For Immediate Release: March 15, 2010

Online Medical Supplies Superstore Ships 1 Millionth Order

 AllegroMedical.com, the online medical supplies superstore, announced that is has reached the 1 million customer mark, meaning that just under 13 years, it has served more than a million customers nationwide.

 Mesa, AZ – March 15, 2010 – Allegro Medical has announced that it has now shipped 1 million orders since its website launched in 1997. The first company to sell medical supplies online, it has grown to become the largest online supplier of home health care products. Its diverse product line ranges from simple items such as latex exam gloves to orthopedic devices and wheelchairs.

 Allegro makes it easy for shoppers to find and buy top-quality medical products and have them delivered directly to their home or business. The company offers a broad range of durable medical equipment from top brands for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, commodes, walkers, ramps, shower chairs and more. Medical supplies such as catheters, wound care supplies, ostomy supplies and dietary supplements are also among the thousands of items for sale on Allegro Medical’s website.

 “We’ve come a long way since 1997.  And we owe it all to our hard working team and the ever increasing population of web shoppers,” said Craig Hood, President/CEO of Allegro Medical.  “People are surprised to learn that most of our online customers are age 60+.”  

 “For a caregiver, nothing is more important than easy access to medical supplies. Patients recovering from strokes, surgeries or serious accidents demand the best in quality care products, from a bath safety aid to a knee brace, and they are finding them at Allegro. If we continue to grow at our current pace, it won’t be long before we ship another million orders.”

 Allegro’s ecommerce site offers other products for the medical equipment and home healthcare supplies industry, such as health and fitness, weight loss dietary supplements, pain relief, maternity care, adult diapers and Over-the-Counter medications. It also sells products for emergency preparation. All of the company’s products are searchable by keyword, category, brand, and by medical condition.

About Allegro Medical

 With 45,000 medical supplies available on their website, Allegro Medical offers their customers both value and variety.  The online superstore is also known for stellar customer service and speedy home delivery.  For more information, please visit AllegroMedical.com.

Allegro Medical sells thousands of products and remedies designed to relieve, treat or prevent back pain.  Some products listed below are for those currently suffering from back pain, others are designed simply to reduce back stress for caregivers while moving and caring for patients. 

Note:  Back pain is so pervasive and its causes so varied that there is no simple answer on how to manage it.  I highly recommend that you consult your doctor or see a chiropractor in your quest for relief.  You may need a series of adjustments and/or some targeted exercises to eliminate or ease your back pain.

Popular Back Pain Relief Products

 Snappy Spa – The newest portable spa on the market, from the makers of the super popular inflatable Spa2Go Portable Whirlpool.  Snappy Spa is even better because it’s snappy! Connectors snap together with no special tools and it is insulated for maximum heat retention.  Talk about back pain relief! You can use this personal, portable spa anywhere.  Fits 4 adults.  Get Free UPS Ground Shipping, for a limited time.  Order today!

See all Relaxation Products

Kinesio Tape - The effectiveness of this tape is proven to relieve all kinds of pain, including back pain, but only if applied properly.  Rather than strapping your muscles, the philosophy of Kinesio Tape is to give free range of motion and allow the body’s muscular system to heal itself bio-mechanically.  Read more about Kinesio Tape in What the Heck is Kinesio Tape and why is Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Wearing it?

See all Kineso Related Products

Coccyx Cushion - Relieve your painful tailbone with one of our most popular products ever.  The coccyx cushion has a cut-out at the back, thereby reducing pressure on the spine and coccyx while sitting.  It can be used with most any seat at home, work or in the car.

See all Coccyx Cushions and  Seat and Back Cushions

Hinged Elevated Toilet Seat - Raises the toilet seat by 3″ to help you get on and off.  Great for arthritis sufferers, back pain, knee or hip pain.

See all Raised Toilet Seats and Bathroom Assists

Biofreeze  – For fast-acting long-lasting relief of minor aches and back pains.  Contains ILEX, an herbal extract from South America used around the world in various health & wellness formulations.  Contains no waxes, oils, aloe or petroleum.

See all Performance Health Products and  Over-the-Counter (OTC) Back Pain Relievers

ColPaC Cold Therapy Cushions - Available in shapes and sizes for all body parts, these ColPaCs are great for temporary relief of back pain.  Simply chill in the freezer and apply.  You can use them over and over.

