Dr. Sarah Racicot – Vitality For Life Chiropractic

Chiropractic Better than Medication for Neck Pain

2012-02-28T07:38:00.002-08:00

Call me boring BUT I enjoy reading research and so, I must share with you my latest reading which evaluated the usefulness of each; spinal manipulation, medication, and home exercises for addressing neck pain. Oh, oh and guess what they found? Spinal manipulation was "more effective than medication in both the short and long-term as was home exercise". The study involved 272 adults ageing from 18-65 years old with neck pain lasting for 2 to 12 weeks.

The Three Study Groups:

The Spinal Manipulation group received spinal manipulation and or mobilisations. The home exercise group used neck range of motion exercises without resistance. Lastly the medication group were given non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen or both. If patients did not do well with this in terms of side effects then narcotics and muscle relaxants were prescribed.

Findings:

In the short-term at 12 weeks of therapy "more than 82% of the spinal manipulation group reported a 50% or more reduction in pain; 57% had at least 75% reduction and 32% reported 100% reduction in pain"!!

With respect to long-term improvement the researchers found that "75% of the spinal manipulation group reported at least a 50% reduction in pain after 26 weeks AND 81% reported at least a 50% in pain reduction at 52 weeks".

To Summarise:

Those participants who received spinal manipulation for neck pain responded better than those who received medication. These improvements in pain were noted in the short-term and were also maintained in the long-term; that being one whole year later! Of interesting note, "participants who received medication seemed to fare worse, with a consistently higher use of pain medications for neck pain throughout the trial's observational period".

Hooray for Chiropractic!

But I don't like that "cracking sound" AND
I hate having my neck adjusted...

If you would like to receive benefit from chiropractic but don't want your neck adjusted there are other techniques that a chiropractor can use to accomplish the same goal - that of reducing your neck pain! The above research used "Spinal Manipulation" which is a formal neck adjustment that would result in a 'cavitating audible sound' BUT they also used "Mobilisations" too! There is no audible sound or rotary force used with a mobilisation, it is performed with the patient lying on his/her back and the chiropractor moves the head in a gentle 'figure 8' pattern. This is really well tolerated by people who are nervous about chiropractic or who have just removed their cervical collar after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Most chiropractors spend up to 8 years in school and as such, we learn various techniques during that time so as to properly address conditions while keeping in mind each patent's comfort level.

And so, as they say "the proof is in the pudding"! Make a chiropractic appointment today and STOP your neck pain!

Source:
Adapted from Dr. Canada Staff's article: "Neck Pain: No Drugs Required". Dynamic Chiropractic. March 2012.

Bronfort G, et al. "Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute or subacute neck pain." Annals of Internal Med, 2012;156:1-10

Avoid Shin Splints while on Vacation!

2012-02-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Jamaica! Nope not me... I'm still here in Barrie, Ontario land. This week I received an email from a patient vacationing in Jamaica who encouraged me to write a blog about how quickly transitioning into sandals and walking lots while on vacation can cause shin splints (among other things). Brilliant... I always love when patients provide input or suggestions so that other people can receive benefit. Truth be told, I did wince a little when I read the subject line "Hi from Jamaica!"

So here's my solution to avoid discomfort while on vacation...

Take your chiropractor with you!! Unfortunately unless you are a Hollywood celebrity, Professional Athlete or millionaire this option is not going to work for you! So as your vacation date approaches before you bid the snow farewell I would suggest that you begin to wear your sandals or summer footwear around the house so that you acclimatize your feet, back and body before you "shock" them and potentially ruin a portion of your vacation.

Common Reasons why Shin Splints occur:

*Started running, walking or increased physical activity level.
*Increased mileage or intensity of physical activity too quickly.
*Too many hills or too much inclination on the treadmill.
*Change of footwear (winter boots to sandals).
*Unforgiving walking or running surface (ie/ cement or pavement).
*Old running shoes (this is common!).
*Footwear not appropriate to activity (cross trainers for running rather than a running shoe).
*Inadequate warm up or cool down period.

Connection between Feet and Shin Splints?!

Clinically when a patient presents complaining of shin splints and none of the above causes are relevant than faulty foot mechanics are the culprit. But why? The muscle that attaches to your shin bone travels down to your foot inserting where your arch is located. When your foot hits the ground your arch collapses slightly allowing the toes to touch the ground so that you can "toe off" with another step. At this same time, your shin muscle contracts lifting your arch and thus foot again. BUT if your arch drops too much, it stretches and pulls the muscle away from your shin bone which causes pain or "shin splints". The long term solution for correcting shin splints is by wearing orthotics which support the arch preventing it from collapsing and thus, reducing or eliminating the pull of the muscle attached to the shin bone.

How to help Shin Splints while on Vacation:

That's great... Orthotics help with chronic shin splints but what can you do as a "band-aid" while on vacation? So, if I were on vacation with you I would suggest a few things:

*Rest
*Ice or add cold for 10 minute intervals. Never add heat (this will accelerate the inflammation and thus your pain experience).
*Never walk barefoot. Always have something on your feet.
*If you know you are going to do a lot of "sightseeing" wear good, supportive runners!
*Take an Epsom salt bath or soak. Making sure the water is warm but not HOT - remember heat increases the inflammation response).

Oh and, one final note while this blog has addressed how transitioning into sandals while on vacation can cause shin splints... you can also experience back pain! Remember - everything in the body is connected. For some, changing from winter boots to sandals might cause shin splints while in others it can aggravate their back. Irregardless of the location of discomfort whether shins, back, feet, knees or hips a good standard to follow is to always wear good supportive shoes whenever standing - everyday, all day, no matter what! Happy feet = Happy body AND therefore a great vacation!

To read a previous blog on "Tips for a Happy Back while on Vacation" please click on: http://barriechiro.blogspot.com/2011/07/tips-to-happy-back-when-on-vacation.html

Balance is the Key to Good Health!

2012-02-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

Amazingly the feet contain "approximately 1/4 of all the body's joints and a good concentration of proprioceptive fibers!" (1) What are proprioceptive fibers? They are nerves that surround all joints that relay messages to the brain telling it where the joint is in space. Proprioceptors allow the joint to make continual corrections, whether small or large to accommodate to the surface upon which the joint is moving. An example to illustrate this point, nerve endings (proprioceptors) around your finger joints allow your brain to know that your finger is pointing up even when your eyes are closed.

Orthotics Stabilise Your FOUNDATION

Since your feet are the foundation of your body it makes sense to use orthotics which are individually designed to stabilise and support the foot in its best possible position. Why stabilise your feet in the 'best possible position'? Because everything else above your feet depend upon it - particularly the proprioceptive nerve fibers!! Why waste time sending messages up to the brain through proprioceptors using information gathered from faulty foot mechanics? Orthotics correct faulty foot mechanics and in doing so, create a scenario in which the messages being sent to your brain about what your feet are doing in relation to the surface they are walking is CORRECT. Could this not lead to a reduction in injury? Answer: Yes! It's also more efficient... having your feet in the best possible position causes foot and leg muscles to work effeciently therefore you conserve engergy and feel less tired, fatigued and achy. More information about feet and benefits of orthotics please click on the following link: http://barriechiro.blogspot.com/2011/06/feet-overworked-and-underpaid-your-feet.html

Chiropractic Adjustments Reduce Muscle Tension

Oh and, while on the topic of proprioceptors... chiropractic does for your spine and pelvis what orthotics do for your feet! Confused? Okay so, Chiropractic adjustments "improve proprioceptive input by normalising or properly aligning the joints and surrounding muscle tone." (1) To better illustrate this point... Following a chiropractic adjustment there is a 'firework' of nervous system excitement - information being sent to the brain through the spinal cord and nerves. This is proprioception!! Electrodes which measure the amount of muscle activity (or tightness) when placed along the spine show a reduction in muscle activity following an adjustment. Brilliant! In other words, seconds after an adjustment there is a reflexive muscle relaxation response. Adjustments also cause the release of opiods and analgesics which is the way the body counteracts the feelings of pain. In essence, a chiropractic adjustment; reduces both muscle tension and the sensation of pain! For more information about chiropractic and the benefits of chiropractic adjustments please click on the following links: http://barriechiro.blogspot.com/p/sucess-stories.html and
http://barriechiro.blogspot.com/2011/12/your-nervous-system-and-chiropractic.html

Orthotics & Chiropractic Create Balance

Looking for more energy, balance, reduction of pain and muscle tightness? Incorporating both orthotics and regular chiropractic adjustments provides the body with a 'one, two punch'. In other words, orthotics properly align your foundation and regular chiropractic aligns everything else above your feet! Both strive to achieve optimal BALANCE and ultimately improve health...

BALANCE is the Key to Good Health!

Source:

(1) Dr. Mark Charrette "Balance Strategies to Improve Health". Dynamic Chiropractic Canada

Preventing Stress Fractures in Runners with Chiropractic!

2012-02-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

It is estimated that 1 in 5 runners will sustain a stress fracture (1). Of which, 69% occur in runners (2). Why? A few factors are involved; the repetitive nature of running and the force applied to the foot as it hits the ground roughly 2-3 times the force of the individual's body weight which when applied over a distance further exponentially increases the stress on the runner's foot. While both the repetitive nature of the sport and forces transmitted through the feet lend itself to resultant stress fracture, one study could "not correlate weekly mileage with the incident of stress fracture" (2). So then...

What other factors could be involved which lead to stress fractures?

Answer: two words "Muscle Strength"!! Why? One of the less thought of functions of muscles is they contract so as to "dampen" or reduce the impact of force as a body part, namely the foot hits the ground. Also, other muscles help bones to be resistant to bending under the applied forces. End result, reduction of stress on the bones and ultimately stress fractures! Recapped in english now, strong muscles; reduce the forces transmitted to the bones while properly aligning bones/joints so that less force is transferred to the bones.

Chiropractic Plays an Essential Role in Preventing or Rehabilitating Stress Fractures!

Oh but how? There are several reasons why chiropractic can help prevent or rehabilitate stress fractures whether metatarsal (foot), tibial (lower leg) or femoral (hip) but for the purpose of this article I will address just 2...

Firstly, Chiropractors are trained to examine and treat the whole body. Essentially, we understand how one part influences other parts. As the children's limerick goes "Your foot bone is connected to your leg bone, and so on". We understand each part of the body as it relates and impacts the whole entire body. I often explain to patients that completing a thorough orthopedic and neurological examination "is like reading a road map of the body". Tight muscles can't possibly be strong (because they are too busy being tight!). Misaligned joints or bones cause the length of a muscle or muscles attached to it to change thus impacting its performance and ability to be strong.

Let me share a real example to illustrate my point: Tight or weak calf muscles prevent it from properly dampening the force as your heel hits the ground which causes the foot to work harder leading to heel/arch pain diagnosed as "plantar fasciitis" in some cases. Chiropractors who perform soft tissue release can release tight muscles and then give you precise strength training exercises to do at home.

Secondly, we ALIGN the body from the ground up. Proper alignment of the body allows for the muscles attached to it to be in the best possible position or length. No matter how much weight training one performs, a muscle can not be strong if it is not at the proper length. There is plenty of research that supports the idea that some or all of an individual's knee pain can be remediated by restoring proper alignment to the pelvis through an adjustment. But how? A misaligned pelvis changes the way each leg communicates with the ground, over times this off-setting of forces is too much for the knee which then becomes painful (usually the inside aspect of the knee).

Please forgive my inability to convey in writing something that when visualised by the patient during a report of findings makes complete sense. Suffice it to say that chiropractors are primarily concerned with "balancing" the body thus allowing its components to function effectively. The body is physics at its best... muscles attached to bones form levers that create movement. Misalignment of any or all these parts compromise the strength and function of one or all of its parts.

References:
Adapted from: "Strength and Stress Fractures" Tom Michaud February 2012, Dynamic Chiropractic
(1) Bennell K., Malcom S., Thomas S., et al. "The incidence and distribution of stress fractures in competitive track and filed athletes. A twelve-month prospective study". Am J sPORTS MED, 1996;24:211-217.
(2) Matheson GO., Clement DB., McKenzie DC., "Stress fractures in athletes. A Study of 320 cases." Am J Sports Med, 1987;15:46-58.

Listen to your Body - It will tell you when it needs Treatment!

2012-01-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

Hello Again... I'm back from a self-imposed 'break'. Christmas celebrations in our house began the first weekend in December and continued through to the first week of January. Then early January our clinic attended the very successful "Bradford Greenhouse Women's Show" in Barrie, Ontario. Although I worked through the holidays, when I arrived home from work I made a conscious decision to be 'present' and that meant laptop and blackberry were turned off for the last month. I enjoy my job so why the break? Because the holiday season is so hectic that I needed a chance to breath and recuperate from the joyous chaos that comes with the season.

What would a Chiropractor do to 'Recuperate'?

Probably nothing different than what you would do; played with the kids, baked, yoga, skated & swam with the kids... oh AND, I listened to what my body and brain were telling me... I went to bed when the kids did!! (Please note: I don't have teenagers. I have 3 kids under 5 years old and so, this meant I was asleep no later than 9 pm most nights!). As you are aware, sleep is one of the best ways to regenerate ourselves - it's the time frame in which the body repairs itself. The idea of listening to what our body needs is a simple concept but one in which actually applying it is easier said than done! This brings me to the reason for this blog....

How Do I know WHEN to Receive Treatment?

Recently a handful of patients have asked "How do I know when it's time to receive treatment?" My response: "Listen to your body, it will tell you when it's time!". Let me explain... When you first begin chiropractic care or return after being away from care you might need to go more frequently until things resolve. After this is achieved, generally speaking most people can hold the treatment for about one month. This is what I do in my life! Why no longer than one month? Because after being treated you return to your daily life filled with repetitive movements and habitual postures that over the course of a month cause your body to unwind.

As previously discussed, I have been seeing a chiropractor once every month since the age of 22 and by doing so, I can count on one hand the number of times I needed to go more frequently. In other words, I can usually hold the adjustments for a month but if I've fallen, slept awkwardly, been pregnant, etc. then I make an appointment before the month is up. So that I'm clear here... like breathing and blinking, I go to the chiropractor once a month EVEN when I'm not in discomfort! And, should I ever feel 'pain' I go immediately rather then waiting.

It's Simple:
Do Something for Yourself
12 times in a year!

Will receiving treatment once per month work for everyone? No, absolutely not as there are always extenuating circumstances. However, the vast majority of individuals would derive great benefit from monthly, regular treatments. In essence I am talking about doing something for yourself 12 times in a year! Certainly, not a huge commitment in terms of your time and schedule but well worth the investment!!!

I will close by sharing with you that those patients who come every month (some have never missed a month with me since I started 7 years ago!) at some point usually ask me why more people don't adopt the same mindset. They, like me, have a hard time understanding why people choose to not try chiropractic and instead 'live in some degree of pain'!

Win a prize...

To encourage people to try chiropractic and to motivate others to adopt a monthly habit I have created the
"1 x 12 Chiropractic Club" just for fun! The what club? Recieve chiropractic treatment once every month for the 2012 year and your name will automatically be entered into a draw to win one of 3 great prizes (valued at $200, $100, and $50). All ages are eligible to win!

If you are an existing patient of Dr. Sarah's there is still time in January to get in for your appointment. And if you are a new patient I look forward to meeting with you. Health is a journey and when we meet, each person is at a different stage and usually has room for improvement – myself included!

It’s never too late to start feeling great.
Call Today and Benefit from Chiropractic!

Your Nervous System and Chiropractic - A Wonderful Relationship!

2011-12-20T11:26:00.000-08:00

I have been Chiropractor here in Barrie, Ontario for seven years and as mentioned previously I first started seeing a chiropractor as a teenager yet with all this experience I sometimes find it difficult to express what I know about chiropractic and why it can help many people. And so, I would like to share with you an exert from a poster that I read which was created by another chiropractor, Dr. Rob Shaw who explains why your brain and nervous system respond wonderfully to chiropractic.

"What do you use to see with? If you said your eyes… you're wrong. How about hearing? If you said ears… wrong again! You don't see or hear with your eyes or ears. Those are just end organs for collecting light and sound waves. To actually see and hear you have to interpret those waves with your nerves and brain (Nerve System) first.

In reality, you LIVE in your Nerve System. EVERYTHING you experience in life is processed through it… what you see, what you hear, what you feel. That's why Chiropractors care so much about it keeping it healthy. If your Nerve System is stressed, there goes your ability to interpret your world, and there goes your ability to successfully navigate life.

Regular adjustments keep your Nerve System clear so you can respond to life's challenges in a positive way. If you're feeling a little foggy, or just disconnected from the world, maybe it's time for some Nerve System house cleaning. Give your Chiropractor a call today and get reconnected to Life."


Nerves and their connections to all organs and bodily functions!

Nervous System + Chiropractic =

A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP!!

Thanks again Dr. Rob Shaw!

Christmas Shopping and Your BACK!

2011-12-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

Quick tips that you can do while Christmas shopping to ease the load on your back:

If you know you are going to be doing lots of buying try to reduce the amount of "carrying things" by renting a locker at the mall.

Wear GOOD shoes! Ditch fashionable shoes for "good 'ol fashioned running shoes". There's nothing worse than sore feet stopping your day short. AND, good shoes also help make your back happier when pounding the cement floors.

Strategically park your car. This means, if you are mall or plaza shopping park your car at one end of the mall and start purchasing at the opposite end (furthest from your car) therefore as your load gets heavier your car gets closer!

If the lockers are full go to your car to "unload" your purchases BUT pretend you are leaving and drive around to a new parking spot so if someone is watching you distract potential thieves.

Water, water and more water! Carry a water bottle with you so as to avoid dehydration. Shopping particularly at this time of year the stores are hot and dry.

If you live in Barrie, Ontario or another cold climate wear layers. I have a winter jacket that I wear but at the mall or stores I leave the outer lining in the car if I know I will be shopping for some time.

Smile - It's contagious! Kindness perpetuate kindness and so, when stuck in a line SMILE. A smile breaks down barriers and allows time to pass quickier when you engage in conversation with those shoppers who are also stuck in long Christmas lines with you!

This is certainly not an exhaustive list of things you can do for your back health during Christmas. Especially since looking after your back is not just a "holiday thing" but rather an everyday, year round thing!

Acupuncture Useful and Effective for Musculoskeletal Injuries!

2011-11-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Oakley dokily... shame on me I missed posting a blog last week AND it is not for a lack of ideas but rather a shortage of time! As we speak, I realised this morning that Christmas is around the corner AND the first of, no less than, three Christmas celebrations that we are hosting will be taking place this weekend! Yikes, very unfortunate as this will be one of the very few times without snow, which to some might seem impossible for Barrie, Ontario!! So, even though slightly pinched for time I feel oddly compelled to write this blog between batches of chocolate macaroons!

As previously mentioned, I grew up in a home that embraced Western medicine and if it weren't for a unfortunate turned fortunate visit to the chiropractor for a hockey injury which inadvertently addressed my daily headaches this blog may never have existed! Pretty philosophical for baking intermission, isn't it? But it's the truth. With knowledge, attitudes and concepts can change! And so, while in Chiropractic College I couldn't help but notice the volume of research, most of which was favourable, for acupuncture in terms of addressing Musculoskeletal issues. Acupuncture what?

How could becoming a human pin cushion be "therapeutic"?

Well, in my finally year of Chiropractic schooling I made a decision to take a McMaster University Contemporary Acupuncture programme for the sole purpose of determining for myself what all of this nonsense was about. I suppose the rest is history! And, for all the treatment outcomes I have witnessed perhaps the ones that cause my mouth to hit the floor in utter astonishment have been as a result of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is wonderful for Musculoskeletal

Injuries!

I will save how acupuncture works and its philosophy for another day but what I really want to convey are "real life" examples of the usefulness and effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for musculoskeletal issues - those that affect the muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments of the body. Can acupuncture address more than musculoskeletal injuries? ABSOLUTELY but as a Chiropractor, we are "musculoskeletal experts" and as such I like to treat what I know best leaving balancing hormones, stress reduction, adrenal fatigue, smoking cessation, fertility and cosmetic issues, etc to those practitioners who are "experts" in their field.

"REAL" Patients who have had success with acupuncture:

Golfers elbow with two treatments the patient continued to golf and the pain resolved.

Raynaud's Syndrome is a condition in which your hands (or feet) are continually cold beyond normal, with hands appearing white almost grey in colour. Upon insertion of the needles, the hands begin to emit heat and turn red!! I have had enough success with this that medical doctor's have begun to refer directly to me for acupuncture treatment.

A mechanic working with arms overhead had bursitis in both shoulders which causes discomfort during the day but most pronounced during the night. One treatment and the pain disappeared - the patient continues to rave about this even years later.

Post surgical swelling unrelenting from foot surgery. Within one treatment, the patient was able to put on her own shoe which she had been previously been unable to do for 3 weeks.

Osteoarthritis of the hands making them stiff, achy and swollen. One treatment and this patient is able to return to knitting! As an aside, knee osteoarthritis or "degenerative" change has shown favourable responses to acupuncture as well.

Ankle sprains... there are too many examples of how successful acupuncture is for this injury. The earlier, the better as it helps to reduce pain, swelling which I believe minimises the extent of the injury. Avid hikers who preform acupuncture carry needles with them so that if they roll an ankle they sit down, insert needles so that they can make it (walking) out of the woods!

Fracture healing... it reduces swelling, pain and bruising. When I broke my foot over a year ago, I immediately preformed acupuncture and convinced myself that it was not broken (smart I know!). The next morning, I gave in (to the pain and my pride - I broke it teaching my son skate boarding tricks!!) and went to the fracture clinic - I was concerned that because it "looked so good" from the treatments I would have a difficult time pleading my case of a fractured foot.

Low back pain with or without referral, headaches, neck pain have all responded to acupuncture. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list AND, just like any other therapeutic intervention whether physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage or medicine, not ever patient will respond in a similar manner and not ever patient is a candidate for acupuncture.

Perhaps the purpose of my macaroon baking intermission is to share with you these examples so that you or someone you know might consider acupuncture as a useful and effective therapeutic intervention. After all, had I not read such volumes of research in school I may never have been in a way "forced" to acknowledge the existence of acupuncture which then proved to be the catalyst sparking the desire to satisfy my curiosity into this typcially "Non-traditional", "Non-Western" concept. Fortunately, in doing so I stumbled upon a most wonderful little gem!

Oh and one finally comment about Acupuncture...

When you ask patients who might have reservations about acupuncture what concerns them most they invariably comment about not liking needles or that they think it might be painful. This is exactly what I thought as well and so, you would be happy to know that most report they can not even feel the needles being placed. This probably has a lot to do with the idea that the needles themselves are so small that they can fit into the opening of needles that are used to withdraw blood or inject substances.

With Knowledge, Attitudes and Concepts Can Change!

Be a Queen - Reclaiming Yourself "The Person"

2011-11-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

It's funny how at times in your life "things speak to you". I firmly believe that there is always a time and place in which things transpire for a reason. Lately, I have been making a more consistent, conscious effort to "RECLAIM MYSELF - the person". After finishing 8, most of which were arduous years, of school I began practicing as a Chiropractor in Barrie, Ontario and amidst trying to start a business, I had 3 Blessings (kids) in 5 years! I wouldn't change a thing so please don't misconstrue this as me complaining because I'm not. I have worked hard and am grateful for our life that is unfolding.

What I am trying to say is that somewhere in the mix as a mother I have left behind the "person". The reason for this blog is that I'm NOT alone - I know I'm not because I speak to women who routinely tell me that their only regret as a parent was that they "didn't do anything for themselves". How true and this transcends no matter your circumstances, be it social, economic or otherwise, etc. Pure and simple, as mother's we are "hardwired" to give of ourselves! I've decided to stop "mourning", if you will, the liberties I had when I wasn't a mother. You know when you could just "get up and go" without packing one said diaper and snack bag! During that time, oddly enough, I also had personal aspirations for myself... continuing with piano lessons, finishing my black belt in karate, running an "official" distance race, etc.

Newsflash...

I am more than just a mother, wife and chiropractor!!

I had to make a conscious effort not to mourn my "before life" nor long for an ability to do everything that I was able with ease because I am aware that a time will soon come in which having ALL the time in the world to myself will mean that my nest is empty! AND, that will be a sad day! So, for the time being - particularly with the age of my kids (5, 3 and 1) I am reclaiming myself knowing that there will be a time and place for everything.

On a daily basis, fitting "me" the person into our hectic, often chaotic life means I involve the kids in MY yoga and Pilate sessions. Some days, I take my life into my own hands with the baby thinking this is the greatest thing - mom defenseless on the floor tied in some knot!! I've returned to reading which I have always cherished a good book while sipping a nice herbal tea or coffee. Of course, reading now means no hazardous HOT beverages and ignoring my one year old beside me splashing with the remnants of his spilt sippie cup on the table! Being that my parenting resume extends officially to 5 years in experience, I recognize that I'm still in the "figuring out" stage of things but bit, by bit I try to find myself in the chaos of raising children, being a wife and owning a business. Some days, this is easier said than done!

And so, I would like to share with you an exert from a book that I'm reading called "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul". It spoke to me and I hope it will do the same for you!

Oprah Winfrey's 1993 address to the graduates of an all female

Spelman College commencement:

Be a Queen!

"Be a queen. Dare to be different. Be a pioneer. Be a leader. Be the kind of woman who in the face of adversity will continue to embrace life and walk fearlessly toward the challenge. Take it on! Be a truth seeker and rule your domain, whatever it is - your home, your office, your family - with a loving heart.

