Students with dyscalculia can find understanding numbers and mathematical concepts extremely difficult. Although dyscalculia is often associated with an individual’s ability to do math problems, it can also affect their ability to time manage, follow a calendar, or deal with situations that involve mathematical communication, such as getting a quote. The best way to assist students who are struggling with dyscalculia is to combine specific cognitive interventions with one-on-one instruction and drills to help them build math skills and confidence. A specialized program outside of school can provide the additional individualized instruction that students with dyscalculia need to succeed.

Everyone should take control of their own health, and that means knowing some things about yourself. A great start is knowing your “7 Numbers” – blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, TG/HDL ratio (cardiovascular health), Android-Gynoid ratio (or waist circumference), C-reactive protein (detects inflammation/infection), vitamin D level, and GGT (liver health). From these seven biomarkers, you will be able to understand your risk for common chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Most importantly, you will be able to see if your current lifestyle behaviours are supporting optimal health.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is commonly seen in sports such as soccer, rugby, and skiing. Although many individuals initially recover well, the ongoing instability often prevents return to sports and leads to further knee injury, and the risk of developing future osteoarthritis becomes increased. Bracing is rarely sufficient. Surgical reconstruction performed early, within 3-6 weeks, helps to minimize the risk of further injury. ACL surgery should be treated as an urgent matter: assessment, diagnosis, and surgery can usually be completed within a few weeks. The athlete, elite, or weekend-warrior can then start early rehabilitation to maximize the benefits of the knee reconstruction.

Physiotherapists offer training for the deep muscles of your core. These muscles include: 1) Transversus abdominis – the deepest abdominal that wraps around the abdomen between the lower ribs and top of the pelvis. It stabilizes the low back and pelvis and protects the inner organs. 2) Multifidus – a deep muscle located along the back of the spine very close to the midline that works with other muscles to stabilize the low back and pelvis. 3) The pelvic floor – a hammock of muscles that connect the pubic bone at the front to the tailbone and “sitz” bones at the back. There are no recipes for training the deep muscles – speak to your physiotherapist about the right training for your core.

“There are only two ways to live your life, one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle.”
-Author unknown

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

The terms core training and core strengthening have been used interchangeably in both the physiotherapy and fitness industries, yet there is a significant difference between the two. Your core is the area between your breathing diaphragm and your pelvic floor. Core training exercises focus on restoring the timing and sequencing of your deep muscles to reinforce an optimal pattern of muscle activation (motor learning). Core training helps to make the right connections between your brain and your core. Once core training has restored deep muscle function, core strengthening exercises can be added to further improve function and performance. There is a difference, come and see for yourself.

These days, it seems that everyone is going “keto” – restricting carbohydrates and eating lots of fat. The resulting appetite suppression and weight loss can be dramatic and significant. But is it healthy? Keto from bacon and sausage without any vegetables – probably not. Well-formulated keto with avocado, olive oil, and plenty of veggies could be healthy and sustainable. More seriously, for 25% of people, keto causes their LDL cholesterol to soar, increasing their risk for heart disease. To be safe, learn about “healthy keto”, consult with your healthcare provider, and check your LDL cholesterol response to keto.

Spring and summer are typical times for allergies to trees, grasses, pollens, and dust to manifest increased symptoms. Simply rinsing nasal passages and eyes with a normal saline solution several times a day is a quick way to reduce symptoms before they become worse. Use of allergy medications (sprays and tablets) can help reduce symptoms further. There are many people who suffer from allergy-like symptoms who do not have the typical immunoglobulin response on testing. These sensitivities and intolerances still need to be identified and treated in order to obtain long-term symptom relief and allow the immune and detoxification systems to work properly.