Dr. Liza - Toronto Chiropractor

National Pain Awareness Week- Managing pain

2009-10-28T10:30:00.001-04:00

Pain is one of this nation’s most serious health problems—it is our silent epidemic. Approximately 15% or 6 million people suffer chronic pain that interferes with quality of life and productivity, and places a huge burden on our already strained health care system. More than half of hospitalized patients in Canada suffer significant acute pain and under-treatment of acute pain is a predictor of chronic pain.

Are There Things I Can Do Besides Taking Medication That Can Help My Pain?

Chiropractic- Visit a chiropractor. The chiropractic management of chronic pain depends, of course, on each individual's needs. For many chronic pain patients, gentle techniques such as low force chiropractic manipulation, joint mobilization, muscle techniques and other manual techniques can be very helpful.

TENS unit- "TENS" is the acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A "TENS unit" is a pocket size, portable, battery-operated device that sends electrical impulses to certain parts of the body to block pain signals. The electrical currents produced are mild, but can prevent pain messages from being transmitted to the brain and may raise the level of endorphins (natural pain killers produced by the brain). TENS units should only be used under the direction of a doctor or chiropractor. Electrodes are attached to the surface of the skin over or near the area where you are experiencing pain. TENS units are prescribed for both acute pain and chronic pain conditions. For some chronic pain patients, a TENS unit provides pain relief that can last for several hours. For others, a TENS unit may help reduce the amount of pain medications needed. Some patients hook the unit onto a belt turning it on and off as needed.

Massage – Visit a massage therapist . If the area where you have pain is too tender to be massaged an aqua [water] massage can be just as relaxing. Plan a time each day to have a massage; perhaps at a time before your pain usually gets worse or when you feel anxious. Massage oil or lotion helps keep the area you are massaging slippery. Be sure to tell the person massaging what feels good to you and stop if it makes the pain worse.

Heat – Heat is generally best for achy, cramping pain because it helps to relax tense muscles. Tense muscles cause pain due to a build up of lactic acid. Try a grain-filled heat bag that can be warmed up in the microwave. Follow the directions of the heat bag manufacturer to prevent burns.

Cold – Cold therapy is generally best for pain that comes from an injury, such as a sprained ankle, because it reduces swelling and inflammation. Use a commercially available ice pack or make your own out of a pack of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel or pillowcase. Try using a cold pack for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day. Use a 6 inch elastic bandage to wrap your cold pack around the body area in need of pain relief. (Do not use cold therapy on areas of broken skin or poor circulation) Topical creams – Topical analgesic creams can be helpful for some types of pain, such as arthritis or backache. Some creams have methyl salicylate (similar to Aspirin), some contain menthol, and some contain capsaicin. Capsaicin is a derivative of chili peppers.

Treatment for Whiplash Pain in Toronto

2009-09-23T12:02:00.004-04:00

What causes whiplash?

Whiplash most commonly occurs in car crashes as result of sudden deceleration.
Whiplash occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is stretched and strained after the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. The injury most commonly occurs in car crashes involving sudden deceleration, but the injury can also occur in other strenuous physical activities such as diving.

What does whiplash feel like?

The most frequent complaints are headaches and stiffness in the neck and the back of the head. These symptoms appear within the first couple of days after the accident. Shoulder pain, back pain, arm pain and numbness/tingling in the hands may also occur as a result of whiplash and may take as long as several weeks to appear.

How is whiplash treated?

Chiropractic spinal manipulation. The primary chiropractic treatment for joint dysfunction, chiropractic manipulation involves the chiropractor gently moving the involved joint into the direction in which it is restricted. Also known as a chiropractic adjustment, spinal manipulation may involve the application of a short thrust in that direction. In many cases, instead of a thrust, a slow mobilizing movement is used by the chiropractor.
Physical therapy modalities. Physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, hot/cold therapy and water therapy may also be used to reduce inflammation and increase range of motion. Laser therapy is also used for pain control and to stimulate healing of injured tissues.
Muscle relaxation or stimulation. The primary chiropractic treatments for muscle dysfunction related to a whiplash injury, muscle relaxation and/or stimulation consist of gentle stretches to the muscle that has excessive tension or repeated contractions of the muscle that is inhibited. If the muscle is very tight, a more vigorous stretch may be applied by the chiropractor. Gentle finger pressure techniques may be applied to trigger points to relieve the pain associated with the tight muscles.
Stabilization or sensorimotor exercise. These exercise approaches are designed to correct faulty movement patterns in routine activities and everyday life. They train the nervous system to better coordinate and control movement patterns, and improve the ability of the neck muscles to maintain stability of the neck. These exercises are designed to help in a major trauma, such as a fall or whiplash during a motor vehicle accident, or in "micro trauma" from simple things such as being jostled in a crowd, playing sports or performing occupational or home jobs that require physical effort.
Ergonomic and lifestyle advice. These suggestions stress improvements for performing everyday activities with minimal strain to the body. The advice addresses factors in an individual’s work, home or recreational activities that perpetuate the dysfunctions that result from the accident. The chiropractor may teach the patient better "use of self" and, if necessary, stress reduction methods to help chiropractic problems.

The whiplash treatment plan developed by the chiropractor for each specific problem may include one or more of these approaches and may involve others as well. The chiropractor might give a referral to another health professional, such as a medical specialist, if it is deemed appropriate.

For more information on the treatment options available for Whiplash, please visit the[clinic]'s website at http://www.theclinic-toronto.com/

The feel [better] lecture

2009-06-18T14:11:00.003-04:00

Thursday, June 25th

The feel [better] lecture

6:00 - 7:00 pm $5

The feel [better] lecture will discuss various factors in a person's daily life that can lead to aches, pains and injuries. The talk will address activity and lifestyle modifications that a person can make to feel better and tips on posture, sleeping, stress reduction and well being. This interactive class will allow time for questions on injuries, stress, fitness, and natural pain management.

Dr. Liza Egbogah (416-366-1710) is a chiropractor and clinical director of the[clinic], Toronto's Comprehensive Health Center www.theclinic-toronto.com.

Location: Whole Foods Market [Yorkville]
87 Avenue Rd
Toronto, Ontario

Please call 416.944.0500 for more information or to register for this classe. Please register in person at the customer service desk or by phone.

Most classes require advanced registration of 48 hours. Payment in full is required upon registration and payable by cash, debit or credit. Whole Foods Market reserves the right to reschedule classes with insufficient enrollment. Students will be notified if the class is cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you are unable to attend in order to receive store credit. Class value can be applied to another class or redeemed as store credit.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/toronto/storecalendar.php

Custom Orthopedic shoes

2009-01-28T10:58:00.001-05:00

Answers to some of your Chiropractic questions

2008-10-16T17:03:00.005-04:00

[These questions have been shortened from the original questions asked]

Q: I thought Chiropractors just crack backs?

Many people will be surprised to find out that there is no actual cracking involved in Chiropractic care. There is no snapping of bones nor cracking of joints. The sound that people associate with a chiropractic adjustment is actually gas being released from the joint, much in the way that gas is released when you open a new can of pop.

Q: So what else? Do chiropractors just adjust your back when you have back pain?

Chiropractors go through over 7 years of schooling to do a lot more than just treat backs. They are skilled and trained for most conditions pertaining to joints, muscles and nerves. Some chiropractors will use a combination of adjustments, mobilizations, myofascial release, physical therapy modalities, education and exercises to help their patients feel better faster.

Q:Well what about overall wellness?

A Chiropractor can help keep your joints moving and muscles loose. They can also help by monitoring your health condition. Because chiropractors generally spend more time with patients, they are able to pick up changes in a patient’s health status and refer them to their family doctor for further testing. A good chiropractor will also give advice on nutrition, lifestyle and physical fitness to help their patient live a happier and healthier life.

Q: Do I need Chiropractor?

It depends. Do you have headaches, arthritis, neck pain, back pain, shoulder impingement, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee pain, foot pain, elbow pain, muscle strains, joint stiffness, chronic pain, decreased energy, tendonitis, hip pain, a sports injury, a motor vehicle accident injury, wrist pain, finger pain, ankle pain, dizziness…… As you can see there are many things that can be helped with chiropractic care. If a chiropractor cannot treat your condition after your initial visit, they will gladly refer you to the appropriate health practitioner.

Q: Well I don’t want to see a Chiropractor once a week for the rest of my life?

And you shouldn’t have to. The number of recommended chiropractic visits are dependent on the individual and their present complaints. Some people are ok with a couple visits while more complicated cases may require a prolonged treatment plan. This is something your chiropractor will discuss with you on the first or second visit.

Cosmetic Chiropractic???

2008-09-22T17:05:00.002-04:00

Not only can chiropractors keep your spine aligned, they can keep your look aligned. Chiropractic helps with your posture, your health and your body composition allowing you to not only look better but to feel better. The following are steps that your chiropractor may use to help you look younger, more attractive, and healthier.

1. Exercise recommendations
Whether this means losing weight, building muscle, or improving body symmetry, a fitness regime that implements corrective exercises will help you not only look better but also feel better. Studies have shown that people perceive those with more symmetrical bodies to be more attractive.

2. Nutritional recommendations
Most people know, whether they like to admit it or not, that what they eat plays a part in what they look like. By looking at your current diet, a plan can be created that can help you achieve weight loss, increased energy levels, and a healthier appearance.

