Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc

Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc:

One of the most important stretches someone with low back pain should be performing is a hamstring stretch. When your hamstrings are tight, it places a lot of stress on your low back, leading to more pain and can actually cause more difficulty for you.

One of the easiest ways to stretch your hamstrings is lying on your back. Bring your knee toward your chest and straighten out your knee and try to push the bottom of your foot up towards the ceiling.  The opposite leg should be flat. Then rest and repeat. This should be performed on each side.

Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc

Hamstring Stretches

An important aspect to stretching is being able to relax while you are doing the stretch. If you find yourself not relaxing with the first stretch, try lying near a door jam or a corner of a wall and place one leg up on the wall. Now drop the opposite leg and you’ll begin feeling the stretch in the back of the hamstring. This is a nice stretch because you can just relax and it doesn’t place as much stress on your low back. The object here is to work your leg up the wall to try to get a ninety degree angle. Now once your leg is straight, simply return to the starting position, slide your hips closer to the wall, and repeat.

Since hamstring stretching should be done at least twice a day, finding other positions which you can incorporate into your daily routine is crucial.  Another way to stretch your hamstring is sitting on the edge of a chair, so it can be done almost anywhere. Sitting in the chair, scoot to the edge of the chair, straighten out one leg, and point your toes toward the ceiling. Simply sit up straight and roll your pelvis forward and you should feel a light stretch up the back of your leg. This can be held for approximately thirty seconds, and repeated on each side.

 For more information on stretches that you can do at home or at the office please contact our physiotherapists.

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Natural Health Practitioner take a Close Look at Foot Problems

Natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems, understanding that your feet are extremely complex structures composed of bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and skin. They are subject to injuries and other problems caused by normal wear and tear over years of supporting the weight of your body and making it possible for you to stand, walk, run, and jump.

Natural Health Practitioner take a close look at foot problems

foot problems

The most obvious symptoms of foot trouble are pain and dysfunction (limping, favouring one foot or the other, inability to put weight on the heel and/or the toes). Foot pain can be due to ill-fitting, inappropriate footwear that cramps your feet; injuries that keep you from walking well–or at all; sprains which stretch or tear ligaments (which connect bones); and stress fractures of bones in the foot, which can result from accidents or overuse while engaging in sports or exercise.

Foot pain and dysfunction can force you to modify the way you walk and create significant stresses on the joints of your legs, hips, and lower spine. Your feet are the foundation for your entire body. Even without pain, foot dysfunction can cause your whole body to overcompensate, which can lead to back pain and even headaches.

No one is safe from foot problems. But older or overweight individuals, diabetics, and serious athletes and dancers who place great demands on their feet are more prone to foot disorders than others are.

The most common foot problem though is Pronation. In pronation, some of the bones of the foot drop to a less stable position because the foot arches are too weak to keep them in proper alignment. The arches themselves may be unnaturally stretched (“flat feet”), and stress on the entire foot increases. Another common problem — one that is often found along with pronation — is Plantar Fascitis, a stress irritation of the sheath of elastic tissues running nearly the entire length of the foot. If not treated, either condition can lead to progressive development of foot malfunction and discomfort.

Chiropractic or Physiotherapy can help overcome foot and ankle problems that can cause additional problems in other structures such as in your legs, hips, lower back. The practitioners can use a number of diagnostic tests, including examining your gait and foot function.  They will palpate (move) your feet and ankles to measure any limitations in range of motion to identify what is causing your pain, and determine the best course of treatment.

In addition, your practitioner may use Shockwave therapy, and recommend orthotics to help solve some of your foot problems. When your natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems they can provide lifestyle counseling that can help reduce biological and psychological stresses on your body as a whole.

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Jumpers Knee Treatment

Jumpers knee treatment Jumpers knee treatment is just one of many knee injury treatments offered at Diversified Health. Anyone can be a victim of a knee injury; whether you are a professional athlete, a weekend warrior or  just doing your day-to-day activities. The knee joint is unique in that it carries body weight at the same time as it provides flexibility and mobility and this construction predisposes the joint to risk of injury from sudden movement and repeated wear and tear.

