pain Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Kingston Integrated Healthcare Inc.

The Big Three to Relieve Low Back Pain

Written by Christine Campbell, Physiotherapist on November 1, 2017.

Back pain plagues four out of five Canadians at some point throughout their lifespan. It can be quite debilitating, and affects basic tasks throughout your day. Often clients describe how their back pain started, perhaps by reaching down to grab something off the floor or by twisting and reaching. This is often the straw that broke the camels back, however the true problem likely started many years before. We are very good at creating compensations and moving to get away from a problem. Over time compensating can create more wear and tear somewhere else in the body. Therefore, it is essential to have a look at how people are moving as a whole while comparing their movement to the local pain and dysfunction. This comprehensive view will give a clear picture as to larger movement problems or compensations that may be contributing to the acute problem and pain.

Recently, on CBC radio, a story featured Stuart McGill’s Big Three exercises to relieve back pain. Clinically, I use these exercises very frequently, even for people that may be having shoulder pain or even knee or ankle pain.

Joint Pain? Treat the Muscles and Fascia!

Written by Joel Ackerman, DOMP on February 2, 2017.

One of the biggest challenges facing the massage therapy profession is finding acceptance from the larger medical community as an effective, even necessary, therapeutic intervention. As a Registered Massage Therapist, and as anyone who receives regular massage therapy can confirm, we know that massage therapy can manage symptoms associated with all kinds of conditions. However, we have a hard time explaining exactly how it works and why it consistently provides relief,

Acupuncture’s role in peripheral neuropathy

Written by Jamie Xu, Acupuncturist on October 5, 2016.

Peripheral Neuropathy is a common neurologic condition that affects the peripheral nerves. The most common symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy are weakness, numbness and pain. The pain is usually in the hands and feet, but can affect other areas of the body. Some people experience the uncomfortable sensation of “pins and needles”, stabbing, burning or tingling pain (especially at night) in their hands or feet. Others may suffer even more extreme symptoms such as muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ dysfunction.

Did You Know? Physiotherapy can help with Peripheral Neuropathy!

Written by Christine Campbell, Physiotherapist on October 5, 2016.

Physiotherapists play a vital role in helping individuals improve and maintain functions that may be limited by Peripheral Neuropathy (PN). PN has a variety of causes, types and symptoms and therefore it is essential for each treatment plan to be tailored to help address each patient address their specific needs and goals. Physiotherapy may be helpful in maintaining strength, mobility, and function regardless of the underlying cause of PN.

CranioSacral Therapy: A Deeper Level of Massage

Written by Joel Ackerman, DOMP on October 5, 2016.

Clients commonly ask me if I offer “deep tissue” massage. The simple answer is yes, it is a part of every massage therapist’s training. However, it is not always the most effective approach. In my experience, ‘forcing’ a muscle to release by digging a knuckle or elbow into it often provides only temporary relief. I’m most interested in understanding why the muscle is so tight in the first place, so that the root cause can be addressed for longer-lasting relief.

Trigger Points To Alleviate Headaches

Written by Joel Ackerman, DOMP on July 8, 2016.

Can Massage Therapy help with my headaches? Yes! Although Massage Therapy may not spring to mind as a typical intervention for ongoing headaches, I have had a lot of success over the years treating clients for head pain. There are a few ways Massage Therapy can address headaches, but the most common way is by addressing trigger points in the neck and upper back. A trigger point is a specific point in a muscle that, when stimulated, can cause referred pain. These pain patterns are remarkably consistent from one person to another and there are A LOT of trigger points that refer to the head, mimicking a headache. Some trigger points can even mimic migraines or cause some autonomic phenomena to occur, such as watery eyes, runny nose, and light sensitivity. So, by addressing the tension in the neck and associated trigger points, headaches will often disappear!

There are so many different types of headaches, how can you know if Massage Therapy will help you with your specific headache? There are some good clues to watch for that may indicate that your headache pain is associated with a pesky trigger point:

Are The Foods You Eat Causing Your Headaches?

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on July 8, 2016.

Most of us have experienced a minor headache before, but did you know that over half of us experience an excruciating headache at least once a year? Unfortunately for many of us, headaches happen a lot more frequently than once a year and can be quite debilitating. When treating patients who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, it is important to understand the “root cause” of their head pain. I find most patients clearly know what triggers their headaches. I have heard explanations ranging from the weather to their mother-in-law, but a key starting point to treatment is always understanding what truly triggers the pain. For the sake of simplicity I will be using the term “headaches” to refer to both headaches and migraines. I completely appreciate that there is a difference as I too was once a migraine sufferer. Regardless of whether your headaches are occasional minor headaches or frequent migraines, the following information may help you feel better.

The Basics

Before we dive into the “food-headache” connection, there a few common culprits to chronic head pain that should be ruled out first. The following is a list of things to focus on. After correcting for these factors, if the chronic headaches are still present, then it may be worthwhile exploring a food sensitivity connection.

Welcome Phillip!

Written by KIHC on March 3, 2015.

We’re pleased to welcome Phillip Wendt to our professional team!

Phillip is a registered Occupational Therapist holding a BScOT from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MScOT from Queen’s University. He has also received additional education and training in home adaptation and universal design, life management and lifestyle redesign, cognitive remediation, and capacity evaluation. He has an intense passion for primary health care and his practice is focused on working with people to modify and change their daily routines, environment, and lifestyle to promote healthy independent living and prevent disease. In his practice at KIHC, Phillip aims to help people to manage a wide variety of health concerns including stress, chronic pain, chronic disability, diet, weight, and headaches.

Phillip currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and is past president of the Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists. He is also a member in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.

Massage Therapy for Jaw Pain

Written by KIHC on December 1, 2014.

Joel Ackerman, RMT

I’m sure you can probably guess the most common complaints I hear from clients: sore low backs, tight shoulders and necks, headaches, cranky knees, and so on. In addition to all of these more predictable aches, one complaint I hear more often than you might expect is jaw pain. Often it is mentioned in passing, and almost as a joke; “But I don’t suppose there’s anything you can do for that…” My clients are always surprised when my response is, “Yes, we can absolutely do some massage there!”

I have seen Massage Therapy be very effective in relieving all sorts of jaw pain, or as we call it, TMJ pain (named after the Temporomandibular Joint). In fact, there are a number of clients who have made intra-oral massage a part of their regular treatment plan, as they recognize the preventative benefits, even if they aren’t in pain! Other times, one or two treatments are all it takes to make a significant difference in how much pain someone is experiencing. In other situations, when people aren’t complaining of jaw pain, a little bit of release to the jaw makes a vast improvement in the overall tension they are feeling in their head and neck.

So how does Massage Therapy work exactly when it comes to the jaw? Treatment options for jaw pain include fascial work around the jaw joint at the ear, massage done directly to the muscles in and around the jaw. This includes some intra-oral massage. Using latex-free disposable gloves, and after establishing a clear communication system with the client, I begin by working on one muscle at a time (there are 4 on each side of the jaw). This can be a bit uncomfortable, as these muscles almost never get touched, but then the relief felt afterwards is almost instant! And because these muscles don’t get touched very much, a minute or two of massage goes a long way. Then we finish with more fascial work and massage to the muscles in the neck. The jaw and neck are very closely related, and dysfunction in one of these areas often leads to dysfunction in the other.

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage Therapy

Written by KIHC on December 1, 2014.

Rachel Young, RMT

Hot stone massage therapy uses heat therapy, both as a static application and while performing effleurage, to ease muscle tension and stiffness, and increase circulation and metabolism. Hot stone massage therapy promotes deeper muscle relaxation by placing smooth, water-heated volcanic basalt stones, which have the ability to retain heat for an extended amount of time, at key points on the body. Heat therapy applied to these areas helps to keep the parasympathetic nervous system, that is, the nervous system that promotes the release of hormones which relax the body, stimulated. During effleurage, the direct heat of the stones relaxes muscles more quickly than if the heat was not applied, which allows the massage therapist to gain access to the deeper muscle layers more efficiently. The steady heat from the hot stones expands blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body. This sedative effect can relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promote deep relaxation. Heat therapy is especially helpful at this time of year, when the body is subjected to the cold that keeps muscles contracted, restricting circulation, causing the nervous system to be in a sympathetic state, meaning the promotion of stress-related hormones to be released, even more than what normal-life stresses and disease already cause in the body. Combining hot stone protocols with a full body massage provides a very healing experience.

Tag: pain