Community News
Prevent Sports Injuries

Now is the time of year where many athletes will start their fall/winter sport. This often involves changing from summer to winter sports. However, did you know most injuries occur in the first and last third of a season? This is often due to the change of muscle requirements being used for each sport or sometimes the movement patterns involved. Going from baseball to hockey requires a significant increase in the use of your hip flexors – the muscles that bring your knees to your chest. This is a common “early season” injury for hockey players. Doing proper warm ups, stretches and slowly progressing the volume of skating may help in preventing these types of injuries. Also check your overall hip mobility; if you can lift your leg 10 degrees off the floor while on your stomach and at least 70 degrees when on your back, that’s a good sign that you have sufficient movement about the hip.

Jason Moniz, South Sherbrook Therapy
www.southsherbrook.com

Compassionate Beauty Care

There are many thoughts that go through a person’s mind once a cancer diagnosis is received. What does the future look like and how will my life be changed. What common activities that I do now, will be affected by treatment and subsequent side-effects? However life changes, one thing is for sure, pampering yourself will make you feel better, and finding a spa that offers compassionate and safe treatments is key. Where the treatments are non-invasive, no cutting of cuticles, no razors used on feet, just simply therapeutic services that are focused on the individual going through any cancer. Having a facial with no extractions, just comforting and customized for your skin. Using all natural products that contain no carcinogens or any toxins. Products with ingredients listings you can pronounce and recognize. The best part – not having to explain what you are going through because a compassionate esthetician already understands.

www.theunexpectedgift.ca

The Important Big Toe 

Your big toe is the most distant joint in the push off phase in walking or running. So if the big toe is compromised, the ankle, knee, hip or back have to take up the slack! It’s not that uncommon for the big toe to be stiff or arthritic (even in younger people). If you’ve less than a 70 degree bend in your big toe, then some other joint in your leg is doing more work than ideal, or is being forced into a traumatic position to take up the slack. If the big toe is painful from an injury (ever kick the bed frame while rushing to get the phone?) and you avoid transferring your weight through it, you are also putting more strain on another part of your leg. When your big toe is injured/ compromised, it needs to be rehabilitated before the rest of the leg suffers.

www.dougchristiephysiotherapy.com

Steps to Breast Health

When it comes to preventing beast cancer there is no magic solution and no guarantee. But you reduce your risk. It is never too early, nor to late to begin, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and body weight throughout your lifetime are key. Here are four steps to follow: 1. Eat a well balanced diet: Open your mind to whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Strike a healthy balance from all food groups and avoiding foods high in fat and sugar. 2. Get Active and stay that way: Go for a walk, a workout or cycle. Do what you enjoy and do it for at least 30 minutes/day, at least 5 times a week. 3. What you drink: The more alcohol you consume, the greater your risk. Limit your intake to one alcoholic drink or less per day. 4. Do not start smoking and if you do smoke, quit.

www.curves.com

Battle Aging Naturally

Did you know that fruit not only nourishes our bodies, but also our skin? Scientists have found that a novel extract derived from the stem cells of a rare apple tree cultivated for its extraordinary longevity shows tremendous ability to rejuvenate aging skin. By stimulating aging skin stem cells, this plant extract has been shown to lessen the appearance of unsightly wrinkles. Clinical trials show that this unique formulation increases the longevity of skin cells, resulting in skin that has a more youthful and radiant appearance. Another fruit based ingredient which helps defy aging is apricot kernel oil. The high Gamma Linoleic Acid content present in apricot oil enables your skin to maintain its moisture balance and helps tone and firm up your skin. Apricot kernel oil’s Vitamin A, Vitamin E and anti-inflammatory properties can be used to soothe skin conditions like eczema and slow down signs of aging.

