If you’re reading this blog post from your phone, there’s a good chance you’re engaging in a serious but harmful position referred to as “text neck.”
What is text neck?
Text neck is a repetitive stress injury to the neck caused by holding your head in a forward and downward position for extended periods of time. While in this position, excessive amounts of tension are created in the deep muscles of your neck and across the shoulders causing both acute and chronic neck pain.
What does text neck do to your body?
Text neck compresses and tightens the muscle, tendon, and ligament structures in front of the neck while lengthening the muscles, tendon, and ligament structures behind the neck. Since the human head weighs approximately 10 pounds, for every inch your head is tilted forward, the weight your neck has to carry doubles and the strain builds up.
But since ditching our devices isn’t really an option, we can make sure to exercise right and practice good habits to prevent the aches and pains associated with text neck.
Follow these simple tips to avoid the aches and pains that come with the digital age. Your back and neck will thank you.
1. Take a break
Holding up your phone or tablet for extended periods of time can strain the muscles in your shoulders, arms and fingers. Let your arms rest at your sides every so often.
2. The 20-20-20 rule
Give your eyes a break! Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to look about 20 feet ahead (or as far as possible).
3. Change positions
Try to avoid sitting for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Get up and walk around!
4. Aim higher
Raise your phone up closer to eye level to reduce strain on your neck. When watching lectures on your tablet or laptop, be sure to prop it up against something so your shoulders and arms can relax.
5. Stretch it out
Slowly turn your head towards your left shoulder, hold for five seconds and repeat on your right side. You can also download Straighten Up Canada! — a free app developed by Canada’s chiropractors with videos of stretches you can do to help your posture in just three minutes!
The only thing that’s more important than “perfect” posture is movement. If you still have pain and discomfort after trying these tips, visit Ajax-Pickering chiropractors Dr. John Noble or Dr. Mark Fera to develop a plan to keep you pain-free.
Did You Know?
Bending your head to look at your phone can put up to 60 pounds of pressure on your spine!
A 2014 study in Surgical Technology International showed that even a 15-degree head tilt adds 27 pounds of pressure. As we use our phones and laptops more and more, that stress adds up!
Take care of yourself.
If you are concerned your posture is suffering due to increased time on your phone or digital device, contact the wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage.
We provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
With content from the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera offer your loved ones, family and friends a complete chiropractic consultation and examination at our expense (a $150 value).
If your friends and family are suffering from neck, shoulder or back pain, fear of the unknown may be keeping them from enjoying the benefits of chiropractic care. If you’re a patient at our clinic, you understand what’s involved in chiropractic treatment. You have also experienced the positive change these treatments have had on your health.
Booking an appointment during Sweetheart Appreciation Week is the perfect way to introduce your friends and family to chiropractic care. There’s no fee and no obligation to begin care.
Below are the answers to a few questions your friends and family may have.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is a profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. Chiropractic care’s emphasis is on manual treatments, which include spinal adjustments and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.
Chiropractors are spine, muscle and nervous system experts. They are specifically trained to diagnose the underlying cause and recommend treatment options to relieve pain, restore mobility and prevent reoccurrence without surgery or pharmaceuticals.
What are the benefits?
Your musculoskeletal system supports your weight, provides physical stability, enables you to move your body, and protects your vital organs.
Benefits of chiropractic care include:
Improved movement in your neck, shoulders, back and torso
Better posture
Relief from headaches, neck and back pain
Prevention of work-related muscle and joint injuries
Enhanced athletic performance
Improved flexibility
Relief of pregnancy-related backache
Correction of gait and foot problems
What can I expect from my chiropractic treatment?
Chiropractic treatments normally consist of manual therapy, including joint manipulation, mobilizations and soft tissue therapy.
A manipulation (commonly known as an adjustment) is a quick, small thrust to the spine or other parts of the body intended to provide immediate pain relief and mobility.
Mobilizations are slower, more passive movements or stretches that help relieve stiff joints.
Soft tissue therapy refers to a variety of different techniques focused on alleviating discomfort without causing movement.
In addition to manual therapies, Ajax chiropractors Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera are trained to recommend a course of action that includes exercise, ultrasound or laser treatments, rehabilitation, nutritional counselling and injury prevention strategies.
Whether you are suffering from a specific injury to your muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, or you have a chronic condition such as spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Fera and Dr. Noble can help relieve pain and restore function in the following areas of the body:
Head and neck
Shoulders
Mid-back
Low back and pelvis
Elbows, wrists and hands
Hips, knees, ankles and feet
Are chiropractic treatments safe?
