BLOG, NEWS AND EVENTS

Let me start by making a statement, some of you runners are not going to like hearing;  “Just because you run, this DOES NOT mean you necessarily have strong, stable and functional glutes and/or hips”.  In the past 2 months, we have had this conversation and in some cases, full on debates with so many of our distance running patients that… Continue Reading…

Active Health Institute has been nominated for the “Top Alternative Health Services in Ottawa for 2013.” We’d like to take this opporunity to thank all our patients who have nominated and voted for us.   We take great pride in providing the very best care for our patients and we are humbled by the continued support, trust… Continue Reading…

Obesity has become an epidemic in the Western world.  With 58.6% of the Canadian population considered overweight or obese in 2004, as health care providers we need to take a more comprehensive approach to patient care than simply telling the patient to “lose weight”.  Weight gain – or the lack of weight loss – is… Continue Reading…

In the past few months, we have been receiving a lot of questions in regards to chiropractic, varying philosophies, clinic structures and ideals.  In an attempt to address some of these concerns, here are a few FAQ and what you can expect from our AHI chiropractors. Are all chiropractors the same? NO!  The definition of a… Continue Reading…

“Doc, I stretch all the time, I do yoga two days a week and even go for regular massages.  Why am I always so tight and sore?”  Every day I am faced with this question, so I decided it would be a good opportunity to let you all in on an ironic, yet true statement;… Continue Reading…

What’s your new year’s resolution?  Lose weight, quit smoking, stop drinking pop?  In 2007 a study published in the U.K showed that after a year, only 12% of the study participants (3000 participants) actually met their goal.  Here are a few suggestions to help you be a part of the 12% that have success in… Continue Reading…

 The snow may fall gently and gracefully but we typically don’t.  The winter can be a challenging time of year for many individuals, as the number of falls and their severity typically increase during these months.  Here are a few points to consider as we approach the winter months;  Wear appropriate footwear. Thick and wide… Continue Reading…

Introducing Metabolic Testing at AHI! I am very pleased to announce that AHI is now providing metabolic testing. You may ask whether or not this has any interest for you. Ask yourself the following questions:  Do you have trouble losing weight? Have you ever wondered what your metabolism is? Do you want to know the… Continue Reading…

By: Ben Leber MSc, CK, ACSM RCEP A study conducted by Donnelly et al. (2003) titled “Effects of a 16-Month Randomized Controlled Exercise Trial on Body Weight and Composition in Young, Overweight Men and Women” compared weight loss for men and women after a 16 month intervention.  The intervention consisted of an exercise group burning… Continue Reading…

Whether you’re flipping through a magazine, changing the channels on the television or standing at a bus stop; we are bombarded with weight loss advertisements.  Some promote low fat, others low carbohydrates, other meal replacement shakes.  Regardless of the program, they all claim to be the answer to all your problems.  Here is the truth….THEY… Continue Reading…

Everyday athletes are always looking for ways to give themselves that slight advantage over their competitors.  In recent years, performance bracelets have been the craze.  So much so, that even non-athletes are wearing these bracelets, with the hope that it will give them more strength, better flexibility, improved balance and overall better health.  I’m sure… Continue Reading…

Green Tea for your Valentine? Green tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years in China. Green tea comes in many different varieties and can be readily found in your local tea shop or grocery store. Recently, many medicinal benefits from green tea have been cited from increasing fat burning to lowering cholesterol. But more… Continue Reading…

 How many of you, reach for the bottle of pain killers at the first sign of pain?  The Annals of Internal Medicine just published an article that looked at the effects of spinal manipulation vs. home exercises vs. medication for neck pain and concluded that, although medication definitely has its purpose, when it comes to… Continue Reading…

Since ancient times, we have known that the body’s reaction to an infection is to increase our body temperature.  Although the physiological mechanism for a fever was not well understood, the need for hyperthermia was respected to allow the body to heal itself.  A recent article published in the November 2011 issue of the Journal… Continue Reading…

The cold and flu season is fast approaching and there is no better way to treat the flu then with PREVENTION!  Dr. Andrea Proulx, our Naturopathic Doctor at the Active Health Institute has put together some very practical tips to help in avoiding the flu and help boost your immune function.  Thanks Dr. Proulx! Practical Tips:  First and… Continue Reading…

The leading causes of mortality and morbidity in our western culture have changed a great deal in the 21st century.  While our great grandparents and great great grandparents were more concerned with “communicable diseases” such as; Polio and Tuberculosis, our generation is losing the battle against degenerative and preventable diseases, primarily heart disease, diabetes, obesity… Continue Reading…

