Community News
Prolozone for Whiplash

Whiplash syndrome describes a traumatic event of the neck, secondary to abrupt flexion and extension of the neck. The most common causes are due to motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries. Whiplash can cause damage to various parts of the neck including ligaments, facet joints, cervical vertebrae, cervical disc, nerves, and muscles. It is one of the most common causes of pain in the general population. The usual imaging, such as x-rays, CT, or MRI is unlikely to show evidence of injury, giving little insight into what is responsible for ongoing pain. Whiplash symptoms can include: Neck pain, muscle tightness, decreased range of movement, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, fatigue, inability to focus. A relatively unknown but effective treatment for cervical spinal pain is Prolozone. Prolozone therapy works by addressing the cause of pain: ligament, tendon, and joint instability. Prolozone involves the injection of ozone to regenerate the ligaments and cartilage tissue in the areas that have become weak.

Dr. Ross Ralph Dr.TCM, R.Ac., DOMP
Courtenay Healing Centre
CourtenayHealingCentre.ca

Fun Foot Facts

The average person will walk over 100,000 miles in a lifetime. That is more than four times around the earth. Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It contributes to your general health by improving circulation and weight control. The average woman walks three miles more per day than the average man, and is four times more likely to experience foot problems, often due to inappropriate footwear. As our population packs on the pounds, feet are spreading to support the extra weight. There are 26 bones in each foot, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles and tendons. A quarter of all the bones in the body are found in the feet, and when they are out of alignment, the knees, hips and back can suffer too. Feet are the body’s foundation; when we take proper care of our feet we take care of our whole body.

Diane Calder BScKIN, Pedorthist
B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics
MitchellPandO.com

Massage for Athletic Performance

How does Massage Therapy help with athletic performance?

The benefits of Massage Therapy have long been recognized by top-level athletes as well as “weekend warriors “. So what are the physiological effects?

  • Massage greatly affects the cardiovascular system. It helps with dilation (increase in diameter) of blood vessels which in turn work to move blood more efficiently and therefore promotes circulation
  • Massage encourages venous blood flow back to the heart which enhances blood flow to deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and help with removal of waste and toxins
  • Because of the relaxed state you are in after a massage treatment you will experience a drop in heart rate
  • Massage especially affects the muscular system. The increased and enhanced blood circulation relieves muscle tension, decreases soreness (DOMS), speeds up recovery time and helps to increase range of motion and flexibility
  • Massage aids to decrease inflammation after a strenuous workout and promotes growth of mitochondria (the energy center of our cells).

What about the psychological effects?

  • Massage helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system by increasing dopamine and serotonin levels and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol to help with stress and tension relief as well as managing pre-event anxiety

Sports Massage can be categorized into various types:

  1. a) a short, stimulating, fast paced treatment as a pre-work out or pre-race warm up to get you ready to function at your optimum
  2. b) a more relaxing treatment post- work out or post- race to assist in recovery

Benefits of Massage Therapy to the aspiring athlete are manifold as it will improve your performance and speed up recovery. Regular, weekly massage treatments will (just like exercise) have a cumulative effect and should be part of any serious training program.

 

Willie Muller RMT
CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Tune-Up Your Brain!

Your brain is the engine that drives you – so it’s important to keep it well-tuned. Fat – or lipid – consumption is essential for the healthy growth, development, and function of your brain. In fact, 60% of your brain’s dry weight is fat. Several types of plant and animal fats are used for brain-building material, though one lipid reigns supreme: omega-3 fatty acids derived from salmon, sardines, krill oil, and plant-based Ahiflower oil. There are many benefits of omega-3: it increases cognitive functioning and decreases symptoms of depression, anxiety and aggression. It is also shown to be a protective factor against cognitive decline and dementia in older adults; and it is an essential component of a healthy diet for pregnant women, leading to better health outcomes in newborns. Consider adding omega-3s to your diet as an evidence-based way to tune-up your brain for optimal mental health.

Canadian Mental Health Association
cmha.ca

Scavenger Hunt Adventure Tours

There is an exciting new business in the Comox Valley! Scavenger Hunt Adventure Tours is all about solving clues, searching for hidden items, exploring under-appreciated places, and getting people outdoors for fun and healthy recreation. Activities range from single-day, themed scavenger hunts to private parties, corporate events, and multi-day getaways. Mother and son team, Jackie West and Tyler Meggitt, combine their talents and draw upon their respective career and life experiences to deliver a diverse selection of staged and themed adventure tours that put a new spin on the well-known scavenger hunt. Jackie looks forward to working alongside her youngest son, Tyler, as they get creative together to deliver some fresh fun and games to locals and visitors alike. From day tours promoting awareness of local businesses and landmarks to week-long road trips, there is plenty of fun and adventure in store for you.