It is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between something being unsafe and having potential reactions. Any therapeutic treatment from medication to manual therapy comes with potential risks.
For example, there is a concept in the pharmaceutical industry known as a risk-benefit analysis which is used to assess how much benefit a medication has compared to the potential risk. The riskier the medication, the less likely it will become mainstream. Spinal manipulations should be recommended for patients when a similar risk-benefit assessment has been conducted. This assessment on the safety of chiropractic treatments is performed via the patient intake form and physical examination.
We have reserved a limited number of appointments during Patient Appreciation Week: February 12th – 17th.
We’re halfway through January and Southern Ontario is experiencing its first long stretch of really cold weather. Have you ever noticed that as the weather gets colder you experience more aches and pains and your muscles feel stiffer?
More Aches and Pains?
“Cold weather causes muscles to lose more heat and contract, causing tightness throughout the body,” says Ajax chiropractor Dr. John Noble. “Many of us actually hunch ourselves up when we are cold, making muscles tighter and less mobile.”
Colder temperatures force muscles to work much harder to complete the same tasks they complete easily in milder weather. This may result in more damage to the muscle tissue and increased soreness.
This is even more evident for workers who work outside in the winter, or individuals with certain ailments. The cold weather can increase the risk of suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and can even increase the intensity of certain musculoskeletal conditions.
How Can the Cold Weather Impact Us?
If you live with an arthritic condition you might find that your symptoms may be exacerbated by cold weather conditions, which can keep you away from doing the activities you enjoy. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may not react well to sudden weather or atmospheric changes, which may worsen symptoms.
Even without any specific conditions, most of us are very aware of how our bodies feel and move when we are cold – we may move more slowly when our muscles are tense and stiff. For those who work outside, be conscious of your working conditions. Feeling warm, safe and comfortable is important as heavy lifting and overexertion can increase the risk of injury in colder temperatures.
Here are a few things that can be done to prevent stiffness and musculoskeletal-related injuries during the winter months:
Maintain an active lifestyle – make sure you are doing some form of physical activity to exercise your muscles and joints.
Dress warmly – wear proper clothing to keep your body warm and protected from the cold.
Wear proper footwear – wear boots that are waterproof and warm, and have good threads to prevent falls.
Wear a warm hat – keeping your head warm reduces the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
Reduce your time outdoors – Do not stay out in the cold for too long (if you work outside, move indoors during your breaks, if possible).
The winter months shouldn’t keep you from doing the things you love, or keep you indoors in pain.
Keep active and dress warmly, and you may be able to minimize the aches and pains of the season.
The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage can help you manage your condition-related pain during the winter months, and help you prevent musculoskeletal conditions if you work outdoors.
We provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
With content from the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions to start 2024? As we work our way through the often long and dreary month of January, we thought it would be a good time to review some goals for the year.
Here are our top 10 chiropractor-approved resolutions to help you stay healthy for the rest of the year:
1. Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is important to overall health. Both body and mind rest and refresh while you sleep. If you have difficulty sleeping, consult your chiropractor for help and solutions. Here are some tips to help you get a good night’s rest.
2. Warm Up
Before jumping in the pool, hitting the field or picking up a golf club, take 20 minutes to warm up. Your warm-up should include deep-breathing exercises, gentle stretching and range of motion exercises to loosen and warm your muscles and joints.
3. Cool Down
Cooling down after a workout is just as important as warming up. Take 20 minutes for a brisk walk or slow jog and stretch out your muscles and joints before heading for the change room or the car.
4. Practice Perfect Posture
Good posture not only makes you look better, but it also delivers increased energy, better breathing, and improved circulation. Good posture is actually an investment in your appearance AND your health. The secret to good posture is maintaining the spine’s natural curves. If your spine is misaligned, it can result in strain and pain.
5. Choose a Good Office Chair
Do you sit most of the day? While sitting seems restful, staying in any one position for too long can cause strain and injury to your muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.
Adapt to support your spine in various working positions
Have a backrest that supports your lower back
Have a front edge that curves downward to promote proper posture
One last tip: Vary your sitting positions throughout the days to prevent injury and strain.
6. Prevent Neck Pain
Your neck is part of your spine, which runs from the base of your skull to the bottom of your back. Neck pain is a common problem with many possible causes. Poor posture, hunching over a computer, arthritis, whiplash, and muscle strain from simple things like reading in bed or grinding your teeth can all trigger neck pain.
Tension headaches are common but they are not well understood. Most people describe having a band of pressure around their head that can last from 30 minutes to a week. Tension headaches can be related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck and improper alignment of the joints of the spine.
