Toronto Chiropractor

How Your Core Controls Your Stress (New Study)

2020-09-09T21:40:16-04:00

I’ll dive into the results of this fascinating new study in a minute.  But first, some context: The stress response in your body is carried out by your adrenal glands.  Parked on top of the kidneys, these little guys pump out wads of adrenaline when we need it for ‘fight or flight’ – when I describe your HRV (heart rate variability) test results, this is the sympathetic (left side) dominance I refer to.  Critical in life or death situations, there isn’t much in modern life that requires it. Yet most of the time our stress responses are running in the background, keeping [...]

How Your Core Controls Your Stress (New Study)2020-09-09T21:40:16-04:00

7 Reasons Why People In Pain Need Movement

2020-08-25T21:39:17-04:00

Straight to it, here they are: Strength Strong muscles act as a support structure.  One common example is how strengthening your core can help with low back pain.  When your core functions as it should, it can “prop up” and take stress away from a sore low back. Note, the “core” is much broader than some people realize, it’s as high as your pectorals and shoulders, and as low as your gluteus and hamstring muscles. Natural pain relief Exercise has a proven pain-inhibiting effect.  One way it does this is by releasing “feel-good” brain chemicals (e.g. endorphins) that dim pain signals. [...]

7 Reasons Why People In Pain Need Movement2020-08-25T21:39:17-04:00

The Truth About Self-Compassion

2020-08-04T21:37:35-04:00

Have you ever tried telling yourself to do just five minutes on the treadmill? What almost always happens? Once you’re there…you keep going! This is partly psychological; it feels silly to get off after five minutes when you’ve already gone through the trouble of hitting the start button.  But it is also physiological; in those five minutes all of your body’s processes wake up. Your muscles and brain are almost instantly better oxygenated as your breathing and your circulation increases.  And as you persist, your movement becomes easier.  Exercise also stimulates production of BDNF, a crucial brain chemical that reshapes the synapses. In [...]

The Truth About Self-Compassion2020-08-04T21:37:35-04:00

The Amazing Health Secret That Works Better Than Any Drug

2020-07-14T18:06:51-04:00

Last week we covered a few easy-to-do health tips you can use as soon as today to take back control of your immune system. This week, I want to share with you what is likely the simplest and most powerful health idea ever conceived.   Yet, it takes just 30 minutes a day, is easy to do, and there almost isn’t anything in existence that rivals its impact. What is this “magic” fix? None other than a DAILY 30-minute walk. Here is just the SHORT list of the proven benefits of a daily 30-minute walk (kudos to my colleague Dr. James Chestnut for [...]

The Amazing Health Secret That Works Better Than Any Drug2020-07-14T18:06:51-04:00

Mechanist or Vitalist? (Find Out What Works For Better Health)

2020-06-30T17:41:36-04:00

When you understand this key difference, it’ll empower you to make clearer choices for your health. What is it? The mechanistic vs. the vitalistic approach to healing. Typically medical doctors are mechanists.  They view the body as a sort of biological ‘machine’ with a series of parts, each requiring their own attention.  A cardiologist looks after your heart.  A neurologist looks after your nervous system.  A gastroenterologist deals with the digestive system.  And so on and so forth. A typical (but thankfully not always) medical intervention can involve drugs or surgery to repair, or even remove a ‘faulty’ part.  While there [...]

Mechanist or Vitalist? (Find Out What Works For Better Health)2020-06-30T17:41:36-04:00

Why Runners Should Get Stronger

2020-06-23T17:30:26-04:00

I haven’t done a running theme for a while.  Even if you’re not a runner, read on, you may still gain some health knowledge. Chances are you know I love to run.  And while I haven’t been consistently running, it’s a work in progress, as Hayden can’t get enough of it these days, and he’s a great motivator!  And since it seems the lockdown has pushed many more into our ranks, I thought it was time to show a little love to the runners. So for your viewing pleasure today, here is why I strongly feel runners should get stronger (let’s [...]

Why Runners Should Get Stronger2020-06-23T17:30:26-04:00

Headaches: Common But Not Normal

2020-06-02T14:21:29-04:00

With the weather getting warmer (thank you!), migraine sufferers especially might notice an uptick in the frequency of their migraines. But headaches affect almost everyone at some point.  Rare for some, constant for others. Those of you who’ve had tremendous relief and remission from headaches can attest to the suffering you used to have. Let’s take a brief look at a few reasons for this. Tension headaches: They're by far the most common type of headache, and they’re often connected with muscle tension in the neck.  Sedentary living, excess sitting, and more time spent hunched over a computer or phone are all possible [...]

Headaches: Common But Not Normal2020-06-02T14:21:29-04:00

Simple Tip To Avoid The “Quarantine 15” (And Lower Anxiety)

2020-05-05T14:04:28-04:00

Ever heard of “the freshman 15”? It’s an expression about how students typically gain weight in their first year of University. Well, the 2020 equivalent is “the quarantine15”. With gyms shuttered, home baking on the rise, and most of us reaching for a bit of comfort food during these stressful times, fifteen pounds of weight gain in a few months isn’t that far-fetched! Listen, we all know we’re better off to eat less and to eat healthy.  And there’s no shortage of advice circulating right now for how to do just that.  But with everything going on, I think you could be forgiven [...]

Simple Tip To Avoid The “Quarantine 15” (And Lower Anxiety)2020-05-05T14:04:28-04:00

How To Prevent Neck Or Back Pain From A Poor Home Work Setup

2020-04-28T14:00:32-04:00

Several of my patients/subscribers have replied in recent weeks with familiar complaints like: *Migraines that prevent sleep (Likely sourced from neck and shoulder tension from the home work environment.) *Upper back tension or distress from a coffee table “desk” – (KJ, this one’s for you!) *Hip pain from sitting more and moving less (6’ tall Ed told me he was spending lots of desk time, mixed with playtime with his 18-ish month old on the floor, with only weekend walk times – ouch) Well, the people have spoken. :-) If you’re one of many who have been forced to adapt to [...]

How To Prevent Neck Or Back Pain From A Poor Home Work Setup2020-04-28T14:00:32-04:00

How To Avoid Neck Or Back Pain From Yard Work

2020-04-21T13:31:15-04:00

In my last email I mentioned we’re making our backyard more hospitable for extended homestays. This is going to require a little landscaping and other forms of yard work.  I even got Hayden in on the fun this week.  Here’s a peak behind-the-scenes: Well, it turns out I’m not the only one who had this idea. I guess with most of us being stuck at home, and the weather getting warmer (fingers crossed), some of my colleagues this week reported more “essential” visits from patients who were hit with neck or back pain from yard work or gardening. So here are a [...]

How To Avoid Neck Or Back Pain From Yard Work2020-04-21T13:31:15-04:00
Go to Top