Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) most commonly known as damage to nerves, tendons, tendon sheaths, muscles, joints of the wrists, forearm, elbow, shoulder and neck. Repetitive Strain Injuries can be confusing in that patients don’t understand the symptoms related and the causes or even more importantly how can it be treated.

Causes of RSI

Repetitive Strain Injuries occur through overuse, poor posture and/or poor technique particularly while using the hands. Repeated awkward or forceful tasks for sustained periods of time are major factors causing RSI. Workers do not make the connection between their aches and pains developing in the work place or in the field. Repeated vibrations, forceful impacts or compressions for periods of time cause microscopic tears in the tendons and muscles. Over time the sheaths around the tendons start to chafe causing tendons to become inflamed. Inflammation of the sheath compresses against adjacent nerves, which compromises the nerves nearby.

Symptoms of RSI

Symptoms of RSI can range from discomfort to excruciating pain. Symptoms occur in the fingers, palm, wrist, forearm, shoulders, and neck. Pain in one area of the body may radiate to other connecting parts. 

General symptoms include:

-Aching or shooting pain (May be strongest at night).

-Tingling and burning sensations.

-Clumsiness of hands (loss of ability to grasp items, impaired thumb and finger dexterity).

-Swelling of hand and wrist.

-Hands feel cold.

-Wasting of Muscles at the base of the thumb.

- Stiffness or restricted movement.

Common Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries

Tenosynovitis

Rapid, repetitive, and repeated twisting movement of the forearms and hands. Patients that do a lot of keyboard work, and/or using tools such as pliers can develop tenosynovitis. Tenosynovitis and tendonitis sound similar. The difference is that tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons. While Tenosynovitis is inflammation of the tendon sheaths usually in the hand or wrist.

DeQuarvain’s Syndrome

This is a type of tenosynovitis that is known as “trigger thumb” or “Washerwoman’s Sprain”. It also affects the sheath common to the two tendons of the thumb just above the wrist. This repetitive strain injury is caused by repeated trigger-like movement involving the wrist.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Carpel tunnel is tingling, numbness and/or weakness in your hand due to pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. Carpel tunnel is the small space in your wrist that the median nerve and several tendons runs from you forearm into your hand.  The median nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers. This area becomes compromised when there is repetitive finger movement, pinching and squeezing of fingertips, excessive use of the index finger, hand exertions with bending and twisting of the wrist, and overly tight grip for long periods of time.

Chiropractic for RSI

Chiropractic is an effective treatment option for RSI. Our Chiropractic physicians will conduct an interview, review medical history, and perform a thorough examination. If diagnosed with RSI, the Chiropractor will set up a treatment plan specific to your situation, and needs. So if you suffer from pain in fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, shoulder, neck, or back seek a chiropractic physician. The sooner you do, the better you will feel.

Dr. Elton Clemence practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness at 142 Erickson Drive.www.family1stchiro.ca

Call 403-347-3261 for a consultation today

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) most commonly known as damage to nerves, tendons, tendon sheaths, muscles, joints of the wrists, forearm, elbow, shoulder and neck. Repetitive Strain Injuries can be confusing in that patients don’t understand the symptoms related and the causes or even more importantly how can it be treated.

Causes of RSI

Repetitive Strain Injuries occur through overuse, poor posture and/or poor technique particularly while using the hands. Repeated awkward or forceful tasks for sustained periods of time are major factors causing RSI. Workers do not make the connection between their aches and pains developing in the work place or in the field. Repeated vibrations, forceful impacts or compressions for periods of time cause microscopic tears in the tendons and muscles. Over time the sheaths around the tendons start to chafe causing tendons to become inflamed. Inflammation of the sheath compresses against adjacent nerves, which compromises the nerves nearby.  

Symptoms of RSI

Symptoms of RSI can range from discomfort to excruciating pain. Symptoms occur in the fingers, palm, wrist, forearm, shoulders, and neck. Pain in one area of the body may radiate to other connecting parts. General symptoms include:

-Aching or shooting pain (May be strongest at night).
-Tingling and burning sensations.
-Clumsiness of hands (loss of ability to grasp items, impaired thumb and finger dexterity).
-Swelling of hand and wrist.
-Hands feel cold.
-Wasting of Muscles at the base of the thumb.
- Stiffness or restricted movement.

Common Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries

Tenosynovitis
Rapid, repetitive, and repeated twisting movement of the forearms and hands. Patients that do a lot of keyboard work, and/or using tools such as pliers can tenosynovitis. Tenosynovitis and tendonitis sound similar. The difference is that tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons. While Tenosynovitis is inflammation of the tendon sheaths usually in the hand or wrist.
DeQuarvain’s Syndrome

This is a type of tenosynovitis that is known as “trigger thumb” or “Washerwoman’s Sprain”. It also affects the sheath common to the two tendons of the thumb just above the wrist. This repetitive strain injury is caused by repeated trigger-like movement involving the wrist.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Carpel tunnel is tingling, numbness and/or weakness in your hand due to pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. Carpel tunnel is the small space in your wrist that the median nerve and several tendons runs from you forearm into your hand.  The median nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers. This area becomes compromised when there is repetitive finger movement, pinching and squeezing of fingertips, excessive use of the index finger, hand exertions with bending and twisting of the wrist, and overly tight grip for long periods of time.

Chiropractic for RSI
Chiropractic is an effective treatment option for RSI. Our Chiropractic physicians will conduct an interview, review medical history, and perform a thorough examination. If diagnosed with RSI, the Chiropractor will set up a treatment plan specific to your situation, and needs. So if you suffer from pain in fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, shoulder, neck, or back seek a chiropractic physician. The sooner you do, the better you will feel.

Dr. Elton Clemence practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness at 142 Erickson Drive. www.family1stchiro.ca


Call 403-347-3261 for a consultation today

Exercise should be enjoyed not painful.

Exercise should be enjoyed not painful.

Working out for personal gain or overall health and wellness can be rewarding. However, over training or over stretching can lead to injury. This is anything but gain or healthy, instead it creates setback or even take you out of training completely. There is no need to suffer to the point of disliking the workout or dreading the next one. I agree we need to push ourselves to overcome fitness plateaus, but exercise should be less about pain and more about fun.

Here are some tips to make your workouts more enjoyable:

Ø  Choose a fitness program you like and can fit your schedule- You have the option to choose your fitness path. With so many styles of training and workout programs one can choose and personalize their own training programs to suit their goals. Programs that focus on core and strength training are recommended.

Ø  Focus on a balanced Lifestyle - It’s good to be determined in achieving your goals. However, becoming obsessed with your workouts can leave you drained and even injured.

Ø  Change your mindset - Exercise is about personal well-being, which is body and mind fitness. Unnecessary mental stress to get fit leads to being counterproductive. Attitude should be towards making it a fulfilling journey and not being a serious no fun policy.

Ø  Inspire to confidence - Seeing changes in your mind and body should be an inspirational thought, which adds confidence.

Avoiding pain and injury during your workout:

No pain no gain motto should not lead to injury and/or take you out of the fitness program altogether. So here are some guidelines to help you avoid injury.

Ø Warm up before your workouts and cool down after - It’s best to do light cardio before stretching then stretch. Stretching without warming up could lead to injury. More intense workouts should end with a cool down consisting of light cardio and then end with stretching.

Ø Use logic and listen to your body - Don’t run before you can walk. Going from inactivity to strenuous exercise could lead to injury. It’s healthy to be competitive and have enthusiasm to achieve fitness goals. However, it’s more effective to learn how to exercises properly and consistently. Finally, listen to your body: If it hurts Stop. Pushing through pain again can lead to injury and takes the fun out of your fitness journey.

Talk to the experts. They can help you start your workout program, guide you to work out properly and most importantly help you to achieve your personal goals. In addition, use your Chiropractor to help you get the most out of your exercise regime.

Dr. Elton Clemence is a Chiropractor at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located In Red Deer, AB 142 Erickson Dr ,www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261 to book an appointment.

The importance of Water

Water is  one of the most important substances on earth. 

All plants and animals must have water to survive. If there was no water there would be no life on earth. However most of us today do not realize the importance of water. True health cannot occur without proper hydration of the body.

Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and without water, we would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 75% water,  blood is made up of mostly water at 92 and lungs 90%. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide d the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up! Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue.

Dehydration can reduce the elimination of toxins. This can leave us vulnerable to skin disorders like psoriasis and dermatitis. In addition dehydration can lead to wrinkling and discoloration. Asthma and Allergies could be caused by the lack of water restricting airways to conserve water. Also the rate of histamine production increases exponentially as the body loses water.  This can also lead to bladder and kidney problems.

A shortage of water can lead to Constipation and Digestive disorders. The colon is one of the primary regions the body draws water from to provide fluids for critical body functions. Lack of water causes waste to move slowly through the large intestines or not at all leading to constipation.  Shortage of water and alkaline minerals (calcium and magnesium) can lead to ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux.

When chronically dehydrated, cells are depleted of energy. As a result people tend to eat more when in reality, the body is thirsty. Furthermore, joints have a cartilage padding that is composed of water. When the body is dehydrated cartilage is weakened and joint repair is hindered resulting in joint pain and stiffness.

A glass of water half an hour before a meal and then may be two glasses around three hours after. This will get you in the habit of drinking water throughout the day. On average we should be consuming eight-ounce, two liters or half a gallon of water a day. Get your kids into this essential healthy habit as well.  If you drink tap water ensure that a carbon filter is attached to produce chlorine and the solvent free water to drink. Plastic bottles can be contaminated with chemicals. So drink mineral water from glass bottles. If you live in a fluoride area, back wash filters should be used to remove the fluoride poisons.

Dr. Elton Clemence practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, T4R 2C3 to book call 403-347-3261 or check out our website at www.family1stchiro.ca

Innate intelligence

Innate intelligence 

Much of our health care system has been based on the Germ Theory, which simply speaking says that germs cause disease and if we kill the bad germs we will get healthy. We now know that this theory is flawed. Our attempt to wipe out "bugs" has created an assault on our immune systems, leads to a minimum of 10,000 deaths per year, according to The Telegraph and has created a generation of dangerous "Superbugs" that threaten the well-being of society. 

