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