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?”

Check out our most popular stress relievers:

1.  Spa-N-A-Box Portable Whirlpool Spa - Perfect for just you, a couple, or the whole family.  Accommodates 4-5 people.  Put it on your deck, patio or even inside your house, cabin or apartment.  Sets up in 20 minutes and plugs into a regular outlet.  You’ll have your own heated spa at a fraction of the cost of a traditional hot tub.  We sell a ton of these.

2.     Ergo Beads Hand Exerciser & Stress Ball - A stress ball for the stress ball.  Sometimes you just need something to hold onto, right?  In fact, doing something physical often gets your mind off your worries.  For $6 bucks its worth it to find out.  If nothing else, you’ll have a stronger hand.

3.     Deluxe Handheld Shower Massager- They’ll call you pruney after a week with this thing.  You’ll never want to get out of the shower!  The cool thing about this particular shower head is its tangle-free, extra-long 84″ hose lets you sit or even lay down in the shower or tub.  Spray all your nooks and crannies and get a massage as well, with the three spray options.

4.    Hand Rollers – For Cutaneous Stimulation – Use the large roller for broad areas to help your body deal with stress, increased blood flow, stiff joints, sore muscles, back & neck pain and headaches.  The small one is for your face, ears, between the fingers & toes.  Stimulates the meridian or acupuncture points on the body.

5.    Dr. Riter’s Real-Ease Neck & Shoulder Relaxer - I haven’t tried this product yet, but it’s selling like crazy and getting great reviews.   It is a patented, scientifically contoured headrest designed to let you deeply relax.  Kick back and use it for 10 to 15 minutes a day.  Forced relaxation…  Sign me up!

6.      Eye Pillow with ergoBeads- Like I always say, everything is better with ergoBeads.  Freeze it for headaches and sinus relief.  Or how about wearing it during your 10 minutes on Dr. Riter’s Neck & Shoulder Relaxer?  Huh? Huh? That’s what I call doubly relaxing.  Want silk?  Try Dr. Riter’s Silk Eye Pillow

7.      Spine Worx Back Support Alignment System - This is more of a back pain reliever than a total stress reliever, but if you’re like me, you carry your stress in your lower back and neck.  The Spine Worx definately works out the kinks.  It’s all about proper alignment.  It feels weird and not very comfortable at first, but you get used to it quickly and it feels like heaven.  Another very popular product.

8.      Travel Wal-Pil-O – If you travel a lot, this 4-in-1 cervical pillow will make your trips a whole lot more comfortable.  Properly aligns and supports your neck whether you’re a side-sleeper or a back sleeper.  Read Bed Check for Better Sleep for more ideas.

9.    Fitball Stress Buster Ball - Be careful not to say it wrong…  Okay, so, if you move around on this knobby ball and it gives you a massage!  You can improve circulation, reduce stress and relax muscles at the same time.  Just lean against the wall with the ball sandwiched in the middle and move around until you feel your muscles relax.  Outstanding! 

10.    Allegro Medical Lomi-Lomi Massager- Bring out the big guns baby and have yourself a REAL massage with Allegro’s own Lomi-Lomi.  Maintenance free and economical, this will keep the whole family in a state of bliss.

See All Stress Relievers in our Shop by Condition area.  If you’re looking for some other kinds of relief, check out our Sexual Well-Being area. 

We wish you the best in your quest for relaxation.  For the latest advice in stress relief therapy read Managing Stress: Practical Advice from a Pro.  Not sure if you’re stressed?  Take the Stress Test!

Thanks for being an Allegro customer.  Take care!  -v

Reduce the risk of injuries, skip the low-back pain and soreness, increase blood flow, improve balance and relieve tension with some quick pre- and post-gardening stretches. The following routine only takes 2 minutes for the warm up and you can use the same stretches afterwards for your cool-down.

1. Neck. Stretch your neck by slowly moving your head from side to side, laying your head first toward one shoulder and then the other. Repeat a couple of times. Now move it front and back with your chin on your chest and then tipped back. Hold for a few seconds.

2. Back and Shoulders. Bend forward at the waist and let your hands hang toward your toes. Roll your shoulders back and around, as if you are shrugging. This elongates your spine and loosens your back. Stand up slowly and place your palms on the back of your pelvis and lean back from the waist. Drop your head back and hold it for a few seconds.

3. Trunk. Reach one arm across your chest. Twist that same direction. While you’re doing that, reach the other arm behind your back. Do this 3 or 4 times, switching arm positions. This works the trunk and opens the spine.

