1. How much should you spend on them?
   • They can cost anywhere from as little as $30 to over $100.
2. What do the different pressure ratings mean?
   • Physicians prescribe different levels of compression for different conditions
   • Consult your doctor to see what is best for you
3. Can you wear them for non-medical reasons?
   • They can be used for preventative use or for travel

At Quarry Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we’re used to fielding questions like these.

Here are some answers to the questions we most commonly get:

What are compression stockings?

Graduated medical compression stocking and socks apply pressure to your legs to improve circulation and reduce discomfort and swelling. They come in various styles and sizes from ankle length to full length, different strengths of compression, and many more colours than nude.

They may be prescribed by a doctor to treat conditions that cause poor blood flow return to the heart, like varicose veins or venous insufficiency, or you may choose to wear them to help with a variety of foot and leg complaints, for example to ease swollen feet when you are pregnant.

Who should wear compression stockings?

From patients recovering from surgery to marathon runners—many people wear compression stockings. The most obvious candidates for compression therapy are people with various leg conditions, including venous problems, like varicose veins; patients with leg swelling (edema); people with circulatory problems; and those who are at risk for blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis.

Additionally, people who spend a lot of time on their feet, like flight attendants, doctors and nurses, and athletes, like runners and basketball players, wear them to reduce leg discomfort.

How do compression stockings work?

Blood has to work hard against gravity to flow back to your heart. As you walk, the calf muscles around your veins help move the blood back up toward your heart. The pressure of compression stockings acts as an additional layer of muscle.

Anything that impedes blood flow in your legs—circulation problems, being bedridden (especially after injury or surgery), or weakness in the walls of your veins (venous insufficiency)—causes blood to pool in the veins of your lower legs or feet. This results in swelling, achiness, and leg fatigue, and can also make you vulnerable to blood clots.

By mimicking muscles and squeezing the leg tissues and walls of your veins, compression stockings help circulate your blood. They can also improve the flow of fluid around the cells in your legs, referred to as lymph, which can help reduce tissue swelling. This can also benefit healthy wearers. For example, some people find that improving blood and lymph flow makes their legs feel less tired.

What do the compression ratings mean?

Compression stockings come in several different levels of compression, measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. The higher the level, the more pressure is applied to your legs. Healthy people, like workers with tired feet, should choose lighter pressure.

Moderate compression (15 to 20 mmHg) can help with minor leg and foot problems, like mild leg swelling. Higher compression levels (20 to 30 mmHg, 30 to 40 mmHg, and more than 40 mmHg), sometimes referred to as “medical-grade,” are for use in medical treatment.

What is the difference between anti-embolism stockings and compression stockings?

The biggest difference is the compression rating. Anti-embolism stockings, which are intended for people who are bedridden, have a lower rating, usually of 8–18mmHg, while compression stockings have a higher rating, generally of 15–20mmHg or higher, and are meant for people who are ambulatory.

How do I know what size and kind to get?

Since there is no universal standard for sizing, measurements will have to be taken of different parts of your leg. Depending on the type of stocking, you may need to know the circumference of your ankle, calf, or thigh and the distance from your knee or thigh to the floor.

Contact us at 613-542-9822 and we can help you find the right compression stockings for you.

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For many of these cases, the pain is non specific – which means there is not one structure causing your pain. Often times, these cases are short lived. Other cases can be more complex and longer lasting. These complex cases can create pain in areas other than your low back and, rarely, may require emergency medical attention.

Screening and assessing low back pain is important, as we can help ensure you get the care you require. A wide variety of factors often contribute to low back pain including; work, sleep (or lack of it), activity levels, or even changes in activity levels. Previous injury or experience with back pain is also a major factor that we take into consideration.

Some conditions causing longer lasting back pain include:

1. A herniated disc – This can cause intense pain local to the low back or traveling into the leg. If symptoms are impacting bowel/bladder function, it is important to be assessed by the emergency department.
2. Repetitive strain conditions – These conditions can be caused by overuse (often related to work) and, therefore, don’t often get the rest or recovery they need.
3. Non-musculoskeletal illness – In rare occasions, pain can be a symptom of serious illness, like cancer. If you are concerned with back pain lasting more than a few weeks, you should seek the advice of a medical professional.

