Your Health Your Wealth!  Get informed about your extended health care benefit plan! Extended Health Care benefits help plan members and their dependents pay for medical expenses that aren't covered by their provincial plan. With AHS only covering a limited amount for physiotherapy and often a wait to access it, it is important to know the details of exactly what your plan covers, how much it covers per treatment as well as annually, if you require a doctor’s referral and if there is a deductible.  Most plans are now easily accessible online.  To get the maximum use out of your plan and to ensure that you know the guidelines to follow will ultimately help you with your own health as well as your pocketbook. 

To start make sure you check off the following list:

• Does your plan require a doctor’s referral?

• Does your plan have a deductible?

• How much does your plan cover per treatment?

• What is your annual maximum?

• When does your plan renew?

• If your family has 2...

SHOVELLING TIPS

Many Canadian homeowners spend long hours shoveling snow this time of year, but too much twisting, bending and lifting can place excessive loading on the spine, resulting in back strain or more serious injuries. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) recommends using good posture and body mechanics as well as adopting a good technique for shoveling. It is also helpful to do warm-up exercises for the larger muscle groups such as the shoulders, back and the legs (before and after) any type of yard work.

The following recommendations by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association will help minimize the risk of strains and sore muscles:

· Hold the shovel handle close to your body to help maintain good posture while shoveling. Keep one hand near the top for better leverage and use your arms and legs more than your spine. Ergonomic shovels,have bent or side handles for less strain on the hands and wrists. This design ensures that the elbows are bent slightly and also en...

Nicole has been member of our Beaumont Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic team since January 2019.  

Why did you become a kinsesiologist?

Growing up I had a family member that required a lot of physiotherapy.  I saw the benefits of physiotherapy treatment and the exercise that goes along with it.  This inspired me and today I enjoy seeing the benefits of exercise to our patients first hand.

What is your favorite product to use with our patients?

My favorite is the Bosu because it is so versatile.  It can be used for balance, ankle knee & core coordination and strengthening.  I also love to use it for strength progression exercises such as squats and push ups. 

When you're not at work what are likely doing?

I love hiking!  I recently hiked Lady MacDonald in Canmore.  I also loved the challenge of my first back packing overnight hike. I spent 3 nights hiking the Michelle Lakes near Banff, it was difficult but so rewarding.    My other fa...

As the last week of summer winds down and the return of another school year is upon us, you might find yourself out shopping for back to school supplies. One of the most important items to consider for your child’s health this fall is their backpack. Those long lists of school supplies often lead to a very heavy backpack! Backpacks come in every size, shape and color as kids express their own style, but it is important to consider more than just style when making the best decision with your child. Traditional two-strap backpacks are the best option compared with shoulder bags, messenger bags or purses because they are designed to distribute weight evenly through the back and abdominal muscles.

By following some simple guidelines when choosing and fitting your child’s backpack, you can be proactive in preventing unnecessary stresses, strains and injuries as they head back into the busy routine of school. 

1.  Your child’s backpack should not exceed 10-15% of their bodyweigh...

STRETCHING

In our body we have different types of muscles. Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that most of us think of when we talk about muscles. Skeletal muscles are muscles that we contract in order to control how our body moves. They are made up of many muscle fibers and are connected to bones by tendons. So the muscles help control how the bones move. Therefore a tight or injured muscle will change how the bones move which can result in injury to the bones and joints. Ideally we want our joints to move through the full available range of motion in order to allow optimal function during an activity. Once there is injury to muscle, bone or joints, then our level of function decreases and we are unable to participate well, or at all, in activities that we enjoy. Therefore it is necessary to maintain healthy muscles in order to ensure a healthy body.

WHY DO MUSCLES GET TIGHT?

When our body activates a muscle in order to do an activity that requires joint movement, such as bend the kne...

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is also called physical therapy. It is the scientific study of how and why the body moves and functions the way that is does. Physiotherapy involves treating any dysfunction that prevents the body from moving or functioning in its most optimal way. Sometimes these dysfunctions result in decreased range of motion, decreased strength or pain with movement.

Physiotherapy is performed by physiotherapists. Physiotherapists are highly trained qualified professionals and are considered movement specialists and experts in their field. In order to work in Alberta, physiotherapists must complete a university degree in physiotherapy and pass the national licensing exam. Physiotherapists use scientific evidence and a safe hands-on approach to help restore your body to its full function. As physiotherapists, we identify the cause of a dysfunction by a thorough assessment that includes history-taking and physical examination. Once the cause of the dysfunction has b...

 Why did you become a Physio?

I played and continue to play a lot of sports. When I was younger and first moved to Canada, I had a tough time making new friends. I found an outlet for this through my involvement in sports. I suffered from an injury at this time and was unable to participate in sports where I had all my friends. Going to a physio and working on rehab got me back to playing and maintaining my friendships. I developed strong respect for the profession since then and have pursued it ever since.

When you're not at work what are you likely to be doing?

When I am not working you can likely find me at a field in Edmonton, western Canada, Toronto or even internationally playing cricket! I have played the sport since I was 2 years old and have represented Canada in the past and am continuing to pursue doing it again in the future.

What is your favorite product to suggest for patients?

If exercise could be put into a pill form then it would be the most commonly prescribed drug by doct...

Maintaining a healthy body is essential to our everyday activity level and functioning.  a large part of keeping us mobile and active is maintaining healthy legs.  Did you know that over 50% of adults will experience some form of Chronic Venous Disorder in their lifetime? A chronic venous disorder is a term used to describe venous circulation deficiencies in which the valves of the veins fail to function properly.  The result of this is that blood does not return to our heart as well as it should and instead the blood tends to stay and collect in areas in the veins.

Common signs of Chronic Venous Disorders include swelling of the ankle and leg, a feeling of heaviness and tension in the legs, pain or cramping in the calf muscles and skin breakdown such as dermatitis, eczema and ulcers.  A visit to your physician is necessary in order to correctly assess and diagnose your condition and to recommend appropriate treatment.  It is important to note that Chronic Venous Dis...

Now that we are finally having some decent weather, many of us are just starting our yard clean up. Raking grass can be a lot of fun but unfortunately on occasion we can experience injury as a result of a lot of raking.

With repetitive bending to reach over and rake, back and shoulder injuries can ensue. These injuries can be a real set back when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In order to prevent injury follow these simple useful tips:

1. Gentle warm up prior to activity. Some gentle back bends and trunk rotation stretches can warm up muscles so that they are “ready” for the activity. take 2-3 minutes of slowly flexing, extending and rotating your trunk while seated or standing to warm up.

2. Evaluate the amount of work, and divide up by completing over several days or by finding some helpers up for the task.

3. Take frequent breaks in activity. Every 5-10 minutes, be sure to stand up and take a step back to admire your big pile of leaves! This will give your back and lower e...

With hockey and ringette season underway and ski/snowboard season beginning soon, it is a good idea to take a moment to review some simple, yet important facts regarding helmet safety.

The helmet is inarguably the most important piece of protective equipment that an athlete will wear. A properly fitted helmet will help ensure that an athlete can continue to enjoy a sport or an activity and minimize head injury. Helmets cannot prevent all injuries, but they will help decrease the impact of a head injury. Helmets are sport-specific. This means that there are different helmets for different sports that protect the head in different ways. It is important to wear the appropriate helmet for the sport that the athlete is participating in.

Helmets can deteriorate over time, and the material that provides protection for the head can breakdown. It is important to check the helmet prior to each use for any of the following:

-     damage to the outer shell, such as cracks, chips or missing pieces....