Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Clinic in Richmond Hill

Kyphosis is the technical name for having a hunched back that is not remedied by naturally straightening the back. Of course we all get lazy at times and slouch to the point it appears we are hunchbacked; however, kyphosis is a condition in which an individual has an exaggerated thoracic curve and rounded shoulders. This is a condition that is on the increase.

There are causes to this condition with the two most common causes being poor posture and muscular imbalances. When caused by poor posture this condition is known as postural kyphosis. Kyphosis can affect anyone at any age except newborns.

In addition to poor posture and muscular imbalances other possible causes include:

• upper back muscle weakness
• arthritis
• bone degeneration diseases
• spine injury
• slipped discs
• spinal curvature (scoliosis)
• aging

Although much less common there are other causes that may lead to kyphosis, these include:

• tumours
• infection in the spine
• Paget’s disease
• muscular dystrophy
• birth defects

Many people live with kyphosis and rarely seek out treatment. If any individual with this condition experiences breathing difficulties, pain or fatigue then it is really important to get treatment. Pretty much all of our mobility and flexibility depends on the health of our spine. Seeking treatment to help correct kyphosis is important to help reduce the risk of complications later in life.

Postural kyphosis will more than likely cause further trouble down the road. Even if an individual experiences shallow breathing or slight, occasional pain it is imperative they seek treatment.

Treating kyphosis early by strengthening the back muscles and seeking out chiropractic adjustments will help.

Other Types of Kyphosis:

Congenital kyphosis refers to abnormal development of the spine that is inherited. This means a person is born with a defect, such as the incomplete formation of the spine. This can lead to a severe abnormal kyphosis.

Paralysis can lead to kyphosis. Causes of the paralysis can include spinal muscle atrophy or cerebral palsy. The development of kyphosis in these cases is gradual.

Degenerative kyphosis refers to the wear and tear of the lumbar (lower) spine. Over a period of time the degenerative process can cause the collapse of the intervertebral disc and weakening of the spinal ligaments. Once kyphosis begins to form it gradually gets worse.

Scheuermann's kyphosis occurs in children and the thoracic curve is usually 45 and 75 degrees.

Exercises that Can Help

Here are four exercises that can help you if done on a regular basis:

• Lay Down Y

This exercise will strengthen the extension muscles in the upper back.

How to do it: Lie face down with your head lifted off the floor. Your lower back needs to be slightly hyper-extended. Stretch your arms straight out in a Y position with your thumbs pointing up. Pull your arms back in an arc until your hands are in a ‘handcuff’ position. Slowly reverse your arms until you’re at the start. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

• Wall Sliding (wall angels)

This exercise will strengthen the scapular retractors and will provide good shoulder mobility.

How to do it: Stand with your back against a wall but take one small step forward. Hold your arms out in the shape of a W with your hands facing up. Push your hands up toward the wall until they reach a Y position. Return your arms to the W position. Repeat 5 times.

• T-Spine Rotation

Thoracic spine rotations are essential for increasing mobility in the thoracic spine region (where the kyphosis affects).

How to do it: Get on all fours making sure your arms are at full length and your hands are positioned just in front of your shoulders. Take your right arm and stretch out your arm. Slowly move your arm underneath your body (and slow twist at the waist) until your arm is as far through as possible and you are looking at the palm of your right hand. Slowly reverse. Do 3 of these then repeat with the other arm.

• Crucifix

Spending too much time in a seated position causes lower and upper back muscles to shorten which leads to poor posture. This stretch helps to undo these shortened muscles.

How to do it: Stand tall with your arms extended straight out to your sides at shoulder height. Turn your wrists so your thumbs face backwards and pull your (straight) arms up over your head. Bend your elbows until your elbow is at a 90 degree angle. Lower your left hand until it touches your shoulder. Take your right hand and place it on the left elbow. Lower your left hand as far as you can go and hold for as long as you can. Slowly release. Repeat 2 times then switch to your other arm. Do this exercise several times a day.

Chiropractic Treatment for Kyphosis

Treatment will depend on a couple of factors such as the severity and the underlying cause. For those in which the cause is poor posture the good news is that aggressive treatments are not required. What may be required includes:

• physical therapy
• correction of the spinal joint fixations
• yoga (to help build strength and range of motion)

If the cause of kyphosis is due to an infection then antibiotics may be required. If tumours are the underlying cause then surgery may be required.

