A new podcast is up at Trail Runner Nation. In this 5th Sock Doc Podcast, I discuss the news reports, research, and evidence behind the notion that exercise, specifically running, can be bad for your health. The article, “Enough of the Aerobic and Endurance Bashing Fostered by ‘New Research’ and …
Archives for 2012
Heart Damage: Five Ways to Prevent a Heart Injury and Reduce Your Chances of Dropping Dead
Damage to your heart is one injury you definitely don’t want; you might not live through it. As a conclusion to the several articles I have written discussing heart damage and exercise, including the article I wrote two weeks ago,“Enough of the Aerobic and Endurance Bashing Fostered by ‘New Research’ …
Enough of the Aerobic and Endurance Bashing Fostered by “New Research” and Personal Agendas
It’s back, and it’s getting old. Actually it never went away. I’m referring to the current round of news reports, websites, and “research” that have once again concluded that so-called aerobic and endurance training will, to some extent, harm your health if not outright kill you. I was going to …
Ankle Sprains, Pains, Instability and Other Ligament Damage: Check Your Hormones
Whether you’re an avid runner or not you’ve most likely experienced an ankle problem at one point or another. Perhaps you twisted your ankle during a workout or simply stepped off a curb and “landed wrong.” Ankle sprains are very common injuries especially if you venture off-road on some treacherous …
Sock Doc: Natural Treatment & Prevention of Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow, & Other Elbow Problems
In this video I discuss common elbow problems often diagnosed as tendonitis, lateral epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow), and medial epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow). Even if you’re not a hard core golfer, bowler, tennis player, or thrower of darts, you can still have pain in your elbow as a result of various muscle …
Sock Doc: Natural Treatment & Prevention of Shoulder Pain, Rotator Cuff Problems, & Frozen Shoulder
Video Transcript Hey this is Dr. Gangemi and welcome to our newest Sock Doc video. Today we’re going to talk about the shoulder and the shoulder joint in general. Helping out today is [Madison McCarroll]. Thanks for joining. Madison’s a great rower in the area. The shoulder you know most …
Sock Doc Podcast #4 At Trail Runner Nation: Inury Prevention – Ice, NSAIDs, Hormones, and More!
In this, (our fourth), podcast we discuss a variety of factors related to injury treatment and prevention with special emphasis on ice therapy, NSAID use, compression socks, and how hormones such as cortisol are altered with training. The Sock Doc “First Aid For Injuries” series is discussed as well as …
Stretching is Dangerous – Move Naturally to Achieve Health & Fitness
I must say, and I know this comes to a shock to you Sock Doc veterans out there, stretching is dangerous. Yes I’m talking about the typical static stretching that so many perform before or after exercise. Actually many consider static stretching an exercise of itself. There’s no need to …
First Aid For Injuries Part IV – NSAIDS: Friend or Foe?
If you’re injured do you take an anti-inflammatory medication commonly known as NSAIDs? After all, as you learned in Part III of the Sock Doc First Aid for Injuries, some inflammation is necessary and normal when you’re injured. Inflammation is all about balance – if it’s out of control then you …
First Aid For Injuries Part III – Inflammation: Embrace It and Control It
So you’re (still) injured but now you hopefully understand why you’re injured. As discussed in Part I of the Sock Doc First Aid For Injuries, if you didn’t have some sort of traumatic accident then your injury was slowly developing over time due to muscle imbalances which resulted from too …
First Aid For Injuries Part II – Ice, Heat, or RICE?
Okay, you’re injured. Now what? Do you apply ice, heat, or “RICE” for injury treatment? In Part I of the Sock Doc First Aid For Injuries you learned WHY injuries occur. Injuries don’t just come of of nowhere; they’re there for a reason and typically they are from too much …
First Aid For Injuries Part I – Sports Injury Causes: Understanding WHY You’re Injured
Welcome to the four-part Sock Doc series: “First Aid for Injuries” designed to help you understand sports injury causes, how to prevent them, how to treat them naturally, and how to become a better athlete. I hope you’ll gain a lot of knowledge from these four articles that will further …
Sock Doc Podcast #3 At Trail Runner Nation: Strength Training For Endurance Athletes
A new podcast is up at Trail Runner Nation. We discuss Principles III and IV of the Sock Doc Training Principles: strength training for endurance athletes, Crossfit (the good and the bad aspects), MovNat, and how to recover and rest efficiently. Check it out! You can also Listen to the …
Make Up Your Mind: Will Running Make You Stronger or Kill You?
