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Archive for the ‘Osteopathy’ Category

RE defining Health with Osteopathy

Posted on: October 7th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

By Leann Mai (M. OMSc)

Our bodies are amazing machines, they have built in mechanisms to heal and protect that we aren’t even aware of – it’s like a software program always running in the background so that we can work, enjoy, and play our days away! 

We change the way we play as we get older, running around playing tag or playing sports may be something we enjoy in the first few decades of life – we may thrive on the competition or the achievement of success as part of a team. Often in the third, fourth and fifth decades we redefine fun according to our limitations as we start to notice our body doesn’t respond the way it used to. We try training, like we did in the second decade and still, not the same response. We often notice our health isn’t what it used to be either. 

Perhaps defining our health to meet the same criteria it was in previous decades is the problem. Maybe we should still focus in on the joy of what we can do and continue making goals based on where we are rather than beating ourselves up for not being able to do more.

Osteopathy can help support the body with shifting into mobility and movement focused exercise that will have way more benefit physically and physiologically to our overall health than the no pain, no gain theory. Our standard of competition should be to ourselves (not the Jones’) and redefined as progression.

We need to be open to variety- we have joints that move in multiple planes and a nervous system that loves rhythm! We can learn from young children, they love to walk, dance, swim, and swing, to name a few things they enjoy. They just enjoy discovering how their body can move!

So perhaps re defining health means being young at heart, go for a bike ride by the river, dance while making dinner, swing with your kids, it doesn’t matter- just move! 

Let osteopathy show you how tomorrow can be a better day.

Cheers to you and your newly defined health!!   

5 ways Osteopathy Can Help with Low Energy

Posted on: September 19th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

By Leann Mai (M. OMSc)

1.        Moves the fascia that surrounds our muscles and bones which helps fluid move between the joints, making motion easier.

2.        Resets the tone of the nervous system between the sympathetic response and parasympathetic response, giving you a better quality sleep.

3.        Aligns the diaphragms, improving each breath and therefore improving the quality of blood being supplied to the liver amongst all our other tissues.

4.        Improves barriers to the limbs, increasing coordination and nervous impulse, making our muscles stronger.

5.        Improves body mind connection through all of the above, which means hormone improvement with better energy and mood. 

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5 ways osteopathy can help with low back pain:

Posted on: September 7th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

By Leann Mai (M. OMSc) Manual Osteopathic Practitioner

1.        Redistribute the tension from the shoulders or legs due to exercise or stress

2.        Realign anterior  gravitational loading coming from ankles, hips, shoulders or head that is putting stress on the lower back to keep you upright

3.         Reset the tension through the abdominal muscles  that might be compressing the abdomen

4.        Coordinate the spring-like design through the spine to make sure the curves are supporting each other from head to pelvis allowing open communication through the nervous system

5.        Remove torsional patterns that have become fixed, from the top of the rib cage through to the bottom of the rib cage , pulling through the lower back and pelvis on uneven tensions 

5 Ways Osteopathy Helps with Plantar Fasciitis

Posted on: August 1st, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Leann Mai, M. OMSc

1       RE-ALIGN the gravitational loading through the feet, and reducing stress points through the leg and feet. When your body leans forward (in flexion) your feet spread to keep you upright from falling forward, when your body tends to lean backward (in extension) your arches elevate to help anchor your feet through your toes to the ground to keep you upright from falling backward.

2       REDUCES TENSION through the muscles holding the leg and feet. This allows easier coordinated movement of the ankle joints often relieving low back strain too.

3       IMPROVES COORDINATION through all the joints in the feet/toes to the brain through the nervous system. It improves coordination through the receptor feedback and reflex responses (like stepping on a sharp rock- Ouch!)

4       IMPROVES DRAINAGE and supply to the foot as the fascial tissues through the ankle and arch support a mechanical pumping motion, pushing the blood and lymphatic supply back up through the leg.

5       PAIN REDUCTION, a byproduct of all the systems working together to coordinate motion through fascia, muscle, ligaments, nerves and fluid flow into the body through the gait cycle.

