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Do I Have Bursitis or Something Else? | Bursitis Treatment Victoria

Bursitis Treatment Victoria – Bursitis is an inflammation of one of the body’s bursae (the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints). This painful condition can be caused by a mild injury, repeated use (such as prolonged kneeling on a hard surface), arthritis, or infection. Commonly affected joints are the shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip.

Bursitis is typically identified by localized pain or swelling. Bursitis occurs when the small sac (bursa) found inside joints becomes inflamed. The fluid-filled sac helps to lubricate and cushion the joint. When it is inflamed, movement can be painful. Usually bursitis occurs in larger joints such as shoulders and hips.

Without seeing your health care provider, you usually can’t tell the difference between bursitis and pain caused by a strain or arthritis.  Often just resting and elevating the joint can help.  Applying ice may help relieve pain and swelling. Once the joint is no longer painful, you can work to strengthen the muscles around the joint and prevent further flare-ups.  Symptoms of bursitis may include swelling, redness, a warm joint area, aching or stiffness in the joint that gets worse with movement.

Chiropractic  and Physiotherapy treatments can help most people with musculoskeletal disorders such as bursitis. Chiropractic treatments can include  manipulations,  or modalities such as cold lasers, ultrasound, decompression table, and  joint supplements  such as Glucosamine.

Contact Diversified Health and speak with one of our health care practitioners for more information on bursitis and what options would be right for you.

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Are You a Breakfast Person?

We have all heard for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the the day……here’s why.

It is from our brain that messages are sent to other parts of the body to get them moving and working well.  If our brain is not fed, it will act in a slow and sluggish manner, which will impact greatly on the rest of our body.

The brain requires glucose or blood sugar to provide it with energy to function, whilst the muscles of our body need glucose to activate them and get the body working physically.

If you deprive your body of food in the morning you may find that you feel tired, dizzy and irritable and that your concentration is poor. It may take you longer to carry out tasks or you just might not feel up to anything mentally strenuous let alone physical. You will probably find yourself snapping at people unintentionally, especially if under stress and you will no doubt soon start to feel pangs of hunger as the morning wears on.

If you don’t eat anything in the morning, you will most likely find yourself craving something sweet to eat, as your body cries out for a quick fix to boost energy levels. If you are at work and it is not yet time for lunch, this is one of the moments when you may find yourself reaching for something very unhealthy,  it is likely you will be so hungry that you grab twice as many unhealthy snacks to eat before lunch or even end up eating all of your packed lunch by 11.30 am.

After a good night’s sleep and with an empty stomach in the morning, it makes sense that the best way to start the day and to energize and revitalize your body, is with a filling, nutritious and healthy breakfast that will keep you satiated until the next meal.

Our body needs a healthy breakfast packed full of vitamins and nutrients whilst also providing energy and fuel for the brain.  The best types of foods to be eaten at breakfast are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains including oats, rye bread and millet together with a small amount of dried fruit and freshly squeezed juice.

These foods have a low GI (glycaemic index), which means that they release glucose steadily and slowly into the bloodstream, unlike the unhealthier breakfast choices mentioned earlier. Consequently, these foods will keep you fuller for longer, prevent unhealthy snacking, keep energy levels steady without dipping and provide you with essential vitamins and minerals that may be missed at other meals.

Many people like to consume some form of protein in the morning, as protein balances blood sugar levels and recent studies have also proven that concentration levels are enhanced if some form of protein in consumed during the breakfast meal.

Studies show that adults who eat breakfast in the morning perform better at work, have a healthier body weight and are more physically fit than those folks who skip breakfast, so get cooking!

Thanks to helpwithcooking.com

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Victoria is all about welcoming cyclists to our bike friendly city.

The Victoria International Cycling Festival is on – are you going to go out and getting fit? Better yet, are you going to invite your cyclist friends from all over the world to come to Victoria and experience our slice of cycling heaven?

From June 1-24, cyclists are gathering in Victoria BC “Canada’s fittest city” (and one of the most bike-friendly communities in North America) to enjoy dozens of different cycling event and activities as part of the Victoria International Cycling Festival.

The grand finale of the festival on June 23 and 24 will include the Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria, a world class, fully supported mass participation road cycling event. This unique Victoria bike tour offers all levels of cyclist the same cycling experience that Tour de France heroes like Ryder Hesjedal get to experience.

Over 2,000 cyclists who will participate in the Tour de Victoria along the amazing cycling roads of Greater Victoria, and offers three distances: 50km, 100km and 140km rides.

The Family Bike Festival will conclude with a bike rodeo, a Classic Bike Rally, and Theatre SKAM’s annual summer project Bike Ride; an outdoor live performance festival event that is suitable for the family, featuring a series of short shows presented along a 4km stretch of the Galloping Goose Trail. Audiences ride bikes from show to show. The Bike Ride will take place on June 16,17, 23, 24th.

But why Victoria?

Victoria is an urban oasis surrounded by ocean waters and mountainous wilderness, while the mildest weather in Canada allows riders to enjoy the trails year round – no wonder Victoria boasts more cyclists per capita than any other city.

Are you ready to improve your wellness, and explore the many cycling trails from your hotel in Victoria?

Try cycling the Seaside Touring Route – a popular 40 kilometer loop that starts from Victoria’s tiny rail station, and heads along the city’s inner harbour waterfront. The route hugs the coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, continuing past one beautiful sight after another. The route connects with the Lochside Trail at kilometre 29, and heads back towards downtown Victoria, where riders can stop for a post-ride refreshment before returning to their hotels in Victoria.

How about the famous Galloping Goose Trail, one of the most picturesque trail systems in Canada? Named after the gawky and noisy gas rail-car which carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920s, this is one of the most stunning of all the Victoria bike tours, with amazing scenery and an option for a swim at Matheson Lake.

Thinking of your fellow cycling aficionados to Victoria? We’re so health conscious here we even have a bike friendly hotel in Victoria – Accent Inns.

How many hotels have you stayed at that invite you to store your bike(s) in your room? Now that’s a bike friendly hotel. Every Accent Inns location offers “Bike Love” – a bicycle wash and tuning station, rags available for cleaning and drying your bike, an advanced mechanic tool kit available for your use, and on-site laundry rooms available when our guests come home after that muddy ride.

The Accent Inns Hotel in Victoria is all about welcoming cyclists to our bike friendly city. Hopefully they’ll take some of our cycling culture back with them to wherever they’re from, to help make the world a greener and healthier place.

– John Espley, an avid cyclist, and Business Development Manager for Accent Inns

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Cold Laser Therapy used in Health Care Victoria

Cold Laser Therapy used in Health Care Victoria, uses laser light to speed the healing process, and is finding widespread use among pain management specialists, including the practitioners at Diversified Health Clinic.

The name LASER is made from an acronym. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is a very pure form of light energy, of a single wavelength. Laser light therapy works by penetrating the laser light deeply into the skin, which stimulates cellular activity, helps to reduce inflammation, repairs tissue and accelerate the healing process.

The treatment involves the application of red and near infra-red light over injuries. Laser and LED beams of light are used to stimulate the cells in the body that repair tissue, reduce inflammation and reduce pain. It is a highly effective treatment for acute soft tissue injuries and chronic pain.

Laser therapy has been proven to be remarkably safe, painless and effective in treating both acute injuries and chronic pain of various kinds.  It has been particularly helpful in stubborn and persistent conditions, such as chronic neck and back pain, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and other joint and muscle pains. The treatments are pain free, non invasive and there is no recovery time. The treatment time is any where from 10 – 20 minutes, with the majority of patients feeling nothing during the treatment; with a small percentage of our patients feeling a slight tingling or warmth.

The benefits of laser therapy include:

  • Decreased inflammation & decreased pain
  • Increased blood flow to the injured site
  • Minimized formation of scar tissue & growth of new, healthy tissues
  • Speeds up recovery time

The results will depend on the individual’s over all health and condition and the length of time that the condition has existed.  Please contact one of our knowledgeable practitioners to find out more information on Cold Laser Therapy used in Health Care Victoria.

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Seasonal Allergies and Acupuncture | acupuncture victoria bc

allergiesSeasonal Allergies and Acupuncture | acupuncture victoria bc   –  written by Victoria Spaurel R.Ac.

Acupuncture is an effective option for allergy symptom control. Although it does not, in my experience, stop symptoms from returning the following year, it does reduce the body’s reactivity, leaving you less dependent on medications, and able to enjoy your spring and summer more.

My treatments allow patients who normally live on anti-histamines all season long the ability to go off them if acupuncture is administered regularly during the season when they are affected. Typically treatments begin with the onset of symptoms and are repeated once per week for 3 weeks, then once every two weeks for the remainder of the season.

Once symptoms are under control patients report improved energy and less reactivity to pollens. In part it is because they no longer require energy sapping anti-histamines to function, but also because their immune system is no longer using up so much energy to react.

An additional benefit to acupuncture for hay fever is that it helps prevent all the secondary infections allergy sufferers are prone to – such as colds, conjunctivitis, or chronic sinusitis.

With the allergy season getting started, consider acupuncture. It is a safe, natural and drug-free method of effectively addressing seasonal allergy symptoms.

– Victoria Spaurel is a registered Acupuncturist having graduated from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Victoria BC in 2005.  At Diversified Health, Victoria has had tremendous success assisting patients to reach their health goals. She uses a narrative approach to patient interviews, which helps build trust and enriches her understanding of the concerns at hand. Treatments are always designed and paced to suit her patients.

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What Does a Physiotherapist Do? | physiotherapy victoria bc

What Does a Physiotherapist Do? | physiotherapy victoria bc – With more moving parts than any other machine, it is not surprising that our body occasionally feels pain.  There are hundreds of different muscles and joints that can go wrong.  Physiotherapy uses a variety of techniques to help your muscles and joints work to their full potential.  Physiotherapy is used to reduce pain with various methods to make it possible for the patient to lead a normal life again.

Many people first encounter a physiotherapist following orthopedic surgery. An exercise regime and other treatments can greatly assist following a fracture or joint replacement.

People suffering with other musculoskeletal disorders, sports injuries, spinal problems, joint or muscle pain, arthritis, etc. are treated with exercises, mobilizations, manipulation, acupuncture, ultrasound and numerous other modalities.

What Does a Physiotherapist Do? | physiotherapy victoria bc

Diversified Health Clinic - Rehab Gym

Can­adian researchers at the University of Western Ontario published a landmark study showing that physiotherapy combined with medication was just as effective as arthroscopic surgery in treating osteo-­arthritic knees. “Many arthritic joints are helped by work on flexibility and strength,” says study co-author Dr. Robert Litchfield, an orthopedic surgeon and the medical director of the university’s Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic.

Particularly beneficial for sufferers of lower back pain, physiotherapy is used to release tension and so reduce pain in the back. Various tactics are used such as exercise, traction, massage, acupuncture and spinal decompression – The program of physiotherapy can ease chronic pain by strengthening the muscles that surround painful joints or muscles. Treatment will depend on the source of the problem, using a three-fold approach: weight management (to reduce stress on joints), muscle strengthening (to improve mobility and reduce recurrence) and “re-patterning” of muscles.

One fast-growing area of practice uses physiotherapy techniques to address pelvic floor disorders, which can occur when pelvic muscles tighten, shorten or fall into spasm after pregnancy, childbirth or abdominal surgery. The pelvic floor muscles help support the spine and abdominal organs.

Stretches and strengthening exercises done at home are crucial to treating most problems. It takes time and practice to stretch or retrain muscles that have a long-established bad habit.  For more information on What Does a Physiotherapist Do? | physiotherapy victoria bc – please contact our Physiotherapists and book a consultation.

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Combine a Massage Session & Acupuncture Session & Save 25%

Lauren Wills our Registered Massage Therapist and Victoria Spaurel our registered Acupuncturist are combining their services, and are offering any one who books both a 60 minute massage and a 60 minute acupuncture session between May 15th and May 19th, 25% off both services.

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Victoria has had tremendous success assisting patients to reach their health goals. She uses a narrative approach to patient interviews, which helps build trust and enriches her understanding of the concerns at hand. Treatments are always designed and paced to suit her patients. Victoria enjoys working closely with people of all ages and walks of life to create a realistic treatment plan for each individual.  An Initial visit is $85.00 + HST, a subsequent visit is $75.00 + HST

 

 

Lauren is a determined young lady, who is more than willing to put the time, effort, and energy into her treatments. She has always believed in and promoted a healthy lifestyle. Lauren believes that everyone should be graced with a balanced mind and body. She believes in living a healthy lifestyle and that balancing your mind, body and soul is important and easily over looked in our fast pace modern lifestyles.  A one hour massage is $90.00 includes HST.

To book your appointments, please call us at 250-382-0018!

 

 

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Myofacial Pain Syndrome

When we first met her, Laurie came into our office very upset, fed up and feeling like nobody could help her, and that we probably couldn’t do anything much for her either. Her doctors had told her to learn to live with the constant pain she’d been experiencing for several years, and were apparently baffled by her condition.

Laurie told us that the pain had taken over her life. She could no longer work, and her marriage was not doing well. Her relationship with her teenage daughter was also very bad. Laurie said she knew adolescent girls were tough to cope with, but she also knew that they needed some attention, and Laurie was unable to interact with her daughter on most days because of the pain. She felt guilty and inadequate because she felt like a failure, both at work and in her family life.

A friend had suggested that maybe we would pay some actual attention to her symptoms and would help her to attain some level of health and freedom from pain. She was hesitant because she’d never been to a chiropractor, and wasn’t quite sure what the experience would be like.

We took a complete medical history to determine if there were any obvious or subtler areas of trauma. The evidence suggested that Laurie was suffering from myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a painful problem characterized by “trigger points” of pain, and a limited range of motion in the affected area. It’s also a condition that is exacerbated by stress. Ironically, in her worry and fear over finding a way to pain relief, Laurie was inadvertently worsening the condition.

Laurie could point out where the pain spots of her myofascial pain syndrome were located, and we were also able to readily identify the knobby points of muscle tissue in each place where she said she was hurting so badly. A trained and experienced doctor of chiropractic can find these trigger points by touch.

We devised a Recommended Action Plan, including regular chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy and some good lifestyle changes that Laurie needed to commit to, such as some simple exercises she could perform and a regular plan of walking for at least three times each week. We cautioned Laurie not to expect an instant cure, but instead to look for steady improvement if she followed our recommendations.

After several weeks, and to her obvious amazement, Laurie said the pain was starting to disappear. It wasn’t totally gone, and she still had some bad days. But she also had some good days too, something she hadn’t seen for years! We slightly increased the time and the distance that Laurie should walk and told her to continue the simple exercises. We also reduced the care as scheduled to twice a week. Laurie agreed to this plan.

Laurie’s situation has improved markedly since then, and soon we may even go to once a month should her progress continue at this level.

In other news, Laurie’s relationship with her husband and daughter has greatly improved. For example, now that her pain has diminished so much, she’s been able to pay attention to her husband. (Much to their mutual delight!) Also, instead of fixating on her pain alone, she can listen to what troubles him as well as share the joy he experienced with a recent promotion on the job. She even went out to dinner with him and his colleagues, something she hadn’t done for years! Her daughter is still a teenager, and teenagers can be quite a handful. But now that Laurie can respond to what her daughter needs (not always giving her what she wants, of course!), her relationship with her daughter has also improved.

The pain has abated so much that Laurie has been able to return to work part-time, which has been good for her pocketbook and for her self-esteem. Laurie reports that she, her husband, and her daughter are all very grateful for the chiropractic care that she received in our office, and it has given her back her life, all because her friend referred her to our office. Who do you know that may be living needlessly in pain?

(We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay, feel better and look younger! Don’t be a stranger. Call us and we will assist you in putting together a custom maintenance plan.

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Victoria Clinic Offers Tips on How to Reduce Yoga Injuries

Our Victoria clinic offers tips on how to reduce yoga injuries, starting with how yoga offers great health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance. For most healthy people yoga is a safe form of exercise, however yoga injuries can occur.

Most yoga injuries result from overstretching and strain from repetition; certain types of poses can increase your likelihood of being injured if you have the following conditions such as severe osteoporosis, high or low blood pressure or being pregnant.

Here are some tips to help you reduce your risk of injury from yoga.

– Don’t learn yoga on your own. Work with an experienced yoga instructor to learn the proper way to perform the poses.

– There are many different types of yoga so before beginning any new type of yoga, ask about its physical demands. Talk with the instructor and others who do that type of yoga.

– Remember to learn the basics, such as proper breathing and how to maintain balance, before attempting more ambitious poses.

– As with any exercise, warming up is essential: cold muscles can increase the chance of an injury, also if you don’t understand a particular pose, ask to see it again and don’t feel embarrassed if you need to ask further questions.

– Stay hydrated during your sessions, especially if you are practicing Hot Yoga, which is done in a warm, humid room.

– Yoga should never hurt, so if you start to feel dizzy, faint or any type of pain, stop the pose immediately. You can then ask your instructor for a modified pose.

Consult with your health care provider before starting a yoga program if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing health condition. Your health care provider can help you decide what type yoga exercise is safe for you.

Our Victoria clinic offers tips on how to reduce yoga injuries, and we would like to leave you with this thought. Yoga is a perfect exercising routine in itself; it pacifies the mind, and keeps the body healthy.

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