Brahm's Tip of the Week
Fall is a tough time for our sinuses. As the air chills, heating systems turn back on, blowing around the dust particles in the vents that had a summer to accumulate. This creates headaches, congestion and cold-like systems to many who work in larger buildings. Many mistake their congestion for a fall cold and head straight to the prescription. Be weary of antibiotics in this time of year. A simple remedy to see if your symptoms are heat ventilation related is to step outside for a moment and take some deep fresh breathes. If the symptoms instantly lessen, it is not a cold...and it will pass. Be well my friends
What is Orthotherapy?
The word “Orthotherapy” comes from “therapy” meaning to restore and “Ortho” meaning wholeness, straight or correct. Orthotherapy is a complementary and holistic form of health care that works to restore a balance in the body via a multi-disciplinary approach.
Orthotherapists use massage, stretching, joint mobilization, posture assessment and counseling to ease muscular pain, stiff joints and systemic problems. We use Swedish massage known for its beneficial effects on both muscles and skin tissue improving elasticity and resilience to damage, exercise therapy, postural reeducation, Health consultation and Kinesitherapy/joint mobilization (stretching) increasing the blood supply to joints, muscles and tendons which helps decrease swelling, promotes muscular relaxation and helps increase or maintain flexibility.
We were also taught to consider that one’s age, lifestyle habits, length of existing injury/condition, attitude and level of effort the client commits, will influence any improvement in their health. Any consultation given is aimed at empowering individuals to take charge of their health rather than remaining dependant on health care providers for assistance.
Orthotherapy works on resolving the cause, as opposed to the symptoms of injury, through its focus on evaluation and reeducation.
Orthotherapists employ Kinesitherapy techniques - stretching and joint mobilization. It differs from Chiropractic care which uses manipulation and Physiotherapy which mobilizes joints at much deeper levels but is a great complement to them both. By releasing tension in muscles and joints, one can move free of limitation and related pain.
While Orthotherapists are trained in Swedish massage and Kinesitherapy, their discipline is more than these two practices combined. Their training encompasses a greater range of techniques. Postural assessment and reeducation is also provided to understand the existing degree of misalignment in the body as well as demonstrating how to restore alignment. Proper posture is more easily restored as musculoskeletal realignment is achieved. Individuals are instructed how to hold their feet, hips, shoulders, neck, etc. in positions which place the minimum strain on joints and muscles. Such is applied not only to standing postures but as well to sitting/working postures. An evaluation of one’s work activities is typically performed so that suggestions coincide with one’s actual work environment. Exercise therapy is further utilized to assist in stretching or strengthening affected areas. Typically, it is merely upon the disappearance of pain that strengthening is the focus.
With the number of complementary therapies available to the public, it becomes difficult for most individuals to decide which therapy will meet their needs. It is unrealistic, however, to believe that only one form of therapy will resolve one’s condition as every individual is different and so is the condition and related symptoms they experience. On it’s own, or with other treatments, Orthotherapy can help prevent or reduce an imbalance in one’s muscles or joints, evidenced by muscular tension, joint stiffness and pain.