Neck pain is one of the most common symptoms we see in our PRI clinic. Often, neck pain results from auto injuries, but sometimes the origins of the neck symptoms might not be related to trauma. No matter what the cause, we find that our chiropractic approach really works for our patients and they agree!

A recent study from Spine Journal confirms what we’ve seen in our office: chiropractic works for treating neck pain.

In this study, researchers looked at 241 patients who were over 65 years old and who suffered from chronic neck pain. The patients were divided into three groups: one group received chiropractic adjustments with home exercises, another group received supervised exercises with additional home exercises, and the third group just did home exercises.

After 12 weeks of treatment, over 60% of chiropractic patients had at least a 75% improvement in pain, compared to approximately 25% of patients in the supervised exercise group, and nearly 20% of the home exercise-only group.

This study is very important, because staying active as we get older is so important for our physical and mental health, and chiropractic provides a way to keep your spine healthy and flexible. Another recent study found that chiropractic care is great at helping us keep moving as we get older.

If you suffer from neck pain and want to get back to your pain-free life, we can help. Give our office a call today at (416) 477-1101 for an appointment or for more information.

At PRI, we like to do is look at the individual holistically and see what’s going on with their nervous system.

To let us know how we can help you, please contact our office and we will gladly help you out at:

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

Works Cited

Maiers M, Bronfort G, Evans R, et al. Spinal manipulative therapy and exercise for seniors with chronic neck pain. Spine Journal 2014;14(9):1879-1889

A new study that had subjects handle store receipts showed BPA absorbed through the skin stays in the body much longer than ingested BPA. The study had subjects handle common store receipts for five minutes, then wear gloves for two hours before washing their hands.

BPA measurements in the subjects’ urine showed BPA levels highest for the first two days after handling the receipts. After one week, three of the six volunteers still showed BPA in their urine.

However, when the subjects ate a cookie with BPA, follow up urinalysis showed BPA levels spiked after five hours but was cleared after a day. The scientists concluded that the body can more quickly metabolize and clear ingested BPA than BPA absorbed through the skin.

BPA toxicity in everyday food and beverages

BPA (bisphenol-A) is the main component of polycarbonate and is found in water and beverage bottles, plastic lids, the lining of tin cans, food storage containers, dental sealants, contact lenses, and electronics.

Store receipts aren’t the only place people come in contact with BPA. Canned foods often contain significant amounts of the chemical — the lining in a soup can can deliver 1,000 percent more BPA than fresh soup.

Plastics beverage bottles are another common source of exposure, especially if the bottle has been exposed to heat, light, or acids (such as soda).

Plastic food containers, especially if they have been heated, are another common source. Plastic coffee lids, straws, and any other plastics that come in contact with foods deliver BPA as well.

BPA on store receipts

Store receipts aren’t the only source of BPA that can be absorbed through the skin. Other sources of thermal paper that contains high amounts of BPA include fast food receipts, ATM receipts, airline tickets, gas station receipts, lottery tickets, fax paper (if anyone still uses that), etc.

Although this latest study had subjects handle the receipts for five minutes, previous studies have shown handling a receipt for just five seconds transfers BPA through your skin and into your bloodstream. Your skin absorbs ten times as much if your fingers are wet or greasy.

You can even absorb BPA from handling cash that has been stored with receipts.

Why BPA is toxic to the body

Studies have shown BPA to be problematic to human health in various ways. It has estrogen-like properties that skew hormone balance. Rodent studies have shown BPA causes reproductive defects, cancer, and breakdowns in metabolic and immune health.

BPA is especially toxic to a developing fetus, raising the risk of causing chromosomal errors, miscarriage, and genetic damage.

The chemical is also linked to poorer sperm quality, early puberty, reproductive dysfunction, cancer, heart disease, thyroid problems, insulin resistance, and obesity.

BPA raises the risk of triggering autoimmunity

Recent studies have also shown that BPA can both trigger and exacerbate autoimmune diseases due to its disruptive effect on the immune system. It has been linked to autoimmunity to nerve sheathes, the common target of attach in multiple sclerosis, and to Hashimoto’sthyroid autoimmune disease.

