Wellness Library
Massage for Stress Relief
Stress is universal, and it's not always bad. Whenever you jump aside to miss getting hit by a ball, feel especially nervous before an important meeting, or hit the brakes in time to avoid an accident, stress is doing its job. However, when there's never any relief from stress, the sustained fight-or-flight response can cause…
Chilblains
Chilblains are damage to the skin caused by changes in temperatures typically affecting the hands and feet. The small blood vessels that supply the skin dilate and contract in response to changing temperature, fast changes can cause the leaking of fluid and chemicals under the skin causing swelling and injury to the skin. Chilblains are…
Clicking and Crepitus
One of the most frequently asked questions I get in the clinic from patients is the concerning sounds like clicking, popping, snapping produced my movement. These noises can be concerning to the patient, therefore, leading to think that movement is aggravating and damaging the affected area. As we age, these types of sensations become more…
Digging Up the Facts on Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are the most common cause of painful nails. The medical name for ingrown toenails is onychocryptosis and the first signs include swollen skin around the nail, tenderness to touch, and formation of granulation tissue, which can progress to become infected in some cases. They are very common among teenagers and young adults because…
Hands and Feet- Have you lost your touch? Peripheral Neuropathy
Our nervous system sends information via electrical and chemical pathways to the brain and spinal cord and then distributes these signals to the rest of the body. When the nerves are damaged and this signalling is working we call this neuropathy. This can occur when no message is sent, like a broken wire, signally when…
Remedial Massage
A lot of people ask; What is remedial massage and how can it help me? Let me tell you a little bit about how it works.With remedial massage, therapists are trained to assess your body, observe over time, and design individual treatment plans for each client. It is more than just a feel-good massage, they…
3 Reasons Your Child is Intoeing
Intoeing is when the feet turn inwards during gait and is commonly known as being pigeon-toed. This is often seen among children and in most cases will resolve without treatment as the child grows. This is why it’s less commonly seen in adults. Intoeing may initially cause a child to trip but should reduce over…
5 Tips for Type 2 Diabetics
Insulin is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to collect sugars and take them to the cells for fuel. When we consume certain foods particularly carbohydrates and sugars, they are broken down into glucose and released into the bloodstream – this is referred to as blood glucose. Type 2 Diabetes…
Tired of Endometriosis? Want to Live Comfortably and Pain-Free?
If what you are doing hasn’t worked – it is time to consider a new approach. There are a number of helpful forums, blogs and talks, illuminating the agony of living with this condition. And while I can certainly attest, it is fantastic having the reality of this condition surfacing, it doesn’t answer the out-of-reach…
The Top 4 Excuses not to Exercise – Are You Using Them?
For professionals like Mortgage Brokers, who often spend long hours at their desks, finding time and motivation to exercise can be even more challenging. Every day I hear people come in with at least 2 or 3 excuses as to why exercise just doesn’t fit into their lifestyle. So what are these reasons and how…
The Truth about Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition which occurs when the body loses its ability to regulate how much sugar is in the bloodstream. It loses this ability when the body becomes insensitive to insulin. Insulin is a chemical the body produces to control how much sugar is in the bloodstream. It…
You are Not Your Scan
MRI’s CT’s, ultrasound’s and X-rays are medical assessment tools which Physiotherapists, GP’s and other health practitioners use to assist in diagnosing a patient’s pain or complaint. They are useful tools to determine whether more serious treatments such as injections and surgery are warranted. What is very important to understand is that these scans are pictures…
The What, Why & How of Diaphragm Breathing
The importance of correct breathing both during exercise and during our daily lives is often underestimated. More often then not, people present breathing in incorrect patterns that can be impeding on their progress. What is it? Patients have a tendency to keep their abdominals sucked in tight to make it look smaller, however, this forces…
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a condition we often hear about from family, friends or co-workers. You commonly hear it feeling like shooting leg pain or a jolt down the leg. It's normally given quite a serious undertone with a degree of fear attached to it. The question is: what is Sciatica and what can be done about…
How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Feet – PART TWO
In last week's article, I discussed how pregnancy can affect your skin and nails.Today we will look at the biomechanical and musculoskeletal issues which can arise during and after the baby arrives. Ligament Laxity: As hormone levels change, ligament laxity can occur. This means that our ligaments become more mobile to allow changes within joints.…