[email protected]

Wigging It Right

Choosing the right length, colour, and style of wig can be a daunting task. Feeling comfortable, confident and natural in a wig is important. The more brands and styles you can choose from, the more natural your wig will look. To create a natural look, wigs are available in synthetic & human hair as well as a variety of colours including highlighted & rooted. Ensuring that your wig fits properly is paramount and helps alleviate skin issues that can be caused by an ill-fitting wig. In addition to fit, understanding a wig’s construction, proper trimming, thinning and shaping of your new wig is very important to make you comfortable and feeling as much like yourself as possible. Hair loss/ removal during chemotherapy can be emotional and uncomfortable, but with the right advice and products, you can regain some confidence and feel better at this time.

www.citylooks.ca 

Learning to Meditate

Meditation is the ancient practice of calming the mind, creating awareness, and finding inner peace. Meditation offers a mind-body connection and has many physical and mental benefits. It is a great way to relax, calm the mind and body, bring about awareness, and bring your life back into balance. Many people think meditation is hard, that it takes a lot of time, and that for some people it simply can’t be done. Not true! The trick is to start small, start easy, and gradually progress. Start with just 5 minutes a day. Find yourself a quiet space, lye down, listen to some relaxing music and try not to focus on any one thing, just be. If you have trouble focusing your thoughts, try focusing on your breath; be aware of each breath in and out. It will become easier with time.

www.nicholeguthrie.com

One Simple Change

Most of us strive to live a healthier lifestyle. We know that we should be eating right, exercising regularly, and still making time for family, friends, and our own needs, but this can seem like an overwhelming goal. Instead of attempting to conquer our health all at once, what if you started by setting more manageable goals? Making small changes today can lead to great health benefits down the road. You can start by lowering your stress levels by getting more sleep. When was the last time you felt you had great, quality sleep on a regular basis? Getting a good night’s sleep can greatly impact your outlook on life and, in turn, your health and wellness. Simple changes, such as getting a good night’s sleep or taking time for a relaxing hobby, are easy ways to help manage stress and improve your well-being in the long-term.

http://slefley.canada.juiceplus.com/

Breathe Pure Oxygen

The air that you’re currently breathing right now is 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. When you visit an oxygen bar, a concentrator is used to remove the nitrogen and run it through water to humidify it. The water is then used to humidify the oxygen and if desired, essential oils can be added in order to help oxygen bar user’s to benefit from aromatherapy while breathing the oxygen. Different essential oils offer different benefits, depending on what you’re looking for. Lemongrass has an uplifting scent and is an antispasmodic which is used for asthma, bronchitis, & throat infections. Vanilla has a sweet and sensual scent which can increase appetites and slows down your heart. Orange has a warm uplifting, light-hearted scent. It balances and revitalizes, fights depression and awakens creativity. Visiting an oxygen bar can help boost your mood and impact your health.

www.soulmedicineoxygenbar.yolasite.com

Teaching Good Recall

 

One of the most important lessons you can teach your dog is coming when called. A solid command could save your dogs life at some point and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Dogs who have achieved a good recall can have the freedoms allotted to them such as the dog park or off leash hiking adventures. It also gives owners confidence that if their dog ever slipped out of their collar, they will return. When first teaching the command however, owners need to have realistic expectations of their furry pooch. Getting your dog to come to you from across the park, on day one of training is unlikely not to happen and if it does its probably a fluke. Realistically you would probably be starting 2-3 feet away from your dog on day one. Getting professional help is important to creating a good solid recall.

www.grassrootscanine.com

Sports Massage Therapy

Sports Massage Therapists are specialists in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries. Whether you’re a competitive athlete, recreational athlete or even a weekend warrior, massage therapy is beneficial. When we train for a sport we push our bodies to their limits in order to get better. This causes fatigue to our muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. If we don’t allow proper recovery, damage can occur to soft tissues. If this damage isn’t taken care of, those injuries can end up sidelining you. Massage aids in the recovery process, allowing muscles to recover more quickly. It also takes care of any nagging pains that can turn into big injuries, and prepare you for your next workout. Many find that combining massage with their training programs leaves them feeling less stiff between workouts and able to move more fluidly during activity because restrictions in muscle tissue have been addressed.

www.massageathletica.com