Dehydration is one of the most common causes of headaches; in fact this is the reason why upon waking up every morning we all should be consuming a very large glass of water. After sleeping for several hours our body is in need of rehydration.

There are many people who suffer from headaches and they try rehydrating but this does not help. Many people experience nerve irritation which is a common cause of headache pain.  Taking an over-the-counter pain relief pill is not going to solve the underlying problem, this is merely a ‘band aid’ solution. Masking the pain may be ok if you are in a rush or need to be somewhere fast but if you suffer from frequent headaches then there is obviously an underlying issue that must be addressed.

Tension headaches and migraines afflict about 4.5 million Canadians and they spend upwards of $40 million a year trying to seek relief from over-the-counter and prescription medications in a desperate attempt to seek permanent relief. For some individuals taking a pain relief pill works because their headache is stress-related and there are no underlying health ailments. For others, the pain relief pill is merely temporary.

Types of Headaches

Headaches can be the result of a wide variety of causes, such as reactions to a drug, stress, fatigue, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), nerve irritation, high blood pressure, low blood sugar or tightness in the neck muscles.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches tend to be the most common affecting almost three quarters of all headache sufferers. This type of headache feels like a dull feeling that’s achy either on one or both sides of the head; this sensation is often described as a tight feeling or a dull ache behind the eyes or around the head. Tension headaches tend to creep in and can last briefly or for several days. These headaches are often the result of bad posture or stress.

Subluxations are the most common cause of tension headaches. This occurs in the upper back and neck, especially the upper neck. When the top cervical vertebrae lose their normal position or movement, a small muscle (rectus capitis posterior minor) starts to spasm. This small muscle has a tendon which slips between the upper neck and the base of the skull and attaches to a thin pain-sensitive tissue (dura mater) that covers the brain. The brain has no feeling but the dura mater is very pain-sensitive so when that small muscle spasms and its tendon tugs at the dura mater, a headache starts.

Migraine Headaches

Those who suffer with migraines know that these are very intense and are also accompanied with nausea and (or) sensitivity to light or noise. Migraines can last from a few hours to a few days.

Migraine headaches are caused when the blood vessels in the brain constrict and then followed by a dilation of blood vessels. As a result there is decreased blood flow, which leads to visual symptoms (flashing light/aura) that many people experience. Even those who don't experience the aura can tell that an attack is imminent. When the blood vessels dilate in the head, there is a sudden increase in blood pressure. It’s this increased pressure that leads to the migraine. When the heart beats it sends a shock wave through the carotid arteries in the neck up into the brain.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are generally very short in duration yet they are excruciating and usually felt behind the eyes or on one side of the head. This type of headache generally occurs at night. Cluster headaches tend to occur one to four times per day over a period of several days. After one cluster of headaches is over, it may be months or even years, before they occur again.

Can a chiropractor relieve headaches?

Our nervous system is protected by the spine which starts with the brain and becomes the spinal cord. When the vertebrae in the neck are unable to move properly there is pressure on the nerves in that area which can cause headaches. A chiropractor can correct this by gently adjusting the vertebrae. Since most headaches are caused by subluxations a patient will usually feel relief.

How about migraines?

Even though there are differences in the types of headaches, migraines can be treated as well. In fact, chiropractic care has been used for years as an effective treatment for migraines.

When you visit Chiro-Med Rehab Centre to seek help with headaches the first appointment requires a check up. You’ll have your posture and flexibility checked, muscle tenderness, tightness, as well as other non-invasive tests to determine the root cause. After a thorough examination only then can a treatment options be discussed.

Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for over half a decade. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has qualified professionals who can help you come up with a personalized plan to ensure the long term health of your bones, skeletal system and over all well-being. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 or 905-235.2620 for more information.

Gardening is a favourite activity enjoyed by many and as the growing season progresses so does back trouble. Working outdoors in the garden or those who are landscapers often experience back issues from time-to-time and this is (usually) treated quite easily. After a long winter we all want to get outside and rush into our gardens yet after sitting idle for many months, racing out there may get many into trouble. Sometimes right away or sometimes weeks later, back troubles start to emerge that inhibit one’s ability to enjoy their garden. The main muscles used during gardening are in the back, shoulders, legs, thighs, and wrists. Lower back pain is the most common pain that gardeners tend to suffer. The lower back muscles support the whole body so it is very common to suffer from lower back pain not only after gardening, but any physical activity.

