Getting Back in Balance after injury

THIS BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON

Brought to you by these community-minded organizations because they recognize that
good business is good for everyone:

Whether you have general aches and pains or a sport-related injury, chiropractic care – with a twist – may be something to add to your healthcare arsenal.

Chiropractic care is hands-on treatment that addresses musculoskeletal complaints. Local chiropractor Dr. Tammy Bowler has taken her services one step further to include complementary treatments like acupuncture and Active Release Therapy, focusing specifically on sports-related or computer-related overuse injuries.

“Chiropractors are known as musculoskeletal specialists,” says Dr. Bowler. “I have always been an active and athletic person and that led me into a special interest in sport- and overuse-related injuries – a lot of shoulder, knee, hip, injuries, but also overuse injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and postural issues in people who sit at a computer all day.”

Rather than just making hands-on adjustments, Dr. Bowler uses a variety of other techniques and also gets involved in her patients’ exercise and rehabilitation efforts.

I spend a lot of time with patients which is a bit different from a physical chiropractor. I spend 20-30 minutes with them and I will do whatever is necessary that day depending on what’s going on with them. The most common response from my patients – and it’s humbling to hear it – is they feel great when they leave and it has a lasting effect. They like that I have so many different ways to help them.
Dr. Tammy Bowler

Contemporary medical acupuncture is one of those additional techniques, which Dr. Bowler studied at McMaster in a program targeted at healthcare professionals. “It’s from more of an anatomical standpoint than a traditional Chinese approach to get things firing and activated again. It can also be used for chronic injuries – our body learns certain pathways and that can lead to chronic injury. Medical acupuncture helps to restart the system to get things firing properly again.”

ART – Active Release Technique – is another tool Dr. Bowler uses to help her clients. “It’s a muscular technique that helps to get rid of scar tissue for things like carpal tunnel or Achilles problems or plantar fasciitis. Some people have been able to avoid surgery as a result.” She also uses shockwave therapy, which also breaks down scar tissue and promotes healing and tissue regeneration. “It has been used for years for things like breaking up kidney stones, and now it’s been brought into the musculoskeletal world. It’s very effective for chronic injury like tendinopathy, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Achilles issues, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff issues.”

Back in Balance recently opened an office in the new Alternis Functional Health Solutions – a collaborative space full of health and wellness practitioners. Dr. Bowler ran a similar clinic in Toronto and is pleased to be part of a network of wellness professionals again. “I look forward to building relationships with other healthcare professionals – physiotherapists, nurse practitioners, medical doctors, personal trainers, naturopaths – so they know they have a reliable resource to send their patients to for musculoskeletal complaints.”

The Alternis group held a well-attended open house at the beginning of November to answer questions and introduce the community to their new space. Learn more about Alternis here.