Thermotex Infrared Heating Pad – TTS Platinum-  The mother of all heating pads for back pain, infrared pad uses a deep heat therapy system to increase ciculation and promote increased blood flow.  We just got this Platinum Thermotex back in stock and they are super popular.  Get ‘em while they’re hot… (I know, I know…)

See all Thermotex Products,  Heat / Heating Pads and  Hot/Cold Therapy

Confused about Hot or Cold Therapy? Read Arthritis Pain – Which is Best, Heat or Ice?

Deluxe Flexible Sock and Stocking Aid- Is your back pain making it hard to get dressed?  Don’t lose your independence.  Try one of our dressing aids.

Back Massagers - Relieve muscle tension and minor back aches with these soothing, invigorating massage products.  Many choices!

SafetySure Transfer Pivot Disk – Caregivers, listen up.  You must take care of yourself before you can take care of others.  Ensure you are both safe during patient transfers and avoid painful back injuries with this transfer pivot disk.

See all Transfer Boards and Discs, Transfer Devices and Mobility Transfer Products

Specialty Pillows - Back pain is easily caused or made worse by your sleeping habits.  Find relief in our large selection of pillows and get a great night’s sleep.  If you’re looking to reduce lower back pain and you are a side sleeper, I recommend getting a Leg Wedge Pillow as well.

Bedridden?  Take a look at our bed positioners and wedges

Cervical Traction Devices – Often used to relieve pinched nerves, these home traction sets are very popular and highly rated for reducing back and neck pain. 

Intelect TENS Unit - This portable, battery-operated TENs device is “used for the symptomatic relief and management of chronic pain and acute post-surgical or post-trauma pain”.   That’s a mouthful, but essentially it zaps your muscles with stimulating pulses that temporarily interrupt pain. 

See all Electrotherapy Products

Shoe Insoles and Heel Cups – Help relieve pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back.

Abdominal Binders and Hernia Support - Support for your back, belly and nether regions.  See also Maternity Supports and Allegro’s Bariatric Back Support.

Anti-Fatigue Mats - Do you have back pain and fatigue from standing all day?  Get a cushy floor mat.  I have two of them in my kitchen.  I can cook for hours!

Still not finding your back pain remedy?  See all 300+ Back Pain Relief Products in our Shop by Condition area.  And please remember that Exercise and Fitness play a big role in reducing back pain.  It may help if you strengthen your core.

See your doctor before starting any exercise program or if you have questions or concerns about any back pain remedy.

As always, thanks for your business.

Sizes, prices and safety mechanisms vary considerably so you need to know your options.   

Optimal Seat Height:  Raised toilet seats sit atop the stool and typically add between 2 inches and 6 inches in height.  The higher the seat, the less flexion is required  in your hips and knees, making it easier to sit down and stand up.  If your toilet seat is too high, however, you will feel unstable.  The ideal height is one where your feet are flat on the floor.

You can also elevate your toilet seat by raising the entire toilet from underneath.  Allegro Medical sells a toilet seat riser that doesn’t change the look of your standard toilet but will raise it about 3.5″ off the ground. 

See the Toilevator Toilet Riser, 500 lb Capacity 

 Most Popular Raised Toilet Seat

Hinged Elevated Toilet Seat – 3″ - Perfect for the men in the house, this device raises the seat by 3 inches but also allows the ring to be lifted the same as your standard toilet seat.  It barely changes the look of the toilet. 

Use the following “Raised Toilet Seat Buyer’s Guide” to help decide which toilet seat is right for you or your loved one.

Raised Toilet Seat Buyer’s Guide

Short Term Use – Non-locking Raised Toilet Seats   -  For short recovery times, occasional use or some post-surgery, the raised toilet seats without locking devices work fine.  They are portable and very easy to use.

Depending on the stability of the user, we recommend that these be used along with a Toilet Safety Frame since these elevated toilet seats are attached by reliable methods, but not clamped or bolted on for increased security. 

Medium Term Use – Locking device - Special locking devices, front-clamps and brackets keep these raised toilet seats from shifting providing a secure, comfortable toileting experience.  A fantastic alternative to permanent fixation.

Long Term Use – Bolt on Toilet Seat - Perfect for disabled, elderly or those with a chronic need for an elevated toilet seat.   These raised toilet seats are super secure and have many helpful features to make getting on and off the toilet much easier. 