BPA-free is no guarantee

Unfortunately, products listed as “BPA-free” are not a green light either. Many non-BPA plastics also contain synthetic estrogens.

How to reduce your body burden of BPA

Reduce your exposure to BPA as much as possible by not handling receipts and avoiding plastic food and beverage containers. Additionally, help buffer the damage of BPA and other toxins by eating a whole foods diet and supplementing with nutritional compounds that support detoxification and cellular protection. Ask the nutritionist in our office for more advice.

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

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Parkinson’s disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The hallmark physical signs are tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. According to Rossabel Young et al, idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and nigrostriatal pathway of the midbrain. Secondary parkinsonism may be caused by certain drugs (e.g., metoclopramide and haloperidol) or by cerebrovascular disease (e.g., multiple lacunar strokes). The disease can usually be diagnosed based on the history and physical findings. From a pharmacological side, dopamine replacement is still considered the most efficacious treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but dopamine agonists, formerly prescribed only as adjunctive therapy, are emerging as useful initial therapy. Other pharmacologic treatments include drugs that inhibit dopamine-metabolizing enzymes (monoamine oxidase-B and catechol O-methyltransferase). Injections of botulinum toxin can be helpful in patients with associated dystonia or blepharospasm. Surgery may be indicated for certain patients or when symptoms do not respond to pharmacological therapy. Additional adjunctive therapies offered at PRI include physical therapy, nutritional counseling and techniques to help patients manage emotional and cognitive changes related to the disease.

While the medical community is searching for therapies to target both the root of this condition, as well as the side effects of it, a recent technological breakthrough has allowed patients with PD to achieve a remarkable improvement in their lifestyle. Without the KeegoTM device, patients walked slowly, had to stop when taking stairs from exhaustion, had a difficult time picking up objects from the floor, exerted strenuous effort, when getting up from a chair to walk down the hall. Patients with PD wearing a KeegoTM device were able to achieve healthy movement patterns during several clinical trials. The same patients were able to walk about quickly, had no trouble walking up or down the stairs, picked up objects from the floor with little effort, and were able to easily sit down, and get up from the seat without propping themselves up with their hands.

If you suffer from Parkinsons Disease, please see a specialist at the PRI clinic. They are specifically trained to properly introduce your body to the KeegoTM device, which will allow your body to achieve a remarkable improvement in your lifestyle. To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

We look forward to helping you out!

Hip osteoarthritis is a common condition that involves the degeneration of the articular cartilage of the hip joint. If you have this condition and are noticing an increase in pain and a decrease in physical function you may be wondering what treatment options are available to you.

With osteoarthritis of the hip you may feel a constant ache localized to the groin and side of your hip and sometimes extending into the front of your thigh and knee. The hip often feels stiff, especially first thing in the morning when you get out of bed and it can make activities of daily living much more painful including standing, walking and stairs. It can also make it difficult to put your socks on, get into and out of your car and even get on and off of the toilet.

Stiffness, pain and having difficulty with many previously easy daily activities may lead you to want to do less physical activity. The trouble is, not moving will often lead to weakness, further stiffness and general deconditioning.

A physiotherapist can help design a treatment program with a focus on decreasing pain, increasing range of motion and flexibility, improving core stability, gaining muscle strength and endurance and improving general conditioning. Other functional goals often include improving walking pattern, speed and distance, ability to go up and down stairs without pain and better control going from sit to stand.

This is often accomplished through a combination of education, manual therapy and exercise. An exercise program is often extremely beneficial to help improve physical function and decrease pain. A physiotherapist is an excellent resource to put together a safe and effective home exercise program for you to perform daily at home or at your local gym. Also, if you enjoy swimming, bring this up with your physiotherapist as aquatic exercise is a great form of treatment for hip osteoarthritis.

