The body has an incredible ability to heal itself. However, it needs to be coaxed along in a particular way in order for it to happen. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes progression. And it takes consistency. Combine this with a multidisciplinary approach to treatments with physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, and/or athletic therapy, you will be sure to get back to your best life.
The body has an incredible ability to heal itself. However, it needs to be coaxed along in a particular way in order for it to happen. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes progression. And it takes consistency. Combine this with a multidisciplinary approach to treatments with physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, and/or athletic therapy, you will be sure to get back to your best life.
Whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior with an injury, or just an average person with normal aches and pains, you would benefit from the services of an athletic therapist. Some techniques you’ll find in an athletic therapist’s toolbox include manual therapies, modalities, bracing, taping, and exercise prescription. Big emphasis on exercise prescription.
Back pain is the symptom, and the key to eliminating it is to find the cause. An assessment will reveal what that mechanism is. Part of the assessment involves pattern recognition to figure out what makes your pain worse and what makes it feel better. I suggest you make a list with these two columns. What movements, postures and loads are triggering your back pain? What movements, postures or loads are pain-free? You can then start to see the patterns emerging of what could be keeping you sensitized and in pain.
Osteoporosis derives from the Greek words literally meaning “porous bone”, which is a bit odd since our bones are already porous. The outer surface of a bone, called cortical bone, is a dense shell that provides much of the strength to our skeleton, but there is an inner reinforced bony structure that is porous called cancellous bone.
Bone remodeling occurs in a fairly organized way in that they respond to the directional forces that we physically apply to our skeletal system. So, that is why certain factors such as exercise and activity are so very important to build up strong bones by the time they reach their peak density in the mid to late twenties, but it also keeps the bone remodeling process active for longer, and you lose bone mass much more slowly over time.
So, if you change up the way you walk, your bones will change over time so that they can provide strength in the areas of the bone that need reinforcing to manage those stresses and forces. Other areas that are not stressed as much get less attention and bone growth slows down there.
Winter in Muskoka is in full swing in a year without many of our beloved winter activities like downhill skiing and hockey. Combining this with working from home and limited visiting and out-of-house excursions, many of us are going days without fresh air and exercise. It’s so easy to look outside and allow the cold, snowy elements to convince the mind that it’s probably best to stay inside where its warm, safe and comfortable. But like most things that are hard to convince yourself of, there is a lot to be gained from exercising in the tough conditions. Winter in Muskoka is full of pristine beauty and is well worth pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones to experience!
Here are some tips and tricks to help embrace the beauty of winter in Muskoka, get outside, get fit, stay healthy and maintain motivation through the tough winter months.
A solid body of evidence states that regular physical activity can have a significant effect on an individual’s mental health. But can that same body of evidence be applied to older adults?
Engaging in exercise not only has physical benefits, it has multiple benefits in treating and preventing mental health issues.
It is so effective, that a number of studies have shown that for mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, it is as effective as an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. Just without the side effects. (Unless feeling awesome, improved sleep, improved energy, weight stability or even loss, improved libido, and a super positive attitude are side effects.)
You probably have had a curious look on your face when watching sports on TV, or even meeting with friends, and you see these circular areas of bruising on their bodies. What happened? What did they do?
Well, in fact, they asked for it. This is called "Cupping", and it is a modified version of a traditional Chinese medical treatment. Read more here about the treatment, how it is done, why it is done, and how to get the most out of your treatment.
One of our amazing massage therapists put together this brief and informative video about the benefits of self myofascial release; in other words, using a massage ball, or some other firm ball, to help release some tight trigger spots in your body. Take a few minutes to watch the video to pick up some great tips and information.
By Bryan Lynd (physiotherapist)
Treating this winter chore as exercise and give it the respect it deserves. As a physiotherapist I see a variety of injuries each year related to snow shovelling. Most commonly I see lower back strains and shoulder injuries. To help prevent you from needing to see me for a snow shovelling related injury, follow my advice below.
by Dr. Travis Bissonette (chiropractor)
As Christmas is fast approaching, Santa is probably gearing up for another night of delivering gifts to boys and girls all around the world. As a chiropractor, I am worried about Santa’s back. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and contributes to a considerable proportion of absences from work.1 If Santa has to miss work because of back pain, millions of children won’t get the presents they wished for. So, what are some of the risk factors for low back pain that Santa should be aware of?
By Bryan Lynd (physiotherapist)
This article will be the first of many more blogs to follow that discuss the importance of natural movement. While this blog is educational in nature, it is only meant to serve as a surface level introduction to these concepts. For a list of resources to further research natural movement please visit the references at the bottom. Before attempting anything mentioned in this article it is suggested that you consult with a licensed health care practitioner such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or sports medicine physician. Enjoy!
By Dr. Rich Trenholm (Sport and Exercise Medicine)
While it is extremely important to have an accurate diagnosis for a team of rehabilitation specialists like ours at Reactivate properly target our treatment plans for our patients, not all tests are equal, and the “bigger, shinier, newer, more computerized” tests don’t necessarily mean that it is a better test.
This article reviews how we come to diagnoses, using our minds, our hands, and the available technology that we have at our disposal.
by Dr. Chad Barber
Back pain is extremely common. Stats show that approximately 80% of Canadians will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. The good news is, we are equipped to deal with that pain and with a few easy tips we can prevent future recurrence.
Despite it being a common injury and chronic issue that people experience during their lifetime, there still are many myths and misconceptions out there regarding low back pain, including how and why it occurs.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly caused a sudden shift in how we as individuals, community members, and inhabitants of this world are functioning on a day to day basis to try to reduce the risk of personally getting and subsequently transmitting COVID-19 in our community.
A question that gets asked frequently to health care providers is “What more can I do to protect myself from viral illnesses such as COVID-19?”. Well aside from the precautions that are well laid out by Health Canada and public health, we thought we would help you understand, and even give you tips on how to implement, exercise into your day to day life so that you immune system gets strong and ready to go to battle when a virus is encountered by your body.
We know that this is a long article, but it covers a lot of ground.
As our understanding of human anatomy, physiology and pathology in the health field has improved, massage therapy as a profession has evolved right along with it. Standards vary globally, but Canada has some of the very highest standards in the world. Today, you can be confident your RMT has had training in assessments, massage techniques, hydrotherapy, and remedial exercises. After your initial intake and assessment, your RMT has the tools to deliver the best and most personalized treatment and treatment plan possible.
As our understanding of human anatomy, physiology and pathology in the health field has improved, massage therapy as a profession has evolved right along with it. Standards vary globally, but Canada has some of the very highest standards in the world. Today, you can be confident your RMT has had training in assessments, massage techniques, hydrotherapy, and remedial exercises. After your initial intake and assessment, your RMT has the tools to deliver the best and most personalized treatment and treatment plan possible.
We are all crunched for time, so why not incorporate this workout into your daily routine?
There is no reason that we can’t get out of our seats at our desk in order to prevent a multitude of chronic conditions that are associated with an overly sedentary lifestyle…at work and at home.
Read more about getting engaged, getting active, and getting reactivated while you work…
We have a lot of fantastic information on our website including informative blog posts. To search our site for particular services or a blog post topic, use the search bar to take a look around!
10 Howland Drive, Unit 1
Huntsville, ON P1H 1M3
Monday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Tuesday: 8.00am to 7.00pm
Wednesday: 8.00am to 5.00pm
Thursday: 8.00am to 7.00pm
Friday: 8.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario does not permit the use of testimonials or reviews on websites that are operated by a clinic. The reviews and testimonials on this page do not refer to nor include physiotherapists or registered massage therapists. But feel free to leave a review about our providers on Google! Thank you very much!