Prevention is Key

To help prevent back injury doing some simple warm up exercises is important. After all, gardening is exercise and being limbered up to spend time working outdoors can help. Not only will you feel better after gardening, chances are you’ll feel better while out in the garden.Having a brisk walk around the block is a simple exercise you can do to help limber up. A few toe touching movements (be sure knees are bent), holding your arms straight out from your shoulders and making circles, and a few twisting movements at the waist (legs secure, knees bent) all go a long way to loosening up your muscles and helping you get through your garden work with ease.

Repetitive Movements

Keep in mind that repetitive movements and improperly lifting heavy objects are the main causes of injuries. Gardening is bending over, twisting, lifting and pulling. Depending on how much work there is to do, switch up your tasks every 10-15 minutes.

Other Tips

The riskiest thing to a gardener is bending over and lifting heavy objects. Always be sure your knees are bent and when you lift something that your legs are doing the brunt of the works and your back is kept straight at all times. Never twist when picking something up.If you have a lot of raking to do (as most of us do especially in the spring and autumn months) rake with one foot in front of the other then switch ‘lead’ legs once in awhile.Take frequent rest breaks. Stop as often as you need to and evaluate how you feel. Always drink lots of water, and breathe deep while having your breaks.Above all, know your limitations and get help when needed. They say in health care that the caregiver needs to take care of themselves in order to provide the best care. This rule applies to gardening as well. When the gardener takes care of himself, the garden will flourish. Last but not least, if you are down on the ground removing weeds or planting be sure to use knee pads. Knee pads go a long way to prevent knee injuries.

The Sun

Although the sun doesn’t fit into the category of preventing back injury while gardening it needs to be mentioned because it is important to having healthy bones. We all need sunshine on our skin to help our body produce vitamin D which is critical in our overall health. To read more about this please refer to a previous article by clicking here. If you always use sunscreen then you are opening the door to possible health problems including having a poor immune system in the winter. Having 15 or 20 minutes of mid day sun will help your body produce all the vitamin D you need for awhile. However, as summer draws to a close it becomes very important to start taking supplements or making sure you are getting enough vitamin D. The best method of protection when you aren’t “getting” your daily dose of sunshine is simply by wearing a wide brimmed hat and long sleeves. However, if you must use sunscreen please research which ones are safe. Many have been proven to cause cancer because of the chemical content. You can refer to the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen report to find out what brands are safe.

When Gardening Injury Occurs

An injury can be something as minor as a tiny ache to piecing pain and anything in between. If it is a minor ache and you can still maintain good posture and this ache does not stop you from doing other activities then be sure to take it easy. Sometimes going for a walk can help or doing very light work, but none-the-less do not go overboard.
If your injury causes you to want to reach for pain killers then please seek chiropractic help. Taking a pill will temporarily alleviate pain but it won’t solve the underlying issue which is the injury. It is critical to ensure that the exact problem is taken care of properly to help prevent re-injury.

Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for over half a decade. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has qualified professionals who can help you come up with a personalized plan to ensure the stretches and exercises will benefit the health of your head, spine and extremities. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-2620 for more information.

Meidal epicondylitis, or more commonly referred to as golfer's elbow, is actually a similar injury to tennis elbow only it affects the inside area of the elbow. Golfer's elbow is commonly experienced by those who 'throw' and with golfers hence the nickname. Sometimes golfer's elbow is also referred to as flexor pronator tendinopathy; this elbow pain is seen in tennis players who use a lot of top spin on their forehand shots.

Overuse injuries of the elbow are especially common among athletes. Any sport that subjects an athlete to repetitive elbow flexion-extension or wrist motion can cause these syndromes. This is a condition that can occur at any age; interestingly it is commonly seen in patients between 40 and 60 years of age.

Sports injury statistics are staggering not just here but in many areas worldwide where people like to be physically active. In fact, if you look at statistics they’re quite alarming.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that more than 5,600 Canadians are seriously injured every year due to winter sports that require at least one night’s stay in hospital. That number does not reflect those who just go to an emergency department or to their doctor. Where complete data is available, the winter of 2010/2011 saw a staggering 45,270 people injured; that’s about 285 people per day.

In the U.S. about 3.5 million children and teenagers are injured every year with a third of those being sports-related.

