Orthotics for Athletes

via livestrong.com

What Are the Benefits of Orthotics for Athletes?

Whether you simply enjoy a daily walk or you’re a professional athlete, physical activities and sports can put an incredible strain on your bones, muscles and tendons. If your activity results in soreness or injury, orthotics may be used to alleviate the pain and correct the condition.

Definition

The medical field of orthotics is defined as the design, manufacture and application of orthopedic devices used to correct, or compensate for, mechanical parts of the body that are not functioning properly. Different types of devices, called orthoses, are used to restrict or assist movement, help rehabilitation from fractures or strains, correct function and shape (such as braces for scoliosis), and to guide or control movement in arms, legs or joints.

Foot Orthotics

Foot orthotics help reduce the stress and fatigue that sports activities place on feet. Orthotics may benefit all athletes by increasing agility, improving motion control, correcting body alignment and enhancing shock absorption. Specially designed shoe orthoses are also used to correct common problems like flat or high arches. Your body size and even the speed with which you run also influences the type of shoe support you may need. Look at the bottom of your shoes to see if they are worn evenly across the toe area. Even wear-and-tear indicates your gait is normal, but if they wear out too quickly or unevenly, then you may benefit from orthotics.

Athletic Braces

Orthotic braces replace cumbersome casts, or less supportive sports tape, to allow injured athletes to continue safely playing their sports. A combination of plastic and carbon is heated so that it becomes soft and can then be molded to fit each individual. This lightweight brace is comfortable, yet gives full protection — even to broken bones — allowing players to run, throw and fully participate while they heal.

Considerations

Generic orthotics designed to fit a specific shoe size are available over the counter at your local pharmacy. However, athletes experiencing pain or limited mobility should seek a consultation from a health professional specializing in orthotics. Professionals should do a complete exam to evaluate your posture, gait, overall movement and muscle strength. They should also rule out issues that may not be related to your feet but that impact your movement such as hip strength and core control. They will then develop a custom orthopedic appliance that should be a perfect fit for your individual problem.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/415085-what-are-the-benefits-of-orthotics-for-athletes/#ixzz2Nu5h6NKF

MVA Pain Clinic at the Women’s Lifestyle Show March 23-24th!

Come and visit our exhibit booth at the 11th annual Women’s Lifestyle Show on Saturday and Sunday March 23rd-24th!  The show runs all day Sat & Sun, and is located at the Western Fairgrounds in London, ON.

For more information about the event, please visit: www.womenslifestyle.ca/

Harvard report endorses chiropractic for acute LBP

Harvard report endorses chiropractic for acute LBP

Jan. 15, Cambridge, Mass. – A 2012 report issued by Harvard Medical School endorses chiropractic for patients with short and medium term low back pain (LBP). Low back pain can be highly uncomfortable, debilitating and disruptive for those who suffer from it and has been implicated as a major factor in lost work time and health care spending in North America. The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, titled Low Back Pain – Healing Your Aching Back (published by Harvard Health Publications) outlines, for both health professionals and lay-readers, factors leading or contributing to LBP and suggests therapeutic options for patients who live with it. Amongst these, chiropractic is listed as a viable therapeutic option for patients suffering from acute LBP, noting that chiropractic relieves pain and reduces the necessity of medication for some of these patients. The report quotes “a 2010 review of 12 different studies involving 2,887 people with low back pain,” which concluded that “…chiropractic care improved short-and medium-term pain more than other treatments, including exercise, physical therapy, and medication….people who saw chiropractors also reported being less disabled over the short term (one month) compared with people who received other treatments such as standard medical therapy.” (page 26)* The report also states, “The best candidates for chiropractic manipulation are people who have no sign of nerve impairment. For them, chiropractic care tends to be satisfying and effective for acute low back pain” and notes that chiropractic can also be effective in a team-based approach – including medical doctors and allied health professionals – for relief of LBP.” To receive this report –and other health reports – in full, and/or to obtain permission to distribute it to patients and/or colleagues, please visit www.health.harvard.edu/

The Benefits of Orthotics for Children

By: Jill Leviticus

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

 

Orthotics help correct abnormal foot positions that can make walking painful or difficult for your child. Although commonly called arch supports, orthotics slightly alter the angles at which the foot strikes a walking or running surface, making walking, running and standing more comfortable and efficient. Your doctor or podiatrist will recommend a specific type of orthotic based on your child’s condition.

IDENTIFICATION

Doctors use orthotics, rigid shoe inserts, to hold the feet in a more normal position or relieve excess pressure on the foot. Although you can find arch supports in any drugstore, these products may not correct your child’s specific problem and may even worsen it. Pediatric orthotics can only be obtained from a doctor or podiatrist and are custom-made to address your child’s foot condition.

 

CONDITIONS

Doctors use orthotics to treat several pediatric foot conditions, including flatfoot, Sever’s disease and metatarsus adductus. Flatfoot results from a fully or partially collapsed arch and can cause an awkward gait and cramping and pain in the foot, knee or leg. Sever’s disease occurs when the growth plate in your child’s heel becomes inflamed, causing swelling, pain and stiffness in the heel. If your child has metarsus adductus, you may notice that the front of her foot points inward while her heel remains in its natural position. Metatarsus adductus commonly occurs in young children and infants as a result of the feet being bent while in the womb.

 

BENEFITS

Wearing orthotics every day will help reduce the pain and cramping your child experiences in his knees, feet or legs due to his foot condition. Starting orthotic use early can help reduce the chance that a child who has metatarsus adductus will later need bracing or corrective surgery. If your child has Sever’s disease, wearing an orthotic will help reduce heel pain and prevent limping. Kids Health reports that although Sever’s disease usually heals quickly, it can recur if long-term measures are not taken to protect the heel during a child’s growing years.

OTHER BENEFITS

Your child may feel that she draws unwanted attention if she has an abnormal gait or stride. You may notice an improvement in self-esteem level when she is able to walk without any noticeable problems. It can be difficult to run and jump when your feet and legs hurt. Wearing orthotics can help your child participate in sports without pain or cramps disrupting a practice or game.

CONSIDERATIONS

Convincing your child to wear his orthotics can be difficult, even if you explain the eventual benefits. Asking him to wear the orthotics for a few hours each day initially can help ease the transition. Orthotics with a softer top layer can feel more comfortable and may encourage longer use. If your child has been faithfully wearing the orthotic but complaining of pain or discomfort, see your doctor. The orthotic may require modification to increase comfort and wearing time.

 

REFERENCES

• California Podiatric Medical Association: Orthotics
• Kids Health from Nemours: Sever’s Disease
• OrthoSeek.com: Metatarsus Adductus
• American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons: Pediatric Flatfoot

Article reviewed by Contributing Writer Last updated on: Jan 16, 2011

 

Gluten-free Banana Bread

Here is an excellent recipe courtesy of Taste of Home! http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Banana-Bread

This is for anyone with a gluten intolerance, or anyone trying to reduce the amount of grains they’re eating.

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 45 min. + cooling
Yield: 24 Servings
20 45 65
Ingredients
•2 cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•4 eggs
•2 cups mashed ripe bananas (4-5 medium)
•1 cup sugar
•1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
•1/3 cup canola oil
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
•In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
• Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Editor’s Note: Read all ingredient labels for possible gluten content prior to use. Ingredient formulas can change, and production facilities vary among brands. If you’re concerned that your brand may contain gluten, contact the company.

Nutritional Facts 1 slice equals 140 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 35 mg cholesterol, 89 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat.

Who Can Benefit from Custom Foot Orthotics?

The mechanical properties of foot orthotics help to ensure the correct positioning of the bones in the feet, ankles, and knees. The muscles and ligaments leading up to the hips and holding the leg bones in place are prevented from stretching over time, which can lead to further injury and aggravation.

Foot orthotics can also reduce muscular fatigue and may help to promote more efficient muscle performance. Many biomechanical problems related to the feet are caused by plastic deformation- which occurs when connective tissue is placed under repetitive or constant stress. The connective tissue may slowly stretch over time. Increases in tissue length can cause greater bone instability in the foot and lead to issues such as over-pronation, or fallen arches.

People who are active in sports may find that custom orthotics help to increase endurance, strength and performance abilities. Individuals who are overweight may find that orthotics relieve the additional stress of extra weight off the ligaments in their feet and legs. The use of orthotics can help some people to avoid or prolong having surgery.

Individuals who may benefit from foot orthotics include people who stand or walk on hard surfaces for considerable amounts of time each day, who participate regularly in high-impact sports, have had previous foot or leg injuries, or experience joint pain when walking, running, or standing. Other people who have benefited from our products include :

Foot pain sufferers

In their lifetime, over 75% of North Americans will experience foot problems of varying degrees, some of which can be painful and disabling. In most cases, foot orthotics can be employed to help alleviate and even correct the condition.

Knee and back pain sufferers

Many people have chronic, lingering pain in their knees, hips and low back that has not responded to traditional treatment. If you are in this group, there may be a connection between the pain you are experiencing and the way your feet function. If your pain is due to your foot mechanics, orthotics can be a very effective way to relieve your symptoms.

