4 Reasons Massage Therapy is Great in the Winter

For many of us, the winter months bring hot drinks, extra layers of clothing and more time spent indoors. With shorter and colder days, the winter can wreak havoc on your body and increase your susceptibility to health issues like colds, flu, depression and more. The good news is that massage therapy can help your body tackle these issues.

Many people find themselves booking more sessions during the winter. What’s the reason for this phenomenon? Here are 4 reasons why booking massage therapy for the winter can help you find comfort and relief during the chilly months.

1. Relief for your muscles

Shoveling snow, skating, skiing and other winter sports can leave your muscles feeling sore. Massage can help provide relief to overused muscles and heal sore spots so you can get back to doing your favourite winter activities pain-free. A massage will help stretch your muscles and relieve pressure from your joints.

2. Keep muscles warm

Poor circulation during these colder months can cause your blood vessels to constrict leaving you with higher blood pressure. You’ll feel colder and seasonal aches and pains may return with a vengeance. Massage can aid in getting oxygenated blood throughout your body, help relieve congested areas and allow for better blood flow.

Cold conditions can also cause your body to become tense. If you’re in the cold for an extended period of time, muscle tension can continue even once you’re back in a warm environment. Massage therapy is a great way to keep winter tension under control.

3. Hydration for your skin

Humidity usually drops in the wintertime. This cold and dry air can cause the water in your skin to evaporate, leaving your skin prone to dryness. The good news is that a massage session usually involves the use of natural and essential oils that are massaged on your skin. These also have the added benefit of hydrating your skin while you feel better both on the inside and out.

4. Boost your mood and your health

The shorter days and little amount of sunshine can leave people with the feeling of winter blues, a general feeling of unhappiness and negativity. You may find yourself dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Due to the lack of sunshine, gloomy weather and cold temperatures, depression can be more likely to affect people during the winter. If you experience low energy levels, increased irritability and often oversleep you may have SAD.

It’s not realistic to hibernate during the winter months. So, what’s the solution? Stepping out into the cold and visiting the massage table can help aid depression, restore energy levels and improve concentration. Getting worked on your muscles can increase hormones like serotonin and dopamine while helping you feel more relaxed. This can encourage you to be more social, active and spend more time outdoors, helping you leave your session with a happier mood and more resilience towards the cold environment.

Help your body make it through to spring and schedule your massage this winter with a Burnaby Massage Therapist. Book an appointment with a massage therapist in Burnaby. Call Pacific Health and Sports Therapy and experience the benefits of a warm, winter massage.

Chiropractor Cost without Insurance in Vancouver

At some point in life, you may have found yourself needing to see a massage therapist, a chiropractor or another health professional without having adequate insurance to help you cover the costs. Even if you do have health insurance, it often doesn’t cover certain services such as physical therapy or chiropractic treatments.

Regardless of if you have insurance that will cover chiropractic treatments or not, your body is the only one you will have and you need to take good care of it. Without taking care of your body, especially when issues such as accidents or injuries arise, it may cause chronic health problems that could otherwise be avoided with appropriate treatment. There may reach a point where the effects of the chronic health problems can be lifelong and very unlikely to improve.

To avoid complications like chronic pain, always take wellbeing into your own hands. There are ways to see a chiropractor without insurance. Here is some information to help you with a chiropractic visit if you don`t have insurance in Vancouver.

Does insurance cover chiropractic services?

For patients with premium assistance, MSP will partially cover chiropractic service fees. In many other cases, chiropractic care is covered by extended benefit plans and you’ll be able to send in your receipts for reimbursement or take advantage of a clinic’s ability to direct bill your health plan. Some extended health plans offer full coverage, including x-rays and exams. In other cases, insurance may only cover chiropractic services if you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident or a work-related injury. Consider taking a close look at your insurance policy to find the details about your coverage or call your local chiropractic office to help you find out what your insurance would cover.

How much does it cost to see a chiropractor without insurance?

