When pain is present in many areas, how can we know what’s causing it? The Integrated Systems Model approach helps physiotherapists determine the primary cause when there are multiple sites of pain or impairment. The approach helps physiotherapists not only understand a patient’s pain, but also understand them as a person. The model considers the interaction and contribution of multiple systems, such as articular, myofascial, neural, visceral, hormonal, and neuroendocrine, and how these can contribute not only to pain, but also to overall health. A physiotherapist using this model can not only determine how to provide pain relief but can also offer steps for pain prevention.

Diane Lee & Associates, DianeLee.ca

Total knee replacement is the most definitive treatment for advanced osteoarthritis. This procedure is typically done in a hospital setting, with 3-5 days of hospital stay. In recent years, it has become clear that healthy individuals can be discharged from the hospital on the day of their surgery, to safely and conveniently recover at home. Having surgery done at a medical centre provides a welcome alternative to hospitals. This can help reduce complications associated with hospitalization, and for many patients, the convenience and comfort of being at home with family is much preferred over the rustle and bustle of a busy surgical ward.

Dr. Arno Smit, MD, FRCSC, Orthopaedic Surgeon, White Rock Orthopaedic Surgery Centre, Wrosc.com

Excess weight can be due to a variety of underlying causes, such as hormonal imbalance, emotional eating, liver dysfunction, and malabsorption. Weight management programs require a tailored approach to help clients successfully lose weight. Laser acupuncture uses a non-invasive cold laser to stimulate various acupressure points on your body. Stimulating these points causes your body to release endorphins, which can help with suppressing your appetite, controlling hunger cravings, speeding up your metabolism, and enhancing your current diet and exercise program, all of which can help lead to weight loss and successful weight management.

Imagine Laserworks, ImagineLaserworks.com

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.

Ocean Park Natural Therapies & BBRcnx, Neurofeedback Training. Janise O’Leandros, Certified Neurofeedback Tech. Dr. Timothy Brown N.D. WhiteRockNeurofeedback.com, OceanParkHealth.com

Input from the vestibular system (located in your inner ear and brain) is essential for equilibrium, and dizziness can occur when this system is impaired. Vestibular disorders can be caused by trauma to the head (whiplash), degeneration of the system itself, ear infections, ototoxicity (high dosage of certain drugs), acoustic neuroma, poor blood supply, or trauma induced by pressure to the ear. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your dizziness and is highly individual. Working with a physiotherapist who is certified in vestibular rehabilitation can help you sort the cause and best treatment for your dizziness so that you can reduce and hopefully eliminate this very disturbing symptom.

Excess weight can be due to a variety of underlying causes, such as hormonal imbalance, emotional eating, liver dysfunction, and malabsorption. Weight management programs require a tailored approach to help clients successfully lose weight. Laser acupuncture uses a non-invasive cold laser to stimulate various acupressure points on your body. Stimulating these points causes your body to release endorphins, which can help with suppressing your appetite, controlling hunger cravings, speeding up your metabolism, and enhancing your current diet and exercise program, all of which can help lead to weight loss and successful weight management.

Chiropractic care is beneficial for people of all ages, but it can be particularly helpful for our growing senior population. As we get older, we may experience chronic pain and losses in our mobility, which can dramatically affect everyday activities and quality of life. Chronic spinal misalignment and modern sedentary lifestyle is often the root cause of chronic neck and back pain. Chiropractic is a gentle way of improving joint function and reducing pain. Through regular visits for chiropractic adjustments and with a custom-designed program of stretching exercises that can be done at home, seniors are able to maximize health in those retirement years.

Q: I’m unable to lose the weight gained from pregnancy, can acupuncture help with this? A: There are several factors that can contribute to weight retention post-pregnancy. For some, it could be due to emotional and hormonal reasons. In an acupuncture treatment session, we adjust the digestive system by expelling bodily junk, combined with treatment for balancing one’s hormones and emotions. It’s a big change to have a new family member. Our emotional state and physical states are closely related. We must take care of both to live a healthy life.

Our bodies can use a good cleaning as we move away from the slower pace of winter, when we tend to eat heavier foods and spend less time being active outdoors. A spring detox helps the body release toxins its absorbed from food, beverages, and the air as well as the metabolic waste products of the body’s natural functions. The benefits of a spring cleaning are reduced fatigue and increased vitality, which translate into feeling better and enjoying life more. We can guide you through a metabolic detox program and suggest complementary treatments, like IV vitamin therapy, to get you on the path to higher energy.

Students with learning difficulties have what can be described as a loosely woven cognitive basket. Teachers and tutors try to fill the basket with all kinds of information, but the loose weave means that much of the information will trickle through the cracks. If your child is experiencing learning difficulties, before sending them to a tutor, consider looking at options to help boost their brain’s capacity to ensure the information they’re given later actually sticks with them. Many students who work on strengthening their brain’s capacity find that they no longer need tutors and can learn at the same pace as their peers.