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.

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.

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.

Foam rolling is very popular these days. You see them at your local gym, on the sidelines of NBA games, and physiotherapists recommend them all the time. But how exactly does foam rolling work? Well, the short and rather surprising answer is: we don’t really know. 

There are many myths and misconceptions regarding Low Back Pain including how and why it occurs. Here is a small list of some of the most common myths and explanations by Reactivate’s Dr. Chad Barber with a great follow up video by a world renowned back specialist from Waterloo, Dr. Stuart McGill

Our bodies are built to move! Check out this video for an explanation of what goes on in your body when you sit, and offers suggestions on how to avoid the negative consequences of sitting all day. 

Dr. Rich Trenholm talks with Dr. Erika Persson about the best ways to be involved as a health care provider for dancers in the latest CASEM podcast.

With back to school just around the corner, its time for books and backpacks once again. Here are some great tips to help our kids prevent aching backs after school.