Jackie West
scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca

Considering a Pet Sitter?

If you’re a pet owner who travels, arranging for care for your pets while you’re away can feel like an overwhelming decision. It’s important to look for caregivers who will not only provide for basic needs like food and water, but also companionship, reassurance, and playtime while you’re away. If you can find someone to come to your home, your pet gets to stay in his familiar surroundings, which is less stressful than taking him to a new location! When finding a pet sitter, it’s also important that you’re both on the same page about what’s expected and the fees involved for things like the number and length of visits per day, grooming and walking, accident cleanup, and taking the pet to a vet in case of emergency. You and your pet should feel comfortable about the care arrangements, so you (and your pet) can enjoy your vacation without worry!

HappyPaws.ca

Dysregulation, Disorders and Music Therapy

Music has nonverbal, creative, structural and emotional qualities. These are used in the therapeutic relationship between client and music therapist to facilitate contact, self-expression, communication and other clinical goals. Our bodies pulsing with internal rhythms of the heart, the digestive system and the lungs synchronize to music with its intrinsically rhythmical structure. For people living with autism, ADHD, mood disorders, effects of TBI, stroke or trauma, the skillful use of music and its elements such as melody, rhythm and dynamics promotes positive change. Most significantly, it influences the important and necessary shift in physiological and emotional responses away from dysregulation towards regulation and balance.

Nejama Ferstman
ShiriMySong.ca

Choosing the Right Home

Look for a house with ‘good bones’ and potential; one that makes your heart feel joyful and at peace, where you feel safe and settled. A house that can accommodate your and your family’s wants and needs, possessions, activities, and lifestyle. A house in which you can function optimally and where everything has its place. One that is inviting and has a good flow, with an effective layout that functions well in each room separately, and as a whole. One that has a cohesive and harmonious layout and good design, with no awkward or useless spaces. A house that has that ‘something’ that makes you feel it has a ‘soul’. A house you will immediately ‘feel’ as beautiful and harmonious. A house that will envelop you and your life, and you will love calling ‘home’.

Emmanuelle Stathopoulos
Professional Coach MAC – Env. Psychology MSC, InnerDreamToOuterForm.com

Improve Your Relationship

Getting along can be tricky – and staying warmly connected to our partner is not always easy! When things get rough, it can feel hard to warm up the relationship again. For a more resilient connection, couples can work on building their “fondness and admiration system”. One way to do this is to challenge a basic habit many of us have – the one where you are scanning for problems and mistakes. Instead, try scanning for what your partner is not messing up! This can profoundly change the story of your relationship, leaving you with more reserves of goodwill. Sounds simple, but it can be surprisingly hard – and yet it can help foster a couple’s culture of appreciation, affection, and respect. Counselling provides a safe and non-judgemental place to help you say what you want and feel heard, and find your warm connection again.

Mary Munro
MaryMunro.ca

Temptations When Grocery Shopping

Have you ever noticed that all of the unprocessed food items are along the perimeter of a grocery store? Produce, dairy, meats, and baked goods, which we need to maintain healthy eating. All of those tempting processed foods are in the middle aisles, and they have tempting displays at the end of aisles to entice us to wander down each one. Do you shop with a grocery list? It’s a good way to buy what you need for the week, and you can always jot down items on sale or ones you might want to try when your budget will allow. Also, have you noticed that some products are not just found in one place, but also on the end of the aisle or even close to the checkout? This can wear down our resolve to stick to the items on our grocery list. It’s all marketing to encourage spending.

Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates Inc.
Abakhan.com

Avoiding Soreness from Golf

Golf season is in full swing. Reinitiating any summer activity after a long winter can potentially result in post-activity soreness. Golfing is a complex activity that involves generating movements through both your upper and lower extremities, thus producing a great number of stresses on the joints, muscles, and ligaments. A bucket of balls on the driving range, numerous practice strokes, and an average of 90 strokes during a round all result in repetitive strain to the tissues. A well-designed exercise program including stretching, core muscle strengthening, balance exercises, and an aerobic fitness component is key to keeping you on the fairways. Have a physiotherapist prescribe a golf-specific program for you. It is also wise to seek instruction from a local golf pro, who can improve your technique, thus decreasing your chance of injury. Try a few practice swings in the opposite direction. Enjoy the season!

Doug Treloar, Physiotherapist
PhysioFirstClinic.ca