Minnesota

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Night leg cramps can be an unpleasant surprise. They disrupt sleep with a jolt of pain, most often in the calf. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers ways to prevent these painful — but typically harmless — cramps. The pain from night leg cramps can vary in intensity and last from just a few seconds to 15 minutes or more. Cramps are most common in the calf, but also can affect the feet or thighs. While the risk of night leg cramps increases with age, pinpointing an exact cause is often difficult. Possible causes include dehydration; prolonged sitting; inadequate amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium in the diet; and medications including diuretics, beta blockers and others used to treat blood pressure. Night leg cramps also can be associated with thyroid conditions, diabetes or cancer that has spread to the spine. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips for prevention: Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids helps the muscles contract and relax more easily. Replenishing fluids is especially important when engaging in physical activity. Stretch before bed: For those who experience night leg cramps, stretching before bed can help. Do light exercise: Riding a stationary bike a few minutes before bed may help prevent cramps during sleep. Choose the right shoes: Wear shoes that offer plenty of support. Untuck the covers: Loosening covers at the foot of the bed may reduce the incidence of night leg cramps.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — With New Year's resolutions still fresh in mind, many people are taking bold steps to get fit and build strength. But some strength training exercises, which tend to get passed along at the gym like folklore, may not be based on how the body works best. "All too often, strength training programs don't take into account correct biomechanics or even individual body types," says Mayo Clinic's Ed Laskowski, M.D., of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Some strength training exercises, if performed with poor technique, can cause injuries ranging from spontaneous twinges to the aches that come from months of cumulative stress. The key to safe, effective strength training is doing it right. Dr. Laskowski is available to talk about techniques that get results and help avoid injury. Among his strength training advice is: Core stability is essential to upper body, lower body and trunk strengthening. Training the core involves not only activating abdominal muscles but also training back muscles. Workouts need to progress beyond fitness balls to upright positions that are similar to life and sport movement patterns. Many people focus on training the muscles in the chest and in the front of the shoulder. For balanced strength in the shoulder, a training program should emphasize strengthening the muscles in the upper back as well as the back of the shoulder. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists can help people review their workouts to optimize benefit and point out potentially dangerous flaws that may cause injury. Novice or seasoned athletes can ensure a proper foundation by making an appointment to review the appropriate biomechanics of a workout, a football throw, or even a golf swing.

In a joint effort, Mayo Clinic, Rochester Public Schools' Hawthorne Education Center, Winona State University and various community agencies are working together to identify opportunities to improve the health of immigrant and refugee families in Rochester. The National Institutes of Health has awarded a grant to Rochester Healthy Community Partnership (RHCP), a collaboration that includes community-based organizations, local health service organizations and academic institutions, to develop sustainable physical activity and nutrition interventions with and for immigrant and refugee families. The project is called, "Healthy Immigrant Families: Working Together To Move More and To Eat Well." RHCP takes a community-centered research approach whereby community agencies, academics and researchers learn and work together to promote a balance between research and sustainable action. This approach equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. "It addresses health concerns brought up by the community and, in the process of community-academic collaboration, improves the health of the community," says Irene Sia, M.D. of Mayo Clinic's Division of Infectious Diseases, a lead researcher in the partnership.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine will honor Martin Luther King Jr. at a free concert featuring gospel singer Robert Robinson. The public is invited. WHO: Robert Robinson began singing with his family at age 6, and by 15 was directing his church choir. In 1990, he started a gospel choir at Minneapolis Community College before he became the leader of the Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir. The Star Tribune has called Robinson "Minnesota's master male vocalist." He has performed with many noted artists including Aretha Franklin, Andraé Crouch and Bobby McFerrin. WHAT: A gospel concert honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. WHERE: Lips Atrium, subway level, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. NW. Rochester WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at 12:10 p.m.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine invites the public to view Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place, a traveling exhibit that explores the cultural continuity of old and new practices in Native American art. WHAT: Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place is a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Minnesota Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment and the Fuad Mansour Fund of the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine. It showcases the innovative nature of Native American artists from Minnesota who embrace contemporary art forms while supporting traditional practices. WHERE: Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Medical Education Building, 100 Second Ave. SW. WHEN: Exhibit: Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place will be on display during business hours from Jan. 6 through Jan. 31, 2012. Opening Reception: Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 5:30 p.m. in Hage Atrium; please RSVP to humanitiesrochester@mayo.edu by Jan. 7.

Essam and Dalal Obaid Center for Reconstructive Transplant Surgery has been named to honor benefactor’s parents ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic announced today a ...