Aches and Pains From a Sports Injury? Try Physiotherapy

No matter the sport or your level of play, every time you head out on the track, field, or court, you run the risk of sustaining a sports injury. These injuries can range from minor to severe, but no matter the severity, ignoring an injury can be the worst thing you can do. Assuming those aches and pains will just go away with time and some ice can often lead to even bigger issues.

One of the best ways to get relief from a sports injury is through physiotherapy. How can physiotherapy help? There are a number of different benefits to seeking physiotherapy for sports-related aches and pains:

-        Restore function

-        Improve movement

-        Increase strength and flexibility

-        Prevent future injury

-        Heal a current injury

What might physiotherapy encompass? No cookie-cutter approaches here. Something that works for one person may not be the best course for everyone, so an experienced team will first assess your injury and determine how physiotherapy, either alone or in combination with other treatments, will best alleviate pain and stiffness.

Treatments may include:

-        Acupuncture – Using traditional techniques, a specialist trained in acupuncture can help clear blockages in the body that restrict energy flow, thereby limiting their ability to lead to pain or the breakdown of tissues within the body. The painless insertion of tiny needles at certain points can do wonders as far as targeting specific areas and releasing that blocked energy.

-        Massage Therapy – A proven-effective treatment to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation in your muscles, as well as improve blood circulation, massage therapy works by applying pressure to targeted areas after thoroughly assessing tissue damage.

-        Strength and Conditioning – Where weaknesses exist, your body often overcompensates, thus putting added strain or stress on muscles. By strengthening and conditioning the body, you can balance out those muscles, giving some much needed relief and often eliminating pain.

-        Orthopaedic Assessments – Sometimes surgery is inevitable, so trust that surgery to someone experienced in treating injuries in athletes specifically to ensure optimal recovery time and effective treatment based on an assessment that deals with your specific concerns and goals for the future.

Get a personal approach to your unique injury. Physiotherapy can help you achieve the pain relief you need to get back to the activity that you love. Don’t settle for anything less than the best.

For more about how physiotherapy can help you recover from your sports injury please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416-800-0800.

Get Informed: Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Treatment

As we age, our body sometimes gets tired of how we treat it – no matter how much we try to convince ourselves that we are the best caretakers. Often this confrontation between mind and body takes the form of osteoarthritis, a common but painful condition.

What exactly is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage wears away and the bones start to rub together. This results in osteoarthritis symptoms such as pain, stiffness and inflammation.

Check out this video from Health Choices First. In it, Dr. Kam Shojania speaks about osteoarthritis and the management of this very common ailment. http://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/category/arthritis/osteoarthritis/management-of-osteoarthritis

Treatment for osteoarthritis may include lifestyle changes (including exercise to strengthen the muscles in the affected area), changes to diet (most commonly losing weight to relieve pressure on the joints), or medication prescribed by a physician (to help improve function and to manage pain). Other treatments may include injections (Viscosupplementation) to help with the lubrication of the joints. The treatment will all depend on your unique situation.

If you are suffering from osteoarthritis and would like to speak to someone about the various treatment options available, Athletic Edge Sports Medicine can help. We have years of experience managing osteoarthritic symptoms, and have the knowledge and tools to help you achieve real relief. Call us today at 416-800-0800.

Fitness Training: Tips and Tricks From The Experts

Summer may be winding down, but that shouldn’t mean that your fitness routine also takes a nose dive. Sure, many of us ramp things up at the beginning of the summer in order to take bikini season by storm – but stopping after you’ve hit the beach can mean your body also takes a hit!  Here are some fitness training tips from the experts to help you stay fit even after that initial seasonal motivation has lost its power.

Fitness Training Tips and Tricks:

1.     Be Consistent. Regular workouts and consistent training is crucial in order to achieve results. The odd walk or gym workout will not get you anywhere. Make a schedule and stick to it.  Try to allot a specific time each day, or every other day, for a regular workout. This doesn’t have to be 3 hours at the gym – but it should at least get your body moving at a steady pace and get that heart rate up.

2.     Set realistic goals.  Be honest with yourself. If your schedule is tight, chances are probably pretty high that a 2 hour workout at the gym every day won’t be doable. Also, if you know that you want to lose a certain amount of weight, make sure that this is a healthy goal – and one that your body can sustain in a healthy way. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or any failures will kill motivation. At the same time, set goals that are fair but challenging, and reward yourself when you meet them.

3.     Don’t Go Big or Go Home. Going from the couch to a 50km marathon in a matter of days is never a great idea. The most effective fitness training regimen is one that gradually builds upon itself. Your body will learn to adapt to the changing expectations placed upon it, but you need to give it time to do so. 

4.     Eat! Starving yourself will have the double benefits of killing of the energy needed to work-out as well as leading to binge eating which just throws everything out of whack! Try to avoid skipping meals as best you can. Instead, just make smarter food choices. Ramp up your protein intake to keep you feeling fuller for longer, don’t forget those fruits and veggies for their H2O value, and of course keep the sugary/salty snacks to a minimum. 

5.     Don’t Do it Alone. Use the buddy system – this is a great way to stay motivated. Or, a trained, experienced fitness trainer can make all the difference if you find yourself continually struggling to maintain your weight or your fitness schedule. They can also be a great resource when you are unsure what workout will work best for you and your unique goals. Find someone who will cater your personal workout to you – after all, one size does not fit all!

For more about fitness training tips or to get in touch with a fitness trainer please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416-800-0800.

Tempted by the Taste of the Danforth? Tips from a Registered Dietician

Foodies rejoice! It is that time again – the Taste of the Danforth is right around the corner, and if you are anything like us, this annual event promises a wealth of tasty choices that already have your mouth watering. But what if you are trying to watch that waistline and feel as though a trip to this festival is going to throw you right off that skinny ship? Don’t spoil that temptation – use these tips from a registered dietician to help you stay on track!

According to our registered dietician, the best advice to start out with is to make smart choices. The Taste of the Danforth offers an amazing number of choices to tempt you – but when it comes to healthy choices, not all are created equal! When you head to this food festival, or any eating event for that matter, sure you want to give different dishes a try, but make sure that those you choose are not only tasty, but better for your belly at the same time.

Limit calories by choosing water instead of specialty drinks or high-calorie soda. Rather than wasting those precious calories on drinks, opt for H2O when you are looking for something to quench your thirst. That way, you only have to worry about the food facts – not those easily forgotten-about drinks.

Bring on the veggies and fruit. Sure, most of us are looking for the specialty items and not paying too much attention to what may be missing from a dish, but try your hardest to choose an option that has at least some green elements.

Don’t go on an empty stomach. One of the worst things that you can do before you go is to skip breakfast or lunch (depending on the time you attend). Going on an empty stomach just tempts you to eat more. The morning of, try to eat a well-balanced, protein rich breakfast – this will help you better deal with the plethora of enticing options and stop you from overindulging.

Afterwards: exercise! Instead of heading home with a feeling of fullness and plunking yourself on the couch, get your body moving. We are not suggesting a two-hour session at the gym, but a nice walk or leisurely bike ride can help to burn off some of those extra calories with the added benefit of helping to get rid of some of the guilt!

For more tips and advice from our registered dietician, please contact Stefanie Senior at Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416-800-0800.