Two new classes offered at Wellness Center

The Wellness Center is offering a free back care clinic Monday mornings. The center at Technical Area 3 also is offering a "overuse prevention clinic" on Tuesday mornings.

The back care clinic is from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. and covers the following topics:

Basic anatomy of the disc, disc pressures and the joints;
Instruction in proper body mechanics for lifting and carrying objects;
Basic stretches to help reduce the chance of injury;
Basic strengthening exercises for the lower back;
Benefits of endurance training;
Tour of the Wellness Center and demonstrations on the proper use of selected machines that are most beneficial for strengthening the lower back.

More information on back care also is available in the March Body Bulletin health and wellness hardcopy newsletter or the online Personal Best.

The overuse prevention clinic is from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. and focuses on the following:

Basic anatomy covering signs and symptoms of tendinitis, carpal tunnel and neck strain;
Hints to help minimize injury risk;
Basic stretches that focus on injury prevention;
Benefits of endurance training;
Tours of the Wellness Center and demonstrations on the proper use of selected machines most beneficial in prevention of cumulative trauma disorders.

Each class is between 30 and 45 minutes in length and Wellness Center staff are available to answer questions about back care and injury risk and prevention.

For more information, contact Cindy Lawton of HSR-2 at 7-7166 or write to cindyl@lanl.gov by electronic mail. Or go to the http://int.lanl.gov/worklife/health/ online.

-- Steve Sandoval