People with diabetes

Diabetes frequently results in neuropathy, or nerve damage, in the feet. This can lead to sensation loss, leaving a patient unable to feel pain, heat or cold – which can also lead to stress and strain on other parts of the body. Millions of people use orthoses to reduce such strain.

People with arthritis

Arthritis is a destructive condition which affects the body’s joints. When it strikes certain joints in the body, a variety of painful conditions can arise. In many cases, foot orthoses can be employed to help patients retain and enhance mobility.

Athletes and runners

In an effort to enhance physical performance, many athletes rely on custom-made orthotics to keep the foot in its most efficient alignment, allowing the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments to work at 100% efficiency, prevent injury, relieve pain and increase efficiency.

People with diabetes

Diabetes frequently results in neuropathy, or nerve damage, in the feet. This can lead to a loss of sensation, leaving a patient unable to feel pain, heat or cold – which can also lead to stress and strain on other parts of the body. Millions of people use orthotics to reduce such strain.

Those who want maximum comfort

In response to the rigorous demands on their feet, many individuals employ custom-made orthotics in their shoes and sneakers to help absorb and distribute shock while providing relief from daily stress and injury.

Upcoming Events!

Our excellent Doctors and Staff will be featured and/or participating in several upcoming events! Take a look at the dates below and mark them on your calendar. We would be so pleased to have you at one or more of these events so that we can help educate you on our treatments and services!

Wednesday, Feb 20th: Dr. Walsh will be at the Fanshawe College Health Fare, discussing our multidisciplinary approach with staff and students. Time: 10:00am-1:00pm

Wednesday, Feb 20th: Dr. Walsh will be teaming up with the Lambeth Golf Academy, at Green Hill’s Golf & Country Club’s indoor golf range. He will be focusing on swing mechanics, with Chris Yeoman and Matt Dominski (golf Professionals).
Dr.Walsh will also be talking about golf fitness. This will be taking place every Wednesday from 6:30pm-7:30pm, ending when the golf season begins.

Wednesday, Feb 27th: Dr.Walsh will be presenting to the Community of Christ Church Seniors group from 1:00-2:00pm. If interested in joining, the address to this location is 615 Colborne Street in London, ON.

Saturday & Sunday, March 23-24th: Dr.Kersten and staff will be at the Women’s Lifestyle Show at the London Convention Centre located at 300 York Street. Saturday times are from 9:00am-5:00pm, and Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm. Stop by our booth to gain more information and learn about our technology!

Slipping on your back, breaking bones or triggering a heart attack: Should you be shovelling the winter snow? (via Global News)

This is a great article courtesy of Global News, explaining the dangers of shoveling snow, and how to safely shovel to avoid injuries:

TORONTO – If you’re thinking of tackling the snow with a shovel in hand, be  careful out there, doctors are warning Canadians.

As a snowstorm pounds  eastern Canada, dumping up to 40 centimetres of snow from Ontario to the  Maritimes, Canadians are bracing themselves for a weekend of shovelling snow,  cleaning off their cars and hiking through the knee-high fluff.

This is  the time of year when emergency rooms fill up with weather related injuries – throwing out your back while shovelling, wiping out on the ice and fracturing  your hand or even overexerting yourself and triggering a heart attack.

Medical experts see wide range of injuries caused by winter  weather

On a snowy winter’s day in 2011, Dr. Adrian  Baranchuk saw eight people come into hospital suffering from a heart attack  after they had shovelled snow.

“Snow shovelling is a combination of  things that aren’t good for you,” he said.

He is a cardiologist At  Kingston General Hospital and professor at Queen’s University’s School of  Medicine.

Snow shovelling is an isometric activity, like weightlifting.  It’s intense, compared to lifting hundreds of pounds over the course of an hour.

That causes your blood pressure and heart rate to climb quickly, putting  stress on your heart.

Baranchuk points to five factors that increase  heart attack risk while shovelling snow:

– It takes place in the  morning. Research has also noted that heart attacks are most common in the early  part of the day, when hormones and your nervous system are activated.
– It’s  anaerobic exercise. It’s high-activity and very strenuous.
– It happens in  extreme temperatures. This doesn’t help because your arteries are narrowed by  the cold.
– Snow shovellers don’t warm up before they get to work.
– They also don’t take breaks and push themselves to get the job done.

Pair heart health risk with other injuries: sprained ankles and wrists  from falling, or hurting your back from slipping on ice.

Scott Allen, a  Toronto-based physiotherapist, says his clinic notices a jump in winter weather  related incidents.

“It varies, from feeling tension in the body to  people literally feeling like they cannot get up for a couple of days,” he said.

The primary incidents he sees are people fracturing their wrists after  taking a fall. Then there are people with lower back and shoulder pain from  shovelling snow.

