Tele-rehabilitation is a method of treating clients and patients through a secure, online portal, from the comfort of your own home. Whole Therapy is now offering online sessions for physiotherapy, personal training, and integrative therapy as of March 23, 2020!
We can assess, treat, coach, and train through this new type of service. Times like these call for new innovations, so if you are a current or new patient of ours and need assistance, please reach out and book with us!
While this type of rehabilitation has some limitations, there are many positives, including:
- Eliminating travel time (and currently, satisfying the need to stay at home during the COVID-19 outbreak)
- Continuing your treatment plan so that you stay on top of things and avoid regression of your symptoms
- Movement and self-care education, exercise correction and progression; generally ensuring that you’re doing the right things in the right ways to eliminate pain and get stronger
- Having your questions (about symptoms, pain, exercises, general movement) answered thoroughly and effectively
- Accountability for your rehabilitative exercise and personal training (because lets face it: self motivation can be hard!)
Some frequently asked questions about tele-rehab:
Q: Is telerehab effective?
A: In many cases, yes. Your physiotherapist will be able to determine whether telerehab will work for you and your condition. If it isn’t appropriate for you, your physiotherapist or trainer will be able to recommend a course of action to follow instead.
Q: How do you protect my information during a session?
A: At Whole Therapy, we use a secure, encrypted software which is compliant with privacy laws in Canada. Your therapist or trainer will be in a private environment, and you yourself will be encouraged to set up your computer in a quiet room away from others and distractions.
Q: Do I need an account or special equipment?
A: Not at all! Before your session you will be sent a URL which will take you to your practitioner’s virtual ‘waiting room’. When your treatment begins, the practitioner will click on your name and the session will start. No accounts needed. As for equipment, all you need is a desktop or laptop with a camera. For best results, the room you’re in should be well lit. You can even do this via cell phone, however we recommend a bigger screen just for logistics.
Q: What if something goes wrong during the session?
A: Logistical errors such as internet connection can mostly be prevented by setting up in a place with reliable internet. If something does go wrong, your session can be re-booked. Safety is also an issue with this type of appointment. We recommend you clear your area of hazards so that your movement can happen in an unimpeded manner. You and your practitioner will discuss what will happen should a serious situation arise, before the session begins.
Q: Does my insurance cover this?
A: We suggest calling your insurance provider to confirm, but most seem on board with this type of rehabilitation. We will provide you with an insurance receipt (in the case of physiotherapy) as usual.
Q: Do you direct bill?
A: We do now! As of March 23, 2020, Whole Therapy is set up for direct billing. You need to fill out a form for us online, authorizing us to bill for you, and voila! The balance remaining will be invoiced to you online through our software, and you’ll be able to pay via credit card.
For more information, please visit the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario page HERE
The Functional Movement Assessment
Picture this: you’re heading to the gym for a workout. Are you excited? Nervous? Finding excuses to dive back under the covers? Feelings about workouts and gym spaces vary vastly.
Common amongst us all, however, is a desire for our bodies to look good and move well. And we know that those two things are not mutually exclusive.
And guess what else? We are all getting older. The longer we live, the more we repeat movement patterns that aren’t necessarily serving us.
Basic squat pattern
Are my movements that bad?
If you’re working out, whether in a gym, a studio, or your kitchen, you’re generally moving along the same planes, doing different variations of the same exercises:
- Squat
- Lunge
- Push
- Pull
- Bend
- Twist
Shoulder extension tells us a lot about neck and back pain.
These exercise types make up most of our workouts. BUT doing them correctly (and being able to scale them up by adding weight, extra reps or sets, or variation) requires our muscles to work together properly, fire at the right times, and recover well.
Which isn’t always the case.
Enter: The Functional Movement Assessment.
Even at the best of times, repetition of patterns in exercise (and life) leads to the eventuality of said patterns to veer off course. Like the alignment of your car, you need re-calibration from time to time. If we don’t regularly assess our movement and correct where necessary, it can lead to injury, and setbacks.
Re-calibration is necessary.
Could I use an Assessment?
Likely. We love when people are pro-active about their wellness and come in every 6-12 months for a functional top-up. But otherwise, you could use one of these if you are:
- Starting a new program (a new sport or activity, or training for something specific)
- A competitive athlete (we recommend starting every season with an Assessment)
- Coming off of an injury and getting back to your regular activity levels
- Feeling generally ‘off’ or wary during activity, almost like you’re on the edge of injury
Listening to your body when it feels ‘off’ is key to injury prevention.