What can cause knee injuries:

• Ligament Sprains – Overstretching  ligaments are bands of strong tissue that stabilize the knee joint together.

• Cartilage Tears – Pressure from twisting and turning during weight-bearing exercise

• Tendon Strains – This is an overuse injury commonly caused by repeated jumping or “jumpers knee”

• Footwear –ill fitting footwear can affect the way you walk and can place stress on the muscles and tendons around the knee joint.

• Frequency/intensity of activity – Any change such as jogging or playing tennis on a different surface can affect the knee joint.

Treatments for knee pain:

A health care practitioner at Diversified Health Clinic will assess your knee to determine the source of the problem and to develop an individual treatment program.  Depending upon the type and degree of injury, the program may include practices such as Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy.

Treatments can include manual adjustments, and modalities such as cold laser, shockwave therapy, ultrasound, graston technique or neuro-mechanical adjusting tool.

Returning to activity:

At Diversified Health Clinic we can provide a program to help prevent re-injury as you return to normal activities, including stretching exercises to regain flexibility around the joint and strength training to build up the muscle in the Rehab Gym.

Another element of the rehabilitation program is to retrain balance and coordination. A knee injury involves more than just stress and strain to the soft tissue. It also affects the tiny receptors in the muscles, ligaments and tendons that ‘tell’ you where your knee is positioned. These receptors send signals to correct balance and shift weight.

Whether you require a jumpers knee treatment or a sprain/strain treatment, Diversified Health Clinic will provide you with numerous options that will include exercise programs that will help you strengthen your muscles and get you back participating in the activities you love.

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Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls | physiotherapy victoria bc

Yes, Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls.

It’s the time of the year in Victoria that brings challenges to those who have balance and mobility issues: there could be ice or snow or puddles on any particular day.  And with the shorter, colder days, many people’s overall fitness declines because they are not able or not motivated to get outside and move around.  All of these elements combine to increase the likelihood of sustaining an injury from a fall.  Of course a physiotherapist can help to treat any of these injuries, but a physiotherapist can also help to prevent falls from happening in the first place!

According to a recent study by Muir et al, over twenty risk factors for falling have been identified, but there are five major factors, with an increased number of these risk factors exponentially increasing the risk of falling:

  1. A history of recent falls
  2. Functional lower extremity strength: the ability to stand up from a seated position in a chair without using the chair arms
  3. An unsteady gait
  4. Impaired balance
  5. Taking four or more prescription medications

rehab clinic victoria bcThe physiotherapists at Diversified Health are trained to assess joint mobility, muscular strength, balance and gait patterns.  Part of their assessment is to identify deficits and come up with a program to improve such key issues as quadriceps and gluteus (thigh and buttock) strength. They will advise you on which specific strength, mobility and balance exercises would be most beneficial for you, and will make suggestions on functional ways to work on these exercises at home or at the gym, with safety being the top priority.

At Diversified Health, some specific exercises you might be shown include wall squats, bridging, or outer hip strengthening.  You might use tools such as balance boards, BOSU balls, the Vibe machine, and various other cardio or weight equipment.

If you are considering using a mobility aid such as a walker or a cane, we can help you decide which one is right for you and how to properly adjust it.   If you would like to stop by the clinic, the practitioners would be happy to give you a free assessment of the fit of your cane or walker.

Our physiotherapists also educate regarding footwear, posture and general activity / exercise, and help you come up with a plan to incorporate all three kinds of physical activity: strength and balance exercises; endurance exercises; and flexibility exercises.

Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls | physiotherapy victoria bc, so please call Sandra Hardy at 250-382-0018 and book your free assessment.

Researched and written by Sandra Hardy M.P.T.

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Boot-Camp Workout for Women you can do at Home | rehab victoria bc

Finally a Boot-Camp workout for women you can do at home!

Start by jogging for two to three minutes to warm up, then start with the first exercise in Round 1.  Do as many reps as you can in 30 seconds, rest 10 seconds, then continue until you’ve completed each exercise for 30 seconds in the order shown.  Rest for a minute, then do the exercises in Round 2. Rest for another minute, then repeat the entire sequence so you’ve completed two sets of each round.

Boot-Camp Workout for Women you can do at Home | rehab victoria bc

Photo Credit: dli.ro

Round 1:

Squats – With feet hip-width apart, bend your knees to 90 degrees, keeping your chest upright. Return to standing.

Pushups – Place hands wider than shoulder-width apart and lower your chest to the floor.

Bicycle Crunches – Lie on your back, hands clasped behind your neck. Bring your right elbow toward your left knee while straightening your right leg, raised six to eight inches above the floor. Alternate sides.

Jumping Jacks – Raise your arms out to the sides & above your head; at the same time, jump up & spread your feet wide. Reverse & repeat.

Back Extensions – Lie facedown with your arms at your sides and slowly raise your head, shoulders, and chest off the floor.

Round 2:

Walking Lunges – Step forward with your right leg and bend your knees to 90 degrees. Move forward as you alternate legs.

Squat Jumps – Do a squat, then jump as high as you can while throwing your arms up into the air, landing softly right into another squat.

Close-Grip Pushup – Place hands side by side, thumbs touching, and lower your chest to the floor.

Standing High-Knees – Jog in place, quickly alternating bringing your knees up toward your chest.

Mountain Climbers – From a pushup position, quickly alternate bringing your knees toward your chest.

Boot-Camp Workout for Women you can do at Home | rehab victoria bc – This boot camp is designed by trainer Laurel Blackburn from Womens Health Magazine.

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Natural Health Practitioner Recommends Superfoods that Detoxify

The beginning of the new year is when many of us will start a detox program; but if doing a detox is not your thing, our natural health practitioner recommends superfoods that detoxify and that you can easily add into your daily life.

Natural Health Practitioner Recommends Superfoods that Detoxify

Photo Credit: celynnerasmus.com

Avocados—lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxins.  Avocados contain a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks 30 different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals.

Beets—contain a unique mixture of natural plant chemicals and minerals that make them an excellent overall body cleansers.

Cranberries—have powerful antibiotic and antiviral substances to help the body cleanse harmful bacteria and viruses from the urinary tract.

Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil— are loaded with essential fatty acids, that are essential for many cleansing functions and maintaining a healthy immune system. The health of every cell in your body is dependent on getting adequate amounts of essential fatty acids.

Fresh Garlic—helps cleanse harmful bacteria, and viruses from the body, especially from the blood and intestines. It also helps cleanse buildup from the arteries and lowers blood pressure. Garlic has anti-cancer and antioxidant properties that help detoxify the body.

Lemons— are the perfect liver detoxifiers. Fresh lemon juice contains more than 20 anti-cancer compounds and contain high amounts of vitamin C, a vitamin needed by the body to make a substance called glutathione; which reduces the likelihood of negative effects from environmental chemicals. Vitamin C and other antioxidants found in lemons are integral to ward off cancer, fight the effects of pollution and cell damage.

Seaweed—could be the most underrated vegetable in the Western world. Studies at McGill University in Montreal showed that seaweeds bind to radioactive waste in the body so it can be removed. Seaweed also binds to heavy metals to help eliminate them from the body.

Diversified Health’s natural health practitioner recommends superfoods that detoxify and can also set up a personalize workout program to fit your health needs.

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To B or Not to B, that is the Supplement

b12These days, you simply can’t eat enough food to obtain all of the proper nutrition you need due to the fact that our soils have been depleted, or it may be difficult to find enough locally grown produce to fulfill our needs. You know that supplements are beneficial, but do you know the key questions to ask yourself about buying the right vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements?

For example, are you sure that the echinacea product you’re taking is the correct species of the plant? The correct portion of the plant? Processed to provide optimum bio-availability? Are you sure those coenzyme Q10 capsules contain COQ10 and not just a mixture of riboflavin and folic acid which looks just like COQ10?

Wide price differentials exist among particular nutraceuticals, and one reason can be differences in the quality of the raw material between manufacturers. There’s natural diversity in the genetics of the plant that have a long-term impact as to the final quality of the packaged product. Some plants may have high levels of active ingredients, while others may have none.