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 evaluate you. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-0419 for more information.

Many of us have heard how our body needs enzymes but what exactly are enzymes and why is it our body must have enzymes?

Enzymes can be defined as being catalysts, substances that cause a chemical reaction to move faster. They are the catalysts of biochemical reactions in living organisms which includes the formation, breakdown, and the rearranging of molecules to provide organisms with the energy and materials required to live and function properly. In fact, enzymes are even more important than vitamins and minerals because without enzymes, vitamins and minerals are totally useless.

All enzymes are substances that occur naturally in all living things, including us. If it’s an animal or a plant, it has enzymes. Researchers have identified more than 3,000 different enzymes in the human body up to now; they are still examining the body as they believe they may discover more.

There is not a doubt that enzymes are absolutely critical for life process. Every activity that occurs in our body needs enzymes. This includes:

• The building of healthy tissue
• Synthesis and repair of DNA
• A strong heartbeat
• Proper digestion
• Absorption of food
• Blood coagulation
• Breathing
• Absorption of oxygen
• Breaking down fats in the blood, regulating cholesterol and triglyceride

Nothing can take place without energy and energy is produced with enzymes. The existence of every living cell in the human body depends on enzymes. Those of us whose bodies are rich in enzymes are people who function at their best and have the greatest advantages in resisting disease. In fact, enzymes are not only critical to human health, but they are also critical to plants and animals as well.

Nutrients and Enzymes:

If a person does not have all the enzymes required then their body cannot process and use the nutrients, vitamins or minerals that we also desperately need to be healthy. Enzymes are rather specific and each one promotes one type of chemical reaction. Some break down the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in our food into smaller molecules so that the digestion process runs smoother.

Like vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, enzymes work best when they are ingested from fresh sources. Taking enzyme supplements doesn’t replace a healthy diet of quality fresh produce.

Enzymes are not only ingested from the fresh vegetables and fruits we eat but our liver produces enzymes in which we cannot ingest. Having a healthy liver is essential so that it can produce the other enzymes we need.

Our body’s ability to function, to mend after injury, and to ward off disease is directly related to the strength and numbers of the enzymes in our body. Enzymes are also important to help recover from back pain, circulation problems and many other ailments.

Many people have an enzyme deficiency and are totally unaware of it.

Coenzymes:

Enzymes do not work all by themselves; they rely on other elements to complete their intended function. Some vitamins and minerals are really important for enzymes to do what they need to and these are known as coenzymes. Coenzyme Q10 is one that many are aware of and magnesium is another; in fact, magnesium is needed in over 300 enzyme reactions. Thousands of people are magnesium deficient and are totally unaware. According to Dr. Norman Shealy in Missouri, "Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency" and that, "magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient."

Ingesting vitamins, whether from eating foods or as supplements, increases the quantity of coenzymes in the body. Some vitamins helps our body produce coenzymes, such as folic acid (B9) and some of the B vitamins and other vitamins directly act as coenzymes, such as vitamin C.

Boost Your Enzymes Naturally

There are only four things you need to do to increase your enzymes naturally:

1. Eat plenty of raw, living foods
2. Decrease calorie intake
3. Properly (and slowly) chew your food
4. Avoid gum chewing

The absolute best way to bring enzymes into your body is by eating mostly raw foods in your diet (at least 75 percent). A great way to help achieve this is to eat sprouts. Sprouting is cheap and easy to do. Although all raw foods contain enzymes, some are more powerful than others and sprouts are at the top of the list.

Other enzyme-rich foods include:

• Papaya, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and grapes
• Avocado
• Raw honey
• Bee pollen
• Extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil

Our body is very intricate and everything we choose to eat and drink throughout our lifetime will determine just how healthy or unhealthy we are and will become. Be sure to make healthy food choices, eat lots of raw food, and remember, exercise is also important in order to maintain good health.

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), is a common injury that occurs in the thigh especially among those who enjoy running, hiking, cycling and those who do squats while weight-lifting. The iliotibial band is a superficial thickening of tissue on the thigh that extends from the outer pelvic area (at the tensor fascia latae muscle) and stretches down to just below the knee.

Causes Of Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial band syndrome can be caused if an individual has weak hip abductor muscles or a weak/non-firing multifidus muscle. (Although it was several years ago, the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine , July 2000, published results from an interesting study that compared 24 runners who suffered with ITBS with 30 healthy runners. They found that the injured runners had significantly weaker hip abductors than the healthy runners.)

