The Many faces of Sciatica…

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Dr. Corey Finan DC

What exactly is Sciatica? 

Well, besides being a scary sounding problem, it is one of the most misunderstood health care conditions out there.  Why is that?  Well, to begin with, true sciatica is a very narrowly defined condition.  Wikipedia, and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary all define it as “pain along the course of a sciatic nerve especially in the back of the thigh broadly : pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, or adjacent parts”.  The Mayo Clinic, WebMD and Merck Manual go further and describe how it originates “Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve.”  The resulting symptoms are usually pain, and often numbness in the affected leg.  Typically the pain will radiate down the back of the leg past the knee to the foot.  When the nerve is compressed (i.e. pinched) you will typically get numbness in the leg from the point of compression down.  This numbness is the result of the nerve signal not being able to get from the area downstream of the compression up to the brain which is upstream of the compression.  Thus the brain gets no signal from the downstream part of the leg, and our brain interprets a lack of signal into what we call numbness.

We’ve established that most true Sciatica comes from nerve compression in the low back either due to a disc issue, spinal stenosis (closing of the opening for the spinal cord due to increased bone growth), or bone spurs that affect the nerve roots in the back.  None of these sound like fun, nor do they sound like things that just happen.  In fact other than the disc derangements that can cause sciatica, none of the conditions that cause sciatica are quick.  There is usually some indication that things are going gravely wrong in your back long before you get Sciatica.

Just to clarify, what we know about true sciatica is that it is often slow developing (over years), is usually due to some form of alteration in the structures of the low back, and often will have numbness and radiating leg pain as symptoms.  Other indications can lead to the diagnosis of true sciatica, such as clinically having a positive Straight Leg Raise, Well Leg Raise, and / or Slump test.  Each of these orthopedic tests look at how the spinal nerves are moving within the spinal cord, and if there is an issue such as any of the items that can cause sciatica, you will get a painful positive result on the tests.

Why do I keep saying “true” when referring to Sciatica?  For the simple reason that people get leg pain, but it is not due to any of the conditions outlined above.  So a new designation was coined for all other causes of Sciatica, and those terms are “False Sciatica”, “Pseudo-Sciatica”, “Sciatica-Like pain syndrome”, and the list goes on and on.

Why is it important to distinguish between true sciatica and all others?  Because statistics show that of those with true sciatica, 90% are caused by either disc derangements, bone spurs, and stenosis in the spine.  The other 10% are caused by varying conditions including space occupying lesions (tumors), neurodegenerative conditions, and more obscure conditions.  So then if 90% of true sciatica is due to low back irregularities, what percentage of people coming in with leg pain is made up of people with true sciatica?  According to a 2007 study published in the British Medical Journal, about 5-10% of people with low back and/or leg pain have true sciatica.  So, when you crunch the numbers, you have 90% of 10%, or 9% of the total number of people coming in with low back and leg pain being due to true sciatica.  To put it into context, in my busy practise over the course of a complete year I may see between 5 and 20 patients that have True Sciatica, while I see upwards of 100’s that have Pseudo Sciatica.

Why is this important? Because there is a saying that goes like this:  “If you live in Alberta and you hear the sound of hooves behind you, you should think ‘A horse is coming’”.  And if you lived in Africa, you’d think “A Zebra is coming”.  The point is, you should look for the most common cause to be the most likely cause, unless something points you in another direction.

So, we have established that most radiating leg pain that comes into a common practise will MOST LIKELY be from something other than a spinal condition that pinches the sciatic nerve.  What does that leave us with as the most common cause of radiating leg pain?  It may surprise you to find out that it is actually trigger points in the muscles in and around the hip.  Most hip muscles will refer pain down the leg in a rather predictable pattern.  Trigger points arise in muscles due to overuse.  They are focal points within a muscle that maintain a spontaneous electrical activity when at rest while the rest of the muscle exhibits no resting electrical activity.  Most people call them “Muscle Knots”, because you can feel them as tightened bands within the muscle belly.  It is not surprising that the mother of trigger point research Dr. Janet Travell, M.D. called the Gluteus Minimus the pseudo-sciatic muscle, because even back in the 1970’s when she was doing her research she realized that trigger points within that muscle mimicked the pain that true sciatica caused patients.  The only difference is that the Gluteus Minimus is much more common a cause of leg pain that true sciatica.

Another very common cause of referred leg pain can be from sciatic nerve irritation as it exits the hip through the piriformis muscle before darting down the leg.  Inflammation can irritate nerves, and an inflamed piriformis can trigger leg pain that runs down the back of your leg.  This is common enough to have a syndrome named after it, appropriately called Piriformis Syndrome.

These two muscle conditions are the most common causes of leg pain that goes down the back or side of the leg ending either above or below the knee.  They typically are seen in patients who sit for long periods at work, engage in strenuous activities involving the hips (jumping sports, running sports, dancing, etc.), and people who are unable to properly engage their core prior to leg movement.  These all set up the environment for the hip muscles to become overused, tired, and tight.  This process develops slowly over a number of weeks or years.  Once the muscles reach a certain point they become so tight that trigger points can develop.

The good news is hip muscle strains / trigger points are fixable.  Active Release Technique (a chiropractic soft tissue treatment involving stretching and releasing of trigger points, fascial restriction, and muscle tightness) can effectively reduce the trigger points and resolve your leg pain.  Further, dry needling into the trigger point can be of benefit for stubborn cases.  By releasing the tension within the hip muscles, the pain will dissipate, and functionally normal range of motion can be re-established, leading to proper joint function, and feeling better.  At Active Sports Therapy we can effectively treat your leg pain and get you back to doing what you love best.

 

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hamstring Injuries and Treatment

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

Most active individuals at one time or another have experienced at least a minor hamstring injury. Whether it happened on the first day out at your adult slow pitch league as you sprinted to first base or perhaps from repetitive strain of the muscle while training for a marathon, one thing is for sure…it’s extremely painful.

Your hamstring muscle is a group of three muscles that run down the back of your thigh. Your body uses them to walk, run, and jump. So basically, when you’re on the move, so are your hamstrings! Because of this, hamstring strains, pulls, tears, and other injuries are quite common and the pain and discomfort brought on by a hamstring injury signals people to come in for an appointment.

If you have a pulled hamstring muscle, it will be assessed and graded, not unlike other types of muscle injuries. Here is what you can expect from each of the grades.

Grade 1 – The individual will have discomfort, but not an extreme amount of pain or disability from the injury. The tears in the muscle fibres will be miniscule and it is likely that the person just stretched their muscle a little too far.

Grade 2 – The individual will likely see a limit to what they are able to do because of their injury. Running and jumping will be painful and because the injury is a more severe, there might be more pain, and swelling or bruising at the site.

Grade 3 – This would be the most severe type of strain because there will actually be tears in the muscle fibres with surgery being a possibility depending on the overall severity. The person will have difficulty with walking and the condition will be very painful accompanied by swelling and bruising.

Treatment

The RICE method is what will be employed in most cases. If you’re unfamiliar with RICE it is as follows:

Rest – Don’t put weight on your leg if you don’t have to. Most hamstring strains will not need crutches but a higher grade may need them just to ensure the leg is getting the rest it needs.

Ice – This will help to reduce pain and swelling. Follow the rule of 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off several times per day for the first 48 to 72 hours.

Compression – Use a stretchy elastic bandage to wrap and compress the leg to help reduce swelling.

Elevation – When you’re laying down, prop your leg up comfortably on a pillow.

 

How to Prevent Hamstring Injuries

Preventing a hamstring injury is important because one of the greatest indicators of a future hamstring strain is simply that fact that you’ve had one in the past.

Warm up before activities - This includes some dynamic stretching and movement, such as light jogging, skating, or movements related to the activity you’re about to perform, as well as passive/static stretching.

Proper rest, recovery - Fatigue can often be the cause of a hamstring injury so ensure that you’re properly rested for the activity at hand with adequate recovery time in between activities.

Training and preparation - Whether it’s a long hike, a 10k run, or sprinting the bases, you need to ensure your body is prepared by keeping your strength up.

Running Mechanics - If your running mechanics are off, you could be putting more strain on your hamstrings than necessary. Visit a professional to have your stride assessed and you may reduce the incidence of hamstring injuries.

At Active Sports Therapy we can help with this type of injury through various soft tissue treatments including active release therapy, deep tissue massage as well as dry needling. Low intensity laser therapy will often speed up the rate of recovery. Please call us to book an appointment today!