Snow Shoveling and Gardening Injuries

For something as relaxing as gardening it’s really hard to think that an injury can occur. Gardening is exercise; after all there is a lot of bending, squatting, kneeling and twisting. Our bodies get an amazing workout when gardening however improper gardening techniques can cause repetitive strain injuries. It can also cause wear and tear on muscles and joints and most common, strain on the lower back due to improper posturing.

Improper snow shoveling techniques has caused thousands to have lower back problems. Here is something really interestingly from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety to keep in mind. An average shovel weighs about 1kg. Add 5kg of snow onto that shovel every (on average) 5 seconds you’ll move over 70kg of snow per minute. Do that for 15 minutes and that’s 1,000kg of snow you’re moving around. This can be very hard on the back and on the heart.

Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks. There is not a doubt that emergency departments gear up for more patients when the snow comes down and especially wet snow. For many people who shovel rarely, shovelling snow is a tremendous workout for a person who is not physically fit. This puts a massive strain on the heart and if it is really cold outside, this can boost blood pressure or interrupt blood flow to the heart creating the perfect condition for blood to form clots.

Outdoor Activity Injuries

No matter what outdoor activity we participate in sprains and strains seem to top the injury list. All these injury statistics that are conducted on a regular basis are inevitably higher because how many times have you or a person you know, sprained or strained an ankle or wrist and did not seek medical treatment? More often than not the simple act of walking has caused thousands of ankle sprains or strains. Unless the person is immobilized they generally hobble along causing further trauma and an injury that can come back to haunt them.

This is not an attempt at instilling fear about the great outdoors but a reminder that participating in some form of physical activity on a regular basis and maintaining good posture is essential in preventing an injury from happening. Children are not exempt from this advice. Schools no longer have physical education classes the way they used to be or as frequent as they once were. Playing outdoors at recess has so many restrictions nowadays that many schools have become nothing more than “Nerf” zones. More than ever getting children involved in physical activities is so important in helping to keep them fit and healthy.

Chiropractic Help

With all these injuries happening how many of these are properly healed so that the rate of injury recidivism is reduced? Injury recidivism is a serious problem that burdens the health care system and there is a need to work towards prevention in order to reduce these numbers.

Chiropractic care is a logical step in preventing injury recidivism and in supporting outdoor activities. A chiropractor uses a multitude of non-invasive treatments which include balance training, stretches, and strengthening exercises to not only help you prevent injuries but from helping an injury from reoccurring.

Eating proper foods and getting essential nutrients is part of healing and maintaining health. This is something that is totally overlooked by many physicians yet is so critical. For example, bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples and this reduces inflammation and swelling. Vitamin C and beta-carotene are essential in the creation of connective tissue.
If you are concerned about your physical well-being be sure to call Chiro-Med today!

Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for a decade. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has qualified professionals who can help you come up with a personalized plan to help you prevent injuries from occurring. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-2620 for more information.

Sources:

http://www.cihi.ca/en/types-of-care/specialized-services/trauma-and-injuries/more-than-5600-canadians-seriously-injured

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-624-x/2011001/article/11506-eng.htm#a4

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pediatrics/sports_injury_statistics_90,p02787/

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/sprains-and-strains

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

https://injepijournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40621-016-0071-x

Arthritis is a health condition in which its name is derived from Greek: “arthron”, meaning a joint, and “itis”, meaning inflammation. According to The Arthritis Society there are over one hundred types of arthritis but for simplicity sake, there are basically two categories of arthritis, inflammatory and degenerative.

Inflammatory Arthritis

Almost any joint in the body can be affected by inflammatory arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis can start in many ways but the most common is a slow onset of stiffness and joint pain (in one joint) that spreads over a period of weeks or months affecting other joints. In some cases, it can even start rapidly.

Synovium is a thin layer of tissue that lines every joint in the body and it is responsible for creating small amounts of fluid to maintain normal joint lubrication. For reasons yet to be conclusively determined when inflammatory arthritis starts the body’s immune system turns against the synovium and attacks it. The immune system then releases chemicals that cause stiffness, pain and eventually can damage or destroy the bone and cartilage.
For some individuals it doesn’t seem to take that long to become a chronic problem that has a lifelong impact. Each person is different and what pain remedies work for one may not work for another.