If a person has abnormalities in their leg or feet such as an uneven leg length, high or low arches, bowlegs, or supination of the foot then they may be prone to ITBS.

In addition, if a person runs, then they too may get iliotibial band syndrome if they:

• Engage in excessive running up and/or down a hill.
• Run up and down stairs.
• Run on a banked surface.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome Symptoms

ITBS symptoms range from a somewhat stinging sensation that occurs just above the knee joint (on the outside area where the iliotibial band is located) to tissue swelling (or thickening) where the band moves over the femur. The individual may not feel pain right away during an activity but it may intensify over a period of time. ITBS is typically progressive, starting with tightness and often advancing to the point where the pain is debilitating. When the pain has progressed, it is most severe when the individual walks or runs as the heel strikes the ground. Pain radiates from the knee up the leg to the hip. Pain may also be experienced as the knee flexes, especially when walking up or down stairs.

Pain is a signal to the individual or to the runner that a problem exists. Continuing activities that cause pain is not advised – rest and ice is recommended. If pain persists then this may also be a signal that perhaps there is a biomechanical problem that may lead to further injuries.

ITBS Treatments

Stretching is an important part of a treatment program to help alleviate the pain of ITBS. In addition to stretches that are recommended by a health professional, deep tissue massage along the full length of the iliotibial band will help.

Stretching and massage must be done by a health professional that has the experience in working with ITBS patients. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has worked with many ITBS patients and they know that healing is only half of the treatment.

In addition to the healing phase, there is a very important phase, that being the strengthening of the hip and thigh muscles.  This process is best done under the supervision of a health professional who helps the patient with what specific exercises must be done in order to strengthen muscles, not re-injure them.

Physical therapy may not be enough, because if the cause of ITBS is mechanical, then the patient may require proper shoes or orthotics. Orthotic shoe inserts can help to correct imbalances.

As with any injury, following the direction of your health professional is important in order to facilitate healing, recovery and rebuilding. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill has a convenient location and highly qualified health professionals to help you get back to activities you once enjoyed. Call 905-918-0419 for more information.

Healthy aging happens only through a healthy lifestyle. Many people are on a quest through life trying to discover the latest lotions, supplement pills, and other methods to thwart off life’s aging process. Make no mistake, we all are going to age, there is no fighting it; however, there is a way to ensure you age well and stay relatively healthy. It’s somewhat simple; you just need to take good care of yourself.

Health Canada defines healthy aging as “a lifelong process of optimizing opportunities for improving and preserving health and physical, social and mental wellness, independence, quality of life and enhancing successful life-course transitions” (Health Canada, 2002). This definition, although lengthy, is vague; however this is something that cannot be adequately defined in one or two sentences.

The importance of a proactive and preventative approach to our health in unequivocal. Being proactive can begin at pretty much any age but the earlier in life you take care of your body, mind and soul, the easier healthy aging will be. Far too many young adults feel they are invincible (and let’s face it even us more mature individuals still feel that way at times). Our food choices, how we choose to dress outdoors, our career choices, and our lifestyle choices all add up in a way that can add or take away years from us.

Prevention By Building Your Immune System

Preventing illness, disease and injury tops the list when we think about how to age healthy. There is continuous debate on vaccinations and yet nowhere in this debate is the immune system mentioned. It is mission critical to do everything in our power to build and maintain a great immune system. Avoiding sugars, high fructose corn syrup, and other additives that have detrimental effects on us is really important. Sugar can suppress the immune system and impair your defenses against infectious disease. It can also upset how minerals are absorbed into our system causing deficiencies; and sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. Sugar can cause tooth decay, periodontal disease and premature aging.

If you think switching to aspartame or any other synthetically-produced sweetener is better, please do your research on these. Many studies show these can be equally as bad or worse for our health.
Avoiding (or limiting) lifestyle choices that can have detrimental effects on your body is essential. These include smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, illegal drug use and abusing pharmaceutical drugs. Abusing pharmaceutical drugs has become a huge problem in society, one that some studies seem to indicate is worse than illegal drugs and alcohol combined.

