Physiotherapy is up and running at Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre! Our physiotherapist, Riti Treasurer PT is now accepting new patients. Book your Initial Assessment today :)
What is the Rotator Cuff?
The upper arm bone (the humerus) is connected to the shoulder by muscles and tendons. Four of these muscle-tendon groups form the rotator cuff, which controls rotation of the arm out away from the body and stabilizes the shoulder. The cuff part comes from the four tendons merging together to form a “cap” or “hood” around the head of the humerus. The head of this bone can be thought of as the ball in the ball-and-socket joint, which is your shoulder. This joint allows motion in a full circle, but this may be limited by tendinitis in the cuff.
What is Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?
Rotator cuff tendinitis is also called impingement, bursitis or biceps tendinitis. These are all different names for the same problem. They mean that there is pain and swelling of the cuff tendons and the surrounding bursa.
Symptoms of rotator cuff tendinitis include:
- pain and swelling in the front of your shoulder and side of your arm
- pain triggered by raising or lowering your arm
- a clicking sound when raising your arm
- stiffness
- pain that causes you to wake from sleep
- pain when reaching behind your back
- a loss of mobility and strength in the affected arm
How can rotator cuff tendinitis be treated?
- avoid activities that cause pain
- apply cold packs to your shoulder 3 to 4 times per day
- Shockwave Therapy
- Cold Laser Therapy
- Physical Therapy
Contact the office today to see how we can help you with Rotator Cuff Issues!
**Don't forget until November 15th 2023, Dr. MacDonald and Dr. Lodder are offering a FREE 15-minute consultation to see if Shockwave therapy is right for your injury! Mention this post when you call to book to take advantage of this offer.**
Our clinic now has a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner! We welcome Yonghao (Luke) Yu, R.Ac/R.TCMP, to our clinic. Luke also offers Acupuncture, Acu-pressure Massage, and Air Cupping.
Meet Yonghao (Luke):
Born in China, Yonghao (Luke) moved to Canada at 15 years old. Following his passion for traditional Chinese philosophies, Luke studied at the Ontario College of TCM and finally became an Acupuncturist in 2019. He later pursued further studies in herbology in TCM from 2021-22.
In Luke’s first four years of his career, he was recognized for excellent acupuncture techniques, clear therapeutic results in a variety of diseases (pain, gynecological, digestive, etc.), lifestyle recommendations, and dietary consultations based on TCM theory.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was originated in ancient China and has a history of over two thousand years.
Influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, culture, and sci
ence and technology, Chinese medicine uses the theory of Yin and Yang and the theory of Wu Xing to explain the mechanism of balancing the function of the body.
Theory of Yin and Yang
The direct meanings of yin & yang in Chinese are positive & brightness vs negative & darkness.
Chinese philosophy uses yin and yang to represent a wider range of opposite forces that are complementary & contradictory that cannot exist without each other. Together, the yin & yang make up the life energy, called “Qi”.
Qi is a type of energy that flows through the body through invisible sets of pathways called meridians. The theory of Yin & Yang is fundamental to the practice of TCM, where the most basic level of TCM treatment is to seek the balance of yin & yang in each person.
Theory of Wu Xing
The theory of Wu Xing, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) interprets the relationship and the constant movements and cycles between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the natural environment.
The chart outlines how the natural changes within the body and the environment affect your health.
Your core extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis, forming a muscular 360-degree band around the body. These 29 pairs of muscles in the lower back, abdomen, hips and pelvis stabilize the spine, keep us upright, power our arms and legs, and can even help regulate breathing and bladder function.
Signs of Weak Core Muscles
Common signs of weakness or decreased control of your core muscles can lead to dysfunction in your movement and, ultimately, affect your quality of life. Here are a few common symptoms of poor core stability:
- Poor posture
- Low back pain
- Bad Balance
- Difficulty standing for long periods
What can you do to strengthen your Core?
Some regular, simple exercises can help to add strength to your core, and help decrease pain and weakness. Walking, squats, planks, and even consciously working on better posture when you are sitting can all help.
Of course, be sure to discuss your plans with your doctor or health care practitioner before you undertake anything new to be sure you aren't doing anything that could hurt more than help!
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia).
Plantar fasciitis commonly causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As you get up and move, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after long periods of standing or when you stand up after sitting.
Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover in several months with conservative treatment, such as icing the painful area, stretching, and modifying or avoiding activities that cause pain.
If the pain doesn't subside with these activities, orthotic inserts or shockwave therapy are treatments we can offer to help resolve the pain in your feet.
Contact the clinic today to see how we can help you get moving again :)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change.
What are the signs and symptoms of OA?
- Pain or aching
- Stiffness
- Decreased range of motion (or flexibility)
- Swelling
How can we help?
Chiropractic treatment may be able to address the cause of osteoarthritis. A joint may be damaged over time because it's out of alignment, or because of the way you sit, stand, or walk. Chiropractic care can fix those issues, which may keep your arthritis from getting worse.
Contact the office today to see how we can help you!
Jumper's knee is an overuse injury (when repeated movements injure a part of the body). It happens when frequent jumping, running, and changing direction damages the patellar tendon. It's also called patellar tendonitis.
Common symptoms of jumper's knee include:
- pain below the kneecap, especially during sports, climbing stairs, and bending the knee
- a swollen knee joint
- knee stiffness
Treatment for jumper's knee includes:
- rest and take a break from sports
- ice
- taping or wearing a knee support or strap just under the patella
- sitting with the leg raised
- ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling
- massage therapy
- strengthening and stretching muscles
- shockwave therapy
Contact the clinic today to see how we can help with your sore knees:
Winter months bring many joyful activities, such as the holiday season, playing in the snow, or the cozy feeling of coming inside and enjoying a warm drink after being out in the cold all day. However, for some individuals, the winter months can bring on a feeling of sadness. Depression that arrives or worsens during the winter months may be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Which is a form of depression that is triggered by changes in daylight and weather that occur primarily in winter.