 Specialty Toilet Seats

Hip Replacements, Post Surgery, Leg, Hip and Knee Injuries and Fractures often require a unique, asymmetrical shaped toilet seat riser with one side “cut out” to allow one leg to remain in the prescribed position while sitting (knee should be lower than the new hip during hip replacement recovery).    

See Hospital Discharge Favorites

Bariatric, Heavy Duty, Extra Wide Raised Toilet Seats- Choose from styles that accomodate users up to 600 lbs.

Wheelchair Transfer Toilet Seats - Convert your toilet into an elevated wheelchair transfer seat.  Bolts onto most standard toilets.

Please call an Allegro Customer Care agent at 800-861-3211 if you require further assistance in choosing the right raised toilet seat or see all Raised Toilet Seats for more ideas.

See all Bathroom Assists

Thank you for your business. We appreciate it.

The good news is, headaches can usually be eliminated without drugs.

Instead of popping a pill when you get a headache, your best bet for getting rid of them for good is to determine the cause. As in life, if you fix the source of your problems then all your headaches go away, right? 

Headache Causes and Remedies

Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching

Super Calcium Magnesium – 250 tablets – Check with your doctor or dentist, but often times Calcium and Magnesium tablets, taken at bedtime, can eliminate your jaw clenching and headaches.   Have your calcium/magnesium levels checked however, because high calcium could actually be the cause of your migraine or cluster headaches.  If you need just Magnesium to stem your headaches, try Magnesium Oxide tablets.  If you have muscle cramps (night time leg cramps), menstrual cramps, fatigue, constipation, heart palpitations, insomnia and/or anxiety, you may have a magnesium deficiency.  Regulate the dosage if the magnesium causes diarrhea.

See all Vitamins

Tension Headaches

AcuBead Headache Beads – Acupressure Strips - Easily applied at home.

The Original Backnobber II- If you can’t remove your source of tension, at least give yourself a deep muscle massage with the Backnobber II.  Find your pressure points to relieve muscle tension and get the blood flowing again.  Bye-bye headache.

See all Pressure Positive Massagers

See more Tension Headache Relief Products

Skeletal Misalignment

Neckpro Cervical Traction Device- One of our most popular products, the Neckpro home cervical traction device is used to relieve, among other things, tension headaches associated with back, shoulder and neck pain, fibromyalgia and whiplash.

See more Home Traction Sets

Stress and Anxiety

Spa-N-A-Box Portable Spa - Nothing relieves a stress induced headache faster than a nice soak in the spa – in your own house!  This portable home spa with air-jets soothes and relaxes at a fraction of the cost of traditional hot tubs.  Super popular.

See all Stress Reduction Products

Bad Sleeping Habits

D-Core Pillow – Restores the natural curvature of your neck and upper spine.  The wrong pillow, or too many pillows, will put your neck in a bind and throw your alignment off.  That can cause a major headache.  Headaches are also caused by not getting a good night’s sleep due to sleep apnea and snoring.

See all Pillows

See all Snoring Products

Sinus Problems

Eye Pillow with ergoBeads – Conforms to your face and eyes, blocks the light and provides cool relief (when frozen) without the shock of ice or gel packs.  Sinus headaches melt away with this eye pillow.  Great for travel.

See all Sinus Headache Products

Menstrual Problems

Thermophore Automatic Moist Heat Pack – Stop the cramps and the headache follows suit.  Moist heat almost always helps.

See all Menstrual Pain Products

When I can’t pinpoint the exact cause of my headache I usually determine that I’m dehydrated.  Dehydration headaches are very common and a few glasses of water can often cure a nagging headache.  Try it!

When worse comes to worse, I pop a couple Headache Relief Tablets or other Over the Counter Pain Relievers, although for me this is a last resort. 

Shop our Headache Products “Shop by Condition” category for even more headache cures and pain management products.

A word about Migraines.  Migraine headaches may have different causes (usually chemical) than run-of-the-mill ones and we recommend you see a doctor if you believe you are experiencing migraines.  Symptoms are intense throbbing pain, usually on  one side of the head, sensitivity to light and nausea.   See our Shop By Condition page for Migraine Headache Products.

Here’s to a clear and pain free head!  Have a healthy day and as always, thanks for your business.