4. Upper torso. Hold your arms straight out at shoulder height. Make fists. Pull your arms back as if you were trying to touch your elbows in the back. Tighten your fists and then push your hands in front again. Roll your shoulders forward to stretch your upper back. Open your hands with your wrists flexing up and spread your fingers as you push forward. Do this several times.

5. Ankles & Lower Body. Lift your knee as high as you can and point your toes toward the ground as far as you can. Then extend your leg forward, with your leg straigh and flex your ankle up, with your toes facing the sky. This will loosen most of your leg.

6. Knees. I like to add a few deep squats and lunges just to get my knees extra warm. Use a rake or chair for balance. While I’m lunging I stretch and flex my fingers. This helps grip strength.

Continue your warm-up in the garden by starting slow. While you work, be mindful and thoughtful about how your body is positioned. Try not to twist a lot or stay in one position too long. Stand up at least every 10 minutes if you’re bent over or on your knees. Make sure you’re using ergonomic garden tools. Read Gardening Made Easy to see what I mean.

Save the heavy lifting for later – say, a half-hour into it. Make sure you’re good and warmed up before you start moving pots and bags of soil.

Drink plenty of water! Set a kitchen timer if you need to be reminded. Every 20 minutes take 5 big gulps.

A good cool-down is even more important than a good warm up. After gardening, don’t just sit down. Take 10 minutes or so and really stretch to keep that lactic acid from building up and making you sore later. Use the stretches above as a guide, but do them slower and longer.

Do you have a tip or a favorite stretch? Please share it!

It may be time for a new pillow for several reasons.  Here’s a really good one . . . it is probably crawling with fungi and buggies.  Yes, it’s true.  The journal “Allergy”, published in 2006, says that pillows as young as 18 months old contained up to 47 different kinds of fungi!  The researchers found about four to 16 fungi species per pillow, with synthetic pillows having more.  In that case, if you have allergies or asthma, your pillow is probably not helping matters.   Besides, it’s gross.  Consider tossing your old pillows and replacing them with a new fungus free or anti-microbial pillows.  While you’re at it, you might as well choose your pillows according to the most important criteria:  how you sleep.

At AllegroMedical.com we display about 70 bed pillows in our Pillows category.  To save you the trouble, I’ve separated them according to sleep type and specialty pillows.  I’m searching for the perfect pillow myself, so I’m hoping this endeavor will bear fruit for us all.  

 The perfect pillow will keep your head aligned right on top of your shoulders when lying down – not too far to either side, or up and down.  Therefore, the thickness of your pillow is important, depending on how you sleep.  Think you need the biggest, longest, fluffiest, most expensive pillow every made?  Au contraire.   In fact, pillows that are too dense, fluffy or wide merely create tension in your neck and shoulders.

Pillows by Sleep Type

Side Sleeper Pillows are lofty and thick so they keep your head staight by filling in the space between your head and shoulders.   Our most popular pillow, the Better Sleep Pillow was originally designed for side sleepers, but it also works great for back sleepers and stomach sleepers because of it’s mult-positional, multi-functional contoured design.   This is also true of our Sleepmatterzzz Dual-Valve Cervical Pillow, a super popular pillow with 5 star reviews.  See all Sleepmatterzzz pillows.

Back Sleeper pillows are designed so that when you are lying on your back your head stays neutral – perfectly aligned with your spine, sitting squarely on your shoulders.   We have several pillows that support both side and back sleepers by automatically adjusting as your sleeping position changes.  If you alternate between your back and your side (or your side and your stomach) be sure to get one that works in multiple positions.  

Stomach sleepers are just weird.  Okay, that’s what I tell my stomach sleeper boyfriend Todd anyway.  Seriously, though, experts say it is not the best way to sleep because if your bed is soft and you use a pillow, then you are not keeping your head neutral.  But if you must sleep on your stomach then please use a specially designed pillow, a very thin pillow or no pillow at all.  The Sleepmatterzzz Dual-Valve Cervical Pillow would be perfect for sleepers who switch from their side to their stomach. 

Specialty Pillows

Allergy-Free Pillows and Covers are a must for allergy sufferers.  We even have an Anti-Allergen Mattress Cover. 

Anti-Snore Pillows:  The Snore-No-More Anti Snoring Pillow is our most popular,  but from reading the reviews, it either works or it doesn’t work at all.  It was featured in Woman’s World Magazine as the “best snoring pillow” though, and it seems to help a lot of people.   See our Snoring Section for all of our anti-snoring products.

Bed Wedges and Body Positioners are ideal for helping your body maintain a comfortable body position while you sleep.  They are often used for post-surgery bedrest , footrest or blank support as well.  The leg/knee wedges and back wedges are especially popular.  You can put them between your knees for side sleeping, or under your knees, or behind your back.

