Acupuncture treatments are a safe, drug-free way to enhance the good development of your pregnancy. Acupuncture can help supplement, regulate and harmonize the processes that are taking place in the body, and supports recovery once baby arrives. Labour preparation acupuncture from week 36 on supports ripening of the cervix and the relaxing and softening of the pelvic ligaments and tendons so that the baby gate will open easily. It also strengthens the mother’s stamina to labour and ensures that internal conditions are optimal for baby to stay in good position to spin and descend.

Did you know that your unique genetic profile can determine how your body processes certain medications? For some people, they may metabolise drugs too quickly and as a result, get little or no benefit from a particular medication. For other people, they may metabolise medications too slowly and as a result, have an increased risk of side effects. Genetic testing can help to personalise your treatment by using genetic information to customise drug therapy and the doses that work best for you. As your DNA does not change, the testing only needs to be performed one time.

Q: My elderly father says he has macular degeneration but he’s still driving. Is that legal?

A: It’s certainly possible that he has plenty of functional vision; macular degeneration does not necessarily mean severe vision loss. In BC, vision requirements include good visual acuity, good peripheral vision, and no double vision. Perhaps he’ll allow you to be present during these tests – it would be re-assuring to talk to his examiner about these measurements.

No matter what style of yoga you choose to do, you will likely see improvements in many areas of your health. The benefits of yoga go far beyond improving flexibility. By practicing yoga regularly, you can: increase your flexibility, muscle tone and strength and improve your circulatory and cardio health. Practicing yoga renews your energy levels, improves athletic performance, reduces injuries, detoxifies your organs, increases your blood flow, drains your lymphatic system, improves your posture, helps with chronic pain, helps you sleep better, improves your mood and SO MUCH MORE! What’s holding you back from achieving your wellness goals?

Climate change is real, and Nature is sending us a clear message through fires, drought, floods and more intense storms because of our disconnection from Nature. World strife, urban sprawl, less education in our schools about Nature and our own disregard of our surroundings have put us on notice. Reconnecting with Nature leads to unlimited health benefits, less war, more respect for people and animals and a higher regard for our environment.

A former alpine ski racer, physiotherapist Dustin Fraser has worked in sports therapy and orthopaedics for most of his career, most notably as the Canadian Men’s Alpine Ski Team physiotherapist from 2013-2016. His clinical interests include injury prevention and the assessment and treatment of knee injuries. Dustin is certified in IMS (dry needling), professional bike fitting and functional movement screening. As an avid mountain biker, skier and outdoorsy dad, Dustin and his wife Lissa felt that the Comox Valley was the perfect home for their family and business, Fresh Tracks Physiotherapy.

Did you know there are three types of custom foot orthotics? Dynamic rehab orthotics work dynamically through gait and challenge target muscle groups in order to retrain the foot. They help achieve sustainable comfort and improve the body’s ability to balance. Accommodative orthotics are made from thermo-moldable foams and redistribute heavily pressurized plantar areas to reduce pain, which is helpful for the diabetic and high-arched arthritic foot. Rigid/semi-rigid orthotics have ¾ length stiffer thermo-plastic that supports the arches of the foot and corrects gait deficiencies. These are designed to compensate for muscle and joint dysfunctions.

The hardest part of journey is that first step. Motivating yourself to taking that evening walk or that early morning run when the bed or couch is calling is one of the most important things you can do for yourself (and for those you love). Why you ask? Well, inertia, yup inertia! Getting that body moving, taking a few more steps a day will pay off immensely. In fact, the benefits of 30 mins of walking pays off in decreasing the likelihood of getting a chronic illness by an average of 30%! So it really is small steps to sustainable change!

Golfers today place a greater emphasis on physical fitness than their predecessors. This has been reflected in sport performance but also plays a role in injury prevention. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is an organization that studies the relationship between the human body and the golf swing. A golf specific movement screen is used by TPI certified professionals to assess body movements as they relate to the golf swing. A TPI physiotherapist takes the findings from a screen to develop an individualized treatment and exercise program which will help maximize efficiency and decrease stress on the body during the swing.