Rheumatoid arthritis falls under this category of arthritis and it tends to mostly affect the smaller joints in the feet and hands. Other forms of inflammatory arthritis include:

• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Systemic lupus erythematous

Those between the ages of 30 and 60 tend to get these types of arthritis the most although any one of these can start at any age. The common morning stiffness symptom can last over one hour.

Degenerative Arthritis

Some people are afflicted with degenerative arthritis and this occurs when (over time) the cartilage becomes rough and wears away. As a result of this, the bone thickens and the affected joint becomes inflamed causing pain, swelling and even a feeling of warmth.

Cartilage plays an important role in the body as it is the tough elastic-like material that covers the ends of our bones creating a protective shield. In a healthy person, the cartilage is somewhat like a shock absorber when weight is applied; it also creates a lubricated surface so that the joints can move with ease.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative arthritis and generally affects the joints at the base of the big toe, knees, hips, fingers and at the base of the thumb. A person with OA may notice some stiffness in the affected area and it tends to last up to twenty minutes. As the joints get used throughout the day the discomfort level increases.

Another form of degenerative arthritis is degenerative disc disease. This or OA starts slow in the body and within a period of months or even years, gets worse.

Treating Arthritis

After a diagnosis by a health professional, he or she can then best suggest what treatment options are best depending on several factors. If discovered in the early stages the good news is that treatment options more than likely include non-medication therapies that include:

• Turmeric
• Physiotherapy
• Chiropractic
• Education
• Exercise
• Nutrition
• Glucosamine Sulphate
• Relaxation techniques

Prescription medications or over-the-counter medications tend to only cover the symptoms and the pain as opposed to strategies to effectively minimize (and in some cases eliminate) symptoms.

Implementing a holistic approach to help manage symptoms and pain is important when looking for treatment options. There are many options to consider in order to tailor a treatment plan specific to each individual. Diet is very important when managing pain and therefore must be part of a successful treatment program. There are also other rehabilitation solutions that are available at a chiropractic and physiotherapy office such as Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill.

For some people there are several pain management techniques that can be explored in order to minimize or even eliminate the need for medications. Often medications come with a long list of side effects that can do more harm than good and this must be taken into consideration in any treatment plan.

If you suffer with any form of arthritis, Chiro-Med Rehab Clinic in Richmond Hill has a walk-in clinic conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. The health professionals at Chiro-Med can help you examine what options are available in order for you to live as pain-free as possible. Drop on by or call 905-918-0419 for more information or to book a consultation.

As we age, it is no surprise that we lose bone density and the risk for debilitating fractures increases. The good news is that there are several preventative measures to take in order to maintain strong bones and prevent the risk of fractures. The two most important factors for bone health are physical activity and nutrition.

Activity Builds Bone Strength

Bones need vibration to stay healthy. Space exploration has proven that if a healthy and fit adult spends a few months on the space station they risk losing a lifetime of bone density; this is why astronauts must use the mini gym in the space lab.

Bones need physical stress to stay strong and not surprisingly, weight bearing exercises (such as walking) and strength training (weights) are amazing for the bones. Taking only nutrients for bone health is not enough to maintain bone density.

Most people are not getting enough activity according to most experts. Some experts recommend walking 10,000 steps every day and although this may sound like an awful lot, if you purchase a pedometer you'll see it really isn't that bad. This is equivalent to walking about 4 kilometres every day.

Bone Nutrition

Our bones need four primary nutrients in order to stay strong and prevent fractures; they are calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and an ultra-trace mineral called boron. (Always keep in the back of your mind that exercise and healthy lifestyle choices always are a must as well.)

How much calcium (as well as the other vitamins and minerals) you need depends on lifestyle, gender, age and race. Seeking help from a qualified health professional is the best way to determine just how much of these you require. Many people will say they take supplements based on the RDA (recommended daily allowance). One bit of history to think about is that many years ago when the RDA was established for taking minerals and vitamins it was amounts that were small enough to just keep you from getting ill but not enough to keep you in great health.

Boron

Boron was discovered in 1910 and was considered an essential element for plant life. It wasn't until 1985 that researchers learned that boron is needed for us to enjoy good health. Boron occurs in fruits, vegetables, nuts and cider.

This ultra-trace mineral is required to build and maintain healthy bones and to maintain healthy cell membranes which are critical to life. Although research is ongoing in humans it has been discovered that a deficiency of boron in animals results in stunted growth.