Allen’s job is to help deal with back spasms, alignment  issues and assess the underlying pain from back injuries.

Should  you be shovelling snow in the winter?

This isn’t new to the  medical community that has looked at the link between snowy conditions, health  and accidents.

Anyone with underlying heart problems shouldn’t be  shoveling snow.

Baranchuk’s research at Queen’s  University looked at hospital records to see if wintertime patients had  higher incidence of heart problems because of shoveling snow.

The  scientists suggested that the notion that shoveling snow causes heart attacks is  an urban legend. After they looked up 500 patients who came to the hospital with  heart problems over two winters, results showed that seven per cent started  feeling symptoms while shoveling snow.

“That is a huge number,” Baranchuk said.

“Seven per cent of anything in medicine is a significant  proportion,” he said, noting that they also had to take into account some  patients who did not mention that they were shoveling snow.

“That number  could easily double,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 2009 study by the New  England Journal of Medicine study pointed to 11,500 individuals treated for  snow shovel-related emergencies.

Sprains and strains made up 55 per cent  of diagnoses in this cohort, meanwhile cardiac related incidents made up 6.7 per  cent.

How should you safely shovel snow?

Take a  look at tips from the Ontario  Chiropractic Association’s Lift Light, Shovel Right education campaign.

• Don’t let the snow pile up. Keep your eyes on the weather reports to  find out if there will be several days of snow. Frequent shoveling allows you to  move smaller amounts of snow at once.
• Pick the right shovel. All shovels  are not necessarily the same. Use a lightweight pusher-type of shovel to help  protect your back.
• Push, don’t throw. Pushing snow to the side is easier  on your muscles. Avoid lifting heavy amounts of snow and sudden twisting  movements.
• Bend your knees. Using your knees, legs and arm muscles to do  the heavy lifting while keeping your back straight.
• Warm up. Shovelling  can be a strenuous activity, so take the time to warm up your muscles with some  overall conditioning like walking followed by some stretches.
• Take a  break. Listen to your body and stop to take a rest if you feel tired or short of  breath. Stop shovelling immediately if you feel chest pain or back pain.

carmen.chai@globalnews.ca

Read it on Global News:  Global News | Slipping on your back, breaking bones or triggering a heart attack: Should you be shovelling the winter snow?

Dr. Douglas Pooley Now Practices at Our Clinic

Dr.Douglas Pooley, a licensed Chiropractor with over 30 years of experience, brings his expertise to our clinic here in London, Ontario.

He graduated from CMCC in Toronto, and specializes in Chiropractic Care, and Practice Management Consulting. He is certified in ProAdjuster technology, and Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Dr.Pooley is the past President of the Canadian and Ontario Chiropractic Association. In the past he won Chiropractor of the Year Award, and he was the past President Counsel on Chiropractic Education.

His vibrant personality, enthusiasm, and overall passion for healthy living is something that we at the MVA Pain Clinic value tremendously. We are very excited to have Dr.Pooley working at our clinic!

He will be practicing at our location on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1pm-5pm.

Call our clinic to book an appointment with our very own Dr.Pooley today! 519-850-7321

Long-term Benefits of Spinal Decompression (via Livestrong.com)

Spinal decompression is a catchall phrase for back pain treatments that include nonsurgical options, such as traction, or operative procedures such as endoscopic decompression and laminectomy. The desired effect is the same for all three–to remove pressure from the affected discs of the spine. The long-term benefits of the spinal decompression will vary depending on prior spinal health, age, weight and the type of procedure.

Symptom Relief

Herniated discs, sciatica, and failed back syndrome are painful diseases. Symptoms elicited by spinal compressive disorders include radiculopathies, or nerve-generated pains, muscle weakness and numbness of the arms or legs. A long-term benefit of spinal decompression is the reduction of these adverse symptoms, namely pain relief, by removing pressure from the nerve roots. The Mayfield Clinic found that leg pain was reduced by 80 percent after spinal decompression.

 

Increased Mobility

Spinal disease is compounded by obesity, but people with chronic back and neck pain cannot workout without distress. Weeks following the decompression will entail rest and physical therapy, but the long-term effect is to increase mobility. A 2002 study featured in Neurosurgery highlighted the benefits of decompression, stating that 94 percent of patients either returned to full, painless mobility or mobility with minimal restrictions.

 

Decreased Debility

A commonly shared fear is that of being dependent on others as the years pass. Spinal disorders, such as herniated disc, can lead to muscle weakness and atrophy and incontinence, which preclude the ability to remain in the work force. Low back pain has been cited as the second most common reason people miss work. Decreased pain and mobility will lead to the long-term benefit of the ability to continue working.

By: Juliet Wilkinson
Sept 28, 2010.