Ah November...the short days, the cold winds, the runny noses. While for some this time of year means a move indoors to gyms and squash courts, for others it is time to dust off the gear that has been sitting idle in storage and getting hyped for all of the phenomenal winter activities that become available with the arrival of snow and ice. Wax up your skis, sharpen your skates and ice axes and get your boots fitted, winter has descended upon the Bow Valley!
In this fifth installment of the Active Motion E-Newsletter:
- We check in on 'Active' events going on in the Bow Valley
- We provide you with the latest Active Motion clinic news
- We take a closer look at heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis
'ACTIVE' EVENTS IN THE BOW VALLEY
Life Works Gym Winter Fitness Carnival
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Life Works Gym, 1412 Railway Ave. Canmore This is a great chance to learn all about the incredible array of activities, classes and facilities that Life Works Gym offers. Information and live demos are being offered all day and EVERYONE is welcome. There will be tons of great action for the whole family! Be sure to inquire about the Life Works Membership specials. A full schedule of events for the day is available for download here.
Attention X-C Skiers! Hugh Simson & Scott Edmunds will be presenting a Cross Country Ski Performance Workshop during the Life Works Fitness Carnival on Saturday November 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm. The presentation will feature a demo of the revolutionary TRX Suspension Training System.
CLINIC NEWS
Active Motion Physiotherapist Lisa Pearson recently completed her Gunn IMS Certification. Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is an effective treatment for the relief of both acute and chronic pain caused by supersensitive nerves and muscle shortening. The insertion of fine acupuncture needles into the tight bands of shortened muscles is able to evoke a reflex relaxation response in the muscles. Once the muscle relaxes, the nerve becomes desensitized, allowing the body to start healing. Contact Active Motion's Canmore clinic to book an IMS appointment with Lisa or to discuss this treatment option with her.
New! Follow Active Motion on Twitter
Active Motion is now 'Tweeting'! It has been great to connect with so many Bow Valley locals in the 'Twittersphere' over the past few months and share general health tips, keep up to date on the latest Canmore and Banff news, and provide the latest clinic news to our followers. Be sure to follow us @bowvalleyphysio
Unique Christmas Gift Ideas
Give the gift of better health this holiday season. Active Motion Physio is pleased to offer some unique gift ideas for the holiday season:
Gift Certificates for any Active Motion Service
Office Ergonomic Evaluations for your employees
Fit-To-Sit Sessions (including the Ergo Sit™)
Therapeutic Products
Visit our website or contact us for more information on any of these unique gift ideas.
PLANTAR FASCIITIS (Heel Pain)
Very common amongst runners, cross country skiers, and those who spend the better part of the day on their feet, Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of and/or micro tears in the Plantar Fascia, a thick band of connective tissue located on the bottom of the foot, extending from the Calcaneus (heel bone) and fanning out to the ball of the foot and the toes. The Plantar Fascia provides crucial support for the bones of the foot.
At Active Motion, we typically see three recurring causes of Plantar Fasciitis:
1. Muscle Tightness (pulling by ankle & calf muscles)
2. Poor Foot Biomechanics (flat feet & arch problems)
3. Bone Spurs
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis varies, depending on the root cause. Should it be from muscle tightness then Massage, Active Release Techniques (ART), Acupuncture/IMS, stretching, and a night time splint are all very effective treatment options.
In the event that it is from a bone spur (and the muscles are loose) then custom foot orthotics and shockwave therapy are both effective treatment options. 'Shockwaves' are administered sound waves that create micro vibrations and essentially cause 'controlled' injury to the bone spur. In turn, the body responds by increasing it's healing ability at that area, stimulating a natural repair process.
Finally, custom foot orthotics are a great treatment strategy should the Plantar Fasciitis be due to poor foot biomechanics. Custom foot orthotics not only help support the foot and take the pressure off of the Plantar Fascia, but they can also unload weight off of the Calcaneus such that there is little to no pressure on the heel bone when standing.
For further reading about Plantar Fasciitis and other foot related issues, please visit the 'Explore' section on our website by clicking here
We always enjoy hearing from our clients. If there is anything we can do for you to improve the client experience, we're all ears. If you have a moment to fill out our Client Satisfaction Survey , please download it here and bring it in with you at the time of your next visit. We appreciate your feedback!
Yours in health,
THE AMPT TEAM