Other possible physiotherapy treatments that may be effective for some individuals with arthritis of the hip include: acupuncture, massage, heat on the muscles around the hip, ice, TENS, supportive footwear and/or a gait aid such as a cane or walking poles. It is important to talk with your doctor about your arthritis to discuss other treatments that may be beneficial to help manage your symptoms. Certain medications may be helpful, but it is important to bring this up with your doctor to be sure they are appropriate for you. Also, if you are overweight, a weight management program can be extremely beneficial to decrease the stress on your joints. Since nutrition plays a crucial role in weight management, it is important to have this discussion with your doctor.

A small portion of individuals with hip osteoarthritis will eventually opt to have a total hip replacement. This is often the case when symptoms are progressively getting worse and significantly limiting activities of daily living. If you have had a total hip replacement a physiotherapist guided post-operative hip strengthening program is ideal in order to decrease pain, improve your hip function and return to your active lifestyle.

Hip Osteoarthritis is manageable with physiotherapy, manual therapy, electrotherapy, and specific exercises for this joint. Physiotherapists, aquatherapists and chiropractors at PRI can quickly get you out of pain and discomfort. So reach out to us – we are here for you!

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

Do you often wake up at 3 a.m., your mind racing with thoughts, and you can’t fall back asleep? Try this crazy sounding but highly effective tip: Eat something! Make sure it’s not something sweet but instead something with protein and fat, such as nut butter, a bit of hard boiled egg, or some meat. Make sure to keep some food next to your bed with a glass of water so you don’t wake yourself up too much by going to the kitchen. You won’t feel hungry and most likely won’t feel like eating, but do it anyway as an experiment. Chances are you will fall right back to sleep. Why?

If things go according to plan you don’t bolt awake at 3 a.m. While you’re sound asleep you’re brain is hard at work and needs plenty of fuel. It is forming memories, clearing out old cells, regenerating — all while you’re fasting, having gone hours without eating. In order to give the brain the energy it needs, the body gradually raises cortisol, an adrenal hormone. Cortisol triggers the release or synthesis of glucose to fuel the brain during the nightlong fast and you sleep through the night.

That’s if things are working right. If you suffer with chronically low blood sugar then you are one of those people who is likely to bolt awake at 3 or 4 a.m. People with low blood sugar will have difficulty making enough cortisol to sustain the brain during the night. To compensate and keep the brain going, the body then releases “fight-or-flight” adrenal hormones. These adrenal hormones raise blood sugar back to a safer level to give the brain fuel. Unfortunately, they also raise stress, which can cause anxiety or panic in the middle of the night. This explains why you wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. with a racing mind, an infinite to-do list, in a panic, or some other stress-addled state.

Things you can do during the day to avoid waking up at 3 a.m.

Although a few bites of food may help you fall back asleep, it’s better to prevent that anxious wake up call in the first place. If low blood sugar has you waking up every morning at 3 a.m. try the following tips:

• Always eat breakfast, even if you don’t feel like it, and avoid sugary, high-carbohydrate foods with breakfast. Low blood sugar will cause you to wake up with no appetite. You may even feel nauseous. Eat anyway, you need to break the nightlong fast and stabilize your blood sugar.
• During the day eat frequently enough so blood sugar does not crash.
• Avoid sweets and starchy foods (breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc.) and adopt a lower-carbohydrate diet. People with low blood sugar symptoms typically eat too many sweets and starchy foods as well as frequently skip meals. Eat enough protein and healthy fats to sustain your energy.

For more information on how to keep your body healthy with nutritional therapy, contact our office at

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

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IMS is a dry-needling technique (acupuncture needles, no injections) utilized to diminish chronic muscle spasms. When muscles compress the spine (due to a variety of reasons such as bad posture, stress, or injury), the affected vertebral segments will also suffer increased pressure, leading to nerve compression. Nerve compression causes muscle spasms locally and in the territory innervated by those nerves.

