Grand Opening!
Pillows
Recliners
Office Chairs
Back Supports
Grand Opening Discounts Up to 50%!
Car Seats
Lumbar Supports
Relax the Back' has it
all! Our unique store
Sleep Aids
has the finest collection
of products to relax your
Electric Massagers
back and relieve neck
pain. Many of our prod-
Manual Massagers
ucts are sold exclusively
by Relax the Back
Cold Packs
Stores nationwide. You
Hot Packs
can even try the prod-
ucts before you buy.
Work Stations
Visit our new store to-
day and relax!
Stadium Seats
Neck Rests
Wrist Rests
1 36 N. Woodward
Downtown Birmingham
Foot Rests
(810) 594-1555
Insoles
Thurs. 10-9,
Sun. 12-5
RELAX1
THE BACK
STOR.
FIT page 63
Massage Chairs
Relax the Back° Has Hundreds of Products
for the Relief and Prevention of Back Pain
Mon.-Wed., Fri. & Sat.
10-6
d
Oils and Lotions
Books and Music
and More!
The Best o Ever thing for Your Back!
SOUTHFIELD PEDIATRIC PHYSICIANS,
P.C.
BIATM, MD, FAAP
ER M. BLUM, DO, FAAP
bility. I didn't need surgery and
I'm feeling like I'm 20 or 30
again," Mr. Coe said.
Cardiovascular exercises like
bicycle riding, walking on a
treadmill or doing the Stair-
Master will strengthen the heart
and help to at least minimally
tone lower back and abdominal
muscles, which in turn reduces
back strain.
Flexibility, on the other hand,
is improved with the constant
stretching of the muscles, begin-
ning with the legs and moving
up the body. Hamstrings, the
muscles that make up the back
of the thigh, are especially prone
to injury due to a lack of flexibil-
ity, but flexibility can be im-
proved with the use of free
weights or machines, Mr.
Schlecter said.
"Older muscles tighten like
coils. Without proper work they
will become strained when they
aren't used on a regular basis,"
he said.
The real key is consistency.
Mr. Schlecter recommends that
people train three or four times
a week for a little longer than an
hour. He recommends 30 min-
utes on cardiovascular exercises
and 30 to 40 minutes in the
weight room to improve flexibil-
ity and muscle tone.
Michelle Moceri, a physical
trainer at the Jewish Communi-
ty Center's health club, agrees
that consistently exercising is a
good thing but constantly exer-
cising is not. She stresses that
muscles need rest because con-
stant exercise can destroy mus-
cle tissue. Developing and
maintaining muscle tissue
should be the intent of a work-
out.
Dr. Steven Gross, a physical
medicine rehabilitation special-
ist based in Plymouth, said that
while a regular fitness workout
is beneficial for a body of any age,
getting started may be a strain.
"Someone who exercises reg-
ularly is not any more prone to
injury if he is 30 or 50 years of
age," he said. "When a person of
Hot Shots
o The Practice oIF Pea
oiescentE Megiacme °an
C/)
Lu
CC
Lu
LIJ
64
25865 W. 12 Mile
Southfiela, MI 48034
(8L0) 358-0420
•
Do you have an item for "Hot
Shots"? "Hot Shots" is a pe-
riodic column recognizing
medical professionals for
achievements in their field.
Please send items to Jill David-
son Sklar at The Jewish News,
27676 Franklin, Southfield, MI
48034. A picture would be ap-
preciated. It can be color or
black-and-white, but it must be
in focus. If you wish to have the
picture returned, you must
enclose a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.
any age begins a regular exercise
regimen, he is going to be more
prone to injury depending on how
physically fit he is to begin with."
Dr. Gross recommends exercise
to benefit people in their 50s who
suffer from tight muscles because
they will regain their flexibility
or elasticity.
And, although many born-
again exercisers are motivated
by low back pain, Dr. Gross said
exercise won't necessarily make
that pain disappear. The pain
can, however, be tempered with
a regular fitness program com-
bined with a proper warm-up
and back strengthening routine.
"Some people are feeling the
effects of degenerative disc dis-
ease or arthritis, which is cumu-
lative over a period of time. Some
back pain is due to these degen-
erative changes of the spine, ex-
ercising excessively or lack of
durability in the back tissue.
Strengthening muscles will in-
crease flexibility and should de-
crease the degree of pain," Dr.
Gross said.
That's one reason why Shel-
don Watnick of Bloomfield Town-
ship has been working out for 15
years. The 52-year-old has had
chronic back problems since his
teens but finds that exercise
helps keep his muscles limber
and allows him to participate in
the athletics he enjoys.
"Personally, I hate to work out,
but I do it to play golf and
squash. I feel better after any
workouts because the back pain
is gone, and I feel a little bit
stronger, which has helped my
game playing," Mr. Watnick said.
Shoshana Byck, a 51-year-old
West Bloomfield resident, feels
the best way to work out is with
friends.
`The time goes by faster, and
it's a real team effort. Everyone
is talking and looking forward to
seeing each other and that acts
as a real motivational tool," she
said. "However, the best thing
about the end of a workout is the
hot shower you get to take." ❑
Publicity
Deadlines
The normal deadline for local
news and publicity items is
noon Thursday, eight days pri-
or to issue date. The deadline
for birth announcements is 10
a.m. Monday, four days prior
to issue date; out-of-town
obituaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday,
three days prior to issue date.
All material must be typewrit-
ten, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 x
11 paper and include the
name and daytime telephone
number of sender.