I hope you enjoy the ‘soft launch’ edition of the Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® in White Rock | South Surrey! Healthy living means making positive daily choices and taking personal ownership to enrich our lives in areas such as our physical, emotional, social, occupational, financial, and spiritual wellbeing. Fortunately, our wellness can always be enriched through education, awareness, and practice. We strive to be the community resource that showcases health tips, local opportunities, and resources; plus, the variety of health practitioners and businesses that can help you achieve your goal of optimal health and wellness. When we are healthy, our entire community benefits!

There is a lot of research that indicates that as a culture we do not get enough vitamin D, especially in the winter. Reason? We don’t go outside! We typically don’t linger in the rain and cold, or do much gardening, or go for leisurely walks like we do in the warm, sunny months. However, our bodies need it. Being outside is good for our mental and physical health, significantly reducing anxiety and depression. So bundle up and go for that walk, or go skiing, or snow shoeing, or for that nice hike. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear! So get outside, your mental health will thank you.

The physiotherapists at Diane Lee & Associates are experts in the physical diagnosis of movement impairments and have taken several post-graduate courses in their specialty. They work to address the cause of your pain as opposed to merely treating your painful structures; by understanding how the whole body functions and how certain problems can impact other regions of the body. By not only treating you for your pain, but also empowering you with the knowledge to make the right changes in your own body, we are simply guides in your own healing process as you transform to live with a healthier, more active body.

Recent studies have shown that exercise can potentially help increase your brain’s capacity for learning, by creating new and larger neurons, as well as increased neuron connections, that can improve thinking and recalling (memories). The studies suggest that exercise seems to stimulate neurogenesis, which is the process of creating new neurons. Students who struggle with learning difficulties can experience stress and anxiety that may alter their learning capacity. Regular aerobic exercise can be part of a long-term solution to deal with stress and anxiety, and in turn boost the brain’s capacity to process and retain information.

Many find it hard to stay active during the long winter days. Once spring arrives, aches and pains can stand in the way of carrying on as you remember. Joints, muscles, and tendons decondition rapidly. Often, a little bit of concerted effort can get you back on track. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan will outline realistic options. Non-surgical interventions are often sufficient. Recalcitrant problems may respond to precisely administered injections; ultrasound imaging and careful local anaesthesia make this well tolerated by virtually everyone. This smooth and effective treatment brings early and reliable improvement in pain, often allowing return to activity within days.

Q: I sprained my ankle. Now what?
A: Ankle sprains result in pain and swelling due to stretching or tearing of some of the ligaments surrounding the ankle. As these tears heal, they form scar tissue, which sticks to normal tissue and causes inflammation and continued pain. To treat a sprained ankle, follow the R.I.C.E. protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and avoid weight-bearing activities. Then see your family doctor or podiatrist. To help prevent sprains in the future, avoid rocky or uneven terrains, wear a firmer or more supportive shoe for better stability, and do ankle-strengthening exercises often.