Pick up extras to give as holiday gifts or stocking stuffers! 

OUTDOOR Warming Products

Cold Weather Mask - Take the risk out of breathing cold air with this Arctic Fleece mask that warms the air you inhale, no matter how cold and dry it is.  Enhanced with a particle filtering lining.  Adjustable, washable, long lasting, rolls up for storage/packing.  Effective in sub-zero weather. 

SKWOOSH Stadium Gel Seat- Cradle and warm your buns as you cheer on your favorite team with this super thin, but extremely effective TekPad gel-filled Stadium Seat.  Weighs only 7 ozs, folds to the size of a piece of paper, has 2 built-in carry handles and comes in Navy, Burgendy, Black or Green.  Super value priced for everyone in the family and great for indoors or out.  Made in the USA.. U..S…A!!  Goooooo USA!  (Practicing my cheers).

Allegro has everything from travel cushions to hunting cushions and Kayak Cushions!  See all SKWOOSH Cushions and Seats. 

Cold Condition Glove- These Ironclad cold weather gloves are designed to protect your hands from cold weather but allow for a high level of dexterity.  Wicking material wicks away perspiration.  Breathable, but resists water and oil.  Non-slip reinforcements on palm and fingers for enhanced grip and abrasion-resistance.  Neoprene at the cuff and knuckle.  Machine washable.

Superfeet hot PINK Cold Weather Premium Insoles – Lady skiers and snow boarders, add these to your ski boots and you’ll be carving like a pro this season.  Provides support, shock absorption, power transmission and edge control to tear up the slopes.  Heat management for all-day comfort.  Antimicrobial technology helps prevent foot odor.  Men, we carry them for you too:  Superfeet REDhot Cold Weather Premium Insoles.

Spa-N-A-Box Portable Spa- Nothing warms you more completely than a nice relaxing spa.  Now you can have your own bubbling, whirling spa at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hot tub.  Sets up in about 20 minutes, requires no tools, and plugs into a regular household outlet.   Seats 4 to 5 people.  Great gift for the family.  Use it indoors or outdoors, on your patio or deck, in your condo or apartment, lakehouse, cabin or boat!

INDOOR Warming Products

Bed Buddy Foot Warmers with Aromatherapy –  Just pop the reusable scent pack in the microwave for a  minute and put them back in the fleece fabric boots for an hour of moist heat and warm feet!  Lightly fragranced with clove, cinnamon and eucalyptus.   For cold hands, try the Bed Buddy Hand Warmers or get everything, including the sinus pack in the Bed Buddy Heat Therapy Kit.

NatraCure Heat Therapy Mittens - Recommended for arthritis sufferers and hard working hands as a warming aid.  One size fits most.  Washable and reusable.  Lightly scented.  Disperses moisturizing mineral oils and Vitamin E to hydrate and nourish your skin.  Microwave for 25 to 30 seconds to warm.

Bed Warmer -  Placed at the bottom of the bed under the sheets, the Battle Creek Bed Warmer warms your legs and feet rather than the whole bed.  Or, position warmth exactly where it feels best!  Costs less to operate than an electric blanket.

Arthritis Gloves - Soft, breathable cotton lycra will make you want to wear these gloves day and night.  Mild compression and warmth helps increase circulation and promote healing of arthritic, achy, painful, stiff hands.  Great for working around the house or in the garden to keep your hands warm but your fingers free to feel, touch and grip.

Toasty Toes Personal Heater – Perfect for work or home, this “deluxe” footrest is thermostatically controlled to heat your feet and legs.  Use in the office, study, basement, garage, porch, craft room you need to be seated or standing for a long time.  Three positions.  6 foot cord plugs into any 110v outlet.

See all Cozy Heater Products

Dream Saks Airline Comfort Set - Travel in warmth and style with your own silk blanket, pillowcase and eye shades!  Great for long air routes, trains, buses or cars.  Rolls into its own 12″ bag and weighs less than a pound.  Prefer cashmere over silk?  Try the Dream Sak Luxury Travel Kit.  A great gift for the traveler who has everything…

See all Dream Saks

Indoor or Outdoor Relief from Cold

Grabber Peel-n-Stick Adhesive Body Warmers - Standard equipment for anyone who enjoys outdoor cold weather activities.  Widely used for soothing cold, sore joints and muscles as a result of Arthritis, Raynaud’s, Lupus, Scleroderma, Fibromyalgia or just poor circulation.  40 portable heating pads per box, one time use, disposable.  Warms for 12+ hours.  For cold feet and cold hands, use Grabber’s Foot Warmers and Grabber’s Hand Warmers.  Get a case and divide them up for stocking stuffers or gifts for your team members and friends.

