High- and Low-Impact Activities for Everyone

It is no secret that at the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) we often promote the benefits of regular physical activity as a way to stay healthy and happy. In fact, the CCA thinks it’s so important that we’ve created a free app: Straighten Up Canada! The app is currently available for download via Apple Store, Google Play and Blackberry World. Featuring easy-to-follow exercises, it helps to improve your posture and allows you to stay active during your day!

Investing time to do activities or sports that you enjoy is key to healthy aging and an active lifestyle. Being physically active is often a good way to prevent and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries as well as helping maintain strength and mobility. Varying your routine between high- and low-impact activities is a great way to modify your workouts and challenge the body. We’ve outlined some great suggestions for both so you can get up and get moving!

High Impact

High-impact exercise is typically described as an (often aerobic) activity where both feet leave the ground at the same time¹. Often, high-impact activities may include exercise classes which involve jumping, leaping, or jogging in place. Doing high-impact exercise can put you at greater risk of injury if your body is not prepared, especially if you’re just starting out. Be cautious and adapt to a lower impact version of the activity if in doubt. Otherwise, before starting high-impact exercises make sure you have warmed-up.

Good examples of high-impact exercises are:

• Jumping jacks
• Jumping rope
• Running or jogging on a treadmill (or outdoors)
• Performing plyometric exercises

High-impact exercises tend to be more intense and expend more energy, so it’s important that if you’re doing high-impact exercises that you’re well-prepared. For some, high-impact exercises are not appropriate: they may increase the risk of injury, commonly to the ankles, knees, hips, and even the back. That being said, high-impact exercises can have a lot of great benefits too²:

• Improves bone density
• Increases an individual’s heart rate more quickly, thereby burning more calories
• Improves a person’s stability, balance, and coordination
• Strengthens the heart and lungs

Low Impact³

Low-impact exercise tends to be less jarring on the body and joints, and less intense overall. According to the American Council on Exercise, keeping at least one foot on the ground at all times also reduces your risk of musculoskeletal injury. Some examples include⁴:

• Working out on an elliptical machine
• Low-impact aerobics
• Using a rowing machine
• Home exercise
• Walking
• Dancing
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Nordic walking

It’s important to realize that low impact doesn’t mean low intensity (unless purposely designed to be so) because you can still get an intense workout keeping both feet on the ground. Low-impact exercises are great for beginners, people with arthritis or osteoporosis, older adults, individuals who are obese, pregnant women, and people with bone, joint, or connective tissue injuries.

Whichever form of physical activity you choose, make sure you do it safely. Talk to your chiropractor if you have any questions.

 

 

References

1Amy Gonsalves, “High Impact versus low impact.” Diabetes Outside blog. April 19, 2011. https://blog.diabetesoutside.com/?p=1060

2Paige Waehner, “High Impact Exercise—Is High Impact Exercise Right for You?” VeryWell.com. May 2, 2016. https://www.verywell.com/is-high-impact-exercise-right-for-you-1230821

3Nicole Nichols, “low impact vs. high impact exercise: Which is right for you?” SparkPeople.com. April 14, 2010. https://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=fitness_defined_lowimpact_and_highimpact_exercises

4NHS, “Easy exercises.” NHS Choices. Page last reviewed: 01/03/2016. https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/Lowimpact.aspx

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4 Tips to Quit Smoking in the New Year

You may have heard the expression “New Year, new me”. The start of a New Year is an opportune time to reflect on our health and determine what steps we could take today to improve it for years to come. Quitting smoking remains one of the top resolutions people commit to every year. Yet, for many, making this important change to their lifestyle can prove challenging. Starting with the right mindset can be helpful.

It is well known that smoking can have serious impacts on your health, including your MSK health. If you’re thinking about quitting smoking in 2019, we have a few tips to help you.

Try these 4 tips to get started¹:

1. Get Ready
   

   Being in the right mindset is the first step. Start with getting organized so you are ready to succeed. Here are some pointers:

• Set a quit date.
• Change your environment where possible, and remove any triggers that may lead to a relapse.
• Reflect on your past attempts to quit. Think about what went well and what did not.
• Once you manage to stop, avoid temptations. Even one puff can be too much.

 

2. Seek Support

   Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. You can get support in many ways:

• Tell your family, friends, and co-workers about wanting to quit and ask for their support. That could include not smoking around you or hiding cigarettes away from sight.
• Talk to your healthcare provider (e.g., chiropractor) about strategies to try.
• Investigate the opportunities for individual, group, or telephone counseling. Interestingly, counseling doubles your chances of success.
• Call your local health department for information about programs available in your area.
• Free telephone counseling is also available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

 

3. Change Your Routine

   Changing your routine is a great way to shift your attention from old habits towards developing new ones. Below are a few healthy habits you can try:

• Manage your stress. Take action to reduce your stress by introducing new coping strategies in your routine. These could include taking a warm bath, exercising, or reading.
• Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
• Drink plenty of water.

 

4. Be Prepared for a Challenge
   

   It is not uncommon for people to struggle when trying to quit smoking, and even start again after a certain period. Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting. Don’t be discouraged. Remember, most people try several times before they finally quit. Certain situations can act as triggers, and should be noted. For example, presence of alcohol or other smokers, low mood or increased stress can augment your likelihood of relapse. Being aware of these can help you manage the situation and find strategies to avoid temptation.If you are having problems with any of these situations, seek support. For more information on quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.smokefree.gov

References:
1https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/you_can_quit/five_keys/
2Stead, L. F., Buitrago, D., Preciado, N., Sanchez, G., Hartmann-Boyce, J., & Lancaster, T. (2013). Physician advice for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 5(5).Stead, L. F., & Lancaster, T. (2012). Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 10(10).
3Civljak, M., Stead, L. F., Hartmann-Boyce, J., Sheikh, A., & Car, J. (2013). Internet-based interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 7.

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When is back pain serious?

I had a new patient in here last week asking just this question, “When is back pain serious?” Back pain will affect most adults at some point in their lives. Since it can interfere with the activities you love so much, it’s helpful to know when back pain is serious and when it is not.

First question, how long has your back pain been there? Any back pain that has bothered you for more than a couple weeks probably isn’t going to improve on it’s own.

Secondly, does your back pain travel anywhere? Does it radiate down your arms or legs? This gives us very helpful clues diagnosing where the pain is coming from. If the pain has a neuritic quality and is radiating down the front of your thigh, there is a good chance it is coming from the L3-L4 disc, back of the thigh, we look at the L5-S1 disc. There can be lots of other explanations, so please use caution when trying to diagnose things on the internet. Leave that part to a chiropractor.

Has chiropractic care helped your back pain resolve? If someone is starting to see improvement over time, we can guess that will most likely continue. Most insurance companies require a trial of conservative care before they will pay for MRI’s. In my office, we tend to use a six week standard of care. If we aren’t getting significant results and your back pain isn’t starting to resolve within six weeks of complying fully to my treatment plan, I tend to worry if there is something more serious going on. In those scenarios, we refer for MRI’s or CT scans depending on what we are suspecting we will see.

The bottom line is that if back pain is interfering with you doing what you love, you need to see a chiropractor to resolve it. Chiropractic care is the #1 choice for resolving back pain. Chiropractors get the best results with back pain of any health professional around. If you would like our help improving your health and getting you back to doing what you love, please call our office today at 763-553-0387

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9 Tips to Stay Active during the Winter Months

When it gets cold outside, we tend to spend more time indoors doing sedentary activities and it can be difficult to stay active. It’s helpful to plan ahead and set some time aside in your schedule a few days a week to make sure you’re getting the activity you need.

To have health benefits from exercise, adults need a total of 2.5 hours of activity spread across the week, in bouts of ten minutes or more. These activities need to be moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activities. Moderate-intensity physical activities include brisk walking or bike riding. Generally, you know your activity is moderate-intensity if you sweat a little and breathe harder than when you’re moving about day-to-day. Vigorous-intensity activities include jogging or cross-country skiing, and you’re likely to find yourself sweating and feeling out of breath.¹

Here are a few tips to help keep you motivated to stay active during the winter months²:

• Plan activities ahead. When activities are in your calendar, you’re less likely to forget them. Preparedness also helps set good habits.
• Find a fun local activity, like snow shoeing, skiing, skating, or cross-country skiing.
• Dress in layers. Insulate your body. When you can keep your body warm, it’s easier to continue being active outside.
• Use your daylight hours. It’s easier to stay outside while it’s still light out. It’s easy to miss out on activities when you start them too late in the day.
• Find indoor activities at your local community centre. This could be aerobics classes, badminton, basketball, or yoga classes.
• Climb stairs. Deliberately add more steps to your day. Consider going up and down a flight in your home, the mall, or an office building more than once over the course of your regular daily activities. As little as five minutes can make a huge difference for your health.
• Visit a library to find more motivation. There are plenty of free exercise DVDs you can borrow, including dance, step, aerobics, or Pilates. You can use the return date as a deadline to pick up another one!
• Sign up for a fun run. You can often find non-competitive “fun runs” in your community that are usually between 5 and 10 kilometers. You can invite friends and family to join in!
• Find an activity buddy. Find someone willing to commit to being active as often as you are, and set a plan. That could be planning to meet for morning walks or afternoon workouts. Having a friend keeps you accountable.

For help on setting activity goals based on your specific musculoskeletal needs, you can always ask your chiropractor about what activities are right for you.

Whatever your activity level is, remember to stay hydrated. It is easy to forget to drink water when it’s cold out, but your body needs just as much hydration in a snowstorm as it does in a heatwave.²

Most importantly, stay motivated. Revisit your goals (or look for tips to set new ones) to make sure you’re still on track. Plan ahead and make sure you can envision your goal as you look ahead towards the finish line.

Here’s to staying active in the new year!

 

References

1. Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. 1st ed. CSEP; 2016. Available at: http://www.csep.ca/CMFIles/Guidelines/CSEP_PAGuidelines_adults_en.pdf. Accessed November 7, 2016.

2. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. 11 ways to stay active in winter. 2009. Heartandstroke.ca. Available at: http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=4832209&ct=7596299. Accessed November 7, 2016.

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Chiropractic Care in Canada

Guest Post from Dr David Peeace

 

With over 8,000 practicing chiropractors in Canada who help thousands of Canadians live pain-free lives every day, now is an opportune moment to celebrate being a chiropractor. Chiropractors are experts in the musculoskeletal (MSK) system, with rigorous academic and practical education earning them a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). As chair of the Canadian Chiropractic Association’s Board, and as a Doctor of Chiropractic, I want to share with you some of the great strides our profession has made – and where we are continuing to grow!

In 2018, I am proud to report that the evidence that informs our practice is flourishing. One of the most compelling pieces of research that came out earlier this year, was Jan Hartvigsen’s publication in The Lancet on prevention and treatment of low back pain. It’sa must read.

The Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) is also entering an exciting new era. The CCRF will be funding National Research Priorities that were developed in collaboration with leaders across the country and CCRF researchers.

The National Research Priorities were designed to target chiropractic research where Canadians need it most. In areas where our care can have the greatest impact on Canadians’ health. Patient-centred care that is supported by research is integral to the Canadian chiropractic profession.

The CCA believes in strong regulation and supports the governing authority’s mandate to protect public interest through effective enforcement of those standards. In addition to regulation, the Canadian Chiropractic Guidelines Initiative (CCGI) has been an amazing force in transforming the culture of the chiropractic profession to one that is guided by evidence-informed practice.

As a national professional association, we take great effort to support members’ professional practice. Being part of the chiropractic community plays a role in public health, a role that we here at the CCA take very seriously. Our national position statements are written and revised with public health at the center of what we do.

For example, the CCA recognizes that vaccination and immunization are established public health practices in the prevention of infectious diseases. And that vaccination is not within the scope of chiropractic practice. You can read a full list of position statements here.

Continuously and consistently sharing these messages with our membership – and engaging in important discussions with leaders and stakeholders – will always be a large part of our national advocacy role.

While I’ve spoken a lot today about what we do, what I’m most passionate about is why we do it. Chiropractors are here to help Canadians live healthy, active, and pain-free lives. We are experts in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of conditions and disorders related to the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems.

Chiropractors are most often recognized for their expertise in resolving persistent back or neck pain and headaches or migraines that prevent patients from enjoying their everyday lives. That is why I’m proud of the work the CCA is doing, and that of my colleagues. Together, we can make Chiropractors an integral part of every Canadian’s healthcare team by 2023.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Peeace

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Get to know the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI)!

What is CCGI?

The Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI) works to enhance the health of Canadians by fostering excellence in chiropractic care. Here are a few ways the initiative – made up of chiropractors and chiropractic researchers – work to meet this goal:

• Clinical Practice Guidelines: CCGI develops, adopts and disseminates guidelines for practitioners to diagnose, manage and treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
• Evidence-informed practice: these guidelines encourage chiropractors to integrate the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.

CCGI works closely with chiropractors across Canada, provincial associations, regulatory bodies, and educational institutions.

How does it help me?

CCGI helps to ensure Canadians receive effective and consistent care and has developed many tools designed specifically for patients. These include:

• Guidelines: For patients looking to learn more about musculoskeletal conditions and how to improve overall health, these guidelines and resources are categorized by body region or topic: https://www.chiropractic.ca/guidelines-best-practice/patients/
• Exercise Videos: CCGI developed an exercise video series to help patients manage neck and low back pain. Patients can use these videos with the confidence that they are based on the evidence-informed guidelines: https://www.chiropractic.ca/guidelines-best-practice/exercise-videos/

Ask your chiropractor to explain how these resources may apply to you and for advice on helpful resources!

What’s on the horizon for CCGI?

The organization is in the early stages of developing three guideline implementation toolkits for chiropractors and patients regarding the clinical and self-management of (1) lumbar spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spine which can lead to numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs), (2) persistent headache associated with neck pain, and (3) concussion and persistent symptoms. All of which will help Canadian’s manage their pain.

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Canada’s Low Back Pain Epidemic

Involuntary spasms in your lower back? A dull throbbing ache? Shooting pain down your leg? You are most likely suffering from low back pain (LBP). If you’ve never had low back pain, chances are you will at some point in your life. Just check these statistics:

• In six-month period, five in 10 Canadians suffered low back pain¹
• Up to 85% of working people can expect to experience low back pain during their lifetime²
• In Canada, the low back pain-related estimate of the medical costs ranges between 6 and 12 billion dollars annually³

Low Back Pain Causes

Low back pain is a complex condition with multiple contributors to pain, including physical, social and psychological factors. Lifestyle factors, such as obesity and being sedentary are associated with the occurrence of low back pain as well.
Our backs play a supportive role for our bodies – at rest and in motion. Extra bodyweight puts greater demand on our spines and other joints. Research shows that a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) increases the risk of suffering low back pain. With growing rates of obesity , Canadians are increasing their chances of developing low back pain.

In addition, we are more sedentary than ever before. In industrialized countries, 75% of workers sit for long periods of time. Prolonged sitting may negatively affect your muscles and joints and lead to deconditioning (decline in physical functioning), fatigue and stress on the spinal discs causing pain in the lower back. In an effort to combat sitting, newer products such as standing desks, have been increasing in popularity. However, recent research produced at the University of Waterloo also found that standing desks may lead to lower back pain as well. The key take away message as discussed by Daniel Viggiani, lead author, is that regardless of whether you are sitting or standing at work, make sure to move around and shift your posture often.