What happens during an Assessment?
You spend an hour with one of our highly trained Personal Trainers in the Whole Therapy gym space, where you will go over your personal health history. He or she will assess basic movement patterns with you, and educate you during the process on what your body is doing and ‘saying’.
After the assessment, the Trainer will lay out a recommendation of corrective exercise and a plan to address any areas that need improvement.
I need this! Book Now
Who needs this program?
This is a program being run by Adam Prokaziuk – physiotherapist, and Derek Lacelle – personal trainer.
It is designed for golfers of all backgrounds, from aspiring tour professionals to weekend warriors and those picking up a golf club for the first time.
Pain is not a pre-requisite to participate in this program, only the desire to move more efficiently through your golf swing.
What’s it all about?
The Modern Golf Evaluation (MGE) is a program that intends to help golfers identify limitations in the way their body moves using a movement screen for assessment. This assessment looks at particular movements central to the golf swing.
By identifying certain shortcomings in a golfer’s movement (for example, a limitation in their ability to rotate their trunk), we design a customized program that is unique to the individual to address these shortcomings. This program will combine manual therapy treatment techniques by the physiotherapist with exercises (including but not limited to mobility and strength drills) assigned by the personal trainer to optimize the golfer’s movement patterns, ultimately leading to a more efficient swing and helping improve the golfer’s game overall.
It should be noted for those taking golf lessons that we aren’t swing coaches – this program isn’t meant to address the technical side of the game. In fact, we work to compliment the work of a swing coach by providing a sound movement foundation to work from.
“We aren’t swing coaches. We work to compliment the work of a swing coach by providing a sound movement foundation to work from.”
When can I use this program?
The MGE takes place year-round and can be started at any point in the golf season. The goals set out at the beginning of each individual’s program are fluid and ever-changing, depending on the time of season.
For instance, a client beginning their program in the offseason (i.e. winter) may have developed some aches and pains during the past season, and wishes to feel better while also reducing their injury risk for next season. After reaching this goal, they may determine midway through the season that they’d like to add distance to their drive, so the training will change focus to emphasize power.
Will this help my golf game?
The MGE is a program that would benefit every golfer, regardless of skill level or satisfaction level in their golf game. Perfection of movement is impossible – we’re human after all! However, we can all stand to enhance the way we move which can translate to improved performance on the course, be it through better joint mobility, improved muscular flexibility, or better power and strength, to name a few.
Golf is like any other sport, it requires a dedicated training program to stay on top of your game. Come and see us to create a program specific to you!
Sign me up! Where is it?
Assessment, treatment, and training sessions will take place at Whole Therapy Lancaster, at 2723 Lancaster Road in Ottawa.
BOOK YOUR EVALUATION HERE
Do you suffer from Tech Neck?
What is Tech Neck?? A term coined by a chiropractor, ”tech neck” refers to overuse syndrome or a repetitive stress injury in your neck from looking at your mobile electronic device for too long. It sounds crazy, but this is the world we live in now! The American Posture Institute has identified three different levels of posture severity:
Level 1: Proper Tech Posture
- Ears are aligned over the shoulders
- Eyes looking forward instead of looking down
- Back is straight
- Person is standing or sitting up
Level 2: Standing & Slumped Tech Neck
- Ears are in front of the shoulders
- Head drops down
- Shoulders and upper back are rounded forward
- Person is standing
Level 3: Cervical Spine Tech Neck
- Ears are in front of the shoulders
- Head drops down
- Eyes are looking down
- Shoulders and upper back are rounded forward
- C-shaped spinal curvature
- Person is seated and slumped
Most of us won’t be in perfect posture all the time, and we will sometimes experience discomfort in our neck and shoulders from everyday life. How do you know if you’re past normal aches and pains and require some intervention? Here are three main symptoms to look for.
- When you’re not looking at a phone: Rounded shoulders with head forward neck posture
Head forward posture, while common, is not a normal state for your body to be in. Every centimeter your head is forward puts more pressure on the spine, jaw, and neck. Muscles in the front of the neck become weak and stretched out, while muscles in the upper chest and neck become short, tight, and knotted. Take a picture from the side and line your ear up with your shoulder. If your ear sits forward of your shoulder, it might be time to get checked out.
- Headaches
Tension-type headaches affect us all occasionally. But if that vice grip around your temples or throbbing in your eyes is happening on a weekly (or more frequent!) basis, your screen time may be to blame.
- Neck and upper back pain
Like headaches, neck and back pain are facts of life sometimes. If your shoulders feel like rocks and are really tender when you squeeze them (or if you find yourself trying to massage your own shoulders often during the day), it’s gone past the normal wear and tear of daily living.
“I think this describes me.” you say. “What do I do?”
Multi-disciplinary care, including chiropractic, can help with Tech Neck. Booking an assessment to determine where you’re at and coming up with a plan of action is our recommendation. Here’s how the process begins.
- A complete history and spinal exam to ensure proper care for your back, neck and any other potential issues. Followed by:
- Chiropractic adjustments: With several different techniques to make all patients feel comfortable, including soft-tissue work for your rock-hard muscles.
- Specific stretches and strengthening exercises to speed the healing process and maintain a healthy and pain free body.
Remember this, tilting the head forward only 15 degrees places approximately 27 lbs on your neck. Forget carrying a toddler on your back. This is like placing one on the back of your head all day!! And it only gets heavier the greater the angle!
Some things you can do today to stop Tech Neck from getting worse (prevention is key!!)
- Avoid excessive mobile usage and take frequent breaks.
- Avoid prolonged static postures. Position the device such that it reduces stresses both on the head/neck and the upper extremities.
- Avoid high repetitions of movements such as prolonged typing or swiping.
- Avoid holding large or heavy devices in one hand for a prolonged duration
With over 90% of the population using handheld devices, remember: Just because neck and back pain are common, does not mean it’s normal to be in pain.
BOOK YOUR ASSESSMENT HERE
Concussion or whiplash, whiplash or concussion. Do you know the difference? Check out this video to get the info!
And if you’re still unsure, feel free to give us a call at 613-599-2311 or email us.
Concussion management appointments and Chiropractic adjustments with Dr. Turner are available now. Book yours today!
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT HERE
DO I NEED AN ASSESSMENT?
-Are you dealing with a current running injury?
-Do you have a history of running injuries and want to prevent future ones?
-Do you want a more efficient running gait and to improve your performance?
-Are you a beginner and would like to learn how to start running properly?
-Do you want an individualized training program tailored to your specific needs and goals?
SO WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Step 1. Subjective history with focus on current/past injuries, review of any previous therapies, and review of current training program (if any).
Step 2. Running gait analysis on our clinic treadmill.
Step 3. Functional strength and mobility assessment to test running- specific muscle imbalances.
WHO WILL I BE SEEING? – ABOUT RICHELLE
Richelle graduated with a Masters in Physiotherapy in 2009 from Dalhousie University. She has completed courses in the Prevention of Running Injuries and has hosted several run groups, seminars and workshops on running well. Richelle is an experienced runner with the OAC racing team, and a member of Run Ottawa. She is passionate about working with runners to both decrease injuries and improve performance! Don’t forget to check her out on Instagram and Facebook!
BOOK YOUR RUNNING ASSESSMENT HERE
Flashbacks often leave people feeling powerless and frustrated. They’re taken on a ride against their will which only reinforces the trauma. One tool my clients report finding very helpful is free, simple, safe and grounding. Start off by practicing it in a safe place while not experiencing a flashback. Use the conscious intent to prepare yourself to engage it whenever it’s needed. This ingrains the muscle memory and pre-programs the subconscious mind that “this is the first thing we do when any degree of flashback intrudes”.
Sitting or standing, firmly press one forefoot and the heel of the other foot into the floor. Slowly and deliberately rock the one foot back onto the heel while the other rocks forward onto the ball of the foot. Slowly alternate until you feel the pattern is well established in both mind and body. Set the firm mental intention that at the first onset of any flashback, this is what I’ll always do until it loses its power.
This technique offers relief by restoring a sense of personal power and authority over these events. It doesn’t heal the triggering trauma itself. That’s what resources such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT, Tapping), Picture Tapping Techniques and EMDR are for. However, my clients often report that being able to take some form of concrete action brings them a welcome sense self agency. As one client said with a smile of wonderment on her face “for the first time, I owned this @#!&%. It didn’t own me”
Like anything else, practice creates habits, so let your feet rock on. If you forget, don’t give up. You’re always doing the best you know how to do at any moment, so have compassion on yourself and just keep practicing.