Wishing you and your family a nice warm winter.  As always, thanks for your business.   -v

How do you know you have the flu versus a cold?  

You know you have the flu when you get sick suddenly, have a fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue.  You also may have a dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion.  It will hit you like a ton of bricks, and if left untreated you could suffer for up to 10 days.  Best to get a flu shot and try to avoid it.   Remember to eliminate or avoid contact with people as soon as you start feeling flu symptoms, and remain indoors for at least 24 hours after your fever has passed to avoid spreading the virus.

You know you have a cold if you get sick gradually.  You will probably not have a fever.  Muscle aches will likely be minor if at all, but you might have congestion, a sore throat and a cough with mucus.  Most likely you’ll be sick for less than a week.

H1N1 Swine Flu Product Recommendations

60-Second Digital Thermometer, Fahrenheit- Fever is a tell-tale sign that you have the flu versus the common cold.  Check for fever quickly and acturately with this digital thermometer.  Use Thermometer Probe Covers for extra sanitation and germ control.   Here at Allegro, we use the Single-Use Clinical Thermometers to check the temperatures of any employees who may be coming down with the flu.  These thermometers are disposable and very handy this flu season for schools and businesses.

See all Thermometers

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Flu Remedies – Feel better with Mucinex,  Nasal Sprays, fever reducers and pain relievers like Ibuprofin, Tri-Buffered Asprin and Acetaminophen,  cough syrups, zinc lozenges and more.

See all OTC Medications

See all Cold and Flu Products

Hot/Cold Therapy Wrap – Chill or heat the removable gel pack and then insert it into the pocket on this versatile scarf-like therapy product for quick relief of headaches and muscle aches.  Also great for sprains, strains, swelling and other minor problems.  Just wrap, tie and relax.

See all Pain Relief Products

Cool Care Comfort System Chillow Pak - Two cooling pillows – one for use inside your pillow case and the other cools anywhere from both sides.  Perfect fever relief.  Also great for hot flashes and night sweats.

Emergen-C- Super popular energy booster.  32 mineral complexes, antioxidants and other micro-nutrients plus 1000mgs of Vitamin C as 7 mineral ascorbates.  Rev up your immune system while you’re waiting for that flu shot.   Non-caffinated.  How about Emergen-C Kidz for the Kids?

See all Emergen-C

H1N1 Protection and Swine Flu Prevention Products

N95 Respirator Masks with Free Iso-Tek Ear-Loop Masks – Get 70 masks for the price of 20 with this special offer.  Affordable disposable protection against the H1N1 Virus.  Meets or exceeds the CDC and WHO recommendations for flu prevention. 

N95 Particulate Respirator Mask with Vent - Box of 10.  Our most popular mask this flu season.  Adjustable nose piece and inner foam provide a custom seal for different facial sizes.

See all Swine Flu Products.  Find Hospital Grade H1N1 Flu Products including Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Masks / Respiratory Products, and Surface Disinfectants from major brands.

Note:  Help your community common areas, schools and businesses prepare for the H1N1 Flu virus by having the proper medical supplies on hand.  Forward this buyers guide information to those who are in charge of purchasing and preparedness!

Stay well!!

Did you know that arthritis affects millions of Americans after the age 50 and women are more often effected by arthritis?

Arthritis is caused when the cartilage in the joint deteriorates over time, causing bones to rub against each other which causes stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.  Arthritis typically affects weight bearing joints such as hands, hips, knees and the spine.  Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for arthritis, though there are many treatments and products that can relieve pain.

Here is a list of Allegro’s customers’s favorite arthritis remedies, arthritis aides and arthritis pain relief products.

10 Most Popular Arthritis Products

1.  Biofreeze – The Biofreeze 4 oz Tube, Biofreeze Roll-on 3 oz ,  Biofreeze Spray and Biofreez Gel Pump all make on the first page of our Arthritis Products Page and gets very high ratings so it must be good.   It is a long lasting topical analgesic & pain reliever that contains ILEX, an herbal extract from South America.  See all Biofreeze.

2.  Car Caddie Helping Hand – Need a little help getting in and out of the car?  This is made just for you.  Super popular and highly rated, we’ve sold thousands.   Even works to help get kids in and out of your SUV or pickup.  Also in the Top 10, a similar product called the Handybar 3 in 1 Car Aid.  5 star rating!

3.Neckpro Cervical Traction Device - At-home traction for relief of neck pain. Uses a unique ratcheting device that delivers a more precise amount of cervical traction tension than the old conventional overdoor neck traction systems.  Similar to what you would experience in a clinical setting.

4.  Arthritis Gloves-  Made of soft breathable cotton lycra, these gloves provide mild compression that warms your hands and helps increase circulation.  Open fingertips for full freedom.  Wear day or night.  For edema, try the Norco Edema Glove that provides compression past your wrist.

5.    UpEasy Lifting Cushion – Converts any chair into an automatic lift chair that will lift 80% of your body weight.  Adjusts for various weights.  Easily transportable with built-in handle.

6.   Bamboo Shower Seat and Bath Bench- Its compact triangle shape fits into the shower stall or bathtub and it looks great!    Made of eco-friendly bamboo, a 100% renewable resource.   Height adjustable, with slip-resistant rubber tipped legs.

7.  Light Relief Light Therapy-  One of Allegro’s top products for several years now, this light therapy device emits energy in the infrared spectrum to provide topical warmth.  A natural alternative to pain medication, the Light Relief eases arthritis pain and stiffness.  Includes a travel bag.

8.    Thermophore Moist Heat Pack - Moist heat is most often recommended by doctors. Why?  Because moisture transfers the high heat deeper into tissues than ordinary dry heat pads providing temporary relief from rheumatic and arthritic pain.  Increased blood flow is als a result of moist heat, which can relieve inflamed joints and help maintain flexibility.  The heating pad draws moisture from the air and requires no water.  Includes soft flannel cover.  Also see the highly rated  Thermophore Arthritis Pad.

9.  Cando Gel Hand Exercise Balls -  Recommended for arthritis, these exerise balls are used to help grip, strength, dexterity and mobility, as well as fine and gross motor skills.  Can be microwaved or put in the freezer.  Very soothing.

10.  Spa-N-A-Box Portable Spa – A super economical way to have your own above-ground spa.  Soothes arthritis pain for hours.  Sets up on about 20 minutes and plugs into a regular household outlet.  Put it on your patio, deck, on your boat or even in your c0ndo or apartment!  Quiet operation.  Seats 4 or 5 people.

BONUS:   The Freedom Wand – Toilet Tissue Aid

See hundreds of arthritis products including braces, supports, over-the-counter remedies and medications, daily living aids, bed wedges, pillows, canes and much more in Shop By Condition: Arthritis.

Its effects may be gradual, but yoga, when practiced regularly, will rock your mind, body and spirit.

Why Yoga?

The longer you go without stretching, repeating the same basic muscle movements every day, the more likely you will lose your range of motion and be unable to move freely.  Yoga can help balance your body and keep it free of aches of pains.  Even women in nursing homes who regularly participate in yoga classes have fewer complaints of aches & pains than women who are sedentary.  It has also been proven to reduce medication requirments in those with asthma and has long been know to be more effective than splinting patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.  If you have arthritis in your hands, you can reduce tenderness, pain during activity, and improve range of motion.

One of the major benefits of yoga is its effect on anxiety.  Because yoga practice involves breathing and meditation, yoga practitioners are more likely to be calmer and less likely to react negatively to outside circumstances.

Getting Started in Yoga

First you need to do a little research and decide which type of yoga will best suit your personality, lifestyle and current level of fitness.  I have taken yoga classes at yoga studios and at the gym, and I also have several yoga tapes for home practice.  I enjoy both and choose whatever works best for my schedule and mood.  I use my tapes every morning before breakfast.   AllegroMedical.com’s most popular yoga DVD is Everyday Yoga – Hips and Knees DVD.   It includes 5 different daily yoga practices that can be performed Monday through Friday, to keep it fresh.