It is important to understand that in many of these cases, pain resolves and the injured tissue heals over time.

How to remedy lower back pain…

In some cases rest can be helpful, however, many cases of back pain will improve as we continue to move and be active, while we manage pain levels.

At Quarry Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we offer a comprehensive approach to low back rehabilitation, including some combination of hands-on treatment and exercise. Our job is to understand your goals and safely guide you back to activities you love.

Book a consultation today and let us help you get rid of the Ouch!

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It involves the use of stainless-steel instruments to assist in delivery of manual therapy for soft tissue conditions. When combined with the appropriate therapeutic exercise, Graston Technique aids in the restoration of pain-free movement and function.

It can be used to alleviate a variety of conditions, including:

• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• Back pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Knee pain
• Tendonitis
• Planter fasciitis 
• Shin splints

Graston is used to treat soft tissue dysfunctions

What exactly is soft tissue?

Soft tissue is inclusive of muscles, fascia, nerves, and blood vessels.

It can be thought of as comparable to the pith of an orange—the white membrane between the peel and flesh of the fruit. Soft tissue can tear, resulting in soft tissue injuries, or form adhesions—fibrous bands that occur between tissues and organs.

How Graston works

The chiropractor will glide various blunt, stainless-steel Graston instruments over affected areas of the body, using the instruments to gently push tissue toward the hand. Graston can be uncomfortable and may leave some light bruising of the treatment area. 

It works to help ease pain or tightness of an injured area to encourage easier movement following treatment.

The technique combines the instrument-assisted manipulation with stretching and therapeutic exercise.

If you would like to know if you might benefit from Graston Technique, give us a call at 613-542-9822.

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6 Symptoms of Arthritis of the Knee

Knee pain

Arthritis of the knee is most likely to develop slowly over time. In the beginning, you may experience pain after a period of inactivity, like in the morning after waking up. After a while, you may notice the pain more often, for example when kneeling or walking up stairs.

Pain that wakes you up in the night can be symptomatic of severe osteoarthritis. Some people find that changes in the weather (especially damp and low-pressure weather) make their pain and stiffness worse. You probably have good days and bad days—sometimes due to how active you’ve been, and sometimes for no discernible reason at all.

Stiffness and loss of movement

Stiffness, especially after a period of rest, is another frequent symptom. Additionally, you may not be able to bend your knee as freely or as far as normal and may experience increasingly limited mobility.

Inflammation

Arthritis of the knee can cause periodic swelling. This is due to the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes) or extra fluids in the joint. Your knees may also look red or feel warm to the touch.

Buckling and locking up

Over time, your knee muscles can weaken and your joint deteriorate to the point where your knee gives way or buckles. Your knee can also lock up so that you can’t bend or straighten it.

Grinding, cracking, and popping

You might feel an unsettling grinding sensation in your knees when you move, or even hear popping or cracking noises. This is caused by the loss of smooth cartilage, which results in rough surfaces, like bone spurs, rubbing together.

Knee deformities

Your knees may begin to bow in toward each other or bend outward. The muscles around your knee may look sunken or thin and wasted. There are 3 different types of knee arthritis: Osteoarthritis (OA) slowly wears away joint cartilage. It is the most common kind of knee arthritis and is most likely to occur after middle age. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition that can occur at any age.

Post-traumatic arthritis develops after a knee injury and can occur years after a torn meniscus, ligament injury, or knee fracture.

Diagnosing knee arthritis early can help you get the treatment and therapies you need to relieve pain and preserve your ability to move. If you think you might have arthritis of the knee, call us for more information.

The post Arthritic Knee Pain appeared first on Quarry Chiropractic & Wellness Centre.

Does the thought of someone cracking your back send shivers down your spine? You’re not alone.

It’s natural to feel apprehensive, especially if it’s your first time seeing a chiropractor.

Many Canadians fear the chiropractor, and chiropractic myths—like that chiropractors aren’t real doctors—are common. Chiropractors are highly trained musculoskeletal experts, providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment and imaging, when necessary, of conditions originating from the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems.

