Need Weight Management after Summer Splurging – A Registered Dietician is the Answer

The summer, for most people, often involves a higher level of physical activity than the winter months. Sports such as volleyball or baseball, marathons and triathlons for the avid runner, or annual cycling events are all ways to stay in shape during the summer season. However, the summer also represents a time of indulgence in the form of food festivals like Summerlicious, Taste of the Danforth, or various Ribfests taking place all across the city.  Add - for good measure - cultural festivals like Caribana, Brazilfest or the Festival of South Asia, all of which offer up delicacies from around the world, and you've got a recipe for a load of over-eating.

So if you find yourself enjoying some worthwhile summer splurging, what better way to get back in shape and eating healthy again than with a registered dietician? Proper weight management involves far more than just adding in some random vegetables on days that you're not frequenting a special food-related event.  A registered dietician can help you get things back under control.

How? Chances are pretty good that at least once in your life you’ve tried to lose weight and get fit on your own, right? We all know how tough it can be to get the ball rolling and shed unwanted pounds – but with the support and guidance of a professional registered dietician, (trained and experienced with helping people get fit and healthy), this task becomes a whole lot more manageable.

Do cookie-cutter approaches hold little appeal for you? A weight management system catered to your own individual wants, needs and goals will be far more effective than one meant to work for everyone (thereby working for very few). By taking into account your own schedule, budget, exercise and food preferences, a registered dietician will give you the tools you need for long-term success, avoiding unrealistic targets and advice.

What other kind of support is available from a registered dietician? Services such as nutrition counselling, weight management, grocery shopping tours, and nutrition education seminars are all important parts of any weight management plan. Having someone by your side every step of the way for motivation and support is a strategic way to achieve your weight-loss goal.

Don’t settle for "lettuce-only" type fad diets or unnecessarily rigorous exercise routines that make you a begrudging slave to the gym - these are impossible to stick to, and inevitably will mean nothing lost except your money. Get the right support and weight management guidance from a registered dietician and watch your goals materialize.

To find out more about weight management or to make an appointment with our registered dietician Stefanie Senior, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800.

Treat Your Sports Injury Without Surgery: Sonocur Shockwave Therapy

For many athletes suffering from a sports related injury or pain due to sports, their game can become increasingly taxing. Playing through pain in an effort to avoid dealing with it may lead to serious complications in the future, while stopping altogether may lead to both physical and mental outcomes that you want to avoid.

As with any sports related injury, seeking medical assistance is the first thing that you should do. If you suffer an injury on the field or court, ignoring it can worsen things. Attending a sports medicine clinic, by contrast, can be a stepping stone to healing. Sometimes surgery is unavoidable, but if a physician tells you that surgery is not the only option, seek out alternatives. One option might be sonocur shockwave therapy.

What is sonocur shockwave therapy and how does it work? Sonocur shockwave therapy is a non-invasive form of treatment which involves the application of acoustic shockwaves into the affected bone or soft tissue. The shockwaves stimulate a metabolic reaction in the tissue, leading to the breakdown of scarring. This controlled reinjuring of the area on a cellular level allows for a regeneration of blood vessels and bone cells, which leads to faster healing.

What types of injuries does sonocur shockwave therapy treat? There are a number of sports related injuries and aches and pains that benefit from this treatment, including:

•           Tendonitis (rotator cuff, bicep, patellar, quadriceps, Achilles)
•           Epicondylitis (tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow)
•          Iliotibial band syndrome (runner’s knee)
•           Plantar fasciitis

Additional benefits of sonocur shockwave therapy include immediate return to the game – there is no downtime following treatment to recover. Also, sonocur shockwave therapy does not cause tendon damage so your treatment will not lead to further issues in the future. There is also no permanent scarring from shockwave therapy.

If you have sports related aches and pains, or have suffered a sports related injury that makes participating challenging, it might be time to consider an alternative form of treatment such as sonocur shockwave therapy. Don’t force yourself to play through the pain or stay benched. Visit a sports injury clinic today and find out if shockwave therapy is the answer for you.