Even though different techniques can be used to improve the range of motion at the spine, if the muscles stay hypertonic, they will continue to compress the spine and cause chronic muscle spasms. IMS can reset the muscle and “reboot” the nervous system. It is effective for treating chronic cervicalgia and back pain, as well as chronic tendonitis caused by chronic muscle hypertonicity (example: forearm muscle spasms in tennis elbow) or recurrent muscle strains (particularly in calves, hamstrings, etc.).

The number of treatments required depends on the source of the pain, the patient’s age, the amount of time the pain has been endured, and other contributive factors (stress, bad posture, and overuse of the muscle during exercises or at work). As per Dr. Chan Gunn, founder of the IMS technique, an average of 8 to 9 treatments are necessary for effective results. To fully treat pain and muscle spasms, IMS treatments must be supplemented by restoration of range of motion, strength, stability, alignment, posture, and stress control.

For more information about IMS and the research conducted by Dr. Gunn, please visit the website for The Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain: http://www.istop.org/index.html

Click here for information about the effects of dry needling on the thigh muscle strength and hip flexion of elite soccer players.

 Treatments can be scheduled by contacting our office.

Phone: (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

While the importance of play for children is well understood, many don’t realize it’s a necessary form of stress relief for adults. One also could argue it’s the most enjoyable part of a wellness plan—say compared to giving up donuts or eating more broccoli—but can take just as much thought and practice to implement.

Scientists have found ample play is necessary for the proper development of children and young animals. Crows, for instance, have been observed playing tug-of-war, ganging up together on a cat, or swinging upside down from a branch. Dolphins, chimpanzees, otters, and even octopus play throughout their lives.

Play develops motor skills, socialization, problem solving, creativity, conflict resolution, and mental and physical health. In fact, studies show that preventing play causes dysfunction in animals, and one researcher even found that most serial killers did not play as children.

Grown-ups have forgotten how to play

Unfortunately, we Americans, who lead the industrialized nations with the longest work hours, have lost touch with the importance of play and the stress relief it can bring. A life of all work and no play (or all television and no play) makes us more vulnerable to stress-related diseases, depression, interpersonal violence, and addiction, according to Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul, and founder of The National Institute of Play. Brown has conducted more than 6,000 play studies on a wide range of people, and says play is a particularly important form of stress relief in down times, such as the current economic situation.

Have you forgotten how to play? To stoke the dormant play pathways in your brain, Brown says to recall how you played as a child, and then experiment with what sounds fun. It could be roller skating, horse riding, basketball, crafting, storytelling, or even playing fetch with the dog. The objective is to forget you’re engaging in a powerful form of stress relief because you’re having so much fun.

The elements of successful play

Successful play is more a state of mind than a specific activity, and the health benefits go beyond stress relief. Regular play will make you feel better about yourself, stimulate brain activity, enable you to transform negative experiences, boost creativity and imagination, and help you connect with others.

Bottom line: Regular play simply makes people happier, and happiness is a great antidote to stress.

According to Brown, and Diane Ackerman, author of Deep Play, genuine play has the following qualities:

• Play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun
• It is not about improving a time or score, or winning at all costs
• Play has its own place, separate from the rest of life (a basketball court, the roller rink, a favorite trail, or even your back yard)
• Play has a prearranged time—it’s important to make time to play
• Play is about exuberance, license, and abandon
• Play requires freedom—you do it because it is enjoyable, not because you’re supposed to
• Play involves a “make believe” element
• Play is enjoyed for its own sake

And did you know that stress is one of the most common causes of subluxations (misalignments) in the spine that chiropractors treat on a daily basis. Typically, stress is carried as tension in the neck and back and over time can actually cause your spine to misalign which can lead to many health problems. These subluxations or misalignments negatively affect the way your nervous system communicates with your body.

