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Finding the right Health or Medical Clinics Victoria BC

Finding the right Health or Medical Clinics Victoria BC means you need to choose a clinic that is best suited for your needs.  You have a responsibility and right to check therapists, physicians, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and any practitioner out very carefully before going to their office.

Health & Medical Clinics Victoria BC

Health & Medical Clinics Victoria BC

Here is a list of questions to get you started.

  • Make sure to pick a clinic that is convenient to your schedule, including access to parking.
  • Is the clinic staff friendly and helpful and are they good about returning calls?
  • How easy is it to reach the practitioner?
  • Will the clinic make exceptions for emergencies, and will they take walk in appointments?
  • Can the clinic take care of your needs in a timely manner?

You should feel comfortable with your practitioner and the office staff.  Also think about how you are treated once you are in the treatment room.

  • Is the practitioner present and really listen to you?
  • Is the practitioner asking questions and do they have the information and knowledge to help you?
  • Does the practitioner invite you to be involved in your care?
  • Do you usually feel better and more hopeful after each session?

Diversified Health Clinic is leading the way in aesthetically functional design, combined with cutting edge technology for a non-clinical, compassionate experience for practitioners, patients, visitors and staff; so finding the right Health or Medical Clinics Victoria BC has never been easier.

Please call 250-382-0018 to book a tour of the clinic or to book an appointment.

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More golf play, means more swings, and more injuries!

Are you ready for some spring golf?  Time to dust off your golf clubs, clean out your golf bag, and tee it up!  As most golf injuries are due to overuse, proper warmup is essential for peak performance.

Here are some of the most common golfing injuries:

Low Back Pain

The rotational stresses of the back swing can place a tremendous amount of pressure or strain on the spine, discs and muscles of the lower back.  Because the swing is one direction, overtime  this can lead to more serious problems of sciatica (pain down the leg) , disc  injuries, and degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis.

Regular chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression,and  myofascial release  are all treatments that work well to stabilize the lower back and maintain a healthy spine and allow pain free range of motion.

Golfer’s Elbow

This injury also known as medial epicondylitis  occurs when there is inflammation of the tendons on the inside of your elbow.  Repetitive motion leads to pain and point  tenderness at the elbow, and pain when striking the ball.  Strengthening and stretching the forearm muscles, and slowing down your swing can help take some of the strain away.  Try squeezing a tennis ball, or doing simple wrist curls and reverse wrist curls with a small hand weight.  Shockwave and myofascial release are treatments that are fast and effective in helping heal up the tissues in that area.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a common injury in the elbow as well as the shoulder.  The bursa is a fluid filled sac that acts as a cushion between the bone and skin.  With overuse, it can become inflamed and swell, making range of motion very painful. RICE, rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation is a common the treatment for bursitis, as well as lase r and ultrasound to decrease the inflammation.  Many people get bursitis and tendonitis mixed up and are unsure of the diagnosis.  Dr. Crowle can evaluate the area and effective come up with a treatment plan for you.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

The shoulder is often affected in golf.  People often experience pain when the arm is lifted away and overhead.  Overtime  tendonitis at the shoulder can make regular golfing very difficult.  Some people with chronic shoulder issues develop Frozen Shoulder, where their range of motion is very painful and they are not able to lift their arm in the full range of motion above their head.  Frozen shoulder is a long process and can take up to a year to regain full range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments, Shockwave and moyofascial release are all affective  in relieving pain, and helping you to continue golfing as you are healing .

Other Repetitive Injuries

Many golfers experience knee  pain due to the twisting of the swing, and the sideways force at the knee.  Meniscus injuries, as well as osteoarthritis over time can cause problems  in the knees.

Carpal Tunnel  is inflammation of the nerves and soft tissue of the wrist and  Dequervain’s tendonitis of the base of the the thumb are also prominent injuries in golf.

