tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85537908135682334252024-03-21T04:52:23.281-07:00Vancouver Sports PhysioUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-36497632648753549412009-06-04T11:53:00.000-07:002009-06-04T14:27:39.817-07:00Cyclists with Desk Jobs...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmBJSGFCyBrayatKDxRbFT8Vnuo5e2cViRr2xX-JyvzeTQDI6DWlVvV1KwWooSTK7p5p4Yb6XajN66VnC8giwi64_uTlWPaBEUZyET5n3jLXe33WhALSgnV6dW9B0ieXYuTEADB2Plbo/s1600-h/neck.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmBJSGFCyBrayatKDxRbFT8Vnuo5e2cViRr2xX-JyvzeTQDI6DWlVvV1KwWooSTK7p5p4Yb6XajN66VnC8giwi64_uTlWPaBEUZyET5n3jLXe33WhALSgnV6dW9B0ieXYuTEADB2Plbo/s200/neck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343550676065744818" /></a><br />...are a pain in the neck <em>(just kidding). </em>What I mean to say is that they can often suffer from neck pains due to their activities. I have recently had a number of clients who cycle regulary <em>(for transportation or sport)</em> and have office jobs. They come to see me regarding their neck and upper back pains.<br /><br />Each case is individual, and some are complicated, with specific joint restrictions, nerve compression, muscle imbalances and faulty movement patterns. But the general factors leading to their injuries in the first place are quite simple:<br /><br />Both their occupation and sport involve very similar postures in the cervical and thoracic spone, as well as the shoulder girdle and upper extremities. They use their bodies in the same ways, ie: stretching the same structures, loading the same structures, for hours on end. This can lead to chronic injury directly, or can predispose them to other injuries. <br /><br />So, the very general rules for prevention of these problems are:<br /><br />1) find the optimal posture for your body<br />2) vary positions through-out the day<br />3) stretch and do activites or sports that utilize the other natural body movements that may be neglected<br /><br />These are very general and simple guidelines, but if everyone followed them, there would be less need to come see physiotherapy in the first place. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-40002781963254406032009-02-24T11:21:00.000-08:002009-02-24T12:01:20.498-08:00Overcoming Disc Injuries<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkfuaaT91bVk_QS787RfAG91QjDmzzH7imL0NSRzzb0KmeWjFH5r20Rq_c5YY26LwxjsU3WERHZYeZdw0PUJEXqjNmJvIczNwc8ySZhnbPKJ-u73jHjAZxq0mtY3bTz2Qq06B_Wy1hb8/s1600-h/png3.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkfuaaT91bVk_QS787RfAG91QjDmzzH7imL0NSRzzb0KmeWjFH5r20Rq_c5YY26LwxjsU3WERHZYeZdw0PUJEXqjNmJvIczNwc8ySZhnbPKJ-u73jHjAZxq0mtY3bTz2Qq06B_Wy1hb8/s200/png3.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306455899000080690" /></a><br />I recently assessed two different clients with discogenic <em>(arising from a disc)</em> back pain. Both had been told by their doctors that they should decrease their physical activity if they were to avoid having this arise in the future. One even had "no more running" written on their referral. <br /><br />So, is recovering from a disc injury really so difficult? Do you need to decrease physical activity to stay healthy? <br /><br />The answer for both questions is no. <br /><br />In the management of disc injuries, the type of treatment, movement retraining and exercise is pretty well researched and laid out. The difficult part for many people is actually committing to and doing the exercises you need to. <br /><br />And definitely less activity isn't the answer. Less during the acute phase, yes. And less activity while the body isn't moving well or isn't conditioned enough to deal with the sport or activity, yes. But once you have trained up properly and are using your body appropriately, you need to do more. <br /><br />In recent weeks, the Canadian Alpine ski Team has been doing very well. Two notable performers from the world championships in France were Michael Janyk and John Kucera, receiving Bronze and Gold medals respectively. Both have recently dealt with significant disc injuries, one with motor nerve involvement and the other who could not get closer than 15 inches away when trying to touch his toes. Yet both are now able to perform in a sport that is especially taxing on the low back. How do they heal so well while the average person seems to suffer more? Well, they are young and fit, but the most significant difference is that they are committed to doing whatever it takes to rehab properly. <br /><br />It's not just elite athletes that can do this. I am in no way an elite athlete. I work full time and have a family, but with the right exercise, my 2 lumbar disc injuries <em>(L4-5, L5-S1)</em> do not bother me, be it running, jumping or twisting. Only by committing to the exercises. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-86240684268057889102008-12-11T12:47:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:29:15.539-08:00Med Student Tutorials<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR_RTgwUo53mI5FCFiMKttFZYLsIlhauNzBLCid7hD2YFsu9HQs-D2zAQbF1Cj76noZ-YTa7KddsTL_LVqBxxVUmboEn9EZyZVL0YbxWjTqmv_dzr8SOlTROApSQdE9806JY_HxzwbJA/s1600-h/group.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR_RTgwUo53mI5FCFiMKttFZYLsIlhauNzBLCid7hD2YFsu9HQs-D2zAQbF1Cj76noZ-YTa7KddsTL_LVqBxxVUmboEn9EZyZVL0YbxWjTqmv_dzr8SOlTROApSQdE9806JY_HxzwbJA/s200/group.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278646814137547250" /></a><br />Earlier this week, my business partner and myself were lucky enough to take part in a tutorial for 4th year medical students from UBC. This tutorial took place in the same medical building that one of our clinics is in, the Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, as UBC operates out of the second floor and has teaching opportunities throughout the building.<br /><br />Medical School prepares their doctors to be very effective at screening assessments, looking out for serious spinal pathologies, such as cancer, vascular conditions, fractures, etc... Assessment of the non-specific mechanical back pain, which makes up almost 70% of these cases, is not so well covered. During the tutorial we went over a very straight forward case study, answering questions as we went along. Following the case study we were able to share our treatment approach and techniques with the group. This was fun for me and hopefully beneficial for the students. <br /><br />Some of the main points we discussed:<br /><br />- the importance of a full biomechanical assessment<br />- the importance of appropriate exercise for long term success<br />- nutritional concerns<br />- core stabilization<br />- manual therapy<br />- intramuscular needling<br />- psychosocial apsects involved in chronic pain<br />- the lack of evidence for many of the modalities historically used<br />- how physiotherapy specialization typically occurs post grad.<br />- how to look up Physiotherapists in BC via our <a href="http://www.bcphysio.org">PABC</a> directory<br /><br />These interdisciplinary tutorials are something that I will try to be a part of every year.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-65448672731794188292008-11-09T12:35:00.000-08:002008-11-10T00:22:00.014-08:00The Power of Youth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeONGaAD9N2r7YLv1DZRjiPC1A4wamYhj5E2I4A3t7OJggxQ-f5p6dOYMFP3VMnwP3Zs2aN5RoMKEeDFm9Q0NGfk0dhZleYqWF9IbTOBNOV4UbOq_rs6erwTSffOJ_Vj7g2_wl8U2hf8/s1600-h/fountain.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeONGaAD9N2r7YLv1DZRjiPC1A4wamYhj5E2I4A3t7OJggxQ-f5p6dOYMFP3VMnwP3Zs2aN5RoMKEeDFm9Q0NGfk0dhZleYqWF9IbTOBNOV4UbOq_rs6erwTSffOJ_Vj7g2_wl8U2hf8/s200/fountain.jpg" border="0" alt="The Fountain of Youth"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266767106375111282" /></a><br />Many of us, somewhat jokingly, attribute our injuries to "old age". We can't always use this as an excuse for injuring ourselves, as most injuries can be avoided with proper training, but there are some age-related changes to be aware of. <br /><br />Clinically, we can see a notable difference in injury extent, rehab and recovery time amongst athletes of varying ages. The 18-year olds may not always commit fully to their rehab, they may stay out too late and ingest the wrong things, but they still seem to bounce back quickly. This approach does not work so well for the athletes over 30.<br /><br />Now before you groan and say "over 30?!?! ...that's it?", let me explain. Physiologically speaking, we can measure things such as bone density, which typically peaks in your early twenties. Skeletal muscle mass also peaks around this time <em>(in the absence of any training). </em>It follows that many other physiological processes, such as soft tissue healing, also begins to slow past this time. We see this reflected clinically as well. <em>My oldest current patient is 92, and she tells me I'm silly for considering 30 plus as "older".</em><br /><br />This doesn't mean hope is lost for the ancient "over 30" crew. But simply, that to stay healthy, there must be greater focus on proper training <em>(both mentally and physically) </em>and diet. Any older athlete who is competitive at the elite level of their sport must be commited to this. This is how we can counter some of the effects of aging. Truly 95% of injuries are preventable with the proper training, and we can't just chalk things up to old age and unavoidable accidents.<br /><br />Aside: <em>My son, 10 months old, had a hernia repair surgery last week, and was bouncing up and down the following day. Ah, youth.</em><br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-11474299293370180802008-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:002008-10-08T12:16:26.357-07:00"Sports" Injuries<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-In6KcOs-WZqvwoeJIncfFrL2G3EKavT5eTGzKC5n9JWbevSubmOXbGU7JgrGHjKbhxO7HHU5miAVA96_j5JC-cszcoQDJbjLiBnXu12N84SyuKbr-9GE4sd1AthKc27wZ8laFbHObZg/s1600-h/sportsi.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-In6KcOs-WZqvwoeJIncfFrL2G3EKavT5eTGzKC5n9JWbevSubmOXbGU7JgrGHjKbhxO7HHU5miAVA96_j5JC-cszcoQDJbjLiBnXu12N84SyuKbr-9GE4sd1AthKc27wZ8laFbHObZg/s200/sportsi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254523762540449394" /></a><br />People often want to classify whether they have a sports injury or not. Our culture has us believe that the sports injury is somehow more heroic or justified. Sometimes, the "sports injury" I see in the clinic is actually more work-related than you might think.<br /><br />For example, I might see someone in the clinic who strained a hip adductor <em>(groin)</em> while playing hockey one Saturday night. In truth, their adductors and hip flexors were likely tight and weak <em>(especially in the extended position)</em> from hours of sitting behind a desk, Monday thru Friday. Feeling that tearing sensation during a big stride while accelerating on the ice was the result, but the root cause was actually well off the ice. The injury stemmed from weakness, tightness, muscle imbalances, poor trunk dissociation and faulty biomechanics. <br /><br />So when you pick yourself up after you hurt yourself on the field, don't just look at your immediate surroundings and situation to find the cause of your injury. Look at the typical daily activities and postures you find yourself in for more answers. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-14363599855323393822008-09-18T17:10:00.000-07:002008-09-18T17:13:49.152-07:00Supporting Our Athletes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81ptVG3ZqCiAy-UBAd4oYOlPqlB9qncm83iZcfR0ev0YnYIthZ4iwRepwpQDsygV0eeFJVlvVL-_0e6VRSa4ypSppJRcLW4_I7rW3IJ1s72zDKvgJyvLDkfCoUTrh_6lVIRvA6BLFhAY/s1600-h/abcdef.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81ptVG3ZqCiAy-UBAd4oYOlPqlB9qncm83iZcfR0ev0YnYIthZ4iwRepwpQDsygV0eeFJVlvVL-_0e6VRSa4ypSppJRcLW4_I7rW3IJ1s72zDKvgJyvLDkfCoUTrh_6lVIRvA6BLFhAY/s200/abcdef.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247518910504355970" /></a><br />I wrote this post down a while back, but never got around to posting it. The incident is old news, but the point <em>(no pun intended)</em> is valid. <br /><br />There was an unfortunate show of poor sportsmanship, by one of our Canadian fencers at the 2008 Olympics. No need to mention her name again or describe her actions. Her outburst was by no means justified, but I can easily see some of the external factors she had to deal with. The positive side effect of all this was that, through her post-competition interview, the masses were able to learn what an elite athlete has to go through when her country can’t adequately fund her sport. To continue at the elite level, she had to live and train abroad if she wished to continue at the world level.<br /><br />I feel that Canada has failed her more than she may have diminished our image, as the larger issue was our Country’s support <em>(or lack thereof)</em> of amateur sport. I’m proud that we are improving by leaps and bounds in this department, through projects such as the “Own the Podium”. And I don’t think we have to <em>(or are even able to)</em> dump endless resources into it like some countries do, as there are more important social issues to address. I just hope we continue seeing the value of amateur sport long after the hype <em>(and funding)</em> of 2010 has passed. <br /><br />It’s very difficult to quantify the effect in monetary terms, but the effects are many. Our athletes can inspire us in many facets of life, promoting health and fitness, which in turn prevents many other health issues, and through competition they can bring the world together where common ground and mutual respect can grow.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-42128578387378598562008-09-03T13:29:00.000-07:002008-09-03T13:32:00.394-07:00The (not so secret) Olympic Equation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_Yo47ofpiGpv5iV_H9NCxzUi0M1Cn9WXHF3YVqRs1aA9_1mk7T1sdlmAoVIcGloeazIJPoNScToH1PbuCd_6_jPm3-utWAJtGO-Fa5ZrnrUWgYqUrcnJO9E73eX0V0gIHfxd2CyO9uI/s1600-h/beijing_olympic_medals.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_Yo47ofpiGpv5iV_H9NCxzUi0M1Cn9WXHF3YVqRs1aA9_1mk7T1sdlmAoVIcGloeazIJPoNScToH1PbuCd_6_jPm3-utWAJtGO-Fa5ZrnrUWgYqUrcnJO9E73eX0V0gIHfxd2CyO9uI/s200/beijing_olympic_medals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241895322313964770" /></a><br />I remember back when I was watching the opening ceremonies, I bet my wife that China would end up with 49 gold medals. In the end it was 51 with some gymnastics controversy, so I’m going to pretend I was bang-on <em>(kidding). </em>The U.S. won the overall medal count which was also no surprise to most people... but how do they do it? The U.S. is said to be the most overweight , sedentary and unhealthy countries in the world. We <em>(Canadians)</em> like to think we are so active and healthy, but childhood obesity is steadily increasing for many years now. <br /><br />So what’s the equation for Olympic success?<br /><strong><br />POPULATION SIZE</strong> + <strong>FUNDING</strong> + the athletes = <strong>Olympic Success</strong><br /><br />Joking aside, I realize I’m not the first person to come up with this, as almost anyone involved with sports at any level is aware of this. I just felt the urge to write it down. And it’s because of this reality, that I am most inspired by the Olympic athletes that make it with very little support.Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-15392697781562544772008-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:002008-08-25T08:46:02.923-07:00My Apologies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6PbYe2eEYqcT-Syh8jv1wDkZa1Mdp8X04CTIR8_W1q8VSuymt-L6jjGRAbOMiJhz9S6m_eKoFcduq-X1AsQXMBS7WTQGsH_4GP82mGXFv6Q3sDLSh9pbs8oytq-aJVioP8DJw7613X0/s1600-h/Sorry-Posters.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6PbYe2eEYqcT-Syh8jv1wDkZa1Mdp8X04CTIR8_W1q8VSuymt-L6jjGRAbOMiJhz9S6m_eKoFcduq-X1AsQXMBS7WTQGsH_4GP82mGXFv6Q3sDLSh9pbs8oytq-aJVioP8DJw7613X0/s200/Sorry-Posters.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238481935560819234" /></a><br />There is not much out there that bothers me more than a dormant website or blog. I, however, am guilty of both. For that I apologize, and will now be updating online every 2 weeks. Truly, I have a whole word document entitled “blogstuff” that is full of great half-finished posts, but I find my biggest challenge is making them concise. I tend to get carried away and go on and on when discussing topics I care about (as I’m sure my patients will attest to).<br /><br /><strong>So now, my excuse...</strong><br /><br />My partner and I have been running Envision Physiotherapy together for 5 months now, and things are going great! We’ve received a lot of attention in the physiotherapy community, and the clinic has been getting busier every month. I’m truly enjoying the longer appointment times working one-on-one with my clients. The downfall, of course, is that I have neglected my online duties, but...<br /><br /><strong>My promise...</strong><br /><br />I will be able to get back on top of things as I’m taking 3 days off (my first days off in 6 months) to work on the website, blog, and my latest magazine article.<br /><br />Thanks for your patience<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-87784630312415632652008-06-26T16:52:00.000-07:002008-06-27T13:03:51.617-07:00"Real" Physio<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AtkIPDRakendTsOkzl-NIrAG3XkScvigKFyUfPUbr0WK4w_D67BtptEsK1F5S-nsbmUS0Tk4L5ChJ3Ml50l-kSKAU-wp4wssCNi4G3DvApjZZEuqPvPPlkgNEAOQDiLazqoEFJP-LCE/s1600-h/hands.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AtkIPDRakendTsOkzl-NIrAG3XkScvigKFyUfPUbr0WK4w_D67BtptEsK1F5S-nsbmUS0Tk4L5ChJ3Ml50l-kSKAU-wp4wssCNi4G3DvApjZZEuqPvPPlkgNEAOQDiLazqoEFJP-LCE/s200/hands.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216350441253877362" /></a><br />A few years ago I was in Italy with the ski team, and we had just returned from some time off back home. One of my athletes, JP, comes into my hotel room for physio treatment <em>(for his knee - ACL reconstruction)</em> and says “finally, it’s good to have real physio again”. I asked him what he meant by real physio, because he was set up with some very skilled physios back home. He told me he meant a physio that actually spent some time with him, instead of “seeing me for 5 min. and then hooking me up to some machine”. <br /><br />Combating this unfortunate reputation built by some members of my profession was one of the main reasons I decided to open my clinic and operate the way I do. 30 or 60 minute appointments, hands-on, one-on-one care. In talking to some of my colleagues with similar approaches, with the kind of results we are seeing, we would never dream of returning to that unfortunate “classic” system.<br /><br />Many clinics will advertise 20 minute appointments as a progression from the old days of treatment, but very few operate on the 30-60 min format like we do. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-63890595987552056392008-06-05T14:46:00.000-07:002008-06-05T14:59:09.072-07:00Vancouver Triathlon World Chmapionships 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGe10R7pLBDX3AdpaDSn3a9MeF3BZG8vbWBGageb6JJugIFxkXAeujVWejN2sAJrIiGS5JkTtG7Kr6nax5sgdeDyGEkWe1OLFVLyT53OYqeqmxCe18xkjc-LpZD5wMML0QJjqUbnMgEc/s1600-h/png12.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGe10R7pLBDX3AdpaDSn3a9MeF3BZG8vbWBGageb6JJugIFxkXAeujVWejN2sAJrIiGS5JkTtG7Kr6nax5sgdeDyGEkWe1OLFVLyT53OYqeqmxCe18xkjc-LpZD5wMML0QJjqUbnMgEc/s200/png12.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208519369788541906" /></a><br />Well, the weather may not be perfect for this weekend, but if you want to see some inspiring performances, make your way downtown <em>(specifically English Bay, the West End and Stanley Park)</em> to watch the Vancouver Triathlon World Championships. I'm going to be working Sat. & Sun at the medical tent <em>(along with other Sports Physios, doctors and nurses)</em> as well as follow the performances of some of my patients.<br /><br />To find out more go to <a href="http://www.triathlonvancouver.com/">triathlonvancouver.com</a> or to get a quick idea on what the event is like, check out this <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=UzkXlwFncFI">video</a> on youtube regarding last years event.Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-40608202614298413012008-05-13T15:30:00.000-07:002008-05-22T15:32:30.424-07:00the Team Approach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrH4e3IoUCawaVTvHkxrnFyYD2wZtQ54JylS0kmerZUS_uZnLRrmUEk2Xhz14uR7ZvnM3jUFHJFqovxeguYp9w611enTreC84kujW9ye5ioHO0WYJ0RQpkXmQokVBkgcwrADQlyatEu4/s1600-h/teamwork.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrH4e3IoUCawaVTvHkxrnFyYD2wZtQ54JylS0kmerZUS_uZnLRrmUEk2Xhz14uR7ZvnM3jUFHJFqovxeguYp9w611enTreC84kujW9ye5ioHO0WYJ0RQpkXmQokVBkgcwrADQlyatEu4/s200/teamwork.gif" border="0" alt="I chose this pic because it has a brown person's arm in it"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199994372424067922" /></a><br />When I was working the National ski team, one aspect that I enjoyed the most was the <em>true</em> team approach. Every single staff member, from coaches, doctors, technicians and media personnel worked together with myself to do what was best for the athlete. Every decision was based on this. <br /><br />Once I returned to clinic work after 3 years of this, I was disheartened with the lack of teamwork from the practitioners within the community. There are professionals out there who believe they have all the answers and disregard any other options. This is especially bothersome when they employ unsupported techniques and are not backed up by qualifications and experience <em>(but that’s a whole other story)</em>. This approach is not worthy of an elite athlete and it’s not worthy of the average person. <br /><br />At my new practice, restoring this open interdisciplinary communication is one of our primary goals. We work together with the doctors within our practice, personal trainers, strength & conditioning coaches, select chiropractors, massage therapists and you. <br /><br />Regardless of who you see, ensure they are willing to communicate with other team members (doctors, coaches, etc...) and that they are well qualified to do what they claim to.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-24784729756863908192008-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:002008-05-13T13:07:50.988-07:00I'm famous! (joke)This is just some fun news, nothing important.<br /><br />Some of the pictures from our <a href="http://www.envisionphysio.com/">Envision Physiotherapy </a>website, made it onto the cover of the new physio directory. I know my modelling career wouldn't have taken off, because, as you can see from the picture they used on the <a href="http://www.bcphysio.org/">BC Physio </a>website, my back is turned.<br /><br />Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep my day job.Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-34145277625941997102008-02-26T11:03:00.000-08:002008-03-02T01:47:21.950-08:00New Physiotherapy Clinic!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyglFGupB0WevNzFsO_awU7E7jnmfKOiFfH2SgQydBly0d3Esl8cwXRMUjPW87g5mGpdw5UEARxNnMM5NU2BfvUEzJmnwMImkKhSkYW3BGhebeGJKTfhDo38T5VU_q4-bEKD7sISffrAA/s1600-h/diamondsmall.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyglFGupB0WevNzFsO_awU7E7jnmfKOiFfH2SgQydBly0d3Esl8cwXRMUjPW87g5mGpdw5UEARxNnMM5NU2BfvUEzJmnwMImkKhSkYW3BGhebeGJKTfhDo38T5VU_q4-bEKD7sISffrAA/s200/diamondsmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171367112551523042" /></a><br /><em>Brent Stevenson</em> and myself <em>(Harry Toor)</em> are opening another <a href="http://www.envisionphysio.com">Envision Physiotherapy</a> clinic at the “Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Centre” at Oak & 12th in Vancouver, BC. <br /> <br />The Diamond Health Centre is a world class medical facility that brings together Vancouver General Hospital’s outpatient care services – including specialty clinics, along with medical education, physician teaching clinics and research – at one site. We will be affiliated with the doctors of West Coast Family Practice, which include <em>Dr. G. Ayling, Dr L. Bootsman, Dr. A. Harpur, Dr. C. Harvey</em> and <em>Dr. M. Sweeny</em>. West Coast Family Practice and ourselves, <a href="http://www.envisionphysio.com">Envision Physiotherapy</a>, were fortunate enough to be the only non VGH practitioners invited into this amazing facility.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpj8fVqshRmsC3iocpcxq2My5cYRmEN2vzEbq2h8sJd3khAoEjnCYxRoFZ6OeLBa1agJckm7QuOeCAoKx2Iujiyez4gzkNL4cL3J38IvI5ZrfVcK8pSTOYG_UeCKvZlLibSKFh8wa4gw/s1600-h/diamondsmall3.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpj8fVqshRmsC3iocpcxq2My5cYRmEN2vzEbq2h8sJd3khAoEjnCYxRoFZ6OeLBa1agJckm7QuOeCAoKx2Iujiyez4gzkNL4cL3J38IvI5ZrfVcK8pSTOYG_UeCKvZlLibSKFh8wa4gw/s200/diamondsmall3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171367331594855170" /></a><br /><em><strong>So what is special about our approach with Envision Physiotherapy?</strong></em><br /><br />Envision is a unique One-on-One Physiotherapy service, with the focus on quality of care. Appointments will be 30 or 60 minutes long in a private treatment rooms with a highly trained physiotherapist. Assessments are extremely detailed and specific to the client’s pain, profession or sport. Treatments consist of manual therapy to first correct joint alignment and muscle imbalances, then specific muscle control exercises are prescribed to prevent any re-occurrences and to optimize their sport performance. <br /><br /><em><strong>So how can you reach us at this new clinic?</strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1o9epKTOvOSBI-4N3i7QZSm7lo1mp869t53N_SCsixe_vF9zcQOQnQbX6hexMZcUS3kLsNxrfndb-3titVEvCc9pWRc7DK7JMDkmGt7Hw8jrDs4G1iKtPad_4svPL_kFjsC3j4dN9tE/s1600-h/diamondsmall2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1o9epKTOvOSBI-4N3i7QZSm7lo1mp869t53N_SCsixe_vF9zcQOQnQbX6hexMZcUS3kLsNxrfndb-3titVEvCc9pWRc7DK7JMDkmGt7Hw8jrDs4G1iKtPad_4svPL_kFjsC3j4dN9tE/s200/diamondsmall2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171367224220672754" /></a><br />Our receptionist, Leah is available M-F at (604)737-0799 to take your call. The clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the Diamond Health Centre at 2775 Laurel St. There is ample underground pay parking, as well as meter parking on the street, but keep in mind the streets are often quite busy.<br /><br />I’ll be at the new clinic Tues/Thurs, Brent will be there Weds/Fri and we will share Mondays. To learn more about the clinic, go to our <a href="http://www.envisionphysio.com">Envision Physiotherapy</a> website.<br /><br />We open our doors March 3rd, 2008!Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-92213734532658932762008-02-22T00:02:00.000-08:002008-02-22T00:30:08.921-08:00What Happened to Treloar Physiotherapy?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn6o7zEC29yQxwGlx-chAaClrl12PeptCyBtQJ81ZlJM2BX0lDTupB0fW92D25qKvu-QtOB36HDjnrO0FyNQdugxcGl5rH-TOoQ9niHsD3inU9lC0NB3K4CTPQ2Rg6wk_M3gvVb_6Dkg/s1600-h/zs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn6o7zEC29yQxwGlx-chAaClrl12PeptCyBtQJ81ZlJM2BX0lDTupB0fW92D25qKvu-QtOB36HDjnrO0FyNQdugxcGl5rH-TOoQ9niHsD3inU9lC0NB3K4CTPQ2Rg6wk_M3gvVb_6Dkg/s200/zs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169718068448158386" /></a><br />For those of you who don't know, Treloar Physiotherapy is one of the larger, well respected clinics in Vancouver. Where is Treloar Physiotherapy? They are at 686 Broadway, the same building as the <em>(now infamous)</em> Taco Del Mar. The recent bomb blast at this business has affected the overall condition of the building so for the time being, Treloar physiotherapists are not able to function out of their current location. Instead, many neighboring physiotherapy clinics have arranged for some of Treloar's physios work within their offices. <br /><br />Both the clinics I practice out of <em>(West 4th & Envision)</em> have made such arrangements with Treloar, even though we have been extremely busy. One patient asked me, "Isn't that weird? Aren't they your competition?". I never thought of it like that because what many people don't realize is that we are a fairly close knit group. All physios with similar expertise, take the same courses, atted the same conferences, or work at the same sporting events. It is very unlikely that any like therapists would let their colleagues suffer at mercy of some uncontrollable events. It's nice to be part of a profession that is not only concerned with helping our clients, but to helping our professional community as well. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-16023183419068106792008-02-21T22:55:00.000-08:002008-02-21T23:07:34.046-08:00New Practice!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgD9I9WfVteW_CzR1_hnUePcRHvL1CRABkTB2djdafZFoV73RU33drZ7chwuwCy-WD9Ky1JVZIDDBH_B88Hwl959LSCYhoppn9YnMmgjhKqE_W4t70-Ht18im6yD6CbbJhIzn3Eaw-bM/s1600-h/diamondsmall.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgD9I9WfVteW_CzR1_hnUePcRHvL1CRABkTB2djdafZFoV73RU33drZ7chwuwCy-WD9Ky1JVZIDDBH_B88Hwl959LSCYhoppn9YnMmgjhKqE_W4t70-Ht18im6yD6CbbJhIzn3Eaw-bM/s200/diamondsmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169697577159189154" /></a><br />Finally, <br /><br />after 9 years of work as a physiotherapist, I'm taking the plunge and opening a new practice with fellow physiotherapist, Brent Stevenson. We are opening another branch of his Envision Physiotherapy Clinic at the Diamond Health Center on Oak & 12th in Vancouver BC. We will be working at this world class health center with the doctors of Westcoast Family Practice, of whom I will introduce to you later. <br /> <br />Brent and I are on the same page with regards to our approach to physical therapy. We are both passionate about our profession, extremely focused on continuing education, and we both opt for the one-on-one treatment approach. We will spend the next week ironing out the details, which I will share with you next week. The clinic will be up and running by March 3rd, 2008.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-1624451388507373722007-11-25T10:55:00.000-08:002007-11-25T11:11:52.604-08:00my old blog...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLJA0FERxEPXhKpOdcN5GTk2EArrmKTS4yCfRDfND1ZYYCdIQ0CmtGT_-xZAG62L5_LUVRiDK7UrfF6IgK117C5KpBnqSN08eAt7ihpLmYtiWeZWn_WiUJsDocLV14AuMNsFi7tXWiw0/s1600-h/jan.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLJA0FERxEPXhKpOdcN5GTk2EArrmKTS4yCfRDfND1ZYYCdIQ0CmtGT_-xZAG62L5_LUVRiDK7UrfF6IgK117C5KpBnqSN08eAt7ihpLmYtiWeZWn_WiUJsDocLV14AuMNsFi7tXWiw0/s200/jan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136857648123536802" /></a><br />On Novemeber 24th, we attended the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Conference at Canada Place. Following the conference, we saw the highlights from the World Cup downhill in Lake Louise. After seeing a great performance <em>(GOLD!) </em> by downhiller, Jan Hudec, someone asked me if I missed working with the ski team. And the answer is yes, but 8 months of travel each year doesn't outweigh being home with my wife, friends and family. I do miss parts of it though, so I searched around the web for my old blog, which I thought was gone forever. But here it is:<br /><br />http://vancouversportsphysio.blog.ca/Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-48110783773842293082007-09-26T08:11:00.000-07:002007-09-26T08:21:45.850-07:00Tips for the Travelling Athlete<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHinAI-hgvkegNOx67dUFPihcG70q51H5uRjDoyC3cUsbYEuEbOtJyql5pSe47UVkZc2KbnyX1lTbgdNRVpPff4EtsLUgdQ4ukRnGSFuECOy5Jc7By3-nSQUpJCOoH-_07GddHBYDIBk8/s1600-h/globe.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHinAI-hgvkegNOx67dUFPihcG70q51H5uRjDoyC3cUsbYEuEbOtJyql5pSe47UVkZc2KbnyX1lTbgdNRVpPff4EtsLUgdQ4ukRnGSFuECOy5Jc7By3-nSQUpJCOoH-_07GddHBYDIBk8/s200/globe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114531957778797858" /></a><br /><strong><em>Before Departure</em></strong><br /><br />- know your environment, both the one your leaving and the one you’re going to (heat, humidity, altitude, weather, time difference).<br />- know your training schedule on arrival.<br />- accessibility and type of food available at destination. Generally speaking, you don’t want to change your diet drastically, but you should be eating properly.<br />- avoid any deep diving 24 hours prior to travel.<br /><br /><strong><em>During Flight</em></strong><br /><br />- decrease in oxygen levels are normal on flights, and will not adversely affect healthy individuals.<br />- dysbarism (expansion of gases trapped in body cavities). In the ear can be relieved by valsalva maneuver, yawning or chewing gum. Better to do this often as can occasionally become severely painful (especially if you have a cold).<br />- typically there is a 10% drop in humidity, which can be quite noticeable.(especially if you are already somewhat dehydrated, or for those wearing contacts).<br />- drink fluids, avoid alcohol or caffeine (diuretics).<br />- motion sickness tablets (such as gravol) may be helpful for those that do not fare well with turbulence, although they may make you drowsy for several hours<br />- always try to adjust to the upcoming time zone.<br />- tighten the core muscles (namely transversus abdominus, pelvic floor, multifidus) and gluteal muscles periodically to prevent back problems.<br />- stretch problem areas, which may include hip flexors, groin and hamstrings (carefully if you’ve been sitting for a long time).<br />- During your waking hours, get up and move as often as possible, at least every hour.<br /><br /><strong><em>Circadian Dysrhythmia</em></strong> (Jet Lag)<br /><br />- Continue to adjust to the upcoming time zone, including setting your watch to the new time zone as early as possible.<br />- Eat light meals, possibly more frequently but again, try to get on the new schedule.<br />- Sit in the aisle seat to facilitate getting up when you need to be awake.<br />- When you should be awake, try to be in the light (especially sunlight, as your body responds to this quite well).<br />- Conversely, when you need to sleep, try to be in the dark.<br /><br /><em><strong>On Arrival</strong></em><br /><br />- train light for a few days.<br />- try to get into the sunlight in the mornings, to help your body’s internal clock adjust quicker.<br />- Try to train at the time of day of the actual event.<br />- Do not neglect nutrition and proper hydration.<br /> <br />The jury is still out on the effectiveness and safety of taking supplemental melatonin to combat jet lag. Melatonin is naturally created by the body to adjust the internal clock, and will be released by using some of the jet lag tips I mentioned above.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-12383157044276398432007-07-24T15:59:00.000-07:002007-07-24T16:13:14.572-07:00Periodization?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwgT3eHol7rkjg9fotxFrBfIvapWZ0NuSnEmP4A8q-IJNmb2yU8LHivV8BxjWMEyu28vRmKw47IH7Vwjn3FJHnNTNy7gxMvgUSbId3CccCHqENEPzmqHYkLE362Aj21ghXEpoH_0H4Ng/s1600-h/man2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwgT3eHol7rkjg9fotxFrBfIvapWZ0NuSnEmP4A8q-IJNmb2yU8LHivV8BxjWMEyu28vRmKw47IH7Vwjn3FJHnNTNy7gxMvgUSbId3CccCHqENEPzmqHYkLE362Aj21ghXEpoH_0H4Ng/s200/man2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090902575034623602" /></a><br />When it comes to training, people can be divided into two groups. Those that are training for a particular sport or activity, and those who are just trying to keep fit. For athletes with a specific goal in mind, the concept of periodization in their training is very important. I would like to show the other half how periodization can be beneficial (and fun). <br /><br />Periodization is the act of breaking down our yearly training schedule into smaller phases or cycles, each with a clear focus. For example, doing a strength building phase in the off-season, or perhaps an agility phase in the early part of the season. Simply put, periodization is just a form of planning in advance.<br /><br />It’s easy to assume that only elite athletes, or those who are extremely serious about their respective sports will benefit from this advance planning. This is not the case. Even if you are a recreational athlete, taking a moment to plan some basic phases into your yearly cycle will benefit you tremendously. The goal can be anything from performing to the best of your league, to simply getting through the season without injury. This latter goal is quite common and valid, for as we get older our bodies have an increasingly difficult time avoiding and bouncing back from injury. <br /><br />It is impossible to discuss all aspects of periodizing your training schedule in such a short space, as it is entirely dependant on the individual, the sport, the season, the timing of events, the goals, etc… Instead, I’ll just give you a few points to keep in mind during your “off-season” phase. <br /><br /><strong>Physical Repair & Maintenance</strong><br /><br />Much needed rest from your sport or activity will allow your body to repair optimally. This doesn’t mean you have to become sedentary to allow for this recovery. It simply means a break from your regular sport or activity will do the body good.<br /><br /><strong>Tune up</strong><br /><br />Looking after our injuries should be a constant commitment we make for our bodies. During the regular season it is sometimes difficult to get the much-needed rest or recovery time in. Use the off season to pay special attention to your injuries. Most injuries have many controllable, predisposing factors to them. There is often an underlying weakness, tightness or alignment issue that sets us up for the injury. This is why so many strains and tears occur early in the season for the de-conditioned athlete. Well conditioned athletes tend to injure themselves later in the season if at all, simply due to considerable repetition. The off season should be used to heal injuries, and fix alignment and function, so the return to sport goes smoothly. One preventative pre-season consultation is always going to be better than multiple visits post injury.<br /><br /><strong>Strength</strong><br /><br />The off season is always a good time to build up the base strength you will be needing for your particular sport. Granted you have given yourself enough rest, you can push hard with the strengthening exercises and allow your body to build up over the next one or two days, without the worry of how it will affect your performance.<br /><br /><strong>Flexibility</strong><br /><br />Why wait until mid-season to remind yourself how tight your hamstrings are. Address all your problem areas in the off-season so you have no extra challenges (ie: injuries) during your sport or activity.<br /><br /><strong>... and the list goes on...</strong><br /><br />Again, there are so many other apsects of training to address (such as speed, power, agility, reactivity, balance, etc...) as well as the parameters of training (such as optimal frequency, intensity, volume, duration, type) to cover in a short little blurb. The good thing is that periodizing your yearly training schedule takes as little or as much time & effort as you are willing to put into it. Even 5 minutes of planning, with a pencil and paper, one Sunday afternoon can have a profound effect on injury prevention and performance. <br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-16210428194357896202007-04-11T09:40:00.000-07:002007-04-12T10:43:21.295-07:00Concussion?... what concussion?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UmgNClyypv4oDisHW5eOXkW0ZNm9Dd9OEg1icymgIjByk0l_wJUM98mYR59gpdWEkf7T2hmY25CjQpQqnr5o5RWSPt5HThSEx1kP3PK7JUZog06WpFxTerezZU0wUgH51nby4Jd-CQc/s1600-h/0510_Concussion1main.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UmgNClyypv4oDisHW5eOXkW0ZNm9Dd9OEg1icymgIjByk0l_wJUM98mYR59gpdWEkf7T2hmY25CjQpQqnr5o5RWSPt5HThSEx1kP3PK7JUZog06WpFxTerezZU0wUgH51nby4Jd-CQc/s200/0510_Concussion1main.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052220317043276146" /></a><br />Concussion is a major concern in contact <em>(as well as non-contact)</em> sports. Regardless of it's frequent occurrence, the injury is widely misunderstood. This is unfortunate, but somewhat expected as most people participating in sports have had no current or formal education on the matter. Coaches and athletes alike can go through their sporting careers and never really appreciate the seriousness of a concussion until they are exposed to other doctors, physios, trainers or coaches that know. Unfortunately, this exposure usually doesn't occur until they reach the higher levels of their respective sports. <br /><br />What bothers me the most is when professional sports teams and media perpetuate ignorance on the topic. They both have an excellent opportunity to educate the public on concussions and their management when the topic arises. <br /><br />For example, NHL goaltender Rick DiPietro was recently taken out of a game following a collision where he suffered headaches, dizziness and nausea. The word on the sports news that night was “they have ruled out concussion”. <em>Argh!</em> He definitely had a concussion. Now he is continuing to suffer from “post-concussive syndrome” <em>(interesting for someone ho never had a concussion). </em>Truly, post concussive syndrome is very real, but it’s fundamentally just the effects of the concussion that have not fully healed.<br /><br />A few years ago I witnessed an even worse example of the media and/or team falsely ruling-out a concussion. Following a collision, a Dallas Stars player was being helped to the bench by two of his teammates when he went completely limp in their arms.<br /><br />I am not as negative <em>(and whiny)</em> a person as I may sound <em>(I think). </em>For I do believe the public may learn a lot about sporting injuries by following their favorite teams in the media. It's just that the definition and management for concussion follows some very simple principals, even if the injury itself can be quite complex. <br /> <br />To read more about concussion, see the <a href="http://physioguy.com/3-concussion.html"><em>article</em></a> on my website and especially check out the website <a href="http://www.thinkfirst.ca"><em>thinkfirst.ca</em></a>. They have the most up-to-date and sound information as well as downloadable information for athletes, coaches and physicians. <br /><br />harryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-16700213208288264532007-01-26T09:42:00.001-08:002007-03-27T15:56:40.957-07:00Core vs. Core<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/19626170@N00/369943983/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/369943983_2987dfbb65_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></div>This photo has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Core Stability.<br /><br />So what is core stability, actually?<br /><br />Well, some people in the health and fitness industry view this concept a little differently than others. A common misconception is that anything that works your abdominal muscles in creative ways is focusing on "core stability". This is not the case. It bothers me to hear things like "blast that core!" or "get a sexy core" or just today I read "transversus abdominus is not an important abdominal muscle". These things are quite contrary to the thinking of informed physiotherapists, doctors, health & fitness professionals.<br /><br />The aim of core stabilization training is to effectively recruit the deep trunk musculature while controlling the lumbar spine and pelvis during dynamic movements. <br /><br />The core trunk muscles: Transversus Abdominis (TA), multifidus (MF), pelvic floor, and by some studies the Internal Oblique (IO) as well. These are key to the active support of the lumbar spine. The co-contraction of these muscles produce stabilizing forces via various systems for the lumbar spine and pelvis. <br /><br />So the first step is learning how to recruit (activate) these muscles. Co-contraction (recruiting separate muscles together) during certain movements is the next step. Studies have shown that certain patterns exist, such as the co-contraction of the TA and MF muscles occurred prior to any limb movement. This suggests that these muscles anticipate dynamic forces that may act on the lumbar spine and stabilise the area prior to any movement. It follows then, if you can learn to develop this true core stability, then your lumbar spine and pelvis will become more stable during dynamic movements, which results in less excessive forces being transmitted through to these areas.<br /><br />Area of confusion:<br /><br />People sometimes see elite athletes doing interesting exercises with all sorts of rotational movement, resistance in the form of elastic bands or medicine balls, and instability from balance boards or swiss balls. They then try to mimic these exercises, realize they are difficult and come to the conclusion that these are great exercises for them to develop their "core". The bottom line is if you are not recruiting the proper muscles (ie:TA, MF or pelvic floor) then you are not developing your true core. You may be doing great rectus abdominus ("6-pack" muscles) or "lat" exercises, but you won't be developing any significant core stability. With proper training, however, you can eventually get to a high level of core stabilty.<br /><br />harry<br clear="all" />Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-81792028262981668022006-12-30T09:52:00.000-08:002006-12-30T10:26:57.287-08:00Building a Sports Physio Legacy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBeRRABBtHPpXgEPQyfIZC2Xu0WWth5UzPomErFpugzh2Qm8W85tj3DvV9uVPbQ5zLmRG4P3I4jMWGsOwYilW9Bcp01QdDCe_K_QUgrCfNW9CoiIPW41VrcF0YjA-sWeN1V3ejjDIPDg/s1600-h/lego.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBeRRABBtHPpXgEPQyfIZC2Xu0WWth5UzPomErFpugzh2Qm8W85tj3DvV9uVPbQ5zLmRG4P3I4jMWGsOwYilW9Bcp01QdDCe_K_QUgrCfNW9CoiIPW41VrcF0YjA-sWeN1V3ejjDIPDg/s200/lego.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014380538749235026" /></a> In the field of Physiotherapy, much of our specialization comes after we graduate university <em>(ie: after the masters degree). </em>The kind of specialization each physio has is something that is well known amongst physios, but not as much by the general public. Occasionally, clinics will state what types of patients they see, instead of what areas of expertise the physios are trained in, so be mindful of this. So, when looking for a physio, feel free to inquire about their particular specialization based on their training.<br /><br />Sports Physiotherapy Canada, has three levels of certification, the two more significant ones being the Certificate and finally the Diploma. To call oneself a "Sports Physio" you must have completed your SPC Diploma. I completed my SPC Diploma 3 years ago along with my colleague, Kevin Stoll. At the time there were less than 25 SPC Diploma holders in the province <em>(actually a large number when compared to other provinces).</em> In preparation for Vancouver 2010, our BC Sports Physio Council is doing what it can to facilitate other physios to become Sports Physios. By the time 2010 rolls around there will be an even greater percentage of specialized Sports Physios in our province than in any other. Given the activity level of our population, This will definitely raise the standard of care to an even higher level.<br /><br />I'm definitely biased, but this is one small way that our preparation for 2010 will leave something positive behind for the rest of the population. <br /><br />P.S. <em>I support the Olympics because they are great for health & sports, but I just wish there were a way to reduce the astronomical expenditure... maybe we could... um... I'll save that for next time </em>Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-24656439019514059522006-12-24T11:25:00.000-08:002006-12-24T11:59:36.278-08:00Bigger than Sports<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc2_v5EM47cwL67qxeyFjFlo5h3XQQUclM70EpAx3NkWyltbuSpKxx9juONq_V3PjknXjd_uUtE2EzWSeRXtUhT5W33lWb2ABX4EbjurLsnDZmgFWz-A-C6bGUaLbtgUnlMEpBb3EvvM/s1600-h/Set3152.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc2_v5EM47cwL67qxeyFjFlo5h3XQQUclM70EpAx3NkWyltbuSpKxx9juONq_V3PjknXjd_uUtE2EzWSeRXtUhT5W33lWb2ABX4EbjurLsnDZmgFWz-A-C6bGUaLbtgUnlMEpBb3EvvM/s200/Set3152.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012177581303639874" /></a><br />It's impressive for us to see athletes whose entire lives have been devoted to a particular sport. In the case of Thomas Grandi, he has been skiing since he was 3, and continues on the World Cup tour at 34. He has had 2 gold medals so far, numerous podiums and top-ten finishes. I was fortunate enough to work with him for a few seasons, and aside from admiring his motivation and work-ethic, he impressed upon me some more important things. Through his sport, he competes individually, but through his person he is concerned about all those around him. He strives to create a better training environment for his fellow <em>(younger)</em> athletes, but also to maintain a better natural environment for all of us. In the world of elite sports, all to often we see greed and materialism at it's worst <em>(ferrari anyone?). </em>Thomas has decided instead to donate half of all his World Cup winnings to the David Suzuki foundation. Additionally, he and his wife, Sara Renner, have decided to go carbon neutral. <br /><br />The Canadian Ski Team has bee off to a great start this year <em>(the best ever?) </em>so some non-result related news seems to get lost in the shuffle. Thomas Grandi's decision to make a real difference, much more significant than a few hundreths of a second, is something we should all take notice of.Harry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-77181673890277182042006-12-13T23:59:00.000-08:002006-12-14T00:00:28.472-08:00Go to Body Worlds 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVIVsu0xV0uCwOf-hpzdw4HW8lwvP8bKCZOnDNbTpcZiFttcFOV4eT9gaQVgxQ5SF54T0u5xyFfPryzueMqfJM_5XbXh7m-_3Rk1Hh47HPpQDqKgXAQbjqcNRXBgPG3Qs_R27X4w1jvs/s1600-h/bballer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVIVsu0xV0uCwOf-hpzdw4HW8lwvP8bKCZOnDNbTpcZiFttcFOV4eT9gaQVgxQ5SF54T0u5xyFfPryzueMqfJM_5XbXh7m-_3Rk1Hh47HPpQDqKgXAQbjqcNRXBgPG3Qs_R27X4w1jvs/s200/bballer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5008289251850345602" /></a><br />If you haven't seen Body Worlds 3 exhibition at Science World yet, you only have until Jan. 14th, 2007 to do it. Now, it's not for everyone of course, but if you have any interest in the human body it's definitely worth considering. For us physiotherapists, we have worked with cadavers in the anatomy labs through our university education, but the way these bodies are presented offer something different. They are very well positioned and prepared to show the relationships and dynamics of various structures within the body. <br /><br />It's a safe bet that any sports physiotherapist in the lower mainland has visited this exhibit at least once. But even if you are not involved in the medical field, if you are an athlete, dancer, artist or just share the same fascination with the human body, I highly recommend it. If you've ever had an injury and want a better understanding of it, research what it was and then take a trip to Science World. <br /><br />And Lastly, please understand that these are <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">real human bodies</span></em>, so if you don't feel comfortable with this, don't go. If you're unsure, search for some images of the exhibition online first to see what you think.<br /><br />HarryHarry Toorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04250645036646176184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553790813568233425.post-61269055088528753602006-12-13T10:50:00.001-08:002006-12-13T10:50:37.645-08:00Welcome!Welcome to Vancouver Sports Physio.<br /><br />So, for this preliminary post, I would like to thank a former patient of mine, NQ Chang for her excellent work in getting our website re-programmed and setting up my internet presence through various avenues such as this blog. <br /><br />I'm just working out Flickr, so within a few days I should be able to make this blog a little richer with regrds to graphical content <i>(and I'm not talking about pictures of surgery, don't worry)</i><br /><br />HarryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1