Avoiding Common Musculoskeletal Injuries During the Dragon Boat Race Festival

On June 21st and 22nd, Toronto Centre Island will host the 26th annual Tim Hortons’ Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival. This exciting event, featuring an expected 180-200 teams with over 5000 athletes participating, not only brings together the community but raises money for the SickKids Foundation. Come out and support a very worthy cause all while joining the thrilling festivities!

Over the past decade especially, dragon boat racing has become a very popular form of exercise. Whether you are a member of a team that meets and trains on a regular basis, or just head out every once and a while for a change in exercise routine, this can be a great way to get your body moving all while having a great time.

That being said, there are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to this increasingly popular sport. Although not high impact, dragon boating is very strenuous, and as a result can wreak havoc on the body if you are not careful. This is especially true when it comes to musculoskeletal injuries.

When it comes to dragon boat racing, these are the top 5 musculoskeletal injuries:

o Low back strain – straining of the joints and lower lumbar region.
o Shoulder – tendinitis and/or bursitis in the rotator cuff muscles.
o Hand – forearm tendinitis from holding paddles too tightly.
o Wrist – carpel tunnel syndrome, hand weakness or numbness.
o Hand abrasions – a common result of hands banging on the boat.

These injuries are almost always a result of overuse, or thanks to poor conditioning or the unusual techniques required when paddling.  So what can you do to prepare for the day on the water without hurting yourself?

Since this is such a fast-paced and strenuous activity, one of the most important things to do to avoid musculoskeletal injuries from dragon boat racing is strength training, especially upper body strengthening exercises. Couple this with resistance and conditioning training to get your body in peak physical condition.

What if you find yourself struggling out there on the water already? If you have already sustained an injury, do not ignore the symptoms. Visit a sports medicine clinic today to have your injury assessed and to discuss treatment or training options to get some relief.

For more about common musculoskeletal injuries due to dragon boat racing, or their treatment or prevention, please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine Clinic today by calling 416-800-0800.

Suffering from Sports-Related Pain? Visit a Sports Medicine Clinic

Basketball, hockey, soccer, running, and skiing may seem largely unrelated but they all have something in common! Each of these sports can lead to pains and strains – or serious injuries. So what options exist for treating pains and strains? You have several – but one of the more crucial options involves visiting a doctor at a sports medicine clinic.

How does a sports medicine clinic differ from a general family practitioner? Well, the most important difference is that sports clinic specialists are experienced in specifically treating sports injuries. This means that the majority of their patients seek treatment for a sports-related injury and sports-related pain. They know their stuff!

So what kind of treatment are we talking about? There are a number of different services that a sports injury clinic should offer:

-        Chiropractic treatment – Chiropractors use various different techniques, including things like Active Release or the Graston Technique to adjust and manipulate misaligned joints. This works to help reduce or eliminate pain, restoring normal function.

-        Osteopathy – Osteopathy is a form of treatment which focusses on the relationship between structure and function of the body and uses manual forms of manipulation to help the body heal itself naturally.

-        Physiotherapy – Physiotherapy often includes several varieties of treatment, including acupuncture and manual therapy. These techniques work to heal injuries, restore function, increase movement and help prevent future injuries.

-        Fitness training and nutritional counseling – Staying in shape is vital to avoiding sports-related injuries, so fitness training and nutritional counseling can go a long way to helping you achieve this.

-        Golf injury prevention program – Golfers: this type of program is geared at ironing out the mechanics of your swing; ensure that your equipment is best suited to you; and to help fix any issues with stance, which is a must for prevention.

And what about prevention? Isn’t that a big part of athletic therapy? Of course, it's paramount. In fact, having not sustained a sports-related injury in the past doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about preventing one in the future. A sports medicine clinic can help with this too. How? Programs such as fitness training can get you back in shape after an absence of any kind. Massage therapy can also help you relax and rejuvenate after particularly rigorous activity and help you avoid future strains. Prevention management should never be cast aside when you are active.

For more about the benefits of visiting a sports medicine clinic to help keep you in peak physical condition contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 1 (416) 800-0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Back Pain Keeping Your From the Field? Try Toronto Chiropractic Treatment

Being active is an important part of staying healthy, and participating in sports is one of the best ways to include healthy activity in your life - and have fun at the same time!  When your body is strong, healthy and pain-free, enjoying sports is easy. But what if your suffering from pain robs you of that enjoyment? If you are suffering from back pain that prevents you from enjoying the sports you love, it might be time to consider chiropractic treatment.

A registered chiropractor at a sports medicine clinic can offer you the chiropractic treatment you need to get relief. Using a variety of techniques, including Active Release Technique, acupuncture, Graston technique and kinesiotaping, chiropractic treatment will help you deal with your chronic or acute back pain effectively by correcting misalignments in the spine to reduce pain and restore normal bodily function.

What do each of these techniques consist of and how do they work to get rid of your back pain?

Acupuncture: as a holistic form of chiropractic treatment, acupuncture works by stimulating the body’s central nervous system, releasing chemicals which work to influence biochemical changes and promote the body’s natural healing abilities. This improves overall well-being and helps heal pain caused by sports.

Active Release Technique: a patented soft tissue based massage technique, Active Release Technique treats chronic and acute back pain by applying pressure to the affected area and working to remove or break up the scar tissue build up that causes muscles to tighten and become painful. Active Release Technique is also effective at treating numerous other sports related ailments including carpel tunnel syndrome, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and sciatica.

Graston technique: an instrument-assisted form of soft tissue mobilization, Graston technique detects and treats areas of the body causing pain due to chronic inflammation by breaking down and separating scar tissues that restrict normal movement and function. It also works to increase blood flow and cellular activity.

Kinesiotaping: a sports taping method which uses strategically applied sports tape to muscles to reduce pain and inflammation. Rather than restricting movement by binding joints and muscles, kinesiotaping is non-restrictive, allowing for full range of motion while delivering muscle support.

Don’t play through the pain. If you are suffering from sports related back pain, try chiropractic treatment to assist your entire body and get back on the field.

For more information about chiropractic treatment including Active Release Technique, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

 

Prepare for the Relay For Life with Fitness Training

June 7^th, 2013 marks the annual Relay For Life in Toronto West, held from at the Centennial Stadium. This event, held from 7pm to 7am the next day, involves teams participating in a non-competitive relay overnight, and raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Whether you join a team with friends, family or co-workers, the Relay For Life is a great way to get out there and exercise, while having fun and raising money for an important cause.

While you're organizing your team, don’t forget that this is a relay, so you'll need to get in shape. And if you don’t plan on partaking in the Relay For Life, getting in shape with fitness training is still a good way to stay healthy for your own sake.

How does fitness training at a Toronto sports medicine clinic work? First, your current level of fitness is evaluated by a thorough fitness test, measuring strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Following this, a regimen and goals are created so you maximize results. In order to help you stay on track, a registered fitness trainer will be available to you for ongoing assistance and support.

Why choose fitness training from a Toronto sports medicine clinic? There are several reasons. One of the best for opting with fitness training at a Toronto sports medicine clinic is because of the support. Losing weight and getting in shape is tough no matter how you go about it, but if you want the support and motivation a knowledgeable sports medicine team brings, fitness training is the way to go. Working with an experienced fitness trainer gives you the guidance and inspiration to realize your fitness plan.

Fitness training with a trainer at a Toronto sports medicine clinic gives you customized service. Sure classes at the gym might work well for some people, but if you want fitness training that is unique to you and your goals, especially if you've found yourself unsuccessful overcoming specific challenges, then individual fitness training might be a better fit. This way, you can ensure your plan meets your body type and schedule.

Whether you're prepping for the Toronto West Relay For Life, or just want to get in shape for yourself, fitness training from a Toronto sports medicine clinic may be your secret to leading you down the road to success. You don’t have to go it alone.

For more information about how fitness training from a Toronto sports medicine clinic can help you get in shape, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

 

Let a Toronto Fitness Trainer in a Sports Therapy Clinic Setting Help You Get in Shape for Summer

The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, so many are eyeing getting in shape for the summer. Getting in shape can be difficult, if not seemingly impossible for some, but with the right support and motivation it can be far easier than you think. Let a Toronto fitness trainer (someone who specializes in fitness training) show you the best – and healthiest - ways to get in shape for summer.

One of the first things you need to do before donning those spandex shorts and heading off to a session with a trainer is to have a fitness test. If you're serious about getting in shape, and maximizing your relationship with a fitness trainer, you need to document your starting point in order to chart your course for progress. After all, you wouldn’t commit to buying a car before a test drive, so why commit to a workout routine unless you know it will be what’s best for your body? A fitness test at a sports medicine clinic uses various methods to test your physical fitness levels, to better gauge what type of fitness routine will prompt the greatest results for your body.

After your fitness test, your Toronto fitness trainer will use the results from your fitness test to consult with you and design a customized plan that sets realistic goals for reaching your full potential. Your personalized plan will include an exercise regimen that not only meets your needs realistically, but keeps the program at a comfortable pace you can follow. Depending on your own personal goals and preferences, this may include workouts at the gym or in your own home.

Worried about getting that initial plan in place only to fall behind shortly after implementing the routine? Don’t be. Just make sure that you find a sports medicine clinic that not only offers the initial fitness test and training session, but can also provide ongoing support from your certified fitness trainer. This way staying motivated won’t be a problem!

Want to start eating healthy at the same time? Find a sports injury clinic that offers nutritional counselling along with the fitness test and certified fitness trainer. Working with a registered dietician who can help you develop a smart, healthy, realistic meal plan is a great way to ramp up any fitness training plan.
 

Beat the heat as we head into the summer season by getting in shape now. Let a certified Toronto fitness trainer set you on the path to a healthy lifestyle.

For more information about scheduling a fitness test with a Toronto fitness trainer, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.