Sciatica is the term often given to nerve pain travelling down the leg. • Symptoms can include weakness, numbness, pins and needles, electric sensations, and aching from your back into the hips, legs, feet and/or toes. • The pain can vary from infrequent and mild, to constant and severe/limiting. • The nerves originate from the spaces between the lumbar vertebrae close to your discs, then travel the length of your legs between/around various muscles, connective tissues and bones. • Typically, you will not do any harm by keeping mobile and staying at work as long as your symptoms don’t progress ..read more

Nerves need space to slide, travel and heal (adequate blood flow). Nerves are literally your lifeline to function and movement. Even though nerves are about 2% of your body composition by weight, they require 10+% of your blood supply. If this blood supply is compromised in any way, the nerve will start to complain (pain, tingling, numbness, paresthesia (odd sensations)). If time and aggravation of the nerve continue, more serious damage can occur to the nerve and lead to further complications such as muscle weakness and atrophy (and potentially more permanent changes). Temporarily, tendon, m ..read more

Back pain (recurrent or persistent) is NOT normal for teenagers (or kids, adolescents). A few of my teenage/adolescent patients have a condition called spondylolisthesis.  This is typically a result of stress fractures.  This bony fatigue causes a ‘slippage’ of the connection between the vertebral bodies (spinal bones). This slippage pulls the spinal cord forward and can potentially create a bend in the spinal cord. It is important to find out if spondylolisthesis has already healed and is stable OR if it is active (potential for further slippage).  The best way to determine if ..read more

Does it occur at the same time or distance (5, 10, 15 minutes etc.) into your run?  If so, you may have an IT band (Iliotibial band) injury. When people ask me, “What is your favourite band?” my response is the little-known sleeper band called the Iliotibial band (aka IT band or ITB).  Music is clearly not my forte (either is French, or English for that matter).  Ironically, your ITB is what supports your stance and lateral hip and knee when you are enjoying your favourite music band. Jumping up and down, swaying side to side or running because you are late to the show all requi ..read more

As an ART Certified Provider, Dr. Case applies specific forces to neural and myofascial tissue at a specific contact depth and angle.  He then uses relative motion of these tissues (by knowing their attachments sites and vectors of force/tension) to release adhesions and create movement and space of these localized injured or restricted areas. Constant or repetitive strain (from overuse or postural tension) of your muscles, tendons or fascia can lead to tightness, weakness and a lack of coordination.  Over time, this strain can develop into what is known as micro-trauma.  This s ..read more

Research shows that you can get minimal (mostly temporary) benefits from static stretching (held stretches).  Static stretching will mostly just increase our stretch ‘tolerance’.  After many sessions/weeks of consistent static stretching, some these flexibility/lengthening benefits may remain.  However, research demonstrates that this passive version of stretching typically does not translate to injury or soreness prevention, nor does it contribute to the dynamic mobility and stability required for sports and activities of daily living. Also, we all have a genetic (non-modifiabl ..read more

I treat people daily with injuries from chasing repetitions (‘reps’) and using speed and momentum (part of chasing reps) when they strength train. Speed and momentum DO allow for more reps (avoiding the hard parts of the exercise), but they do NOT necessarily recruit more fast twitch fibers than slow movements. The ‘fast’ in fast-twitch refers to FAST-TO-FATIGUE, not the speed.  For example, the slow twitch muscle fibers of a fast-fingered piano player can move extremely quickly, but they are slow-to-fatigue (not slow to move). Yes, fast twitch muscles recruit more muscle fibres, but stud ..read more

Are people commenting on your posture or that you should sit up straight when you think you already are? First of all, should you sit up straight? For a few minutes, yes, this generally a good postural position. The problem comes if you sit up straight or stand too erectly for a longer period of time (1-2 hours) without support. This upright, unsupported position can over-involve your core and hips flexor muscles as well as a group of mucles that run paralllel to the spine. When muscles that run along side the spine (iliopsoas in front and erectors/QLs in the back/side), contract over a perod ..read more

Do you hear sounds coming from your neck, back, shoulder, hip or knee?  These sounds are typically not a cause for concern*.  If the sounds are coming from your stomach, you may want to consult or a dietician or obstetrician;). Even though our hearing is gets worse as we age, most of us hear more sounds coming from in or around our joints.  Does it sound like popping, clicking or crackling? This is called crepitus and is the typically the sound of our tissues (or joints) abnormally moving or rubbing together. Sounds that are typically NOT a cause for concern, especially if these ..read more

Do you have a glitch or a hitch in your step?  Do people ask if you are injured just by the way you walk or run?  Do you feel ‘off’ or out of alignment somehow?  If so, you may have an injury or imbalance (new or old) that does not hurt (yet).   These compensations can negatively affect your posture, your movement or performance and potentially contribute to further injury. First, try stretching and strengthening each side of your body separately to see if there is any obvious imbalance that may be easy to self-correct. Sometimes, these imbalances and compensations req ..read more