Tag Archives: a sports therapy clinic
Calling all golfers! This August, The Toronto General and Western Foundation and the Lew Dunn Foundation will be bringing you the 13th annual Lew Dunn Memorial Golf Classic!
In 13 years this charity has raised millions of dollars, enabling The University Health Network and the University of Toronto to provide student scholarships for those studying to become Colorectal and Oncologic surgeons. The Lew Dunn Scholarship promotes education and research that enhances care for patients with colon cancer, raises awareness of the disease, and develops better treatments. This charity isn’t just making a difference to Canada but also worldwide.
This year, the Lew Dunn Memorial Golf Classic will be held on August 20th, and the Toronto General and Western Foundation website has all the essential information you need.
When participating in a golf tournament, well made and great fitting golf shoes are paramount. When you consider that the average golfer walks about 4-5 miles during a round, spending several hours on his or her feet, it’s little wonder that golf shoes not only contribute to the success of your game but the comfort (and survival) of it as well! An ill-fitting pair of golf shoes can affect your swing and stability, not to mention that many golf courses make proper golf shoes mandatory. The wrong shoes can set you back in a number of ways. The best golf shoes are those you don’t even think about while wearing. They also help your swing by keeping you well-grounded with a solid grip on the tees, fairways and greens. Here are our top 3 tips when it comes to choosing the best golf shoes for your feet.
How to Choose the Best Golf Shoes – Tip 1: Sizing: The fit of the golf shoe is obviously important. Before choosing the size of shoe, measure both your feet. If one foot is larger than the other, choose your size based on the larger foot. Make sure you try on new shoes wearing socks you’ll be golfing in, and leave a half an inch of space between the end of the shoe and your big toe. Golf shoes should fit tighter in the middle of the foot than regular shoes, since it’s the middle of the foot providing the most support during your golf swing.
How to Choose the Best Golf Shoes – Tip 2: Weather-wise: Weather is an important factor. Invest in golf shoes that are waterproof and offer your feet good ventilation.
How to Choose the Best Golf Shoes – Tip 3: Lighten-the-load: The weight of your golf shoes will make a huge difference. A lighter golf shoe with softer spikes will reduce stress on your legs and feet when you walk and swing, making for a better overall golf experience.
Choosing the best golf shoes for your feet will help to reduce injuries, but not necessarily prevent them. It is important to remember that there are other golf injuries that are common to golfers. These include too much strain on the back which can lead to lower back pain, herniated disks and muscle spasms. If you have pain in your body that you think is the result of a golf injury, consider consulting a sports therapy clinic for treatment options. Assistance for a golf injury soon after it emerges is your best shot at returning to normal and continuing to play the game you love.
If you have an injury or condition that is affecting your ability to golf, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine or visit www.aesm.ca
Runners start your engines: The Annual Beaches Tune Up Jazz Run offers something for everyone and it’s just around the corner!
The mandate of The Canadian Running Series Foundation is to promote healthy lifestyles through running, especially for youth. The Canadian Running Series Foundation does its good work through athletic events like The Beaches Tune Up Jazz Run as well as other smaller charities promoting excellence for Canadian Runners.
This year The Canadian Running Series presents The Beaches Tune Up Jazz Run which includes a 5km walk or run; a 10 km run and a staggering 20km run. Starting at The Beaches Kew Gardens, The Sunday July 29th 2012 Beaches Tune Up Jazz Run is a pleasure for all participants, from casual walker to hard-core runner.
After a long winter of hitting the treadmill instead of focusing on marathon mileage, here are some tips that will help you make the most of your day at The Beaches Tune Up Jazz Run:
• Tips for running a marathon – 1: Dress for the weather. Check the forecast the morning of your event and dress appropriately. High or low temperatures, excessive humidity, and wind can all take a toll on your body. Also, make sure you test-drive the sneakers, socks, and clothes you plan on racing in before the race itself. If they bother you in any way, dump them and opt for others. Small problems identified in a test run will only be intensified problems during the race. It’s important to take steps to alleviate all discomfort before your big day.
• Tips for running a marathon – 2: Drink lots of water – well in advance. Leaving hydration until the morning-of is leaving it too late. You should make a conscious effort to drink lots of water at least 48 hours before the start of your marathon, and drink it before you get thirsty. By the time you start feeling thirsty, your body may already be experiencing stress.
• Tips for running a marathon – 3: Don’t get ahead of yourself. During the first mile of the race, don’t waste a lot of energy darting and weaving through the masses if you’ve been placed with people who are running slower than you. It is important to gradually build your momentum. Remember: if you are embarking on a 10 or 20 km run, you have a long way to go. Burning out early will leave you in weak shape for the last half of your journey, and you’ll want to finish strong.
• Tips for running a marathon – 4: Be prepared. Prior to the race, drive or bike along the course so that you can get a sense of the landscape, the large hills, the declines, the wide areas where breakaways will be easiest – all of these require different kinds of discipline and strategy. Having it all mapped out in your mind will do wonders for your pacing and mental preparedness.
• Tips for running a marathon – 5: Conditioning is key! In the weeks leading up to the race, walk or run regularly. If you’re training for a long distance run, plan for some practice runs before the event, trying to incorporate hills, declines and the types of diversity your marathon route will present. An ideal cross training schedule will also mix some cycling with core workouts and weights.
• Tips for running a marathon – 6: On race-day, wake up well before your start time so you can power back a big breakfast. With ample time to digest, your reserves will be stocked with energy well before the starting gun goes off.
After running your marathon, pay attention to aches or pains that last more than a day or two. Also note any concentrated pain in a particular area, as this could be a sign that you have a sports injury. Whether you are injured or not, if you are serious about running, engage in a relationship with a sports therapy clinic that can help you achieve two things: ensure prime physical condition for your casual running and races as well as supporting you through a sports injury so you don’t develop something chronic that prevents you from running entirely.
For more tips on running a marathon, or if you have suffered a sports injury, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
Fore! Golf season is in full swing! Torontonian’s are always keen to find the time to sneak a round in, even if it means vanishing from work on a beautiful day. This summer, events throughout the city appeal to golf lovers who also enjoy helping the community at the same time.
The Diabetes Hope Foundation is making a major difference for children in Ontario who suffer with diabetes. The Diabetes Hope Foundation raises much needed support for youth and their families coping with the financial and emotional burden of living with diabetes.
The Swing of Hope is an annual event in Toronto hosted by The Diabetes Hope Foundation. This year will mark the 16th Swing of Hope Charity Golf Tournament, taking place on June 18th, 2012 at the Bayview Golf and Country Club in Thornhill. The Swing for Hope Charity Golf Tournament offers a full 18-hole round, complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner, a gift bag and eligibility to win great prizes while raising money and awareness. Pre-registration for the Swing of Hope Charity Golf Tournament is a must and is easily done on The Diabetes Hope Foundation website.
Though players often have a knack for making golf look effortless, it’s actually quite a physical sport. The following golf tips will help better prepare you for your regular game or even The Swing of Hope Charity Golf Tournament.
Golf Tips for Golfers:
• Golf Tip#1 – Walking is an excellent form of cardio that can be achieved simply by taking a long walk around the neighborhood after work or on the weekends. This can be done socially as well and allow you to catch up with family members or friends while you both enjoy the outdoors. Incorporating regular walks into your daily routine will increase your golf-course stamina.
• Golf Tip#2 – Prior to the game perform some dynamic stretches that work your gluts, hip flexors and lower back. These will loosen your muscles, make you more nimble on the course, and decrease post-game soreness and stiffness.
• Golf Tip#3 – Pay attention to your footwear. Proper is always superior to aesthetic. Luckily, these days, many golf shoes combine both. Investing in and wearing golf shoes on the course is highly recommended as they tend to increase your comfort and help your game. Some courses have a policy that golf shoes are mandatory. Do be sure to wear a pair that is broken in on event day to ensure greater comfort.
• Golf Tip#4 – Proper hydration and nutrition are also very important. Make sure that you bring lots of water with you out on the course, and be mindful of the dehydrating effects of the alcoholic beverages purchased from mobile drink carts many courses send out to greet players mid-round.
• Golf Tip#5 – Stretching after the game is as important as stretching before the game. Make sure to take a moment and stretch after you are finished playing.
These golf tips for golfers serious about reducing the risk of injury will enhance the golf experience.
Like any sport, golfers are athletes who can experience injury, sometimes experiencing symptoms in the moment or other times not for a few days afterwards. If you feel you may have injured yourself while golfing, consult a sports therapy clinic in the interest of seeking your fastest way back to recovery. For more information about how you can overcome a sports injury that resulted from golfing please call Athletic Edge Sports Medicine at 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
Osteoarthritis is a plague to athletes. Wear and tear on joints over time, and the resulting breakdown of joint cartilage means many athletes are prone to it. Sports that are relentlessly demanding on the bodies of athletes, placing enormous stress on their joints, lead to osteoarthritis later in life unless athletes are vigilant about prevention.
That said, osteoarthritis doesn’t only impact athletes. The Arthritis Society of Canada has recently cited osteoarthritis as the most common form of arthritis, affecting 1 in 10 Canadian adults. While osteoarthritis affects people of all ages, it is most common in adults over the age of 60.
What causes this disease?
Aside from wear and tear and overuse, most commonly associated with athletes, joint injury may also occur in motor vehicle accidents or accidents at work or home. Athletes with a history of repeated injuries are also the most likely to develop osteoarthritis as they age. Fractures and infections arising from accidents can harm the internal tissues of a joint. Working with a sports therapy clinic can mitigate risk to athletes through preventative education and programs.
Joint wear and tear that simply occurs over time, which is often evident in the elderly, is also a cause of osteoarthritis. Not all elderly people develop osteoarthritis but many do since prolonged wear and tear isn’t always sports related but involves jobs that involve heavy labour and lifting.
The interesting paradox to osteoarthritis though is that inactivity can be just as harmful to the joints as is overuse and joint wear. This is one of the reasons why osteoarthritis doesn’t only impact athletes. A lack of exercise and inactivity can weaken the muscles that support joints. Over time, a joint that is underused may also become prone to injury, in addition to being sore and dysfunctional.
Furthermore, joints are only nourished when doing activity. The motion of the joint moves joint fluid into and out of the cartilage, keeping it healthy. That’s why activity is so important for joint health and preventing osteoarthritis.
Those carrying excessive body weight are at an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. When excessive body weight bears down directly on the knees and hips, it causes the kind of joint stress that can lead to osteoarthritis. Diet and nutritional education offered by physiotherapy clinics experienced in treating osteoarthritis can be vital to losing weight and significantly reducing the chances of developing osteoarthritis.
There are people who are aware of, but ignore, the habits and lifestyles that can lead to osteoarthritis. Others will develop it having done absolutely nothing to cause it. Some research suggests that genetic predisposition also plays a significant part in osteoarthritis that is, if your parents had osteoarthritis you may be more likely to develop it than one whose parents didn’t pass down the genes for arthritis.
The only way to prevent osteoarthritis is to heed common causes and preventative measures. These include: exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, varying your exercise routines, being mindful of any joint pain and exercising vigilance to avoid injuries to your joints. If your job is physically demanding or you’re heavily into sports, invest in your health by working with a sports therapy clinic that can help you to come up with a program to reduce your chances of developing osteoarthritis.
For more information about the causes, prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca
