Toronto Women's Hockey Has Become Very Popular - Here are Some Tips For Players Who Want To Avoid A Knee Ligament Injury

Toronto women’s hockey has grown in popularity over the last decade. With the rise of such stars as Tessa Bonhomme and Cassie Campbell, women across the province have taken to the ice to show that they have just as much spirit and drive as their male counterparts. With back-to-back gold medals at the Olympics, women’s hockey has risen to new heights, and with the rise of Toronto women’s hockey, so too have the incidences of knee ligament injury.

Although a knee ligament injury is a common injury for athletes in all kinds of sports, it's increasingly common for Toronto women’s hockey players. But just what is a knee ligament injury? A knee ligament injury is a tear of ligaments in your knee, the ones that connect your thighbone to your lower leg bones, and that are vital to movement.  

There are several different ligaments that can be torn in a knee ligament injury: the posterior cruciate ligament, the anterior cruciate ligament, the lateral collateral ligament, and the medial collateral ligament. It is possible to injure one or more of these ligaments at the same time, and thus, it's incredibly important to try and avoid injuries of this kind.

A knee ligament injury is considered a ‘sprain,’ and is graded on a scale of 1 to 3. A grade 1 sprain is the least severe, when a ligament is stretched slightly, but not torn.  A grade 2 sprain is when the ligament is stretched to the point that it becomes loose (often called a partial tear). The grade 3 sprain, which is the most severe, is when the ligament is completely torn, thus rendering the knee unstable.

Multiple knee ligament injuries can have devastating long-term effects, impacting blood flow to the leg, impacting the nerves, and in rare cases even leading to amputation. Since a knee ligament injury is so common, even when playing Toronto women’s hockey, avoiding one is crucial - as is seeking proper treatment from a sports injury clinic if you have suffered a knee ligament injury.

So ladies, how can you avoid a knee ligament injury when playing Toronto women’s hockey? Here are a few tips:

-          Consistent and appropriate training and conditioning year round, not just during hockey season, will keep your knee in good shape.

-          Pivoting, crouching and bending at the knee helps to keep your ligaments in use and helps to reduce stress on them.

-          Strengthening your hamstring and quadriceps muscles will work to strengthen the entire leg, the knee included.

-          Developing an exercise routine that works to increase balance and strength to your core muscles helps keep your knees flexible and your ligaments stable.

Treating a knee ligament injury can be a pain, so avoiding one is a good idea. For more information about how to avoid a knee ligament injury while playing Toronto women’s hockey (or any sport), contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.

2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Cancelled - Will Your Own Year Be Hockey Concussion Free?

The annual Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic may have been cancelled for this year, leaving many hockey fans further disappointed with this season’s showing, but that doesn’t meant that you can enjoy your own hockey season any less. Getting out there on the ice is a great way to exercise over the winter months. But will this year’s season be hockey concussion free? How can you ensure your own game keeps you hockey concussion free? 

Any hockey player or fan knows that hockey concussions are all too common, keeping players off the ice at regular intervals. A hockey concussion can be a damaging injury that can decrease an individual’s ability to do the things they normally enjoy on a regular basis, particularly participate in sports, and so if a concussion occurs it is incredibly important to seek out proper concussion management and concussion treatment.  

Those hockey players who normally participate in the NHL Winter Classic have a team on hand of highly  concussion. You, however, may not be in the same position. So what can you do to deal with a hockey concussion?  

One of the hardest parts about treating a hockey concussion is actually diagnosing it. Too many athletes suffer concussions while playing sports but brush them off as something else without seeking proper treatment. Whether your hockey concussion is mild or severe – or even if you are unsure if you have a concussion or not – it is first crucial to seek out medical advice.

A good sports injury clinic will employ a variety of tests, including:

-          A BESS test - a standardized balance test, which has been shown to correlate well with cognitive recovery after concussion

-          An IMPACT test - a computer-based cognitive test, which examines such things as memory and cognitive functioning (processing speed and reaction time).

Together these tests work to diagnose the severity of the concussion, determine the proper treatment plan, and assess and estimate recovery times.

After diagnosing a hockey concussion (or any other sports related concussion), the right sports medicine specialist will develop a plan for recovery, allowing you to return to work and play as quickly as possible while still avoiding the costly long-term effects that often accompany an untreated hockey concussion.

If you are a fan that also likes to play hockey, try to maintain the same level of injury prevention and treatment as the pro’s. If you suffer a hockey concussion, do not ignore it – this can lead to devastating future injuries, which can ultimately keep you from the rink permanently. Treat a hockey concussion seriously and seek treatment immediately.

One of Athletic Edge Sports Medicine’s own doctors, Dr. Grant Lum, MD, CCFP, Dip Sport Med, is a consultant for the NHL Players’ Association, and consistently works with sports injury specialists within the NHL. For more information about hockey concussion diagnosis and treatment, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.

How To Eat Healthy During Winterlicious 2013 in Toronto

With the New Year just around the corner, foodies in Toronto are getting excited about the prospect of Winterlicious 2013 taking place January 25^th to February 7^th. The 11^th annual Winterlicious, whose inaugural predecessor included only 35 restaurants, is set to rival last year’s participation of over 175. This appetizing festival allows you to savour foods from a plethora of menus, at price points set to fit the average budget. But wait – it is important not to let this overwhelming expanse of choice and variety kill your healthy eating routine. Follow these tips on how to eat healthy during Toronto’s Winterlicious 2013. 

Winterlicious How to Eat Healthy Tip #1: Don’t overindulge. Just because all of these restaurants are promising a fantastic meal at a great price does not mean that you should try and fit in as many as you can in the few short weeks that Winterlicious 2013 in Toronto is on. Rather than spoiling yourself by eating out every night of the week, which we all know will only lead to packed on poundage, treat yourself by picking 2 or 3 of those restaurants that really stick out, or those ones that you have been dying to try but are just too expensive for a casual Friday night out. Limit yourself to these few and your Winterlicious 2013 dining shouldn’t get out of hand.

Winterlicious How to Eat Healthy Tip #2: Don’t get faked. Beware of those meals that pretend to be healthy. Winterlicious 2013 claims to offer the best of the best from the best – but they make no claims about being the healthiest. A good way to avoid those faker meals, like salads that pretend to be health conscious while being loaded with cheeses, sauces, and a variety of other not so healthy toppings can be deceiving. Avoid those healthier meats, such as a baked chicken breast, smothered in rich sauces that pile on the calories. Keep a watchful eye on those pesky little menu offerings that may be much worse for your waistline.

Winterlicious How to Eat Healthy Tip #3: Beware of that dreaded 3^rd course. Yes, most of the restaurants included in the Winterlicious 2013 roster offer a 3-course meal – the third course almost always being dessert. Although this may seem super tempting, if you are full, do not overeat. If, when your main meal is done, you have to pop the top button on your pants, dessert is probably not the best idea. However, if you feel like dessert is just going to be that cherry on top of the sundae, choose something that is tasty yet still heart and body healthy. For example, a bowl of deep fried ice cream, though tempting, is probably not as healthy as a fruit-topped sorbet…

Winterlicious How to Eat Healthy Tip #4: Don’t go it alone. Speak with a registered dietician, one with experience helping people get in, and stay in, good physical health. Those fad diets that never work just waste time, and so getting nutrition counselling that fits your lifestyle is very important. A registered dietician can work with you to develop a smart eating plan, unique to you, to help you get healthy and stay healthy.

For more tips about how to eat healthy during Winterlicious 2013 in Toronto, or all throughout the year, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine to speak to our registered dietician, Stephanie Senior, by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca.

Figure Skating at Central Toronto Skating Club - A Great Opportunity For Winter Fitness

With winter just around the corner, it is sometimes easy to forget about the importance of keeping fit over the winter months in exchange for curling up beside the toasty warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. However, this doesn’t have to (and really shouldn’t) be the case, as figure skating represents a great opportunity for winter fitness that is both fun and great exercise for you. Figure skating at places such as the Central Toronto Skating Club offers you the chance to keep fit even when it is snowy and cold. 

Figure skating is a great way to enjoy time both indoors and outdoors during the long winter season.  Spending time with friends and family while still getting some exercise means you can still keep in shape during the winter months. Getting to the local rink, skating club, or even out on the pond represents the perfect chance to exercise.

So how can you make the most of your winter fitness by figure skating? By making sure that your body is in good shape and that you are prepared.  Stretching before heading out onto the ice is always a smart idea, and can help you stay limber and flexible and avoid figure skating injuries.

Making sure that your skates fit well is also important when taking part in this type of winter fitness. Skates, like any sporting equipment, are built to fit a certain way in order to provide the best protection, so ensuring that your skates fit you properly can help keep many injuries at bay, including ankle or foot injuries due to improper support.

Sometimes, even though to many figure skating may seem like a low impact sport, injuries do occur, and it is important to deal with them as soon as they occur. There are several different injuries that can occur when figure skating. Some of the most common include stress fractures, often to the foot or spine, shin splints, or even head injuries, such as a concussion.

So what should you do if you sustain an injury while figure skating? Ignoring what may seem like a small ache or pain can ultimately lead to even bigger problems, so attending to that injury effectively can save you a lot of hassle. Going to a sports injury clinic and working with an experienced sports injury specialist is a surefire way to get your body back to normal if you have sustained a figure skating injury.

If you are suffering from a sports injury or to learn more about preventative measures, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

Ontario Hockey Federation Announces the World Sledge Hockey Challenge

Get ready hockey fans – you were denied your sport for the last few months, but the Ontario Hockey Federation announces the World Sledge Hockey Challenge.  Canada’s World Sledge Hockey Team is gearing up to defend their gold medal in this year’s World Sledge Hockey Challenge, scheduled for December 2^nd to 8^th, in Calgary, Alberta. There, Canada’s national team will fight against other teams from around the world and make Canadians proud. 

Keeping this exciting tournament in mind, it is also important to think about your own physical health and how to stay fit while you are playing hockey. Keep these things in mind before you get out there on the ice to enjoy some fun winter activity. 

One of the most important things before even stepping out onto the ice is to make sure that you are prepared. Training properly is important no matter what sport you participate in, and with a physically demanding sport such as hockey it is especially important. Making an appointment with a sports injury specialist who can assess your physical health is a great idea. They can tell you what types of training you should partake in to keep your body in top shape before entering the rink.

Stretching before the game and cooling down afterwards are just as important. Making sure that your body is loose and limber can help you perform at your best and avoid hockey injuries.  Once the game is over, taking a cool shower to help your body recover from the physical exertion can help you keep any future aches and pains at bay. A sports injury specialist can also give you tips about how to warm up and cool down.

So what if, even after all of this, you suffer a hockey injury? We all know that they can be hard to avoid when on the ice, so it is vital to address them as soon as they arise. Ignoring a hockey injury, no matter what it is, can lead to long term effects that you will definitely want to avoid.

Hockey pains and strains can be dealt with in a number of ways, but the best way to ensure a great recovery is to attend a sports injury clinic and speak with a sports injury specialist who is able to give you the directions on how to get back into peak physical shape.  Some of their suggestions may include different recovery techniques, such as a massage, to help ease muscle strains and pains, or various treatment options to get you back to enjoying your regular activities.

Even if you do not play at the same level as those athletes participating in the World Sledge Hockey Tournament, that is no reason not to take your physical health seriously. Make sure that you are following an effective training and exercise regimen in order to avoid hockey strains and sprains. And remember to properly deal with any injuries that may occur.

For more information about how to stay fit or how to deal with hockey pains and strains, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

What is Active Release Technique?

Do you suffer from a sports related injury that negatively impacts your ability to participate in your normal tasks? Do you have osteoarthritis and are seeking a form of pain relief outside of invasive surgical procedures? Active Release Technique is an exciting form of physiotherapy that provides pain relief and injury prevention, addressing a number of different ailments at the same time.  

What is Active Release Technique?

Active Release Technique is a massage technique that targets soft tissue. It involves manual hand pressure being applied to the affected area, which works to break up the fibrous adhesions that cause pain. Active Release Technique involves the use of hundreds of different certified movements that address several different injuries or ailments. 

What does Active Release Technique treat?

Active Release Technique is often used to treat illnesses or injuries related to the build-up of scar tissue or overused muscles, as well as injured tendons, ligaments and nerves. Damage to these areas can often result in muscle weakness, decreased range of motion, or, most severely and frequently: acute or chronic pain. These areas of concern often include: 

-          Back, shoulder, or knee pain

-          Headaches

-          Plantar fasciitis

-          Carpal tunnel syndrome

-          Different types of tendonitis

-          Shin splints

-          Tennis elbow

-          Several different soft tissue or joint injuries or ailments 

Since the intended goal of Active Release Technique is to repair damaged tissues and release trapped blood vessels, it is useful for a host of different pain causing illnesses or injuries – all without surgery. 

Active ReleaseTechnique is most commonly administered by a professionally trained and registered chiropractor. This means that you are receiving treatment by someone experienced in dealing with these ailments.  A sports injury clinic chiropractor can be even more beneficial because of his/her experience working with both athletes and non-athletes alike. 

After a physical assessment analyzing your unique medical situation, a custom plan will be developed utilizing a roster of over 500 different Active Release Technique movements for a personalized and comprehensive massage. Rather than administering the same technique for every patient, Active Release Technique allows for a pain relief and recovery plan that is tailored to match your current and future needs.  

Instead of surgery, which can be incredibly painful and which often requires a lengthy recovery period, therapy through Active Release Technique allows you to stay at work, while still enjoying some exercise. These weekly sessions offer you the benefits of pain relief at the hands of a professional – while still living your life. 

Stop living with – and trying to ignore - the pain caused by a sports related injury or ailments such as osteoarthritis. To find out more about how Active Release Technique works and all of the benefits of it, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca   

Custom Orthotics and Custom Bracing - Why is a Customized Product So Important?

Do you suffer from the kind of foot, knee and back pain that keeps you from enjoying daily activities? Do you find it challenging to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle? Do you miss and want to return to these activities but feel surgery isn’t an option you can accept? Being fitted for custom orthotics or custom bracing may be the very alternative that puts you back on the field – and keeps you off of the operating table. 

Sufferers of foot, knee or back pain, whether as a result of an injury or not, can end up confused and overwhelmed when trying to decide if surgery can reduce pain or prevent further injuries. What many don’t realize is how effective custom orthotics and custom bracing can be as an alternative to surgery. 

Custom Orthotics:

Custom orthotics are inserts that slide into the inside of your shoe, and are fitted to the shape of the bottom of your foot.  Because they are supportive, and help distribute your body weight in a balanced manner, they can relieve foot, back, or knee pain.  Although pre-made orthotics can sometimes provide some pain relief, pre-made orthotics are generic. Since everyone’s foot shape is different, without a proper analysis of your needs, pre-made orthotics will often fail to provide the complete support your feet and body need.  This is why generic orthotics won’t necessarily address all of your issues.

With custom orthotics, which includes a professionally administered gait analysis, you can be sure that your medical needs are met – meaning a much more effective system of support for your entire body.

Custom orthotics are not only great because they work to provide support and reduce pain, but also because they’re custom-made to fit your foot perfectly, thus making them incredibly comfortable. Wearing them every day is easy, and helps relieve foot fatigue.

Think about it this way: you wouldn’t expect your orthodontist to achieve much with a generic mouth retainer, so how could generic foot moulds compare to the custom-correction of foot and body support.

Custom Bracing:

Custom bracing, like custom orthotics, needs to be customized rather than pre-made. Custom bracing can be really effective when dealing with an ACL injury or with osteoarthritis of the knee. Sports related injuries to the knee greatly decrease a person’s mobility and comfort, and additional injuries sustained after an initial injury only compile problems. Custom bracing works to stabilize your knee while working to distribute your weight more evenly.  A custom brace will not only strengthen and rebuild damaged muscles, but also help to support the knee to prevent further injury.

Like custom orthotics, custom bracing is made to fit your leg. It’s built for comfort and support…for YOUR body.  And you don’t need to wear it all the time. When you’re chilling on the couch you can set it aside and just kick back.  Its true value lies when you are heading out to participate in an activity which would otherwise cause you pain or put you at risk for further injury.

Dealing with foot, knee, and back pain can be a constant struggle. Having surgery to correct the pain is often not the best – or only - choice to eliminate it. Instead, custom orthotics or custom bracing can provide much needed relief simply by continued wear.  Custom orthotics or custom bracing allow you to address the source of pain and create an easy alternative for reducing or eliminating pain completely.  

To find out more about custom orthotics or custom bracing and how they can help eliminate your foot, back or knee pain, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca   

 

Hyaluronic Acid Injections Provide Much Needed Relief to Osteoarthritis Sufferers

Do you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee? Are you unsure of what osteoarthritis of the knee is? Osteoarthritis is an ailment that affects thousands of people, severely limiting their ability to participate in the sports they love, turning everyday tasks a painful ordeal. If you have osteoarthritis, you know all about how painful it is, and how difficult it is to find treatments that eliminate the pain it causes.  

Surgery, therapy and daily oral medications may seem like your only route to combating osteoarthritis – but what if these options don’t appeal to you? There is another, quite amazing alternative: Hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid injections are becoming a popular form of effective relief to osteoarthritis sufferers.

What are hyaluronic acid injections and what are the benefits of them?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the human body and central to the process of cell growth and renewal. It is a fluid found in your joints which helps to lubricate them, allowing them to move more smoothly.

Osteoarthritis sufferers find hyaluronic acid injections useful because their hyaluronic acid has become thinner, and there isn’t enough present to properly lubricate and protect joints.  By injecting hyaluronic acid right into the knee joint, the supplemental hyaluronic acid works to thicken the existing fluid, making movement easier and delivering much needed relief to osteoarthritis sufferers.

As an alternative to surgery, hyaluronic acid injections are a liberating option. Relatively pain free, hyaluronic acid injections provide fast pain relief to osteoarthritis sufferers without a lengthy recovery period.  Who wants to face surgery, book valuable weeks off work (if they’re even available) and miss taking part in regular activities when one injection treatment can ease the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis almost immediately?

Hyaluronic acid injections are also often more effective in terms of pain relief compared to oral medicines, decreasing the need for inconvenient daily doses which also cause a host of side effects. Hyaluronic acid injections can also provide pain relief for longer periods of time – keeping pain at bay for 6 months to a year.

What’s even better news is that hyaluronic acid injections are not only useful for osteoarthritis of the knee, but can also relieve pain caused by several other joint related ailments, including cartilage damage, fractures, and fibromyalgia.  In addition, they assist with ligament and wound healing. While surgery is an option for many of these illnesses, a valuable alternative to consider is the use of hyaluronic acid injections.

Hyaluronic acid injections are also very beneficial because they can be combined with other non-surgical treatments like therapy. Treatment from a sports injury or physiotherapy clinic while receiving hyaluronic acid injections, will not only rid you of joint pain and stiffness, but can rebuild muscle and  protect you from future injuries.

Don’t let joint pain and stiffness hold you back from enjoying the things you love. To find out more about hyaluronic acid injection treatments, or how they can offer relief to osteoarthritis sufferers, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca  

What is Osteopathy?

Pain that stems from a sports related injury can be close to unbearable, and knowing how to treat it feels nothing less than a daunting battle.  One highly beneficial treatment option is osteopathy, an important type of manual pain management that brings relief to the sufferer. So exactly what is osteopathy and how does it work to relieve pain?  

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a holistic, non-invasive, medical technique that focuses on a total body approach to healing.  Its gentle massaging techniques not only treat and strengthen the site of the body that is experiencing pain, but reach the entire body. An osteopath will use a variety of massaging techniques, including the stretching of the soft tissue, deep tactile pressure, and the manipulation of joints.  These applications promote enhanced circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems.

What is osteopathy beneficial for?

Osteopathy is beneficial in the following ways:

1.       Non-surgical

2.       Whole body healing

3.       Stress relief

Since osteopathy is a non-surgical procedure, it offers pain management without the worry of taking time off work or avoiding regular activities you enjoy. Repeat osteopathy sessions allow for pain relief without the need for lengthy recovery times.

Osteopathy provides whole-body healing. This is because the philosophy behind osteopathy is that if one part of the body is suffering, the rest of the body works harder to compensate for it. Like a weak link in a chain, a weakness in one part of the body means an overall weakness of the entire body.  When one body part suffers and the other parts work harder to compensate, the end result can be inflammation, stiffness, tension, and most significantly, pain. Providing care to the whole body works to balance the whole body, eliminating the need for compensation by dealing with the problematic root issues.

In addition to providing whole-body healing, what is osteopathy useful for?

Stress relief. Although osteopathy is not preventative, it is an invaluable stress reliever that promotes better mental and physical health.

So what is osteopathy and what are the benefits of osteopathic therapy?

Ridding yourself of the chronic pain caused by a sports related injury is important, and choosing osteopathy is choosing a non-surgical, worry-free and effective method of whole-body pain relief.

For more answers to the ‘what is osteopathy’ question, and for consultation about how it is beneficial to you, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca  

Chiropractic Treatment Used to Treat Chronic Pain

If you have suffered an injury to your back or neck, you’re well aware how greatly your ability to participate in daily activities is reduced. Suffering from chronic pain can severely and negatively impact your way of life, turning the simplest tasks into dramatic, if not daunting ordeals.  If you have found yourself in this situation, it’s important to remember that there are options available for dealing with back and neck related chronic pain.   One of the most common and most popular is chiropractic treatment. 

Chiropractic treatment involves the manipulation of the neuromusculoskeletal system – focusing mainly on the spine, soft tissues, and other joints – by a medically trained professional. A doctor of chiropractic therapy, or chiropractor, uses a form of hands-on therapy called “adjustment” to promote the body’s ability to heal itself without surgery or medication. This is achieved through the proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, more specifically the spine.

Many chiropractors will use various other methods as part of their chiropractic therapy procedure.  These can include the Graston Technique, a therapy that uses tools to break down scar tissue and promote healing, or the Active Release Technique, which uses different massage methods to relieve tension and loosen muscles.

What are the benefits of chiropractic therapy?

There are several, and each is extremely valuable. Firstly, many doctors recommend chiropractic therapy as an alternative to surgery to treat back pain of two categories; mild acute-lasting less that 3 months; or chronic – lasting longer than 3 months.  The latter is especially so if back surgery is the ultimate last resort (also bear in mind: the classification of back pain as acute or chronic is based on the length of time you have experienced pain, not the severity of the pain itself). Instead of dealing with the symptom (the pain), chiropractic therapy treats the cause and allows you to get back to enjoying the things you love, without having to go through the extensive recovery period that can accompany back surgery.

Chiropractic therapy can also be used to relieve tension and migraine headaches. If you suffer from these, you know how dreadfully debilitating they can be.  They can ruin both special occasions and every day routines without warning, robbing you of fulfilling the plans you make.  Some people are so plagued by migraines that they are leery of making any plans at all for fear a migraine will keep them from their commitments.  Chiropractic therapy commonly helps relieve migraines and can greatly increase your ability to enjoy each day without having to worry about the pain and inconvenience of a monster-headache!

