World Spine Day! New Free Posture Phone APP

How many hours a day do you spend sitting? Reading, using computers, driving, watching TV —all that sitting adds up, especially if you have poor posture. Did you know that lower back pain and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions account for one third of missed work in Canada?

It’s time to Straighten Up Canada and improve your spinal health!

Canada’s chiropractors have developed an app for that. Straighten Up Canada is a FREE, easy-to-perform posture program that you can use in just three minutes a day. It’s the only free Canadian app specifically designed and completely dedicated to improving posture and spinal health.

The Straighten Up Canada program can be practised almost anywhere and is a great warm up, cool down, stand-alone routine or ergonomic break.

Good posture will help you to:

• Look and feel even better than you already do,
• Prevent back aches and muscle pains,
• Decrease wear and tear on your joints,
• Use less energy for daily tasks, and
• Increase your spine’s flexibility and resilience.

Straighten Up Canada app features:

• 12 unique posture exercises
• Adult and youth exercise options
• Easy to follow Image stills and video content
• Tracking function
  • Set personal reminders
  • Track your progress

• Share your posture exercise progress with friends through social media
• Learn about your back and common back-related problems
• Find a Chiropractor in your area quickly and easily
• Read the latest blog posts on MSK health

CANADA’S CHIROPRACTORS ENCOURAGE YOU TO STRAIGHTEN UP AND MOVE FOR WORLD SPINE DAY.

The development of this app has been supported by the CCA and all provincial associations.

Medical Compression Stockings

Compression Stockings: Do I Need Them?

I received a question a couple of weeks ago from a 43 year-old man who was complaining about leg fatigue in general, but worse on the golf course. What surprised me was when this comparively young guy told me was having pain and swelling in his ankles and was using the golf cart instead of walking the course! I sent him off to his family doc for a vascular, that is, vein check-up, and he returned with a prescription for medical compression stockings. He is now feels much better and has walked the course in comfort, with no swelling.

Medical compression stockings have been up-dated in the past few years and are now even stylish to say the least. This case illustrates that even young-ish men can wear them in style.

They come in socks, stockings (knee, thigh-high and full), and "preggers" for expectant mums with swollen feet, legs and ankles.

Here are some good reasons to consider compression stockings.

I have great legs but my ankles swell by the end of the day!


I have big tortuous varicose veins all over my legs!


I am an expectant mom and my legs ankles and feet hurt and swell!


My legs and ankles swell when I fly (in an airplane)


I am over 40 and my legs/ankles seem to be swelling!


I have a history of deep vein thrombosis


I have diabetes. Can compression stockings save my legs?


I sit all day at work, and by the end of the day my legs are swollen!


I have been told that I need compression stockings!




If you fall into one of the above categories, you may be a candidate for Gradient Compression Hosiery, or Compression Stockings.

How do you know?...

· If your ankles swell


· your calves ache, and your feet and legs are tired and fatigued

· you have varicose veins

· you sit or stand for long periods of time

· over 40

· have a history of DVT's or blood clots in your legs

· are diabetic

· are an expectant mother

· you want to prevent vein problems

· have a family history of vein disorders

· have been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency or lymphoedema

· are receiving cancer treatments



...You might be a candidate.



How can gradient compression stockings help?



Gradient compression stockings...





Deliver a controlled amount of pressure to the legs


Support the venous and lymphatic system and prevent poor circulation


· Promote better venous blood flow which in turn helps prevent and control vein-related diseases



Most health plans cover gradient compression stockings on the prescription of your doctor.






Keyes to Health is certified distributor of Gradient Compression Hosiery. We will measure your legs and provide you with excellent selection and value. Please call our clinic today to make an appointment. 905.420.1248

A Foot for all Seasons

Recently, there have been a lot of people asking me about custom orthotics. I presume that it is due to the season: the warm weather is here and people are out and about, walking, jogging, hiking, golfing, playing soccer etc.

To start with, orthotics come in all shapes and sizes.  Some, like the sport orthotic or the superflex are more generic. Others, like the runner's orthotic, golfer's orthotic, soccer cleat orthotic are highly specfic to the footwear type and the demands of the activity.

What are Custom Orthotics?

(click image to see a short video)

Orthotics are devices inserted into your footwear used to control abnormal foot function. When the foot is not functioning correctly, painful areas result. Pain can be in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips and/or the low back. A custom orthotic device can relieve that pain by offering support to the ligaments and the bone structures of the feet providing support all the way up the kinetic chain. Keyes To Health Custom Orthotics (inserts, shoes and sandals) can be constructed specifically to correct foot mechanics. Keyes To Health Custom Orthotics can relieve arch and heel pain while properly aligning the body from the feet up. At Keyes To Health’s Pickering, ON clinic, we offer the State of the art precision custom-made orthotic medical appliances for maximum support and function.

How are Custom Orthotics different from store-bought insoles?

Most store-bought gel and fabric insoles may provide some padding, but do not address the underlying mechanical imbalances and support structures of your feet. Your foot is unique, and pre-fabricated devices are not customised to your foot. At Keyes To Health, your walking pattern, called your gait, is analysed using a computerised digital scanning system and that information, combined with a detailed health history and physical examination of your feet is used to design a customized orthotic appliance. The orthotic appliances are milled to your exact specifications at an orthotic lab located in Ontario.

What conditions can Custom Orthotics help?

Custom Orthotics are most helpful with foot and foot-related conditions. If you have bunions, flat or pronated feet, knee pain, ankle pain, hip pain or low back pain you may benefit from custom orthotics. We also have spealcial orthotics for arthritic and diabetic patients. Custom orthotics can be helpful for getting active. Many people who avoid otherwise healthy activity because of pain may find that they can exercise again once they have custom orthotics. Young and the young at heart may rediscover the renewed energy that comes with walking and exercise once they are fitted with custom orthotics.

What type of footwear can I wear with Custom Orthotics?

Custom Orthotics are compatible with almost all footwear types. There are orthotics for casual, work or sports shoes, safety boots, fancy dress shoes, runner’s shoes, court shoes, golf shoes, as well as specially designed orthotics for ski and snowboard boots, and hockey and figure skates.

How long will my Custom Orthotics last?

Your Custom Orthotics from Keyes To Health should last at least one year, perhaps up to 2 or 3 years depending on use. Extreme athletes will wear their orthotics harder than casual walkers and likely require more frequent replacements. Your feet may change over time and this too will necessitate an update.

Is there a warranty on my custom orthotics from Keyes To Health?

Absolutely! We want your Custom Orthotics to work for you. If they are not comfortable we will modify and/or refit them within the 90 day period after they have been dispensed to you. There is also a no charge follow up at the end of the two weeks period after the orthotics have been dispensed.

Do group benefit plans cover the cost of my Custom Orthotics?

Yes they do, although each plan has different amounts and rules and regulations. Please contact your insurance provider to determine your coverage. The Keyes To Health Clinic has a list of specific questions to ask your insurance provider. Please contact the clinic for this list. To ease reimbursement, upon payment, Keyes To Health will provide you with a copy of the examination findings, the computerised Gait Scan report, the diagnosis, a detailed statement outlining the type and number of custom orthotics and of course the cost amount. Some plans require a third party prescription which you may need to obtain from your family doctor.

How do I make an appointment at Keyes to Health?

Simply click on the following link and request an appointment online, or call the clinic at 905.420.1248 in Pickering, ON.

KeyesToHealth@bellnet.ca

THE 7-DAY BACK PAIN CURE

One of the main reasons people consult with me is to find out how best to treat their back pain and sciatica. Of course chiropractors are consulted for a wide variety of muscle and joint conditions, but back pain and sciatica are #1. I am always looking for ways to give more to my patients, and a couple of days ago I came across this FREE book full of advice and techniques to relieve back pain and help keep it under control. This book is not just an electronic downloadable book, but an actual hard copy book that is shipped to you and you can keep on the shelf so that you can refer to it again and again. This free book is called The 7-day Back Pain Cure,  which might be a bit of a stretch, literally, but it is full of excellent advice and guidance to help you solve and prevent your back pain.

To get the book, just click on the link banner below.  The author, Jesse Canonne, is knowledgeable and thorough. He also donates a small amount in your name to Habitat for Humanity, or Kiva if you order his book, and there is some info about that on the page after you click the banner.



I hope that this book helps to solve your back pain. Please note, though, that the book is not a substitute for professional advice from a chiropractor or physician.  You can make an appointment with me,  Dr. Keyes, for example, by following the link to http://www.keyestohealth.com/ on this blog.

All the best in your search for back pain relief.

What Good is Chiropractic?

What are some of the conditions chiropractic may be able to help you with?

While Chiropractic care has been shown to correct mechanical low back pain and is in fact better than any other combined or individual form of treatment, Chiropractors take care of a lot more than back pain. Read on and find out how Chiropractic can help you.

Recently, we received a phone call from a patient who was calling to cancel her appointment. At the time, she had been receiving chiropractic care for her chronic migraine headaches, with excellent results, I might add. When asked why she was cancelling, she responded that just that afternoon she had strained her neck and had to go to the doctor. At that point, I was called to the phone to speak with her about her neck pain. After some questioning about the pain to make sure that it was not catastrophic, I asked her why she was not coming in so that I could treat her neck pain? She answered, "I thought you only treated the bones. This is a muscle problem!"

Where did I go wrong, I thought. How did I fail to inform her at the beginning that Chiropractors were expert in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain? That is, the joints, the muscles and indeed the nerves are all intertwined, and function as a unit. Chiropractors deal with muscles, nerves and joints (and tendons and bursas and ligaments!)

From that point forward, I made it my plan to let everyone know when to visit the Chiropractor. So in case I have forgotten to inform you, here is a list of the kinds of musculoskeletal problems Chiropractors can help you with.

· Neck pain, whether you sprained or strained it at home, in a car accident or at work.

· Back pain, that is upper, middle or lower back pain.

· Pain in your joints, such as shoulder, elbow, knee, wrist, hip, ankle, feet or hands.

· Pain in your arms or in your legs

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

· Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

· Frozen shoulder

· Tennis elbow or Golfer's elbow,

· Foot pain including plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, pes planus (flat feet) and bunions

· Headaches, such as from tension, migraines or sinus

· WSIB claims and Motor Vehicle Accident Claims (coverage is immediate)

· Custom Orthotics for painful, achy, tired feet



You do not need a prescription from your family doctor for most of the health services at Keyes To Health, including for accident coverage or workers comp.

If you have a pain complaint that is not on the list, or if you have pain and have been wondering what to do about it, please contact the clinic by phone or email and we will let you know if it something we can help you with.

Also, feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends, neighbours, collegues and family members, as they may be looking for relief from pain too.

The Staff and Therapists at Keyes To Health are committed to providing you with the most comprehensive professional care and courteous treatment for your health complaints.

Healthy Eating and Weight Loss

Many patients who come to see me have concerns about their weight.  Some people have a family history of poor health and are concerned about maintaining healthy weight throughout their lives. Others are overweight; many of these patients have health conditions associated with excessive weight: diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure are some common ones. Arthritis and pain, especially in the weight-bearing areas of the body such as the back, the hips, and the knees are commonly experienced by people carrying excessive weight.

If you're someone who is overweight with health challenges, you'll probably feel somewhat powerless to change your circumstances. Often, you know that you need to make changes, both in diet and exercise. You probably know what it is you need to do, but feel overwhelmed by the mere thought of it. Busy schedules with work, family, children and other obligations make it hard to find the time to think about making changes to your diet, let alone implement new changes. So you go on with your life, wishing you could make the changes, and feeling guilty about not doing it.

However, help is at hand...
I want to tell you about one of my health mentors, Dr. Joseph Mercola, a medical physician from Chicago. I have been studying his work and insights, and following his advice for years.  Here is what he has to say:

"Failure to address underlying factors of obesity, diabetes, chronic disease, and weight and health issues will not result in successfully eliminating the problem. You simply cannot take short cuts when it comes to your health. I'm going to ask you to do yourself a favor today: ditch fad diets and stop looking for one. Turn your back on those weight-loss programs, supplements, and deceptive cure-alls that emphasize deprivation and starvation. Start taking control of your health today"

Dr. Mercola is of course right. The problem I find most people have is knowing where to start. In his recent book, Total Health Breakthrough, Mercola recommends:



"Start with what you eat. The type and quality of your food will have a profound influence on your weight and health. "



"Over 20 years in the making, my Total Health Program is anchored on the 6 Essentials, which wonderfully encompass food choices, your specific biochemistry, your emotional well-being, and your lifestyle approach."



"This book will take you on a transformative path utilizing 150 delicious, healthy, and grain-free recipes. This collection is a "unique mix of classic and traditional, American and international fare, with both healthy gourmet and down-home influences." These recipes will not only cater to your palate, but will also encourage you to eat according to your specific Nutritional Type." and, "Speaking of Nutritional Type, do you know yours? Or do you subscribe to diet plans that disregard your own specific biochemistry?"

Please take the time to review Dr. Mercola's unique program. You will find his program interesting to read and his evidence compelling. Take the first step towards achieving your optimal weight, eating the right foods for your body type, getting back your energy and  feeling good again. Click on this link or the picture below and you will be taken to Dr. Mercola's Health Breakthrough page.



I thoroughly endorse this product!

Yours in good health,
Dr. Warren Keyes