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Reduce Your Foot and Back Pain with Custom Orthotics

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If you regularly experience foot pain, you’ve probably sought several ways to find relief. Different shoes, perhaps, or over-the-counter pain relief medications. You may have even considered using the foot analysis machine in your local drug store or Costco.

It’s so easy, after all … just step on the foot outlines on the in-store machine and it will analyze your feet! Then, instantly recommend the perfect orthotic for you … from a limited selection of ready-to-take-home products. Ta-dah! Instant relief!

Sound too good to be true?

If you suffer from foot, leg, knee or lower back pain, you know that a quick fix is rarely the answer.

At Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage, we use GaitScan™ technology from The Orthotic Group to assess and analyze your gait and how it affects other parts of your body. Dr. Noble or Dr. Fera will review your GaitScan™ report and prescribe a custom-made orthotic that can help relieve your pain by realigning and stabilizing the bones in your feet and restoring your natural walking pattern.

What are custom orthotics?

Custom orthotics are devices worn in your shoes that provide correction to your feet, helping them to function more efficiently and alleviate pain. Poor foot function and alignment may be the cause of your foot, hip, knee and back pain.

How does GaitScan™ work?

  1. After removing your shoes and socks, you walk across the GaitScan™ pressure plate where thousands of tiny sensors capture the distribution of each foot over time.
  2. GaitScan™ maps your foot pressure and the computer displays two- and three-dimensional representations of the pressure under your feet. From this, we can see where your feet receive too much or too little pressure.
  3. The information is then summarized into a report which we will evaluate. The findings help us determine whether the pain you are experiencing is related to impaired foot function.
  4. We review the GaitScan™ report with you and discuss whether orthotics are required.
  5. If it is determined that you will benefit from orthotics, your information is sent to The Orthotic Group laboratory where your custom-made orthotics will be manufactured

What symptoms can custom orthotics help to relieve?

  • Localized foot pain
  • Bunions, hammertoes
  • Pain in your arch/heel
  • Leg or knee pain
  • Hip or lower back pain

How can custom orthotics help me?

Think of custom orthotics as working on your feet similar to the way that glasses work on your eyes.

Custom foot orthotics reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot by redirecting and reducing certain motion that takes place during the gait cycle.

Custom orthotics fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole and — unlike the insoles you purchase at your local store — they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet.

Are custom orthotics right for you?

Custom orthotics are not just for people who suffer from foot pain. Custom orthotics can also help those who suffer from back pain, pain in their hips or knees, and people dealing with arthritis-related pain. They are tailored to each individual and are typically designed to ensure that the bones, ligaments and tendons in your feet and lower legs are aligned and positioned properly. This helps to ease pain and stress on your feet and can improve the functioning of the muscles over time.

To book your custom orthotic consultation, contact us at the Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage Therapy clinic at 905-427-3202.

Prevention: Making Lifestyle Changes

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As we age, our risk for hypertension rises. By age 75, about 41 percent of men and 54 percent of woman have high blood pressure. That’s why preventing the disease is so important.

The first step is to follow a healthy diet. For years doctors have been telling patients to eat more fruits and vegetables and cut back on fats. But controversy has always surrounded the potential effects of dietary salt on blood pressure control.  Now several new studies find that eating less salt can lead to substantial drops in blood pressure, while too much salt can put people at increased risk for death.

In a study published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, people with high blood pressure who ate a daily diet containing 1,500mg. of sodium had an average systolic pressure reading 11.5 mm Hg lower than participants eating a typical U.S. diet, containing 3,300 mg. of salt. In patients without high blood pressure was 7.1mm Hg.

“The magnitude of the effect was quite astounding,” says Dr. Eva Obarzanek, project office of the DASH-Sodium study for the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Md. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. “We know that lowering salt prevents the development of hypertension in people who are at risk. If you have a lifelong exposure to high salt, we’re expecting that will [result in] hypertension.”

Obarzanek admits it is hard to eat a low-salt diet because of the food choices available today. But she says maintaining the current recommended maximum level of 2,400 mg. of salt a day – which equals about one teaspoon – is possible. People can lower their salt intake by following a diet similar to the DASH diet, which is low in saturated fats and cholesterol and emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. Obarzanek says people should avoid highly processed and highly salted foods. Read labels, choose foods with no salt added, and don’t add salt when cooking. “It takes a while,” she says, “to…adapt your taste buds and move on.”

Other lifestyle factors make a difference as well. Obarzanek says be sure to get plenty of physical activity, limit alcohol intake (one drink a day if you’re a female, two if you’re a male), dont smoke, m aintain an ideal body weight, reduce stress and tension. “It’s a massive disease,’ she says. “You want to prevent it.”
-Debbie Geiger

The Magnificent Human Body!

