Posture Perfect: How to Correct Your Back Pain

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Back pain is very common, and this type of pain can make it very difficult for you to perform your daily tasks. It is an uncomfortable condition that is both frustrating and challenging because it can be very limiting. The good news is that you can eliminate back pain, and chiropractic can help you move comfortably again.

One of the most common causes of back pain is poor posture, so if you slouch while you’re seated or lean forward at your desk, you may suffer from this type of pain. The same is true if you hunch over when you type, so you need to be aware of these actions as most people do them subconsciously without realizing the damage they are doing to their body. Proper posture is very important because it can affect the way your body moves. Regardless of whether you’re sitting, standing, walking, or running, proper posture is a must because it can allow you to move with ease, and you should be able to go about your day comfortably.

It’s common to forget about the way our bodies are positioned, and this is something that happens to all of us, especially when we are so focused on the tasks we are trying to complete. This can result in back pain, so you need to make an effort to maintain proper posture by positioning your body normally. When we feel drained, and our bodies feel tired, we can slouch and droop over because we cannot hold our bodies up. Contrary to what most people think, poor posture is not a result of laziness and is instead related to a physical weakness within our bodies. Our bodies can get tired of holding us up, and when this happens, our posture may suffer.

If you want to regain normal posture, we can help. Chiropractors specialize in movement so they can help you improve your balance, stability, mobility, and flexibility, all of which can result in better posture. They can help you eliminate your back pain, and their techniques and recommendations can have a positive effect on your posture. Orthopedic and functional testing will be a part of your initial evaluation, and this information will help your chiropractor identify the areas of your body that are causing your back pain. Once these details are clear, they will then create a customized treatment plan, which will be tailored to your specific needs, and this will focus on your posture and all the ways it can be improved. This plan can also help increase your strength so that you can achieve all of your physical performance goals. Most importantly, this plan can relieve you of your pain.

The experts at Apex Physiotherapy & Chiropractic can provide you with pain relief and can help you regain proper posture as well. If you’re ready to say goodbye to back pain and want to achieve a perfect posture, give us a call today!

Eating Right: A Simple Technique for Reducing Pain and Inflammation

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Pain in the body can be absolutely debilitating. Some of the most annoying pain is attributed to inflammation. Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis have no cure, and pain must be managed. Did you know that watching what you eat can actually decrease the amount of inflammation in the body? Like any physical journey your body goes on, what you fuel it with is more important than physical action.

Foods that you should avoid:

  • Sugar
  • High Fructose corn syrup (found in pop and other soft drinks)
  • Artificial trans fat
  • Seed oils
  • Processed meats (like smoked or canned meat, beef jerky)
  • Large amounts of alcohol
  • Gluten (Found in white bread and pastries)
  • Spicy foods

If you must eat these foods, try not to eat them right in the morning. The very first thing you put in your body in the morning is what starts off that day for yourself. If you put something that slows you down at first, you will have a hard time getting through your day without experiencing inflammation. Try and avoid these foods where possible, but don’t start off your day with them.

Instead of adding refined sugars to coffee or recipes, try adding natural sugars like honey or agave. To curb your pop craving, try sparkling fruit juices or carbonated waters. Avoid both trans fats and oils by baking rather than frying your food. Substitute canned meats for fresh ones like chicken or fish. A glass of wine here and there won’t kill you but avoid heavy daily drinking. Substitute white bread for whole grain, less refined options. Finally, Season your food with different spices, avoiding ones like cayenne, chili powder, or large amounts of black pepper.

Foods you should include:

  • Berries
  • Broccoli
  • Avocado
  • Peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Turmeric
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Cherries
  • Fish
  • Beans

Most of the foods on the list are whole foods, the reason these foods are anti-inflammatory is not that they have any sort of magical powers. It is because they are not processed. The body’s immune system activates when foreign bodies are found in the gut and bloodstream, this is what causes inflammation. Feeding your body whole foods does not activate the immune system as much, which will decrease inflammation. For further clarification or other questions about your health and diet specifically, book a consultation with our naturopathic doctor!