Record when your headaches occur and what you were doing before they started. Try to recognize the factors that cause or aggravate your headaches. Be sure to tell your chiropractor if you’ve noticed any changes in your usual headaches, such as frequency, duration or intensity, or if your headaches begin to worry you.
Meal timing is an important factor in maintaining energy levels. Skipping meals can cause blood sugar swings, often resulting in fatigue. People often skip meals and then wonder why they are tired in the afternoon.
To manage energy levels and prevent fatigue, you should eat at least three nutritious meals each day with the last meal well before bedtime.
10. Visit Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage for year-round wellness
Working with a chiropractor and registered massage therapist will help you stay on track with your goals and pamper your spine.
The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage provides patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
Winter has officially arrived in Southern Ontario! Once the temperature drops, what starts as a wet sidewalk or driveway can quickly turn into a sheet of ice.
Whether you’re going outside for some exercise, running an errand, or simply getting to and from your car, winter walking can be hazardous.
“Each year around this time, we start seeing an increasing number of patients who have suffered a fall on the ice,” says Durham Region chiropractor Dr. John Noble. “Our chiropractic and massage therapy team can offer guidance and provide care, but ideally it would be best if the fall could be avoided!”
There are some precautions you can take to make sure you get to your destination safely. Here are eight ways to avoid a slip and fall on snow or ice:
Choose the right footwear
There are some great options for winter boots that provide slip resistance.
Look for these features: rubber soles, and non-slip tread.
Plan ahead
Give yourself extra travel time so you can walk without being rushed.
Don’t be distracted
Avoid walking and using your phone at the same time.
Be on the lookout for ice
Avoid icy patches when possible. When in doubt, assume that all dark and wet pavement surfaces are slippery.
Be prepared
If you don’t have salt for your stairs, driveway, or walkway, use sand or non-clumping cat litter to sprinkle on icy surfaces outdoors. If possible, only walk on paths that receive maintenance. Don’t take shortcuts where snow isn’t regularly removed
Use support
Use handrails when available and steady yourself on the door frame of your car when getting in and out of a vehicle.
Don’t compromise your balance
Avoid carrying items in your arms as that may cause you to be unbalanced. Walking with your arms swinging at your sides is the best way to maintain balance. Make sure to keep your hands out of your pockets to help with balance and walking posture (don’t forget your gloves).
Walk like a penguin
When the terrain is super slippery, try practicing these “penguin-like” techniques for stability:
Keep your feet “flat-footed” (place your whole foot down at once—this also slows your walking speed)
Take short strides or shuffle your feet forward
Keep your knees slightly bent and feet pointed out. Lean forward slightly
Make sure to check for weather updates before you head out! If you have experienced a slip or fall, our Pickering massage therapy and chiropractic team can help.
If you’re experiencing back pain, consider visiting the chiropractic and massage therapy team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage. We help our patients build better pathways to overall wellness, as well as relief from back pain and muscle aches. Contact our clinic today at 905-427-3202.
With content from the Ontario Chiropractic Association.
Winter is just a few weeks away, and you know what that means: snow!
No matter where you live in Southern Ontario, snow is virtually guaranteed. And while that means more chaos on the road for drivers, it also means more homeowners suffering from sore backs because of improper snow shovelling.
“Shovelling out after a storm doesn’t have to leave you stiff and sore,” says Ajax chiropractor Dr. John Noble.
In this video shot a few years ago during one of our bigger snowstorms, Dr. Noble offers a few common-sense tips on shovelly safely.
Just because we are Canadians, it doesn’t mean we are experts when it comes to shovelling snow!
Follow these guidelines from the Ontario Chiropractic Association and with a little know-how, you can clear your driveway without any back, neck and shoulder pain ruining your day.
Before You Head Outside to Shovel
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is just as big an issue in the winter months as it is in the summer.
Dress in several layers so you can remove a layer as you get warm.
Wear proper footwear. Shoes and boots with solid treads on the soles can help to minimize the risk of slips and falls.
Pick the right shovel. Use a lightweight, non-stick, push-style shovel. A smaller blade will require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your body. An ergonomically correct model (curved handle) will help prevent injury and fatigue. Also, if you spray the blade with a silicone-based lubricant, the snow will slide off more easily.
Before beginning any snow removal, warm up for five to 10 minutes to get your joints moving and increase blood circulation. A brisk walk will do it.
Follow These Tips To Avoid Injury While Shovelling
1. Push, Don’t Throw
Push the snow to one side and avoid throwing it. If you must throw it, avoid twisting and turning — position yourself to throw straight at the snow pile.
2. Bend Your Knees
Use your knees, leg and arm muscles to do the pushing and lifting while keeping your back straight.
