Hatihess THIS YEAR, DON'T GAIN WEIGHT. Gam CONTROL. Preventing, Treating Sports Injuries Every year we make New Year's resolutions. But some of them aren't new at all. They were on last year's list, too. Especially the ones about losing weight. Now it's become a serious problem. That's why you should make a resolution to call NEW DIRECTION®, the weight control program that helps you lose weight fast and teaches you how to keep it in control. Our NEW DIRECTION doctor will help you lose weight safely,* while our dietitian and behavioral counselor teach you to reshape your eating habits and lifestyle to help you manage your weight. You'll also become part of a support group made up of people like yourself who strengthen and encourage one another throughout the process. If you need to lose 40 pounds or more, call today. 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New lightweight materials, that were developed for the space program to put man on the moon, are now making it possible for amputees to walk with less effort and more com- fort than ever before. Find out what it feels like to walk with a lightweight prosthesis, custom designed and built for your personal comfort. For a FREE Introductory Prosthetic Consultation/Evaluation Worth $300 Call 1-800-451-5462 Michigan Institute for Electronic Limb Development S ports injuries are a fact of life. Whether a weekend athlete or a seasoned competitor, a person who exer- cises is almost certain to see his share of bruises and breaks, strains and sprains, tears and dislocations. While the incidence of in- juries cannot be eliminated, they can be minimized — often by something as simple as reaching for your toes. Stretching, or flexibility training, is widely accepted by fitness experts as the single most effective means of reduc- ing injuries and improving ath- letic performance. The key is to gently stretch the entire body — head to toe — both before and after a workout. While most recreational ath- letes tend to stretch first and then begin exercising, experts say it's much more effective to first gradually warm up the muscles and then stretch. Cold muscles do not stretch well and can pull if overstretched. To avoid this situation, simply take a brisk walk, do light calis- thenics or jog lightly to gradu- ally get your heart pumping and blood flowing into the mus- cles. Then, stretch those mus- cles before playing a sport or exercising strenuously. Experts also emphasize the importance of a warm-down pe- riod and stretching after a workout. A warm-down is a 5 to 10 minute period of contin- ued, mild activity after stren- uous exercise that allows the Body Awareness Center • Same Day Service • Emergencies • On Site • Therapists (Male 6( Female) FREE pm25 0/00FF 15 MINUTE MASSAGE* ANY SERVICE* * New Clients Only All therapists have met the stringent educational requirements for membership in Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (A.B.M.P.) 28690 Southfield Road Lathrup Village (1 th blocks S. of 12 Mile) Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. JUDY GRIFFUS - Owner 559-8503 Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results Place Your Ad Today. Call 354-6060 J heart to adjust blood flow with- out any pooling of blood or lac- tic acid in the muscles. "You will find that those 10 to 20 minutes of stretching af- ter a warm-up and warm-down will go a long way toward pre- venting injuries, muscle sore- ness and stiffness,"writes Dr. Allan M. Levy in the Sports In- jury Handbook (John Wiley & Sons). "This may be the most important time you spend dur- ing your entire workout." In addition to providing gen- eral information on proper stretching and conditioning techniques, Dr. Levy's book also tells how to treat and prevent injuries in more than two dozen sports Regardless of your sport of choice, the following guidelines will help ensure maximum ben- efit when you're ready to stretch: * Relax and stretch each muscle group. * Go gently. * The stretch should be felt in the muscle and not in the joint. * Hold stretches for at least 10 seconds, preferably up to 60 seconds for maximum effec- tiveness. If you're in the mood to pam- per yourself post-workout, con- sider hiring a professional sports masseuse. Designed to improve circulation, relieve ten- sion and reduce post-activity muscle soreness, sports mas- sage is a sort of passive stretch that can do your body wonders. While stretching is a power- ful tool in reducing injuries, it's also essential to use proper equipment and technique. Articles in sports magazines and trips to sporting goods stores can help keep you up-to- date. As for technique, there's a clinic, class, trainer, sports physician or book ready — whatever the sport — to give you practical tips. If prevention efforts fail and you become injured, the first step toward recovery is to rest the injured area. For sore muscles the day af- ter a workout, take one day of rest, then do a shorter, lighter workout than usual the follow- ing day. Repeat the one-day- off, one-day-easy sequence until the pain is gone. For strains and sprains, try RICE — rest, ice, compression and elevation — to reduce swelling. For joint pain, simply rest and take aspirin or a com- parable pain reliever. ❑