Tips on how to prevent these types of injuries:

Get to the course early. You need enough time to take care of your business in the golf shop, use the restroom, change your shoes, etc.  Remember, your warmup routine sets the tempo for the day, so move slowly and relax.

Begin warming up on the putting green. Putting is 40-percent of golf and the putting stroke is the slowest and smoothest of all strokes in golf, and then spend the next 10 minutes hitting chips around the green with a tee as a target.

Begin your full swing warmup with stretching. Stretching can improve your range of motion and light calisthenics such as jogging or jumping jacks will help get the body prepared.  Use your club to stretch your arms, shoulders and spine side to side and twisting.

Keep hydrated (water) on the course, and don’t ignore the early warning signs of pain and tenderness in these areas of your body.  Overtime they can get worse and become chronic issues, and lead to arthritis and degeneration.  Remember if you fail to warm up properly you are setting yourself up to fail when you play.

Having regular chiropractic adjustments and assessing the spine and extremities for weakness and imbalances can keep golfers injury free and back in the game.

Guest Article

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Natural Health Practitioner Encourages a Diet For Change

Natural health practitioner encourages a diet for change and a transition diet is helpful when a person has regularly eaten meat, sugar, salt, white flour products, and very few grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, sprouts, seeds or nuts. In other words, a transition diet helps with the change from an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet. If a person has regularly eaten natural food, a cleansing program is much easier to follow.

Changing eating habits is very hard to do, and few people are willing to undergo this change until they are forced to in order to save their lives. How much easier it would be if a change took place before serious illness. Meat, chocolate and caffeine drinks are stimulants. Sugar also creates a stimulant feeling but is often followed by low blood sugar, which can lead to depression.

In order to re-balance the body the cells need to be cleansed of food residue that has collected through the years

Changing our diet after years of bad habits and unhealthy eating is very difficult. We like the food we are used to eating, and many of them are “comfort foods”. It is hard to change, but it can be done. Any change in your diet needs to be undertaken gradually, eliminating one food at a time. Start by eliminating red meat and salt from the diet. This will begin the cleansing process. Any time a food that has been eaten regularly is given up, the body will began to cleanse. As foods are eliminated from the diet, our taste for those foods will diminish. At the same time, as a more natural food diet is eaten regularly, those nutritious foods will become very satisfying. When salt is given up, the taste buds will change and natural food will be enjoyed more. Adding more brown rice and whole grain will help the transition when eliminating red meat.

Suggested Transition Diet Menu

Before breakfast you can use supplements that are needed for whatever condition you have. If you have candida, take acidophilus first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) and use appropriate nutrients, foods and herbs that go along with candida. If you have hypoglycemia, eat the appropriate diet, along with supplements and herbs to strengthen the body and overcome this condition.

Breakfast, first thing in the morning, should consist of fruits such as cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, grapes, pears, apricots, apples or citrus fruit. After an hour you can eat a hot cereal, millet or a brown rice dish or a protein drink. Fresh fruit juices or vegetable juices can also be used, and they should always be diluted with half pure water.

Lunch should consist of salads using sprouts of all kinds, grain soups, steamed and raw vegetables. Use brown rice and millet dishes. You can also drink fresh tomato-vegetable juices.

Dinner should be lighter than breakfast and lunch. You can drink fresh vegetables juices, steamed vegetables, baked potatoes, brown rice and millet dishes along with fresh salads.

Our natural health practitioner encourages a diet for change, but there are more changes you can incorporate into your daily life that will promote better overall health, such as exercise and getting enough rest. Our health care practitioners at Diversified Health are always available to discuss any health questions you may have.

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Have you ever sat in a medical clinic, and felt nervous, sleepy, or depressed?

Have you ever sat in a medical clinic, and felt nervous, sleepy, or just plain depressed? Drab colours, no plants, and stagnant air that can make a setting feel dead.