Calcium

Calcium maintains integrity of the skeletal system which houses 99 percent of our body's calcium. The other 1 percent plays a role in the coagulation of the blood, healthy teeth, in the generation and transmission of nerve impulses, in the activation of some enzymes, and the release of certain hormones.

Although dairy is a large source of calcium intake many who choose dairy-free diets find that there is a lot of calcium in leafy green plants, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, beans, lentils and nuts.

In order for calcium to work in our body it needs vitamin D, magnesium and boron. For example, vitamin D helps calcium to be adequately absorbed in the intestinal tract. Magnesium is required to help deliver calcium to the bones. For those who have taken calcium supplements without adequate amounts of magnesium and vitamin D they may already have or will suffer with some health ailment. Calcium is not water soluble therefore it calcifies somewhere in the body which ultimately causes havoc (i.e., osteoporosis, kidney stones, hardening of the arteries, etc.).

Even if a person is getting the right quantities of all these nutrients there are factors that will ultimately work at depleting calcium in the body. These include: smoking, stress, antacid drugs, some pharmaceutical drugs, caffeine, and many more factors.

Not only will a deficiency of calcium cause problems, so will taking too much.

Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D)

Vitamin D is technically called cholecalciferol and there has been a lot of research into the importance if this vitamin. There is natural vitamin D (the sun) and this is referred to as D3. A synthetic vitamin D is D2 and this formed by the action of ultraviolet light on certain yeast fungi. This is what is used to fortify foods. There are limited food sources of vitamin D and they include: all edible fungi, cod liver oil, and fatty-fleshed fish.

People living in northern latitudes (Canada) only benefit from getting enough sunlight for the body to produce vitamin D from about late May to late July. This is the time of year many people slather on sunscreen (some which have proven to be toxic*) therefore are blocking what they need.

Many studies have proven that vitamin D is essential for good bone health and for good health throughout the winter months. It helps to keep the immune system strong and without it, many people tend to fall prey to colds in September and throughout the winter months.

A deficiency of this vitamin may result in diarrhea, insomnia, weak bones, nearsightedness, and nervousness. Meanwhile, too much vitamin D can cause weakness, irritability, headache, thirst, and vomiting.

Magnesium

Magnesium functions as a coenzyme in more than 300 enzymatic reactions involved in many metabolic activities. It is also critical in nerve transmissions, developing and maintaining healthy bones, is a structural component in tooth enamel, helping us to adapt to cold, and many other functions.

A high fat diet can reduce magnesium absorption as well as a high fibre diet. If a person has a vitamin E deficiency then this can reduce magnesium levels in the tissues. Alcohol and caffeine increase the loss of magnesium in the body as well as some prescription medications.

Magnesium is found in almost all natural foods (unprocessed). The richest sources are whole seeds, nuts, legumes, and green vegetables.

A deficiency can cause anemia, mental changes that include agitation, anxiety, confusion, depression, hyperactivity, irritability, restlessness and much more. Vertigo, seizures, muscle twitches, and cold hands are also signs of deficiency. Too much magnesium is rare as long as there is good kidney health. Only those with poor kidney health need to worry about getting too much magnesium.

So there is a basic run down on the nutrients we need for good bone health. For far too many years, women in particular were faithfully taking calcium supplements in an effort to avert osteoporosis. What has happened is that far too many of these women are now suffering from this debilitating ailment because they were unaware they needed these other nutrients in order for calcium to work.

Nutrients in our body is like a sports team, most of them all rely on one another to get maximum performance and when one or more are missing, undesirable results are inevitable. Remember, there are many factors that come into play for maintaining good bone health and the professionals at Chiro Med Rehab Centre can help you determine what plan you need to have in place to take care of your body.

Chiro Med Rehab Centre is located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Richmond Hill. Visit them online or call 905-918-0419.

* The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) conducts annual studies on hundreds of sunscreens. One recent study of 500 sunscreens showed that only 50 were safe.

Individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome can experience anything from tingling, to burning, or numbness in the hand and fingers, especially in the area of the thumb and first two fingers.  This is caused by the nerves getting pinched.  In some cases, strength and mobility in the affected hand can be significantly reduced as well.

If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can become a chronic condition that makes it difficult for those who need to use the affected hand; they will experience significant pain levels.  Also, if left untreated, medical conditions can occur such as bone fractures and arthritis of the wrist.