Note to those who think they can’t do it:  Even after practicing yoga for years I am by no means a pro at this, and if I can do it, anyone can.  It’s how it makes me feel that keeps me going.  I’ll never be able to bend like a pretzel, but hey, I do what I can and that’s enough.  Remember, it’s called yoga ‘practice’.

To find a class in your area, check out the Yoga Journal Directory or your local paper.  If you’re just starting out, a hatha or vinyasa class would probably be best.   You can try other ones down the line.  I have friends that swear by the “hot yoga” classes. 

Yoga Equipment, Videos and Clothing

Yoga Mats - Also called sticky mats.  You can sometimes rent or use a mat at a yoga studio or gym, but really you will want your own mat for hygiene reasons.

Yoga Starter Kit - This has everything a beginning yoga student needs, including yoga blocks, a tote bag to take to class, a sticky mat, straps and a postures poster for reference.  You can also buy these essential yoga props, yoga foam blocks, yoga straps, a yoga mat and a small pillow or blanket separately.

Yoga Balls - Besides the essentials, there are some fun exercise balls and a FitBall Yoga DVD you might want to try at home. 

See all Yoga Videos/DVDs

See all Exercise Books and Videos

Pants – A pair of shorts or sweatpants will do, but you might look for special yoga pants that are fitted but give full range of motion.  Some are fitted at the top but slit at the bottom so you can check your alignment.

See all Yoga Equipment

See all Exercise/Fitness

The effects on your body from yoga are quite different that those you’ll find from traditional exercise.  Yoga is slow, dynamic, static.  Effort is minimized and awareness is internal.  The parasympathetic nervous system and the sucortical regions of the brain dominates.  Traditional  exercise is the opposite.  It involves maximum effort, muscle tension, cortical brain domination, forceful movements and external awareness.  Yoga carries a low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments.  Less so with exercise.

If you can, do both.  If you want to get started on something that will unite your mind, body and spirit.  Something that helps you find harmony, then I suggest yoga.

Namaste (I bow to you).

Whatever gets you moving . . . congratulations!  Seriously.   Any exercise is beneficial as long as you are working to your fitness level and doing it ’right’. 

Alas, nobody’s perfect and we sometimes hurt ourselves.  Here are some products designed specifically for the prevention and treatment of sports injuries. 

Injury Prevention Products

Stretching.  The most common sports injuries are caused by not stretching  your muscles before exercise.  The ProStretch and ProStretch Doubleare among our most popular products, and for good reason.  They reduce your risk of injury, improve lower extremity strength, balance, proprioception and flexibility.  Plus they make your legs look and feel fantastic.

See all ProStretch and Stretch-Rite

 Agility.  This 101 Agility Drills book will guide you through the routines to help you stop, start and change direction of the body rapidly and in a controlled manner.  Coaches and athletes, listen up.  It’s not too early to prepare for fall sports.  Agility training will prevent injuries and give you a leg up on the competition.  Some agility products include the Dot Drill Mat, Agility Dots, Agility Rings, Agility Ladder, Running Parachute and Stackable Steps.

Flexibility.  Get on the Ball!  I promise that flexibility will be yours if you consistently work out on the ball.  We have many brands and sizes to fit every budget and every exercise goal.   Get a FitBall Exercise DVD for overall fitness, the  Strength Training on the Ball Book to get even stronger, or how about a Pilates on the Ball DVD for a great workout and (for me) a lot of laughs.

Balance.  Shop our huge selection of balance products.  I can’t stress enough how good balance will change your life.  No matter how old you are, you can improve your balance.  Read 21 Reasons to Improve your Balance.

See all Exercise/Fitness Products

Injury Treatment Products

Cold Packs. Keep one in your freezer at all times for aches, pains, sports injuries and muscle pulls (or to wrap around something in the cooler on the way to the picnic).  Always put a layer of dry terry towels between you and the ColPac! 

Not sure when to use heat or ice?  Read Arthritis Pain – Which is Best, Heat or Ice?

See all Hot/Cold Therapy

Spa Therapy.  Bubble your troubles away.  Yes, it’s true.  You can have a portable whirlpool spa right in your house, or on your patio, or in your backyard – at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hot tub.

Treat all your sore muscle aches & pains with products from Allegro’s Muscle Pain Category.

Wound Care.  Hey booboos happen, even to adults.   Be prepared for cuts and scrapes with first aid kits, bandages, dressings, gauze & prep pads.  We have it all in our Wound Care Category. 