Vitamin B for instance, supports healthy cardiovascular an nervous system function, as well as the ability to boost energy levels.  But what brand, what dosage and when should it be taken are questions that you should be asking before taking any nutraceutical supplement.

If you’re unsure about the quality of the vitamins, minerals and/or supplements you are taking, ask for suggestions or recommendations by your health care practitioner.  The practitioners at Diversified Health Clinic use only the highest quality nutraceuticals.

Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. We’re here to help, and enjoy participating in your life long good health!

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Victoria Clinic Encourages Exercise to De-Stress

Keeping up with a fitness program this time of year can be a challenge, and that’s why a Victoria clinic encourages exercise to de-stress. 

One of the best ways to deal with the stress is through physical activity, and one of the easiest ways to accomplish this during all the hustle and bustle is by simply walking. Besides the well documented health benefits, the beauty of walking is you can go at your own pace, and you can do it anywhere.

Once you are ready to hit the road (or the trail, treadmill or track) how do you make the most of your walking workout? Here are some practical tips for getting maximum aerobic, strength, postural and conditioning benefits from your walking program.

 

Victoria Clinic Encourages Exercise to De-Stress!

Victoria Clinic Encourages Exercise to De-Stress!

1. Warm up First, Then Stretch. Start by walking for just seven to 10 minutes (wear a watch) and then do a few gentle stretches. Your muscles will stretch better if you’ve warmed them up first. The first minute is as important as the ninetieth minute.

2. Take Short, Quick Steps. By taking short, quick steps, rather than long strides you will work your “glute” muscles (in your buttocks) as you log miles.

3. Practice the Heel-Toe Roll. Push off from your heel, roll through the outside of the foot, and then push through the big toe. Keep the other toes relaxed. (This takes practice.)

4. Squeeze Your Glutes. Imagine squeezing and lifting your glutes up and back as if you were holding a dollar bill between them! This will strengthen your low back muscles.

5. “Zip up” Your Abs. During your walk, imagine you’re zipping up a tight pair of jeans. Stand tall and pull your abdominal muscles up and in. You can practice this even when you are not walking.

6. Pump Your Arms. Imagine you are holding the rubber grips of ski poles in your hands. Stand straight, drop your shoulder blades behind you and push back your elbows with each step. Keep your arm movements smooth and strong.

7. Keep Your Chest Up, Shoulders Back. Use your walk as an opportunity to practice good posture. Imagine someone dumped ice down your back. That’s the feeling you want to have as you hold your chest up and shoulders back.

8. Keep Your Head Up. Look about 10 feet ahead of you. Imagine that you’re wearing a baseball cap and have to look up just enough to see the road. This keeps your neck aligned properly.

9. Smile and Have Fun. Learning these techniques takes time and concentration. Be patient and enjoy your workout. Dress comfortably, find a partner or wear a headset and listen to music you love. If you’re walking outdoors, vary your routine. Remember the importance of the “warm down”. The warm down is aimed at gradually returning the body to its resting state. This will help to prevent muscle stiffness and the onset of muscle soreness that can follow a training session.

10. Practice “Mental Fitness”. Don’t replay the problems of the day while you walk. Try to maintain a state of relaxed awareness by paying attention to your breathing and noticing how your body feels. Visualize yourself getting healthier and stronger.

Consistency is the most important part of your walking workout. The more committed you are to walking all or most days of the week, the healthier you’ll be.  So get moving and remember that the Victoria clinic encourages exercise to de-stress!

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What does a Stress Fracture Treatment Plan include?

Let’s start by explaining what a stress fracture is. A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone that usually happens from overuse. Stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in sports but a stress fracture can affect anyone with weak bones or nutritional deficiencies.

The symptoms for a stress fracture are not always easy to diagnosis, and stress fractures can get worse quickly and so please contact your healthcare practitioner if you notice the following symptoms:

  • pain in the foot or leg, spine, and other locations when exercising that goes away when resting
  • pain that starts happening earlier in the activity each time it’s done
  • pain that gets worse with time and can be felt even after rest
  • an area of the affected bone that is painful to touch

At Diversified Health Clinic  you will be asked questions about your medical history, your activity level and other things that might put you at risk for a stress fracture. A physical examine of the affected area, to check for tenderness and looking to see if there’s any redness or swelling.