Be a queen. Be tender. Continue to give birth to new ideas and rejoice in your womanhood... My prayer is that we will stop wasting time being mundane and mediocre... We are daughters of God - here to teach the world how to love...

It doesn't matter what you've been through, where you come from, who your parents are - nor your social or economic status. None of that matters. What matters is how you choose to love, how you choose to express that love through your work, through your family, through what you have to give to the world...

Be a queen. Own your power and your glory!"

Oprah Winfrey

Three Things I Learned From Detox Programs!

2011-11-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

This week's article will be shorter than usual and purely based on the PERSONAL revelations that I have made during and following a detox. Detoxing programs seem to be hugely fashionable as of late and over the last 6 years I have tried to incorporate a detox period twice a year. Being that I have had 3 kids in the last 6 years, this has meant that I do a detox before getting pregnant and then not again until I finish nursing! Funny enough, a quick witted patient asked me the other day "which one was this for me?" - being that my "baby" is 14 months and I seem to usually announce a pregnancy around now!! So, for the record... there is no baby currently on board!

Types of Detoxification Programs:

There are so many different types of detoxification programs that it would make your head spin. Over the years, I have done several; one from a nutritional company called "Metagenics", two under the guidance of my Naturopath, and sometimes I do one in which I self impose restrictions such as NO: wheat, gluten, dairy, eggs or sugar! A great book to use as a reference for this is called "Finally Foods I Can Eat!" by Shirley Plant. The one I am currently doing is from Isagenix. Why Isagenix? Because patients have been asking me about it and so, I could not answer their questions until I tried it myself!

A word of Caution regarding Detoxification Programs:

NOT EVERYONE is a candidate for randomly hopping on a detox program. Those individuals using medications, or who suffer from kidney, liver, heart disease or diabetes, etc. should consult a trained professional such as a Naturopath or Registered Dietitian who can properly guide them through an appropriate program. Certainly, healthy individuals should engage their brains when choosing a program... I have heard about several "unhealthy" ways and so, I would encourage you to use some common sense! There are NO quick fixes to becoming or being healthy... it's consistent, daily effort!

Here's what I have learned from Detoxing:

FIRSTLY, no matter which of the above methods I have used to detox there is always the same "light bulb moment" - when I realize that I had been eating for reasons other than actually being hungry! It's completely amazing how many times during the day you "find" yourself hungry but if you really examined "why" it's usual NOT because you are hungry. Rather, you and I eat emotionally meaning because we are stressed, angry, tired, upset, etc.!! Detoxing helps me get the "habit" of eating back on track. In doing so, you begin to re-train yourself and ask "am I eating for hunger or for pleasure?" each time you open the fridge or cupboard.

SECONDLY, when you eat to solve hunger you begin to make better food choices - those that are more apt to sustain you. If you are eating for reasons other than hunger then you start to spike your blood sugar frequently throughout the day. In other words, when you eat, your blood sugar spikes then drops and before you know it, you are on a roller coaster ride! Every time it drops you "feel" hungry AGAIN!

LASTLY, detoxes are a wonderful way to kick start some weight loss BUT if after finishing a program you return to your old eating habits, no matter what program you used you will be sure to add the weight you lost and then some! Food is a socialized habit that begins when you are a child. If you are a parent of little people start talking to them about good food choices. No matter their age you can begin to influence them by the way you speak with them about food. Because we consistently discuss food choices my 2.5 year old was (and still is) able to tell you which foods are "super foods"... those with antioxidant capabilities. You CAN have your toddlers racing each other to eat their broccoli first. Am I perfect?... Absolutely NOT! No one is and so, for YOU like ME it requires constant, daily effort to make better choices while also allowing some pleasure foods to sneak onto your plate!

Mind Body Connection - Simplified!!

2011-10-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College - CMCC

How excited was I to be returning to school at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College yesterday for a conference on Cumulative Trauma Injury! I love to learn, am a nerd at heart and whenever time permits (usually while eating lunch) I try to stay "current" with the latest research.

The conference was great with some of the most notable Chiropractic researchers and epidemiologists presenting. I thought it would be appropriate to provide you with an illustration from the conference presented by Dr. Aviad Haramati, PhD on how the mind and body are connected. This really ties nicely into last weeks blog that I wrote on "Breathing Better For Your Health!"

Mind and Body Connection - Simple Illustration

Dr. Aviad Haramati

The topic of how the mind (thoughts, feelings, fears, etc.) affects our body and all its systems is actually not easy to understand without some background in biology, biochemistry, anatomy and neuroanatomy. For that reason, I often struggle to explain this concept to patients and in doing so, I feel the gravity of this mind body connection is lost. Perhaps the best illustration that I've ever heard came found our first presenter
Dr. Haramati. He had the audience get comfortable in our chairs, deep breathing while he explained the following scenario: "Imagine you are in your kitchen, on your counter you find a vibrant yellow pulp lemon. You smell it. Slice it in half and the juices spray out. You bite into it and the juices spray some more!"

Here's how the MIND is Connected to the BODY:

In this lemon illustration, when surveyed most of the audience said they began to salivate at thought of the lemon and others began to almost drool at the thought of biting into it. How is it that your "MIND" thought about a lemon and in doing so it caused your "BODY" to send a message to your salivary glands in your mouth which then actually created saliva!! Simply put, your mind is connected to your body and causes changes in your body and its systems. This is PHENOMENAL!!

Great Dr. Sarah...

But what does this mean to ME and my LIFE?!

Wonderful and thanks for asking! In one word, EVERYTHING!! Ever smell something (a perfume, dinner cooking) and it reminds you of someone or something! Have you ever received a not so good email and immediately your heart rate and pulse increase. Again a thought has caused the body to react! There is no shortage of examples to illustrate how the mind and body is connected but what does it mean to you and your life or health. It means that how you think and feel affects your body. AND, if left unsupervised, your mind can have a negative and dramatic affect on your body and its system. In a day and age where there is NO shortage of STRESS we really need to focus on properly dissipating it from our bodies.

How to Foster a Healthy and Positive

MIND BODY Connection:

Dr. Haramati gave us suggestions to help foster a positive mind and body connection which in doing so helps remove the deleterious effects of stress on your health. These included but are certainly not limited to: Mediation, Imagery, Exercise, Breathing Exercises, Yoga, TaiChi and Group support. Find what works for you and begin (or continue)! Start by taking inventory of your thought. Then control the negative one!

How can Chiropractic HELP with this Connection?

Wonderful question!... As a chiropractor I can't believe the number of people who just "live with the discomfort" and when you ask them how long they have had it they say either "I'm not sure" or "I didn't even know it was painful until you found it". This is scary! What this means to me is that an awful lot of people have DISCONNECTED THEIR MIND FROM HOW THEIR BODY IS FEELING. Yikes!! Amazingly, one of the common "side-effects" of recieving chiropractic treatment is that patients become more aware of their body and how it's feeling. This is very typical of the feedback that I receive following the first few treatments. And little do they know that joy fills my heart that they have on some level "Re-Connected their MIND to their BODY".

Breathing Better For Your Health!

2011-10-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

Driving home from work this Saturday I had decided then that I should write an article on how to breathe correctly and the health benefits of breathing better! It is a topic that I discuss often with patients, in fact one that I had discussed at work that day AND little did I know then that I would need to apply it to myself that very evening! (more on that later).

Most of us can't help but be entangled in the speed with which the world and society around us moves. The pace is astounding some days! And certainly not healthy... but why? Because in order to keep pace with the world, our body particularly the nervous system is always on HIGH when it should really be idling most of the time on LOW. In a nutshell, there's 2 parts to our nervous system - one that gets us moving (Sympathetic) and one that calms us (Parasympathetic).

Here's a Simple Analogy to Help Explain the Different parts of your Nervous System...

Prehistorically if you were trying to escape from a wild, dangerous animal your adrenaline would start pumping, your heart rate would increase, your eyesight becomes very keen all of which would allow you to run safely away! Your sympathetic nervous system "gets you moving" and allows you to accomplish this. Whereas, the parasympathetic part calms you down from such an event and slows your heart rate, lowers adrenaline, allows digestion and other systems to function properly. Still confused? If your body always "feels" like it is "running away from a bear" you will exhaust your nervous system and other parts of your health will become compromised! Why? Because while running away from a bear do we stop to eat properly? NO! Do we feel the need to have a bowel movement? NO again! Why? Because this is the responsibility of your parasympathetic nervous system. It is during quiet, less stressful times that we nourish & restore our body and allow all systems to function optimally.

But I've Never Even Seen a BEAR!?

In today's world you are right... the likelihood of actually being chased by a bear or wild animal is not very high - especially in "Bear-ie" (Barrie, Ontario - I couldn't help myself!). However, any lights and sounds are stimuli that can evoke a sympathetic nervous response which mimics being chased. Take for example, the bombardment our nervous system deals with in order to drive a car, particularly on the highway in which things are moving rather quickly. Take note the next time you drive of your pulse during rush hour for example - it's probably high!

Here's the Key - It's All STRESS!

Your body has a hard time distinguishing between good and bad stress - to our nervous system it's all the same! Everywhere you look our world is filled with bears; traffic, kids awakening you during the night, difficult neighbor and disagreement at work, the list is extensive. Our world has made it such that you feel it's natural to be a rat running on a wheel. And so, this is how we exhaust our nervous system and degrade our health overtime!

How Your Chiropractor Can Help You!

Aside from the effects that poor breathing mechanics have on our health... when our body becomes accustomed to short, shallow breathing the associated breathing muscles become short and tight which restrict joint movement - particularly of the ribs. This can lead to an array of symptoms for patients with the most common being pain between the shoulder blades. Significantly irritated ribs also prevent proper neck movement so commonly patients report difficultly or pain when checking their blind spot while driving. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but suffice it to say that in addition to teaching people how to breathe, as a chiropractor it's my job to help make the body better able to breathe properly by improving joint movement and decreasing muscle adhesions. Additional reading on rib involvement please refer to this article entitled: "What's that Pain between my Shoulder Blades?"

Purposeful Breathing is Healthy!

Here's where taking time to breathe properly comes into play... when our body is supercharged on high we take short, shallow breaths which is typical of the sympathetic response. To evoke a parasympathetic response which counteracts the day's rather "stressful" events you need to take long, deep and purposeful breaths.

How to Breathe Properly...

Breathe in through your nose for a count of 7 seconds. Hold for 4 seconds. Breathe out through your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat from start for 5-10 minutes. If you aren't accustomed to breathing properly you might find this extremely difficult. But keep trying not only will it get easier with time but it will become more instinctive. As a mother of 3 young children - I'm constantly "idling" on HIGH and as such, I frequently use this breathing technique. And, while I would love an opportunity to sit in a meditative position with candles and relaxation music playing softly in the background - this is not realistic in my house! Or rather, "mission impossible". And so, I am resolved to the idea that anywhere I can manage a few rounds of good breathing I do so. For me, this means I use this technique while I drive to work, at lunch time, before or after a stressful day,event or presentation and when cooking dinner. I was trying to faithfully apply it just prior to falling asleep but found that I fell into such a deep sleep that I was not waking up for our baby!

And so, Saturday evening when my Twitter account (@BarrieChiro) was hacked and started spewing out spam messages that were less than endearing to my followers - guess what I did to "tame the bear"?

I BREATHED - 7 seconds in, 4 second hold and 8 seconds out! REPEATED!!

Boost and Optimize your Immune System!

2011-10-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

It is around that time of year again when the weather becomes unpredictable and particularly if you happen to live in the Barrie, Ontario area you might have "prematurely" packed away your summer wardrobe only to pull it all back out this week! In fact, this weekend we realized that our 14 month old could use new sandals but decided against investing in a pair for what will probably and rather unfortunately be the last blast of the summer. All of this volatility in weather patterns makes for a wonderful breeding ground for colds and flus. And so, as the sniffles begin anew in our house (and yours!) I am reminded that it is that time of year to address how to boost and optimize your immune system function.

What I do to Boost and Optimize my Children's Immunity?

A few years ago, after discussing what I do with my kids anytime they are feeling under the weather with a patient (and mother of two little people who are also patients!) I was "gently scolded" that I should let other people know! And this mother was RIGHT - I should broadcast it every year but I suppose being around chiropractic since the age of 13 years, it's almost like second nature and as silly as it sounds, you really do forget that others may not be on the same page. This is a snippet of the conversation I had with this mother... "I have adjusted my children since the moment they have been born and since then they receive regular, monthly treatments. In fact, I see my own chiropractor once per month and this is my reminder to come home and do the same for my kids! However, as soon as one seems "under the weather"; has a runny nose, complains of a sore stomach, has gas or diarrhea, is constipated, has
a cold, coughs, pulls at an ear, or generally just seems "out of sorts", etc. I automatically adjust them.

Why Adjust to Boost and Optimize Immunity?

Because adjustments have been shown to increase our bodies immunoglobins - a fancy word meaning cells that act as our defense system against colds, flus and germ invaders, etc. Will an adjustment cure them? Probably not, but it does create an environment in which the body has the best chance to do that which it is designed to do - ward or fight off intruders those being germs, flus, bugs and colds."

What does Research say about the Health Benefits of Chiropractic?

A review of research was conducted in 2004 and found that "Chiropractic adjustments confer health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. Objective physiological changes and their associated health benefits can be easily measured in a number of body systems. Statistically significant improvements in; respiration, range of motion and heart rate were found. As well as in autonomic, endocrine, cardiovascular and immune functions. Improved reaction & information processing times, visual acuity,
stress & reproductive hormones, healing & recovery times,
general health of senior citizens, and reduced labour times of pregnant women"
(Dr. Sean Hannon, "Objective Physiologic Changes and Associated Health Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments in Asymptomatic Subjects 2004).

Other Health Benefits to being Adjusted:

Gastrointestinal Discomfort and Constipation...

I often comment to patients that I wish they could be a fly on my office wall... Why? So they can see what transpires during or as a consequence of chiropractic treatment. For example, this week I had a 3 week old baby return with the parents asking me to "do what you did the first time you treated our son". I laughed as I had already been told that following his first treatment at 7 days old, he did what most children do which is to have a very substantial bowel movement as a consequence of being treated. His parents now noticed that he was uncomfortable with excessive gas so they had returned ahead of his scheduled appointment. Parents of toddlers and older children comment that they are not able to get home and must stop en route to allow their children to use a bathroom after being treated.

Nursing...

Recently another infant preferred nursing only on one side and after feeling the baby's neck I was able to tell the mother, much to her surprise, which side her baby favoured. I "adjusted" him which for infants is a non-forceful, light pressure and mom reported that since then her baby is nursing on both sides equally! Feeling the neck of other children, I am usually able to tell the parents which ear corresponds with their last bout of an ear ache or infection.

There are also things we can do for sinus congestion which after treating patients either comment before getting off the table or upon reaching the first intersection on their way home, their nasal congestion was relieved or improved.This list certainly does not encompass everything - in fact, we've not mentioned conditions like colic and asthma that have shown to benefit from chiropractic. A mother commented that her daughter with ADHD sleeps better after being adjusted and wakes up feeling more rested.

Will Chiropractic Solve Everything?

No! And that's certainly not what I am saying. Rather, Chiropractic reduces nerve interference which allows the body to function optimally. It helps the body focus on the task at hand, whatever that may be at any given time. When our nervous system if free of interference, it is able to do its job! Consider the following analogy... ever try talking to one person in a room full of people? It's hard to hear because of all the "background noise". Well Chiropractic treatment works to remove your body's "background noise" leaving the body, nervous system and all other systems to operate optimally, in relative peace and harmony without interference.

Take advantage of our October New Patient Promotion!

(Call our office for details)

Compliment your Chiropractic Care with Biofreeze, Medistik and Ultimate Glucosamine

2011-10-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Today's blog is about sharing a few things that I have learned along the way from over 11 years of clinical work in the field of Chiropractic (and from being a Chiropractic consumer for twice as long!)... The only products I recommend to patients are the ones I use myself! I find the following three to be a wonderful compliment to Chiropractic care. What I mean is that while Chiropractic treatment is focused on addressing the underlying reason(s) for the pain or condition these products offer temporary relief of discomfort.

The first product and one that has been with me the longest is an ointment called "Biofreeze". As the name suggests it freezes the area. In doing so, I find it relieves the perception of pain because the cold preoccupies you. There are other neurophysiological reasons why it is effective but feel that an explanation is beyond the scope of this article. Biofreeze is very helpful if you want the benefits of ice or cold applications but can't apply an actual compress while you are physically active.

If cold is what you want then Biofreeze is what you need - it's powerful and long lasting! After applying Biofreeze to a patient's back I immediately wash my hands. Several hours later, as I leave for the day grabbing the steering wheel of the car I am always surprised that it feels like ice! The small amount of Biofreeze that had penetrated my hands earlier in the day had remained making the otherwise cool steering wheel feel icy. Biofreeze has a crew of followers, I have found that those individuals who like Biofreeze are faithful to it and return or re-order when their tube is empty. Further information about biofreeze can be found at: www.biofreeze.com

However, as much as I had liked Biofreeze for its effective, ability to penetrate and lasting effects I listened when people commented, "but I hate feeling cold!" And so, I researched and introduced a second ointment called "Medistik". One of the first things that caught my attention was that the product advertised itself as helping with arthritis both osteoarthritis (degenerative, wear and tear type) and rheumatoid (genetic, inflammatory and often painful joint condition). Up until this point, I had not found an ointment that claimed to help specifically with rheumatoid arthritis.

Medistik also has anti-inflammatory properties which assist in reducing pain. I believe it has one of the highest doses of salicylate allowed without prescription. Whenever the body is injured or strained, an inflammatory response occurs so as to assist in healing and repair. To a certain degree inflammation is a natural part of healing however, if left to get out of hand excessive inflammation results in pain!

Very rarely do I need to use ointments but I am of the opinion that when you apply an ointment - it should work! And Medistik has never failed me. I have used Medistik on an infected toe joint so that I could manage the pain of putting on my shoe in order to finish work and then go for xrays. Then when I broke my foot trying to teach my four year old how to do skate boarding tricks I used Medistik and was able to "convince" myself that it was just a bad sprain! When it comes to Medistik, I like the confidence in knowing that it doesn't fail in terms of results. When travelling, I keep it in our overnight bags just in case! And, it's a product that I have shipped to friends and family for years. The only draw back is that people on blood thinners or those who have a salicylate allergy should not use it. Oh and, I have received a few emails from patients who mistook Medistik as deodorant and applied it to their armpits!! Further information about Medistik can be found at www.medistik.com

The final product and perhaps my greatest find is a powdered supplement called "Ultimate Glucosamine". I had been frustrated with the glucosamine that I was carrying and using... how could I expect my patients to remember and hence, receive the full benefit of glucosamine if I couldn't even remember to take one tablet 3 times each day?! Around the same time, I was also looking for an effective substitute for over-the-counter oral anti-inflammatory medications. Commonly I would be asked by patients who had strained their backs, "what can I take instead of medicine". After 2 years of research, I found "Ultimate Glucosamine" which addressed both of my concerns; you take it once per day for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis and twice daily if you have injured or strained yourself! Brilliant... now more on why it's one of my favourite supplements!

Aside from being user-friendly and its anti-inflammatory properties Ultimate Glucosamine can also be added directly to your food or drinks. I add it to my morning coffee without a change in taste! It's also free of "fillers" particularly salts. It is 100% N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine while other types called "glucosamine sulphate" or "glucosamine chondrotin" are salts, not usable by our bodies and must be broken down into guess? N-acetyl-D-glucosamine! Therefore, with Ultimate Glucosamine it is readily available in a form that is immediately usable by our bodies. The company has done research and has categorized it as "diabetic friendly" and therefore, can be used by diabetics! The feedback has been wonderful... in fact, patients buy and give it to their parents who rave that, "they no longer feel stiff and sore in the mornings!" According to research, glucosamineGlucosamine can be found at www.ultimateglucosamine.com

Can you or someone you know benefit from these products?

They are available for purchase online!

Click here: Biofreeze, Medistik, Ultimate Glucosamine

Addressing Stigmas Associated with Chiropractic

2011-09-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

At the age of 15 years, following a hockey injury in which I was cross checked into the boards from behind, my father took me to a Chiropractor for the first time. Turns out he not only fixed my mid back injury but after years of suffering and "living with" my headaches also resolved. These were headaches that several doctors, a neurologist and optometrist concluded were related to my "personality" that of a conscientious student. In essence, "my head hurt because I used my brain too much"?! I didn't need anymore proof... this Chiropractor had done the impossible and I guess you can say that the rest is history - I was hooked from that point forward. And now being a Chiropractor I still see my own Chiropractor once a month just to keep on top of things. Now, I don't go to the Chiropractor because of pain, instead I go to keep myself healthy, aligned and without pain. Essentially, I'm going today to help my health for tomorrow!!

Being that I was so young when I first visited a Chiropractor, I was not "wise to the world" yet. Therefore, I held no biases, prejudices or preconceived notions. Heck, I did not even know what a Chiropractor was and what they did. As a young person, I was judging Chiropractic on the basis of outcome. The treatment solved my complaint and addressed my headaches which up until that point I apparently had no other option but to "live with them".

It's very unfortunate that some of these preconceived notions about Chiropractic prevents people from even considering it as a treatment option. In practice, I ask each new patient if they have had Chiropractic experience in the past and if yes, what did they like and not like about the experience. And so, I would like to share with you some of the most common concerns that people have about Chiropractic. In doing so, it is my hope that we remove the negative stigma surrounding certain aspects of Chiropractic so that more can benefit from it.

Whenever a new patient brings up a negative experience regarding Chiropractic it has been my finding that they are not usually unhappy with the Chiropractic treatment per say, but rather the individual Chiropractor's approach and/or office policy. As such, I always thank them for trying Chiropractic again. Not every Chiropractor practices the same way; different treatments, techniques, approaches and personalities. For this reason, I believe there is a practitioner for every patient... and as a consumer of Chiropractic, you have to continue searching until you find the right one for you! Giving up before then is nothing short of a travesty.

Addressing Stigmas Associated with Chiropractic:

Here are some more specific examples that I hear from people who are uncertain about Chiropractic...

I don't like my neck being adjusted... this is fair. As humans, we are highly visual and as such, we don't like to relinquish control over our heads. Losing head control means that our visual field becomes disturbed. An easy solution is to ask the patient to close his/her eyes during a neck adjustment.

Some also comment that they do not like the "cracking" sound that can accompany an adjustment. Since your neck is closest to your ears, the sound of the adjustment is heard louder than if your low back was being adjusted. Each joint is surrounded by a fluid environment and so when a force is delivered, there is a pressure change within the joint and an air bubble is released making a "cracking" sound. If a manual adjustment is not desired, there are other ways to treat the neck which do not result in sounds and remain equally effective... this is where feedback is very important. I often say to patients that we are a team and feedback is imperative. There are many ways that I can apply my knowledge to treat but if I don't know to change my technique I can't or won't know to do things differently.

Is Chiropractic Manipulation Safe?

This is a very common question and obviously a very important one! One of the reasons for a history and physical examination is to determine the appropriateness of care whether physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic and medicine. Is there risk involved in treatment... Absolutely any of the previously mentioned therapies carry some sort of risk. Every day we encounter risk... there are risks in getting into your car and driving to work. When it comes to Chiropractic, not all people should be manually adjusted and as such, there are other options for them. For example, if seniored with low bone density mobilizations (non-force method of allowing the joints to move) or activator instrument is apporpriate.

According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, "Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a drug-free, non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as headache, and neck and back pain. As such, it is a low risk therapy. Complications arising from adjustment are rare."

Another concern people raise about Chiropractic is "there's nothing they can do for me because I don't want to be adjusted". Fair enough, but become a savy consumer call a Chiropractor's office and ask, "what else can they do for me instead of an adjustment?" There are some Chiropractors, like myself, who have continuing education in soft tissue release and acupuncture. I realized in my Chiropractic schooling that not everyone likes to be adjusted and not every should be adjusted and as such, being a muskuloskeletal expert I apply my knowlege about the human body using different techniques. At the root of being a Chiropractor, I have a strong desire to help people feel better and the more "tools" in my toolbox the better I can be at treating people within their comfort zone.

Once I start going, I need to continue for life...unfortunately I hear this a lot. I believe this concept has its roots in the way we are "socialized" to view our health. Typically we learn as children that we see a doctor when we are "unwell" or in pain. I believe in a bigger continuum of "health care" where the medical world and Chiropractic work hand in hand for the benefit of the individual - perhaps just at opposite ends of the continuum.

The true beauty of Chiropractic lies in trying to prevent "ill health". My mottos is: "Be Healthy by Choice! Move, Live, Birth and Grow well with Chiropractic!" We need to be preventative about our health rather than reactive or reacting only when there is "ill health". Address things before they become painful and for this to occur having a Chiropractic treatment or "tune up" once per month is the way to prevent issues from arising in the first place. It's much more beneficial to prevent tooth decay with annual or bi-annual cleanings then to wait until a cavity forms before seeing a dentist. Once the initial reason for your visit to the Chiropractor has been solved, I try to encourage patient's to "elect" to receive treatment once every month. This is what I have been doing for years and what I do for my own children. Once the pain is gone, people often have no motivating factor to continue with regular maintnance care. The bigger picture is that your health should be the most important motivation of all. Remember: Be Healthy by Choice!

