The first day of fall has come and gone and with it we are starting to see more leaves on the ground. With falling leaves comes raking. So, with bone and muscle health in mind this blog will address how to properly rake to ensure there are no injuries and to promote healthy spines.
By following these five simple tricks yard maintenance will cause minimal discomfort:
Stretching
a. Before you even pick up the rake make sure to warm up your body properly and prepare your body for the workout. Take a quick walk around the block to warm up your muscles. Doing some active stretching afterwards is also a great idea. These are good stretches to practice:
Hydration
a. Drinking lots of water before, during and after putting your body to work helps promote healthy muscles and bone strength as well as helps with recovery.
Use the Whole Body
a. Changing positions while raking will help ensure that not only one side of your body is working which will cause fatigue and possibly pain. For example, do ten raking pulls with your left leg in front and then switch to the right leg for the next ten.
Bend at the Knee
a. Make sure to bend at your knee rather than your lower back while raking and lifting.
b. Pivot your entire body when moving leaves around rather than twisting only your upper body.
Frequent Breaks
a. Take a break, you deserve it! Remember the leaves can still be raked after a 10-minute rest and your body will thank you for it!
Muscle and bone health does not have to be jeopardized just because the leaves are piling up. By following these tips your yard and body can be in pristine condition! If you are experiencing any muscle pain or fatigue you can book an appointment by clicking to ‘book now’ button below.
How to choose the right one, and how to wear it right.
A properly fitted backpack is very important to ensure the wearers comfort and prolonged health of their back. With the school year starting it is important to address the key factors of properly fitted backpacks. If the bag is too heavy, too small, too large, or not worn properly the wearer can suffer from muscle strain, head aches, nerve damage, neck, back, shoulder and arm pain.
These are the important factors to remember when wearing and packing a backpack:
1. Backpacks should never weigh over 10% of the wearers body weight
a. For example, if the wearer is 100lbs their backpack shouldn’t weigh more than 10lbs
2. Choose the right backpack for you
a. Thick and wide straps for shoulder comfort
b. Compartments on the inside to help with even weight distribution
c. Waist strap to help carry and distribute the weight evenly
d. Padded back to ensure no oddly shaped items are pressed into the back
3. Always wear the backpack correctly
a. Wear both shoulder straps
b. Tighten straps so the bag sits comfortably on the back (not too snug under armpits and not
handing below the top of the hipbones)
c. Wear the waist strap to help distribute weight evenly along the back
Choosing the right backpack can be difficult but with these tips in mind it can be done successfully. By choosing and wearing the correct backpack you can maintain healthy muscles and not add extra strain to your back, neck and shoulders. If you are experiencing any muscle strain or pain you can call or email us to book an assessment for your earliest convenience.
If you are experiencing any muscle strain or pain you may find relief by visiting our chiropractic clinic in Burlington. At Edgar Family Chiropractic we offer: back pain treatment Burlington, neck pain treatment Burlington, massage therapy Burlington, and acupuncture Burlington. You can book an appointment by calling 289-337-1202, emailing [email protected] or online through our website (edgarchiropractic.ca).
We know that your immune system is just about the MOST important thing right now, so why not do what you can to support it and make it stronger?
Let’s not miss anymore school days… work days… living life days…
These all-natural, homeopathic-based, oral immune supports are not guaranteed to prevent the cold/flu, but it does make your symptoms a LOT less and the recovery time a LOT faster if you get symptoms at all.
Last year we did over 700 immune support visits and these families would tell us things like-
“Everyone else around me is dropping like flies and I feel ok”
“My son caught that bug that everyone else had, but was only sick for 12-hours. His friends were throwing up and away from school for days!”
What are the active ingredients in the shot?
It is a homeopathic medicine containing a blend of echinacea, baptisia and lymphatic herbs to help strengthen the immune system and clear congestion.
What’s the immune-boosting protocol?
1 ( 5min visit) every month from now until March.
How is it administered?
Orally through a syringe
How much does it cost?
$22 which can be directly billed to your insurance company. All new patients require a 15min acute visit to onboard then 5min follow-ups at $22 thereafter (that can also be directly billed through insurance as a visit).
–> Go to INSTA: @themaximmovement to see our latest video on the all-natural immune supports!!
We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Emile Sadga to our team! Dr. Emile comes to us from the team of naturopathic doctors at The Maxim Movement. He is currently accepting new in-person and virtual patients.
Dr. Emile has expertise in the following areas:
Men’s Health (all things hormones, performance, libido, and prostate)
Pain Care (acupuncture and cupping)
B12 Injections
Vitamin D Injections
Bio-Identical Hormones
Desiccated Thyroid Prescriptions
Dr. Emile is not about throwing the kitchen sink approach at you (random treatments, random supplements, etc). He is data-driven and results-focused. Some of the testing he is able to do Includes Food Sensitivity, Comprehensive GI Map Test, Urine Hormone Panel, Complete Thyroid Panel, Routine Blood Work and Hair Heavy Metal Testing.
He will be available at Edgar Family Chiropractic on Mondays from 12 pm-8 pm starting on July 26th. You can book an appointment with him online through our website (www.edgarchiropractic.ca), by calling the clinic at 289-337-1202, or emailing us at [email protected]
Water makes up most of the human body. Muscles, joints, skin, and even bones depend on water to continue to work productively. Though, it is widely known that hydration is important it is not nearly as common to know exactly how much water is needed for optimal body functioning. This perfect balance of water intake and outtake is determined by: age, gender and weight.
No need to guess anymore! Here the work is done for you in a simple breakdown of proper hydration:
Age
Female
Male
1-3 years
32 fluid oz (4 cups)
32 fluid oz (4 cups)
4-8 years
48 fluid oz (6 cups)
48 fluid oz (6 cups)
9-13 years
56 fluid oz (7 cups)
64 fluid oz (8 cups)
14-18 years
64 fluid oz (8 cups)
88 fluid oz (11 cups)
19-50 years
72 fluid oz (9 cups)
104 fluid oz (13 cups)
51 years +
72 fluid oz (9 cups)
104 fluid oz (13 cups)
Pregnancy (14-50 years)
80 fluid oz (10 cups)
—————————-
Lactation (14-50 years)
104 fluid oz (13 cups)
—————————-
*80% from beverages and 20% from food moisture
The Benefits of Proper Hydration
Other than overall feeling better when achieving proper hydration, there are many lesser-known benefits to proper hydration.
Better sleep quality
Promotes healthy muscle growth
Helps prevent headaches
Lubrication of joints
Regulation of body temperature
These benefits can quickly improve your quality of life. So, by following the simple guide listed above proper hydration can easily be achieved. So, grab your reusable water bottle, fill it up (maybe add some sliced fruit for pizazz) and start conquering the world one sip at a time!
At Edgar Family Chiropractic Clinic, we take the overall general health of our patients very seriously. Drinking water and staying hydrated ensures that our patients will be feeling better in many different ways. Their muscles will work better, their digestion will improve, sleep will be better and many other benefits. Our Chiropractors are some of the best in Burlington and are always thinking of ways to educate their patients so that they can make the best choices to keep themselves as healthy as possible. If you have any questions for us, please do not hesitate to contact us at 289-337-1202 or by email at [email protected].
We wanted to reach out with a short note to just say THANK YOU SO MUCH if you voted for us in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards. We are happy to announce that once again, we have won first place in the category of Chiropractic Clinic. This past year has been unlike any other in the history of our little family clinic and we could not have gotten through it without all of your support. We feel lucky and grateful to be able to provide care to such a wonderful community of patients. We appreciate you all very much and will continue to do our best to provide you with the best possible service for many years to come!
Once again, we thank all of our patients for voting for us as the “Best Chiropractic Clinic in Burlington” and we look forward to seeing you all at your next appointments!
Spring – what a beautiful time of year! The blossoming flowers and new leaves on the trees will hopefully put the spring back in your step. For gardeners, spring is a great time to welcome life back to the yard. Gardening, often thought of as a leisurely activity, is actually considered a physical activity requiring a warm-up, cool down, and plenty of fluids. Without taking these measures you may cause your body extra stress and maybe even an injury.
Each spring, at our chiropractic clinic, we see some injuries related to gardening. Here are a few tips followed by a few stretches that will hopefully help you to avoid these injuries:
1. Do the scissors stance while raking: Stand with your right leg forward and your left leg back while you rake. Switch which leg is in front every few minutes. This will keep you from bending and twisting your way into a sore back.
2. Change hands frequently: Changing hands when raking & hoeing prevents muscle strain on one side of the body. Try to stand as straight as possible with your head upright.
3. Use long-handled tools: Long-handled tools let you avoid bending forward and sideways as you work, which can cause you to strain your neck or lower back.
4. Lift properly: Face the object you plan to lift, bend your knees, and draw the load close to your body. Use the muscle power of your legs to lift. Don’t lift heavy objects above your waist. Ask for help moving big flowerpots and bags of soil or garden waste.