3. Spinal adjustments or mobilizations
After a small injury where you twisted wrong, lifted a heavy item, or simply slept the wrong way you may notice that your posture is thrown off. A crooked neck is not considered attractive and only provokes a look of sympathy from most. By adjusting your neck or low back, the chiropractor can get your spinal joints to move again allowing you to assume a better posture.

4. Myofascial release therapy
Myofascial release therapy involves the release of muscles which have tightened due to an injury or chronic postural strain from long days sitting at the computer. When you have tight muscles, it shows! Is it attractive for your shoulders to be hanging off your ears? Probably not, but when the muscles in your shoulders and neck get tight you may notices your shoulders heading north. Releasing those tight muscles through myofascial therapy will help lower the shoulders thereby making the neck look longer. Of course if you’re a body builder, it may not have the same effects.

5. Gait training and Custom Orthotic prescriptions
The way you walk shows your confidence and this in turn affects how attractive you are to other people. People tend to associate waddling and limping with old age and may consider this to be less attractive than an even heeled strut. There are many conditions that can affect the way a person walks and by determining what the problem is, a treatment plan including gait training and custom orthotics can be implemented.

Is your injury making you fat?

2008-08-08T10:06:00.002-04:00

You run 6 days a week, do some strength training on the 7th day and eat whatever the hell you want because you burn so many calories during the week.

You just sprained your ankle and now you start running on it before its healed, throwing off your stride and suddenly you hear your knee pop as you fall to the ground.

Now what?

You stop running…. you don’t work out at all because you are in pain and your doctor told you not to put any weight on your leg for atleast 3 weeks. So you stay at home and now you have all this extra time because you aren’t out running. What do you do? You pick up a new hobby… eating! You eat because your knee hurts, you eat to make yourself feel better, you eat to fill the void from not running, you eat because you feel like crap and then you eat some more. This is probably not the best idea.

The key is to prevent the injury before it takes you away from the activities you love and if you do get injured, get treated right away so that you can resume activity earlier.

A good Chiropractor can treat the sprains and strains that go along with an athletic lifestyle and also incorporate an exercise program into your treatment plan to reduce or prevent future injuries. Regular maintenance activities such as weekly Aqua Massages and daily stretching can keep you limber and help your body recover from injuries faster.

Runners are prone to tight psoas and piriformis muscles which can throw off the alignment of the pelvis. With regular myofascial release of these muscles and mobilizations/adjustments to the Sacroiliac joint, a runners performance and endurance can be increase and injuries reduced.

So your injuries don’t have to make you fat. Take care of yourself and your body will take care of you. You can treat your body to an Aqua Massage and Injury rehabilitation at the[clinic] in Toronto. If you do not live in the Toronto area, find a chiropractic clinic that offers sports injury rehabilitation and massage therapy. And don’t forget to stretch!

the[clinic] was founded in 2008 by Dr. Liza Egbogah and Dr. Rhuel Maano as Toronto’s first and only executive chiropractic practice. In addition to chiropractic care, the[clinic] also offers corporate wellness programs, aqua massage therapy, injury rehabilitation, and custom orthotics, all in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District.

http://www.theclinic-toronto.com/

Ouch. Its Plantar Fasciitis

2008-06-23T12:03:00.001-04:00

When your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in the heel of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis. It's an overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain in adults.

Symptoms
You're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman, if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf muscles that limit how far you can flex your ankles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis.
The condition starts gradually with mild pain at the heel bone often referred to as a stone bruise. You're more likely to feel it after (not during) exercise. The pain classically occurs again after arising from a midday lunch break.

If you don't treat plantar fasciitis, it may become a chronic condition. You may not be able to keep up your level of activity and you may also develop symptoms of foot, knee, hip and back problems because of the way plantar fasciitis changes the way you walk.

Treatments
Rest
Rest is the first treatment for plantar fasciitis. Try to keep weight off your foot until the inflammation goes away. You can also apply ice to the sore area for 10 minutes three or four times a day to relieve your symptoms.

Exercises
A program of home exercises to stretch your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia are the mainstay of treating the condition and lessening the chance of recurrence. Your chiropractor or therapist may prescribe exercises to to stretch the calf musculature and plantar fascia as well as strengthening exercises.

Rehabilitation
About 90 percent of people with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment. You may be advised to use shoes with shock-absorbing soles or fitted with a custom orthotic device. Your foot may be taped into a specific position. You may also be treated with ultrasound or laser therapy as well as soft tissue techniques used to release the plantar fascia.
If your plantar fasciitis continues after a few months of conservative treatment, your doctor may inject your heel with steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroid). If you still have symptoms, you may need to wear a walking cast for two to three weeks or positional splint when you sleep. In a few cases, you might need surgery to release your ligament.

Remember to consult with your Chiropractor or Family doctor to effectively diagnose your condition before undergoing treatment.

Dr. Liza Egbogah is a chiropractor at the[clinic] in Toronto.

www.theclinic-toronto.com

10 minutes of Bliss comes to downtown Toronto

2008-05-27T13:21:00.000-04:00

TORONTO, ONTARIO - (Marketwire - May 13, 2008)

You pop out of the office for a coffee break and return refreshed and revitalized. Now the masses of people that flock to downtown Toronto daily can experience a mini vacation in their busy work day. Massages are great ways to relieve stress and tension but most people do not have the time or budget to indulge in a massage. Aqua Massage offers an innovative way for consumers to incorporate the benefits of massage into their daily lives, in less time and with less fuss. According to Dr. Liza Egbogah, CEO and co-founder of the[clinic], the Aqua Massage is a non-invasive hydrotherapy unit that is used to soothe aching muscles, relieve tension, and promote relaxation in less time than a typical massage.

Unlike standard forms of hydro therapy, users do not get wet. Aqua Massage uses 36 jets and 18 gallons of water to massage the body, moving up and down and varying in pressure according to the user's preference. Because the jets are encapsulated in the upper part of the machine, which resembles a tanning bed, the user does not get wet.

"People love the idea of being able to get full body massage in only 10 minutes without having to undress. The machine has been a great addition to the[clinic], offering patients the ability to incorporate massage into their busy schedules." said Dr. Liza. Even elite athletes are eager for a quick solution to aching muscles. The Miami Heat NBA team uses the aqua massage as an adjunct to their training and therapy and now Torontonians can enjoy the same benefits.

the[clinic] is an executive chiropractic health centre in downtown Toronto offering Chiropractic, Aqua Massage, Physical Therapy, and Corporate Wellness programs.

Wii-HAB: How Video Games Are Revolutionizing Injury Rehabilitation

2008-05-13T16:05:00.001-04:00

Wii-HAB: How Video Games Are Revolutionizing Injury Rehabilitation

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 13, 2008) - Injury rehabilitation is often a long and difficult process. The strenuous physical and mental demands combined with the tedious and repetitive prescribed exercises can wear away at a patient's motivation and compromise compliance. That's why the chiropractors at the[clinic] designed the rehabilitation facilities in their practice to focus on the Nintendo Wii video game system. According to Dr. Rhuel Maano, President and Co-founder of the[clinic], the Wii's movement-detecting wireless controllers which allow for interactive game-play have proven to be an invaluable tool in helping patients effectively recover from injuries in a fun and immersive way.Dr. Maano says that response from patients to their innovative approach to injury rehabilitation has been overwhelmingly positive. "Patients are much more eager and actually look forward to doing their rehab exercises. They enjoy playing the different games so much that they sometimes forget that they're also working towards recovering from their injuries at the same time. Patients become so absorbed into the game-play that it really helps take their mind off what would otherwise be an uncomfortable or even painful session."Standard injury rehabilitation exercises are designed to regain a patient's strength and range of motion to pre-injury levels. Unfortunately, they are typically quite boring and patients can lose interest quickly. The entertainment component of Wii-based injury rehabilitation vastly improves patient compliance which is a key factor in ensuring program success. "I've used standard rehabilitation programs in the past and the response I get from patients now is much more enthusiastic. I've never come across a patient who was excited to work with a medicine ball, but everyone loves using the Wii for rehab. Given the choice between stretching an exercise band or playing video games, everyone always picks the video games.

the[clinic] was founded in 2008 by Dr. Rhuel Maano and Dr. Liza Egbogah as Toronto's first and only executive chiropractic practice. Besides chiropractic care, the[clinic] also offers corporate wellness programs, aqua massage therapy, injury rehabilitation, and custom orthotics, all in the heart of Toronto's Financial District.

the[clinic] website is up

2008-05-12T16:36:00.000-04:00

the[clinic]'s website is up and running. Check it out!

www.theclinic-toronto.com

Have you tried deep breathing?

2008-05-07T10:39:00.001-04:00

[Deep Breathing]

By concentrating on our breathing, deep breathing allows the rest of our body to relax itself. Deep breathing is a great way to relax the body and get everything into synchrony. Relaxation breathing is an important part of yoga and martial arts for this reason and can improve athletic performance and facilitate weight loss.

Begin to inhale slowly through your nose if possible.
Fill the lower part of your chest first, then the middle and top part of your chest and lungs. Be sure to do this slowly, over 8–10 seconds.
Hold your breath for a second or two.
Then quietly and easily relax and let the air out through your mouth.
Wait a few seconds and repeat this cycle.
If you find yourself getting dizzy, then you are overdoing it. Slow down.
You can also imagine yourself in a peaceful situation such as on a warm, gentle ocean. Imagine that you rise on the gentle swells of the water as you inhale and sink down into the waves as you exhale.

www.theclinic-toronto.com