Spring has Sprung…Is Your Body Ready for it?

"As the weather finally turns more agreeable and the city comes alive with activity once again, I tend to see a bit of an influx of people seeking my care." says Doctor Michael Buna a Chiropractor in Victoria.

"Many of these clients have injured themselves in one way or another while making the most of the good weather.  Often their story sounds something like:

There are several things you can do to prevent injuries due to springtime activity- seeing your chiropractor is one of them

“It was the first decent day we’ve had in forever so I spent 6 hours in the garden pulling weeds…”

“It was the first weekend of softball and I threw my shoulder out in the second game…”

“I was late starting my training for the annual 10 K and I ran twice as far as I usually do..”

Sound familiar? Maybe you haven’t fallen victim to this sort of thing, but that’s probably because you do one or more of the following:

1.  Exercise regularly BEFORE the good weather begins

-  Keeping your muscles toned and strong year-round not only has countless health benefits, but also stabilizes the spine and joints of body.  I have found that the stronger and more muscular an individual is, the less likely they are to get injured and the faster they recover from injury.  Remember- movement and exercise are nutrients that the body needs to function at its best!

2. Work up gradually to the activity you hope to accomplish

-  Instead of gardening for 6 hours in a row, or throwing as hard as you can in the first game you play in the season, or running a full 10 K on the first day of training, do only one hour in the garden the first day,  start throwing lightly in the weeks leading up to softball, or only do 4 K on the first day of training, then 5 K, then 6 and so on. Doing this will condition your body to be able to handle the activity you hope will keep you busy outdoors.

3. Warm up before and cool down after activity

- Everyone knows they should warm up before physical activity but very few do it, and many do it wrong.  Still or ‘static’ classic stretches are good for cooling down, but are a no-no for warming up. Instead, dynamic (moving) stretches that gently mimic your activity and stretch the muscles you will be using are what are ideal for warm up.  .

If your body were a house, your spine would be the foundation and framework – keep it properly aligned and balanced by seeing your chiropractor

4. Go to your chiropractor to keep your spine and extremity joints balanced, loose, and your nerve system healthy

- If your body were a house, your spine would be the foundation and framing supporting the entire structure. The electrical wiring in the house would be your nerve system.

- Making sure your spine (the foundation and framing of your ‘house’) is aligned is exactly what a chiropractor does, and this keeps the nerves (electrical wiring) running through the spine healthy, keeps you more flexible, helps prevent injury, and prevents uneven strain on your muscles and ligaments.

- People with unbalanced spines and joints due to misalignment are more susceptible to injuries such as sprains and strains due to these imbalances.

- You don’t have to be in pain or need a referral to see a chiropractor, just schedule a checkup to make sure that you’re in the best shape possible for an activity-filled summer so that you can make the most of it instead of ending up on the sidelines!"

Best wishes for a safe, healthy filled summer!
Dr. Michael Buna
Health4Life Chiropractic and Pilates
3520 Quadra St
Victoria BC
Phone 250-384-2412

Mona McClelland and Frozen Shoulder

Mona McClelland came to Dr. Michael Buna suffering from bilateral frozen shoulder on both sides.  Listen to Mona as she describes her experience dealing with this painful condition.

http://www.myinspiredmedia.com/video/how-to/21499/chiropractors-in-victoria-bc-dr-buna-frozen-shoulder-treatment

Here's what Dr. Buna had to say about Mona and her condition,

"Frozen shoulder can be very painful and quite debilitating. As you listen to Mona's story I'm hopeful gives people hope. Hope and an understanding that they don't have to live with this kind of pain or disfunction. It's unfortunate when someone just assumes age or a previous injury has caught up with them and that chronic pain or discomfort now needs to be the norm.

Every day in my clinic I see people of all ages, shapes and sizes get relief and regain mobility. It makes my day and I'm so grateful to get feedback from patients like Mona.

Thank you Mona! I appreciate you sharing your story."

Michael Buna

Dr. Michael Buna and the Niel-Asher Technique for Frozen Shoulder

What is a Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness in, or near, the shoulder joint. It can be caused when the joint sustains an acute injury, such as in a motor vehicle accident, or by overuse. The condition is exasperated as the patient uses the joint less and less and as the pain and stiffness increases. It is most common in those over 40, and occurs more commonly in women than in men. Post-operative occurrences have also been reported, especially when the procedure specifically limits movement of the shoulder joint.

The Niel-Asher Technique NAT 

The Niel-Asher Technique, or NAT, is a technique that was developed to assist in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Since 1997, it has been approved for use in multiple medical disciplines, and has shown results better than other traditional forms of treatment. Instead of having a patient push through the pain, as with traditional physiotherapy, NAT involves proper application of a series of pressure points on, and around, the affected joint. This is not a pain-free option, and requires a series of treatments, however it has been shown to alleviate both the pain and the stiffness associated with frozen shoulder, limiting the need for pain-relieving medications or more difficult physical therapies.

Dr. Michael Buna 

A graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and in practice since 1984, Dr. Buna has focused a portion of his practice on the treatment of shoulder injuries such as frozen shoulder. A Victoria Chiropractor, he has experience using NAT for the treatment of shoulder injuries, with special attention to those occurring as a result of motor vehicle collisions. Treatment at his facility, Health 4 Life Chiropractic, will include a basic evaluation of the condition, including any required imaging, and a thorough patient history. This information will be used together to help create a treatment plan. This requires a series of visits, scheduled at instructed intervals, to ensure that optimal results are achieved quickly and efficiently, whilst ensuring everything is handled in the safest manner possible.