You may be wondering about the costs associated with seeing a chiropractor in Vancouver and if you can afford a consultation. Paying out of pocket can be a difficult decision when you have a lot of other expenses to consider. Googling “cheap Chiropractor near me” or “affordable chiropractic services” may seem like a good idea. But, be aware that the cheapest option may not always be the best solution. As with anything else, choosing the cheapest option does not ensure the best quality, and it is important for you to consider if you’re choosing the right type of care for your concerns.

You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that a chiropractic appointment is very affordable. Many patients choose to pay for their visits to a chiropractor directly as they can be cost-effective. The fees associated with a consultation are standard and set by the British Columbia Chiropractic Association. Usually, a consultation (your first visit) can cost between $90 and $150 and cost per subsequent or future visit is between $50 to $70. Prices vary among clinics, but with Pacific Health and Sport Therapy Clinic you can take comfort that you are getting the best possible care.

Generally, a referral isn’t needed to see a chiropractor and treatments can vary greatly between individuals. We accept private insurance, non-insured, and auto accident cases that result in headaches, back pain or other symptoms that can be treated with chiropractic care.

To learn more about payment options for chiropractic care, you can call our Burnaby chiropractic office directly at (604) 540-1140 and one of our staff members will assist you.

Coverage for chiropractic visits can vary widely. If you do have insurance but you’re not sure if you are covered to see a chiropractor in Burnaby, call your insurance plan provider to learn more about your coverage. You can also give us a call to learn more about how we can direct bill your insurance provider for you to save you the hassle!

Physical Therapy: How to Soothe Aching Muscles and Joints in Winter

As winter approaches and temperatures continue to fall, you may notice that aches and pains in your muscles and joints have become more frequent. If you prefer staying home with a cup of hot chocolate instead of going for a walk or hitting the gym during this season, inactivity could be the reason for your pain.

How can you manage pain in cold weather with physical therapy?

If you’ve been experiencing aches and pains due to inactivity, you may benefit from physical therapy. One of the primary benefits of physical therapy is that it improves blood circulation. In the cold, as the flow of blood slows, it may cause a build-up of lactic acid in the muscles, which, in turn, leads to stiffness and soreness. Once blood flow improves, more oxygen and nutrients will get the muscles so they can begin to heal.

Sufficient blood flow is also necessary for the circulation of synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is the lubricant that reduces friction between the bones and cartilage that meet at the joints. Proper distribution of the synovial fluid allows you to move around with ease. As your blood flow increases, so will the circulation of synovial fluid, and you will find relief from joint pain.

What does physical therapy involve?

Physical therapy does not require strenuous exercise. Basic movements such as stretching exercises can help alleviate your pain and discomfort. After you’ve become accustomed to simple exercises, you can gradually increase the intensity of your workouts if you so choose.

While you can do simple exercises on your own, you should consult a physiotherapist if you want to reap the full benefits of physical therapy. A physiotherapist is trained to understand the body and its movement and will assess your ability and any existing conditions you may have to prescribe an exercise plan that is best suited to your needs. They will also show how to move in a way that will put the least amount of strain on your extremities and work towards improving your range of movement.

Are you searching for a physical therapy clinic in Burnaby?

If you are searching for a physical therapy clinic in Burnaby, contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, our registered physiotherapists are ready and waiting to help you overcome pain and improve your health and movement.

We are conveniently located near New Westminster and Coquitlam and are open to serve you seven days a week. We understand that being in pain is stressful, and that is why we spend more time in our sessions, so you don’t feel rushed, and we can provide better care.

So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our Burnaby physiotherapists. Let us show you how we can help.

Schedule an appointment today!

Metal tools physical therapists and chiropractors use

If you have been to a physical therapist before, you may have noticed a collection of metal devices. These metal devices are used for what is known as Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM).

What is Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?

During Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, specially designed stainless-steel instruments assist in detecting and treating areas that show signs of scar tissue, soft tissue restriction, adhesions or chronic inflammation. With Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, metal tools do not replace the use of the physical therapist’s hands, but instead enhances their ability to treat a patient.  This form of manual therapy treatment has been found to be effective in treating conditions such as running-related injuries, chronic ligament and muscle strains, back pain, tendinitis and similar conditions.

There are varying techniques that fall under the umbrella of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. The tools used during treatment may vary based on the method that is being used, the condition that is being treated and the personal preference of your physical therapist.

Are you interested in trying Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?

If you are interested in trying Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, the team at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy can help. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we use high-quality stainless-steel tools and certified IASTM techniques—Graston and FAKTR (Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab)—to detect and effectively treat conditions that may affect the normal function of your soft tissues.

Our practitioners use metal instruments to break down the collagen cross-links in scar tissue but as well as to improve the rate and amount of blood flow at the treatment area. The techniques we use will also cause an increase in cellular activity to help improve your body’s natural healing process.

Schedule an appointment today!

Pacific Health and Sports Therapy is a Burnaby clinic, conveniently located near New Westminster and Coquitlam, and for your convenience, we are open seven days a week. We are here to help you, whether you were recently injured, battling chronic pain, trying to avoid risky surgery, or simply looking to improve your overall health and movement.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists. Let us show you how we can help.

Back pain is more than an annoyance; back pain can significantly impact your life. In fact, back pain consequences can be so severe that in some cases, sufferers can become clinically depressed. If you have been suffering from lower back pain and prescription drugs have not helped with the problem, you may want to consider massage therapy.

Here are four types of massage therapy for lower back pain:

1. Swedish massage

A Swedish massage is perfect if you are looking to relax. But did you know that a Swedish massage is also great for releasing tight muscles, which often cause lower back pain? A massage therapist may use several techniques during a Swedish massage. These techniques may include long, sweeping strokes that move from the top to the bottom of a muscle, rolling and kneading motions, light and rhythmic tapping or drumming, or deep pressure applied to problem areas.2. Deep tissue massage

Deep tissue massage therapy uses many of the techniques that are used in a Swedish massage. But for deep tissue massage therapy, a massage therapist will put a deeper, more intense pressure on each sore muscle, so that they can better reach lower layers of muscles and tissues. This is done to help release scar tissue and relax knotted muscles.

While a deep tissue massage may not be as relaxing as a Swedish massage, you should not be in pain on the massage table. If you feel pain, it is a sign that something is wrong or the pressure is too much for you, and you should inform your massage therapist.

3. Trigger point massage

Like a deep tissue massage, a trigger point massage goes deep into the muscles, but the aim of a trigger point massage is slightly different from that of a deep tissue massage. A trigger point massage aims to identify certain intensely tight spots and release them with gradual pressure held for a longer time. Trigger points are known to cause pain where they are located as well as pain that travels to other areas of the body (pain referral). A massage focusing on triggers points in the back, for example, may not only help with lower back pain but may also help to relieve conditions such as sciatica.

4. Sports massage

If your lower back pain is a result of sporting activities or other types of repetitive movement, you may benefit from sports massage therapy. A sports massage may use deep pressure alternated with soothing strokes and can focus only on the problem area or your entire body. Not only will a sports massage help relieve your lower back pain or other areas of pain, but it will also help to improve flexibility and performance.

Are you searching for a Burnaby Physio and Massage Therapy Clinic?

If you are searching for a Burnaby physio and massage therapy clinic to help with your lower back pain, contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy.

At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we understand how stressful lower back pain can be. That is why our consultations are longer than most. We spend more time so that we can provide better care, and you won’t feel rushed.

When you come in for massage therapy, our massage therapists will not only focus on your back. Instead, they will consider how your entire body is moving and functioning to provide comprehensive treatment.

So, what are you waiting for? Call us today to schedule an appointment to visit our Burnaby physio and massage therapy clinic.

Are you searching for a Burnaby Physio and Massage Therapy Clinic? ?

If you are searching for a Burnaby physio and massage therapy clinic to help with your lower back pain,  contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we understand how stressful lower back pain can be. That is why our consultations are longer than most. We spend more time so that we can provide better care, and you won’t feel rushed.

When you come in for massage therapy, our massage therapists will not only focus on your back. Instead, they will consider how your entire body is moving and functioning to provide comprehensive treatment.

So, what are you waiting for? Call us today to schedule an appointment to visit one of our Burnaby physio and massage therapy clinic.

If you are suffering from upper back pain, it can affect your ability to complete even the simplest daily tasks. If upper back pain has disrupted your life, here are some tips for relief:

1. Keep moving

In the past, the recommendation for upper back pain was bed rest. We now know that it will do more harm than good. Spending too much time in bed while you recuperate from a back injury can slow your recovery and cause further complications. If you are suffering from acute back pain, you should be able to resume simple activities such as walking within a few days. You should then gradually increase your level of exercise as time passes. Be sure to avoid, however, any activities that cause your pain to worsen.

2. Find a comfortable resting position

After a back injury, it is wise to revaluate your sleeping positions for when you do rest. Recommended sleeping positions include lying on your side with a pillow between bent knees. Another position that sufferers of back pain find helpful is lying on your back with hips and knees bent. You should experiment with these positions and others to find what works best for you.

3. Use heat or ice packs

The heat will loosen your muscles, and cold will can help lessen your pain. Each hour, you should apply heat or cold for 15 minutes at a time. You may even alternate the hot and cold treatments as many find this works better than using one option alone. When using an ice pack, you should use a towel over the surface of your skin to prevent nerve damage. If you do not have an ice pack available, you may use a frozen bag of peas. As a substitute for a heat pack, you can a hot water bottle or take a warm shower.

4. Try over-the-counter medication

Pain medication will not fix the problem, but it will help with the pain. This should be enough to help you resume activity. Simple over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, is often the most effective when dealing with acute upper back pain. Pain medication will also reduce inflammation.

5. See a chiropractor

If, after a few days, your pain is not lessening or it is getting worse, you should make an appointment to see a chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments will address the cause of your back pain instead of the symptoms and prevent your condition from worsening.

Are you searching for a Burnaby chiropractor?

If you are searching for a Burnaby chiropractor, contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we will not only help you overcome upper back pain, but we will also help to improve your overall health and movement.

So, what are you waiting for? Call us today to schedule an appointment to see one of our Burnaby chiropractors. Let us help you to feel your best.

Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues in the body. Techniques are commonly applied with the hands, fingers elbows, knees, forearms, feet or a device. Massage therapy dates back thousands of years when it was only available to members of high- end country clubs. Today massage therapists can be found in many hospitals, wellness centres, clinics, and rehabilitation centres. There are even practitioners who travel to the homes of their patients. While a massage therapist helps to ease muscle tension and alleviate stress, they can also tell a great deal about your health from just one session.

Here are seven things a massage therapist can tell about you after just 60 minutes:

The type of job you do

Your therapist can tell if you have a sedentary job or a job that requires them to sit long hours in front of a computer by the strength of your lower back and the tightness of your glutes and legs. People who work around a computer for long hours generally have a weak lower back and curved shoulders.

You don’t drink enough water

It may come as a surprise that your massage therapist can tell whether you’re consuming your daily eight glasses of water just from your soft tissues. For clients who do not drink adequate water, the muscle trigger points in the upper back will feel tender during the session.

The position you sleep in at nights

Through the manipulation of soft tissues, your therapist can tell your preferred sleeping position. For example, if you sleep on your stomach, this puts a strain on your neck resulting in tightness in that area. Sleeping on your stomach can also cause stress on your back and spine because of the weight that collapses around the middle of your body. This results in difficulty maintaining a neutral position during sleep.

You spend a great amount of time driving

Spending long hours driving can have a negative effect on your posture. A far-forward posture, as well as shoulders that are hunched, are signs that you spend long hours behind the wheel of your car. Patients who drive for long hours also complain of aches in the neck and back.