In addition to making good food choices, take care of your body by getting enough rest, drinking enough water, and moving around. When getting over a soft tissue injury of any kind, seeking physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment is always a good idea. Let the practitioners at Apex Physiotherapy and Chiropractic help you get back moving on your feet!

What Is Pre-hab? And Why You Should Do It

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Bodily injuries can set you back majorly, especially seeing as recovering from soft tissue can be quite the process, not to mention extremely painful. While no one expects to be injured, you can never be too prepared for a situation or body damage that may come out of nowhere. That is why the idea of attending pre-hab is growing in popularity. Pre-hab is going to physical rehab or physiotherapy before you get injured. Pre-hab might include muscle stretching, acupuncture, mobility and flexibility training, as well as muscle strengthening. Here are some of the reasons you might want to consider pre-hab.

Prevention

Ever heard of the saying the best offense is a good defense? The same rings true when it comes to injuries. Attending physiotherapy when you don’t have a current ailment can strengthen muscles, expand mobility, and increase flexibility. All great ways to prevent soft tissue injuries. Strong muscles hold together joints and prevent overstretched ligaments. Strong muscles are also key to proper posture and limit the development of poor posture-driven ailments. While expanded mobility and flexibility helps avoid strains from stiff joints and ligaments.

Accelerated healing

If you do happen to incur an injury, your pre-hab experience will come in handy. Whether you are under large amounts of physical stress at work, or maybe you’re accident-prone, you might be anticipating an injury. With pre-hab, you will speed up the healing process time after said injury seeing as your body has already been stretching and strengthening regularly, in preparation for whatever injury is next. If there is an area you injure regularly, physiotherapists can target that specific soft tissue during pre-hab, so if you are injured there again, you will already be in the healing process.

Before surgery

It might sound silly, but preparing for surgery should include physiotherapy, that is if you want to spend a shorter time recovering. Joint replacement surgeries, in particular, like hip and knee replacements, benefit most from pre-hab. Once again patients are able to loosen up and strengthen their muscles before undergoing trauma. One of the most important things about post-joint replacement surgery care is to get the joint moving. It sounds crazy and a little painful, but, in fact, patients who have gone through pre-hab find this task much easier than those without.

So, whether you are preparing for surgery, working a strenuous job, or maybe you’re just clumsy, don’t wait for an injury to start seeing a physiotherapist. Call Apex Physiotherapy clinic today to book a consultation, and discuss the best pre-hab plan made just for you.

Physiotherapy: A Natural And Easy Solution To Shoulder Pain

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Shoulder pain is not something you look forward to as you age. Unfortunately, shoulder pain is one of the most common joint pains that we experience as we age. Sure, you can take an anti-inflammatory or rub a topical cream on, but one of the most effective solutions is something you don’t need to swallow or rub on; it’s physiotherapy! Physiotherapy is an all-natural and easy way to relieve, manage, and even completely eliminate shoulder pains.

Why do I have shoulder pain?

Before determining what to do about shoulder pain, the cause of shoulder pain should be addressed. Shoulder pain can occur for many reasons, the cause will almost always determine how we go about with treatment.

First, determine if this is the first time you’ve felt this pain. Does it feel like anything that’s happened before? Is it sharp? Dull? Does it stay in one place? Is there anything that makes it feel worse or better? These are all questions your physiotherapist will ask to determine what is causing your pain.

Some conditions that may be the culprit include:

  • Arthritis

Arthritis in the shoulder causes stiffness in the joint and difficulty with mobility. Depending on the kind of arthritis, the bones are either breaking down or the joints are swelling.

  • Torn cartilage

Tearing cartilage sounds almost as painful as it is. Tears can happen in a number of ways, but all result in painful symptoms and decreased strength. With physiotherapy, the pain will decrease and strength will increase.

  • Stains/sprain

Spraining or straining your shoulder can happen at any point. It is when a muscle or ligament gets stretched too far, this can happen after a dislocation.