For more information about sonocur shockwave therapy contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Get Ready for A Midsummer Night’s Run with a Running Injury Clinic

On August 17^th, Toronto’s annual A Midsummer Night’s Run will kick off in support of the SickKids Foundation. This 5km/15km/30km walk/run takes place along Toronto’s East End trails and along the shores of Lake Ontario, in a non-competitive, family friendly event that raises money for a great cause. But what if you have suffered a running injury? You're obviously not going to lace up and head out, right? Wrong! Treat that running injury in time by attending a running injury clinic.

A running injury clinic takes place at a sports injury clinic and involves a complex and in-depth analysis of your injury, followed by the creation of a customized treatment plan to address all aspects of your injury.

Your first meeting with a sports medicine specialist will include a detailed assessment of your injury. This is to best determine the source of injury (crucial in determining the best route for treatment). A running shoe analysis, a treadmill running assessment and a biomedical assessment with one of our chiropractors are also an important part of this initial assessment.

A computerized gait analysis will also offer the running injury clinic essential information about how you need to be treated. A computerized gait analysis, conducted by a trained and registered podiatrist, evaluates any abnormal foot function, which allows our team to get a more advanced reading of foot motion.  The more accurate the diagnosis, the better the treatment plan, which results in a better outcome.

After your running injury clinic assessment is complete, these physicians will take all of this information and use it to create a customized treatment plan focused on your own individual case. This treatment may include custom foot orthotics or shockwave therapy. It may also involve an exercise routine which will help to strengthen the muscles in the foot, increasing flexibility and reducing pain.

Whether you plan on participating in A Midsummer Night’s Run, or just want to deal with the pain sustained from a running injury, the professionals at a sports medicine clinic’s running injury clinic can help you better understand the cause of the pain and help you deal with it. 

For more information about how a running injury clinic can better help you recover from a running injury, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Knee Osteoarthritis? Get Back on the Bike in Time for the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure

August 11^th to 17^th marks the 6^th anniversary of the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure along the shores of Lake Erie, a cycling event that covers 600kms in 7 days. This recreational cycling adventure gives participants the chance to enjoy the event at their own pace, taking time to enjoy the views, the local shopping, and the many other amenities along the bike route. Whether you are an avid cyclist or just want to get out there with some friends, enjoying a day on the trail, the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure is an amazing opportunity for all.

But what if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee? Events like this can lose their lustre and appeal when you think about the pain that can accompany them. Cycling can be very difficult for knee osteoarthritis sufferers, simply because of the repetition and pressure put on the knee. If you suffer from the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, including pain, stiffness, a decreased range of motion or muscle weakness and atrophy, then cycling can be extremely taxing.

So how can you prepare for the Great Waterfront Train Adventure, or any future cycling, if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee? Visiting a sports injury clinic which specializes in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is a superb strategy for easing pain and becoming bike-friendly again.

What types of treatment should a sports injury clinic offer to help you deal with your knee osteoarthritis?

-        Physiotherapy: By working with a trained physiotherapist who can create your individual and customized treatment plan (using both cutting edge and traditional physiotherapy techniques) you can relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis while restoring its function and increasing the knee's strength and flexibility.

-        Viscosupplementation: This method involves the injection of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint to help lubricate it and protect joint surfaces.  A naturally occurring substance in your body, this hyaluronic acid helps to decrease inflammation and relieve pain.

-        Custom Knee Bracing: By helping to stabilize the knee and redistribute weight evenly, custom knee bracing works to make cycling more comfortable. Rather than choosing a generic knee brace, having one custom made to fit your body makes it far more effective.

These treatments, whether performed individually or collectively, can offer you the relief you need while rebuilding and strengthening your knees. Don’t let knee osteoarthritis keep you from being out there enjoying your bike.

For more information about our knee osteoarthritis treatment program, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.