You are injured or have been injured in the past

An acute injury, caused by a specific impact in one area of the body, is often manifested through heat and inflammation. A more chronic injury may be revealed in the form of muscles that are dehydrated and tight. Your therapist can also tell whether you have been injured in the past by the way your muscles and joints have healed.

You’re constipated

If your stomach is firm to the touch, your therapist can tell that you’re constipated. Fortunately, massage therapy can to get your digestive system moving again and rid you of constipation.

You’re a chronic texter

Hunching over your smartphone with your head in a downward position causes tension and imbalance in the shoulders. Chronic texters often find it painful when massage therapists rub their shoulders given the tension that has accumulated in the area.

Are you in need of a massage therapist in Burnaby?

If you’re located in Burnaby and in need of a massage therapist, come see us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. Pacific Health and Sports Therapy is Burnaby massage therapy clinic that offers a wide range of services to help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. Our friendly and competent staff members are among the best Burnaby massage therapists you will find. In addition to massage therapy, we offer services such as chiropractic care and custom orthotics as well.

If you’re seeking help in treating specific conditions or you are just in need of relaxation, we’d be happy to help. So, call us today schedule an appointment or book online. Our team of professionals is waiting to take care of your needs.

Fascial Stretch Therapy is an effective technique that uses assisted stretches and tissue work to help improve your flexibility and mobility. Fascial stretch therapy helps to restore and maintain the overall health of the musculoskeletal and neurological systems. While the technique was popularized with athletes, it is equally beneficial for people of all ages and levels of physical activity.

Patients of fascial stretch therapy will benefit from an increased range of motion, pain relief, muscular balance, less risk of injury, improved posture, increased energy, improved circulation and decreased joint impingement.

What to expect during fascial stretch therapy?

If you have never had fascial stretch therapy before, you may be wondering what to expect during your first session. When you meet with your fascial stretch therapist for the first time, they will ask about the complaints you have. They’ll also give you a chance to ask questions about what the therapy entails. Once they’ve had a chance to get a better understanding of the issues that are affecting you, they will go on to perform an assessment.

You’ll be placed on a table with two straps that are meant to hold one of your legs in place while they move the other around. This will ensure that the leg that is being worked on gets a true stretch. If you have a low tolerance for pain, you’ll be happy to know that fascial stretch therapy does not hurt. It is a gentle form of manual therapy that is meant to help you relax and stretch. If at any time during your treatment, you feel pain or pinching, inform your therapist right away.

If you are planning to visit a fascial stretch therapist, it is advised that you wear pants with a lot of stretch or shorts. If you opt for shorts, ensure they are not too short. You should also consider wearing a comfortable tank top or t-shirt.

You will notice improved mobility after your first session and your therapist will recommend exercises you can do on your own. You will need more than one session with a facial stretch therapist for the best results. The number of sessions you will need depends on your complaint and the severity of the issue. Your therapist will also tell you when next to come in for follow-up treatment and how many sessions they recommend to effectively treat the issue.

After about three sessions, you should see a significant decrease in pain and as a bonus, you may also see a decrease in stress levels and improved sleep.

Do you need fascial stretch therapy in Burnaby?

If you are searching for a fascial stretch therapist in Burnaby, contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we know that having to deal with injuries and pain is stressful. That is why we take the time to understand your issues so we can provide the best possible care. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced fascial stretch therapists. Let us show you how we can help improve your overall health and movement.

When you are engaged in sporting activities, your soft tissues develop adhesions over time. Adhesions, in the context of sports medicine, refers to when the soft tissues abnormally stick to surrounding structures. Adhesions can either occur from repetitive movements, injury, from lack of movement following an injury.
Sports massage therapy techniques are designed to breakdown these adhesions and increase blood flow to the affected areas to encourage healing.

Who can benefit from sports massage therapy?

