Community News
Why Should I See a Chiropractor?

Although chiropractic care is most often thought to help with back pain, it can also be beneficial as an adjunct therapy for a variety of symptoms including, but not limited to, digestive issues, perinatal care and pediatrics. Chiropractic improves biomechanics of the spine and joints resulting in enhanced nervous system function and ultimately, overall health. Regular chiropractic treatments can help to strengthen and fortify the body from any potential future threats that may intend to cause harm later down the line. Chiropractic can even work to heal damage done by past injuries and illnesses, making it a truly worthwhile, not to mention safe and affordable, investment to your health.

Freedom at Any Age

These days the mobility market is full of possibilities. Rather than being confined to the inside of your home or relying on friends and family to take you out, consider the freedom of a mobility scooter. Battery powered scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go. Along with the freedom, mobility scooters offer an element of safety.

Fight Colds & Flu

Your immune system needs a strong thymus and spleen to produce antibodies and specialized white blood cells that help prevent disease. Do you know how yours are functioning? Nutritional testing or Biofeedback are great ways to find out if there is a weakness or imbalance in these immune organs. If a weakness or imbalance is identified, specific nutrient formulations designed to naturally support and strengthen the thymus, spleen and immune system can be taken. This will help you to better fight against influenza, rhinovirus (common cold), pneumonia, and other bacterial infections – or avoid them altogether.

Abs of Steel or Jelly Belly?

Your pelvis is a ring of bones held together by ligaments and muscles. These muscles engage every time you walk, sit, stand, run, or even breathe! Weak stabilizing muscles cause your pelvis to move too much and surrounding muscles contract to control the excess movement, leading to chronic muscle tightness. By strengthening the core, our bodies are able to withstand these forces without muscle spasms. Some of the best exercises for core involve maintaining a neutral spine position and resisting forces. Your physiotherapist can give you specific exercises to improve your strength, while relaxing other muscles through manual therapy techniques.

Loneliness May Lead to Bad Health

Several studies have shown social isolation can negatively affect your health. This National Institute on Aging primer notes that loneliness can lead to high blood pressure, depression, and put you at greater risk of illness. That could mean more doctor’s visits and higher health care costs. And what if you or your loved one takes a fall with no one around? Beyond the physical pain, the financial implications could be high. And then there’s the emotional toll of social isolation, which can be even more devastating. These are all things to consider when deciding whether you or your loved one spend the next chapter of life at home or in a senior living community.

Words to Live By

There are greater things to be achieved in every New Year, and each and everyone must prepare themselves to be great, not by words of the mouth, but by a lot of sacrifices. – Michael Bassey Johnson

Book Club: Regaining Who You Are

By Cindy Matychak, Spiritual Author, Advanced Life Coach, Reiki Master. You are not who you think you are. There is much more to you and your world. Each of us has come into this lifetime to expand our consciousness and find our true place. In Regaining Who You Are you will discover why you are here and what you are being asked to heal in this lifetime.

Avoid the Winter Blues

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines suggest adults should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, as well as two sessions of muscle and bone strengthening activities, to achieve physical AND mental health benefits. With winter coming, and the challenges of leaving home, this can seem daunting! Your physiotherapist can tailor an exercise program designed specifically for you to do inside with minimal space (to help avoid the cold weather!), and with equipment everyone has around their home. At 30 minutes per day, the benefits of exercise are countless, while the side effects are minimal.

When a Loved One Has Dementia

Loving someone with dementia can be a challenging task, one that puts a lot of pressure on a caregiver. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind: 1. Be realistic when it comes to expectations for yourself and for your loved one. 2. Develop a routine. Those with dementia can struggle with confusion and frustration. Especially as the disease progresses, it is important to create a solid routine and schedule to provide some predictability and help keep some peace of mind. 3. Focus on nutrition. There is a strong connection between lifestyle choices such as diet and memory diseases.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are nurses with an advanced degree or doctorate who can perform most of the same skills that a physician can. NPs cannot bill for services, but the client has to cover the necessary costs. NP skills include conducting assessments, diagnosing, writing prescriptions for all medications, and performing procedures like draining abscesses, inserting IUDs, performing PAP tests, casting, reading x-rays, suturing, and performing some surgeries. NPs can also make referrals to other physicians or services, complete required government forms, admit and discharge patients to and from the hospital, prescribe medicinal marijuana, and perform medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Stress Handling With Biofeedback

Every day, we have an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts running through our minds. Considering that our minds can only handle 7-10 bits of information at a time, no wonder we start to feel overwhelmed, especially at this time of the year. Unmanaged stress contributes to many health issues, such as headaches, exhaustion, insomnia, chronic pain, and depression, to name a few. Alternative approaches such as Biofeedback testing and treatment are very effective at handling stress. It detects imbalances, or weaknesses, in the stress handling areas of the body, and in turn, stimulates the affected areas to help the mind and body process and handle stress better.