Today we learned: shoulders are complicated things!

Today we learned: shoulders are complicated things. Here you are thinking it’s just a joint, but it’s actually a complex. Mmm hmmm, there’s a bunch of joints and bits in there, which means shoulder injuries are tricky. Gardening, golfing, swimming, home renovations, working out…now especially with the debut of this gorgeous summer weather, shoulder injuries are starting to flare up. Not so surprising, since it’s essentially impossible to do something with your arm and not move your shoulder. No wonder they end up getting all injured.

Remember how your mother told you not to slouch? It's not just because she wanted you to look smart. It's because she didn't want you to have chronic shoulder problems. Posture has a huge impact on the health of your body! Work at a desk all day? Experience shoulder pain? You're most certainly not alone. Here is Matthew's take on it:

The neck joint's connected to the shoulder joint, the shoulder joint's connected to the elbow joint...and everything's connected by nerves! Pain in one place isn't necessarily indicative of an injury there, so how do you figure out where the issue actually is? Well, we know a few physiotherapists that would be pleased as punch to help you out:

The last of our "ask the expert" segments is scheduled for July 8th, so be sure to start brainstorming.

Ottawa Race Weekend! The aftermath...

CONGRATULATIONS RUNNERS! Another Ottawa Race Weekend over, and we hope many of you hit some new PRs! Now that it’s been a few days we also hope you’ve taken some time to relax and let the soreness dissipate. Wish you would’ve stretched a bit better? Matthew made some stretching recommendations on Ask The Expert this week:

Still feeling sore? In might be more than just general after-race aches. Wondering if you should come in and see us? In this next segment Matthew talks a little bit about if you should be booking an appointment. Frustrated that you’re hurting despite all your training? Don’t sweat it – totally normal and Matthew outlines why:

Arthritis, doctor’s referrals, and did you know we have subsidized rates for people without insurance? All in this last segment:

That’s it for now. The next segment will be June 17^th, so be sure to jot your questions down!

Ask The Expert: Running Evaluations

Did you miss out on Matt's CTV performance? Not to worry, we've got all the clips from his "Ask The Expert" segment on running evaluations right here:







If you'd like to catch Matthew live you'll have another chance coming up next Monday, May 27th when he'll be talking all about shoulders. Tune in at 9:00 AM for the show, and don't forget to submit your questions:


E-mail: Ottawa.morning@ctv.ca

Facebook

Twitter

Phone: 613-789-6559 ext. 2803

Look Ma! We're on the TV!

Been watching TV recently? Then you might’ve seen the happy, smiling faces of our team in this delightful little clip:

Hmm, remember a little more than that? Don’t worry, you weren’t just dreaming about more of Jason’s face. You might’ve seen this full-length version:

Neat, huh? TV is a new thing for OPTSC this year, but Matthew’s especially enjoyed his little taste of show business.

So much so, in fact, that starting tomorrow he’ll be doing a series of segments for CTV’s “Ask the Experts.” It’s a segment that happens every Monday morning after 9:00AM where you have the chance to ask a particular expert your questions via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter or by calling in live to the show. This week Matthew will be talking about running evaluations, so all you Ottawa Race Weekend runners can get your last few questions in before the big day! That’s right, no appointment required.

Want to ask a question? Here’s how:
E-mail: Ottawa.morning@ctv.ca 

Facebook

Twitter
Phone: 613-789-6559 ext. 2803

Be sure to tune into to CTV Morning Live for the answers!

OPTSC Presents: Andrew!

Since we're all about the personal touch here at OPTSC, it's only appropriate that we help you get to know our team, personally. Our 6'2" physiotherapist Andrew Dings likes long walks on the beach...

That's Andrew!

C'mon, of course that's not what we meant. We are going to tell you a bit about Andrew though. First off, we're going to tell you why he decided to enter the world of physiotherapy. Funnily enough, it's because he wanted to teach. That might make you wonder why he didn't just become a teacher. Well, turns out the only class he really liked in high school was exercise science. Go figure.That led him to thinkin' he might want to teach it himself when he grew up.

Andrew aptly decided to start with an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa...where the only thing he liked was physio. So he decided to roll with it, figuring he could teach people about health and well being through physiotherapy. He enrolled in the Masters of Physiotherapy at UofO and was so keen on it he started working reception in the clinic before his Masters had even started. He's been a part of OPTSC ever since.

If you've ever had a treatment with Andrew, you'll realize he's a natural teacher. To make sure you're clear about his methods, he explains everything while he's doing it. You'll appreciate knowing what's going on, especially if he's doing manual therapy (one of his favourite types of treatment, where he helps to get joint surfaces moving against one another in the way they should be moving). He's super laid back, so don't be shy if you've got any questions; Andrew is straightforward and thorough with his answers. His favourite injuries to treat? Lower back. Good thing, since low back and neck pain are the things he treats most often.

Like to curl? Run? Volley? So does Andrew. In his youth he was quite the curler, although he doesn't do much of it now. He gets his sports fix through volleyball, and of course with those long legs he's a runner. A distance runner though, and he's training for his second 1/2 marathon this May. He also snowboards, cross country skis, plays soccer, plays ultimate frisbee...the list goes on. On top of sports, and helping old ladies cross the street, Andrew volunteers as a medical trainer with the Myers Jr. Riders of the Quebec Junior Football League. So he's obviously knowledgeable about MANY different injuries, but if you're looking for someone who won't judge you for dislocating your shoulder throwing a "biter," he's your guy.

Andrew diving in Honduras

If you want to talk about something other than injuries or sports during a treatment, try travel! Andrew loves it, and has been to: Ireland, France, Cuba, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Honduras. Don't worry though, he won't brag all through your appointment. On top of everything else, Andrew's nothing other than professional.

Andrew Dings works primarily out of our Westboro location. To book an appointment with him, please call: 613-728-4160

Best physiotherapy clinic IN THE UNIVERSE!

That's a pretty tall claim, and we certainly aren't making it. We just want to talk a little about what a good physiotherapy clinic is. Every day, people are using Google to search "best physiotherapy clinic Ottawa." They're hoping to find a clinic to help them address their needs effectively and efficiently. Instead they're getting a list of clinic names with nothing but location to distinguish one from another. Instead of telling you why we're the best, we're going to give you some things to look for in a good physiotherapy clinic. So whether you're in Ottawa or Saskatoon, you'll be making an informed decision when choosing where to seek treatment.

SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST: When you're going to see a physiotherapist, you should be seeing a physiotherapist, right? Right. A lot of clinics have assistants, and while it helps them deal with a larger number of patients, it compromises client care. Assistants aren't physiotherapists. Not just anyone can be a
physiotherapist, and if they could you wouldn't need to look for the best one anyway. So when you're choosing a clinic, make sure you're going to be working one-on-one with a trained physiotherapist.

ACTUAL TREATMENTS: When you go to see a physiotherapist, it's likely they may recommend
something other than just physiotherapy such as massage therapy, ultrasound, intramuscular stimulation or leprechaun magic. Alright, you probably wouldn’t go to a physiotherapist that recommends leprechaun
magic, but make sure you ask about the types of treatment an office uses. We'd strongly recommend a clinic that utilizes treatments proven to work (we’re talking treatments based in science, with studies and numbers to back the claims). Take passive based physiotherapy for instance: in our opinion it has limited validity. However, don't just take our word for it! Look up a treatment's effectiveness or ask the clinic lots of questions to see it it's the type of physio you want.

If you’re having a hard time choosing a clinic in Ottawa, feel free to call us at any of our three locations: Barrhaven - 613.825.8548; Westboro - 613.728.4160; Orleans - 613.830.3466. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

Spring has spRUNg

 

Well, almost anyway. If you’re crazy brave enough to run out-of-doors you’ll notice the number of people joining you has increased. Maybe it's just 5 others running along the canal instead of 1, but there’s no doubt the slight rise in temperature means running season is just around the corner. 

Most people take to spring running to help shed the pounds gained from a winter of hibernating, but there are a multitude of other benefits. Increased cardiovascular health, decreased stress, increased energy, prevention of bone/muscle loss and the increased ability to survive during a zombie apocalypse are just a few. Oh, and stomping your time from last year’s Ottawa Race Weekend is a good reason to lace up the trainers sooner rather than later. So let’s get to it, shall we? 

No matter if your past running experience is 20 marathons or 20 minutes, the best thing you can do for yourself now is to START SLOW. After 4 months of sitting around (conveniently the span of the worst parts of an Ottawa winter), you’ve lost enough endurance to merit starting out at a beginner level. Don’t think all that snowboarding counts either – running is a different ball game, using different muscles in different ways. Your lungs and heart might be in good shape, but we want to keep your joints and tendons like that too. 

So how do you start running slowly? Try 20 to 30 minutes at low intensity, two or three times a week. Low intensity is different for everyone, so listen to your body. Once you’ve got 30 minutes down no problem, start increasing the time in 5 minute intervals, or increasing the intensity by about 5%. It might seem slow, but d’you know what else is slow? An injured runner. 

Will starting slowly guarantee you won’t be injured? Unfortunately not, but it’s a great place to start. Another great way to detour around injury town is to partake in a running evaluation. Performed at any of our three clinics, it’s spread over two sessions. The first is a clinical evaluation, which delves into your previous running/injury history, takes a good look at your current level/goals, and identifies any physical factors that may impact your running biomechanics. 

The second session is a running evaluation, where your technique is assessed on an outdoor track. Based on your movement patterns, recommendations are made to make you the best runner you can be, while minimizing injury. If this is the year you want to have your fastest time, the detailed training plan we’ll provide will certainly get you there. This isn’t a generic week-to-week program! Running is a highly technical sport and a personalized plan will definitely help bring out your best. 

Now go get running! Race Weekend is only 12 weeks away!