You do not have to be an athlete to try sports massage therapy. Just about anyone can benefit from it. But those who might find the treatment most helpful include those with tension headaches, pain in the neck and shoulder, whiplash, upper and lower back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, tight claves or hamstrings, repetitive strain injuries in the forearms, hands and wrists, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.

Types of sports massages

Sports massages fall into one of four categories: pre-event massage, post-event massage, maintenance massage and injury treatment.

  • Pre-event massage

If you have a big sporting event coming up, you may want to consider a pre-event massage. This message will help to energize and prepare your muscles and joints and can be done either a few days or a few hours before the event.

  • Post-event massage

A great way to ensure you do not have any injuries following a big sporting event is to get a post-event massage. This will help to soothe and ease muscles and treat any minor aches or pain flared up during your activities.

  • Maintenance massage

Maintenance messages are great regardless of your activity level. This type of sports massage targets soft tissues that have become shortened, tight and painful and is helpful for preventing injuries.

  • Injury treatment

As the name suggests, injury treatment is the form of sports massage therapy used for those who have suffered an injury. Injury treatment techniques include trigger point therapy, tissue release and K-taping.

How often should you go for a sports massage?

It is completely safe to get a sports massage every week. It would be a good way to prevent micro injuries from becoming more serious and keep your muscles healthy. However, most people do not have the time or money to visit a sports massage therapist so frequently. In fact, most people do not even think about getting a massage until they have pain or another symptom indicating that something might be wrong.

You should find a happy compromise. Try to see a sports massage therapist at least once a month. Do not wait until an injury starts affecting your ability to perform daily functions for then it will be harder and maybe even more expensive to treat.

Are you searching for a sports massage clinic in Burnaby?

If you are searching for a sports massage clinic in Burnaby, visit us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. Our clinic is located near Coquitlam and New Westminster and we are open 7 days a week for your convenience.

Our experienced sports massage therapists will consider how your entire body moves and functions to provide comprehensive treatments for better outcomes. If you are ready to be free of pain and recover faster from injuries, give us a call today to schedule a consultation with one of our massage therapists.

If you’ve suffered an injury or illness that is causing inflammation, pain and/or limited mobility, kinesiology tape can help. Kinesiology tape can also help improve your sporting performance and prevent further injuries.

Kinesiology tape is a thin strip of elastic cotton with acrylic adhesive. This tape is nearly identical to human skin in its thickness and elasticity which makes it breathable and comfortable to wear. Instead of working against the muscles and joints to restrict movement, kinesiology tape works with them to offer support and repositioning. It provides stability without compromising range of motion or circulation.

Not only does its skin-like feel provide more comfort for the wearer, but it also has neurological benefits. When there is an injury the brain automatically adjusts the body to limit the pain resulting in uncoordinated movement. Kinesiology tape is designed to trick the brain into thinking that the injured body part can function without pain. This causes the muscles surrounding the injured area to relax as no longer must they compensate for the problem.

How to apply kinesiology tape

Before applying kinesiology tape, you should consult a physiotherapist who has been trained in the art of kinesiology taping for them to show you the most effective techniques to use when applying the tape. Your physiotherapist will also advise you of the type of tape that is best suited for your needs.

You will need to cleanse your skin with soap or alcohol to ensure it is free of lotions or liniments. Allow the area to dry and then apply the tape. You should also remove excess hair from the area in which you want to apply the tape.

Although kinesiology tape is made from a breathable and water-resistant material, you should wait for at least an hour after applying it before doing any activities in which you will get sweaty or wet. When you do get your kinesiology tape wet, simply dry it by patting it with a towel.

Do you need kinesiology tape services in Burnaby?

If you want to try kinesiology taping to improve your movement and reduce pain and inflammation, contact us at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we will assess your movement and show you how to use kinesiology tape for optimal results. In addition to kinesiology taping services, we also offer chiropractic care, physiotherapy, sports therapy, massage therapy and other rehabilitative care that will help improve your movement and overall way of life. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to book an assessment. Let us help you on your journey to recovery.

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