Studies, research, and expert opinions – sometimes they support our current training methods and lifestyle choices, and other times they may appear to completely debunk our methods and philosophies. This may lead to uncertainties and fear that we may be on the wrong path of health and fitness. You may …
Barefoot Chat Podcast With Barefoot Canada
In this informative podcast/slide show with Barefoot Moe of Barefoot Canada, we discuss the many benefits of living barefoot – running, walking, driving, and just hanging out. We also discuss the barefoot “movement/fad”, minimalist footwear, “Earthing”, and a whole lot more. I had a great time talking to Moe as …
Sock Doc: Foot Pain & Foot Injuries – Natural Treatment & Prevention
Video Transcript Hey this is Dr. Gangemi and today’s Sock Doc video is going to be about the foot. I’m going to basically describe and talk about some few easy treatment options that you can use for some common foot aliments that I haven’t discussed in other videos. And …
It’s Not “Natural”, and Definitely Not Normal, to Die From Cardiac Arrest: The Death of Caballo Blanco
It’s interesting to read a report, in this case an autopsy report, which reads that the individual died of heart disease that was “natural” when that person was only 58 years old and supposedly in excellent health. I’m referring to the sudden and to some extent, unexplained death of Micah …
10 Reasons Why You’re Still Injured
Ten Very Simple Reasons Why You’re Always Injured, or Soon Will Be, Yet Again
Sock Doc Podcast #2 At Trail Runner Nation
Here’s a great podcast I recently did with my friends Don, Scott, and Faith over at Trail Runner Nation. Check it out – it’s well worth your 79 minutes. Download and listen to on your way to work or during your next run. We discuss Principles I and II of …
Sock Doc: Knee Pain & Injuries – Natural Treatment & Prevention
Video Transcript Dr. Gangemi: Hey this is Dr. Gangemi and welcome to the newest Sock Doc video. Today I’m going to be talking about the knee and common complaints and injuries, performance problems that people have with the knee. Who better to help out today than G. A. Long …
Trigger Point Therapy – A Powerful Tool to Treat & Prevent Injuries
I use trigger point therapy a lot while treating patients in my office – it’s one of the many tools used to get a person well. Trigger point therapy is very effective for a variety of problems, often structural but even sometimes visceral (organ related). Since I discuss trigger points …
Lose Your Shoes
I recently wrote an article called “Healthy People = Barefoot People” which discusses why barefoot people tend to be healthier than often-shod people and how/why being barefoot can improve your health. It’s a good read – but hey, I wrote it, so of course I’m going to say that. Part …
MovNat For Kids! Get Your Kids Active & Healthy – Outside!
The typical kid today isn’t outside much, and most aren’t moving as they should be even while they are indoors. They’ve developed awkward, uncoordinated movements as a result of being immobile, wearing modern footwear, and eating a highly processed and nutrient devoid diet. It’s said that one in six kids …
Healthy People = Barefoot People
Humans should be able to function barefoot from birth until death, (barring some birth defect, infection, or trauma of course), though sadly many people are unable to run, walk, or even stand for even a few minutes barefoot without discomfort, pain, or general uneasiness. Many people have essentially lost their …
Sock Doc Podcast #1 At Trail Runner Nation
Listen to my first ever podcast I recently did over at Trail Runner Nation. I discuss orthotics, stretching, footwear, and other running related topics with Don, Scott, and Faith. It was a lot of fun and those guys have a great site so check them out. (And yeah, I can’t …
Sock Doc: Trigger Point Video – Natural Treatment & Prevention
This video goes along with the article: “Trigger Point Therapy – A Powerful Tool to Treat & Prevent Injuries” Video Transcript Hey this is Dr. Gangemi and in this quick little Sock Doc video I wanted to just address a couple little points and show you how I work a …
Do Not Wear Orthotics! 10 Reasons Not to Wear Orthotics
Zero Drop and Sock Doc have put together a top ten list of why you should avoid orthotics if you really care about your feet – actually if you care about your entire body. Caveat: some extreme foot deformities or injuries may require the assistance of orthotics. But c’mon, for …
Valentine’s Day – Another Reason For Athletes to Eat Chocolate
Mmmmmm, chocolate. It can be beneficial both mentally and physically as it’s loaded with healthy antioxidants, minerals, and even stimulants. Chocolate was once considered the nectar of the gods. Actually, those who were once sacrificed to the gods were given chocolate mixed in blood before their hearts were ripped out …
The Sock Doc Training Principles: Become a Strong, Fast, Efficient, Injury-Free Athlete
This is Sock Doc’s Mega-Post on Training Principles. It’s divided up into 5 parts, all relating to each other at various levels. I hope you enjoy them and learn a thing or two. Please post any comments or questions here on this post, or the individual articles. Sock Doc Training …
VIVOBAREFOOT Evo Review – Pretty Much the Best
One of the perks of having a site like this is that companies want to send me free stuff to try out and review every now and then. I’ve turned down several products because I don’t think they’re any good – not just for me – but for any of …
Do Not Stretch! 10 Reasons Not to Stretch
Here’s some fun reasons not to stretch; some more serious than others. If you’re overly sensitive about stretching, (noted in #2), you can catch-up on the Sock Doc “Stop Stretching!” – or continue to stretch.
Injinji Performance Toesocks Review
Thanks to the gang at Injinji Toesocks for sending me a complimentary pair of their Performance Toesocks. Actually they sent me two pair because the first one went missing in my household of five, but was later retrieved after they sent me another pair. But that turned out great because …
Injury-Free Running Booklet
I am pleased to have contributed to the Natural Running Center’s booklet Injury-Free Running: Become a More Efficient and Faster Runner. This short but very sweet 72-page booklet discusses the basics of natural running and how it can help anybody and everybody not just run more efficiently, but develop their …