April Showers Bring…Aches and Pains! Get Relief from a Massage Therapist

April is here - hurray! - and winter may finally be history.  While it's not exactly Key Largo out there, the milder weather is something we feel beckoned to enjoy. The problem is, mild weather does not necessarily mean rain-free, in fact, April is known to be one of Canada's rainier months. So where do you find relief from rain-related aches and pains?  This might be the perfect time to link-up with a relief-inducing, relaxation-brewing registered massage therapist.

Why? Many of the injuries or pain that athletes suffer from, are rooted in a common set of conditions. Both acute and chronic injuries can lead to tissue damage that makes participating in activities of various kinds difficult.  Working with a registered massage therapist can reduce musculature swelling, pain, and inflammation caused by injuries. Massage can also do wonders to improve blood circulation, which promotes healing and the effective prevention of future injuries.

Why not just head to the spa? Well, if you are looking to merely relax or de-stress, that might do fine.  But if you want massage-bang-for-your-buck, you may also want to also include effective techniques for easing sports-related muscle tightness.  In this case, massage therapy from a sports medicine clinic is your best bet.

A sports injury clinic isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to massage.  It offers a thorough assessment of your unique injury (or injuries) and body, followed by an individual treatment plan for making you injury-free. This treatment may include a number of different manual movements by a specialist trained in Swedish massage or Shiatsu massage.

So how does it work? Firstly, when a massage therapist applies pressure to certain points where muscles are constricted, tissues relax, thereby reducing painful contractions and spasms. Proper massage therapy can also loosen and lengthen tight muscles (reducing the risk for injury).   A reduction of nerve compression also facilitates muscles getting proper nutrients and operating more efficiently. In short, a massage therapist can also help your body regain balance and proper alignment.

Consider too, that massage therapy treatment may also be part of a combination of therapies like physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, or acupuncture. Together these can speed up the healing and rehabilitation process, returning you to the activities you love that much faster. As mentioned, your individualized treatment depends on your massage therapist's assessment of your unique needs. 

For more information about the benefits of working with a registered massage therapist, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 1-416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

Ready, Set, Run…Wait! Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Spring is definitely upon us and for you avid runners that means the track is calling your name! So lace up those sneakers and make a dash for the start-line - unless, of course, you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee.  Those grounded by osteoarthritis of the knee know all about dealing with this painful condition.  But, good news! We've got some options to help you cope. 

Firstly, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that most commonly affects athletes over 40, but does strike at any age. No one is immune. That being said, surgery isn’t the only answer to managing your symptoms. Here are some of the most common and most effective treatment options that can help you manage the pain and restrictions of osteoarthritis of the knee. 

Viscosupplementation: Viscosupplementation is a fast and effective treatment for osteoarthritis. This treatment involves the injection of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the body, designed to act as a lubricant to help joints and bones function without pain. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Another benefit to this type of treatment is that it is quick with an almost immediate recovery time of usually within 2 days. This is liberating in that it removes the burden of having to stay off of your knees for weeks. 

Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is another common, non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. By measuring the mobility of the joint and the strength of your supporting muscles, a physiotherapist can determine the progress of the disease, developing an individualized exercise program that maintains or increases mobility, restoring muscle balance and flexibility, and improving strength and stability. 

Custom Knee Brace: Yet another non-surgical form of treatment, a custom knee brace can help achieve stability in the knee joint. A knee brace custom-made to your exact specifications (rather than a generic one), gives you optimum support, preventing your knee from jostling around, thereby reducing the pain and increasing your range of motion and ability.

Depending on your own individual assessment, your doctor may choose to administer one of these treatments or a combination of them to achieve the best relief.

Osteoarthritis of the knee can be very painful, if not debilitating, so relief should be a top priority. Contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today to find out more about non-surgical treatments by calling 1-416-800-0800.

Soccer Sprains and Strains? Score Some Relief with Athletic Therapy

As one of the most popular sports in the world, soccer is played by thousands of people across Canada. Whether you play as part of a team in an organized league or enjoy the odd game of pick-up with your friends at a local field, soccer really is a great form of exercise. It helps you stay in fantastic shape while improving balance, agility, and coordination. But it can also be risky. Soccer injuries, both acute or traumatic, happen all the time.  

Soccer related sprains and strains commonly strike the body's lower extremity, however upper extremity injuries can also happen frequently. The severity of sprains and strains varies and may require different forms of treatment.   

Here are some of the most common soccer injuries and effective methods of treatment: 

-        Lower Extremity Injuries: these include sprains and strains to the legs, including cartilage tears and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains of the knee. The nature of soccer encourages sharp twists and turns which can result in stretched or torn ligaments, the severity of which then dictates one's required treatment. With a partial ACL tear, a knee brace may be the best form of relief, whereas a full tear may require surgery. Physiotherapy may also be an effective option for, say, an ankle sprain.  In a case like this, physiotherapy is a great way to improve strength and regain ankle function and stability.  

-        Upper Extremity Injuries: injuries to the upper extremities can be quite common for soccer players, and usually occur from general contact or when an individual falls on an outstretched arm. These injuries may include wrist strains and sprains, fractures, or shoulder dislocations. As with lower extremity injuries, the treatment and severity of these conditions may vary, with possible massage therapy and/or acupuncture to  improve muscle function and encourage healing of the affected area. Osteopathy can also help restore normative function, speed healing and reduce pain.  

If you have sustained a soccer injury, the best advice we can give you is to seek out medical attention immediately. Often with these injuries, the longer you leave them untreated, the worse they get. As noted, treatment may be something as simple as a custom brace or massage therapy, or more concentrated efforts such as surgery.  But the only way to effectively obtain relief is to obtain a proper assessment. 

Stop suffering and keep playing! For relief from common soccer injuries such as sprains and strains, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 1-416-800-0800 or visit us at www.aesm.ca.

Get Back on the Track: Dealing with Runner’s Knee

April often means an enthusiastic return to the outdoor track or neighborhood forest trail. But if you suffer from patello femoral pain syndrome (PFPS), also more commonly known as runner’s knee, then April may not excite you the way it should.

What is PFPS? This term simply refers to pain in, and around, the kneecap. This pain may be accompanied by swelling of the knee, as well as a sensation that the knee wants to give-way when running or walking. Although the actual cause of PFPS is unknown, the pain is often the result of irritated cartilage around the knee. This pain is typically made worse by long periods of inactivity, or by running uphill (which puts extra pressure on the knee).

If you have knee-pain but are unsure of the cause, the condition, or the various treatment options, here's a great video from Health Choices First: “Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome.” In it, Dr. Larissa Roux discusses some of the symptoms of PFPS, as well as some of the various options for treatment and relief.

http://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/category/running/sports-medicine-doctors/patello-femoral-pain-syndrome-1

If you're suffering from runner’s knee, don’t assume that staying off the track is going to fix the problem. As the video mentions, rehabilitation is one of the best ways to get your knee back in shape. For more information, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 1-416-800-0800.

Shedding Winter Weight – Get Your Body Back With a Registered Dietician

AT LAST!! Winter is winding down with the first vestiges of spring peeking through the clouds. Soon enough (well, maybe not "soon enough" for some) we will be back out there enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. But, yikes, wait!! Warmer weather also means less clothing – meaning no more hiding behind those bulky winter sweaters and snuggling up in track pants. If you want to start shedding some of that comfy winter weight, why not get turbo-charged with the help of a registered dietician? 

Why? Because we all know how difficult it can be to lose weight (it's not even a fraction as easy as putting weight on) and for most of us, typical diets don’t garner long-term results. While a quick fix seems great, what's the point if you just gain the weight back a few months down the road? Not only is that strategy a lot of wasted effort, it's arguably damaging to your metabolism in the long term too. So if a one-size-fits-all approach to weight management doesn’t actually fit anyone, why bother? 

The benefits of working with a registered dietician are vast, but the most significant is the creation of your own individualized program - a collaboration between you and your dietician, factoring in your goals and lifestyle. It also includes establishing a meal plan that doesn’t leave you feeling starved throughout the day, taking into account which foods you prefer around the limits of one's budget. This makes sticking to the regimen far easier. Who wants to live a life of deprivation eating salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in pursuit of an unrealistic outcome?  Rare is the person who can maintain a menu that rigid, so a healthy and satisfying meal plan that gives you an extra boost can mean the difference between success and failure. 

A registered dietician will also help you to set fitness goals and work with you to stay motivated. It's a given that any smart weight management plan should include exercise, but a surprising number of "diet strategies" disregard exercise. When your body revs-up to burn calories from physical exertion, staying in shape with reasonable effort is an obtainable result. Be it a gym, yoga classes, or designing a workout routine for home, a registered dietician will work with your lifestyle to make routine exercise easy, fun, and achievable. 

Don’t let winter weight keep you down, not to mention overdressed while hiding behind your winter wardrobe. Work with someone trained and experienced in transforming people through an effective, healthy, long-term weight loss program.  Reach your goals and say hello to a lifestyle makeover!  

For more information about weight management, or to speak to our registered dietician Stefanie Senior, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 1-416-800-0800.

What Factors Influence Female Fertility

If you're trying to conceive but find that things are taking longer than expected, concrete information from credible sources regarding female fertility remedies can seem elusive. So which route can one take when things aren't going as planned?

Start by checking out the following video from Health Choices First, which explains what factors influence female fertility.  Understanding what might be affecting your ability to conceive sure beats staying uninformed. After all, you can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is!

The video discusses various things that can affect your ability to get pregnant. Every woman is different, and problems may be self-remedied or require the help of a fertility specialist. So whether the inhibitor is as straight forward as a weight-issue, or something that requires a little more attention, this video helps you recognize when it's time to consult a doctor.  It also references options you may want to consider if fertility is indeed the issue.

http://www.healthchoicesfirst.com/category/fertility/female-fertility/what-factors-influence-female-fertility

The good new is: with the many medical advances that have been made: you have options.  So before becoming discourages, inform yourself.  Find out what is influencing your fertility and take it from there.

For more information about factors that influence female fertility or to explore your own personal options, contact AESM today at 1 416 800 0800. 

Body Feeling Off-Balance? Try Yoga Therapy

If you're feeling a bit off-balance, or are dealing with the grip of aches and pains due to some kind of sports related over-exertion, it can be difficult to find some release. Often people opt for invasive treatments that can put them out of commission for extended periods of time. Others choose to refrain from participating indefinitely – or at least until the pain recedes or disappears. But when you suffer from sports-related pain, why just accept defeat? Especially when there are viable, affordable and reputable options that you can help you find relief. One such renowned treatment is yoga therapy. 

Yoga therapy is a well-established treatment that not only helps to keep the body in good shape, it can also help to re-establish your equilibrium and bring much needed relief to both acute and chronic pain. 

How? The aim of yoga therapy is to create harmony between the mental and physical. Different positions promote balance, as well as restore symmetry. Breathing techniques help to center the mind as well as to oxygenate muscle tissue and can actually massage organs. Together these work to relax your system and help with concentration and energy.

Think yoga is just a fad? Think again. This ancient and proven exercise of the body and mind has many benefits that go beyond just staying in shape. There is good reason yoga has been celebrated for so long. When done properly, yoga therapy can be extremely valuable in returning the body to its natural, balanced state, and can help to address a number of different ailments. 

Here are just a few of the different issues that can be helped through yoga therapy: 

-        Asthma

-        Arthritis

-        Insomnia

-        Stress

-        Athletic injuries, such as those from asymmetrical sports, overuse injuries, or repetitive injuries

-        Fatigue

-        Depression

Whether you choose yoga in a group setting, or a have a unique routine designed to fit your schedule, goals and fitness level, investing in a professional assessment ensures you to get the most from this exercise. Yoga can be done pretty much anywhere you have a little space to stretch out. Once you learn how to properly maintain specific postures and regulate your breathing correctly, the option to do it on a mat at the gym - or even in your own living room -  holds great practical appeal.

Stop suffering from needless aches and pains – there is a way to help alleviate them. Embrace yoga therapy as great way to reestablish your body’s balance and energy. For more about yoga therapy, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today at 1-416-800-0800.