5 Ways Osteopathy Can Help Indigestion

Posted on: July 5th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Leann Mai (M. OMSc)

Many people may be surprised to learn that Osteopathy not only helps with pain and discomfort in the body such as back, neck, jaw, hip, leg, and shoulder pain but also can improve other systems in the body like the digestive system.

5 ways Osteopathy can help indigestion:

1: Aligns the esophagus and decrease irritation to esophageal lining.

2: Improves blood flow to the salivary glands- improving the quality of enzymes to start the breakdown process.

3: Improves the stomach’s ability to expand and move, preventing regurgitation.

4: Improves nervous system communication by increasing the parasympathetic response responsible for digestion and moving the process along more efficiently.

5: Improves the environment of the stomach through acidity levels and decreasing heartburn and further esophageal lining irritation.

Set your body up for success! Book an appointment

Osteopathy: How it Affects the Whole Body

Posted on: June 3rd, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Leann Mai, M. OMSc

“I am a mess!!” Well at least that is what people often feel like! Our bodies have multiple systems that rely on each other, therefore if one system is not functioning- it has a knock off effect on others. For example; holding our breath (respiratory system) affects our cardiovascular system, which affects everything!! I can’t think of one system that doesn’t need fresh nutritious arterial blood. How about our digestive system? Acid problems can impact the mechanism of breaking food down into absorbable units which will affect the nervous system and often the integumentary system (skin/hair/nails). Anybody getting heartburn from those wings?! 

Osteopathy works with all systems of the body and improves how they interact. This means overall an improvement to your health.

Osteopathy can help with multiple day to day symptoms such as:

  • Low back pain
  • Fluid build-up / Edema
  • Heartburn / Constipation, IBS
  • Headaches Migraines
  • Plantar fasciitis / Arch pain in the feet
  • Sciatica
  • Muscle strains
  • Frozen shoulder/ Tennis elbow /Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Low energy
  • Arthritis

Osteopathy can help relieve these symptoms and improve your day to day functioning.   

Osteopathy can also help with some lesser known symptoms associated with:

  • Scoliosis
  • PMS
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Incontinence
  • Herniations
  • Osgood Schlatter disease
  • Bloating
  • Teeth grinding
  • Tinnitus
  • Vertigo
  • Male and female reproductive system dysfunction
  • Asthma
  • Varicose veins. 

You may have an even more difficult diagnosis that you are coping with, Osteopathy can help support you and all your systems to give you the best advantage of improving your quality of life. Alignment of the skeletal system through the muscular system and fascia of the integumentary system can also set you up for a faster recovery if you have injured yourself or are set to have surgery.

So if you feel like your “body is a mess”, I hope you feel a little more hopeful in that with the way the body compounds dysfunction it can also compound improved function, making for better days ahead! 

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We are Triune: Health on all Levels

Posted on: May 14th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Leann Mai, Manual Osteopathic Therapist

We are triune (Merriam-Webster 2024, meaning: three in one/ b: consisting of three parts, members, or aspects)

We are a combination of body, mind and spirit…Beautifully put together to move, learn, think, and feel. We may think of these aspects as all being separate, especially if we are trying to satisfy each one separately for self care but it is simply not possible. When we affect one, we affect all. Physical pain like sciatica can be exhausting and it can prevent you from getting out and “filling your spirit” through activities like gardening, swimming or playing with your family. Pain can also drain us mentally.

If we look at the flip side…There is a scene from the movie Parental Guidance that always brings a smile to my face. In the movie the grandparents play a game of “kick the can” with their grandchildren. I see this scene as being a perfect example of the body, mind, and spirit all being rejuvenated through movement strategy and connection!

When our body is out of alignment, it signals to our brain there is a problem. Our mind then interprets this signal as pain. We don’t live a life where we wish to become structurally aligned and not move in order to stay that way. We wish to be able to move, feel, enjoy and recover efficiently and with as little discomfort as possible. We work all day and suffer with low back pain, sore shoulders and stiff necks in order to live for the joy of playing sports, experiencing vacations, playing music and raising a family- seeking to connect the three aspects (mind, body, spirit) of ourselves.

Our bodies were created with the same complexity of relationships, and we respond or react differently to a variety of therapies and practitioners, that’s why a healthcare team sets you up for the best success. Find your team, find your health! 

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT with Leann Mai, Manual Osteopathic Practitioner

Don’t Worry, Your Brain Has Got Your Back!

Posted on: April 26th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

by Leann Mai, Osteopathic Manual Therapist

Having a bit of an optimistic point of view can be beneficial for body and mind. Our body is designed to take the path to health and it is programmed to do whatever it can to keep you upright and get through the day. Our nervous system navigates through these challenges whether we are aware of them or not. Oh!- you didn’t realize you were holding your breath or your shoulders have somehow crept up and feel like they are almost touching your ears!? That’s the sympathetic nervous system kicking in to give us the edge and awareness where we need it (a.k.a. our fight/flight/freeze response) in order to get through the urgency of our experience. Now that the stress is gone you can safely take a deep breath and lower them! That is when our parasympathetic system kicks in to level out the tone between the systems and bring symmetry back to the functions of our body (a.k.a. our rest/digest/repair response). 

When there is dysfunction in the body it can cause an imbalance of motion in our daily activities and quality of our daily functions that we don’t even think about- like digesting our food or rate and rhythm of our heartbeat. Our nervous system is amazing how it signals the body to get through our day controlling everything from muscle tension to reflexes for our safety (ouch! That pan is hot!) to nutritious blood supply.

Osteopathy thinks about the MAP of your body, that is why individual care is the best care- your Mechanics to your Anatomy to improve your Physiological processes. Using principle based treatment to bring balance, so that your body can do what it is designed to do- bring health.

Leann is now taking on new patients!

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Welcome Leann Mai, Osteopathic Manual Therapist!

Posted on: April 6th, 2024 by TouchStone Health

We welcome Leann Mai, Osteopathic Manual Therapist to TouchStone Health team this week!

Leann is generously offering FREE Osteopathic Treatments for the month April BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Leann has a Master in Practice of Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences from the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy in Hamilton, On. Leann found her passion for Osteopathy through her journey of seeking natural alternative and complimentary care to improve quality of life for her children and family. During her years as a student Leann’s passion grew as she saw the differences Osteopathy made in her life and those around her.

With classical principle based training in Osteopathy, Leann specializes in hands-on techniques to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and promote overall wellness. With a holistic approach, Osteopathy aims to address the root cause of discomfort, offering personalized care tailored to each individual’s needs. Discover the power of gentle manipulation and skilled touch to enhance your body’s natural healing abilities.

OSTEOPATHY CAN HELP:

  • Back/hip/shoulder pain
  • Migraines
  • Incontinence
  • Digestive issues
  • Restricted/painful motion
  • Fluid build up (edema)
  • Strain/injury
  • Chronic/acute pain

Welcome Tamara Moore, Osteopathic Manual Therapist!

Posted on: June 8th, 2023 by TouchStone Health

Tamara has a Master in Practice of Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences from the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, the only four-year classical osteopathic education currently available in Canada. Tamara discovered Osteopathy through her pursuit of mindfulness meditation and teaching yoga. She wanted to work in a manner that would benefit her clients in a more individualized way by understanding the source of that person’s injury or physical symptoms and restoring movement and health where it had been diminishing.

As an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Tamara is working with your body to remove physical restriction and address ailment: your body will continue to do the real work after you leave her office. Treatment is gentle and individually built to work with you and the unique challenges you are facing. Relief often begins immediately after that first session and can be deepened during further treatment. Osteopathy is for every body!

OSTEOPATHY CAN ASSIST WITH ADDRESSING YOUR:

Chronic pain
Acute flare-up of chronic pain
Back pain or injury
Neck pain or injury
Shoulder pain or injury
Hip pain or injury
Any strain or sprain
Tension and stress-related pain
Herniated discs
Frozen shoulder
Inflammation and edema

Tamara will be working out of TouchStone Health starting June 21, 2023 and is currently taking new clients.

Book an Appointment with Tamara

564-572 Weber Street North, Unit 3A
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L5C6