5. Kneel to weed and plant: Constant bending and squatting can put a strain on your back, neck, and leg muscles. You can buy special knee pads and mats that make kneeling on the ground more comfortable.
6. Take frequent breaks: taking breaks to stretch and rehydrate is very important for keeping your body in peak condition and will ensure your muscles don’t fatigue as quickly.
Stretches to Try:
Lower back:
Sit on a chair and slowly bend your body forward from your hips, putting your head down and resting your hands on the ground
Lye on the ground put your hands under your knee, pull your leg into your chest leaving your other leg straight on the ground
Upper back:
Intertwine your fingers and flip hands so your palms are facing outwards in front of you, straighten arms, and round your shoulders
While standing hold your hands behind your back, bend forward at the waist, and lift your arms as far as possible
Shoulders:
Hold elbow of your opposite arm and push arm straight across the front of your body
While holding the elbow of your opposite arm put your arm behind your head with your hand in the middle of your back and push lightly
Knees:
While standing straight and facing forward bend your knee and grab your ankle with your hand, pull your leg back and bring your foot to your behind if possible, keep your knees as close together as possible
Using a chair or a wall outstretch your arms and push your body back into a lunge, keeping your back leg straight
If you experience an injury while gardening, we always encourage our patients to take a break from the activity until the pain has been managed. It is also a good idea to check in with your local Burlington chiropractor, Burlington massage therapist, or Burlington physiotherapist if your pain does not go away. They will be able to properly assess and treat you for the injury so that you can get back to gardening as soon as possible!
I have worn compression stockings for most of my career as a chiropractor because my feet are always cold and I usually get achy feet after working on them all day. I do not have varicose veins or any other circulatory issues but the stockings simply help to keep my legs and feet happy!
For those of us who are currently working from home and sitting for long hours, compression stockings can prevent aches and swelling in the feet. For all those who stand for long periods of time like myself (nurses, hairdressers etc.), compression stockings can help with circulation, providing comfort and helping to avoid tired feet at the end of a long day. For all the pregnant mammas, compression stockings can help avoid swelling in the legs and feet that sometimes happens during pregnancy. For the athletes who are trying to improve their recovery times and performance, compression stockings can also help!
Compression stockings provide effective relief for a wide range of conditions, from tired, achy legs, cold feet, swollen ankles and of course varicose veins. They work by gently squeezing your legs to move blood up your legs. The noticeable compression it exerts improves circulation in the legs, reduces muscle vibrations and speeds up recovery. Its light, breathable material is very comfortable on the skin. This makes it the ideal support. The stocking’s taping zone helps to create a greater feeling of stability in the ankle, while its muscle-toning zone specifically stimulates the calf muscles during movement.
At Edgar Family Chiropractic, we carry a very high-quality brand of compression stockings called Bauerfeind (Bauerfeind is a German health care equipment company, one of the largest manufacturers of orthopaedic stockings and braces in the world) We offer a variety of different styles depending on the patients’ lifestyle:
Business Style / Sports Performance / Discreet Style
Each style comes in various color options and are custom-fitted and measured. The best part is that these stockings are usually covered under most insurance policies!
Call your insurance company and see if you are covered OR give us a call at 289-337-1202 if you want to get started with your measurements and order!
The first day of fall has come and gone so we can start that the leaves will start to fall and many of us will be doing some serious raking. With bone and muscle health in mind, this blog will give you ideas on how to rake without hurting yourself!
By following these five simple tricks, yard maintenance will cause minimal discomfort:
1. Stretching
a. Before you even pick up the rake make sure to properly prepare your body and warm up. These are good stretches to practice:
2. Hydration
a. Drinking lots of water before, during, and after putting your body to work helps promote healthy muscles and bone strength as well as helps with recovery post activity.
3. Use the Whole Body
a. Changing positions while raking will help ensure that not only one side of your body is working (this can lead to fatigue, discomfort, possibly inflammation, and pain). For example, do ten raking pulls with your left leg in front and then switch to the right leg for the next ten!
4. Bend at the Knees
a. Make sure to bend at your knees rather than your lower back while raking and lifting.
b. Pivot your entire body when moving leaves around rather than twisting only your upper body (this is VERY important)
5. Frequent Breaks
a. Take a break every 15 minutes! Giving your soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) a break will ensure that they are not being overused and will decrease your chances of an overuse injury. Remember the leaves can still be raked after a 10-minute rest and your body will thank you for it!
Muscle and bone health does not have to be jeopardized just because the leaves are piling up. By following these tips your yard and body can be in great condition!
Other than overall feeling better when achieving proper hydration, there are many lesser-known benefits to proper hydration.