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Is Your Stress Contributing to Your Pain?

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

If you’re dealing with an injury or pain, studies show that there is a direct link between an individual’s stress level and the amount of pain that they feel. Stress and pain are considered to be closely linked so you may find it beneficial to journal your pain level and your stress level to find out if, personally, there is a correlation for you.

Stress is actually a natural reaction to the world and experiences that we are a part of and everyone will feel stress occasionally. The difficulty arises when a person has elevated stress levels that are persistent to the point where it begins to take a toll on the body.

For example, here is how stress plays out in the muscular system. When you enter a state of stress, a common response for the body is for muscles to tense up. It does this to protect you from injury in a dangerous situation and under normal circumstances, the muscles will relax again. However, if you’re always under stress, your muscles will not get the opportunity to let go and relax, leaving you with tight shoulders, a sore back, and even general muscle pain. The muscles of the neck and shoulders can often be connected to frequent headaches, sometimes referred to as tension headaches.

The good news is, there are many things that you can do to work toward reducing your stress levels.

Active Release Therapy, offered here at AST, can help alleviate the tension in your neck, back and shoulders, often with only a couple of treatments. This treatment combined with these stress relieving tips can make a huge difference when applied.

Sleep – This is so important for people suffering from high stress levels. A good nights sleep will help you to face the day in a more relaxed, energetic, and clear-headed state.

Learn to relax – Relaxing means different things to different people. Aim for an activity that you can incorporate into your daily routine. Reading before bed instead of watching TV is helpful for some. Guided meditation can teach techniques of meditation and there are some great apps out there! Check out The Daily Calm as it’s one of our favourites. Restorative yoga or simply challenging yourself to learn deep breathing techniques can all contribute to the de-stressing process.

Identify what triggers your stress – Is it work, relationships, or an overwhelming schedule? Becoming aware of your biggest stressors can help you to make a plan to manage it. For example, if you have an overwhelming schedule, you might be the type of person that has a difficult time saying ‘no’ to functions, volunteering, etc. and that might be an item in your life that needs tackling.

Ask yourself if you need support – Talking to a mental health professional can help you to deal with your stress and put you on a path to success with therapy, tools and techniques.

Balance – We all have busy lives so learning proper time management skills and ensuring that you have stress relief built in as a priority will help. This could be daily exercise, down-time or quiet time after work, putting a non-negotiable monthly massage in your calendar and budget, or time with friends. Think about what makes you happy, and then do more of that!

We hope these tips are helpful!

Please call us to book an appointment with one of our Active Release Technique certified chiropractors.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Chiropractic and ART for TMJ

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a very complex joint involving muscles in the human skull. It is said that TMJ pain is experienced by roughly 25% of the population. This joint is basically responsible for helping you to open and close your mouth. Because we use our jaw for eating, talking, smiling and much more every day, TMJ presents great difficulties for individuals who suffer from it.

Common symptoms associated with TMJ may include:

There are many causes for TMJ but a very common one is bruxism, or teeth grinding. Trauma to the mouth or head can also cause TMJ as well as arthritis, gum chewing, poor posture or a misalignment of the teeth or the jaw.

ART is an incredible technique that can help to treat this condition. If you haven’t tried it for your TMJ we recommend booking in to see us as people often find relief in just a few treatments. During an ART treatment, tension is applied to affected muscles, ligaments, and tendons. As the tension is applied, the practitioner or an assistant will then move the affected area and thus releasing tension and breaking up adhesions. This works to restore normal range of motion. This unique combination of direct pressure and specific guided movement patterns are the key to ART’s success in treating pain and injuries.

Some other things that you can do to help with your TMJ would be:

Please call us to book an appointment with on of our ART certified chiropractors.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sports Medicine Acupuncture

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By: Dr. Vikki McGuire, DTCM

A Sports Medicine Acupuncturist will use many techniques to locate injured tissues in your body. These may include range of motion testing, muscle palpation and testing, orthopedic examinations and more. Some muscle imbalances are assessed through both static and functional movements which can help the practitioner understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ the injury occurred. Integrating these methods with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can diagnose and treat the excess (shi) and deficient (xu) conditions that are related to the injured tissue. In TCM areas of the body are all considered to be connected to a specific organ (zang fu) which might require acupuncture treatment as well.

This new technique which is a combination of Western Sports Medicine and the genius of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments can assess and treat:

With a goal of treating the patients issue with a truly integrated perspective, treatments may include more than just acupuncture. Myofascial manipulation and cupping might also be utilized and many clients report experiencing positive results after just one session. If you've experienced a sports injury or a repetitive strain injury this could be a great treatment option for you.

To schedule your appointment with Dr. Vikki McGuire TCM for Sports Medicine Acupuncture please call 403-278-1405 or email mail@activesportstherapy.ca

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, Dr. of TCM, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

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Recovering From an Injury

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

There are no two ways around it. Injuries are hard! They can knock you off of your exercise and training routines, leave you side lined from your favourite sport, have you missing work, and experiencing down time from day to day life. At Active Sports Therapy we’re committed to helping you get back to doing the things you love as soon as possible, safely and effectively. With so many injury related services under one roof, we try to simplify the process of needing multiple practitioners to help with you with your injury.

In addition to seeing specialists that can help you get back to your game, we’ve also compiled a few tips to help you when recovering from an injury.

Nutrition

Recovering from an injury requires a person to pay special attention to what they’re putting in their bodies in terms of food, drink, and supplements.

You’ll want to learn about anti-inflamatory foods during recovery and ensure you’re getting enough of these foods. Things like avocado, olive oil, nuts, fish oil, pineapple and turmeric can all help your body lessen inflammation. Ditch the processed foods that are high in saturated fats, vegetable oils, and sugar.

Eat an adequate amount of protein from non-processed meats, legumes, eggs, or plant-based proteins. A rainbow of fruits and vegetables are important and don’t forget to include some healthy carbs as well, like oats or quinoa.

Talk to your practitioner about supplements if you’re interested as Vitamin C has many properties that can help with injuries because of its ability to help your body produce collagen. Omega 3 has been shown to help with inflammation and Zinc includes a component related to wound healing. Talk to your Doctor before launching into a new routine involving supplements.

Take Care of Your Mind as Well as Your Body

Injuries can be emotional events and depending on the situation or prognosis. A person can have various levels of emotional reactions to their injuries ranging from disappointment to PTSD and there are many things that can help with this.

Some athletes find it helpful to stay connected with their teammates by watching practices and still going to team meetings and outings.

Utilizing your support network of family and friends to help take you to appointments, help you when you’re feeling down, or to check in on you from time to time can be great emotionally supports.

If you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed by an injury, it can be helpful to seek professional counselling. If you are an athlete, a sport psychologist will be well versed in assisting with the impacts that an injury can have on ones’ mental health and provide a healthy tool kit to help you through it.

Follow the Plan

Going to your appointments as scheduled and taking your doctor or therapists advice in between appointments is essential. With any injury there is the in-clinic work which will consist of assessments, treatments, patient education, and assignments of homework. This homework is usually essential to help you recover and might consist of hot or cold treatments, stretches, strengthening, working on flexibility and more. Sometimes it can be easy to forget these steps so it’s essential to ensure you complete the homework tasks with diligence. To help you remember to do your homework you can add an alert in your phone, create a chart that you can check off, put a calendar entry into your work calendar, write a reminder on your bathroom mirror with dry-erase marker, or ask a friend or spouse to hold you accountable. If you’re a competitive individual, create a game or a reward system. Also, focusing on why you want to get better,(E.g. be ready in time for the playoffs, get back to work for incomes sake, coaching our child’s team, or regaining your independence), instead of the task at hand can be a real motivator. Ultimately, the success level of your recovery can differ based on your commitment to the at-home portion.

If you’re reading this article you’re likely dealing with an injury so we hope you’ll put these tips into practice and wish you the best of luck with your recovery!

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Common Hockey Injuries & Treatments

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

There are many hockey players that walk through our front doors at Active Sports Therapy with an array of injuries, however, there are a few that stand out as being quite common to a hockey player.

Concussions – Concussions are a big topic in the hockey world as a contact sport. They are one of the most common injuries that a player can sustain when out on the ice. It usually occurs from a big hit or fall, but a blow from an elbow or a stick can also cause concussion issues. Some symptoms might include dizziness, nausea, balance problems, headache, and mood changes. Concussions need to be taken very seriously, and medical attention and advice should be consulted immediately.