A great immune system includes lots of vegetables (especially cruciferous choices), drinking lots of water daily, drinking healthy tea choices, limiting coffee, fresh air, maintaining a healthy pH balanced body, and making sure your body gets all the vitamins, minerals, fats, protein, and other nutrients it needs.

Your immune system also benefits when you get adequate sleep. Too many of us are running on empty because we’re not getting proper sleep and there is not a doubt that healthy aging includes sleeping at regular times.
The Internet has some amazing resources out there on how to boost your immune system but it also can be quite overwhelming. Getting help from a professional may be your best choice.

Exercise

Yes, we have heard this one at least a thousand times; exercising is mission critical to maintaining good health. There is an old saying, “use it or lose it” and this is applicable to our body. If you do not exercise on a regular basis then over time your muscles will become weak and flabby; your heart and lungs will develop some struggles to the point walking up a flight of stairs becomes a challenge; and your joints will become stiff and more susceptible to injury.

Exercising helps us to age healthy. Our bodies are meant to move, and sadly far too many of us are not nearly as active as we should be. Getting regular exercise helps reduce the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. With increased blood flow comes better looking skin and it slows the aging process.

Optimizing Mental Health

Sadly, there are so many individuals who have suffered a horrific event in their life that has caused them severe emotional harm. Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as keeping your body healthy. Our minds are very powerful and they make or break how we handle various situations throughout the day. Anyone who has unresolved issues will struggle in interactions with others and it will interfere with healthy aging. It is really important to resolve pain and move forward. Letting go of the small stuff is just as important too.

Keeping your brain healthy by doing ‘exercises’ is really important to healthy aging. There is not a doubt that reading, doing crossword puzzles, learning something new on a regular basis all helps to maintain memory ability and happiness. Oh sure you can drink all the rosemary or gingko biloba teas you want to help improve memory but, like our muscles and joints, you need to use the brain or you may lose it.

Love Life

Negativity brings us down; always try to find the positive even in a bad situation. This is not easy but we really need to fill each day with positivity and love. Any negative emotions will drain us and age us. Have healthy relationships with others and get involved in activities that give meaning and excitement to your life. Visit friends, volunteer and surround yourself with people who make you feel happy and you’ll notice a difference in how you look and feel.

Laugh – lots! Laughing releases all those feel good endorphins and makes you look and feel fabulous.

Re-prioritize things in your life so that you can go to sleep at night feeling at peace with yourself. This is easier said than done, but the more at peace with life you are, the healthier you’ll age.

Regular Check Ups

Eating a very healthy diet is critical to not just your overall health but to the health of your teeth as well. We are very complex and having healthy teeth and eyesight is also critical in order to age healthy. Having regular eye and dental check ups are just as important as a seeing your doctor for a regular examination.

Last but not least by any means, having regular check ups with your chiropractor is something to seriously consider in your plan for healthy aging. Many people never think of a chiropractor until a problem arises yet there are many things that a chiropractor can do to help you prevent unhealthy aging.

To find out how a chiropractic check up can help you on your journey to healthy aging give Chiro-Med Rehab Centre a call.

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 spine. 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.

Chiropractic manipulation is sometimes also referred to as chiropractic adjustment. This is a specialized procedure that applies manipulation to the vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or are not functioning as it should.
The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) assists members of the CCO in maintaining standards of care that must be adhered to before a chiropractor performs a chiropractic manipulation.

The College ensures that any chiropractor who wants to perform a manipulation (or adjustment) must be thoroughly trained and have practice in order to provide this health care service with competence and skill. Here is a brief overview of what this specialized training includes:

• Learning the principles of chiropractic manipulation, biomechanics, radiology, neuro-physiology and applied anatomy
• Patient examination and diagnosis
• Various treatment techniques

The CCO states, “Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is an authorized Act requiring a high degree of skill.” The College has outlined specific elements to maintain a high level of skill among their members. This includes:

• Knowing indications and contraindications to application of a chiropractic adjustment or manipulation.
• Patient's health, proper assessment of the patient, the treatment goal and prognosis.
• Ongoing education in order to be current with knowledge and skills to enable safe and effective treatment.

Chiropractic manipulation is a procedure that must be thoroughly discussed with a patient; and the patient must provide written consent.

The Cracking Sound

When a patient receives chiropractic manipulation as part of their treatment he or she can expect to hear the cracking sounds. Many people think the sound is intriguing, others find it odd.

