Happy Halloween from the Movéo Team!
It’s been a busy month at Movéo, but we wanted to take the time today to say Happy Halloween! During the last month at Movéo we’ve hosted Canadian Olympians, added a new staff member, treated lots of patients, and still managed to squeeze in a few fun events such as the Hallow’s Eve and Strachan Hartley Legacy Foundation trail races.
This month’s newsletter includes an introduction to our newest team member Susan Gardiner, an article from Susan on how to protect your body through correct posture, and some events to look out for in the next month. We’re also launching an exciting competition on Facebook in which you could win the Ultimate Recovery Gift Pack. Read on to find out how to win!
“Like” Movéo on Facebook to Win the Ultimate Recovery Gift Pack
During November we’re promoting our Facebook page as the best place to get the latest news on all that’s happening at Movéo. Each week we post links to interesting articles and videos on health and wellness on our page, and photos of the team as we attend events. We want to grow our Facebook community to help spread the word about Movéo, share tips and advice, and promote health and sport events on the North Shore.
We are holding a prize draw on November 30th to win the Ultimate Recovery Gift Pack. The pack contains a Foam Roller, Compression Socks, Traumeel and a Movéo T Shirt. To enter simply Like our Facebook Page by November 29th. Please help us spread the word! We’ll announce the winner in our December newsletter.
Meet our newest team member: Physiotherapist Susan Gardiner
Susan graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology in 2009 and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2012. Since graduation she has obtained her Level One Diploma of Advanced Orthopaedic Manual and Manipulative Therapy. Susan enjoys treating clients of all ages, backgrounds and activity levels and prioritizes the development of treatment plans that are individualized to each client’s needs. Susan’s treatment philosophy integrates manual therapy techniques, soft tissue release, muscle strengthening and education.
Growing up on the North Shore, Susan began swimming competitively with the Cruisers Swim Club at the age of 6. Soon after, she discovered her passion for the sport of water polo which led her to an 11 year career on the Senior Women’s National Water Polo Team. Career highlights include the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, five World Aquatic Championships, two Commonwealth Games, and six National Championship titles. Susan remains actively involved in the water polo community by organizing development camps for young girls to pass on her knowledge and expertise.
Susan is a certified NCCP level 1 coach in both swimming and water polo and is currently an assistant coach with the Pacific Storm Water Polo Club. For the past five years Susan has also volunteered with the North Shore Special Olympics swim team and her hobbies include jogging, photography and yoga.
Posture: A base for health and wellness, by Susan Gardiner
Correct sitting, standing, and sleeping posture is an incredibly important element for exceptional health. Every aspect of movement and body function is improved drastically by starting with a good base. Read on for why you should care about your posture and things you can do to improve it.
Why should you care about your posture?
Poor posture can have a major impact on your long-term health in both well known and surprising ways! Over time poor posture can lead to lower back, shoulder and neck pain, sore knees, muscle imbalances, and an increased risk of injury.
Proper posture ensures good circulation and respiration while decreasing stress on joints, ligament wear, and muscle fatigue. Correct posture is equally as important during sporting activities. Using poor technique while exercising can hamper muscle performance and efficiency. The bottom line: our bodies perform best and move most efficiently when aligned properly!
Where does poor posture come from?
Poor posture generally comes from adopting bad habits in everyday activities such as: sleeping with inappropriate pillows, sitting in office chairs with inadequate support, working on a laptop computer, or standing for extended periods of time. Over time our bodies adjust to these postures and it becomes hard for our body to tell what normal alignment is!
What can I do about it?
The good news is that with some relatively easy changes poor posture can be improved! Firstly, come in to the clinic and have a postural assessment done. The practitioner at Movéo will analyze your posture in sitting, standing, and lying in order to evaluate where your misalignments originate from. Then an individualized strengthening program can be designed to help improve muscles balance and increase body awareness. Joint pain and structural alignment can also be addressed. Your practitioner can give you some suggestions regarding your home and work environment to address other contributing factors.
A few helpful Posture tips
Here are some helpful tips that can help you improve the situation:
- Try to avoid staying in the same position. Muscles fatigue quickly, leading to slouching and the adaptation of awkward positions. Aim to get up from your chair every 20 to 30 minutes to give those muscles and joints a break during the day.
- Wear proper shoes! Shoes are very important when it comes to posture regardless of whether you have a sedentary or a more active job. Supportive shoes with proper soles are a must!
- Customize your work space to suit your body. Take the time to adjust your chair so that the back of your legs are supported, the natural curvature of your lower back is supported and your feet rest comfortably on the floor. Adjust the arm rests to ensure that your shoulders are relaxed, your elbows supported at 90 degrees and your wrists are in neutral. Your computer monitor should be roughly one arm length away from your body and make sure the top level of text on your monitor is at eye level.
- Avoid unbalanced positions such as excessive tilting of the head, crossed legs while sitting, leaning to one side while standing and carrying heavy bags on one shoulder. Being over loaded on one side of the body causes muscle fatigue and places stress on the adjacent joints.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach. When sleeping lie on your side place a pillow between your legs for support. If you sleep on your back, choose a pillow that allows your head to remain in line with your spine. Also, remember that pillows flatten out and lose their support over time, don’t be afraid to buy a new one.
Read the full article on our website.
3 Links We Like!
For our tip this month we’re sharing 3 links that we noticed in the last month that we like.
- Chiropractor Jamie Howard talks about how Graston Technique can reduce scarring after surgery. Jamie says “[Graston Technique] increases your body temperature, brings cells to the area, brings blood flow, so it helps initiate a new healing process”. Dr. Jenn Turner, Dr. Sarah Jung and Dr. Lindsay Rite are all Graston Certified providers. Click here to watch the video to get an idea of what they do!
- Lazy Girl Running reviews SpiderTech Kinesiology Tape. Kinesiology tape is used to “provide pain relief, reduce swelling, assist a range of movement and give structural support”. We frequently use it with Movéo patients to support their bodies as they heal. Lazy Girl’s blog is a fun read!
- Foam Roller Techniques App for iPhone and iPad. “Dr. Ryan Emmons has brought his popular Roll Release® foam roller techniques to your iPhone and iPad. In 100 videos Dr. Emmons himself shows you the most effective way to use your roller. Rolling is a highly effective, proven method for releasing muscles for people of all skill and fitness levels.” We strongly encourage our patients to use foam rolling to support recovery. This app looks like a great asset to your recovery tool box!
Upcoming Events at Movéo and in the Community
De-mystifying Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture with Dr. Kim Graham.
A ‘real’ talk aimed to help de-mystify the theories and practices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture. Join Dr. Kim for this interactive morning session fuelled with complementary caffeine and information about one of medicine’s most ancient practices. Have all of your questions answered, and learn about how TCM and acupuncture can help you achieve and maintain better health.
- Special Promotion: As a bonus to you for attending, Dr. Kim is offering a discount of 10% when booking your first appointment/consultation!
- Space is limited, so be sure to call and reserve your spot today.
- When: Saturday November 3, 2012 @ 10:00am
- Where: Movéo Sport & Rehabilitation Centre
Call our office today at 604.984.8731 to book your FREE spot!
For One of Our Brothers Fundraiser Event
Delta Fire Department are holding an event on Friday evening, November 2nd, as a fundraiser for one their families. Jennifer is a wife to Delta Firefighter Mike, mother of two young children, and Rehabilitation Assistant at LMH. Her busy life has suddenly been put on hold. Jennifer began feeling severe pain and loss of sensation and motor control earlier in the summer. She was admitted to LMH, and quickly moved to the spine unit at VGH, where it was discovered that she had a Spinal Cavernoma hemorrhage, a bleed in the spinal cord due to a malformation of blood vessels. Jen is now paraplegic.
Delta Fire Department invite you to join them for a fundraising evening at the Shady Island Pub in Richmond on Friday evening from 5pm – 11pm. Tickets for the event are available through the fire hall, or at the Shady Island Pub. Full details for the event are on their Facebook page.
When: Friday November 2nd, 5 – 11pm
Where: Shady Island Pub, Richmond
North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
Dr. Jenn Turner has been selected as a finalist in the 2012 NVCC Business Excellence Awards. We are very excited that Movéo is being recognized as a leading business in North Vancouver. We’ll keep you posted on the results!
AC Campobasso vs Westside FC
Movéo is proud to sponsor AC Campobasso soccer team. AC Campobasso is the flagship team for the NVFC Campobasso soccer club. Started back in 2009 bearing the club’s name, the team has risen from the depths of Division 3 in the VMSL, and is now competing in Division 1 as reigning BC Soccer Provincial Champions.
AC Campobasso play Westside FC on Sunday November 4th, 2012 at 2:00 PM. Visit their website for more information.
The Phantom Run Trail Race Presented by Mountain Madness
Roll, Recover, Regenerate Workshop with Ceilidh Bech
Don’t miss out on this excellent session and give your body the best start to its off-season recovery.
- Date: Saturday, November 24th, 2012
- Time: 9:30am – 11:00am
- Max Participants: 10-12, space is limited!
- Cost: $45, includes participant handouts.
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