Category : Articles

It takes a village … to heal a hamstring!

As many of you know, Dr. Carole is training for a triathlon this summer. But, even an experienced chiropractor can sometimes forget her own advice about stretching.

YOUR HEALTH and tendonitis

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.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders

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.

What is Piriformis syndrome?

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.

What is the difference between a CT scan and an MRI?

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.

Mood and exercise

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!

Tips for staying active during the holidays

Don’t let the cold weather stop you from staying active during the holidays! It is challenging to remain healthy and stay active during the holidays with snow on the ground, eggnog in the punch bowl, work parties, and family gatherings. Stay active and include your family!

What is Osteoarthritis?

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.

Leaky gut syndrome: my gut is leaking?!?

Do you suffer from low energy? Brain fog? Inability to lose weight? Food sensitivities? Bloating? Gas? If you do, you might have leaky gut syndrome! Leaky gut or “increased intestinal permeability” is a condition affecting the lining of the intestines, creating a dysfunctional environment for proper digestion. This can trigger an immune response that can lead to chronic inflammation in the body and can contribute to joint pain, skin issues, autoimmune diseases, and further digestive concerns.

Are your kids ready to go back to school?

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 is a life style!

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.

Pull weeds, not muscles

With the warm weather approaching, many are beginning to remember the gardens that have been hidden under the snow for the past months. Gardening is the perfect way to contribute to the environment and get moving with the benefit of loads of vitamin D. However, bending, shoveling, and pulling weeds can also pull muscles, induce injury, and cause aches and pains.

Beat fatigue with Naturopathic Medicine!

There are several possible underlying causes of low energy levels such as: nutritional deficiencies, impaired thyroid function, depression, and adrenal fatigue.

Prevent the winter blues with massage therapy

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.

Naturopathic medicine and insomnia

Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up still feeling tired and unrefreshed? If so, you might be suffering from insomnia! Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and/or waking up early in the morning. It can lead to fatigue, lack of concentration, irritability, anxiety, learning disabilities, and depression.

Sport-specific training and massage therapy

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.

YOUR HEALTH and backpacks

Back to school often means back to school shopping. Ensuring your child has the proper equipment to get them to and from school is just as important as their other school supplies. Making sure your child has a proper fitting backpack and knowing how to pack it can help them avoid injury.

The Alexander Technique and Injury

People seek out the Alexander Technique for a wide range of reasons, including managing stress, addressing postural issues, and skill enhancement. However, prevention and recovery from injury is probably one of the most common motivators. Two recent articles detail how the Alexander Technique can help address some of the risk of injury associated with certain types of work.

Tips for helping to keep your back healthy while working in the garden

Now that it is gardening season again, here is a reminder of some important things to keep in mind to keep your back healthy.

Study shows better posture helps manage stress, increase self-esteem, and improve mood

As performing artists and others have long suspected, it turns out that good posture impacts on more than just the way you look. According to a study published in the Journal of Health Psychology, “posture tends to be associated with more positive mood, more resilience to stress and better self-esteem.” The results of the study correspond to what people have reported for years as a result of their Alexander lessons: not only does posture tend to improve, but also mood, overall fitness, and resilience to stress.

The benefits of infant massage

Massage therapy benefits people of all ages – even the littlest among us! And its never too early to start infant massage. Find out more about how infant massage can help infants and caregivers.

Are you a new mom? Are you feeling stressed, anxious, tired, or sad?

Don’t let stress, anxiety or exhaustion stop you from enjoying your time with your baby. Acupuncture might be an effective treatment option to help naturally get your body back to its normal healthy balance and function and get you back to feeling your happy and energetic self.

W-sitting and your toddler’s health

You may have noticed your toddler sitting in the W position and have wondered if it is okay for them to do so. The answer is absolutely not! Here are a few reasons why your toddler should not be W-sitting during playtime.

Acupuncture for arthritis

September is National Arthritis Month! Arthritis has become one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting millions of Canadians. The term arthritis is a general term for over a hundred other joint related conditions; however, the disease is often classified into two main types: inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The link between your back health and backpacks

With back-to-school well under way, student’s backpacks are only going to become heavier as they get filled with homework and assignments. It’s important to consider how the weight of a backpack can affect the overall health of your back! Here are some helpful tips to consider when packing and carrying a backpack.

How to control food cravings

When our blood sugar levels are imbalanced, we get cravings. Different foods alter our blood sugar levels at different rates. Certain foods can cause our blood sugar levels to spike and subsequently fall, leaving us feeling tired, hungry, and craving carbohydrates and sugary foods. Understanding what causes cravings can help us minimize those cravings.

Prehabilitation: a head start on the road to recovery

A review of recent research identified that chiropractors can potentially play an enhanced role in the prehabilitation and rehabilitation of surgical patients. Much of the data has focused on total joint arthroplasty, but there is data to support similar interventions for other surgeries, such as spinal disc replacement surgery. Current research suggests that arthroplasty patients are well served by a pre-operative regimen focusing on diet, education, exercise, range of motion therapies, and post-operative rehabilitation.

Neck pain and cervical facet syndrome

Neck pain is a common occurrence and complaint treated by chiropractic doctors. As primary health care providers, chiropractors are highly trained to diagnose and treat conditions related to the nerves, muscles, ligaments, and joints of your body. Cervical facets are the neck joints that form by adjacent vertebra (bones) that stack up on each other and allow for movement. These joints, like the joints in your low back, can become inflamed, irritated, or injured and cause pain and other symptoms leading to cervical facet syndrome.

Tips for preventing back pain and stress during the holidays

Preparing and shopping for the holidays can not only be stressful, but it can also be a big a strain on your back and neck.  Preparing for the holidays can be like an athletic event and you should treat it that way. Here are a few tips on how to make sure that your holiday shopping and gift wrapping stays pain-free.

Six ways to naturally prevent colds and flu

With the change in weather and beautiful fall colours comes a time that we have grown to dread … cold and flu season! Here are some tips to help support your immune system.