Therapeutic Bands and Braces.  These brilliant little gizmos absorb shock and support your tendons so you can relieve your pain and still live your life.  See our popular products for knee injuries and elbow/forearm support.

Shin Supports.  These wraps alleviate shin splints and relieve calf & muscle pain.  Too bad we didn’t have these around when we were running concrete stairs and bleachers in high school.  Good times.

Ankle Supports.  Ankle and foot injuries happen all the time.  Check out our Ankle/Foot Orthotics products if you are having ankle pain, weak ankles or just need support for your feet.  We have lots of specialized insoles and heel cups,  ankle braces, splints and supports and products to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis.

Back Supports.  These are used for both prevention and treatment of back pain and injury.  Choose from traditional back supports, abdominal binders, posture aids, hernia splints and more.

See all Orthopedic Products and sort by popularity, price or product name.

Although the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is prevalent in people over 60, arthritis can start as early as infancy.   Tens of millions of adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. have it.

So, that said, what can you do to ease your pain, joint stiffness and inflmmation?  The common theme seems to be warmth, although many swear by glucosamine. 

Allegro’s Top 10 Arthritis Products

1.  Arthritis Gloves  – 4.5 out of 5 stars!  Designed to provide mild compression, warmth and increased circulation, this special gloves help relieve aches and pains from arthritis in your hands.  Wear them all day and night if you like.   Good for cold hands, hand fatigue or other types of hand and wrist pain too. 

See All Arthritis Gloves and Hand Warmers.

2.    Light Relief Light Therapy - A topical heating device that uses infrared light to create warmth.  It’s totally silent and it helps increase circulation and relieve pain and stiffness wherever and whenever you need it.   My 95-yr old grammy swears by it.  Comes with a money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty.  Oh, and a travel case too.

3.    Spa-N-A-Box Portable Spa – How about having a whirlpool spa right in your home?  Or on your patio, deck, back yard, or boat?  This spa sets up in 20 minutes and provides, you guessed it, warmth for sore joints and chronic pain.  Soothe your whole body at a fraction of a cost of other units.  Psssst.  It’s fun too!    See also our new AromaSteam Portable Steam Sauna.

4.      Kneed-It Therapeutic Knee Guard -  Scientifically designed to relieve minor knee pain associated with arthritis, tendonitis and chondromalacia by placing placing pressure, concentrated compression and warmth across the soft tissue in front of the knee.  

See  All Knee Straps and Wraps.

5.    Flexall 454 Maximum Strength Pain Relieving Gel – One of our customers says he would “have trouble without this product” .  Ideal for long-lasting relief of arthritis pain, mustcle strains, sprains, bursitis and tendonitis.

6.    Paraffin Bath – Professional Grade Warm Bath Spa -  I love using this product.  It’s like having a professional spa manicure and pedicure at home.  Plus it relieves arthritis pain and stiffness in your hands, feet and elbows.   Why?  Because paraffin wax has a very high heat capacity and when it coats your limbs, it transfers that heat to you.  Pure heaven.  Here’s also the Paraffin Heat System.

7.    Thermophore Arthritis Pad -  It’s the moist heat pad that doctors recommend most.   Produces intense moist heat without adding water.  The new four-stage therapy switch provides optimum 20-minute treatments.  Hands free!

8.    Emercen-C Joint Health Formula – Nothing loosens my joints better than glucosamine with chondroitin.  I don’t know how it works, but it makes me feel loose as a goose.  Without it, I crump up… quick.   Stiff back, knees and fingers…  My doc says I must have some arthritis in there.  Try it for a week and see.  See All Glucosamine Products.

9.   Biofreeze Roll-On 3 oz. – Squirt it on, right where you need it.  Fast relief for arthritis, neck pain, back pain, sore muscles and more.  3 oz roll-on is perfect for travel or the office.

See All Biofreeze Products.

10.    Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch -  Apply a patch to your neck or shoulders for temporary relief of stiffness and tightness.  The active ingredients quickly penetrate into your bloodstream to provide spot on, effective pain relief.

See All Arthritis Products.

So you see, warmth really seems to be the key to loosening those joints and to make you move and feel better.  For more information, read “Arthritis Pain – Heat or Ice?”