Dr. Rippe's Blog

As I went through the wellness center for my daily swim workout recently, I saw a fellow exerciser pedalling away on a stationary cycle. I also noticed that this exerciser had earbud cords dangling, fingers tapping away on a smart phone, and the TV over the handlebars tuned to a news channel. Multi-tasking to the max. Boredom surely kept at bay!

But does this approach actually give you all you need from a workout? Some recent studies suggest that not giving your brain and mind some down time while you exercise your body may not be the best choice for tuning up cognitive functions. Our brains may need some "rest" time to absorb and correlate all the input we give them. I certainly find that my swimming workout gives me time off from the daily job stresses and issues and that my thoughts are often clearer when I finish. 

Whether staying constantly "wired in" is good, not so good, or neutral is still an open question, scientifically speaking. If you'd like to read more about the issue, these two articles from the New York Times summarize the recent studies:

• Your Brain on Computers: Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime, August 24, 2010 
• Your Brain on Computers: Outdoors and Out of Reach, Studying the Brain, August 16, 2010

On vacation, my family and I have enjoyed walking and hiking in beautiful mountain terrain. Walking more than on a usual day reminds me how important well-fitting shoes that are right for what you are doing and foot comfort are to your overall sense of well-being.

I have a colleague who jokes that she'll happily wear a $5 blouse on her back but will spend whatever it takes on shoes to keep her feet comfortable. She even has a corny little saying: happy feet = happy face.

There's a lot in what she says. A recent study by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health found that ill-fitting footwear is a primary cause of foot pain. And I bet that you can guess that high heels were among the greatest offenders.  That's not surprising because most high heels put pressure on the forefoot (and toes in pointed shoes) and push posture out of the body's natural alignment. When you remember that our feet bear tons of impact weight on any day, it easy to understand why poorly fitting shoes or the wrong shoes for the walking or tasks you have to do can make your feet hurt and worse.

So where am I going with this? I just want to remind you how important your feet are to your overall sense of physical well-being and to encourage you to think about foot health and comfort as you select shoes. Even if women must wear dress heels for work, for instance, it's still possible to pick a shoe that has a lower heel, adequate cushioning, a toe box that does not squeeze the forefoot.

Staying physically active is good for overall health--and happy feet help you stay physically active.

Starting this week in many areas of the country, our kids head back to school. In the whirl of doing all the things necessary to get them ready and still keep up with our own work, it can be useful to take a moment to remind ourselves of some of the things beyond getting the right "stuff" we can do to help keep our children safe.

Traveling safely

• Make sure children know a safe route to the bus stop or to school if they walk. Help them pick the route and walk it with them. Make sure they know safety rules for crossing streets and the like. Discuss safe school bus behavior and how to cope with other riders who may encourage misbehavior, tease or bully
• If children bike to school, plan a safe route with them and go over safety rules. Bike the route with them. Make sure they have and use helmets and other safety equipment.
• If you drive or carpool children to school, make sure to let them off as close as possible and watch until they are inside the school yard or building.
• Go over cautions for interacting with strangers.

Avoiding health hazards

• Talk with your children about the importance of washing their hands frequently. Discuss washing hands before meals and after play. Provide a small bottle of hand sanitizer for desks or lockers to use when washing isn't possible.
• Emphasize the importance of not sharing towels, brushes, or other personal hygience items with others. Schools, particularly sports programs, have recently been implicated in a higher rate of skin infections related to shared facilities and personal items.
• If your child takes lunch, make sure that the meal can stay cool or be properly refrigerated or that it does not require refrigeration.

Getting along with others

• Talk about proper playground manners and behavior with your children. Discuss how to handle children who may threaten or misbehave. Make sure your children know you are always available to talk about any problems or fears they may have.
• Discuss strategies for dealing with bullying or teasing. Again make sure your kids know they can talk to you any time.

Back to School Tips from the American Academy of Pediatricians provides helpful specifics for these and many more tips.