3. Watch for Ice
Be careful on icy walkways and slippery surfaces. Intermittent thaws and subsequent freezing can lead to ice building up underfoot, resulting in nasty slips and falls. Throw down some salt or sand to ensure you have a good footing.
If you’re experiencing back pain, consider visiting the chiropractic and massage therapy team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage. We help our patients build better pathways to overall wellness, as well as relief from back pain and muscle aches. Contact our clinic today at 905-427-3202.
With content from the Ontario Chiropractic Association.
December is just a few days away and with it, the season for eating great food, spending quality time with loved ones and sharing cherished traditions. Unfortunately, all of the hustle and bustle can also bring you an unwelcome gift — back pain.
Holiday activities such as shopping, wrapping gifts and skating can cause your muscles to work in ways they’re not usually used and can result in neck, shoulder or back pain.
Try these five tips to reduce your chances of pain and strain:
1. Ergonomic Gift Wrapping
After searching high and low for the perfect gifts, it’s time to wrap them up! Rather than spreading out on the floor, use a dinner table or desk. This will make it easier for you to use good posture. Just remember that sitting in one position for too long can put additional strain on your body. Take frequent breaks and stretch your hands, wrists and forearms by clenching your hands and relaxing.
2. Strain-Free Snowman
Building your very own Frosty the Snowman is top of mind for many children once the snow falls. Roll your snowballs into place and work together as a team to lift them when you’re ready. And remember, rule number one is to lift with your legs, not your back!
3. Lift Light to Shovel Right
When shovelling your driveway, let your legs and arms do the heavy lifting instead of relying on your back, and push the snow to one side to avoid throwing it. If you must throw it, avoid twisting and turning — face your snowbank and throw the snow straight into it.
It’s time to sharpen your skates and grab your snowboards! To prevent injuries that can plague you for months, remember to stretch before and after you hit the slopes or ice.
A basic go-to is the hamstring stretch:
Stand tall next to something you can hold on to for support.
Prop the back of one heel up on a surface like a stair, curb or bench and pull your toes back towards you.
For a deeper stretch, bend forward slightly at the hips.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds on each side.
5. Holiday Shopping
Carrying all those bags may be a productive way to move through your Christmas list, but it’s not great for your back. Consider taking a trip to your car to drop off your bags and lighten the load. If that’s not reasonable, take breaks and set your bags down or use a backpack to help distribute the weight.
Take care of yourself during the cold-weather months.
There are lots of ways to make the short winter days a little brighter. The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage encourages you to make your physical and mental health a priority.
We provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
With content from the Ontario Chiropractic Association.
What role does good posture play in maintaining your good health?
Proper posture keeps your bones and joints in optimal alignment, allowing you to move easily so that your body supports your weight without strain. Good posture delivers increased energy, better breathing, improved circulation, and less wear-and-tear on your joints. Poor posture can place stress on your tendons, muscles, and ligaments, leading to neck and back pain.
If you suffer from neck and back pain, improving your posture may go a long way in easing your symptoms.
Try incorporating these simple tips into your daily routine and talk to your healthcare provider about other ways to keep your spine aligned and your aches and pains at a minimum.
10 Posture Tips for Older Adults
Place a small towel or pillow in the curve of your lower spine to provide additional support for the low back when sitting.
When sitting, make sure that both feet are flat on the floor.
Sleep on your back or side rather than your stomach, and keep your head position neutral.
Avoid forward bending after long periods of inactivity or unrest.
When knitting or reading, take frequent breaks and change the position of your body.
Try to keep things light by packing only the things you will need. If you use a walker, use a basket attachment to transport your belongings.
When lifting objects, bend your knees to lift with ease.
▸ Avoid forward bending and twisting your body while bending.
▸ Provide support to your back, knees, ankles and arches by wearing a low-heeled, supportive shoe.
Choose soles with good traction to help avoid slips and falls.
Never cradle the phone between your neck and shoulder.
Strong core muscles help maintain appropriate posture and reduce strain on the spine.
Ajax-Pickering chiropractors Dr. Mark Fera and Dr. John Noble are specialists in back health. Their natural approach involves addressing the overall health of individuals in addition to treating specific symptoms.
Registered massage therapists Jessica Raedisch and Rolf Castenheiro share in this natural approach by employing a variety of hands-on techniques to assess and treat the soft tissues and joints of the body. The benefits of massage therapy are numerous and act as a perfect complement to chiropractic care.
Now that Daylight Savings Time has ended and we once again find ourselves in the dark by 5 p.m., it can be easy to fall back into old habits.
