How to Keep Cool While Exercising Outdoors

From Dr. Gessert: From time to time I meet members of the community who are just as excited about helping people as I am. They’re knowledgeable in their field and do a great job at helping people to change their life. On occasion I invite these folks to share vital health information. At Pivotal, we believe that chiropractic care can work hand-in-hand with other types of healthcare to help people.

This month, we hear from Nicola Gerrett, who has researching human body temperature regulation for more than 10 years. 

When you exercise, your body produces heat and the body is able to keep its core temperature within safe boundaries through two key mechanisms; behavioral and autonomic regulation. Behavior is our first line of defense, and some obvious examples include seeking shade, turning on/off air conditioners and how we dress.

The most effective autonomic response that humans possess is the evaporation of sweat from the skin surface, which helps cool the skin and the blood below the skin surface, sending cooler blood back to the core. Sweating is a highly effective strategy and is almost unique to humans. The only other mammals that sweat across their entire skin surface are horses, camels and some cattle.
Sweating is extremely important for controlling our body temperature but if we do not replace the water we lose via sweating then we increase the risk of dehydration.

Some final tips for safe summer outdoor exercise:

• Hydrate with cold fluids containing some sodium and carbohydrates at least 4 hours before you exercise
• Avoid exercise during the hottest parts of the day (12-4pm)
• Wear loose fitting and light colored clothes
• Re-hydrate after exercise with cold fluids, containing some sodium and carbohydrates

Learn more about preventing heat-related illness while exercising on our website!

Choose Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor

Pivotal Chiropractic is a a Specific Structural Correction chiropractic office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we focus on correcting the cause of your condition rather than just treating the symptoms. We’ll work with you to create a plan of care specifically customized for you and your condition.

Complimentary Consultations – Always a Conversation, Never a Commitment

We offer complimentary consultations to sit down and talk with the doctor about your condition, about our unique approach to treating patients, and how we’re different from other chiropractic practices in the Ann Arbor, Saline or Dexter communities.

If Dr. Gessert determines that you’re a candidate for care, he will build a customized care plan for you. The plan will focus on the structural and neurological correction of your spine and address the causes of your condition.

To schedule a complimentary consultation, please contact us today!

 

How to Prevent Heat-Related Illness

From Nicola Gerrett, our August guest blogger! Nicola has been researching human body temperature regulation for more than 10 years.

 Summertime provides us with more opportunities to enjoy sports and exercise outside, but as air temperature rises, so does the risk of heat related incidences, such as heat syncope (fainting), heat cramps, heat strain, and heat stroke. This is exacerbated if there is little cloud cover (i.e., increased radiation from the sun) and if the relative humidity is high. But there are a few guiding principles to protect yourself from heat related incidences, and any reductions in exercise performance or recovery.

When you exercise your body produces heat and the body is able to keep its core temperature within safe boundaries through two key mechanisms; behavioral and autonomic regulation. Behavior is our first line of defense, and some obvious examples include seeking shade, turning on/off air conditioners and how we dress.

Find out how to prevent heat-related illness on our website!

Choose Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor

Pivotal Chiropractic is a a Specific Structural Correction chiropractic office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we focus on correcting the cause of your condition rather than just treating the symptoms. We’ll work with you to create a plan of care specifically customized for you and your condition.

Complimentary Consultations – Always a Conversation, Never a Commitment

We offer complimentary consultations to sit down and talk with the doctor about your condition, about our unique approach to treating patients, and how we’re different from other chiropractic practices in the Ann Arbor, Saline or Dexter communities.

If Dr. Gessert determines that you’re a candidate for care, he will build a customized care plan for you. The plan will focus on the structural and neurological correction of your spine and address the causes of your condition.

To schedule a complimentary consultation, please contact us today!