the standing position.
7 Ways To Accelerate Your Muscle Recovery For Your Active & Healthy Lifestyle
1. Hydrate: Drink plenty of water during intense exercise or every day activities. Making sure you’re well hydrated keeps muscles from reaching exhaustion, which leads to slower recovery and can lead to injury during activity.2. Stretch: Stretching is not just for athletes and active enthusiasts. Stretching helps keep muscles flexible to maintain a range of motion for your joints. It helps prevent muscles from becoming shortened and/or tight. So find more time to stretch.
3. Alter Your Workouts: It’s important to make sure you give your muscles a rest, but you don’t have to stop working out altogether. For example, if you’re working out your upper body one day, workout your lower body the next. This allows for proper rest intervals between muscle groups.
4. Wear Incrediwear: Traditional methods for recovery such as compression are increasingly becoming less sought after for accelerating recovery from acute and/or chronic injuries. Incrediwear’s active recovery products reduce inflammation and swelling, relieve pain, and accelerate recovery for various injuries and ailments affiliated with various conditions such as Arthritis, Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, muscle fatigue, sprains/strains, and pre/post surgery.
5. Massage: Massaging muscles helps reduce muscle tension, improves sleep, boosts immunity, increase joint flexibility, improve range of motion, and release endorphins. Simply make an appointment with a massage therapist, use foam roller, and/or follow simple self massage techniques.
6. Epsom Salt Bath: Taking a hot Epsom salt bath allows your body to absorb magnesium through your skin to relax your muscles. Dissolve about two cups of Epsom salt into a hot bath and soak in bath for 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Electrolytes Replenishment: Your body loses electrolytes during exercise from perspiring. Helping your muscles recover after a great workout include consuming foods and drinks containing sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium. Replenishing electrolytes daily upkeeps your nervous system’s ability to contract your muscles and maintain fluid balance.
Stay In The Game
Do you know how baseball players stay in touch? They touch base every once in awhile! In the same way, Incrediwear likes to touch base on the benefits of our anti-inflammatory wear products for baseball injuries as the baseball season is in full swing.Common baseball injuries can actually be some of the more serious overuse injuries in sports. Common injuries include; Rotator Cuff Tears, UCL Injuries, ACL & MCL Injuries, Sprains & Strains, and Spondylolysis (a stress fracture in the lower vertebrae). Using Incrediwear anti-inflammatory wear during or after a game helps players increase circulation to reduce inflammation, reduce muscle fatigue, and relieve pain in their elbows, lower back, shoulders, knees, legs, and arms.
Pitchers especially need the care of the best recovery and injury prevention products available. Incrediwear has scientifically shown the effectiveness of our anti-inflammatory wear products to be the best to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and pain, and reduce muscle fatigue. Whether players use Incrediwear during or after gameplay; Incrediwear anti-inflammatory wear gives athletes the recovery essentials they need by decreasing recovery time up to 46%.