To end, it's up to you to be a smart consumer not just of Chiropractic but of all the information that our world bombards us with. If you've tried Chiropractic before and didn't like the doctor, office policies, techiques or outcome... TRY AGAIN! Painting all Chiropractors with the same brush stroke is unfair and ultimately, you deprive yourself of receiving care and the health benefits that Chiropractic has to offer.

During the month of October, each year I waive the Initial Visit Fee (Value: $80.00) for examination of new Chiropractic patients. It is my hope that by doing so, it will encourage those who are contemplating Chiropractic to try it! For further information please contact our office.

Improve Your Posture and Feel Great!

2011-09-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

The “New You” - It’s in your Posture!

The Wonders of Improved Posture:

Want to unlock the key to increased energy, effortless breathing, improved circulation and improved appearance by… are you ready? Improving your posture!! Don’t you find that people with good posture seem to carry themselves with greater confidence? Good posture will also make you look taller and slimmer! And when your body is aligned, it contributes to good health. But how could something so simple dramatically improve your quality of life?

Why Improve Your Posture?

Your spine has 4 main curves – two forward curves (in the neck and lower back) and two backward curves (in the middle back and base of the spine). By maintaining balance in these curves good posture is achieved. These curves are important as they help the body move and absorb the force of impact as our feet hit the ground. With poor posture, there is a change in these curves which increases the demands on our joints, ligaments and muscles in the spine therefore causing strain and discomfort. In doing so, we move inefficiently and end up draining our energy. Left long enough pain begins and can further zap your energy!

Oh and small "post-it note" here: the spine houses our nervous system... which would also become "distressed" by poor posture decreasing the brain's ability to send/recieve information to/from the body via its only route the spinal cord and neves.

How to Improve Your Posture:

But what is “good posture” and how can it be achieved? These are very common questions! First of all, posture is a habit that we learned as children so like any habit, it takes time to modify – so don’t get discouraged. It also might surprise you to know that it will initially be very uncomfortable when trying to improve our posture because the muscles and ligaments have become accustom to being “lazy”. Similar to any muscle, our postural muscles need to be trained in order to become stronger.

Improved Posture Exercise:

The easiest way to determine proper posture is by leaning against a wall with our heels, shoulders and back of our head touching the wall. That’s great but how do I know if I’m maintaining proper posture while sitting at my desk? or driving the car? or when I’m walking? Do this simple exercise: Looking straight ahead, shrug your shoulders up and circle them backwards as far as possible then drop them down. This achieves perfect posture!

Be Kind to Your Spine:

Now that proper posture is being achieved, it’s important that you “be kind to your spine” so avoid carrying heavy bags/purses on one shoulder, putting a wallet in your back pocket, cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear or falling asleep on the armrest of the couch. Lastly, if you are experiencing pain, don’t just ignore it! Get treatment as unnecessary strain on your spine can lead to premature degeneration. A chiropractor is a valuable resource in this area - it's our job to evaluate posture and provide advise regarding how you can improve it. Along with this, we are one of the only professions concerned with making sure the joints in your spine are moving optimally. We find and make corrections either by using our hands or an activator instrument. Making sure that joints at each level of the spine are moving well decreases muscle tension, strain on the body and improves the nervous system's ability to due its job - that of communicating messages from the brain, down the spinal cord and out to the nerves that feed all organs and tissues in the body. In turn, you feel better!

Add Chiropractic and "Feel like a Million Bucks":

It is always really neat to work with patients who have not had any chiropractic experience or treatment... a new patient last week said that following his first treatment with me he was telling everyone that he "felt like a million bucks!". After one treatment, his pain had lessened to stiffness and the knife that had been stabbing him in the back was gone! Now by properly aligning the spine, he has a better foundation to begin working on improving his own posture!

Source: CCA

Improving Sports Performance with Chiropractic

2011-09-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dan O'Brien "You can’t compete at your fullest if you’re not in alignment."

In my 7 years of clinical practice in Barrie, Ontario I have been fortunate to work with gifted athletes in various specialities ranging from semi professional baseball & hockey players, to Olympians, marathoners, dual & triathletes and Ironman competitors. It is always extremely fascinating to work with these athletes as their bodies are finely tuned and calibrated machines. However, when their body becomes misaligned in the slightest, it can have profound effects on them in terms of injury or sports performance. For example a marathon runner takes approximately 40,000 steps in which 2-3 times the force of their body weight is going through each foot as it slams the ground. If the arch of their foot is failing by collapsing too much then this adds unnecessary strain on the rest of their body and predisposes them to injury (see explanation on the effects of altered foot function) (http://barriechiro.blogspot.com/p/httpwwwbloggercompage.html).

The best analogy that I can provide in terms of understanding how subtle misalignments in the body can overtime have profound impact on injury and sports performance comes from the following scenario: ever drive a car in which the wheel alignment is slightly off? Overtime, notice that your hand gets sore or tired from trying to counteract the pull of the car on the steering wheel. The same is true of the body. Forces are always acting or pulling but when the body is properly aligned these forces have less impact.

"I could not have won without my chiropractor's help!"

It's simple physics! At the root of any injury is the failure of some part of the body to meet the physical demands placed upon it. When placed under too much load any structure will fail. Often times, if the body is not properly aligned the forces acting upon it have changed which causes unnecessary, excessive load and failure is unavoidable. Chiropractic focuses on aligning the whole body from feet to pelvis and spine. In doing so, like a well oiled machine, chiropractic allows the forces that act upon the body to be minimized. Reducing the force upon the body translates to decreased likelihood of injury. This is one reason why most elite level athletes get adjusted regularly. In fact, professional athletes usually have a chiropractor as part of their touring entourage. When I played for Team Ontario in women's hockey we had our own Chiropractor who went to all our games and practices.

"The best way, is to use chiropractors, not only after injuries, but also before injury."

Aside from properly aligning the body through chiropractic, I also use soft tissue release techniques to assist in reducing tension and adhesions in the muscles. With some individuals soft tissue release therapy can allow the body to adjust better and keeps the adjustment holding longer. Why address muscles? With repetitive use, strain or injury muscles become short and tight thus restricting movement of the underlying joint.

Hyperextended (1) or Too contracted (2) both will effect force

Furthermore, from a biomechanical perspective, whenever a muscle is shortened its ability to generate strength is also compromised. The surrounding muscles then begin to work "overtime" to compensate and with time also become strained and irritated as indicated by the diagnosis of bursitis or tendinitis. To better explain consider the following: each muscle has an optimal resting length or a length at which it is best able to generate maximum force. Consider your biceps muscle, if your arm is straightened too much, there comes a point in which you are unable to perform a biceps curl. The opposite is also true in which if the biceps is placed in a shortened position (already contracted) then it is also weak. If it is put at opposite extremes (either hyperextended/elbow straightened or contracted/elbow bent) it will not generate as much force. Maximum force is generated when the arm is slightly bent - this is the biceps "optimal length". Any variation from this position - even slightly will begin to effect the strength of the muscle contraction. That is why it is important to release muscle or soft tissue adhesions.

Does everyone need to have the soft tissue addressed as well as an adjustment? No, it depends on the individual and condition being treated. But treating the soft tissue removes adhesions thus ensuring that the optimal resting length of the muscle is achieved so that maximum strength is generated which greatly impacts performance. Once the muscle is released its strength immediately improves and is readily noticeable by the patient. I perform pre and post treatment muscle strength testing - in english, before and after treating a specific muscle I isolate it and tests its strength. Before being treated it is weak (because of the adhesions and shortened length) and following the muscle release technique I retest its strength and there is usually an improvement which is obvious to the patient.

As Chiropractors we are trained in assessing the body - joint range of motion and muscle tension or tightness in doing so, we find problems before you feel "pain" making it a natural fit for competitive athletes as we work towards gaining an edge on their competition! I often tell my patients that the body is like a "road map" you just need to know how to read it - that's my job and helping people is my passion.

Choosing Proper Footwear - A Few Tricks!

2011-08-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

Guess what?! Joggers and marathon runners aren’t the only people who need to be wearing “running shoes”. In fact people who are always on the move whether it be shopping or chasing children need to make sure their feet are properly supported. Therefore, save your flip-flops for the beach. Sure, flip-flops are generally inexpensive to buy but they might just end up being very costly on your body in the long run. When it comes to choosing footwear for your kids, price may not be the only consideration!

So how do you choose a proper pair of shoes? In order to answer consider the following:

Running Shoe

Cross trainer

Function: Do you plan on jogging or running with them? If yes, there are specific shoes. Incidentally, if you jog or run often you need to consider having a pair of shoes that you use only for this activity. However if your plan is for multi-use then consider a cross trainer or walking shoe. General difference between a running shoe and cross trainer: a running shoe tends to be more flexible, lighter with smaller treads and a cross trainer as its name suggests is meant for more varying terrains and as such it is heavier and more stable in design. For kids, I recommend a cross trainer because let's face it they tend to be "rough on their shoes" and use them for a variety of activities.

Your foot type: You need to buy a shoe that accommodates your foot. Typically there are 2 types of feet either with high arches (supinators) or low (pronators). A supinated foot is very rigid and lacks the ability to adequately absorb shock so it needs a shoe with a lot of cushioning. On the other hand, a pronated foot the arch drops with force so it needs a shoe with a lot of support and stability. How to determine your foot type? What does your "foot print" look like... if it leaves only the front and back of the foot (no middle) then you are a supinator and need more cushioning in your shoes. On the other hand if your foot print outlines the entire foot (front, middle and back) you are a pronator and need more support or stability from your shoes. In essence, your shoes "need to work for you" - in other words your shoe needs to provide what your foot lacks from an anatomical and biomechanical perspective!

Replacement: No matter the cost or quality, shoes don’t last forever and should be replaced regularly. So this means if you use them for jogging or running they need to be replaced every 6 months and if worn as multi-use shoes they should be replaced at least yearly. The best way to prevent injury is by replacing old, worn shoes. If you are a serious runner then you replace your shoes or better alternate between two pairs based on mileage - determining mileage far exceeds this article but will be address in future postings! Stay tuned...

Price: Don't be fooled... price does not necessarily relate to the quality of a shoe. You might unfortunately be paying for the brand name only. Last year we purchased two shoes for our oldest child who started school; an expensive, well known brand name shoe and the other one you would purchase at a store where you "go in for one thing and end up with an entire cart full". Guess which one made it through the school year? The less expensive one while the brand name shoe looked like it was completely falling apart. So this year, when shoe shopping I tried to avoid looking at the price tag and instead focused on the shoe itself... Could I bend it in half (toe meeting heel)? If yes, highly suggestive of a running shoe and therefore not as durable as a cross trainer - kids need durability and stability. Could I squish the leather at the heel together in my fingers? If no, this suggests a firm, strong, durable heel - wonderful! Good, solid, thick treads - on the right track again! Laces or Velcro more preferably as I would recommend staying away from "no lace shoes" the ones that kids slip into and do not require lacing up. Overtime, I notice that they become loose fitting and as such, whenever the foot is able to move or wiggle in the shoe you increase the likelihood of injury - whether sprained ankles, tripping or broken foot!

Orthotics: Any shoe can be "upgraded" when you insert an orthotic into it! An orthotic inserts is designed for your foot only and supports it in the most neutral, anatomically correct position. When your foot is "perfectly aligned" it is best able to do its job - that of buffering or absorbing the ground reaction forces as your foot slams the ground with each step. The arch of your foot acts the same as the sole of a running shoe in that it absorbs the forces as the foot impacts the ground. If you can absorb the forces at your feet less force, energy and strain carries up the leg to the knee, hip, pelvis and low back, etc. This all translates into decreasing the strain on your body and overall injury prevention. Your feet are the foundation to the rest of your body and as such, orthotics properly align your feet and the rest of your body.

Whenever a problem is unresponsive to care or recurrent meaning it either responses to care (physiotherapy, massage or chiropractic) but returns you should consider your feet as the source of the problem. In practice, I see a lot of individuals with a history of low back, knee, hip or pelvis pain that is unresponsive or resistant to care and their feet are the culprit!! So much so, that I often say, "had I known how important your feet are to the rest of your body I would have been a foot doctor instead of chiropractor!" So to some, this might seem a bit "over the top" but when my oldest child started school I made him orthotics. Why? I want to be certain that his developing spine and body is properly aligned from the ground up. If I were a dentist, perhaps my kids would all have straight, white teeth!!

Source: Parts from the Canadian Chiropractic Association

Choosing a Backpack for your Kids!

2011-08-25T11:40:00.000-07:00


1st day of school

It's that time of the year again in which we wrap our heads around the idea that school is just around the corner. In light of this, on my "to-do list" today at lunch was buy a new backpack for my 5 year old son - unfortunately the zipper of his beloved Spiderman backpack (see picture left) almost made it to the end of his first year of school! While I was sifting through the assortment of backpacks I realized that if you weren't a chiropractor choosing the right backpack could be overwhelming and so, the concept of "keep it simple" came to mind. What I mean by this is for the ages of 4 to 6 even 7 years a backpack with one main and only one additional pocket is perfect. The more pockets, the bigger the backpack tends to be and the greater the tendency to carry more which translates into unnecessary weight placed on your child's developing spine.

For older children the opposite is true, more pockets are helpful as this helps distribute the weight better. A waist strap with older children becomes of paramount importance so as to take the weight off the spine placing it on the pelvis. Another gem for older kids comes from a patient who recently mentioned that she waits to see which textbooks her child routinely brings home (ie/ math text book) and buys a second one that stays home which stops it from being carried back and forth each day!

Backpack Safety - Things to consider:

Selecting a proper Backpack:

Adjustable straps
Adjustable waist belt (especially for older children)
Several pockets (usually not necessary for younger children)
Padded back
Size does not exceed height of shoulders or go below waist (An appropriate sized backpack should barely be visible when looking at your child from the front).

Properly packing a Backpack:

Place heavy items close to the body
Use several pockets to distribute the weight (more appropriate for older children)
When the backpack is filled it should not exceed 10% of an elementary student’s body weight & 15% of a secondary student’s body weight!
Be selective, only pack what is needed!

Carrying a Backpack:

Prior to putting it on, place backpack on table or chair
Use both shoulder straps! (When one strap is used as the picture to the right depicts, it throws off the entire spine and places unnecessary strain on the whole body).
Tighten both of the shoulder straps to draw bag snug against your back
Tighten waist strap

When I speak to students about backpack safety one activity that I do with them involves weighing objects that are typically found in an elementary student’s backpack. The results always astonish the kids….some of these backpacks were larger and weighed more than what an adult would use on a camping trip! Consequently, this places unnecessary stress and strain on a child’s developing spine and body. Carrying heavy backpacks throughout your carreer as a student and beyond can amount to repetitive, unnecessary strain and result in PAIN or INJURY!

Be smart and kind to your spine - it's the only one you will have!

Source: Ontario Chiropractic Association

Your Posture

2011-08-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

Add Years to your life by improving your Posture!

Ever notice that people with good posture look healthier, taller, and slimmer? They also appear to have greater confidence. There is merit to this! We know that good posture increases energy, allows you to breathe better, improves circulation and improves digestion. Don’t believe me? Try taking a deep breath while you are in a slumped forward position. Not so easy! You have to work harder to get the same amount of oxygen in so overtime this translates into an enormous waste of energy. Simply put it’s tiring! Getting adequate oxygen leads to improved circulation and better

blood flow to the brain making you feel better. Sitting slumped over for the better part of each day while at work also “squishes” your stomach and decreases the ability of our intestines to digest food so you are left feeling bloated with cramps.

Improving your posture allows your body to be properly aligned and in doing so it contributes to good health. But how could something so simply dramatically improve your quality of life?

Your spine has 4 main curves – two forward curves ("cervical" or neck and "lumbar" or lower back) and two backward curves ("thoracic" or middle back and "sacrum" or base of the spine). By maintaining balance in these curves good posture is achieved. These curves are important as they help the body move and absorb the force of impact as our feet hit the ground. With poor posture, there is a change in these curves which increases the demands on our joints, ligaments and muscles in the spine therefore causing strain and discomfort. In doing so, we move inefficiently and end up draining our energy.

How to achieve “Perfect Posture”?

The easiest way to determine your perfect posture without having to line yourself up against a wall is to stand tall, look straight ahead and draw your shoulders up then roll them as far backwards as possible before lowering them down in this position. This is it - your perfect posture! Now the hardest part is to maintain this new position because overtime our muscles have become lazy. The biggest complaint I hear is that, “when I try to improve my posture it REALLY hurts.” Of course it does! Much like starting a new weight training program you are using muscles that you haven’t used in a while so naturally in the short term you will feel uncomfortable. But keep at it, you’ll be surprised at how quickly your body will adapt. Posture is a habit that we learned as children so like any habit, it takes time to modify – so don’t get discouraged!

Need something to remind you that your posture is in a less than perfect position?

While standing in your most perfect posture, have someone put a piece of tape along your spine from your upper to lower back. Now every time you assume a less then perfect posture through the day, the tape against your skin will remind you to straighten up. It’s all about “retraining” your body and mind.

Adapted in part from: Canadian Chiropractic Association.

"When I grow up I want to be a... CHIROPRACTOR!"

2011-07-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago, a little patient of mine bopped into our Barrie, Ontario clinic for her monthly chiropractic treatment. In her hands she held a paper that she had completed at school which she ever so proudly brought in to give me. Well, thankfully I was able to read it through the tears that formed in my eyes. It read, "When I grow up I want to be a Chiropractor because I want to help people stay healthy!" This work of art now hangs in my office and is special to me for several reasons...

Firstly, when I ask my oldest child what he wants to be when he grows up, he responds with "I want to be a policeman!". Now while this is a very noble, wonderful profession - I can't seem to impress my five year old "chiropractically" speaking. I often comment to parents that I seem to be more of a "hit" with my little patients (their children) than I am with my own children! Perhaps it is second nature to mine as they have all received their first chiropractic treatment shortly after they were placed in my arms upon birth. Now, I should probably add here that our oldest child just turned 5 years old and as such, I reassure myself that I still have some time yet to convince one of them to follow in my footsteps!!

The second reason that this school work left me speechless is because the little girl who proudly offered it to me was my first "infant" patient when I began practicing almost 7 years ago. For the last 6 years or so, she and her younger siblings have been regular monthly visitors since birth. Aside from providing them with care, what joy it is to see them grow and develop! I affectionately refer to her as my "assistant" and because of her interest I have begun showing her how to "palpate" or feel muscles and joints of the spine. We discussed that perhaps one day, she will be the one to take over my practice!

Perhaps the most inspiring thing about this moment was that how at the age of six, she "got it". What I mean by this is that she understood the reason why I do my job - "to help people stay healthy!" Most adults seem to miss this point. I believe research indicates that only 12% of the Ontario population sees a chiropractor and of this, 90% seek care for pain relief. And guess what? When the pain is gone so too are most patients! Unfortunately, pain is the last thing to appear and first thing to disappear with treatment. Meaning the reason for the pain or dysfunction persists long after the pain has disappeared. It's then that treatment is needed so that the problem can be addressed.

To better illustrate this point... an iceberg of all things! Greater than 80% of an iceberg's mass lies hidden under the surface of the water leaving a relatively "small" portion of its total volume above. Consider pain the stuff above water that you can feel. Lurking below the surface, there needs to be a whole lot of muscle and joint dysfunction that exists before the body is able to perceive the pain. Chiropractic treatment focuses on the root causes of pain and treatment is provided even when the pain has disappeared in order to get at and resolve things "below the surface".

Now back to the healthy part... I find this the coolest thing about her work "chiropractic helps people stay healthy!" Regular chiropractic treatment, aside from dealing with pain has been proven to KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY! How awesome! For example; research has supported that chiropractic adjustments can significantly lower blood pressure better than the two leading blood pressure medications given in combination. Other research has shown that “children who get adjusted have far less allergies and asthma issues AND people who enjoy regular chiropractic care are typically healthier”. Adjustments have proven to increase immunoglobin production (body’s defence system against colds, flu and other invasions). And so on!

The reality however is that 90% of people originally start chiropractic care to solve their pain not to improve their health! Interestingly enough through the course of providing relief from low back pain for example they happen to notice regular bowel movements or ease of menstrual discomfort as a result of chiropractic treatment. Therefore, the purpose of chiropractic is not limited to solving pain related issues but to helping people optimize their health and quality of life!

Thank you to my little patient for her drawing and more importantly her enthusiasm and brilliance surrounding chiropractic!

Source: Chiropractic Economics September 2010

"Why Gender Matters" - Raising a Boy versus a Girl...

2011-07-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Our oldest child turned 5 this past week and we had our "first official birthday party" for him yesterday! It was so unbelievably hot though that none of the children were interested in the bouncy castle and my bone straight hair started to curl a little (underneath my straw sun hat complete with a sheriff's badge fastened to the front)! Instead, they opted for shade, a drink and freezie. We managed to make a go of things inside and the kids came alive in the coolness of the basement.

This morning the birthday boy wanted to go trail riding with his birthday gift - a new bike! It was on that ride, under the scorching morning heat in Barrie, Ontario that my thoughts went to relishing being a parent and in particular the joys of having a son. How proud he was to be leading the way through the trail on an adventure with mom. I recognize that my parenting resume is brief - that being a whopping five whole years but in that time, I have become aware of the striking differences in raising a boy versus our three year old girl.

Now I know that this is a "chiropractic blog" and sorry to disappoint but today's entry is not about the wonderment of chiropractic, instead it's about a topic that I find myself discussing with patients who are parents of little people. In my chiropractic education, I have taken psychology and studied anatomy and neuroanatomy and am therefore aware of but by no means am I an expert in the area of brain based sex or gender differences. Enter the book I reference and refer my patients to by Leonard Sax ! (Please note that I have never met Dr. Sax and receive no royalties for mentioning it).

Shortly after the birth of our son, my husband attended a seminar on "Gender Equity" and upon his return in the middle of the night I awoke enough to mumble, "how was the seminar?" He responded with, "we have a lot of work to do to prepare our son for school and I have a book I think you should read." The book he was referring to was called "Why Gender Matters" by

Dr. Sax. I read the book then and it changed and continues to change the way I parent! In short, as a woman I do not thrive on danger, risk or rough play and as such, my parenting would have reflected this had I not read the book. As a consequence, I remind myself on a daily basis that my son needs this and so, I offer him opportunities to experience this with me. Sounds bizarre, but as a woman I do not instinctively think of wrestling my son to the ground but this according to Sax is one way that men show affection towards one another (whereas women prefer talking instead of "rough housing"). My bedtime routine now includes transforming into "Kung Fu Mommy" and wrestling with him on his bed. If I ever doubted this concept, I need only remind myself of the uncontrollable laughter from my son after wrestling with him! "Gentle" punches to the shoulder as we pass each other in the hallway, a little elbowing in soccer and some friendly bantering while playing road hockey is my new norm when it comes to parenting my son - which is diabolically different to how I parent my daughter.

Reading this book offered insights on how I could adapt some of my parenting to better meet the different needs of my children. Girls see color and boys see motion better - I knew this from studying the brain but never adapted it to "real life". This difference transpires daily at our kitchen table where my daughter uses every crayon and marker available to her and my son only a few. Knowing this difference, I purposely praise both equally and must admit that my natural instinct would have lead me to encourage my son to use more colors! From birth, girls hear a woman's spoken voice better and this trend remains through life. When I read this, I laughed because for years I have always said to my husband, "why are you raising your voice?" to which he always responded, "I'm not!" It's natural, if we feel as though someone is raising their voice, we seem to get into a defensive mode and so, this has ramifications for my husband as he raises our girl. Dr. Sax also discusses differences in emotional reasoning and processing which has helped me understand how my husband was able to stay cool and calm when it came time to giving up our baby clothes and other items while I fell into pieces! I will leave Dr. Sax to better explain this difference but suffice it to say, instead of getting upset at how "different" our reactions were to this situation I was able to see that my husband was being honest about having no emotional attachment in this particular situation.

Shortly after the birth of our third child, another boy, I attended a seminar discussing Dr. Sax's second book "Boy's Adrift" and laughed to myself as I learned that boys learn better standing and girls sitting. I can't tell you the number of times I have said to our son who bounces around on his chair like a popcorn kernel in a hot frying pan while at the dinner table, "if you don't stay sitting in your chair, I am going to crazy glue your bum to it!" The very next night after attending the seminar I winked at my husband and asked our son, "would you like to stand for dinner?"

Reading Dr. Sax's work has made me realize that I view the world through the perspective of being female - with the experiences and socialization that that brings and so, I have made a conscious effort to change my perspective on parenting. Without being made aware of the brain based sex or gender differences between males and females I would have parented my sons imposing my female tendencies upon them. Please note that this short summary does not do Dr. Sax's work justice and so, I would encourage you to investigate his books and seminars. While I have only discussed how what I have learned is applicable to raising children, understanding these differences can help in any type of relationship - that being martial, family, workplace, etc. I find the subject extremely fascinating and hope that perhaps you will learn one or two gems that enhance your personal or professional relationships!

Tips to a Happy Back when on Vacation

2011-07-12T11:47:00.000-07:00


Hilton namesake - not Dr. Sarah!

Being a working mother of three small children (all of which are under 5 years old), I rarely have the opportunity to go on vacation. No, scratch that... I have NEVER been away overnight without my children! Needless to say, a weekend away was much overdue! And so, off I went leaving Barrie, Ontario behind for the Hilton with my husband and together - we played the role of "tourist" for the weekend. Shortly into our new found freedom, I had decided that writing a blog on the subject of how to make sure your back does not spoil your vacation would be appropriate.

Tips to ensure a happy back while on vacation:

1) Our body is a creature of habit! Meaning it really does not like a lot of change all at once. Often times a change in your bed or pillow causes the body to revolt. Mimizing this change helps us better transition into unfamiliar surroundings. Seeing as it is impossible to travel with your own mattress I always recommend to patients that they bring along their own pillow. And, following my own sage advice, this is what I did! The pillow I use is the same one that I recommend to family, friends and patients. It's a standard, double curvature therapeutic pillow made by Vitacare. Standard meaning its a good pillow, accommodates most neck types and won't break the bank! I also recommend that if you are travelling to the same spot (ie. have a cottage, travel trailer or stay regularly with friends or family) buy one and keep it at your destination! Your neck will LOVE it and in turn, you will have a better sleep. There's nothing worse than a poor night's sleep resulting in a sore neck that ruins your next day of sightseeing.

2) The second thing that I am vigilant about is making sure I drink lots of water. Rarely do I place a glass of water on the night table but I do when travelling. Hotels are notorious for being hot and dry. Your activity level also increases as you explore your new surroundings and in doing so we sweat more than usual. Often times, we vacation in sunny, hot destinations. Eating out at restaurants changes our diets such that we would do well to flush our systems with extra fluid - that being WATER! Rule of thumb: for all the above reasons drink lots of water AND when you think you have drank enough, drink a little more to ensure that you have replenished your stores.

3) ALWAYS wear good shoes! Why? Leaving the hotel to explore the surroundings you invariable leave thinking you will return in a few hours which usually ends up being the entire day! This is where you leave fashion for more supportive, shock absorbing shoes like runners - even better shoes with orthotic inserts or footwear in which the orthotics are built in (ie. sandals) as they are made for your foot. There's nothing that can dampen a vacation quicker than sore, aching feet with blisters. Whenever standing, I'm usually not far from my orthotics. Orthotic companies have done well in the last decade or so to "upgrade" the "fashionability" of orthotics. Suffice it to say, that we can leave behind the old mindset that comfortable and supportive shoes are ugly! This is simply not true. This is the orthotic sandal that I wore all weekend as I pounded the pavement exploring (click on link to view). Keeping your feet happy usually translates into a happier back!

Healthy Food Habits Start Early!!

2011-07-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

I would like to share with you one of my favourite recipes that is also a hit with our children! When it comes to cooking or baking there is never a shortage of “help” in our kitchen - the only problem is trying to keep little paws out of the bowl from taste tasting.

Thanks to Shirley Plant author of “Finally… Food I Can Eat!” for this delicious recipe and great start to our day!! It’s free of: wheat, dairy, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, nightshades and nut free (if you omit the almonds!). Fortunately, there's no shortage of taste!! I like to make a double batch as this gets us through the week. Just add almond milk and enjoy! Also lovely when this granola is added to yogurt. We typically eat it in the morning but if the kids are hungry through the day I offer it to them as a healthy snack option!

Maple Granola:

2/3 cup rolled oats (150 ml)

2/3 cup oat bran (150 ml)

¾ cup grated coconut (175 ml)

½ cup sunflower seeds (50 ml)

¼ cup sesame seeds (50 ml)

1 cup sliced almonds (250 ml)

½ cup safflower oil (125 ml) can be reduced

¼ cup maple syrup

1 ½ cup raisins or dried fruit (375 ml)

(I use a combination of raisins with dried cranberries)

1 Tbsp flaxseed (15 ml)

Yields: 4 cups or 1 L

Mix ingredients together except raisins and dried fruit. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until golden. Stir once. Remove from oven and add raisins and dried fruit. Cool and store in glass jar in refrigerator.

Some of the fondest memories I have of growing up include baking with my mother. And so, from the moment my children are able to sit in a highchair, they too have been part of the cooking and baking experience in our kitchen. I can remember (as though it were yesterday) that my daughter in particular would click her heels as she watched me prepared her baby food. She could hardly wait until it was cool enough to "sample" each creation. She would sit watching for hours every week. How time flies - that was 2 years ago! Now there are two "helpers" fighting over the bowl and one left in his highchair observing!!

Tips to Avoid Back Pain when Flying!

2011-06-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

With cramped seats, long flights and delays as part of your typical traveling experience, flying can sometimes reek havoc on the best of backs. Here are a couple of suggestions that might make flying more pleasant and help you avoid back pain and possible disc herniations:

Drink lots of water! Keep yourself and ultimately your muscles (and discs - discussed later) well hydrated ahead of and during the flight. Don’t want to keep asking the flight attendant for water? Say the following: “I need to drink a lot of water when flying so instead of bothering you to refill my glass could I have a bottle of water instead?” Let’s face it the glasses are tiny anyways and typically they will oblige your request. You just need to ask!

The next suggestion is moving and this shouldn’t be a problem since drinking more fluid will result in trips to the restroom so while there take an extra moment to stretch.

Also, when checking in ask for the front seat as it usually has more leg room. If this is not available ask for an aisle seat so that you can stretch out your legs periodically. This seat also makes getting to the restroom much easier! If you can’t get the front row or aisle seat make sure there is nothing under the seat in front of you so you have space to stretch. Take advantage of your leg room to get the circulation in your body moving particularly to your legs by pointing your toes up and down.

Get up every 30 to 60 minutes will minimize cramping, stiffness and prevent blot clots from forming. Too shy to stretch in your seat - pretend you need to go to the bathroom so you can stretch there! I know, not the most spacious yoga studio but something is better than nothing!

Perhaps most importantly prolonged sitting increases the pressure on your spinal discs, which are fluid filled sponges that act as shock absorbers - similar concept to the sole of a running shoe. Due to the pressure of sitting, the fluid escapes in doing so, disc height is reduced and so is its strength - this leaves you susceptible to injury (ie. back pain, disc herniations or bulges)!

When lifting luggage out of the carousel, use proper lifting techniques: bend both knees, keep back straight and in an upright position, use leg muscles instead of your back AND move your feet instead of twisting body. Improper lifting techniques coupled with the discs having been weakened by sitting are a recipe for disaster. A few patients have succumbed to disc bulges or herniation as a consequence of lifting luggage after sitting on a plane. Be careful and lift smart!

Chiropractic treatment helps infants Breast or Bottle feed!!

2011-06-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

What in the world does chiropractic have to do with breast or bottle feeding?

In one word, EVERYTHING! In fact, it’s the single biggest problem in newborns that chiropractors are trained to treat. Sucking is a reflex (action done automatically) and a coordinated muscular action. A newborn uses: 6 cranial nerves, 22 bones, 60 voluntary and involuntary muscles in order to suck, swallow and breathe. Amazing!

Due to the constraints of being in the uterus for 40 weeks coupled with the birthing process there is a substantial amount of force on the skull and vertebral column which can disrupt normal nerve function. Additionally a difficult delivery process with or without the use of assisted devices can further damage or irritate these nerves that directly feed the face, head and neck. Thus affecting an infant’s ability to swallow, move the tongue, pucker lips, etc. which in turn compromises rooting, latching and sucking responses required for breast or bottle feeding.

How would I know if there’s an issue?

Certain signs to look for that indicate your little person is not able to coordinate a “sucking reflex”…improper seal around nipple (breast or bottle), baby “prefers” or does better on one breast as oppose to both. You know your baby is hungry but is cranky or upset during a feeding. Baby may frequently spit up through the day. Excessive gas or abdominal discomfort can be another sign. Please note that this is certainly not an exhaustive list and these signs are not exclusive to an issue with the sucking reflex.

Chiropractic treatment improves the “Sucking Reflex”

Chiropractic treatment is a gentle, non-forceful technique that releases the interference on the nerves allowing them to send correct messages to the muscles of the face, lips, head and neck. It typically takes 3 treatments with positive changes noted by most parents after the first treatment. Minimal force is used to treat the skull sutures, vertebral joints and muscles. Often times they fall asleep during or shortly after the treatment. If you are the parent or know of new parents, please suggest chiropractic treatment as it is a

non-invasive approach.

What makes Chiropractic so AWESOME?!

2011-06-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

Every function of the human body is under control of the nervous system. The nervous system coordinates the functioning of all organs and structures of the body. It is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves. When the nervous system is free of interference, the body can function at its best. When there is nerve interference in the spine, disease (dys-ease) or disharmony occurs. Like reading a road map, each nerve in the body provides information to a specific area of the body. Irritated joints and/or tight muscles in the spine can interfere with the nerve's ability to relay information from the brain to the organ. Overtime, this

interference can cause the organ under the nerve's control to "malfunction" as seen in this chart under "possible symptoms".

What causes nerve interference?

Physical stresses such as poor posture, repetitive strain, trauma, accidents, the birthing process, etc. Emotional or mental stresses such as family, work, and financial issues, etc. Chemical stresses including drugs, sugar, smoke (second hand as well) and pollution, etc.

Research supporting Chiropractic:

Chiropractors are trained to locate and correct nerve interference. In doing so, research has supported that chiropractic adjustments can significantly lower blood pressure better than the two leading blood pressure medications given in combination. Other research has shown that “children who get adjusted have far less allergies and asthma issues AND people who enjoy regular chiropractic care are typically healthier”. Adjustments have proven to increase immunoglobin production (body’s defence system against colds, flu and other invasions). And so on!

The reality however is that 90% of people originally start chiropractic care to solve their pain not to reduce nerve interference! Interestingly enough through the course of providing relief from low back pain for example they happen to notice regular bowel movements or ease of menstrual discomfort as a result of chiropractic treatment. Therefore, the purpose of chiropractic is not limited to solving pain related issues but to helping people optimize their health and quality of life!

Everyone can benefit from Chiropractic!

Source: Chiropractic Economics September 2010

Add years to your life by improving your posture!

2011-06-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Ever notice that people with good posture look healthier, taller, and slimmer? They also appear to have greater confidence. There is merit to this! We know that good posture increases energy, allows you to breathe better, improves circulation and improves digestion. Don’t believe me? Try taking a deep breath while you are in a slumped forward position. Not so easy! You have to work harder to get the same amount of oxygen in so overtime this translates into an enormous waste of energy. Simply put it’s tiring! Getting adequate oxygen leads to improved circulation and better

Improving your posture allows your body to be properly aligned and in doing so it contributes to good health. But how could something so simply dramatically improve your quality of life?

How to achieve “Perfect Posture”?

Adapted in part from: Canadian Chiropractic Association.

The Butterfly Effect: Small Changes = Big Potential

2011-06-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

In 1961, Meterologist and Father of the Choas Theory, Edward Lorenz revealed that one flap of a butterfly’s wings can change the weather patterns on the other side of the world. In what has since become known as the “butterfly effect” he set forth the notion that there is a powerful connection between two seemingly unrelated events. In other words, small actions CAN and DO set off a chain of events that trigger vast and often unexpected results!

The implications and concepts are far reaching and applicable to everything in life but most importantly to that of health and prevention. Simply put this means that doing something today for you and your health can have far reaching affects into the future. And as a consequence of the “butterfly effect” these results have the potential to be even more powerful than originally anticipated! No one is perfect we all have hardships, struggles, issues and feelings of self doubt, etc – myself included. But we need to move in the forward direction – evolving our life into better choices and decisions.

Are you listening to your body? It’s asking for what it needs: more sleep, better nutrition, less stress, focused breathing, etc. The problem being that what it needs today is not what it needs tomorrow! To conquer this I have a few fundamental things that I have incorporated into my life that NOW with repetition have become non-negotiable: I take vitamins every day, I see my chiropractor and have a massage once per month, and I’m never without my orthotics! These are mine and if you take inventory you will have your own healthy cornerstones. If not, start!

It takes time to make an idea a habit. Healthy habits are created with routine and repetition. I’m currently working on “turning my brain off” and being “present” while engaging with people especially my children. Another recent one is small and simple: adding a new type of salad to our dinner plates! The fast pace of the world that we live sucks us in and so, you need to make a conscious, deliberate decision to put you and your health on the top of the list. Small changes can have a lasting, positive impact! By sharing your journey with others it helps you stay on track and has the ability to enhance the lives’ of others.

And so, whenever you see a butterfly please ask yourself: “What have I done today to better myself and health for tomorrow?”

Chiropractic is MORE than just Resolving Back Pain!

2011-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

I LOVE to help people! There’s not greater feeling! But I am also realistic enough to know that my best intentions and approach may not work for everyone. However, when it does work, the results are profound and can dramatically affect an individual’s life.

The following are real examples and remain the driving force behind why I do my job:

Chronic bronchitis and severe asthmatic received rib treatment with an activator instrument: “I can’t believe the difference after one treatment! I can breathe easier and my posture has improved.”

Parent of a two year old suffering from recurrent ear infections treated with light chiropractic mobilizations (low force with no rotation): “My child has not had any ear infections since starting treatment!”

Two years of daily, intense back pain that resolved following one month of treatment using soft tissue release therapy: “People have been asking me if I’m taking anti-depressant medication because they have not seen me this happy in 2 years”.

Twenty year history of low back pain resolved by correcting foot imbalances with orthotics: “I am able to exercise everyday now and I’ve lost 40 pounds! I never thought this would have been possible a year ago”.

Daily headaches that required continued medications were resolved with soft tissue release and neck mobilizations (not adjustments!): His wife stopped me while I was out doing errands to thank me for improving her husband’s quality of life.

Senior citizen with daily back pain from a vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis treated with an activator instrument: Her daughter emailed me to say that her mother is a new woman!

Child on medication for ADHD and mom thanked me: “Since starting treatment with you, my child is calmer, sleeps better through the night and is more rejuvenated in the morning”

Forty year old woman who had never seen a chiropractor began care to improve her overall health. After a few treatments she commented: “I can’t believe that after having an adjustment I am able to have regular, daily bowel movements! I use to go days without one. Thank you – what a difference.”

If you have just read about yourself or someone you know in these examples it might be worth a try! Chiropractic is MORE than just resolving back pain. It contributes to your overall health and well being.

Your Feet are Your FOUNDATION!

2011-06-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

Your feet are your foundation and anyone who has stubbed their toe realises, albeit for a second or two, just how important they are to us! However, if their smell doesn’t clear a room then few people ever take notice of their poor, overworked and underpaid feet. Your feet are the FOUNDATION of your entire body so it’s always a good time to pay attention to them…

What are my feet and body telling me?

Had I known then, what I know now about how important feet are to the rest of your body I probably would have been a foot doctor! Why? Often times if a problem, pain, or condition elsewhere in the body is not responding to treatment then your feet may be the source or reason for the problem. In other words, a house built on a faulty foundation may not collapse but its walls can suffer from cracking and nail pops! In essence, your faulty foot mechanics can be contributing to part or all of the recurrent nature of your back, hip and knee pain or headaches! Please consider that with each step 2-3 times your body weight travels through your feet as they hit the ground. When your foot is not functioning properly it is unable to correctly absorb this force and as such, instead of being dampened by your feet the energy is travelling up your leg reeking havoc on the rest of your body.

How to tell if your feet are not "working for you"

An easy way to determine if your feet are “working for you” or not is the presence of a “bunion” which is a bump on the side of your big toe and it is an indication that your arch is collapsing. Other signs include: first few steps in the morning are painful, heel pain, pain under the balls of your toes or arch, shin splints, burning into the toes and recurrent calluses even after a thorough pedicure. The more difficult thing for people to conceptualize is that your feet don’t always have to be “painful” to be causing pain elsewhere into your low back, hips, knees, etc.

Who is a candidate for orthotics?

Anytime a condition in the body or foot is recurrent meaning it is either unresponsive to care or returns shortly after treatment it is time to consider that your foundation may need to be corrected by orthotics. As well, people who have standing occupations, particularly teachers, nurses, police officers, and factor workers, etc. would do well to wear orthotics in the absence of foot pain to counter the cumulative effects of standing for an entire career. If you sustained a fracture in the lower extremity as a child it may have healed longer or shorter causing a leg length discrepancy that needs to be corrected by orthotics. If you have broken a foot as an adult or had severe ankle sprain(s) then your feet might benefit from extra help offered by orthotics.

But I tried orthotics and I hated them!

Simply put, orthotics are made from a mould of your feet
and therefore keep it in the best position by preventing the
foot and arch from collapsing under your body weight. The very first pair of orthotics I tried irritated me so much that I threw them into my closet and did not wear them. Why? They were not made correctly – meaning they were hard and designed to be worn in dress shoes and NOT in the shoes I used for running! Fortunately, subtle changes were made to my orthotics such that today I would not go anywhere without wearing them!

In a nutshell, even if your feet are not painful they contribute to how the rest of your body moves and as such, feet are extremely important to your body and health. My children begin wearing orthotics at age four when they start school… I want to be assured that the foundation upon which their body is growing and developing is supported in the best possible position. As the children’s limerick goes “your foot bone, is connected to your shin bone, your shin bone is connected to your knee bone… and so on”. One pair of feet must last you a lifetime - they are an important part of your overall health!!

Low Back Pain in Golfers

2011-06-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Unlike any other sport, golf has seen exponential growth in the last few decades. In 2000, there were more than 25 million golfers and 14,000 courses in the U.S. Golfers are prone to several injuries such as elbow or shoulder but more particularly they suffer from low back pain which accounts for 26-52% of all golfing injuries.

Did you know? Studies have also shown that the load on the spine during a golf swing is comparable to that of a football lineman hitting a blocking sled! Of interest, the mechanics of a golf swing share many similarities with the same forces that cause discs to herniate or bulge. In other words, research has demonstrated that discs are weakest when the body is forward flexed and rotation is preformed… as in the position of a golf swing!

An aside on herniations: there are 2 common reasons why they occur; either frank trauma or repetitive “wear and tear”. The following are real examples in which patients have succumbed to herniations or bulges:

a) Frank trauma or a “one time event” resulted when a gentleman lifted and twisted while holding a transport truck tire. When he twisted, he felt low back pain but more intensely was the excruciating leg and groin pain.

b) Repetitive “wear and tear” trauma is very difficult for patients to comprehend because the “straw that finally broke the camel’s back” (pardon the pun) could have been the weight of a feather but this is a cumulative injury resulting from years of micro-trauma which result in the eventual failure of the disc when it is placed under low load. Here are real examples of activities that resulted in discs to fail… Bending forward and twisting to: i) put a tea cup into that dish washer ii) dry the top of the foot and iii) Pick up a folded aluminium lawn chair. In these real scenarios it is important to note that it is not the weight of the objects that cause the disc to failure rather the position (bending forward and twisting) AND the accumulation of years of “wear and tear”.

With these types of forces acting on the spine during a golf swing it is imperative that the spine is moving optimally, free of joint restrictions and muscle tightness. For this reason, consider a chiropractor as your personal caddy… it is part of a chiropractor’s job to identify and correct joint restrictions, release tight muscles and show you specific stretches that will help improve the function of your spine and ultimately golf swing.
Don’t wait until back pain has you watching

rather than playing golf!

Source: Spine 2008;8:778-88. “The Lumbar Spine and Low Back Pain in Golf”

What is that pain between my shoulder blades?

2011-06-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Although this article should not replace a proper assessment by a health care professional it is important to note that pain coming from underneath or slightly beside your shoulder blade may mean that your rib joints are irritated. Sounds like a big deal but it is one of the most common things that I treat. What I find very unfortunate about irritated rib joints is that there are a large number of people living unnecessarily with this discomfort because they don’t know what it is or how to treat it. So let me explain the situation...

Your ribs form a joint that allow it to be connected to your spine. Since the moment you were born, ever time you breathe these rib joints move up and down and just like any other joint in your body they can get irritated. Ribs are particularly irritated by perpetual poor posture typical of a sedentary desk job and/or commuting (forward head carriage and rounded shoulders). They are also commonly irritated and become painful following a cold with coughing. People who routinely work out may notice this mid back discomfort whenever they are lying on their back holding weight (example: chest or bench press). However, most individuals are unaware of this discomfort until they lean against a firm surface (chair or bed) or until I touch them. If left untreated they can eventually become painful at rest or with breathing. When significantly irritated they can also refer pain down the arm.

As mentioned, ribs wrap around from your back to the front of your chest and so what’s interesting about rib irritation is that it can be painful in your back, side or chest. It has been my finding that 90% of people feel it in the back and the remaining 10% either in the front or side of their ribs. As a word of caution, when dealing with ribs if an individual presents complaining of LEFT sided chest pain we need to entertain the idea that the discomfort can be coming from the heart located directly under the ribs. Rather than a chiropractic treatment this would be a medical emergency especially if accompanied by arm or jaw pain and/or shortness of breath.

If you have ever had a massage, which I have one every month, you might mistaken this discomfort for a “muscle knot” so follow this general rule: If the knot does not go away after 2-5 minutes of massaging – it probably won’t until the underlying rib is treated. An irritated rib joint will cause the overlying muscles to also become irritated and form what appears to be a “knot”.

Fortunately, ribs respond very well to being treated by chiropractic – either with a manual adjustment or using an activator instrument. I find the activator particularly helpful when dealing with some children, seniors or individuals who would prefer not having a formal adjustment. A typical irritated rib joint seems to take on average between 1-5 treatments. In addition to treating their ribs I address the reason(s) why it occurred in the first place and provide advice or exercises so as to avoid recurrences.

Lateral Knee Pain (Iliotibial Band Syndrome) Helped with Orthotics

2011-06-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Soreness or achy feeling on the outside of the knee and lower thigh is described as “Iliotibial band syndrome”. It is common among active people and is the leading cause of lateral knee pain in walkers and runners. Accounting for 12% of all running related overuse injuries which when left untreated can become a sharp, burning pain on the outside knee that can persist after only small amounts of walking.

The iliotibial band (IT band) is a piece of fascia or connective tissue that extends from the pelvis to the knee. It helps to stabilize the pelvis and knee while also keeping the thigh from moving inward. With faulty foot mechanics, the arch collapses as the foot hits the ground putting excessive tension on the IT Band causing it to rub against the bones of the knee. In English: 2-3 times your body weight goes through your foot when it strikes the ground. If the arch collapses on contact it is not doing its job – that of reducing or absorbing this ground reaction force. It collapses and pulls the knee inward. In doing so, the IT band is put under tension – like twisting a dish rag. It then tightens and overtime this recurrent friction produces irritation of the IT band and surrounding tissues.

It was formerly thought that inflammation was the reason for the discomfort but further research has determined that with recurrent irritation the tissue in the area degenerates resulting in pain. This is why individuals with IT band syndrome do not respond to anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID’s, ibuprofen) or cortisone injections. Instead the answer lies in correcting foot function with custom-made orthtoics so that the arch stops collapsing as the foot contacts the ground. Specific stretches and soft tissue release of the IT band and surrounding muscles may also be required so that individuals can resume their active lifestyles. Studies have also found that many knee injuries are helped by properly aligning the pelvis through chiropractic adjusting (this is a topic for another day!)

In 2002 I suffered from IT band syndrome – very frustrating and annoying! Fortunately, being a chiropractic student at the time I had a plethora of treatment options readily available to me (physiotherapy, IFC machines, laser, ultrasound, etc…) which I tried without success. Soft tissue release and adjusting helped but the only thing that offered lasting relief to this day has been my orthotics! I love’em.

Source:http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/home.php "Lateral Knee Pain & Orthotic Support"

Why I became a Chiropractor!

2011-06-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

June is Chiropractic Awareness month at Vitality for Life and in light of this I thought I would share with you why I became a Chiropractor…

As a child, I suffered from daily often debilitating headaches. They became a “normal” part of my life. After seeing doctors, headache specialists and neurologists, the conclusion was to "just live with it"! As a last resort my parents took me to a Chiropractor… and I guess the rest is history! Since then I saw a Chiropractor for sports related hockey injuries and for the last 11 years, I’ve been faithfully going once a month for a tune-up whether I’m having discomfort or not.

Many people are often surprised that as a Chiropractor, I would need to see a Chiropractor but I can’t treat myself! AND not only is it important for my health but it’s the very same recommendations that I give to patients… treat your body BEFORE it starts screaming in pain at you. In other words, the time to receive treatment is when you are “feeling fine” so that you continue “feeling fine”.

One of the saddest things I hear over and over from patients following their first treatment is, “I didn’t realize how much pain I was in until it went away. I’ve ignored the pain for years.” Unfortunately, all too often people do live in discomfort or seek Chiropractic treatment as a last resort. So, in the spirit of Chiropractic Awareness month, I would ask that you awakening in yourself and others who might be reluctant to see a Chiropractor to the idea that regular treatment keeps your body functioning optimally.

As many may be aware I am a mother of three young children who all received their first chiropractic treatment shortly after they were born! As infants they would fall asleep during a treatment. By the time they are able to speak they ask "mommy can you adjust me or fix my back!" Even though they may not be able to verbalize why they know it leaves them feeling good.

Need more Energy?

2011-06-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

When your spine is not aligned your energy gets zapped. A properly aligned spine allows you to move more efficiently thus saving you energy. Messages from your brain travel down the spinal cord and enter every organ and muscle in your body telling it how to work. Misalignment or irritation in your spinal joints disrupts this flow of information and over time can result in organ & muscle dysfunction, pain and ultimately wastes energy!

Pain can interrupt all aspects of your life from the quality of our sleep to job or athletic performance. It also interferes with our body’s ability to re-generate and re-vitalize itself. By aligning your spine, chiropractic care deals with pain but also improves the nervous system’s ability to communicate with the body. In doing so, you move more efficiently and feel energized. Pain is draining and should not be tolerated as a normal part of living! Chiropractic supports your body and optimizes nervous system function. Regular chiropractic care helps you feel energized… give it a try!