Some U.S. studies state that this ‘tennis elbow of the wrist’ is the cause for the highest number of work days lost.

Graston Technique® Treatment

There are many different treatment options available to those who have carpal tunnel syndrome however, there are a growing number of individuals who seek a natural therapy. Graston Technique® treatment has rapidly become the treatment of choice for health care practitioners and for patients.

Graston Technique^® treatment is a modification of the more traditional hands-on approach. This treatment uses specially-designed instruments that are hand held by the health care therapist. The therapist uses a specific instrument to a targeted area to introduce a controlled amount of microtrauma so that injured tissue (or in other injuries scar tissue) can experience a small amount of inflammation and this augments the healing process. Not only is this beneficial for the patient, the use of these instruments means that the therapist’s hands does not experience the level stress that he or she would without using Graston Technique^® instruments.

Graston Technique® Benefits Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Graston Technique^® has proven to help in the healing of patients with many cumulative trauma disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome. Some health professionals offer therapies such as physiotherapy and splinting, and in some cases this is effective. When a health professional uses The Graston Technique^® in combination with suggested exercises for the injured hand then recovery time is generally accelerated. When this technique is used the fully-trained therapist is able to penetrate the area deeper than a hand therefore providing better results in less time. Many carpal tunnel syndrome patients agree that this method of treatment works well and in many cases has saved carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers from having surgery.

If you suffer with carpal tunnel syndrome do not rule out this type of rehabilitation therapy. This may be just what you need to avert surgery. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill can work with you to determine what your best options are. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has a convenient location and highly qualified health professionals to help you get on the road to recovery. Visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 for more information on the Graston Technique^®.

Orthotics are shoe inserts that fit inside shoes and other footwear and are designed to support the feet as well as recreational activity such as walking, running, jogging, and much more. Custom orthotics are personalized to fit a specific person, and should always be worn once someone starts using them. They provide constant support to a foot's heel, muscles, arch, tendons and ligaments. Walking can be very enjoyable when the proper support is there.

It is common to experience mild discomfort for the first couple of weeks when starting to wear orthotics. Rest assured that this is normal, and this is caused due to the body readjusting to a new and healthier gait (walking pattern). In fact, mild discomfort is a positive indicator that your orthotics are doing their job!

Who Can Use Custom Orthotics?

Anyone from children to the elderly can wear custom orthotics. The use of orthotics is not age dependent and can benefit people of all ages. Custom orthotics help alleviate foot pain, joint pain, arthritis and various injuries. They are also used in a corrective capacity (orthopedic correction), correcting uneven leg lengths.

Some people worry that custom orthotics may reduce their muscle tone. This is not the case. Custom orthotics will actually help position your foot properly so you will be using the right muscles at the right time. This in turn will help to minimize fatigue and will allow your muscles to be used more efficiently.

How Custom Orthotics Are Made

The first step in making custom orthotics is to analyze a person's gait and feet. A person's gait is analyzed using the Footmax Metascan system. The Footmax System is a cutting-edge patient assessment tool, whereby patient data is recorded and then analyzed by proprietary diagnostic software called Metascan. This diagnostic software then generates a detailed gait report.

Once this is done our professionals analyze the data and determine the type of custom orthotics needed by the patient.

Symptoms And Treatment

Custom orthotics can help out with the following conditions and symptoms:

• Achilles Tendonitis (tendonitis of the Achilles tendon)
• Ankle Pain
• Bunions (often mistaken as enlarged bones around the big toe)
• Fallen Arches
• Flat feet (collapse of a foot's arch)
• Hammer Toes (deformity of a toe's joint, causing it to be bent)
• Headaches
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Low Back Pain
• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (also known as shin splints)
• Metatarsalgia (a painful foot condition that affects the foot's forefoot region)
• Neck Pain
• Painful Feet
• Pes Cavus (a foot with a high arch, the opposite of "flat foot")
• Plantar Fasciitis (a painful inflammation of the connective tissue on a foot's sole)

Where To Get Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics that are specifically made to your particular situation are available from Chiro-Med Rehab Centre. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has the experience and expertise needed to effectively assess and treat conditions that can be alleviated with the use of custom orthotics. Take the first step and call us today to book your appointment for custom orthotics.