Body Pillows are especially good for side sleepers and pregnant women who like to keep their spines aligned, and circulation going by sleeping with a pillow between their knees.

Cervical Pillows come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all designed to support the neck.   Cervial pillows help relieve pain associated with muscle tension, stress and strain by promoting proper alignment and support.   

Cooling Pillows/Covers are heaven for hot summer nights and hot flashes.   I have two Chillow Pillows that I use all Arizona summer long.  They are super popular and I highly recommend them.   

Water Pillows allow you to personalize your pillow by filling a water pouch inside the pillow for soft, medium or firm support.

You can’t tell what’s going to work until you sleep on it so try to get the one that fits the best with your sleep style.  In my case, I’ve kissed a lot of toads, but I will continue to seek out the perfect pillow.  Even punching and feeling it in a retail store doesn’t make much of a difference. 

See our new category, Beds,  and also read how to retrofit the rest of your bed in my blog Bed Check for Better Sleep.

At least we have a lot of products to choose from, right?  Happy shopping!

-v

The way I see it, whether you’re prone to crappy sleep or ‘just okay’ sleep, we all can improve our odds by optimzing our beds for snoozing.   We also have lots of products for those who spend most or all of their time in bed.  Read on . . .

BED CHECKLIST FOR BETTER SLEEP

Get a bed that’s big enough.  You and your bedmates (pets included) need room to stretch and flop.   Can’t afford a new bed?  Put a Want Ad out to your local Freecycle group and get one for free!  I just used Freecycle to find a home for my King Simmons Beautyrest mattress.  It felt so good to give it directly to someone who really needed it.  Get and give.  Makes the world go around.

Your Mattress.  If you feel like you’re sleeping in a fluffy canoe, then your bed might be too soft.  On the other hand, if there is no give at all, your mattress is essentially flattening the normal curve of your spine and it is too firm.  Too soft, get a new mattress.  Too firm, add a topper.  

Here’s what I found when buying a new mattress:  Ignore the brands.  They try to confuse you with all these fancy names and crap and I’ve heard that Leggett and Platt makes all the innerds for the big name mattresses anyway.  Who wants to spend thousands of dollars on a mattress?  Don’t buy on price or you’ll get royally scammed.

Don’t get caught up in coil counts either, or stats.  It’s all sales voodoo.  Go for what feels comfortable to you.  I go for firm, but that’s because of my cranky back. 

Pillowtops are expensive, but alluring.  Before getting sucked in, remember that they are pretty much a massive rip-off because really they are just layers of foam sewn onto the top of your mattress.  Save yourself hundreds of dollars and re-create the effect with an egg-crate mattress  pad or memory foam overlay.  We sell a ton of them.  Note:  I love sleeping on memory foam and I even have a memory foam pillow, but when you first buy it, it smells horrible.  The odor goes away after a few nights though.  Trust me.  I nearly threw the dang stuff out.

Ignore mattress thickness.  Thick mattresses are not any better or worse than thin mattresses as long as you have innersprinig coils and the right comfort level for you.  You can get the same effect without the extra padding on top of the innerspring.  Besides, thick mattresses are heavy to carry, require special deep sheets and often times are so high that they hide your headboard. 

Box springs are also unnecessary except to raise the mattress.  Consider a platform bed frame or just put your mattress directly on the floor.  I’ve done both with great success.  In fact, I haven’t had a box spring since I don’t remember when.

Bottom line when mattress shopping:  Buy the cheapest most comfortable mattress you can find.  The rest is all marketing hype.

What about specialty beds?  If you like to read, relax or lounge in bed, or if you are bedridden, you will want to take a look at Allegro’s Flex-A-Bed line of adjustable beds and flexible mattresses.  They come in every size, they’re super affordable and they can be completely customized.

Or, on the cheap, you can fake an adjustable bed using an elevating leg rest and a bed wedge.  Brilliant!

If you are have trouble getting in and out of bed, or you are bedridden, incontinent, or elderly, here are some other products to consider:  Bed Rails, Bedpads, Mattress Covers, Pressure Reduction, Trapeze and Bedside Tables. 

For hospital beds, we carry specially designed hospital sheet sets and semi-fitted top sheets.

For everything, see our entire Beds or Shop by Category in Bedridden or Insomnia.

And finally, here’s a major topic that deserves equal but separate consideration:  Pillows!!  Read Why Your Pillow is Gross and How to Pick a New One.

Nighty night.  Sleep tight.  Don’t let the bedbugs bite. 

psssst…  (whisper)…. thanks for buying your stuff from AllegroMedical.com.

-v