  • Pain from inactivity

If you have ever sat or laid down in one position for a long time, you know the crampy feeling you get in your joints when you stand up. That uncomfortable feeling is multiplied if a joint is immobilized for a long time, like after a fracture or broken bone.

  • Joint inflammation

Joint inflammation conditions like bursitis happen in joints of repeated activity, if left untreated, chronic pain will result. If you’re experiencing bursitis, you might feel an aching pain in your shoulder accompanied by redness of the skin.

What can physiotherapy do for you?

Physiotherapy as a practice boasts improved mobility, flexibility, long-term pain relief as well as increased joint longevity. Physiotherapy can be a combination of massage, acupuncture, exercises, and more. At Apex Physiotherapy and Chiropractic clinic, our professionals will develop a plan and allow you to feel as though your shoulder has aged backward! Call us and ask what we can do for you today!

PACK IT LIGHT. WEAR IT RIGHT.

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PACK IT LIGHT. WEAR IT RIGHT. 
Kids think it’s “cool” to strap on their backpacks and head out to school. But if they don’t know exactly how to choose, load, lift and wear them – these all-important accessories can be a pain in the back. Literally. Not to mention the neck, head, and shoulders.For example, a heavy backpack, carried on one shoulder, forces the muscles and spine to compensate for the uneven weight. This places stress on the mid and lower back, and may increase the likelihood of back problems later in life.
 
Backpacks can affect your children’s healthPrevention is key
 
Carrying a heavy load that is unevenly or improperly distributed can result in poor posture; and even distort the spinal column, throwing it out of alignment. This can cause muscle strain, headaches, back, neck and arm pain, and even nerve damage.Here are a few pointers to help you help your school age children carry their load comfortably and safely Choose the right backpack Forget leather! It looks great, but it’s far too heavy. Go for vinyl or canvas. Pick a pack that has two wide, adjustable, padded shoulder straps, along with a hip or waist strap, padded back and plenty of pockets. Make sure the pack fits properly, is not too snug around the arms and under the armpits, and that its size is proportionate to the wearer’s body.
Packing it properly: They’re not moving out! Make sure your children’s packs contain only what is needed for that day, and that the weight is distributed evenly. It’s a good idea to know roughly what each item weighs. The total weight of the filled pack should be no more than 10 to 15 per cent of the wearer’s own body weight. Pack heaviest objects close to the body, and place bumpy or oddshaped ones on the outside, away from the back. Putting the backpack on: It’s a good idea to help young children with this, at least the first few times. Put the pack on a flat surface, at waist height. Slip on the pack, one shoulder at a time, then adjust the straps to fit comfortably. Remember when lifting a backpack, or anything, to lift using the arms and legs and to bend at the knees. The right way to wear a backpack: Both shoulder straps should be used, and adjusted so that the pack fits snugly to the body, without dangling to the side. Backpacks should never be worn over just one shoulder. You should be able to slide your hand between the backpack and your child’s back. The waist strap should also be worn for added stability. More than 50 per cent of young people experience at least one episode of lower back pain by their teenage years. Research indicates that this could be caused, to a great extent, by improper use of backpacks. If your child does complain of back pain, numbness or weakness in his or her arms and legs, get help to prevent future problems.

Apex is offering Medistik delivered right to your home!

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Apex is offering Medistik delivered right to your home!
 
Need Something to help manage pain?

We want to ensure you have access to professional-level effective pain relief to help manage your issues until we can see you again.
Up to 20% off and FREE shipping
Medistik PROFESSIONAL, a product line we use and recommend extensively in our practice, is now shipping its professional line of products, which are only sold to practitioners and clinics, directly to you on our behalf. They are also providing up to  20% discount to our patients and FREE shipping, to make it easier for everyone to address their pain and mobility issues.

You can order by following this link to get your special discount.  Please note that once you are in the store and happen to log yourself out you can go back by following the below link again or clicking on the shopping cart you started.