Stress fractures happen mostly in the lower limbs, like the foot or lower leg, where bones get more pressure from bearing weight. But people also get stress fractures in the upper limbs if they put repetitive strain on the bones such as when playing tennis or golf, or during work such as a carpenter or brick layer.

You are more likely to develop a stress fracture, if you have a a low level of physical fitness, which causes problems with muscle strength. Weak muscles put the bones at greater risk of fractures.  A low intake of calcium and Vitamin D, or flat feet, which may increase the risk of stress fractures of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower part of the leg)

Treatment for a stress fracture can include:

  • Cold Laser
  • Ice/Heat
  • Physiotherapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Rehab exercises
  • Calcium supplements
  • Anti inflammatory medication

If noticed early and treated correctly, most stress fractures will heal by themselves in a matter of weeks, so a stress fracture treatment plan includes various options and modalities specifically for your injury.

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Back Exercise for Pain Relief | Chiropractor Victoria BC

One of the keys to recovering from an episode of back pain and to help avoid future recurrences of back pain, is to pursue appropriate rehabilitation and back exercise for pain relief  | Chiropractor Victoria BC .

There are three types of muscles that support the spine:

  • Extensors (back and gluteal muscles), which are used to straighten the back (stand), lift and extend, and move the thighs out away from the body.
  • Flexors (abdominal and iliopsoas muscles), which are used to bend and support the spine from the front; they also control the arch of the lumbar (lower) spine and flex and move the thigh in toward the body.
  • Obliques or Rotators (side muscles), which are used to stabilize the spine when upright; they rotate the spine and help maintain proper posture and spinal curvature.
Back Exercise for Pain Relief | Chiropractor Victoria BC

Photo Credit: fun-physicalfitness.com

While some of these muscles are used in everyday life, most do not get adequate exercise from daily activities and tend to weaken with age unless they are specifically exercised.

For all forms of exercise, it is advisable to see a trained and licensed health practitioner before starting any exercise program.

Stretching

Any form of inactivity, especially if an injured back is involved, is usually associated with some progressive stiffness. Therefore, it is necessary to push the range of motion in a controlled manner. Patients with chronic pain may find it takes weeks or months of stretching to mobilize the spine and soft tissues, but will find that the increase in motion provides meaningful and sustained relief of their back pain.

Stretching exercise should focus on achieving flexibility and elasticity in the disc, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Strengthening

An episode of back pain that lasts for more than two weeks should be treated with proper strengthening exercise to prevent a recurring cycle of pain and weakness.

There are two primary forms of exercise for strengthening and/or pain relief that tend to be used for specific conditions.

First focus on extending the spine to reduce pain generated from a collapsed disc space. Extension may also help reduce a herniated disc and reduce pressure on a nerve root.  Second focus on finding the patient’s “neutral” spine, that is, the position that allows the patient to feel most comfortable. The back muscles are then exercised to teach the spine how to stay in this position. Performed on an ongoing basis, these exercises can help keep the back strong and well-positioned.

Low-Impact Aerobic Conditioning

Finally, conditioning through low-impact aerobic exercise is very important for both rehabilitation and maintenance of the lower back.

Three low impact aerobic exercise that many people with back pain can tolerate include:

  • Water therapy (aqua fit) provides a gentle form of conditioning as the water counteracts gravity making many stretching movements easier and provides buoyancy as well as mild resistance.
  • Continuous walking at a sustained pace for a minimum of twenty to thirty minutes is required to provide aerobic conditioning.
  • Riding a stationary bicycle provides aerobic conditioning with minimal impact on the spine.

Choosing the most appropriate form of exercise depends upon the nature of the injury and an individual’s exercise preferences. It is advisable to discuss options with your health practitioner to identify the back exercise for pain relief  | Chiropractor Victoria BC that is best to incorporate into your  daily routine.

Article Credit: Spine Health

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