Diversified Health Clinic

Recently I had the opportunity to step into the inviting space at Diversified Health Clinic. What caught my eye? Well, I had seen their website about a week prior to my visit, and was curious about the unique curved wooden “ceiling-wall” structure which graces the reception area. I was given a tour of the office, and was impressed with the fact that the entire clinic is built with eco-friendly materials. There’s even a wall portion comprised entirely of plants!

As a mental health therapist, I am acutely aware of the mind-body connection. In my own office I have added cheery colours, living plants, shells, and soft lighting. Comfortable seating and nurturing art complete the picture. It’s hard to imagine a client being able to relax and share their feelings in a sterile, cold environment. Similarly, a person needs to be able to feel comfortable when receiving any kind of physical treatment – whether it’s massage, chiropractic treatments, physiotherapy, or acupuncture.

Besides creating a welcoming environment – what else can a practitioner do to reduce a client’s anxiety or trepidation about seeking help? I encourage my clients to do some simple meditation exercises. These can be as short as 10 minutes, and often involve a focus on the breath. Brain science is just beginning to catch up with what Tibetan monks have known for eleven centuries. The latest scans of the brain indicate that meditation helps aid communication between the amygdala (which alerts us to perceived danger) and the prefrontal cortex (which thinks it over and decides what to do). When that communication is enhanced, we are able to calm ourselves, and are much better able to handle stress of any kind. In addition, the ability to self-soothe is considered by many marriage counsellors to be one of the best indicators of a successful relationship.

Today I listened to Sharon Begley, Wall Street Journal science writer, describe how we are coming to a new understanding of our capability for change – real and lasting change to “deep-seated emotional, cognitive and behavioral problems.” There is also hope for people affected by stroke, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and age-related changes. We are living in exciting times indeed!

Caron Smith is a counsellor in Victoria, B.C. She provides services to individuals and couples.  She can be reached through her website Smith Counselling or by phone at 250-885-1610.

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Headache Free is Possible says a Natural Health Practitioner

Headache Free is Possible says Natural Health Practitioner

Headache Free is Possible

Headaches are common, but they are not normal;and being headache free is possible says a natural health practitioner. By finding the cause of your pain, chiropractic care can give you relief to a discomfort that disrupts your life and often makes everyday tasks unbearable.

Headaches are one of the most common problems/symptoms that affect us. Headaches are also one of the most common symptoms, and there are numerous types of headaches such as tension headaches, migraines, trauma headaches, sinus headaches and rebound headaches.

Other common problems that induce headaches are infections, hangovers, stress, fatigue, physical or emotional trauma, problems in the pelvis and lower back, and a malfunction in the upper spinal bones in the neck, affecting nerves, muscles, and blood supply to the head.

On the surface, headaches seem to come in a variety of forms – throbbing, pounding or stabbing. Chiropractors believe that most headaches are ultimately caused by the overloading of the nervous system.
There are an estimated 4.5 million Canadians spending upwards of $60 million dollars each year on over-the-counter and prescription drugs in search for a permanent solution. For some, the medication works, but for many the relief obtained is temporary.

Powerful drugs numb the nervous system so pain doesn’t register and can cause adverse effects on the stomach, liver, and kidneys. For anyone who is suffering from a recurring headache (two-three times a week), it is important to recognize it as a serious sign that something is wrong. Please remember that the headache itself is not the problem.  However, the headache is only a symptom that something else is wrong. Although a quick relief to the pain, drugs provide only a short-term solution to the problem, while the underlying cause of the headache goes untreated.

Migraines are one of the more painful types of headaches often leaving the sufferer in bed and immobilized. Most migraine sufferers notice symptoms that occur before the headache actually hits, such as visual changes, dizziness, muscle contraction, nausea, etc. The headache itself may last from a few minutes to a few days.

The chiropractic approach to headaches, especially repetitive headaches, is to take a good case history. Through the case history and consultation, we can determine patterns and possible causes. A good example would be a headache that begins several weeks after a car accident. In the majority of cases, we will find the problem is usually caused by one or more subluxations (misalignment of the vertebrae) in the neck.