Chiropractic care can provide life-transforming relief for many painful conditions. If you think seeing a chiropractor might be right for you, but are worried about some of the things that you have heard, consider these common chiropractic myths debunked:

6 Common Chiropractic Myths

It’s going to hurt

Our aim is to alleviate your pain—not make it worse!

Your practitioner will use treatment approach that is safe and comfortable for your age and current condition. In fact, many patients feel a sense of relief after treatment.

The cracking sound that can sometimes accompany adjustments is nothing to be worried about either. It is caused by the release of air or bubbles that are in the fluid surrounding the joints.

Once you see a chiropractor you have to keep going back

This is not true. At Quarry Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we make a conscientious effort never to give patients more treatment than they need and we don’t use long, pre-paid treatment plans.

Chiropractors aren’t real doctors

In all 10 provinces and the Yukon chiropractors are regulated. They have the legislated right to use the title doctor, just like other medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, or optometrists.

A medical doctor must refer you to a chiropractor

In all Canadian provinces, chiropractors are primary care providers, which means that you don’t need a referral to see one.

Chiropractors only treat back pain

Chiropractors are trained in assessing, diagnosing and treating conditions that impact soft tissues, joints and nerves. They will help guide you through injuries or aches and pains to help get you back to the activities you enjoy. Additionally, at Quarry Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we offer laser therapy to treat painful conditions such as shingles, peripheral neuropathy and plantar fascitis.

It’s going to be expensive

Chiropractic care is covered under most health plans. We do our best to guide you through the healing process and avoid over treating. At Quarry Chiropractic and Wellness Centre we do not promote expensive, long term treatment plans.

In Conclusion

These common chiropractic myths are unfounded and shouldn’t stop you from seeing a chiropractor. If you want more information we are always happy to answer any questions that you might have.

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The orthotics industry is poorly regulated

Almost any healthcare professional can sell orthotics. Just because someone sells them, doesn’t mean they are qualified to do so. It is important to be assessed by someone you trust in order to get an orthotic that will suit you best, and not necessarily the cheapest provider.

Custom orthotics are different from insoles

Orthotics help provide cushion and support to help with various foot conditions. They may also be indicated for low back pain, depending on your case.

While you can get over-the-counter insoles from pharmacies and sporting goods stores, and they are sometimes all you need, custom orthotics are designed especially for your feet. They are made based on casts or scans of your feet and are designed to suit you best.

There are many different kinds of orthotics

A wide range of different kinds of orthotics are available to help alleviate pain and treat conditions like:

1. Flat feet
2. High-arched feet
3. Heel spur
4. Plantar fasciitis
5. Shin splints
6. Lower back pain

You May need to ease into wearing orthotics

Although some people adapt to wearing foot orthotics quickly, you may experience a break in period and wear them for a few hours each day at first. Gradually increase the amount of time you wear them until your feet adapt to them.

You shouldn’t wear them during vigorous activity, like sports, right away. When you are used to them, you should wear them while doing things that aggravate your particular condition

If you would like to know more about orthotics, please feel free to contact us at 613-542-9822.

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Both chiropractors and physiotherapists treat musculoskeletal problems to increase mobility and decrease pain. Traditionally, chiropractors use manipulation and physiotherapists use modalities and exercise. Yet as evidence progresses, and both professions learn which treatments are most effective, they are becoming more similar.

So, what’s the difference?

Chiropractic care will often include a hands on approach (joint manipulation/mobilization and/or soft tissue massage), which helps to influence the pain or discomfort you may be feeling, along with a movement or exercise specific to the area being treated. It is important to be an active participant in this process and that involves you moving your body. Occasionally your chiropractor will order xrays, but these are only indicated in certain situations, such as a car accident or when we suspect there may be a fracture. Xrays shouldn’t be a regular part of your care and don’t reliably help us assess your spine.

Physiotherapists often use a combination of hands on therapy (soft tissue massage, mobilization or sometimes manipulation), modalities (ie. shockwave, electric stimulation) and rehabilitative exercises to treat injuries. Physiotherapists use these approaches to help ease your pain to help you move through your exercises to improve. They also commonly work with post surgical and pelvic floor patients.

Since both chiropractors and physiotherapists are so similar, deciding who to see can be difficult. A brief phone consultation with our front desk staff is the best place to start the process, in order to provide you with the best fit.

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