It’s tempting to stay indoors and do things that comfort us, like reading books and watching movies, as we approach the winter solstice. Unfortunately, these activities often leave us sedentary.
The importance of staying active
When we are not as active as we are in the summer, it affects the balance of chemicals produced in the body that impact how we feel pain and pleasure: our endorphins.
Endorphins are produced by the body to respond to things like stress, fear, or discomfort. They interact with the parts of your brain responsible for your emotional responses and pain sensitivity. Endorphins are responsible for your feelings of pleasure and are involved in your built-in reward system linked to eating, drinking, sexual activity, and maternal behaviour.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help boost the level of endorphins in your body. One of those things is exercise.
Exercise encourages the body to produce more endorphins.
For example, sometimes runners experience a “runner’s high” level of vitality after a workout. The same experience can be had by anyone after an extended period of physical exercise. There are other benefits to working your body physically: exercise can give you more energy throughout the day, allowing you to sleep better at night and feel more relaxed. It also helps the brain repair and recover, reduces inflammation in the body, and helps you feel calm and have an overall sense of well-being.
The good news is that you can replicate these positive sensations by taking steps to add a bit more exercise to your day. Any activity leaving you out of breath for bouts of 10 minutes or more throughout the week can help you fend off the winter blues.
Other ways to boost endorphins
It’s not just exercise that helps your body boost endorphins: regular meditation, yoga, and tai chi help to decrease stress hormones and increase endorphins. Not only that, simple pleasures such as love, laughter, sunshine, and chocolate all increase endorphins as well.
Take care of yourself during the cold-weather months.
There are lots of ways to make the short winter days a little brighter. The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage encourages you to make your physical and mental health a priority.
We provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.
With content from the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
Do you struggle with low back pain? The relief you’ve been looking for may be a little farther than the medicine cabinet but as close as your local community centre or yoga studio.
If you spend a lot of time hunched over a computer keyboard, it’s not surprising that your back often suffers. While it may be difficult to fight the urge to reach for a quick fix in the form of pain-numbing pills, medication offers short-term relief without solving the problem.
Aside from headaches, low back pain is one of the most common complaints of Canadians today. In addition to stress-related causes, this pain may also be due to overuse or injuries such as those occurring after rigorous physical activity, or a mild-to-serious car accident.
Together with chiropractic, yoga offers another way to prevent low back pain by strengthening your core muscles.
Yoga consists of an extensive set of exercises (or poses) designed to promote muscle strength, flexibility and proper breathing. It has been studied as a treatment for lower back pain; carpal tunnel syndrome; osteoarthritis of the hands; depression; asthma; hypertension; and many more conditions.
There are various poses which can help relieve low back pain, and even just a few minutes of yoga on a regular basis can reduce pain and strengthen your core abdominal muscles.
As well as strengthening core muscles, yoga is also helpful if there are psychological factors involved in your back pain. The act of doing these poses promotes relaxation and calmness, which relieves the mental stress and anxiety that might have eventually lead to more back pain.
In addition to the mind-body connection, yoga also focuses on the spine.
In accordance with Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera’s chiropractic principles, many of the body’s aches and pains can be attributed to the misalignment of vertebrae. Yoga is a proven natural way to decrease your back pain, strengthen your core, and improve your overall sense of well-being. Doing yoga properly and having regular chiropractic care ensures a reduction of pain and treatment.
Yoga can be an effective and gentle tool to help manage your lower back pain. Its many benefits include relief from pain, stress and anxiety – it’s also fun and challenging!
Yoga can help you reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility and strength while improving your balance. Remember to warm up before trying yoga: you want to help your back pain, not make it worse.
Here is a list of yoga poses that are great for beginners and can be done at home! Always listen to your body and do not continue a pose if it is painful. If you’re unsure if yoga is right for you or feel pain once you try it, talk to your chiropractor.
Downward Dog strengthens the shoulders, core, back and legs while promoting back flexibility.
Warrior Pose helps separate hip and leg movement from pelvic and low back mobility.
Cobra Pose helps strengthen your shoulders and back while promoting flexibility in the upper back.
Pyramid Pose strengthens your legs and spine and teaches body awareness on how to hinge and move from the hip joint.
The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage encourages you to improve your overall health by making exercise a part of your daily routine. If you want to learn more about managing your health with exercise, contact our clinic today at 905-427-3202.
With content from the Ontario Chiropractic Association and the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative.
The Village Chiropractic Clinic consists of a group of knowledgeable, and friendly professionals that have worked as a team to help me obtain and maintain my optimal health goal through chiropractic and massage therapy.
2. Strain-Free Snowman
Other ways to boost endorphins