Signs and Symptoms of SAD
- Feelings of depression that happen most of the day, every day, in a seasonal pattern
- Experiencing tiredness or low energy
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Sleeping too much
- Changes in appetite/ or weight gain
- Feeling sad/ guilty/ or down on yourself
How to Support Yourself
Set yourself up in the fall
Set up a routine in the fall to help your body transition into shorter days and into winter months. Your routine could include aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, eating nutrient-dense foods, and including daily movement.
Sunshine
Daylight savings time is upon us, and our bodies are greatly impacted by a reduction of sunlight. We may feel more irritable, fatigued, lethargic, and/or reduced emotional bandwidth. Get outside as much as you can during the afternoon to take advantage of what sunlight we have. If you commute to and from work in the dark, try to take a 30-minute walk on your lunch break if possible. When you are indoors, open your blinds and get as much natural light in as you can.
A time for reflection
Winter is a time when nature is dormant and resting, signalling for us to pause and reflect. This year try to not get caught up in the bustle of the season and truly slow down and enjoy it. The cooler months are a great time to start incorporating meditation practice. Our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Katie, recommends the following meditation apps to help you get started - Insight Timer, Headspace, or Calm.
Enjoyable Activities
Plan activities to look forward to! Initiate conversations with friends, plan outings and engage in clubs or the community. Having connections in real life can make a big difference in not feeling alone. If you struggle to make real-world connections, as opposed to online connections, I recommend picking up a copy of Dr. Katie’s book Create Calm and reading chapter 21, which is all about community and putting yourself out there. Pick up a complimentary copy for a limited time in the front reception area of the clinic!
The staff at Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre hope these strategies help you transition into the winter months with ease!
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the occupational disease of the 21st century and can affect just about anyone, though office workers, computer users, musicians and assembly line workers - among others - are more prone to get it. Most common symptoms of CTS include numbness and tingling in the hand, fingers and wrist; swelling of the fingers; dry palms; or intense pain that awakens you at night. It sometimes also causes these same symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulder or neck.
Since CTS doesn’t happen to everyone who performs repetitive tasks, it makes sense to look for other contributing factors. In many people the health of the structural system may be the main problem - spinal subluxations and misalignments can be causing nerve pressure that contribute to the condition.
Take a close look at those suffering from CTS and you will find that more than the wrists (where the carpal bones are located) are being used to perform their tasks; the neck and spinal column are usually also involved. For many years clinicians, patients and researchers have reported relief from classic symptoms and an overall improvement in body function after chiropractic adjustments. Compressed nerves in the neck can block the flow of nutrients to the nerves in the arm, shoulder, wrist and related area and make them more susceptible to injury and irritation. Chiropractic adjustments help ensure that the body is free of subluxations and misalignments, removing structural stress from the nervous system.
A chiropractic adjustment may make the difference - will it make the difference for you?
As you will have heard, the Ontario Government has imposed a province wide lock down starting on December 26th, 2020.
Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre will remain open and continue to treat patients, with protocols in place that meet and exceed the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health and the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health local directives. Our treatment rooms are cleaned between every patient, PPE is worn by practitioners and staff, and the clinic as a whole is cleaned and sanitized regularly throughout the day.
In order to maintain a safe environment for our patients, practitioners and staff we would remind everyone to self-screen before attending every appointment. If you answer yes to any of the following questions the day before or day of your appointment, please call us immediately:
1. Have you travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
2. Do you have any of the following new or worsening symptoms or signs? Symptoms should not be chronic or related to other known causes or conditions: Fever or chills, Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, trouble swallowing, runny nose/stuffy nose or nasal congestion, decrease or lost of smell or taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, not feeling well, extreme tiredness, sore muscles.
3. Have you had close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19?
When you arrive at the clinic we ask that you wear a mask, sanitize your hands immediately upon entry and fill out the tablet, confirming you have completed and passed the COVID-19 screening. Our full COVID-19 in-person Best Practices for both patients and practitioners are listed on the COVID 19 banner of our website. We can stay safe if we all work together.
If our mandates change, and you have an upcoming appointment, we will contact you directly to let you know of any changes to your appointment.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and to confirm your appointments.
We look forward to seeing you and continuing to support you on your Wellness Journey.
Thank you!
The team at Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre
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What is the Rotator Cuff?
Born in China, Yonghao (Luke) moved to Canada at 15 years old. Following his passion for traditional Chinese philosophies, Luke studied at the Ontario College of TCM and finally became an Acupuncturist in 2019. He later pursued further studies in herbology in TCM from 2021-22.
The theory of Wu Xing, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) interprets the relationship and the constant movements and cycles between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the natural environment.
Your core extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis, forming a muscular 360-degree band around the body. These 29 pairs of muscles in the lower back, abdomen, hips and pelvis stabilize the spine, keep us upright, power our arms and legs, and can even help regulate breathing and bladder function.
What can you do to strengthen your Core?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia).
What is it?
What is it?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the occupational disease of the 21st century and can affect just about anyone, though office workers, computer users, musicians and assembly line workers - among others - are more prone to get it. Most common symptoms of CTS include numbness and tingling in the hand, fingers and wrist; swelling of the fingers; dry palms; or intense pain that awakens you at night. It sometimes also causes these same symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulder or neck.