Responses to the Low Back Pain Epidemic

Low back pain has also been one of the key drivers for opioid prescription. With increasing awareness of its risks, limited efficacy and potential for misuse, emerging evidence has suggested that medication should not be the mainstay in the treatment of low back pain. Instead, recent guidelines recommend self-management, manual therapy, physical activity and psychological therapies. There is a shift in placing less emphasis on pharmacological and surgical interventions in the care of low back pain.

Canadian chiropractors are trained to assess and diagnose back pain, as well as offer comprehensive treatment plans. Typically, plans are holistic. A chiropractor addresses all contributing factors of low back pain, such as joint dysfunction, injury, ergonomics, exercise and overall health and then develops a customized program to relieve pain, increase mobility and get you back on your feet. Chiropractic treatment is a drugless and non-invasive treatment option.

How Chiropractic Expertise Can Help Low Back Pain

Chiropractic treatment relieves low back pain using effective clinical tools like manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue therapy, exercise, patient education, modalities (i.e. ultrasound, laser) and rehabilitation. Extensively trained in spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), chiropractors are proficient in providing specialized care which has been proven effective in reducing pain, improving function, and decreasing the chances of low back pain becoming a chronic condition.

Click here to read more about how chiropractic expertise in treating low back pain can ease pain and lower your risk of recurrence.

Canadian chiropractors can provide education on your spine and posture, as well as create a personalized treatment plan including back exercises and ergonomic solutions for your workstation.

Find a chiropractor today and join the other 4.5 million Canadians visiting their chiropractor each year!

Find out about insurance coverage for chiropractic treatment here.

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[1] GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016 Oct 8;388(10053):1545-1602.

[2] Hoy D, Bain C, Williams G, March L, Brooks P, Blyth F, Woolf A, Vos T, Buchbinder R. A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Jun;64(6):2028-37. doi: 10.1002/art.34347. Epub 2012 Jan 9. Review.

[3] Church J, Saunders D, Wanke M, Pong R, Spooner C, Dorgan M. Citizen participation in health decision-making: past experience and future prospects. J  Public Health Policy. 2002;23(1):12-32. Review.

[4] Seaman, David R., Body mass index and musculoskeletal pain: is there a connection? Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2013, 21:15

[5] Laurie K. Twells, Deborah M. Gregory, Jacinta Reddigan, William K. Midodzi, Current and predicted prevalence of obesity in Canada: a trend analysis, CMAJ, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2014

[6] Angela Maria Lis, Katia M. Black, Hayley Korn, Margareta Nordin, Association between sitting and occupational LBP, Eur Spine J. Feb 2007; 16(2): 283–298.

[7] https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/standing-desks-may-lead-lower-back-pain

[8] Borgundvaag B, McLeod S, Khuu W, Varner C, Tadrous M, Gomes T. Opioid prescribing and adverse events in opioid-naive patients treated by emergency physicians versus family physicians: a population-based cohort study. CMAJ Open.  2018 Mar 1;6(1):E110-E117.

[9] Traeger AC, Buchbinder R, Harris IA, Clavisi OM, Maher CG. Avoid routinely prescribing medicines for non-specific low back pain. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Mar 7.

[10] Bussières AE, Stewart G, Al-Zoubi F, Decina P, Descarreaux M, Haskett D, Hincapié C, Pagé I, Passmore S, Srbely J, Stupar M, Weisberg J, Ornelas J. Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Other Conservative Treatments for Low Back Pain: A Guideline From the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 Mar 29.

[11] Almeida M, Saragiotto B, Richards B, Maher CG. Primary care management of non-specific low back pain: key messages from recent clinical guidelines. Med J Aust. 2018 Apr 2;208(6):272-275.

[12]  Foster NE, Anema JR, Cherkin D, Chou R, Cohen SP, Gross DP, Ferreira PH, Fritz JM, Koes BW, Peul W, Turner JA, Maher CG; Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group. Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet. 2018 Mar 20.

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