Between each joint in the spine there is fluid. When cavitation occurs the patient hears cracking sounds. This is gas being released from the fluid. This is the same sound that can be heard when opening a can of pop or popping the cork off a bottle of champagne. The same thing is happening to the pop or the champagne - gas is being released from within the fluid.

Not all chiropractic manipulations create this sound, so judging the effectiveness of this treatment cannot be based on sound. The goal is to restore mobility to the restricted joint, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing the underlying tissues and nervous system to heal.

For those who receive this treatment in the neck area, the cracking sound will seem much louder as it is because it is closer to the ears.

Health Benefits Of Chiropractic Manipulation

Chiropractic manipulation improves the nutrient supply throughout the body. Cartilage and other structures have no blood supply and manipulation reduces pressure on the nerves.

The nervous system is the control centre of the human body. Nerves and nerve bundles are soft tissue and when under physical pressure they do not function well. It has been shown that a bulging disc, inflammation, or a fragment of disc floating around can negatively interfere with nerve conduction. Chiropractic manipulation can create relief of this pressure though gentle movement of the joint.

Joint Fixation

The joints in our body are meant to move without effort.  The friction of our joints is believed to be eight times more slippery than ice sliding on ice.  If an injury occurs, or as we age the surfaces of the joints tend to become rough which increases the friction and the effort needed to move them.  Some joints may become so damaged that they get to the point that they lose mobility. Joints need free movement to transport nutrients and fluids in and out of the area around the joints in order to stay healthy.  This does not happen in a fixated joint.  The lack of joint movement can cause degeneration of the joints and the discs leaving an individual in a lot of pain.

Members of The College of Chiropractors of Ontario are fully trained to perform chiropractic manipulations. Their skill and expertise have helped countless patients regain independence from pain.

Dr. Sanjari is the Clinic Director of Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has a walk-in clinic conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. For more information on chiropractic manipulations, or any other chiropractic concern, please call 905-918-0419.

Many people associate massage therapy with relaxation and the loosening of tired, sore muscles, but they may not realize just how beneficial massage therapy is to the rest of the body.  Richmond Hill massage therapy can provide you with the relaxation you need, while helping your body to heal itself in a variety of ways.

Massage therapy benefits more than just the muscles.  It also stimulates the lymphatic system, which plays an integral role in detoxification and prevention of disease.  Massage helps drain the lymphatic system, releasing harmful toxins so that the body can eliminate them before they can do harm.  Massage therapy can also break down scar tissue that may be interfering with blood circulation, restoring proper blood flow to areas that have suffered injury.  Circulation throughout the body will improve as a result of massage therapy, which means that all of the organs, particularly the brain will receive more oxygen to improve function.  Toxins can accumulate in the body’s tissues as a result of stress and overexertion, and massage is the best way to eliminate them.  Richmond Hill massage therapy specialists can assess your needs and target specific problem areas, providing relief in those particular areas, or simply give your entire body a soothing deep tissue massage, leaving you feeling energized and refreshed.

Massage of the hands and feet stimulates pressure points that affect all of the body’s organs and systems, improving function for overall good health.  Richmond Hill massage therapy is a very effective treatment for headaches and other tension-related complaints.  It can provide relief for arthritis and bursitis sufferers and can even relieve constipation.  Massage can also help with aches and pains associated with pregnancy, sports injuries and pain associated with fibromyalgia, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.  Why not pamper yourself with Richmond Hill massage therapy today?

Many of us have heard the term shin splints but are unsure as to what it really means. Often, the term shin splints is used to describe pain that is experienced at the front of the lower leg; yet the pain originates from inside of the shin bone located at the front of the leg. Individuals who enjoy running, whether professionally or for leisure, tend to experience the pain of shin splints sooner or later more so than other people.

Causes Of Shin Splints

Shin splints are an overuse injury that is also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, or MTSS. Many athletes who experience shins splints tend to describe an exercise history that includes rapid increases in intensity or duration of impact activities. The most common cause of shin splints is actually repeated trauma to the muscles or bones.

Other causes of shin splints include:

• Overuse of the legs, resulting in irritated, swollen muscles.
• Muscle imbalance that can result from an injury.
• Stress fractures of bones in the lower leg.
• The condition called ''flat feet", where the arches of the feet have collapsed (upon impact with) the ground there is a major stretching of muscles and tendons).
• Abnormal tightness of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles.

