By Athlete's Care on April 06, 2023
You let your guard down when you’re at home, and you relax. But, you shouldn’t relax when it comes to staying safe. Here are some guidelines to keeping your home safe from falls, spills, and other injuries.
First:
Trips and falls are among the most common accidents in the home, and elsewhere too.
If you have a home office, your Ottawa physiotherapist or chiropractor can also provide advice on how to make sure your furnishings are arranged ergonomically, to avoid injury from overuse and undue strain.
When it comes to floors and carpets, look for:
Avoid putting cords under the carpet – tack them down along the wall or otherwise out of the way instead.
Fire and burn hazards may be located throughout the home.
There are appliances and gadgets that can make your home safer.
A little forethought goes a long way towards keeping your home safe, and reducing your risk of injury.
If you have experienced an accidental injury, the dedicated staff at our Toronto physiotherapy, chiropractic and sports medicine clinics can help you get back to your normal. Call one of our Toronto physiotherapy clinics today for a consultation.
By Athlete's Care on February 16, 2023
What is medical acupuncture? It’s a question our Ottawa physiotherapists and other sports medicine specialists hear often. Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medical practices that’s been adopted by Western physical therapy and sports medicine.
While it’s a practice with a history that dates back thousands of years, modern medical acupuncture adds an understanding of contemporary Western medicine for a win-win combination that helps many patients. It can be useful for managing and reducing symptoms as well as helping to promote healing for some people.
Here’s a little clarification.
The main principle of modern medical acupuncture is that the needles, which are inserted just under the skin, stimulate muscles, nerves, and connective tissue. They help release the body’s own painkiller hormones, and that helps the affected tissues to heal.
Once the needles are removed, you may feel nicely relaxed. You may also feel invigorated and energetic. If you don’t feel any improvements to your symptoms at all over two or three sessions, your Ottawa sports medicine specialist should re-evaluate your treatment plan.
Most often, patients use medical acupuncture to relieve painful or uncomfortable symptoms stemming from various underlying conditions. Many people have found relief from:
There is a growing body of scientific research that shows the potential for medical acupuncture to help treat many more conditions, such as diabetes and depression.
Our Ottawa medical acupuncture practitioners combine the practice with other specialties, just as the treatment is used in combination with other therapies. It means your treatment comes from a professional with a thorough understanding of the human musculoskeletal system and its components.
If you have any questions about medical acupuncture or wonder whether it might help your condition, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Ottawa physiotherapy and chiropractic clinics today for a consultation.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763
https://medicalacupuncture.org/for-patients/
By Athlete's Care on January 13, 2023
Here’s a look at the common myths—and the truth of the matter.
One of the most common misconceptions about physiotherapists and the treatments they offer is that they actually cause pain. As a matter of fact, one of the main goals of physiotherapy is to reduce pain and any discomfort. Physiotherapy treatment helps the body heal and restore mobility and range of motion after injuries, surgery, and often, simple wear and tear over time. If your condition is already painful, physiotherapy treatment will help you minimize and manage it so that you can get back to your normal as soon as possible.
At our Ottawa sports medicine clinics, we can offer all three options—but they are definitely different disciplines. The musculoskeletal specialist who can best serve your needs will depend on the nature of your condition, and in some cases, it’s a combination of two or all three. A chiropractor focuses on the spine, including mobility issues as well as neurological function. Massage therapy focuses on the soft tissues. A physiotherapist will consider the whole body, including function and body mechanics, and particularly the joints. They can treat issues such as muscle weakness and imbalances, and treatments most often involve targeted exercises.
While it’s true that targeted exercises are a cornerstone of physiotherapy treatments, it’s not a simple matter of choosing the right workout regimen. Your physiotherapist will first take the time to properly diagnose the underlying cause of the condition that caused you to seek treatment, and also take your general health and physical conditioning into account. The exercises they prescribe will be specifically targeted at your situation, and include a hands-on component by your practitioner to assist the process. You won’t find the instructions online, in other words.
Many people outside the world of professional and/or elite level athletics assume that physiotherapy services are not for them. But, physiotherapists can help anyone with issues that involve the musculoskeletal system, including helping to foresee problems that might be developing in the future. Because they work with the body’s mechanics, they can help their clients with many common issues, including back aches, headaches—even shoulder pain from sitting at a computer.
Reducing and even eliminating pain and discomfort is one of the primary goals of physiotherapy, but it’s not the only one. You certainly don’t have to wait until something hurts before you make an appointment. Physiotherapy can help you regain and/or improve your range of motion, and help you stay mobile as you get older. It can help you prepare for surgery by strengthening key muscle groups, and prevent injuries with good advice.
Helping their clients heal from injuries to the musculoskeletal system is one of the main functions of any physiotherapy practice. But, physiotherapists can also help their clients heal, restore movement and mobility, and in general help them to help their own bodies to perform better—and that can apply to many different situations. They can help their clients heal after surgery, as well as manage many conditions caused by wear and tear over time such as arthritis, muscle weaknesses and imbalance, postural problems, and bursitis, among many others.
If you are experiencing any issues that involve mobility or your musculoskeletal system, or have any questions about physiotherapy services, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Ottawa clinics for a consultation today.
By Athlete's Care on November 10, 2022
But, that doesn’t mean you have to stop – and even if you’ve never run before, it’s still feasible to start.
The key is to be realistic via accurate knowledge. First, it’s true, as we all know, that physical functions diminish as we age.
However, staying inactive can actually contribute to the above. That’s the best reason for continuing, and for getting active at any age. Just remember:
Recovery from injury will take longer as you get older – so the goal is to avoid it. Our Ottawa physiotherapists and other sports medicine specialists can help you set goals that are realistic for your age and lifestyle. If you are truly starting from scratch, and it's been years since you've been physically active on a regular basis, you should think about a full physical before you begin.
As you age, you'll lose:
Above all, be realistic. You won't pick it up the way you would have in your 20s and 30s. Learn to listen to your body, and pay attention to unusual pain and discomfort. Take whatever down time you need.
Consider your starting fitness level. Would it be more appropriate to start with brisk walking, moving up to running as your endurance increases? You'll be using the same muscles and structures, just at a gentler pace.
The importance of good footwear can't be over-emphasized. Get a professional to fit you, and take your biomechanics in mind. Your shoe needs to fit as you run, from heel to toe, and allow you to move comfortably.
Starting from nothing or continuing, there are other activities and training you can use to optimize your results.
Be sure to eat properly. One of our Ottawa Registered Sports Dietitians can advise you on the best diet for your needs.
If you have any concerns or need advice about exercise or activity, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Ottawa physiotherapy, chiropractic and sports medicine clinics today for a consultation.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-to-know-about-running-after-fifty
https://www.verywellfit.com/tips-for-running-in-your-50s-and-beyond-2911208
https://www.runnersworld.com/beginner/a20866623/what-over-50-runners-need-to-know-before-they-start/