Self-care, self-monitoring, self-help, self-love – while the terminology may change, it is important to understand the general concept of taking care of ourselves. The pandemic has changed the way we live, at the very least for the foreseeable future. We face increased isolation, the inability to partake in hobbies, and the increased propagation of fear on the news and social media. Even if we somehow find the time to step away from extended virtual shifts at work, what is there to do? How do we find new innovative ways to adapt to this vastly different landscape? A simple but effective soluti ..read more

We all dread it, but it’s happening: winter is coming, and the fun times on ice and snow will be met with injuries if you are not careful. Sure, our Canadian winters are long, and we should be experts by now at traversing the winterscape. Still, even the best of us winter aficionados have fallen prey to slippery sidewalks and aching pain from shoveling a fresh layer of snow from our driveway.  We have a few tips to help you prevent slips and falls, along with other serious injuries that can occur during the winter.   Tip 1: Stay Warm While we all dress up in winter to stay warm and a ..read more

Who among us hasn’t been sitting on the couch at 2pm (or am) with the TV droning on in the background only to get sucked into a 5 minute infomercial about a cure for all medical device that is sure to change your life? Now I won’t name any names in this post, but there’s no shortage of quick fix devices that promise to immediately cure whatever ailment you have. So I figured it’s a good time to sit down and actually discuss what these devices do, and what benefit they may have (if any) before you go spend your hard earned money on them.  Without further ado let’s dive in.    Dev ..read more

Grief. One small word which carries monumental meaning. Grief could be defined as experiencing loss and a sense of desolation. The truth is, however, there are many different ways to describe grief.  On a personal level, there is no one way to experience grief. At one time, it was thought you needed to be dealing with another mental health condition or that you were required to undergo a complicated recovery process to process your loss. We recognize now that the grieving process is unpredictable.  A loss can result from many life events:  Death of a loved one (family memb ..read more

Balance is something we often take for granted. Being able to tie our shoes, ride a bike, walk down the street – all things that many of us do in our day-to-day lives without a second thought. But they all have one thing in common…balance.    But why is balance so important? Well, we need to maintain a strong sense of balance to do many everyday activities and maintain our physical health. In this post, we’re going to discuss how balance plays a vital part in our everyday lives, and how we can use physiotherapy to improve our sense of balance over time.   Why Is Balance Importan ..read more

Good, quality sleep is non-negotiable when it comes to health. Even mild sleep deprivation has been associated with poorer performance, worsened mental health, and increased risk of adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Despite this, it’s something that many of us do not have anywhere near the top of our priority lists.   On a positive note, sleep is one of the most powerful, modifiable tools we have access to and oftentimes, it can be improved at zero cost. Your sleep/wake cycles, or circadian rhythm, is controlled largely by the hormones melatonin a ..read more

Though it might seem obvious, it’s important to keep your feet healthy. Seeing as many physical problems start at the bottom and work their way up, it makes sense that foot health has a major impact on everything from your knees to your neck. Foot health is important to your overall well-being, especially when you spend hours of every day walking, standing, and travelling from place to place. If you’re an avid runner or work on your feet, chances are you’re familiar with aches and pains in your knees, hips, or back.  This article will teach you about foot health and how custom orthotics c ..read more

As life begins to open back up and we return to social settings like work and school, it is important to prepare ourselves for a successful transition. We have spent a little over a year in lockdown, attempting to avoid getting into contact with an invisible virus by taking precautions and avoiding all the things we require for healthy living, like being outside and socializing with others. These circumstances instilled in us a sense of anxiety that may have been helpful in keeping us indoors and complying with lockdown protocols but can become a hinderance on our lives now that we are returni ..read more

Sustaining injuries throughout one’s life is inevitable. Most of these injuries are mild and without repercussions, which means they don’t truly affect our well-being. However, there are more traumatic and severe injuries we should be wary of and try to prevent as much as possible.  These injuries can result in a range of serious and enduring health issues and can be quite dangerous even in the long term.  Concussions, for instance, are quite common, especially among children or people practicing contact sports such as football. Although concussions are considered to be ‘mild’ injuri ..read more

Are you having a bad day? Are you looking for ways to improve your mood immediately? Don’t worry; we have got you covered.   Mood boosters can be instrumental for your overall health and well-being. Your mood can significantly influence your mental and physical health. Also, they can help you deal with mood swings if that is something that you struggle with. Fortunately, when it comes to your mood, tiny, achievable improvements can make a tremendous difference. The health professionals at Integra Health have consolidated a list of five habits that you can implement today to boost you ..read more