For further information, contact our Integrative Therapist @ 613-747-5458 or david@david-gilbert.com .
Yours in good mental/emotional health.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Author: David E P Gilbert. David is a highly experienced Integrative Therapist particularly focused on anxiety/depression, stress, burnout, grief, trauma or PTSD, Post Concussion Syndrome and self-sabotage. He’s based at Whole Therapy and ECOSYS Wellness Center in Ottawa ON. Canada. Being trained in a number of modalities including Emotional Freedom Techniques and PTT (Picture Tapping Techniques), he works with clients both in-office and via phone or video cam across the world. Work so powerful it’s guaranteed
This experience was amazing!! If you ever have the opportunity to be in the presence of Jen Wright, it is a blessing. Not only is Jen a colleague, she is also my boss and what a warrior of a person she is! In our treatment today, I got to experience craniosacral therapy for the first time and she also included some energy and neuromuscular work in the treatment and…wow! I am completely grounded and at peace as I write this now. I am not one to flaunt my knowledge of energy work, I’m not a practiced energy worker myself nor I’ll admit, do I understand all the wonderful benefits of how it can be integrated into a therapeutic treatment, but my goodness has Jen ever mastered it! She explained that everyone experiences these types of treatments differently and I was fortunate enough to have the most blissful treatment EVER!
Raise your hand (go on, I’l be able to tell!) if you’ve said or heard someone say “If I’m not in tears by the end of this treatment then the massage is unless” – WRONG! The body doesn’t need to feel pain to relieve pain. Massage therapy is a delicate balance between challenging tissue in a therapeutic way and then integrating healing techniques to relax and release the targeted tissue. Jen IS that balance, and she throws in an added bonus of working through the emotional walls that our bodies put up consciously or even unconsciously. She is not fluffy or voodooey at all, she explains the process through scientific facts, anatomical physiology and how it all ties together with massage and craniosacral work. Whether you are a spiritual butterfly or a science forward person, she allows you to see things through your own beliefs and interpretations and I believe that’s what sets her apart from the rest.
For myself, I had a very empowering treatment that allowed me to see where my strengths and weaknesses are. We worked through muscle trigger points in my back to grounding my feet and protecting my inner healer. We also worked on the skull to see where things are moving with ease or are slightly “stickier”. I was able to leave this treatment feeling rejuvenated and at peace. I believe everyone should feel this way, rejuvenated and at one with oneself. Life can be extremely overwhelming at times and there are moments when we need to look inward to heal to move forward.
Jen is the founder and creator of Whole Therapy. She understood that it was not about the money but how we as practitioners can help heal others as a team, as a whole. I would highly recommend, if you can find a spot in her busy schedule, that you experience a treatment with her healing hands. They are completely magical!
Stephanie Lanthier
RMT
We have all seen when a person shows up with circular hickey-like bruises on their body. I remember witnessing this for the first time and thinking “What the heck is that?! And why would anybody do that to themselves?!” Or even, “What happened to that person?!” Well guess what, you were witness to someone who just had cupping. Believe it or not, they are not crazy, nobody injured them, the treatment is actually incredibly relaxing, and the benefits are amazing! From relieving back/neck pains, loosening stiff muscles, and even decreasing anxiety, fatigue, migraines, and rheumatism, this treatment is something that everyone can benefit from.
Cupping is a body treatment that involves creating suction on the skin using glasses, or plastic cups. It is most definitely a very trendy thing these days; however, the reality is that it is not new at all. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. During that time, they discovered that by placing a cup on the surface of the skin, then subsequently using a suction device to remove the oxygen, that they could create a negative pressure inside the cup. This is why cupping results in elevation of the skin into the signature dome-like appearance inside the cup. The benefits they uncovered, and that we are now just experiencing, are beyond what you would imagine. They include:
- Creating a mild immune response and increasing anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body by mobilizing blood flow to the skin. Since the same reaction takes place during muscle recovery, cupping results in faster and more efficient healing.
- Improving blood circulation to the tissues by drawing stagnant blood to the surface. This speeds up and helps with the recovery of the treated muscle.
- Stretching tight muscles and the surrounding fascia, resulting in looser muscles, decreased pain, and improved mobility.
Whether you are suffering from pain, discomfort, or immobility, or you are a gym goer or an experienced athlete, cupping is a fantastic way to improve the quality of your movement and return to your daily activities significantly faster.
When it comes to negative side effects of cupping, there are a few things to keep in mind. The most apparent side effect are the odd circular bruises often left behind following the treatment. Although this is completely normal and will dissipate very quickly (often within a couple of days), you might not want to schedule a treatment then head to the beach right after! It is also normal to feel stiff and tender in the areas the cups were applied. Just as with the bruising, these symptoms do not last long either and are normally resolved within a day or two. Ultimately, the negative side effects are incredibly minor and most definitely do not outweigh the benefits.
Cory Boyd, RMT
Personal Trainer
Graston Technique Provider
Bioflex Laser Therapy Provider
Rapid NeuroFascial Reset Provider
Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
Officially Running Out Of Room For Qualifications Guy ?
Did you know that physical strength is now recognized as one of the most important health stats for predicting both healthy lifespan and lifespan itself? The most advanced research now shows that our lean muscle mass affects every single aspect of our metabolism. Even cancer risks and outcomes for those already diagnosed with cancer.
Many of us won’t read past the first lines of this article. Why? Because subconscious programming keeps us stuck in a rut. We don’t want to hear about it. The subconscious tries to keep us safe the best way it thinks it knows how, but that programming is mostly laid down by the age of six. At that age, even cleaning our room feels like a huge chore.
The subconscious mind stores a million times as many data points as the conscious mind and it’s been doing that since we were born. Every time someone talked about “hard” work, being tired or sore from doing too much, whenever someone commented there was no time to keep in shape, made a negative comment about someone in good shape or any one of a thousand other inputs, the root subconscious attitudes about physical effort were influenced.
As we get older, a plethora of social attitudes and influence reinforce assumptions that weakness and frailty are natural and inevitable with age. No point in fighting it. Even when we read research or watch lectures demonstrating how powerfully life affirming health, mood and quality of life benefits are from physical strength and flexibility, the subconscious mind typically returns us to the couch. Binge watching Netflix or video games again; despite our occasional resolutions.
We have limited amounts of will power and as soon as that runs low, the subconscious mind gets its way; every time. Again, the subconscious really wants to keep us safe the best way it thinks it knows how and it’s got lots of tricks to get its way; all with the best intentions given its early programming.
A fortunate minority will find their way to a gifted and inspiring trainer, somehow discover they really enjoy some form of sport or physical hobby or get scared onto a different path. The rest of us are stuck with at best, good intentions, declining health and increasing frailty.
The good news is as long as you’re still breathing, it’s never too late. If you’re one of the many who just never seems able to change your life to start the process of becoming strong and resilient again, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT, Tapping) and Picture Tapping Techniques can be powerful resources for change. Using these techniques with the assistance of a skilled advanced practitioner, can allow you to safely and quite painlessly rewrite early subconscious programs, those buried beliefs keeping you stuck in a weak, increasingly sick and fragile downward spiral.
A few of the common self-sabotage programs I see in my clients include: “I’m too old/fat/ weak to go to a gym or trainer; I’d feel humiliated”. “ I have no time.” “ My partner will feel bad if I get in shape and they’re not”. “ I’m not supposed to take time for myself; that’s selfish.” and one of the most insidious “who and what will I be if I become strong and flexible in my own body?” “What will happen to me?” Sometimes physical weakness combined with excess weight is a subconscious safety mechanism. “As long as I look like this I’ll be invisible and that feels safer.” All these and many others can be gently rewritten when the conscious and subconscious mind collaborate to figure out “the rest of the story” regarding early programming.
When the subconscious and conscious are on the same side, willpower is not a factor. Recovering power, strength and flexibility becomes fun, challenging in a good way and rewarding.
If in the Ottawa Ontario region, a good place to explore is www.wholetherapyottawa.com for safe, skilled training at any age or skill level. If you’re stuck in a rut, contact the undersigned @ 613-747-5458 to explore recruiting your subconscious mind to join team strength.
Yours in good mental and emotional health.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Author: David E P Gilbert. David is a highly experienced Integrative Therapist working with anxiety/depression, stress, burnout, grief, trauma, PTSD and self-sabotage. He’s based at ECOSYS Wellness Center and Whole Therapy in Ottawa ON Canada. Being trained in a number of modalities including Emotional Freedom Techniques and PTT (Picture Tapping Techniques), he works with clients both in-office and via phone or video cam across North America. Services so powerful they’re guaranteed