Have you ever had abdominal massage? If you haven’t, then you have been missing out. The benefits of abdominal massage can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, your “rest and digest” response. It can also release physical tension and emotional stress that some people don’t realize they have.
Winter is the time of year when many consider hitting the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding sessions. We have a few tips to make sure overexertion doesn’t ruin your holiday.
Chiropractors are often asked for advice on the selection of beds and mattresses and, in truth, there is no one solution that suits all. But, we spend more than a third of our lives in bed, so we should choose our beds carefully.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, leaving our homes can feel difficult. It might seem simple, but it can be a tough decision for many. Here are ten things you might want to know before booking your virtual appointment.
With COVID-19, working from home became the new normal for many people. Here are tips on how to combat the work from home ache!
Fall is arguably the most beautiful season of the year. While working in the yard is an activity that many enjoy, it can cause back pain or other potential injuries if not done carefully.
A spasm is an involuntary contraction of a voluntary muscle due to stress, injury, or chronic tension. This contraction causes nerve compression and forms a pain → spasm → pain cycle. Stretching and massage at the attachment sites of contracting muscles are often effective strategies for reducing muscle tension.
As a father, understanding pregnancy-related changes was crucial for me. Physiotherapy during pregnancy can help in many ways, starting with understanding the changes the mother’s body is undergoing to prepare her for childbirth.
Lymphedema is typically categorized by four stages. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is a non-invasive, multi-component approach to effectively treat and manage lymphedema and related conditions.
Lymphedema occurs if the lymphatic system becomes insufficient and is unable to perform its normal functions. The result is an abnormal accumulation of water and proteins principally in the subcutaneous tissues.
One of the most common issues that brings people to therapy is anxiety. For some people, anxiety can increase to a point where it does not feel manageable. If you feel like you do not have control of your worry, psychotherapy (specifically cognitive behavioural therapy) can be helpful and help you regain a sense of control.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a set of techniques developed by Vodder to help the lymphatic system function correctly. In lymphedema, where tissues retain fluid and swell, the goal of MLD is to reduce the swelling. MLD can also be used after trauma or surgery to help prevent the formation of scar tissue.
After giving birth, the core is weakened. Massage therapy can help with the muscle strain that happens during delivery, as well as balance out compensations in your posture that happen afterwards. Treatments focus on your back, neck, hips, and hamstrings. For caesarean births, we can also begin working on a scar as soon as the wound is closed.
Carpal tunnel is the most common nerve compression in the arm and is a result of a median nerve compression at the wrist. It causes numbness and tingling in the first three and one-half fingers. As the condition progresses, muscle weakness and tension in the forearm muscles also occur.
Both compartment syndrome and periostitis can occur on the front or back of the lower leg, causing pain and tightness. Symptoms increase with exercise and decrease with rest. But, while they can both occur in the same locations and have similar symptoms, they aren’t quite the same.
I recently completed two continuing education seminars called Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT). By using NKT, practitioners can identify areas that are overworking and understand why other areas are compensating for them. By addressing muscles that are overworking, muscles that are under working can turn on which will improve movement patterns, muscle tone, pain, or other symptoms someone might complain about.
Structural dysfunctions alter how the nervous and circulatory systems communicate with the pelvic organs. A restriction in blood flow limits the flow of hormones and nutrients necessary to regulate the function of these organs. Osteopathy brings balance to the body by using gentle movements to correct structural and postural imbalances. Improving the alignment and biomechanics of the body, but more specifically the pelvis, will improve how the body functions.
Youth participation in baseball is on the rise across Canada. It demands a lot of physical skill to play and can therefore result in injury. New players are also using muscles they haven’t used before and learning new movements. Along with sore muscles, some of the most common injuries are to the elbows and shoulders.
(October 1)
The fall can sometimes feel overwhelming! With kids back to school, activities starting, the dreaded return to making school lunches, and work projects ramping back up, it’s hard to find the energy to keep up with it all, especially if you are not getting enough sleep. Being tired increases your risk of getting into a car accident, increases your risk of mental health disorders, increases your risk of physical health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease, and impairs your work/school performance.
Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. It is an overuse injury, caused by chronic overload of a tendon. At the beginning, you might feel pain only after you are physically active. But, if it progresses far enough, the pain can become constant with even the smallest of your daily activities.
The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. There is one joint on each side of your jaw. It is a small joint that is localized in front of your ear. Many people have headaches or pain and tenderness around that region and don’t realize that it might be related to a jaw issue.
Piriformis syndrome is caused by the shortening or contraction of the piriformis muscle, which then compresses the sciatic nerve. When the sciatic nerve is compressed, you might feel pain down the back of one thigh into your calf, or even into the sole of your foot. You might also have numbness in your foot.
Many family doctors give a requisition or recommendation for a CT scan or an MRI without explaining the differences between those tests. As a result, patients, friends, and family members often ask us what the difference is between the two. Let’s review some basic points about these types of imaging studies.
The new year is a time when people often take stock of life and think of what they can work on in the next year … yes, the New Year’s Resolution! Often, these resolutions include becoming more physically active. Becoming more active is a great goal – years of working in healthcare has shown me your body is meant to move!
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide. For some patients, osteoarthritis can be very severe and disabling; surgery is the only resort and usually the last option. Considering that there are many risks and potential side effects to that kind of treatment, always try a trial of conservative care to see if that can help you.
The new school year is coming at full force but what’s back to school season without the perfect backpack? Backpacks are a helpful accessory every child needs; however, they can really be a pain in the back. Unevenly or improperly distributed weight can lead to poor posture and even distort the spinal column. More than 50% of young people experience lower back pain by their teenage years and research indicates that this could be caused by improper use of backpacks at an early age!
Yoga has become a part of our way of life here at YOUR HEALTH Wellness Centre. If you are wondering “What is yoga?,” that’s a very good question that I can answer for you. Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual discipline and branch of philosophy that’s origin was in India more than 5,000 years ago. Yoga uses controlled breathing as a way to merge the mind, body, and spirit. The breathing techniques are called pranayamas.
Although winter is beautiful, many people experience fatigue and seasonal depression and lose the momentum to invest in their health. Massage therapy can be a great way to help relax, revive, and recharge your body from the stresses of winter.
If you’re an athlete training to improve in your sport, you might find that you reach a plateau in your training or performance. To increase your performance and train more effectively, you can combine sport-specific training and massage therapy, specifically fascial release.