In addition to relieving back pain, chiropractic therapy is also used to restore your body’s ability to function fully, normally and without injury.

Suffering through acute or chronic back pain can be nothing less than torture, but being aware of existing solutions can be liberating. An aligned spine and flexible muscles are crucial to the prevention of serious injuries which can grind your pursuit of the sports you love to an abrupt halt.  Chiropractic therapy is an important and viable option to consider whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, or if you just want to protect your body for pain and injury-free longevity.

To find out more about chiropractic therapy, or to make an appointment with a trained chiropractor, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

It Sounds Like it Feels Good, But Exactly What is Massage Therapy?

These days there are so many different treatments that claim to help you deal with pain that it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to determine which methods are most likely to deliver the results you want. One of the most popular, and most effective treatments for relieving pain, has a centuries-old proven track record: massage therapy. 

What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a form of massage that uses a variation of massaging techniques, including kneading, compression, and vibration of the soft tissue of the body. Massage therapy is typically done using the hands, but may also involve the elbows and forearms or even the feet.  Massage therapists work to assess any tissue damage you have sustained as the result of an injury while decreasing the pain that accompanies it. What’s more is that inflamed muscles can inhibit your ability to perform at your highest level. Massage therapy works to relieve inflammation while alleviating chronic pain. 

What is massage therapy beneficial for?

Even the two words in themselves sound relieving….massage therapy…Beyond how wonderful it can feel, there are many benefits, both mental and physical, to massage therapy.

Massage therapy’s physical benefits include:

-          The loosening of tight muscles

-          Relief for tired, aching muscles

-          Increased flexibility and motion range

-          Chronic pain that is diminished

-          Lowered heart rate and lowered blood pressure

-          A stronger immune system 

Massage therapy’s mental benefits include: 

-          A calmer nervous system

-          Stress relief

-          Improved concentration

-          Better sleep

-          Mental relaxation 

When contemplating the definition of ‘massage therapy,’ it’s important to consider what it offers and achieves.  While the short term effects of massage therapy relieve aching and tired muscles and chronic pain, the long term benefit is returning you to peak physical health to take part in the activities that bring you joy. 

Another important component to massage therapy is its role in the prevention of future injuries. Because massage therapy helps loosen muscles, lowers heart rate and reduces blood pressure, it can help you remain flexible. Flexibility of muscles helps decrease the chances of experiencing an injury when your body tense, wound up like a top, ready to snap – as bodies can – in response to the most innocuous little movement. Keeping your body healthy and avoiding injury is an important reason to consider regular, ongoing massage therapy. 

Often, individuals who have suffered a sports related injury, or any type of soft tissue injury, are confused about how to deal with the associated pain.  Alternative remedies such as massage therapy can conquer pain without evasive treatments such as surgery, meaning a greatly reduced (or non-existent) recovery period, and a greater chance of preventing injury in the future. 

So, in summary, massage therapy and how it can help you is multi-faceted.  As a form of massage, while it treats recurring pain from a sports related injury, it also helps you deal with the stress that often accompanies injury; address the issues preventing you from participating in your regular activities; and enjoy maintaining a healthy, active, pain-free lifestyle. 

For further details on what massage therapy is and the benefits it offers, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

What’s The Difference Between a Traditional Physiotherapy Clinic and a Sports Injury Clinic?

Injuries, be they sports related or not, often require some form of therapy for recovery. Many injured athletes turn to physiotherapy, leading people to wonder what the difference is between a traditional physiotherapy clinic and a sports injury clinic, and which one is better for them. 

Physiotherapy is a form of medical treatment that helps people whose injuries or illnesses have impacted their ability to perform daily activities or decreased their ability to move. Often involving a comprehensive process of assessment and treatment in an out-patient setting like an actual physiotherapy clinic, physiotherapy helps restore movement and comfort. The services offered at a traditional physiotherapy clinic help people of all ages with injuries caused by a variety of scenarios.

So how is a sports injury clinic different from a physiotherapy clinic? Although a sports injury clinic uses physiotherapy to heal, the prime difference is that it often – although not exclusively – caters specifically to the treatment and prevention of sports related injuries. Because of their successful work with athletes, sports injury clinics have gained a reputation for being well versed in treating sports related injuries, as well as other common ailments, like osteoarthritis and tendonitis (both of which frequently occur in athletes and non-athletes). 

Both traditional physiotherapy clinics and sports injury clinics each usually have a team of professionally trained medical experts.  This roster includes a physiotherapist, medical doctor, and occupational therapist, each of whom is trained to apply various methods of treatment to injuries. Each is also trained to help prevent further damage to existing injuries while preventing future injuries.  This philosophy is invaluable to maintaining an individual’s pursuit of peak performance.

