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A little background is needed here, so to fill you in... Nine weeks ago, I slipped on ice and fell on my outstretched right arm causing a serious fracture called a Colles fracture. Not only had I broken the wrist bones, I had shattered them. Despite my hesitation, surgery was the only safe option.
1. Water
Did you know that your body is made of 80% water? To ensure your body does not get dehydrated and therefore has enough fluids to function optimally, aim for 2L of clean, fresh, filtered water per day. Consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of sea salt to make it taste and rehydrate you better.
Stress and tension affect everyone. In the clinic setting, we frequently hear patients tell us that their pain is stress related, other patients carry tension in their necks and/or shoulders, others present with tension headaches… the list goes on. When we are unable to effectively diffuse the stress in our lives, we set ourselves up for stress-related disease, such as ulcers and high blood pressure.
The holiday season is here again and with all celebrations, it’s easy to overindulge. When enjoying the festivities, we sometimes forget the age old adage, “Everything in moderation” and end up feeling unwell later.
What is it?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a result of pressure on the median nerve as it crosses through the carpal tunnel, which is located at the front of the wrist.
If you or a loved one have ever experienced the joint pain that comes with degenerative osteoarthritis, you know it can be debilitating. It makes every movement a difficult one—and it makes it harder to do the things you love to do. Even if you haven’t yet felt joint pain, it is easy to empathize with those who struggle with it. So, when it comes to arthritis, I’ve got bad and good news for you.
Perhaps this is a familiar scenario for you: It’s the morning and you’re still lying down. You swing your legs out over the bed, stand up, and—ouch! A crippling pain in your heel radiates through your foot and up your leg.
True or false: Interest in combating aging has only started in the 20th of cosmetic procedures and Botox.
Water, water, everywhere… Samuel Coleridge put it best in the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” when sailors lament the unfortunateness of being surrounded by an abundance of water that they can’t drink. As Newfoundlanders, we are used to being surrounded by the ocean. But unlike Coleridge’s sailors, we’re also surrounded by clean, drinkable water. It runs out of our faucets, is available in the grocery store, and flows from water fountains.
Human touch. It’s at the core of who we are as people. We crave (and thrive on) human connection. Over and over again, studies find new information that we already intuitively know. Human touch is calming, reassuring, restorative, and sometimes, even healing.
It’s that time of the year again: winter is coming. And it will be here soon. Living on the eastern edge of the Atlantic means unpredictable weather, drops in temperature and ice, lots of ice. Ice is dangerous!
As with any medical treatment plan, patients are often hesitant or nervous about the procedure. Laser light therapy is no different-- and most do not understand how “laser” fits into their treatment. “Laser” refers to the light we use. Early research for laser therapy was aimed at finding an effective, non-drug way of reducing muscle and joint pain. Studies have demonstrated laser’s effectiveness at accelerating healing. That’s the laser advantage-- healing faster, reducing the need for pain medication, and helping to provide a strong, mobile scar. We’ve compiled a few of our most commonly asked questions for you. If you’ve ever wondered what laser therapy is or how it can help you, you’ve got to read on!
The weather has turned warmer-- summer is just around the corner-- and runners are flocking to the streets and trails again. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, just getting started, or somewhere in between, injuries can affect us all. We do what we can to prevent injuries, but sometimes they still happen. Luckily, homeopathy – alone or in combination with other treatments – can help reduce pain, speed healing, and get you back to running sooner.
Are you a die-hard massage therapy believer or do you only go when you have no other health options? Maybe you’ve never gotten a massage before! No matter where you are on the client spectrum, we have some light-- but interesting-- reading about the art and science of massage therapy. Enjoy!
I often notice puzzled expressions on clients’ faces when I mention that Avalon Laser Health (ALH) is a Collaborative Practice clinic. For many clients, that’s the first time they’ve heard this phrase applied to the health field. If you’ve ever wondered about it, this post is for you! We’ll discuss...
It may be difficult to believe it is spring and summer is just around the corner! After a long winter we look forward to warmer weather, mowing lawns instead of shovelling snow, and sun block instead of snow suits. For many people, however, the warmer weather also means the start of seasonal allergies...
For many of us, a bad fall, sports injury, or surgery means a trip to the physiotherapist. If you’ve never been before, you may feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry-- our dedicated, knowledgeable staff will help you along each way to make sure that you’re comfortable. But if you’re wondering...
If you’re like most Canadians, you spend a majority of your time sitting in front of a screen at a desk. And when you’re not at work, we bet you’re probably sitting somewhere else. After all, Canadian adults between the ages of 18 and 79 spend an average of almost 10 hours a day (not including sleep) sitting...
I think this is my final update for my wrist, as it’s about 85% better. There are very few things I can’t do now. Slicing and chopping carrots, opening a tin, wiping down the shower wall, and playing too long with the computer mouse all cause my wrist to burn, but I can do them. I wimped out on shovelling snow over the weekend because I was sure that might hurt--any excuse to get out of it!...
Jan 24th was a milestone. It was the day for a consult with Ortho Clinic and removal of the wrist cast. I was surprised and ecstatic to hear what they had to say. I’d had such a problem with swelling and increasing pain with movement during the last week of immobilization. My attitude going in was between confrontational and hostile...
Following an evening of lobster and fun with her family, Estelle, our Physiotherapist, slipped and fell and got her own lobster claw to take home. With a fractured wrist that is currently in a cast, we tried to see the positive in an unfortunate situation. We realized this has provided an opportunity to review the mechanics and treatment of wrist fractures and track her progress.
New Year’s Resolutions, while admittedly difficult to keep up all year long, are a great time to reassess your health and happiness. There’s something about a new year that inspires people to begin anew. “Losing weight” is one the most common resolutions, but we have ten healthy (and actionable!) resolutions you may not have thought of that’ll make 2014 your best year yet.
The holiday season is upon us once more. For most people this time of the year means excitement, celebration, and gathering with family and friends. For others the joys of the holiday season may be accompanied by illness or anxiety. This year arm yourself with a few homeopathic remedies to help make the season jolly and bright.