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We usually see our body as a collection of many parts like arms, legs, trunk and head; simple components connected together. From this viewpoint, it may be difficult to imagine that the human body consists of over 70 trillion cells, spaces between the cells, and body fluids, all contained within an organ called the skin.
Cells are the basic unit of the body. They group together to form tissues. Examples of tissues include fingernail, adenoid and brain tissue. Tissues form the framework for the organs and in turn the organs group together to form systems. Examples of systems are: the reproductive system, the digestive system, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system. These and other systems usually act together synergistically. They have a common purpose – keeping the body functioning normally and in good health.
Each cell in the body has a mind of its own. It knows how to create patterns, interconnections, symmetries and transformations which maintain our body. Each one contains a complete genetic blueprint for construction an entire body, but we are talking about more than this. Cells have memory, they respond to stimuli, and they are able to distinguish amongst themselves. Cells are able to regulate essential functions and communicate between systems. So it is important to realize that your mind or intelligence is not confined solely to the brain, but permeates your entire being.
Cells go through constant change. We discard dead skin cells every day. The skin we see right now is different from the skin we had last month. Our bones seem solid but we actually acquire a new skeleton every three months on a molecular level. There is so much more renewal than medicine previously recognized. All of the cells in our bodies (except those in the central nervous system) are replaced at least every seven years. We are always in process.
Another important aspect of the body is this: it sustains homeostasis – a state of equilibrium or physiological balance within the body. This means the body is always doing its best to maintain the internal balance needed to live. If we become too hot, the body will regulate itself and we will sweat until the temperature is back to normal. Normal may be different for everyone; it is the point each body returns to more of the time.
In terms of healing, the body always wants to be in a state of balance. When we cut ourselves, the body heals the cut without any conscious effort on our part. The body is then back to normal. This is turn in the disease process as well. The immune system is always working with all the other systems toward putting the body back into balance.

          – “The Immune System Hand Book” – Charlene A. Day

Stress Relief in 2.7 Minutes

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Yes, It’s possible to relax in three minutes or less.

A study from the State University of new York at Buffalo shows these simple methods can ease tension (almost) instantly:
Breathe Deeply. In the study, conducted by Bong Hee Sung, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine, people took a test that increased their stress levels. Afterward, they followed a tape of breathing exercises. The result: Blood pressure was lowered in 2.7 minutes!
Go Classical. After doing a second stress-elevating task, the group listened to classical music. In 2.9 minutes, blood pressure was back to normal.
Tune in to Nature. The third part of the experiment involved a stress-inducing test, followed by a tape of nature sounds, such as waves rolling and rain falling. After three minutes, people were calm. Sung notes that when the stressful task was not followed by any treatment, blood pressure remained elevated about 25 percent longer than it did after relaxation therapy.

Nature sounds and classical tunes are as close as your nearest CD player. But what’s the key to deep breathing? Nothing that you can’t try right now. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, filling your stomach and chest with air. Hold the air inside for three counts. Slowly exhale – firmly, but not abruptly – through your mouth. Repeat until you feel calm and focused.

Sung says, “I’ve had people calling who want a copy of the ‘magical breathing tape’. I tell them, ‘It’s not magic. You don’t need tapes. You just need to stay focused on your breathing.’ “

— Julia Savacool

Sweetheart Appreciation Week – February 8 – 13, 2016

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Give the gift of wellness to those you love this Valentine’s
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera offer your loved ones, family and friends a complete chiropractic consultation and examination at our expense, a $125 value.
We have reserved a limited number of appointments, so please book now. 

Happy New Year from Village Chiropractic!

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Why Fitness Actually Matters

Chiropractic Doesn’t Cure. You Do

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The Nervous System controls every cell in your body. Nerve impulses flow from the brain, down the spinal cord, and to every organ and tissue. Impulses sent back to the brain confirm that the body is working as it should. The moving bones of the spine can interfere with this exchange. Choked or irritated nerves can degrade or distort these messages.

This is called Subluxation.

Without proper nervous system control, ill health results. Chiropractic care helps restore the integrity of the nervous system.

This has helped people with a wide variety of health issues, without drugs. For over 100 years.

Your Greatest Wealth, is your Health. 

Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera are regulated primary health care providers serving Durham Region and beyond. Their training enables them to assess, diagnose and treat disorders of the spine, nervous system and joints and can be seen without a referral from another health care provider.
To book an appointment, call us today at 905-427-3202.

Repetitive Strain Injury from the OCA

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As your workload at the office increases, so do repetitive actions, such as typing, using your computer mouse and talking on the phone. These routine tasks seem simple, but they can add a level of physical stress to the emotional and mental stress of getting the job done. In fact, repetitive strain injuries have skyrocketed in the last 20 years due to the increasing reliance on workplace technology.
Try these tips from the Ontario Chiropractic Association to reduce the strain:

Computer Monitor

Position your computer screen directly in front of you. Allow the muscles in your eyes to relax by following the 20/20/20 rule: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and focus on an object that is at least 20 feet away from you.

