How to Improve Carpal Tunnel
By: DR. BACKS
With more careers involving sitting at a desk all day and typing, the chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome increase.  This ailment is numbness, muscle damage, or weakness in the hands and wrist caused by pressure to the median nerve.  Typing, writing, sewing, painting, and playing musical instruments are just some activities that can cause carpal tunnel because of the repetitive motions in the wrist that can cause swelling and pressure to the nerve.  Want to find out how to prevent and improve this condition?  Read on for more:
1. Correct your posture!
This means sitting with your back against the back of your seat while typing, knees bent comfortably and feet flat on the ground.  This reduces strain on joints and muscles, ensures that you are positioned correctly without being tense, and minimizes chances of carpal tunnel or headaches.
2. Purchase the right equipment…
To minimize the stresses of typing, such as cushioned mouse pads, specialty keyboards, glove brace for your arm, etc.

3. Exercise and do workouts that will stimulate your wrists.
Dance about and make sure to use the wrist, perhaps do belly dancing that involves hand motions or repeat karaoke to “Stop! In the Name of Love” by Diana Ross and the Supremes with the original choreography.  Stretch a lot during the day and practice yoga moves that will engage the arms and wrists. 
4. Take Pain Killers (but talk to your MD first).
Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs that can help to reduce swelling and pressure.  If your pain is intense, injections can be given to the area by a doctor for relief as well as there are surgical procedures that can cut the ligament causing stress on the nerve. Talk to your doctor first, of course.
The key thing is to remember to break into the repetition of your normal activities and stretch, move, flick that wrist so that blood flow and pressure is correct.  Maintaining a full range of motion is important, so take out 5 minute breaks for every hour that you are working and do a couple of chair exercises so that you can utilize the full range of motions that your body was made to handle.

Poem of the Week: Words In Movement

EXELON VOLUNTEERS JOIN DOUGLASS STUDENTS IN PREPARING HARAMBEE GARDEN FOR SPRING PLANTING

NATIONAL SOYBEAN LAB TEACHES COOKING WORKSHOP AT ABUNDANT LIFE CENTER

On April 9, a team from the National Soybean Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois Urbana consisting of Dr. Marilyn Nash, Courtney Tamimie, and Dr. Pascasie Adedze conducted a Soy Nutrition and Cooking Workshop with members of the JLM Abundant Life Community Center and organizations affiliated with the Haitian Diaspora in Chicago. The purpose was to educate participants on the nutritional and economic benefits of soy foods and demonstrate the adaptability of soy foods in typical dishes prepared at the JLM Center, 2622 West Jackson Boulevard.
The National Soybean Research Laboratory provides education and outreach regarding the benefits of soy foods, the importance of soy to overall health, and how to incorporate soy into local diets and recipes. Soy foods play a vital role in combating health problems, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis.

National Rebuilding Day CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS REHAB HOMES ON LOCKWOOD

NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL STUDENTS PRESENT COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR AT DePRIEST SCHOOL

RYERSON SCHOOL BUILDING DYNASTIES OF GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPS & SCHOLARS

The 2-time City Champion Ryerson 7th & 8th grade Girls Basketball Team with coaches and Principal Lorenzo Russell, who says his student athletes “perform in the classroom, so they are champions academically as well as on the court.” The team placed 2nd in the City this year with a 15-1 record. (Photo by Brad)

The City Champion Ryerson Cougars 5th & 6th grade Girls Basketball Team with Head Coach Corey Morgan, Asst. Coaches Randy Stone & Lamon Phillips, and Principal Lorenzo Russell. This is the 3rd consecutive year Ryerson’s 5th & 6th grade team has been City Champions. 

(Photo by Brad)

RAP, RHYTHM & RHYME WORKSHOP PUTS WRITING TO A HIP HOP BEAT FOR RYERSON STUDENTS

MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES STATE MILIARY & EDUCATION AWARDS

On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn and in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Day, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs presented retired U.S. Army Majorand Marshall High School Teacher
Aaron Rucker with the first-ever Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. Illinois Department of Veterans’Affairs Director Dan Grant presented the governor’s Award to Rucker, 42, during a ceremony at Marshall Metropolitan High School, 3250 West
Adams Street, where Rucker is a Special Education teacher. Director Grant also honored Rucker, a decorated veteran of the war in Afghanistan and a former Special forces Officer, as May 2011 Veteran of the Month. “Major Rucker is a man of high achievement and commitment having honorably and courageously served his country in Afghanistan, and is now successfully using those skills to teach children in the ChicagoPublic Schools,” Governor Quinn said. “For his unwavering service and achievement, his is absolutely deserving of both the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education, and Veteran of the Month.”
The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education is given to a military veteran and participant of the
Illinois Troops to Teachers Programwho has excelled in the field of public education. Rucker, also a former Chicago Police Officer, currently chairs Marshall’s Special Education Department and also teaches Economics, U.S.History and World Studies. Troops to Teachers is a federal program administered in Illinois by IDVA. It assists post-deployment service-members transitioning to new careers as public school teachers by providing financial assistance, educational counseling, and job referrals for veterans working

in public education. The IDVA Veteran of the Month Award highlights the work of military veterans who provide inspiration and leadership to their communities and other veterans through continued public service. Rucker, who was wounded in Afghanistan, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and National Defense Service Medal among other awards, for his service. Rucker, a Chicago native, is also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, is an active participant in the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center’s Feed a Veteran Program and works with the Wounded Warrior Project. He also holds three master’s degrees in education and is Type 75 and Type 10 certified. “Major Aaron Rucker epitomizes the type of service and advocacy we are always proud to honor,” says IDVA Director Dan Grant. “He is a role model for all of us – veteran and civilian – on how effective we can be and how great a difference we can make when we choose to serve the people in our communities. We hope his great example encourages other Illinois veterans with an interest in public education to utilize the Troops to Teachers Program.”

CHARTWELLS-THOMPSON FEEDS 3,000 SAFE HAVEN STUDENTS DURING SPRING BREAK

Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, provider of Chicago
Public Schools breakfasts and lunches for students
during the year, donated 3,000 free lunches for
students participating in the Spring Break Safe Haven
Program. Safe Haven is a partnership between CPS,
the City of Chicago, and 100 area churches to reduce
youth violence and give students supervised, productive
alternatives to the streets during school holidays.
Through this program, students from kindergarten
through 12th grade have a place to go when school is
not in session.
At the University of Illinois-Chicago, Chartwells-
Thompson staff and members of its minority
vendor partners served nutritious meals to students,
many of whom come from Chicago’s West Side and
might go without lunch when school is not in session.
In fact, Louise Esaian, Logistics Officer for CPS, says
that 83% of CPS students are eligible to participate
in subsidized free or reduced-cost
meal programs. “We know that
when school is not in session, many
students go hungry,” she notes.

FORMAN MILLS CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN GRAND STYLE