Many people experience stress in their lives and need to find constructive ways to reduce and manage their stress properly. It is important to have your spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor to determine how your stress might be negatively impacting your spine and ultimately your health! Call PRI at (416) 477-1101 to schedule an appointment with our doctor. Let us help you find ways to reduce your stress. If any of your friends and family can benefit from this article, please recommend it to them

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

One of the fastest growing segments of the population today is centenarians, or 100-year old people. In 1980, there were approximately 17,000 people over the age of 100. Today there are approximately 80,000 people who have reached this milestone. The US Census Bureau estimates that by the time the baby boom generation reaches this landmark age, there will be more than 4.2 million centenarians in the US.

This trend holds true for other industrialized nations including Canada, US, Australia and those in Europe. Many of us have noticed this trend first hand by having to cope with the challenges of our aging parents. Unfortunately, many elderly people are unprepared for their extended life.

When today’s centenarians were born in 1905, the life expectancy for a newborn was approximately 50 years. Yet many have outlived their life expectancy by half a century. If these people knew they were going to live this long, do you think many of them would have made better health choices along the way?

We are getting the advanced notice that our parents and grandparents never received. What will you do with this information? Hopefully you will choose to make your health a priority now instead of waiting until it deteriorates to choose a healthy lifestyle. The truth is that we cannot control how long we are going to live.

We can, however, control our health choices. As people age, quality of life choices take on a higher priority. Values turn more toward the physical and physiological standard of living rather than the material standard of living. After all, what good is a nice car if your back hurts too much to sit in the seat and enjoy it? Who cares what your carpet looks like if you don’t have the energy to entertain? Does it matter how much jewelry you have if you are too sick to go out on the town?

Many people spend the first 50 years of their lives ignoring their health while they accumulate wealth, only to spend the next 50 years losing their wealth to buy back their health. Knowing that your longevity potential is 100 years gives you an opportunity to place your health at the top of your value scale.

Every minute of every day we are faced with choices that contribute to our quality of life both now and in the future. We must choose between eating junk food and healthy food, being a couch potato and exercising, stressing out or looking at the bright side, getting regular chiropractic adjustments or living with the consequences of an unhealthy spine and nerve system.

Starting today, make health choices that ensure that each day will be your best, and encourage your family to do the same. After all, 100 years of healthy living is achieved one day at a time.

We are here for you to help your health, one day at a time till 100 years and beyond!

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

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When the body hurts, people reach for over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers to ease their suffering; they are the most frequently used medications in the United States. Although they offer easy-access pain relief, they have been linked to hearing loss and you may want to be careful about using them on a regular basis.

A Harvard-affiliated study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that frequent use of the painkillers ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may contribute to hearing loss.¹ The study tracked more than 60,000 women during 14 years and found a 13 percent increased risk of hearing loss in those who took pain relievers two to three days per week, while the risk increased to up to 24 percent in those using it six to seven days per week. The findings are similar to another study that found aspirin to be a risk factor for hearing loss in men.

Why do these medications affect hearing loss? Researchers say ibuprofen can reduce blood flow to the cochlea, the auditory portion of the inner ear, which could result in cellular damage and cell death. Also, acetaminophen may deplete the antioxidant glutathione, which protects the cochlea from damage.

Does this mean you should avoid OTC painkillers such as Advil and Tylenol? No, there are some instances when they are necessary to get temporary pain relief and allow you to work through the tasks of your day. Although they can offer effective pain relief for many people, the study’s author says their use should be limited as much as possible and that people should instead explore alternatives.

Rooting out the Problem

If your chronic pain compels you to take painkillers on a regular basis, consider bypassing the conventional band aid approach of simply treating symptoms and look for the root cause of the problem.

Conventional pain management relies on pharmacological applications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), narcotics, and antidepressant pain modifiers, yet these approaches can build dependencies and potential hearing loss. While they relieve symptoms, they are a temporary fix for a chronic problem.

Some branches of alternative medicine such as nutritional, physiotherapy and chiropractic therapy address the root cause of pain, taking into account genetic, medical, environmental, and lifestyle factors that contribute to chronic pain and the inflammation associated with it. This offers a sustainable solution by getting to the root of the problem.

A Personal Plan That’s an Alternative to Chronic Pain

Depending on your unique needs, your pain management plan may involve the following changes, all of which can have a profound effect on chronic pain and inflammation:

• Herbal and nutritional compounds
• Therapeutic body work
• Meditation
• Breathing techniques
• Dietary changes
• Exercise adjustments
• Strategies to improve sleep quality
• Stress management

The Takeaway: Take the Pain Away!

While OTC pain meds offer instant relief, they ignore the root of the problem, pose unnecessary risks, and only offer temporary relief. However, a pain management program that addresses the underlying cause of pain can offer a long-lasting, healthy, and sustainable way to free yourself from pain.

Nobody likes to live with chronic pain, whether it’s a mild headache or debilitating back aches. I am trained to look at the contributing factors behind your pain and to create a personalized pain management. Don’t wait another day to get to the root of the problem!

Ask our office for tips on how best to support your health and take stress away.

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

Works Cited

1. Sharon G. Curhan, Josef Shargorodsky, Roland Eavey, Gary C. Curhan, Analgesic Use and the Risk of Hearing Loss in Women, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 176, Issue 6, 15 September 2012, Pages 544–554

Our patients with various forms of knee injuries typically have a dysfunction and impaired mobility in the lower limbs. It is a good way to conduct rehabilitation training to help these patients recover and regain mobility. Intensive labor should be involved in the traditional rehabilitation training, and physical therapists have to provide the patients with highly repetitive training that can be insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary and impactful to develop assistive devices that utilize state-of-the-art technologies to help disabled people regain the ability to stand and walk, and release therapists from the heavy work of rehabilitation training.

Assistive Devices For Knee Injuries

Grab Bars:  A grab bar is a bar that firmly attaches to a wall in your bathtub or shower, giving you something to hold on to when entering or leaving the bathtub.  Most people need a grab bar placed vertically along the faucet wall of the bathtub to hang on to when they lean over to turn the water on and off, and to help them step over the side.  Another is placed horizontally along the back wall to assist you in rising after sitting in the bathtub.  It is particularly important that grab bars be securely screwed into the studs in the wall so that they can safely take your weight.

Non-slip mats:  It’s important to have non-slip mats both inside and outside the bathtub or shower to provide traction for your feet when they are wet.

Bath or shower seat:  A bath or shower seat can be useful if getting down to sit on the bottom of the tub is difficult or if you tend to get weak or dizzy when standing in the shower.  Look for a bath seat with height-adjustable legs and non-skid rubber tips on the feet.  A seat with a backrest may be more comfortable.  Be sure to check the manufacturer’s weight limitations to see if it is the right one for you.  A hand-held shower spray is necessary to allow you to direct the water where needed.

Hip protectors:  Some people may be particularly vulnerable to injuries if they fall, possibly because of osteoarthritis.  Others may have a fear of falling that prevents them from doing the activities that they enjoy.  Hip protectors may allow you to continue enjoying independence and an active lifestyle while reducing the risk of hip fracture if you do fall. (NOTE:  the literature is not entirely supportive that hip protectors will reduce hip fractures.)

There are several styles of hip protectors, including a belt style similar to a small hockey belt and a style that builds thin hip pads into briefs (underwear).  The hip pads can be made of specialized foam or plastic that absorbs impact.  Whichever type you prefer, it is important that they fit properly and are comfortable when you wear them.

Exoskeleton Assistive Devices

Keeogo TM is a battery-powered robotic exoskeleton that attaches to the legs and lower back. It contains motors at the knee and hip joints and sensors to help it adjust with each footfall.

While wearing the device and holding two forearm crutches, someone with complete lower-limb paralysis can walk. Patients with neurologically debilitating knee injuries experience vast improvement.

If you suffer from lower limb mobility impairments due to a knee injury, please see a specialist at the PRI clinic. They are specifically trained to properly introduce your body to the Keego^TM device, which will allow your body to achieve a remarkable improvement in your lifestyle. We’ll be more than glad to help you when you call or follow these links.

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com