Sleep and your health
When thinking of a balanced and healthy lifestyle, there are 3 things that are frequently discussed: good quality and sufficient sleep, a balanced diet and regular exercise. Sleep has a lot of implications on health, pain and our function beyond what is appreciated. Sleep has a critical role to play in proper immune function, tissue […]
Road Trip Routine
Long car rides or flights can cause muscle stiffness and occasionally some back pain. After a recent road trip, here are my favourite stretches and exercises to get limber. 1. Standing quad stretch: The quadriceps muscle is at the front of the thigh and often gets tight with prolonged sitting. Hold for 30-60 sec per […]
Run to the hills
Happy Canada Day! Hopefully this summer season will bring everyone fewer work and/or school demands and more time to enjoy this beautiful place we call home. I like to run and when my life gets busy, my run routes become very predictable. I generally choose one of the same three routes that start from my front […]
The Mind Body Connection
Sometimes during certain soft-tissue release techniques in treatment, I will instruct my client on their breathing, asking them to “breathe up into my contact”, or to expand their lungs slowly on the inhale and visualize the area we are working on softening, relaxing and “letting go” as they exhale. The result is a faster tissue release […]
Help me, help you
Injured clients come in to PhysioWorks everyday seeking help in overcoming pain and injuries. Often, they are looking for a diagnosis and a clear pathway to recovery that they can follow under our care. But I would like to highlight the importance of how the client can be an active participant in this process. Here […]
Visceral Massage
Sounds strange doesn’t it? Most people don’t really know what it is but it’s less complicated than you think. Viscera is a term used for our organs and visceral massage works to release the adhesions around the organs and position them in proper alignment for optimal function. Tension within the abdomen, pelvic dysfunction, and poor posture […]
Tendon Rehabilitation: Is it ok if my home exercises hurt?
A common question we get asked in clinic regularly is if the prescribed home exercise should hurt when they’re done. The answer is everyone’s favourite: “It depends.” Professor Hakan Alfredson, an orthopaedic surgeon, was a pioneer in tendon research who stumbled upon a treatment for tendon pain when he developed a painful Achilles tendinopathy (photo […]
What is Connect Therapy™ ?
Did you know that dysfunction at your ankle can cause pain in your knee and pelvis? Or that rotator cuff impingement can come from poor control in the thorax and neck? Regions of the body all influence one another for better or for worse and are all connected! ConnectTherapy is an evidence-based model developed by […]
Stretching: How often and how long do I need to stretch for?
Stretching is a common form of exercise to improve flexibility and range of motion. A recent article in the International Journal of Sports Medicine looked at which types of stretches were the most effective for improving flexibility. There is a variety of research in the field of stretching with varied and sometimes contradictory findings. This […]
Importance of Cross Training
Do you have a particular exercise or sport you can’t get enough of? Maybe it’s lifting weights, running, or perhaps you’re an avid rock climber. While it’s fine to be devoted to one sport, you owe it to your body to “mix it up” now and then through cross-training activities. Cross training is typically defined […]