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Your Posture Tip for August — Pigeon Pose
Leave a CommentWhy You Should Make Physical Activity Part of Your Daily Routine
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| Ajax chiropractors Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera encourage you maintain an active lifestyle. |
How much time do you spend in front of a computer screen or sitting at a desk?
According to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet, being physically inactive comes at a price and could be causing as many deaths worldwide as smoking and obesity.
As part of a series on inactivity published in a lead-up to the 2012 Summer Olympics, the study examines the effect physical inactivity has on major diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer and life expectancy.
Using data collected worldwide in 2008, researchers found that physical inactivity causes:
- 6% of heart disease cases
- 7% of Type 2 diabetes cases
- 10% of breast cancer cases
- 10% of colon cancer cases
- 9% of premature deaths — more than 5.3 million deaths of the 57 million deaths globally in 2008.
The Lancet researchers encourage people to be told about the dangers of physical inactivity instead of just the benefits of exercise. Why the clarification? Probably because there’s a huge difference in a message that says Your Lack of Exercise Could Be Killing You versus More Exercise Will Make You Healthier. Which message would get you off the couch and moving more?
Researchers also urged governments to find ways to make physical activity more convenient, affordable and safer.
To understand the correlation between smoking and obesity and physical inactivity, the study asked How does physical inactivity compare with other risk factors for poor health?
“Although risk factors are classified on different scales (thus, the proportion at risk varies across risk factors), it is nonetheless informative to look at two established risk factors targeted for government action worldwide: smoking and obesity.
Smoking was estimated to cause 5 million deaths worldwide in 2000. The proportion of deaths attributable to smoking in China, one of the top five cigarette-consuming countries, has been estimated at 3.1% for women and 12.9% for men. By elimination of smoking, life expectancy at age 50 years was estimated to increase by 2.3-2.5 years in the U.S. population and 1.2-2.2 years in the populations of nine other high-income countries…As for obesity, if all obese people in the U.S. were to attain normal weigh, life expectancy in the population was estimated to increase by 0.7-1.1 years at birth in one analysis and 0.5-0.7 years at age 50 years in another. Thus, physical inactivity seems to have an effect similar to that of smoking or obesity.”
In The Lancet report, researcher I-Min Lee from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and her co-authors acknowledged that not everyone is capable of being physically active and concluded the paper with this comment:
“This summer, we will admire the breathtaking feats of athletes competing in the 2012 Olympic Games. Although only the smallest fraction of the population will attain these heights, the overwhelming majority of us are able to be physically active at very modest levels–15 to 30 minutes a day of brisk walking–which bring substantial health benefits.”
At Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic, we encourage our patients to maintain an active lifestyle. To slowly integrate physical activity back into your day, read our Fit-in-15 series of posts here, here and here. To book a chiropractic assessment with Dr. John Noble or Dr. Mark Fera, call our office at 905-427-3202.
Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Mood Swings? Try MenoSense®.
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| MenoSense® by Preferred Nutrition |
Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic is proud to offer their patients WomenSense™ by Preferred Nutrition, a complete line of high-quality products that address the conditions women face throughout their lives. This month’s product of the month is MenoSense®, a simple, safe solution to the symptoms of menopause.
From Preferred Nutrition:Exactly what is Menopause?Menopause is a hormone deficiency condition that affects women in mid-life. Their bodies have experienced a drop in estrogen production and their hormone levels have become unbalanced.The 10 – 15 years leading up to menopause are called peri-menopause. During this time, hormone fluctuations lead to sleepless nights, mood swings, irritability, headaches, brain fog, difficulty concentration, hot flashes and intense night sweats long before menopause arrives.These and other symptoms of menopause can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and can cause many women to wonder what’s happening to their bodies and how long will it last. Menopause is an inevitable stage of life, but you don’t have to suffer through it or like many women, turn to antidepressants, sleeping pills or bio-identical hormones.Simple solution to the symptoms of menopause!Approved by Health Canada, MenoSense® contains natural herbal and nutritional compounds that will restore balance quickly, so you can bid a safe and simple farewell to hot flashes, night sweats, and other systems that are making you miserable.MenoSense® key ingredients – all natural herbs
• Dong Quai is used to reduce severity of hot flashes and to ease painful or excessive menstruation.• Chasteberry (Vitex) helps normalize hormonal imbalances.• Black Cohosh helps ease hot flashes, night sweats, hormonal headaches, heart palpitations, painful menstruation, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, irritability and loss of concentration.• Gamma-oryzanol, is used to improve mood and for the reduction of hot flashes.• Hesperidin is a potent flavonoid, which has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, reduce night sweats, hot flashes, night time leg cramps and to reduce bruising.
Yoga and Chiropractic: A Relationship Made in Heaven
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If you suffer from lower 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.
With so many of us spending an increasing amount of time hunched over a computer keyboard, it’s not surprising that our 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, this offers only short-term relief without solving the problem. The solution to your back pain could be much simpler than reaching for expensive pharmaceuticals.
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.
In conjunction with chiropractic, another way to prevent low back pain is to strengthen your core muscles—those in the abdominal area—through yoga.
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.
As well as the mind-body connection, yoga also focuses on the spine.
In accordance with Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera’schiropractic 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 reduction of pain and treatment.
Contact Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic for a spinal checkup at 905.427.3202 or discuss the many natural health options with Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera at your next appointment. Refer to our website for our yoga posture tip of the month.
Your Posture Tip for July — Prayer Twist
Leave a CommentA Father’s Most Important Role: Staying Healthy
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In any society, be it modern, medieval or ancient, fathers have held a significant position. While there are several important relationships in a child’s life, there is no perfect substitute for the closeness shared between a father and his child.
A father’s lifestyle affects his children, and it is quite likely that they will try and adapt some important parts of their father’s lifestyle as they grow into adulthood. If a father can set a good example of leading life in a healthy way, his children are bound to follow.
The modern dad juggles the demands of long working hours, career travel, parenthood and providing for their family, often at the expense of his own nutritional and health needs.
For these dads, Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera have some suggestions for this delicate balancing act:
- Eat together — an occasional lunch date can be a special treat for the kids.
- Read together.
- Run errands together — stop for an ice cream afterwards.
- Talk — and listen.
- Show affection every day.
- Exercise together; kick the soccer ball, play road hockey or go to the park.
- Take care of your body: make an appointment for a family chiropractic checkup.
Fathers: they are our guides, our philosophers and as we get older, our dear and most reliable friends. They helps us choose our paths and set goals in life. And for that, we our eternally grateful. On the third Sunday in June we celebrate this special relationship by showering our dads with cards, presents, and of course, our love and attention. There is no doubt that a dad is more than just an accessory; he’s priceless!
Happy Father’s Day from Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic!
Treat yourself or a dad you know to a spinal checkup by calling Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic at 905-427-3202. Already a patient? Discuss the many natural health options with Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera at your next appointment.
Get Ready for Golf at Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic
Leave a CommentLet’s be honest. Most golfers are more motivated to improve their games than to prevent injuries. Serious golfers work hard at improving their game: expensive equipment, professional lessons, and hours of reading and practice. Yet many golfers bypass an important part of playing well — exercise.
During an average 18-hole round, most recreational golfers take more than 100 swings, including practice swings, as well as walk six to eight kilometres and bend more than 30 to 40 times. You don’t have to be a health specialist to see the demands a leisurely round of golf has on the body, especially the low back.
A leading cause of golf injuries is overuse. Golfers typically suffer from low back injuries, but these are often a result of poor technique, improper warm-up and lack of conditioning. In addition to low back injuries, male golfers typically suffer from shoulder and elbow injuries, while wrist injuries are common with female golfers.
Whether you are new or experienced on the golf course, a sport-specific physical training program can give you that extra edge. After a layoff from the game, such as over the winter, begin slowly and follow a condition plan. By following some basic guidelines, you will not only decrease your risk of injury but you can also improve your game and lower your handicap.
Ajax chiropractors Dr. Noble and Dr.Fera believe a good golf-conditioning program emphasizes flexibility, strength, posture, stabilization, balance and endurance. This aims to create a well-rounded golfer by incorporating technical, mental and physical disciplines. Here’s why:
- Flexibility improves joint range of motion and helps avoid muscle strain or soreness. To execute an optimal golf swing, a full range of motion is essential.
- Strength adds power to a swing and prepares the body for repetitive stresses from the sport. A strong muscular system translates into long-term injury prevention.
- Posture is important, especially at the top and finish of the swing. Good posture allows for efficient movement, less chance of injury, better recruitment of muscles, increased swing consistency and a positive mental outlook.
- Stability in the shoulder girdle will affect proper grip and arm position, while stability in the lower spine will affect hip rotation. Failure to stabilize in these areas can create inconsistencies in your swing.
- Balance contributes to and is a very important component of an effective golf swing.
- Endurance in the cardiovascular system enhances your performance, helps delay fatigue and allows for better mental focus.
Remember to warm up and stretch before and after your play — your body will thank you for it.
The wonderful thing about golf is that you can play it for a lifetime if you keep your body in shape, your technique in check and your game plan at par. We all know the game is continually progressing, so keep up with the times. Or better yet, keep up with your playing partners and get yourself ready for your next game.
Contact Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic at 905-427-3202 to book an appointment for a spinal checkup. Already a patient? Speak directly with Dr. Noble or Dr. Fera at your next appointment for tips on keeping your spine healthy with exercise, yoga or stretching during the golf season.
National Spinal Health Month: Tips for a Healthy Spine
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Life is our calling; it’s what we are all about. It challenges, tempts, provokes and frustrates us…motivates, inspires, teaches, and of course, rewards us. More than anything, life is full of opportunity.Ajax Chiropractors Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera respect life’s challenges. Every aspect of their care is directed towards facilitating the appropriate treatment, guidance, exercises, and the tools needed for you to achieve overall health and wellness. It’s your health.
Your spine is one of the strongest parts of your body, but it is also susceptible to injury. Accidents, stress, work, poor posture, sports and sprains can cause back problems. When you injure your spine, pain can appear in other areas of your body. Simple things like walking may become painful with a spinal injury.
Some symptoms associated with back problems:
- Leg pain with numbness, tingling, and/or weakness
- Back or leg pain when coughing or sneezing
- Pain in your hip, buttock, thigh, knee or foot
- Difficulty standing up after sitting for any period of time
- Unbalanced posture, your head, neck or shoulder may be higher on one side than the other
- Pain which prevents you from sleeping
- Pain that persists or worsens longer than 48 hours
If you are already health conscious, you will be aware of the important role of many aspects of the chiropractic lifestyle. You will likely know that regular exercise, a good diet, minimizing stress and maintaining a balanced mental attitude are all important for achieving and sustaining your best.
Tips for keeping your spine healthy:
- Exercise regularly
- Follow a healthy diet
- Maintain good posture
- Stretch your spine before and after sports
- Don’t overload your backpack or shoulder bag
- Stretch your legs and back after each hour of sitting
- Never cradle the phone between your neck and shoulder
- Sleep on your back or side, not on your stomach
- Invest in a good chair, pillow and mattress—it’s worth it!
- Have regular spinal check-ups
To learn more, call Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic at 905-427-3202 and book an appointment for a spinal checkup. Or speak directly with Dr. Noble or Dr. Feraat your next appointment for tips on keeping your spine healthy with exercise, yoga or stretching.
Attention All Moms: Make Your Health a Priority Every Day of the Year
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Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working mom or Mr. Mom, you’ve got kids depending on you for non-stop nurturing, love and guidance. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom to an infant or four teenagers, you’ve undoubtedly got your hands full. The early hours, the late hours, the tears, the scraped knees, the homework and the broken hearts—a mother is expected to take care of everything. But who’s taking care of you?
“Not now, Mommy’s too tired.”
“Kids, quiet down. Mom has a headache.”
Sound familiar?
Society tells us that it’s “normal” for mothers to be tired most—if not all—of the time. The stress of motherhood can sometimes be a headache—and it can cause them, too!
Consequently, Ajax chiropractors Dr.Noble and Dr. Fera believe many mothers accept the feeling of being perpetually “worn down” and accept their reoccurring headaches as part of their daily routine. They turn to caffeine or medication to regain their lost energy and relieve headache pain. Guzzling coffee or popping pills can keep you going at times, but they fail to provide a lasting solution.
It’s simple to discover your own hidden source of energy; you don’t have to rely on drugs that have potentially dangerous side effects. There is a safer, natural and effective way to stay healthy and full of energy. Scientific evidence shows that chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to fight headache pain, increase energy and offer long-term results.
Although Mother’s Day may have come gone, we encourage you to make yourself a priority and look out for number one. Give yourself a gift that will make you a better mom and better person: the gift of health. After all, by taking care of yourself, you will be better able to care for your family. So as you bask in the afterglow from Mother’s Day, Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera urge you to discover how to feel good all year long—without depending on temporary remedies such as pills or caffeine.
Contact Ajax-Pickering Village Chiropractic today at 905-427-3202 and treat yourself or a mom you know to a spinal checkup. Already a patient? Discuss the many natural health options with Dr. Noble and Dr. Fera at your next appointment.