Press of Atlantic City

By WINA STURGEON

Published: Dec 31, 2008

Make a vow to take the stiffness out of your joints this year. Stiffness in the joints is one of the most common complaints of those who are middle-aged and older. It becomes a vicious cycle; it's painful to move, so you don't move the stiff joints, so they get stiffer, so you move them less, they get more painful, and on it goes. But there's a great method to make your joints more flexible, and eliminate stiffness and pain. It's an easy 10-20 second full joint workout.

Start by making sure you don't have a medical joint problem. Get checked for arthritis, cartilage wear or other conditions. If the doctor says you're okay, then you can start working on reversing the stiffness.

Most stiffness is due to one cause: lack of motion. Even a teenager who doesn't move around will get stiff. But boomers stiffen up quickly, and can't get their joints back in shape with a daily workout. It doesn't do much good to move your joints for an hour or so, and then let them stay nearly immobile for 23 hours. Joint movement has to be frequent, about every hour or even half hour. This will take some getting used to, but with concentration, you can turn a quick joint workout into a habit so automatic you won't even have to think about it.

The best place to do this joint workout is in a chair. Sit up straight; don't let your back lean against the chair. Do each movement slowly, four or five times. First, turn your head far left to far right, then move it in a wide circle, once to the left, once to the right, so that your chin makes a large 'O.' Next, twist your upper body so that first one shoulder points forward, then the other. Then shrug your shoulders, lifting them to your ears. More

Dec 31, 2008

• Pampered head to toe in Jamaica

The French may know wine and the Italians food, but no one knows how to nurture and spoil a body like the Jamaicans.

Dec 31, 2008

• Running at night is beautiful. But take certain precautions before venturing outdoors

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.-When the heck does the sun go down?

Dec 31, 2008

• Adventure Web: Video clips at Web site provide virtual flight over Mount St. Helens

New video clips have been added to the Mount St. Helens Web site, giving visitors a chance to take a virtual flight over the national volcanic monument.

Dec 31, 2008

• Dr. Collins: Condition your arms, shoulders before carving up the ski slopes

While your legs are the key to a successful and safe ski year, you also need to pay attention to your arms.

Dec 31, 2008

• Jamaica 411

I love these Indigenous ingredients used in many spa treatments:

Dec 31, 2008

• Snowshoes: A relatively cheap, easy way for non-skiers to enjoy winter

Skiing may be the most popular way to get out into the snow in the winter, but it is not for everyone.

Dec 31, 2008

• Arctic Valley goes into high gear

If a ski area had just nine lives, Arctic Valley would have used them up long ago.

Dec 31, 2008

• Gear up: ‘Soul of the Rockies' by Ed Cooper

"Soul of the Rockies" by Ed Cooper

Dec 31, 2008

• ‘The Last Polar Bear...': Photographer's 10-year obsession results in wonderful and timely book

As gorgeous and haunting as Steven Kazlowski's images are, there's nothing pretty about the work needed to get them.

Dec 31, 2008

• Snow goggles increase visibility

When hitting the slopes, how much stuff do you really need? Some ski apparel can be improvised. A regular knit cap, for example, can be used instead of a pricey, high-tech performance hat. Other ski apparel will be sorely missed if compromised. Goggles, for example, block wind and sun. Skipping goggles can mean discomfort and poor visibility.

Dec 31, 2008

• Book explores the best rail trails in the Northwest

Pop quiz: How may rail trails are there in Idaho?

Dec 31, 2008

• Carry a well-stocked first-aid kit

Knowledge of first-aid procedures and the ability to render assistance to an injured person can always prove useful when an unexpected accident occurs - especially when out in the wilderness. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit however, is also important.

Dec 24, 2008

• Heli heights: For adventurous, spring skiing options abound

Come spring in America, when many are thinking about putting their skis away for the season, a narrow window of opportunity opens in Alaska for skiing so good it's sometimes almost other worldly.

Dec 24, 2008

• Get your heart going

It's the cold and rugged part of winter, when it's easy to stay in the comfort of your own cave. The desire to go outside for a brisk walk or to the gym dwindles when there's snow on the ground and temps drop into the 'teens.

Dec 24, 2008

• Overcoming home habits

When I was a kid, we had traditional dinners. It was always bread, a piece of meat or fish, two cooked vegetables, often a salad and then dessert. Food covered the entire plate. I grew up thinking that was the proper way to eat.

Dec 24, 2008

• Six tips to get your boat ready for winter weather

With winter finally blowing, many boaters are preparing their vessels for storage. Boat owners can take steps to make sure their craft is protected during the off season, according to a news release from insurance company Progressive.

Dec 24, 2008

• Monitors help athletes keep an eye on heart health

Every year, hoards of people resolve to finally get into shape. They enthusiastically run full-speed on the treadmill or push themselves to hike up steep trails. And for some new athletes, the strain can be too much.

Dec 24, 2008

• Running in winter poses challenge to keep hands warm

For years runners braving the cold had to make do with gloves designed for skiing, hiking or general cold weather use.

Dec 24, 2008

• Gear pick: Emergency headlamp weighs 27 grams

Do you want a super-light headlamp that can take the elements?

Dec 24, 2008

• Know the snowshoe basics

Once used as an inventive means for Native Americans, trappers and hunters to cross difficult cold weather terrain and deep snow, snowshoeing has become a popular winter recreation.

Dec 24, 2008

• Adventure Web: www.ski-injury.com

It's your first time dropping off that cliff, and you want to make sure the whole world sees it. So you have your best buddy there, camera at the ready. Only the jump doesn't go quite as planned. By the time you get out of the ER, the video is already up on YouTube.

Dec 24, 2008

• Know where to go for some South Idaho skiing

Things are changing fast at area ski resorts with recent storms that allowed some ski areas to open and those already open to offer more terrain for skiing and snowboarding.

Dec 24, 2008

• Alaska's green side

Ask people what color comes to mind when you say Alaska and most reply "white" - snow, ice, igloos, or the color your toes get just before frostbite sets in. But spring through fall, the color that best describes Alaska is green - from thigh-high grass fed by up to 18 hours of daily sunlight to cucumbers the size of watermelons and watermelons the size of small semis. I was intrigued when a tour operated by Austin-Lehman Adventures declared a focus on the green side of Alaska. We would be exploring by foot, pedal, paddle, wind and train (which can go 400 miles on a gallon of gas). How could I resist?

Dec 24, 2008

• Full surf ahead: Forget the economy, say Mavericks organizers; nobody can resist these huge waves

SACRAMENTO, Calif.-It may sound corny, but I think the world really needs Mavericks, particularly right now," said surf impresario Keir Beadling. "People need to be inspired."