Researchers have recently studied the Elliptical trainer’s effect on torso and overall body mechanics.  What they found may help explain why some low back pain sufferers can not tolerate this form of exercise. They tested a number of hand positions and varying stride lengths on the elliptical trainer, and concluded that all hand positions and stride lengths tested, resulted in an increased average forward flexion of the lumbar spine when compared to walking.  We already [...]

This comes as no surprise.  The European Spine Journal recently published research results suggesting that a higher muscular and aerobic fitness level is associated with a reduced risk of lower back pain.  Conversely, they also found that either excessive or inadequate exercise levels were associated with an increased risk of lower back pain.   These results were statistically more significant in women than in men. How do we take this information and apply it to [...]

No two people are the same.  Seems obvious right?  Then why are there so many chiropractic and physiotherapy clinics in Ottawa placing patients on identical treatment plans, regardless of their presenting condition? Example: Patient 1 presents to our office with obvious symptoms of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).  They first visited a different chiropractic clinic in the city and were told that their elbow pain was a result of degeneration in the cervical spine (neck region). [...]

Are you religiously performing sit-ups/crunches, “super mans” with wrist or ankle weights, or seated lumbar extensions with a weight stack?  …all in hopes of strengthening specific muscles in your “core” to help “cure” or prevent ongoing lower back problems?  If so, you may be in for a surprise.  Many of us are of the mindset that adding more weight to our abdominal exercises, or targetting specific core muscles like the ever-so-popular transverse abdominis may be [...]

Our downtown Ottawa Physiotherapy and Chiropractic centre will be offering a post-partum core conditioning class for women.  The first class will be ready for March 2013  These classes will be covered through private 3rd party chiropractic and physiotherapy health insurance. Please stay tuned for updates regarding these classes. Your Downtown Ottawa Physiotherapy and Chirorpactic Team, Shelagh Haynes & Chad Wilson

A recent research study published within the European Spine Journal produced some interesting results.  The researchers found that the presence or absence of centralization (pain and discomfort moving back to the level of origin at the spine) had little to do with overall prognosis in the given sample.  More research is clearly needed on this topic, but this provides your treating therapist (chiropractor, physio therapist, or massage therapist) with more research backed knowledge for making clinical [...]

An analysis of neurodynamic techniques was undertaken and the results published within the publication - Manual Therapy 2008; 13: 213-221. While working with two cadavers, the investigators were attempting to determine the mechanical effects on peripheral nerves (e.g. median nerve) that were subject to the gliding techniques often utilized in treatment techniques such as Active Release Techniques (ART). What they found is that nerve sliding techniques, such as those performed in Active Release Techniques, may be appropriate [...]

“When I go out dancing in my high-heels in downtown Ottawa, does it have an effect on my back?”  Every Chiropractor and Physiotherapist across Ottawa has surely been asked this question by a patient at some point in their career.   And what is the typical response?  I’m guessing it has something to do with shortened calf muscles, a tilted pelvis, an altered centre of mass, a “compensation” pattern, or some combination of the above. [...]

A recent systematic epidemiological review has found that for both neck pain and back pain, spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) appears to be a cost-effective treatment strategy when used alone or in combination with General Practitioner (GP) care, advice and/or exercise, in comparison to GP care alone – yet another reason to encourage your family physician to consider recommending spinal manipulative therapy (often carried out by Chiropractors, Physiotherapists or Osteopaths) in the treatment of neck or back [...]

This study was put forth by the Chiropractic Department in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.  They were looking at possible predictors for improvement in acute and chronic lower back pain patients. The group of researchers found the strongest predictor of clinical improvement was improvement in patients after 1 week of treatment. These patients were 4 to 5 times more likely to be significantly improved at 3 months than those who showed little [...]