It is important to know that a headache is a warning sign. The more frequent or more severe the headache, the greater the warning sign. Headaches that happen every day or almost every day are called rebound headaches and are caused by overuse of pain medicines. Often these headaches begin early in the morning. The location and severity of the headache may change from day to day. People who have rebound headaches also may have nausea, anxiety, irritability, depression, or problems sleeping.

Talk to your healthcare practitioner about the medicines you are taking. You can safely stop taking some medicines right away; while other kinds of medicine have to be slowly reduced. After stopping the headache medicine, it is common for your headaches to get worse for a few days. Do not make changes to your drug plan without talking with your doctor.

Make an appointment for an assessment or to discuss any questions you might have regarding headaches; and imagine what your life would be like pain free! Remember that headache free is possible says a natural health practitioner.

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Find Relief from a Herniated Disc with A Natural Health Practitioner

Your spine is made up of vertebrae and discs, so finding relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner like a doctor of chiropractic makes sense.

Discs are like soft cushions between the bones of the spine. The discs in the spine let you move your backbone. When a disc between two bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone, it’s called a herniated disc. The word “herniate” means to bulge or to stick out. Sometimes this is called a ruptured or slipped disc.

Herniated discs are most common in the lower part of your spine referred to as the lumbar spine. This area is constantly absorbing the impact of bearing the weight of the upper body.  The lower back is also critically involved in our body’s movements throughout the day, as we twist the torso in rotating side to side and as we hinge the back in flexion and extension while bending or lifting.

When part of a disc presses on a nerve, it can cause pain in the back and the legs. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disc is pressing on the nerve. In most people with herniated discs, the pain spreads over the buttocks and radiates down the back of one thigh and into the calf. This is known as sciatica because the pain travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. Some people have pain in both legs, and will feel numb or a tingly sensation in their the legs or feet.

Here are some signs  If you have a herniated disc, the painful symptoms will worsen:

  • After you have been sitting down or standing for a long period.
  • During the night.
  • When you laugh, cough or sneeze
  • When you walk, even a short distance.
  • When you bend over backward

Becoming active as soon as possible is very important. Exercises can be helpful. The goal of exercise is to make your back and stomach muscles stronger. This will ease the pressure on your disc and make you hurt less. Ask your practitioner about safe exercises for your back, and start these exercises after your back is a little stronger and doesn’t hurt as much.

Spinal Decompression is painless, drug-free, non-surgical  treatment. Research has shown it to be highly effective for disc-related injuries, and most people who have a herniated disc are better in about 4 – 6 weeks.

Spinal Decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs. The bones of the spine are slowly and methodically separated and as the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum “sucks” the gelatinous center of the disc back inside thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation. Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This “sucking” vacuum also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

What can you do to help prevent a herniated disc?

Good posture (standing up straight, sitting straight, lifting with your back straight) can help your back by reducing the pressure on your discs.

  1. Bend your knees and hips when you lift something, and keep your back straight.
  2. Hold an object close to your body when you carry it.
  3. If you stand for a long time, put one foot on a small stool or box for a while.
  4. If you sit for a long time, put your feet on a small stool so your knees are higher than your hips.
  5. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes.
  6. Don’t sleep on your stomach.

If you or someone you know needs to find relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner, please call Diversified Health Clinic for a free consultation.

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Take Victoria Health Services Health Quiz & Myths

In our constant quest to live better and longer, we seek out and devour every morsel of “how-to-health” news we find; so take Victoria health services health quiz & myths and see how you score!

The challenge lies in finding the truth that is obscured by all the hype. Health myths are as stubborn as ink stains.Passed down from generation to generation or created anew, they refuse to fade away. We have heard them so often we just assume they are true; “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, “The sun causes skin cancer”, “Milk does a body good”, “Fish is good for you.”

Test your myth knowledge and take our quiz. Then read on to find out about some of the biggest myths in health news today. (True or False)

  1. Sea salt healthier than ordinary salt.
  2. Bananas are more fattening than other fruit.
  3. Butter has more calories than margarine.
  4. Brown bread has more fiber than white bread.

Answers to this quiz:

  1. False, but sea salt contains more iodine.
  2. False, the amount of fat in bananas is the same as other fruits, but they do contain high levels of carbohydrates, so watch the size.
  3. False, butter has the same caloric value.
  4. It depends on whether it is “brown” dyed flour or wholemeal. Only whole meal has more fiber.

MYTH: Sun Causes Skin Cancer

Experts and the media bombard us about the “dangers” of the sun. This is one of the most inaccurate myths that persist among most Canadians. Unfortunately, this myth has contributed to massive amounts of disease and illness in our society because we all need sunshine to stay healthy.

Can sun exposure cause skin cancer? Absolutely. An appropriate amount of sunlight exposure actually prevents cancer. Exposure to the sun provides many benefits such as promoting the formation of vitamin D. There is also strong evidence that sunlight is protective against MS, colon, ovarian and breast cancers.

This does not mean that we should all go out and get as much sun as we want. You must exercise caution. At the beginning of the season, go out gradually and limit your exposure to as little as 10 minutes a day. Progressively increase your time in the sun so that in a few weeks, you will be able to have normal sun exposure with little risk of skin cancer.

REMEMBER TO NEVER BURN, THAT IS THE KEY.

Using sunscreen is not a good way to limit your sun exposure, in fact, sunscreen is the LAST thing you want to put on your body, and sunscreen does not stop skin cancer. Sunscreen is a toxic chemical that can cause problems in your system and increase your risk of disease. A far more logical solution is to consume large quantities of whole vegetables will increase antioxidant levels in the body and will provide protection against any sun-induced radiation damage.

MYTH: Whole Grains are good for you

Whole grains are better for you than refined grains, but whole grains are still not something that most people should be eating. Well over 50% of Canadians could benefit from severely limiting or eliminating all grains – refined, whole, sprouted or otherwise—from their diets. This is because nearly everyone with high insulin levels benefit from avoiding grains. People in this group would be anyone who has or is overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

The majority of Canadians fall into one or more of these categories. If you are purchasing whole grain, organic sprouted bread, more than likely, it will not move your body toward health, and you are better off avoiding it. The higher your insulin levels and the more prominent your signs of insulin overload are, the more ambitious your grain elimination should be.

Grains to eliminate include: Wheat, Rice, Spelt, Rye, Barley, Oats, Corn, Potatoes (they digest more like a grain)

Highly processed grain products are not recommended, and these would include:  Breads, Chips, Pasta, Pretzels, Cereal, Waffles, Bagels, Pancakes, French Fries, Baked goods

The next time you have a health question,  you can re-take Victoria health services health quiz & myths, or you can ask the practitioners at DHC, for a trusted source for health information that you can rely on.

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Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc

Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc:

One of the most important stretches someone with low back pain should be performing is a hamstring stretch. When your hamstrings are tight, it places a lot of stress on your low back, leading to more pain and can actually cause more difficulty for you.

One of the easiest ways to stretch your hamstrings is lying on your back. Bring your knee toward your chest and straighten out your knee and try to push the bottom of your foot up towards the ceiling.  The opposite leg should be flat. Then rest and repeat. This should be performed on each side.

Hamstring Stretches Help with Low Back Pain | physiotherapy victoria bc

Hamstring Stretches

An important aspect to stretching is being able to relax while you are doing the stretch. If you find yourself not relaxing with the first stretch, try lying near a door jam or a corner of a wall and place one leg up on the wall. Now drop the opposite leg and you’ll begin feeling the stretch in the back of the hamstring. This is a nice stretch because you can just relax and it doesn’t place as much stress on your low back. The object here is to work your leg up the wall to try to get a ninety degree angle. Now once your leg is straight, simply return to the starting position, slide your hips closer to the wall, and repeat.

Since hamstring stretching should be done at least twice a day, finding other positions which you can incorporate into your daily routine is crucial.  Another way to stretch your hamstring is sitting on the edge of a chair, so it can be done almost anywhere. Sitting in the chair, scoot to the edge of the chair, straighten out one leg, and point your toes toward the ceiling. Simply sit up straight and roll your pelvis forward and you should feel a light stretch up the back of your leg. This can be held for approximately thirty seconds, and repeated on each side.

 For more information on stretches that you can do at home or at the office please contact our physiotherapists.

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Natural Health Practitioner Promotes Reflexology

Natural health practitioner promotes reflexology as part of an overall health program.  Reflexology is the study of activating reflex points, usually on the feet, which correlate with specific anatomy parts that are divided into ten zones through the body.

The techniques used in reflexology are designed to dissipate energy blocks, stimulate the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems, and release toxins. Reflexology encourages and supports the body’s self-healing capabilities, and is used in conjunction with chiropractic, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy programs of health care.

Natural Health Practitioner Promotes Reflexology
Reflexology

The underlying theory behind reflexology is that there are “reflex” areas on the feet that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body. For example:

  • the tips of the toes reflect the head
  • the heart and chest are around the ball of the foot
  • the liver, pancreas and kidney are in the arch of the foot
  • low back and intestines are towards the heel

Practitioners believe that applying pressure to these reflex areas can promote health in the corresponding organs through energetic pathways.  A scientific explanation is that the pressure may send signals that balance the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce pain and stress.

Reflexology stimulates ‘qi’ energy flow (the body’s natural energy) thereby increasing vital energy throughout the body.  It works with the peripheral nervous system, by improving internal communication between organs, glands and muscles in the body.

Natural health practitioner promotes reflexology as a part of a wellness plan that  follows the holistic principle – balance the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components of the individual.

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Natural Health Practitioner take a Close Look at Foot Problems

Natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems, understanding that your feet are extremely complex structures composed of bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and skin. They are subject to injuries and other problems caused by normal wear and tear over years of supporting the weight of your body and making it possible for you to stand, walk, run, and jump.

Natural Health Practitioner take a close look at foot problems

foot problems

The most obvious symptoms of foot trouble are pain and dysfunction (limping, favouring one foot or the other, inability to put weight on the heel and/or the toes). Foot pain can be due to ill-fitting, inappropriate footwear that cramps your feet; injuries that keep you from walking well–or at all; sprains which stretch or tear ligaments (which connect bones); and stress fractures of bones in the foot, which can result from accidents or overuse while engaging in sports or exercise.

Foot pain and dysfunction can force you to modify the way you walk and create significant stresses on the joints of your legs, hips, and lower spine. Your feet are the foundation for your entire body. Even without pain, foot dysfunction can cause your whole body to overcompensate, which can lead to back pain and even headaches.

No one is safe from foot problems. But older or overweight individuals, diabetics, and serious athletes and dancers who place great demands on their feet are more prone to foot disorders than others are.

The most common foot problem though is Pronation. In pronation, some of the bones of the foot drop to a less stable position because the foot arches are too weak to keep them in proper alignment. The arches themselves may be unnaturally stretched (“flat feet”), and stress on the entire foot increases. Another common problem — one that is often found along with pronation — is Plantar Fascitis, a stress irritation of the sheath of elastic tissues running nearly the entire length of the foot. If not treated, either condition can lead to progressive development of foot malfunction and discomfort.

Chiropractic or Physiotherapy can help overcome foot and ankle problems that can cause additional problems in other structures such as in your legs, hips, lower back. The practitioners can use a number of diagnostic tests, including examining your gait and foot function.  They will palpate (move) your feet and ankles to measure any limitations in range of motion to identify what is causing your pain, and determine the best course of treatment.

In addition, your practitioner may use Shockwave therapy, and recommend orthotics to help solve some of your foot problems. When your natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems they can provide lifestyle counseling that can help reduce biological and psychological stresses on your body as a whole.

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