                    As a manual medicine practitioner who specializes in back and neck pain, it is my responsibility and duty to my patients to provide the best care possible in order to achieve optimal results.  Part of this process is being able to suggest what types of… Continue Reading…

In past articles, we have discussed the prevalence of back pain, various treatment options, and the importance of strengthening and stabilizing the spine in order to avoid and prevent injury.  Today, I want to let you all in on a very important piece of information that will have a huge impact on the prevention of… Continue Reading…

Statistics show that 80% of individuals will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.  It is second to colds/flu for missed work days and one of the biggest reasons for going on disability.  The fortunate thing about back pain is that there are many treatment options that are proven to be effective. … Continue Reading…

We would like to thank the entire Barrhaven community for voting us #1 in this years Readers Choice Awards.  Active Health Institute won first place in Barrhaven for; Best Physiotherapist Best Chiropractor Best Naturopath Best Personal Trainer Best Acupuncture Thank you again for trusting us with all your health and injury concerns!

This time of year the streets become filled with cyclist eager to get get back in the saddle and ramp up their mileage.  This is also that time of year our physiotherapists start to see an increase in cyclists struggling with knee pain. A common cause of knee pain in cyclists is known as patellofemoral pain… Continue Reading…

Join our very own Dr. Andrea Proulx (Naturopathic Doctor) and Jason Haug (Personal Trainer) every Monday evening at 7pm for the first, Active Health Institute Running Group!  Starting Monday May 2nd.  Dr. Proulx and Jason will help keep you motivated for a 20-45 minute run. All levels of runners are welcome, so regarless if you are… Continue Reading…

Does the smell of balloons give you a headache? Your body wash aggravate your eczema instead of soothing the skin? What if you rip off a band-aid – does the adhesive leave your skin red and itchy? You may have a latex allergy. With 8 to 12% of health care workers in the US sensitive… Continue Reading…

According to the Canadian Arthritis Society, 1 in 10 Canadians are affected by osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis which involves a mechanical “wear and tear” of the cartilage that lines the inside of our joints and which, over time, can result in damage to the connective tissue and bone around the joint. The… Continue Reading…

Like any health profession, differences exist between physiotherapist and their approach to treatment.  If we were to poll the Ottawa community, and ask them what they thought physiotherapist did, I’m sure the feedback would be very diverse.  Luckily, in the healthcare field, there is an easy way to actually determine what works and what doesn’t…Research!… Continue Reading…

Heel pain, also known as plantar fasciits or fasciosis is a common condition that can effect many adults. To understand the true cause of plantar fasciitis we need to explain what fascia is. Very simply, facsia is a type of fibrous connective tissue that runs over and between all of our muscles, ligaments and tendons…. Continue Reading…

How a few simple dietary changes can greatly reduce your chance at developing disease We live in age of convenience, where food is available in so many ready-to-go forms, from powder to liquid shakes to neatly packed frozen meals. Food has become so accessible that you don’t even have to leave your car to order,… Continue Reading…

Most Canadians spend most of their time completely inactive. Only 15% of Canadian adults exercise enough to get health benefits.  StatsCan released a report January 19th demonstrating that adults are simply not moving enough.  A sedentary lifestyle comprised of sitting at the office desk, sitting at the dinner table, sitting on the couch watching tv, then… Continue Reading…

The Toxicity Epidemic…A Must Attend Seminar! Everyday we are exposed to environmental toxins, such as heavy metals, pesticides, pollutants, etc. Research has shown that an estimated 80% of cancer cases may be related to our environment alone. $568-$793 billion is spent in the U.S. and Canada every year on toxicity-related disease.  If we can’t remove… Continue Reading…

There’s nothing more frustrating about starting a new fitness routine and injuring yourself in the process. What should have been the very thing that was supposed to improve your health has now made it worse.   As a healthcare provider, I witness patients getting injured everyday after starting their new fitness routine.  Any number of factors… Continue Reading…

It’s that time of year when everyone begins their battle with winter. A time when nagging or old injuries can once again start disrupting your daily activities. Physiotherapy can be a preventative tool or treatment for many of these types of injuries. Shoulder pain is a common complaint once shoveling has been added to the… Continue Reading…

Integrated care has become a global buzzword in healthcare.  Commonly interchanged with words such as, collaborative care, coordinated care, multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary, the reasoning behind such healthcare is countless.  In my opinion however, done properly, integrated care is not simply a one-stop shop but instead an institute designed to improve communication and create coherence and… Continue Reading…