A sports injury clinic should also provide access to other trained professionals like dieticians, who would create personalized plans for maintaining a healthy weight, or orthopaedists, to deal with bone and joint injuries.

So why should an athlete choose a sports injury clinic over a physiotherapy clinic? The value of a sports injury clinic is the professional medical team it offers in a sports-specific setting.  A sports injury clinic has worked so extensively with sports related injuries, it can offer the support, education, and rehabilitation required to get you back into peak physical shape.  Ultimately, that’s the goal of a sports related lifestyle!

A sports injury clinic is dedicated to training and conditioning that enhances peak performance. Physical strength training that caters to both prevention and recovery is a big part of sports injury therapy. For example, a running injury clinic (a very common and specialized kind of sports injury clinic) may use physiotherapy techniques to help a patient with a running injury, and also mix specific methods of exercise to not only help to heal the injury, but also prevent future injuries, often by tweaking the runner’s technique.  Protecting your body from injury is every bit as important – if not more important - as treating an existing injury.

For further details on the differences between a traditional physiotherapy clinic and a sports injury clinic, or to find out why a sports injury clinic may be better for you, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

What is Sonocur Shockwave Therapy and How Does it Work?

Sports related injuries can have a devastating impact on a person’s ability to participate in the things they love! An injury can not only greatly hinder your ability to perform at your best, but also to complete everyday tasks. Often after suffering an injury, surgery seems like the only option for a full recovery – but it isn’t. Alternative solutions, such as Sonocur Shockwave Therapy, can help you heal without surgery. 

What is Sonocur Shockwave therapy? A non-evasive therapy treatment, Shockwave therapy uses shockwaves to regenerate tissue and heal muscle. It also helps to break down scar tissue, a crucial element in the healing process. The use of low energy shock means that the process is relatively pain free and can be done without anesthesia. It works by sending acoustic shockwaves into the bone or soft tissue, rejuvenating the area on a cellular level. With repeated treatments, the controlled reinjuring of the site allows for a regeneration of blood vessels and bone cells.

What types of injuries does it treat? Sonocur Shockwave Therapy is used to treat many different and often chronic injuries, including plantar fasciitis, different types of tendinitis (rotator cuff, biceps, quadriceps and Achilles), tennis and golfer’s elbow, and jumper’s and runner’s knee. It also does not cause any tendon damage, which is very important for future activity.

What are the effects of Sonocur Shockwave Therapy? Researchers working with shockwave therapy have stated that it can:

-          Cause cell membranes to change, thereby inhibiting the sensation of pain

-          Cause chemical compounds to form which allows for a reduction in the feeling of pain

-          Increase blood supply in the treated area, which can help speed the healing process

Since the treatment works to regenerate new blood and bone cells, shockwave therapy heals many of the common soft tissue injuries experienced by athletes.

Shockwave therapy is not surgical, so you can return to work immediately following treatment or can continue playing the sports you enjoy. Shockwave therapy eliminates the chance of post-surgical scarring, as well as removing the risk for potential nerve damage or post-operative complications and risks. Unlike surgery, which almost always requires a period of rest and reduced activity, shockwave therapy doesn’t require this kind of downtime, so you don’t need to take time off work to recover from it. Also, because shockwave therapy is relatively pain free, you are able to enjoy the benefits of treatment without the pain and care needed for post-op recovery.

Sometimes surgery is the only option when you are dealing with a sports related, soft tissue injury. However, alternatives such as Sonocur Shockwave Therapy give you the choice to undergo treatment that not only reduces recovery time, but also gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you are receiving professional and efficient treatment without operative and post-operative risks.

To find out more about Sonocur Shockwave Therapy or to weigh the benefits of shockwave therapy against surgical options, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca   

Concussion Recovery Often Involves Professional Concussion Management

Concussions in pro-contact-sports like hockey and football have made many news headlines these past few years, and are an all too common an injury.  A body check into the boards or a tackle on the field can have devastating effects on the person being hit.  In the old days, ignoring the signs of a concussion was wrongly perceived as somehow “manning-up”.  Thank goodness times have changed.  Pro-athletes and their families have worked hard to make clear to others that suffering a concussion can have both short and long term effects.  In the new age of sports, it has become emphatically evident that seeking immediate professional concussion management is paramount to concussion recovery.  

What is a concussion? A concussion is essentially a traumatic brain injury that temporarily impacts your brain’s ability to function, delaying such things as memory, judgement, coordination or reflexes. It is often accompanied by a severe headache, altered levels of consciousness, seizures, nausea and vomiting or even a loss of consciousness.

Since a concussion is not always accompanied by a loss of consciousness, a person may be misled into complacency and fooled into not having a concussion diagnosed right away. Waiting too long to receive adequate concussion recovery care can be problematic. 

How are concussions diagnosed? Severe headaches can often be an indication, though these don’t automatically mean a concussion is the root of the problem -- just as the absence of a headache doesn’t necessarily mean a concussion isn’t present. Different tests and exams can be used to diagnose a concussion, including a check of the nervous system, tests to see if eye pupil size has significantly changed, or if thinking ability or reflexes are decreased. Other tests include an EEG, MRI, or a CT of the head.

Once a concussion has been diagnosed, there are different ways to deal with concussion recovery. Professional concussion management often involves professionally monitoring the patient, and assisting in their recovery. Testing cognitive function, brain response, and memory all assist with proper and responsible concussion recovery.

Determining when it is safe for a patient to resume participating in sports again is also an important part of professional concussion management. Returning to the field or the court too early can be extremely harmful. Since a player that has sustained a concussion is as much as six-times more likely to experience a second concussion, it is crucial to take concussion recovery very seriously. Suffering secondary concussions can lead to long-term effects ranging from prolonged dizziness to permanent brain damage, so relying on a professional concussion management team to determine the safe recovery period for each individual is an important part of concussion recovery, and can help prevent future injuries.

In addition, heading back to the field too soon could foster the development of post-concussion syndrome – which is often determined by the development of fatigue, headache, or difficulty concentrating in the weeks or even months following the initial concussion. Again, the role of a professional concussion management team is vital to helping prevent this. If a patient does develop post-concussion syndrome, the role becomes one of monitoring and helping to evaluate a safe return-to-play timeline.

Enlisting the services of a professional concussion management team ensures that your concussion recovery is not only swift, but safe. By monitoring the progress of the individual, concussion recovery helps to ensure that further injury is avoided and that working towards a concussion-free future is possible.

To find out more about concussion recovery or to learn more about the importance of working with a professional concussion management team, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca

Finally Creating an Effective Diet and Exercise Plan

With a multitude of diet and exercise plans being advertised, it’s often difficult to choose the best one for you. It’s even trickier to avoid falling into the easy trap of believing one of the many fads that exist claiming to have secrets you need to achieve your goals.  A proper diet and exercise plan is vital to a healthy and balanced lifestyle, but it’s important to focus on creating a balance between effective results and maintaining – or improving – your overall health.  

Completely cutting out carbs or eating just raw food or drastically reducing calories may help you lose some weight in the short term – but is it healthy, with realistic and long-lasting results? An effective diet and exercise plan must incorporate several different things in order to be effective AND healthy.  Merely focusing on what you eat with no consideration of exercise means that your body is only receiving partial attention to what it needs to be fully healthy. Furthermore, many fad diets require you to cut out many of the essential nutrients that help your body energize, fight disease, build muscle, etc.  An effective diet and exercise plan will help ensure that your body is receiving all of the necessary foods AND getting the exercise it needs to be healthy.

Working with a registered dietician is an excellent way to create a customized diet and exercise plan that meets your current needs and future goals. By assessing what you currently eat, how much and how you exercise and what you want to achieve, a registered dietician can customize an effective diet and exercise plan which will:

-          Develop detailed, yet easy to follow, recipes and menu-plans that not only meet your weight loss goals but are also personalized to account for your own food preferences so you can enjoy eating during weight-loss.

-          Help you better understand how to make smart food choices, as well as educating you regarding the impact making good or bad choices will have.

-          Create a realistic exercise plan that not only suits your needs, but also your lifestyle.

-          Incorporate activities that suit your preferences, encouraging you to exercise solo in your home or in a public setting, such as the gym or running clinics.

Meetings with a registered dietician provide both motivation and support, which can make or break the success of reaching healthy lifestyle goals. These individual and/or group meetings offer opportunities to address any ongoing issues, ask questions, or change things about your diet and exercise plan that don’t seem to be working.

All of these components work in harmony to ensure success and satisfaction with a diet and exercise plan that is individualized with consistent support and encouragement.

Instead of setting unrealistic goals --the pursuit of which may put your health at risk -- a diet and exercise plan established by a trained dietician lays the groundwork for meeting rewarding health and fitness goals.

If you have found setting and reaching your own goals to be frustrating and unsuccessful, it may have more to do with not knowing how to design and stick with a plan that truly meets your needs and abilities, and less to do with your ability to lose weight. Working with a registered dietician to establish a diet and exercise plan offers motivation and success for achieving a truly healthy lifestyle has offered a breakthrough for many who have struggled alone.

Why deny yourself the success you long for? To find out more about the results that could change your life when creating an effective diet and exercise plan or to meet with a registered dietician, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca