Leg cramps are commonly experienced by many including myself. It is characterized by a hardened lump on particular body area. The hardened portion is the muscle that contracted which causes the pain sensation. When leg cramps passes, it leaves behind some sort of pain and a little tenderness in the leg which can last for hours. It usually happens during night time. This is indeed true in my case. It is one of the common reasons that causes me to wake up in the middle of the night aside from bad dreams.

I usually do not mind having cramps because I have done internet searches regarding it. Most of the time, I look for solutions which comes with leg cramp causes. Based on my research, muscle cramp, which includes that of the leg, can be caused by our movements within the day. It may be caused by significant fatigue or a result of lacking electrolytes and water. Inadequate supply of these electrolytes causes an individual like me to have muscles which do not work smoothly. Frequent occurrences have alarmed me. Thus, I sought the help of professionals in Middle Park physio.

Before I went to Middle Park, I have tried home remedies recommended in the internet. Most of time, I stretch the cramped muscles with care in order not to worsen it. To match this, I have heating pad supplies which I often use too, especially after stretching. I have also tried adjusting my diet by adding magnesium intake through varying snacks like nuts. I have also changed my hydration practice, since dehydration also causes cramps. Other than these, I have availed regular massage services to make sure that my muscles, especially my leg muscles are relaxed. These practices used to be an effective way to reduce the occurrences of my cramps. However, as time passes, these no longer sufficed.

It was only a few months ago when I decided to Middle Park. I considered the episodes of my leg cramps quite an inconvenience. The incidence of the cramps caused great discomfort to me during the night. Although the cramps disappear within a couple of minutes, I have suspected that there is a serious underlying cause in my case. The former usual twitches during cramps became unusual unbearable pains. Thus, I inquired about the aforementioned Middle Park Physiotherapy services.

Physiotherapy is another term for physical therapy. Generally, physiotherapy is intended to cure illnesses, injuries and disabilities. Middle Park Physio specializes in body pain, whether back pain, headache, neck pain, work or sport injuries, arthritis, joint pain and of course, muscle pain. It offered deep tissue massages too! The clinic environment was conducive for relaxation. The practitioners were very welcoming to clients. There I saw other concerns with regard to body pains. For example, there was one client who was recovering from an accident that affected his walking ability. Others were there to avail of the mentioned massage services. Like me, there were others who were there in the hope of finding a solution to recurring machine pains.

To be honest, I had second thoughts in availing physiotherapy services. I feared that they would diagnose me with a condition that I would not be able to comprehend. I also did not feel like having regular scheduled exercises. But my friends and family members suggested that I do go to Middle Park. In the clinic, I was first subjected to tests and was given a diagnosis. Employees in Middle Park told me that such is necessary make sure that the treatments and sessions I would be subjected to suits me. Every client, including me, was given a manual wherein the movement exercises prescribed is enumerated. In the same manual are information with regard to my condition and all the advices that are geared towards the betterment of clients.

Only the best results are given by Middle Park. What I liked most about this clinic is that other than reducing the occurrences of my leg cramps, they also equipped me with the knowledge and skills so that I can better manage myself during occurrences. They often encouraged clients to live a better lifestyle because indeed prevention is better than cure. The positive results are assured because of the competitive practitioners in their clinic.

It was a good thing that I considered and did go to consult about my cramps. It turns out that frequent episodes are indeed related to bad lifestyle practices which I step by step changed in order to not shock my body. The clinic was very helpful in prescribing movements and in giving advices on a per case basis. My leg cramps are long gone and so are my bad thoughts about physiotherapy. Still, I regularly visit for check-ups, on site exercises and full body massages. I advise those who experience body pain not only rely mainly on internet recommendations. Professional treatments are still better.

Many individuals love having their hairs coloured to add a certain pizzazz to their personality and fashion sense. However, there are some of us who are averse to the idea of going to a hair salon for blonde hair colouring and as such they often do it themselves. While there clearly is nothing wrong about do-it-yourself hair colouring, if you are not careful, then you might end up going to the hair salon to have it fixed. So, while you may have excellent hair colour ideas but are not really confident about your level of skill, then it is still best to seek the services of a professional. But if you really are bent on colouring your own hair, here are 7 tips you may want to consider.