Telephone

Use your hand to support the telephone against your ear and alternate sides regularly. Do not cradle the phone between your ear and your shoulder. Consider using a headset or speaker.

Chair

Sit upright and all the way to the back. Place a support cushion or roll against the arch of your low back for lumbar spine support. Here are some tips to help you adjust your chair:
  • Stand in front of the chair and adjust the height so that the highest point of the seat is just below your knee.
  • Sit on the chair and make sure that your knees are bent at approximately a 90-degree angle when your feet are flat on the floor.
  • Adjust the backrest forwards and backwards as well as up and down until it fits the hollow in your lower back.
  • Sit upright with your arms hanging by your sides. Bend your elbows at about a right angle and adjust the armrest height until they barely touch the undersides of the elbows. Remove the armrest from the chair if the right level cannot be achieved.
Lastly, don’t forget to take a quick stretch break or change position every 30 to 45 minutes. Your back, neck and shoulders will thank you for it!
– Article taken from www.chiropractic.on.ca

Does your job find you sitting most of the day?

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While sitting can seem restful, keep in mind that staying in any one position for long periods of time can cause strain and injury to your muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. Sustained sitting can take a toll on your neck and lower back – steady compression on the spinal discs hinders their nutrition and can contribute to premature degeneration.
So, if you have to sit at work, what can you do to stay pain-free? Help take the load off your back with these tips from the Ontario Chiropractic Association:

Take frequent breaks

First, ensure that you take regular breaks from sitting. Get up, take a short walk outside or around the office, and stretch.

Posture perfect

Next, pay attention to your posture. Sitting incorrectly puts strain on your lower back, decreases blood flow to your working muscles and accelerates fatigue. Practise “active sitting” with your feet flat on the ground in front of you, your back straight, your shoulders squared and your chin parallel with the floor. This posture will strengthen the “core” muscles of your abdomen, sides and back to reduce the strain on other areas. The stronger your core muscles, the easier it will be to maintain good posture.

Choose a good office chair

What’s most important in preventing injury and strain is to be able to easily vary your sitting positions throughout the day. An investment in a good office chair can help a lot. The right chair for you should:
  • Be easily adjustable to suit your size
  • Adapt to support your spine in various working positions
  • Have a backrest that supports your lower back
  • Have armrests, if they are appropriate to your work
  • Have a front edge that curves downward to promote proper posture

Stability balls

One recent trend is to use a stability ball at the office. While a ball is a great tool to help you tone your abs at home or at the gym, it should not replace a good chair at your work station. If you do bring the ball to work:
  • Use the ball only for short periods
  • Use your abdominal, back and side muscles to maintain straight posture
  • Stop when your muscles feel tired
Sitting on a ball instead of a chair can actually increase the pressure on your back, especially if your core muscles aren’t strong. So, sitting a long time on the ball may lead to greater discomfort in your lower back. Do not use a ball if you have osteoporosis, balance or low back problems.
Remember, stability balls are not for everyone; consult a chiropractor if you have any pre-existing injury or health problems that could impact your balance or stability.
Taken from the Ontario Chiropractic Association website www.chiropractic.on.ca

Types of Care and the Chiropractic Lifestyle

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Which type of care fits your goals?

There are THREE types or stages of chiropractic care. Initial Intensive Care is for pain symptom management; Rehabilitative or Corrective Care is for improved function and spinal changes; Wellness or Elective Care is for non-symptomatic or preventative care measures. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.

In the beginning, visits may be frequent. 

Most patients start with Initial Intensive Care. The first thing most new patients want is to feel better. So, in the beginning, visits are usually frequent. Your chiropractic adjustments may be combined with other procedures to help relieve your symptoms. Depending upon your age, condition, and lifestyle, repeated visits over weeks or months may be needed to reduce your symptoms. Visit frequency is reduced as patients respond to decreased symptoms and improved spinal function.

A chiropractic lifestyle, combined with other healthy habits is part of wellness approach to health. 

With your ache or pain reduced, the goal of Rehabilitative Care is for more complete healing to occur. Underlying muscle and soft tissue damage can remain, even after you feel better. At this stage, visit frequency is often reduced. Like corrective lenses for the eyes, Rehabilitative or Corrective Care helps normalize spinal function.

You may be urged to supplement your care with exercises, dietary changes, or other self-care procedures. Without complete healing, discontinuing care now can set the stage for a relapse. 

After the recovery of your original problem, regular chiropractic “check-ups” can help preserve your progress. Periodic visits can help catch little problems before they become major concerns. Like regular dental check-ups, Maintenance or Elective Care can help prevent spinal decay and promote optimal health. Wellness-minded adults and their children choose this type of care to look and feel their best. Like other preventative measures, a chiropractic lifestyle can save time and money by helping you stay well.