The Interference Principle brings a different and realistic perspective to health, sickness and dis-ease and affirms that everyone deserves to be healthy and express their full potential from the time they are born through their last breath of life. This includes you!

Understanding The Interference Principle will help you maximize your ability to heal from injuries and health problems and achieve optimum health and peak performance levels. The Interference Principle is comprised of the following scientific and philosophical premises that should be applied to the health care and lifestyle of you and your loved ones.

1. Innate Intelligence
You have within you an Innate Intelligence. Present from the moment you were conceived, this intelligence grew you from 1 cell into over 80 quadrillion cells that were organized and specialized to keep you healthy and functioning at your highest level throughout your lifetime. This Innate Intelligence guides the processes in your body that turn food into cells, eliminate waste products, coordinate muscle contraction and communicate with or without your conscious thought to every cell, tissue and organ of your body via your nervous system.

As long as there is no interference to this system, you have the capability to heal, feel great, be healthy and function well for a lifetime. Nurture this Intelligence for the development of your human potential and you will set personal records in all areas of your life

2. Interference
Unfortunately, there can be interference to the communication and expression of this intelligence within your body. This interference causes dis-ease, weakness, and imbalances within your nervous system that can cause all types of immediate health problems. Or, this interference can lie dormant and asymptomatic for decades, leading to severe health conditions, chronic pain, deterioration and disease down the road.

Nerve Interference in the spine is called a vertebral subluxation. Lifestyle Interference is a result of poor health habits such as overeating, poor nutrition, excessive drinking, taking prescription or non-prescription drugs, or sitting too much. Environmental Interference is caused by toxicity from air, food, water, or chemicals, as well as accidents or natural disasters. All three types of interference can cause pressure in your spine and nervous system and affect your health on every level.

3. Adjustments to Remove Interference
Adjustments to remove interference from your spine, nervous system and lifestyle can improve your health and quality of life dramatically. A chiropractic examination can determine if you, or your loved ones, have interference in your spine and nervous system - whether symptoms are present or not. Keeping your body free from interference as a part of your lifestyle can help it heal quickly, stabilize,  regenerate and achieve optimum health and peak performance levels for a lifetime.

Dr. Elton Clemence is in Red Deer, Alberta at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr, www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261 to book an appointment. 

If You Want to Live Longer—Get Moving!

High-intensity interval-type training also boosts human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is also essential for optimal health, strength and vigor. Make sure you have regular chiropractic treatment to optimize your health and wellness.

Pass The  Butter ...  Please.       

This is  interesting . .. . 

Margarine  was originally  manufactured to fatten turkeys.  When it  killed the turkeys, the people who had put all  the money into the research wanted a payback so  they put their heads together to figure out what  to do with this product to get their money  back.    

It  was a white substance with no food appeal so  they added the yellow colouring and sold it to  people to use in place of butter.  How do  you like it?   They have come out with  some clever new  flavourings....    

DO   YOU KNOW.. The  difference between margarine and  butter?  

Read  on to the end...gets very  interesting!    

Both   have the same amount of  calories. 


Butter  is slightly higher in saturated fats at  8  grams;  compared to 5  grams for margarine.

Eating  margarine can  increase   heart  disease in  women by 53% over  eating the same amount of butter,  according to a recent  Harvard   Medical Study.


Eating  butter  increases the absorption of many  other  nutrients  in  other foods. 


Butter  has many nutritional  benefits where  margarine  has a few  and  only because  they are added! 

Butter  tastes much better than  margarine and it can enhance the flavours of  other foods.

Butter  has been around for centuries  where  margarine  has been around for less than  100  years. 

And  now, for Margarine.. 

Very  High in Trans fatty  acids. 

Triples  risk of coronary heart  disease ... 

Increases   total cholesterol and  LDL (this  is the bad cholesterol) and  lowers HDL  cholesterol, (the good cholesterol) 

Increases  the risk of cancers up to five  times..

Lowers  quality of breast  milk

Decreases  immune response.

Decreases  insulin  response.

And   here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE  PART THAT  IS  VERY INTERESTING! 

Margarine  is but ONE  MOLECULE  away from being PLASTIC...  and shares 27 ingredients withPAINT 

These  facts alone were enough to have me avoiding  margarine for life and anything else that is  hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added,  changing the molecular structure of the  substance).    


Open  a tub of margarine and leave it open in your  garage or shaded area.  Within a couple of  days you will notice a couple of things: 



*&n bsp;  no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will  go near it (that should tell you something) 


*   it does not rot or smell differently because it  has no nutritional  value  ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny  weeny microorganisms will not find it to be a home where they can grow.  Why?   Because it  is  nearly plastic .   Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that  on your toast?   


Share  This With Your Friends.....(If you want to  butter them up')! 


Chinese  Proverb:

When  someone shares something of value with you and  you benefit from it,  you have a   moral obligation to share it with  others. 

Pass  the BUTTER PLEASE 

This information is brought you this blog by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive
403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca