Have you been watching the Olympics? As August 9 is Woman’s Day, it’s a good time to celebrate the ladies that have been and gone ‘higher, faster and stronger’ this year…so far. Here are six of them – individuals and teams.

• America, Katie Ledecky tied for the most gold medals won by a female swimmer and the most gold medals won by a female Olympian.
• Bahraini runner, Winfred Yavi, won her country’s third gold medal ever with an Olympic best time in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
• Chinese weightlifter, Hou Zhihui, surpassed the Olympic record for the clean and jerk on the way by completing a 117-kilogram lift.
• Dominican athlete, Thea LaFond, won Dominica’s first-ever gold medal in the triple jump.
• Guatemalan Adriana Ruano won her country’s first-ever gold medal in women’s trap shooting and set a record at the same time.
• South Korean archer, Lim Si-hyeon broke the world record in women’s archery as well as two more Olympic records, one in the mixed competition and another with Jeon Hun-young and Nam Su-hyeon in the women’s team event.

Have these women inspired you to get off the couch?

It’s a phenomenon gyms, sports clubs, and sportswear and sports equipment shops know well. Unfortunately, the need to be a winner was stronger than the need to become as fit and healthy as possible. And as soon people realise that they will never be Olympic standard the tennis racquet gathers dust in the cupboard, the gym membership lapses, and the couch once more becomes our best friend. It’s much easier to scroll than to swim laps.

There’s one ‘exercise’ men will never do, and that’s giving birth.

A men’s marathon usually lasts just over 4 hours. One day on the Tour De France is 5 -6 hours. Labour typically lasts between 8 and 12 hours and what the body goes through during labour makes going to the gym look like a holiday.

• Contractions in the uterus help to stretch a woman’s cervix muscle just over 3 times its resting length.
• The contractions, which feel like strong cramping in the abdomen, groin and back, and often in the mother’s sides and thighs, push the baby down so that its head is pressing on the cervix.
• The bones and ligaments of the mother’s pelvis also move or stretch as the baby travels into the vagina.
• During birth, the pressure from the infant’s head can fracture the bones of the pelvis, such as the coccyx. Pelvic fractures can be extremely painful and can take months to heal.

What else don’t male athletes have to deal with?

Women athletes deserve our respect as they have to train and compete while struggling with the physical changes caused by menstruation; bloating, back pain, cramping, and bladder or bowel problems. At the same time, there are fluctuations of serotonin, a brain chemical that is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in PMS symptoms. Insufficient amounts of serotonin contributes to depression, fatigue, food cravings, and sleep problems. A lack of sleep can make anyone irritable, man or woman.

And yet the most amazing thing about women is that they do train, compete, and win medals at events like the Olympics.

What To Know About Post-Partum Problems

Considering the changes that a woman’s body goes through during giving birth, it can take over a year for the majority of women to fully recover from giving birth. Whether they are stay-at-home mothers, or working from home post-partum women often have to deal with a number of problems.

Post-birth a.k.a. postpartum life can include:

• Poor posture resulting in neck, shoulder, and upper back pain
• C-section surgery recovery
• Cradling and carrying an ever-growing baby after birth
• Hunching over while breastfeeding or bottle feeding
• Leaning over to wash, change a baby, or leaning over a crib to put a baby to sleep
• Trying to lose pregnancy weight gain
• The pain of loosened ligaments especially in the pelvic area and hips that persists more than two to three months after delivery.
• Sciatica – the pain from inflammation of the sciatic nerve running from the lower back down the leg.

How Does Chiropractic Care For Menstrual And Postpartum Health

• Chiropractic Care Can Reduce Menstrual Cycle Symptoms

Many women suffer from dysmenorrhea a.k.a. painful cramping during menstrual cycles. Other symptoms can include headaches, bloating, muscle aches, and joint pain. A misaligned spine could make everything worse.

• Chiropractic Care Can Restore Regular Cycles

Amenorrhea or heavy cramping, irregular cycles, or no cycle at all, can be a sign that something is wrong. If the reproductive and endocrine systems are going to function at their best, a properly aligned spine is needed.

Chiropractic care does more than just improve both menstrual and postpartum health. It does wonders for menstrual and postpartum health, effectively reducing premenstrual symptoms, increase fertility during childbearing years and relieve the pain, and poor posture after giving birth.

Even if you aren’t struggling with menstrual or postpartum issues, chiropractic care can help ease headaches, promote regular sleep habits, decrease stress, and alleviate back pain. And it does it by focusing on correcting musculoskeletal and nervous system problems caused by a misaligned spine. Chiropractic care can help ease pain, and regain mobility.

Call us today to book an appointment so that you can enjoy Winter!

Yours in health,
Dr. Monica and Helen