AST does have a concussion specialist working at the clinic, and here is an article she’s written with Three Things You Need To Know if You Have a Concussion

Groin Issues – This is another injury that goes hand in hand with being a hockey player and there are several muscles that can be affected in the area including the hip flexors and adductors. Since hockey players are often stopping and changing directions and performing a lot of agility related moves, these muscles are susceptible to injury.

At AST we can help assess and treat the root cause of groin issues as it may be related to an imbalance of strength between propulsive muscles and stabilizing muscles and assign exercises to help resolve the issue.

Broken Collarbones - Many hockey players will have a broken collarbone in their career. A doctor and an x-ray will assess the break and you’ll usually have to keep it in a sling for several weeks. If you work closely with your physician and physiotherapist, you can hopefully regain your mobility and full strength again. A physiotherapist can help with your recovery by working with you on your range of motion to ensure it is properly restored, giving you strengthening exercises to help restore what you’ve lost during the immobilization period, and use different techniques to help minimize scar tissue through different massage techniques.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries - When the ligament on the inside of the knee is overstretched, or even torn, it can result in a major knee injury to the MCL. There are many different grades of tears which you will have to have assessed by a professional in order to determine your way forward. A grade 1 tear can take a few days to a couple of weeks to heal enough to return to normal activities, a grade 2 can take up to 4 weeks to heal, and  a grade 3 tear can take up to 8 weeks to heal. Most often, the focus is reducing the inflammation and the pain, keeping it elevated, as well as immobilizing the knee in a brace or cast to keep it stable as it heals. A physiotherapist can help with designing a program to help you get back on your feet. Exercises to bring back proper strength and range of motion in the knee. We also help our patients using Low Intensity Laser Therapy as it can help to improve healing in injuries and Active Release Techniques can help with pain and stiffness in the kinetic chain that may have developed while not being able to use the leg.

These are just a few of the common hockey related injuries that we see and successfully treat. If you’ve suffered from one of these injuries, please come and see us in Calgary.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

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Preventing Injuries in Weekend Warriors

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Active Sports Therapy

One of the many benefits of living in Calgary is that it’s the perfect setting for a weekend warrior type of person. The city boasts an amazing chain of bike paths and running trails, a full suite of softball, soccer and ultimate leagues and the mountains allow us to rock climb, ski, snowboard, kayak and hit the trails anytime we like.

We often see injuries in our weekend warriors for a few main reasons:

-The person is trying a new activity and their body is not prepared for the task at hand

-It’s the start of the ie ski, golf, or trail running season and the person’s muscles are not conditioned to participate in the activity even though they’ve done the activity in the past (ie 36 holes of golf in one day the first weekend the course is open)

-Accidents that are non-preventable

-Preventable accidents from not having proper gear or safety equipment or from making risky decisions

Here are some tips for the weekend warrior in you. We know that you’re likely to try anything and love the challenge of taking on a new activity so why not be prepared so you can lessen the chances of injury.

Stretch and Warm Up – Don’t neglect this easy way to prevent muscle pulls and even worse, muscle tears. Each sport can be specific in terms of what stretches and warm ups are best, so find out what is best for the activity at hand. Warming up is a habit, and it can take some time to develop the habit so commit to the routine of it and it will be like clockwork in no time.

Work on Your Muscles During the Week – Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon without training and prepping for it you can’t expect your body to perform in a smooth, athletic way if you’re only sitting at a desk or being sedentary during the week. Challenge your body with regular workouts and if you have an activity coming up that requires specific movements then be sure to work on those muscle groups in the gym. For example, if you’re mountain biking on the weekend then hop on the stationary bike when you’re at the gym to help prepare.

Hydration Matters – Drink enough water all throughout the week and add extra on the day of your activity. Hydrating helps regulate our body temperature and lubricates our joints. If you’re not properly hydrated, your body can have difficulty performing at its best. It can also be the cause of dizziness during and activity and can even lead to muscle cramping.

If This Activity is Just for Fun then Keep it That Way – We’re talking about perspective here. Is this recreational hockey or the Stanley Cup? If it’s simply rec league hockey there might not be a need to block that shot risking injury or pushing yourself beyond your limits. Be competitive but know your limits and maintain a perspective that allows you to participate in an activity you enjoy with a smile on your face.

Remember, you don’t use weekend warrior activities to get in shape, you get in shape so you can be a weekend warrior!

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Is Your Immune System Suffering?

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By Dr. Gayle Maguire ND

If you find your immune is suffering, it is always worth a check-up with your family doctor and a check-in with your lifestyle.  Some of the most important factors for healthy immune systems are listed below:

Protein vs Sugar

Our body requires protein to make immune cells, so make sure you are getting adequate amounts.  Alternatively, our immune cell production is suppressed by things like sugar and caffeine, so those should be restricted in those with frequent colds.

Phlegm-Forming Foods

Many adults and children can relate to feeling mucus production in their nose or throats after dairy consumption.  In Chinese food therapy, there is an entire category of "damp" or phlegm-forming foods, that may be worth reducing at the onset of a cold.  They include surprisingly healthful foods like banana and citrus, which despite other health benefits, may aggravate cold and flu symptoms.

Self-Care

Taking adequate stress controls and getting great sleep are two overlooked areas to improve your body's resiliency to infections.  Fresh air, and gentle exercise can go a long way in boosting your health!

Vitamins & Supplements

Some herbal medicines, such as Echinacea, can reduce the duration and severity of viral infections, but must be started at the onset of symptoms for best results.  Other herbs and medicinal mushrooms may be more useful to boost your immune system between colds, and a herbal medicine practitioner or naturopathic doctor should be consulted for advice specific to your needs.  Many people see improvements in immunity by improving their nutrient intake, especially in Vitamins A & C, zinc, and probiotics, but there are safety concerns that can arise so caution is warranted.

Please book in at AST if you'd like to talk to Naturopathic Doctor about your specific needs.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Three Things You Need to Know if You Have a Concussion

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Dr. Fiona Lovely

Concussions can happen anytime to anyone. We are learning quickly just how far reaching the effects of a mild traumatic brain injury can be. Unfortunately, they can last way beyond the original injury. There is much you can do when you have a recent concussion and getting this info into play in a timely fashion can go far into resolving the symptoms of a concussion.

There are three things you should know if you have a concussion. Here is that critical info for you:

  1. Rest is the most important factor in whether your symptoms last a week or 6 months or more. Get serious about rest during this time! Take a week off of work, school and all recreational activities. Yes, I’m serious! Your brain needs this rest. But please don’t fill up your time with screen time - smart phone, tablet, laptop or TV. The bright lights, loud sounds and rapidly moving graphics on a screen are deadly to your brain at this sensitive time.

Things you can do while resting:

Yes, this sounds boring but lots of us grew up without devices and turned out just fine! Embrace the quiet. Sleep as much as you want to. Give yourself permission to rest. Just to drive this point home a bit more - taking time off now will absolutely make the difference in whether this injury continues to make you miserable for months (or years even) or for a week. Rest like your life depends on it, because the quality of your life after concussion, does.

  1. Food is the second critical piece to getting yourself back to your life after a concussion. Here are some things that you should do:

Drink plenty of water - 2-3 litres daily if you are an adult (half of your body weight in ounces if you are uncertain exactly how much). No sugary drinks or milk. Drink water.

There are 3 supplements I recommend for everyone with a traumatic brain injury:

Now, if you have managed to do a good job of 1 & 2, you won’t need number 3. If your symptoms persist beyond a week or two, refer to number 3:

  1. Rehab for a concussion is sometimes the only way to feeling well again. If you have applied rest and good food principles and you still don’t feel well, you may require some help getting your brain firing on all cylinders again. Functional Neurology, often called Chiropractic Neurology can help. After completing a thorough assessment of your specific brain function, we can create a rehab plan specifically for your brain and its needs. Using adjustments, movement and the 5 senses, we can re-wire the parts of your brain that are broken. It’s called neuroplasticity and basically it means that the neurons that fire together, wire together. Reinforcements of these connections over time mean you get your brain back to normal! Neuro rehab is fun and will teach you a great deal about how your brain functions and how it can function optimally.

There are few in the country who are trained properly to assess and rehab your brain functionally after injury so it’s important to research and select a qualified professional. If you have questions about a concussion please reach out to me: drlovely@calgarybrainandspine.com. I am proud to be a part of the wellness team at Active Sports Therapy.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]