Symptoms Of Shin Splints

The following are symptoms of shin splints:

• Pain around the shinbone (tibia), just below the knee.
• This pain is often 10 to 15 cm in length.
• Shin splints are often experienced early on during a workout. It commonly decreases well into the session, only to be felt more intensely at the end and after the workout.
• The discomfort is often characterized as a dull, aching sort of pain.
• With extreme cases the swollen muscles can result in irritation of the feet, leading to weakness and even numbness.

Treatment Of Shin Splints

One thing to keep in mind with shin splints is that it is very important to be in the care of a qualified health professional to ensure proper healing. There are two main types of treatment: complete rest and relative rest. Complete rest is completely resting the affected leg so that your body can heal itself, without any physical activities. While effective, this option may not be palatable to some people (e.g. athletes in training). As a result some therapies involve both rest and light physical activities.

The following are treatments commonly used to treat shin splints:

• Rest of the affected leg.
• Icing of the affected shin to reduce any swelling and pain.
• Use of custom orthotics to correct for any gait irregularities.
• Wrapping a tensor bandage around the affected area.
• Gentle stretching of the calf and front leg (tibialis) muscles.
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen or aspirin) to reduce swelling and pain. Note that these anti-inflammatory medications can have serious side affects, and should only be prescribed by a doctor.
• Very occasionally surgery may be required to address an issue that constantly results in shin splints.

Shin splints can result in discomfort and in severe cases debilitating pain, disrupting your routine and enjoyment of life.

Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has the necessary knowledge and expertise to help you recover from shin splints. Our professionals can recommend the type of treatment needed and effectively implement that treatment, getting you back on to your normal routines as fast as possible!

Connective tissue injuries or dysfunctions are now diagnosed and treated with an innovative approach known as the Graston Technique^®.

Ligaments, tendons and muscle are all part of the connective tissue and when an injury occurs mobility can become restricted and scarring can occur which results in loss of flexibility, pain, loss of motion and tenderness. Interestingly it is somewhat common to have one area of the body feel restrictions and yet the pain and dysfunction in actuality is in another area. This is referred to as the kinetic chain.

The human body can repair itself in time but the muscles, ligaments or tendons are then scarred therefore leaving that area of the body not as flexible or strong as healthy tissue. Over time there is a build-up of fibrous scar tissue subjecting the damaged area to microtrauma; and overuse of that specific area can lead to pain because the replacement tissue simply does not have the strength.

What Is The Graston Technique®?

This innovative technique consists of stainless-steel instruments specifically-designed to locate and treat areas that exhibit inflammation or soft-tissue fibrosis. This simple procedure allows a health professional to accurately detect where scar tissue is so that treatment is targeted to that area(s).

The Graston Technique^® uses handheld instruments that are convex and concave-shaped. Using very specific methods, the heath care practitioner rubs these along the patient. This helps to break down scar tissue thereby promoting a healing environment.

Graston Technique® Treatment

Graston Technique^® treatment protocols vary from patient-to-patient. They may include the use of ice, heat and rehabilitation to restore s patient’s pre-injury activity level.
Stretching and strengthening are at the top of the list on the path to healing however there a form of muscle re-education that is required. The goal is to have as few treatments as possible that provide a patient with maximum results.

The health care practitioner will develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. In order for the patient to achieve maximum results he or she must adhere to the plan otherwise treatment may drag on longer than required.

The good news is that most patients receiving this therapy report improved mobility and a significant reduction in pain within the first two treatments. There may be some discomfort during the initial treatment but it lessens with subsequent treatments. In addition, there may be some mild to moderate bruising as the old scar tissue breaks down; this is perfectly normal. While an individual is in treatment, it is imperative that healthy meals (and snacks) are consumed that are high in proper nutrients as these too are required in the healing process. Also, drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water is needed to aid in the healing.

The Graston Technique^® has been proven to be helpful in managing many musculoskeletal disorders. A partial list includes:

• De Quervain’s Disease
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• Patellar Tendinosis
• Epicondylitis
• Neck pain
• Post-Surgical Treatment

Depending on an individual’s medical condition this technique may not be suitable. A health professional is the best person to consult with to see if this is a recommended form of treatment.

If you think that this rehabilitation therapy may be for you then 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 eliminating or managing your pain. Visit www.chiro-med.ca or call 905-918-0419 for more information on the Graston Technique^®.