1. Keep it simple.  One of the biggest mistakes people have when they attempt to colour their hair is the choice of the wrong colour. If you think you can easily jump from a redhead to metallic platinum, then you are simply risking damaging your hair. Hair colours that change several notches within the colour spectrum often require multiple treatments or processes. This is best left to a professional. I learned that for best results, it is a lot better to colour your hair within to shades of your hair’s current colour, whether you’re going lighter or darker. To do this, you need to visit your favourite hair colour store and get a box that have the colour of the hair dye outside of the packaging. Choose one that closely matches the colour of your hair. Then, choose the hair dye that is about 2 shades darker or lighter from the original hair colour.
2. Always have adequate supply of hair dye.  Some people think that getting a box of their chosen hair dye should be enough to cover their crowning glory. Unfortunately, if you are not careful, you might run out of pigments even before you’re done halfway with your hair. I really am not sure if you believe this but the general rule that most hair colour specialists observe is to make the shoulder as the basis for determining the number of boxes you’ll need. For instance, if your hair doesn’t normally extend beyond your shoulders, then a box will do. However, if your hair extends well below your shoulders, having an extra box won’t hurt as you can always use it the next time if in case you didn’t use it.
3. Always start with a strand test.  I personally know someone who coloured her hair with a truly outrageous colour that resulted in her getting it fixed by a professional. As a matter of rule, in pretty much the same way as we first test the makeup we just bought on our hands, it is best to perform a test strand before jumping right in to colour your hair. It is best to test your hair dye on a few strands of hair that you have trimmed. Or, you can apply it on some strands of hair that are hidden from view. This way, if you don’t like the result, at least you can still hide it. Don’t make the same mistake as many did.
4. Try colouring your hair naked.  I know this may sound crazy but colouring your hair can really be a messy prospect. Some DIYers have claimed colouring their hair completely naked. If this is not your thing, make sure to wear old clothes that you clearly don’t want to wear anymore. It should be a button-front shirt so you’re not going to slide it through your head especially when it is time for you to rinse the chemicals off your hair. You can also place plastic sheets like garbage bags over the floor and over items that may be splashed with the dye. Additionally, it’s a lot easier to clean up after.
5. Don’t squeeze from the bottle.  Instead of squirting the dye onto your hair, it’s better to use a colour brush to apply the dye onto your hair. It’s less messy and more precise. At any rate, you’ll be able to put on a better colour for your hair.
6. Always start from the roots.  It is very crucial to start your hair colouring at the roots of your hair. From there, you can then gently and meticulously comb through your hair to distribute the dye. You can work in 4 to 6 sections at a time to achieve a more professional look, like those in the salons.
7. Always have 2 mirrors to work with.  It is important to use 2 mirrors: one in front and one in the back so you will have a better chance of applying the hair dye a lot more efficiently and you don’t miss any sections.

These are just 7 tips which I can personally guarantee will help you achieve a more professional hair colouring, the DIY way. Again, if you’re not confident about it, just head out to your favourite hair salon and save yourself the hassle of all that prep work and other issues.

Many individuals take sleep for granted. For them, sleep is nothing more than the practice of closing one’s eyes and trying to shut off everything else around them so that they will feel much more relaxed. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the unique and often complicated sleep and health correlation. While everyone might be correct in assuming that sleep is one good way to allow the body to rest after a very tiring day, there simply is too much about sleep that many do not fully understand when it comes to its effects on general health and well-being.

In order for you to fully appreciate the importance of sleep on health and wellbeing, it is important to understand a few things about the whole process of sleeping altogether. Sleep is composed of 5 different stages, 4 of which are progressive while the 5th is an entirely different phenomenon altogether. Stages 1 and 2 are considered light to moderate sleep where you can be aroused or awakened. The blissful sleep or deep sleep occurs in Stages 3 and 4. Here, you will feel more relaxed and all of your vital bodily functions go into a hypoactive mode. By stage 5 however, everything goes limp but your brain goes into hyperdrive. This is why experts call this stage the REM stage for Rapid Eye Movement. Now, the whole process of going from Stage 1 to 5 takes about 90 to 120 minutes. This means that every night you will have about 4 to 5 cycles. However, keep in mind that REM Stage will usually take a lot longer the deeper into the night you sleep. This means, lesser of the Stages 3 and 4 benefits and more of the Stage 5 (REM) brain activity.

The question now is why brain activity would be increased during REM sleep. As it turns out, researchers have found that this is the perfect time for the brain to detoxify, to remove toxic byproducts that may have accumulated the whole day. A few studies have also revealed that it is during REM sleep that the brain is trying to sort through the mountain of information gathered throughout the day and determine which ones need to be stored in the different memory cells of the brain. Some scientists believe that this is the basis for the dreams that all humans experience. REM sleep is thus important in boosting cognitive performance and functioning as well as help protect the brain against plaque formation that can usually be seen in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. It is for this reason that memory recall, critical thinking, logical thinking, and problem solving processes are enhanced with greater amounts of sleep.

During stages 3 and 4, scientists consider it as the deepest and most restorative stage of sleep. It is during this time when your blood pressure decreases to a healthy baseline and your breathing becomes slower yet deeper to allow for more oxygen to fill the lungs. Growth hormones are released from the pituitary gland to stimulate the body into building cells and tissues. Remember what your mom said when you were younger about how going to bed early will help you grow taller? It’s not necessary that you grow tall again but the point is that your body is constantly building, growing, and developing cells and tissues to replace those that have been lost due to aging and exposure to harmful environmental conditions. In short, it is your body’s way to repair and heal itself.

During sleep, your hunger hormones are also regulated. Lesser sleep increases ghrelin levels which should make you feel hungry. More sleep increases leptin levels which makes you feel full. So, the more sleep that you get, the more leptin levels present in your brain, the greater is the chance that you will be eating less because your brain is telling you your tummy is still full. However, if ghrelin levels predominate, then you will simply be craving for more food even if your tummy is already overstretched. This can play a significant role in the development of obesity and its many associated risk conditions.

There are numerous other health benefits of sleep. The point that needs to be understood is that sleep is a fundamental activity of the brain that affects every single cell, tissue, and organ in the body. Just like a device that needs recharging every now and then, sleep is the body’s way of shutting itself down, except for a few vital organs, in order to allow other more important physiologic and cognitive processes to be completed. This is why after a good night’s rest, you definitely feel a lot better, more energized to face the new day.