Tylenol Alert!

Are OTC pain relievers as safe as we think?...

Laser Therapy For Diabetic Foot Ulcerations

Type II diabetics are often well-warned by their doctors to care for their feet! Having high blood sugar puts them at increased risk of slow healing of small wounds and blisters on feet...

How To Sit Up Straighter & Reduce Back Pain - Without Thinking About It!

You're complaining about back pain, when you hear the words "You need to improve your posture!" How many times has your physio, mother, fitness instructor, spouse or other well-meaning friend said just that? ...

How To Relieve Pain From Whiplash

Whiplash is the common term for the soft tissue injury to the neck sustained in motor vehicle accidents. The severity of injuries varies from a low grade single muscle strain or tear to involving multiple tissues of varying severity...

Turkey Ergonomics

If you love any excuse to get the crowd together as much as I do, you've already planned your Thanksgiving dinner menu and guest list. You've probably ordered the turkey...

Back Pain? Three Surprising Habits that Hurt Your Spine

If you have googled 'preventing back pain' you may have found the list of the common sources of back pain from lifting heavy objects incorrectly...

Got Shoulder Pain? Simple Exercises to do Every day that Really Help!

Do you realize how much time you spend at work? For example, the average full-time worker (40 hours per week) spends a year on average, 1920 hours at work. That equals 80 days or more than 11 weeks of, day in day out, WORK!

Posture Tips: How to Ease Aches and Pains at Work

It's September and most of us are headed back to school or work after a great summer spent outside hiking and enjoying a more active lifestyle.

Feeling Achy and Stiff? What is your body telling you!

Do you ever wake up feeling stiff and sore? All you want to do is roll over, and cover your head, because your body does not want to move? It hurts to move, so why bother? You are not alone.

A Better Treatment following Whiplash

Whiplash is the common term for the soft tissue injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. The range of injuries varies from a low grade single muscle stretch or tear to involving multiple tissues of varying severity.

The "Just Do Some Exercises" Myth

It's all about the kind of exercise and how well they're done. In essence you have two muscle systems, both work when we are moving, running, lifting weights, exerting ourselves. Only one system works when we are in one position for a period of time, sitting is a good example. This is often referred to as the postural muscle system.

Frozen Shoulder Got You Stuck? Let's Get Your Arm Back!

Frozen shoulder AKA “Adhesive Capsulitis” is awful. You can’t move it, do stuff with it, and even sleeping is difficult. Sound like you? Maybe someone you know? Here is a breakdown of the effective treatment approach our physios use - featuring our very own low intensity laser - at Avalon Laser Health!

A "Ray of Light" Improves Recovery from Neck Injury

The neck is vulnerable. This delicate cervical column bears the burden of supporting the neck through its myriad functions: it tilts, pivots, nods and carries 8% of the body's weight each day. It is no wonder that so many of the clients come to the clinic because of long-standing neck pain and headaches.

Energy Healing

To understand how it works you have to remember some basic science. If you remember, our bodies are made of cells which are comprised of molecules and electrons and protons and so on. We are essentially compressed vibrating energy formed into mass. Because we see and feel physical sensations we forget that we are electrical impulses. Every movement, every thought our whole physical body is energy.

What is in a Handshake?

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.

7 Foods To Help Speed Your Recovery Time

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.

Energy Balancing Provides Effective Release for Stress and Tension

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 Remedy for Too Much Celebrating

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.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

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.

The Bee’s Knees: Laser Therapy and Arthritis

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.

A Real Pain in the… Foot?

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.

Harnessing the Empress’ Secret: Acupuncture and Anti-Aging

True or false: Interest in combating aging has only started in the 20th of cosmetic procedures and Botox.

Reasons to Drink More Water

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.

10 Benefits of Massage Therapy

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.

Up Close and Too Personal – Avoid the Hazards of Winter

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!

What is the Laser Advantage?

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!

Homeopathy for the Runners

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.

4 Articles That Will Change the Way You Think About Massage

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!

Collaborative Laser Treatment Plan

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...

No Need to Suffer Seasonal Allergies!

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...

Answered: Your Questions About Physiotherapy

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...

Tread Carefully: The Benefits of Treadmill Desks

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...

Tracking Estelle’s Wrist Recovery: Final Update

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!...

Recovering from a Wrist Fracture: The Day the Cast Comes Off

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...

Up Close and Too Personal: Tracking Our Physiotherapist’s Recovery Process

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.

10 Healthy New Year's Resolutions to Make

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.

Homeopathy for the Holidays

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.