If you have any additional questions about Medistik PROFESSIONAL products and their use for your condition, please do not hesitate to contact us personally or you can connect with the Medistik PROFESSIONAL team directly at 1.877.469.4006.

referral code. https://www.medistikprofessional.com/collections/patient-direct?rfsn=4148496.ddabb8&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=4148496.ddabb8

 

VIRTUAL CARE APPOINTMENTS

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Virtual Care appointments! 

Our Apex practitioners will now be accepting consults virtually through our new portal!  

Virtual care would enable your practitioner to alleviate your concerns, give recommendations about a particular condition/symptom you may be experiencing, and educate you on self-treatments such as doable at-home exercises, stretching, or rehab! 

Booking your virtual care appointment

To register and request a virtual care appointment with any of our practitioners at Apex, you can either click on the link below OR call/email our office and we can book it for you! 

https://healthlink.fitsamerica.com/#/register/5ea5b887ded6d30008e0e118/5ea609200f4ea775ef34026d
(The left column and country of residence are only mandatory fields for existing patients of Apex)

For the next month, we will be offering a Covid discount of $10 off our virtual care visit price

Survey! Tell us what level of contact you would like to receive from Apex

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We would like your opinion about how we can best cater to your needs during this time. 

We are considering virtual appointments through video chat or telephone and would like to know if that is something you would be interested in. Virtual care would enable your practitioner to alleviate your concerns, give recommendations about a particular condition/symptom you may be experiencing, and educate the patient on self-treatment such as doable at-home exercises, stretching, or rehabilitation of a particular condition!  We could also offer dietary counseling and vitamin/mineral supplementation through our naturopathic doctor!

Please take our quick survey and leave any feedback/suggestions that would help us serve you better during this time by taking the survey below!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FT5NNWB

Exciting News for Chiropractic in Ontario

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We’re Here For You. View this email in your browser
  Chiropractic Scope Expanding to Include Lab Tests and Diagnostic Ultrasound The OCA is very pleased to announce some exciting news for chiropractic in Ontario! The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) sent the OCA and the College of Chiropractors of Ontario a letter today stating it is moving forward with granting chiropractors the authority to order select lab tests and diagnostic ultrasound. By expanding chiropractors’ ability to practice closer to their full scope of practice including the use of these valuable diagnostic tools, the MOHLTC has recognized that chiropractors play a critical role in improving the care and health outcomes of Ontarians. This move is consistent with the support of integrating chiropractors into the health care system including removing the policy barrier to chiropractors practicing in primary care inter-professional teams, the Inter-professional Spine Assessment and Education Clinics, and Primary Care Low Back Pain pilots. It represents part of the government’s comprehensive approach to increasing access to care, reducing wait times, and improving patient experience. The OCA, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), and the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) have worked both collectively and individually on these goals for many years. We want to acknowledge the fine work of CCO in their role of regulating the profession in the public interest. CMCC has also been invaluable in identifying and providing the evidence-based rationale for specific lab tests and chiropractic educational training and competencies. This is also the result of the excellent care that individual chiropractors provide to their patients, and the role many chiropractors play in advancing the profession. This significant gain is the result of over eight years of intensive advocacy work. The OCA looks forward to working with the government on each of these scope enhancements. The announcement does not discuss the funding of these services. We are working closely with the Ministry to determine the exact details and we will share these with you as we move forward. Enacting these changes will require regulation and other changes and the authority is not yet in place. Learn More about Chiropractors’ Expanded Authority Hospital X-ray Access In 2004, an unintended consequence of delisting OHIP services was that chiropractors lost the ability to order X-rays in public hospitals. The government moved quickly and in 2005 amended the regulations under the Independent Health Facilities Act so chiropractors could order OHIP-funded X-rays through an independent health facility (IHF). Unfortunately, not all areas of the province have local IHFs. We are actively engaged in consultations with the Ministry on options for expanding access to chiropractic ordering of hospital X-rays in specified communities across Ontario.
   
  We’re here for you. Call us: 
Local: 416-860-0070 | Toll-free: 1-877-327-2273

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Ontario Chiropractic Association 200-20 Victoria St Toronto, ON M5C 2N8 Canada