What is the core?The term core is often used in health and fitness. However, when most people think of their core, the first thought is often abs. The core does include all 3 layers of abdominal muscles, as well as the muscles of the back and the muscles that surround the hip and buttocks, such…
Whether you are a new comer to running, or a seasoned marathoner ramping up mileage/intensity for your next race, shin splints can really hinder your training. In fact, nothing can slow you as a runner like the nagging pain of shin splints. Technically known as Tibial Stress Syndrome or MTSS, shin splints is the broad…
We get a lot of similar questions at the clinic, so I wanted to share some of the answers to our most frequently asked questions with you: Do I need a referral?No, you do not need a doctor’s referral to make an appointment with us! Your extended healthcare provider may require one to cover physiotherapy…
Shakira said ‘Hips don’t lie’. Talking about hips, they are probably the first part of our body to get bloated. The Hip flexor is an important muscle group, which helps move the knees to the chest and the legs front to back and sideways. As many people sit on workstations all day, the hip flexors…
Trochanteric bursitis is just one of many common causes of hip pain among athletes. If you have pain on the outside of your hip, you may be suffering from this sports injury. The Greater Trochanter This is a part of the femur, the large bone that makes up your thigh. It actually sticks out from…
Most people don’t think about incorporating balance training into their fitness regime. This is because they don’t understand the benefits of adding it in. Balance is the ability to control the body’s position, either stationary (e.g. complex yoga pose) or whilst moving (e.g. ice skating). Balance is a key element of fitness, along with strength,…
Looking to break a new personal record in your next race? Or just want to work your way up from a walk to a jog? Running faster during your workouts takes dedication, time, and the ability to break out of the norm—you just have to be willing to get a little uncomfortable. It’s not as…
Before working out, it is important to eat the right kinds of foods so that you can flex your muscles and joints easily and not suffer from cramps. Flexibility refers to the ability of different body parts to complete their motions. You need flexibility to perform regular activities like walking, lifting or bending and when…
Pectoralis Major A lot of women elect to skip the bench press partially in thanks to that stereotypical image of a top heavy, male, bulking bodybuilder. But it’s a fear unwarranted: on average, females don’t produce the testosterone required to bulk up quite that much. And working your chest can help ‘perk up’ what you…
Ankle sprains are the most common injuries in sports. One misstep can damage your joint and land you on the sidelines. Fortunately, people can help prevent ankle injuries with a mobility, stability and strength in three steps. Before we go into the three ways to prevent ankle injuries, we need to understand the anatomy of…
The most common shoulder pain located in the front of the shoulder, or pain that occurs when lifting or grabbing things above shoulder height is due to problems with the Rotator Cuff. Common symptoms of rotator cuff injury or strain are pain and difficulty raising the arm. It is painful for many people to lie…
What do you need to know about training the myofascial lines? Fascia has been enjoying the limelight in the fitness industry as one of the hottest topics in recent workshops and publications. However, will we still be scratching our heads and wondering, “Okay, great, it’s important, but what do we do with it?” This article…
No one wants an injury to derail their training plans. It doesn’t matter if you run for your mental health or are training for a race, an unplanned break is something we’d all like to avoid. Although no plan is 100% injury-proof, there are steps you can take to prevent running injuries. 1. Warm-up Many…
Hitting the slopes for the first time? Here’s what you should know to stay safe and come home in one piece. If you’re new to skiing or it’s your first time on the slopes since last season, listen up. When you’re hurtling down the mountain and you lose control, there are tons of ways to…
One of the best ways to stay healthy is to constantly analyze any signs that our body is giving us. Humans have a huge amount of feedback from their body, but there are a few symptoms that no one should ever ignore. Here is a closer look at a handful of warning signs that might…
The piriformis muscle is located deep in the buttock, and connects the sacrum to the top of the femur, or thigh bone. Its function is to roll the leg out to the side. Piriformis syndrome is pain deep in the buttock caused when the piriformis muscle traps the sciatic nerve. Symptoms include pain deep in…
If you’ve been exercising more, you may be suffering from the aches and pains of having overdone it at the gym. Making sure your workout is challenging without overdoing it is one way to prevent muscle soreness. But research also points to some foods and beverages that can help ward off and minimize exercise-related muscle…
Posture and Neck Pain Poor posture is the most common reason many people will complain about neck pain during their lifetime. Luckily, several lifestyle habits that cause neck pain can be reversed. Most typically experience pain in the back of the neck where the postural muscles are located. Trapezius, splenius capitis, erector spinae, and the…
Every time you exercise, you put microscopic tears in your muscles. That’s what’s behind that next-day hurts-so-good soreness. And after your body repairs these tears, you become stronger, faster, and fitter. But if you stretch a muscle too far, lift too much, or are working out with a muscle imbalance, you might not just have…
To start your Hamstring Stretching do a few jumping jacks or running in place to warm up your muscles. For your first Hamstring Stretching exercise stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent, your other leg out in front by about one foot, knee held firmly in place, bring the toes up towards your…
Training for a race is no easy task, and proactively preventing injuries is key to crossing the finish line with zeal. Here are some stretching and strength-training exercises to keep you healthy and strong as you log all your miles. Performed in order, this combination of exercises can help minimize common running injuries that often…