Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Rehabilitation Information

NEW HAMBURG WELLNESS CENTRE

                                                                                               

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TREATMENT FOR YOUR INJURIES:

·    The New Hamburg Wellness Centre offers emergency access to care for individuals who have sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident (MVA).  You do not have to see a medical doctor to start receiving treatment for a motor vehicle accident injury at our centre. Our centre is capable of immediately initiating your claim and starting rehabilitation and treatment for your injuries.

·     You have the right to choose where you would like to have your treatments done.  You may wish to choose our facility based on familiarity, location, convenience, hours, and the multi-disciplinary services we offer. 

·     The New Hamburg Wellness Centre is a licensed service provider with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and is able to provide treatment and bill your auto insurer directly for your treatments.

·      Our centre has the ability to utilize a combination of the following treatment modalities to help you recover quickly and completely:

 

• Rehabilitative Exercise and
• Physical Therapy
• Registered Massage Therapy
• Laser Therapy
• Medical Acupuncture
• Chiropractic Care
• Active Release Therapy
• Graston Soft Tissue Therapy
• Electrotherapy

·   MVA injuries are not limited to just Whiplash injuries of the neck.  Any body part can be injured.  Our experience, examination protocol and treatment regime is specifically tailored to treating MVA-related injuries, including headaches, neck pain, mid back pain, low back pain, and soft tissue injuries. Our unique, multi-faceted approach has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of individuals who have sustained MVA-related injuries.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MVA CLAIMS:

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding MVA claims:

1.    Q: Do I need a referral from my insurance company or medical doctor to receive treatment for my MVA injuries?

A: No. Our doctors are primary health care providers and are readily accessed.

2.   Q: My insurance company (or medical doctor) has told me I have to go to a specific facility to get treatment for my injuries, but I would prefer to come to this facility (because of familiarity, location, convenience, hours, multi-disciplinary services). Can I choose where I can go to have treatment for my injuries?

A: Yes. You have the right to choose where you would like to have your treatments done. Our centre is capable of immediately initiating your claim and starting rehabilitation and treatment for your injuries. Our experience, examination protocol and treatment regime is specifically tailored to treating MVA-related injuries, including headaches, neck pain, mid back pain, low back pain, and soft tissue injuries. Our unique, multi-faceted approach has successfully rehabilitated hundreds of individuals who have sustained MVA-related injuries.

3.    Q: If I undergo care, will my insurance rates increase?

A: No. Your rates will not increase as a result of an injury claim only.

4.    Q: How much will care cost?

A: Under the present legislation, there is no net out-of-pocket expense for care. This means our centre will look after all billing on approved claims and all treatment services will be covered by the applicable insurance coverage available.

5.  Q: I was involved in an accident, and had little stiffness the next day.  Is it worthwhile to undergo care?

A: Maybe. In a number of instances there is a delayed onset of symptoms that can take weeks to show up after a seemingly innocent fender-bender. A thorough examination will help clarify a need for care or not.

If you have any specific questions that need to be addressed regarding injuries you have sustained in a MVA, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Preventing Cold-Related Injuries During The Winter

By Dr. John A. Papa, DC, FCCPOR(C)

Physical activity during the winter season can place unique demands on the body that can predispose you to injury.  The good news is there are strategies that can be employed to help prevent cold-related injuries.

Below are some of the common injuries that can occur during the winter season:

·  Soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, and contusions. Cold weather decreases the elasticity of soft tissues making them more prone to injury during activity.  Ligaments and muscles in the back, upper and lower extremities are commonly injured.  Falls in slippery conditions can also contribute to injury.

·  Exposure injuries include frostbite and hypothermia and occur when individuals do not wear attire that is appropriate for the weather conditions and physical activity performed.

·    Blisters can form due to the friction of wet gloves and/or wet socks with poorly fitting footwear.

·    Sun-related injuries can also occur in the winter months and cause sunburn and snow blindness.

·   Technical injuries can happen when physical activities are performed with:  inadequate technique/training; unsuitable equipment; and/or poor preparation/planning.

Below are some of the strategies that can be used to prevent cold-related injuries:

·   Warm up and prepare your body for physical activity by stimulating the joints and muscles, and increasing blood circulation.  Also consider exercise training to help prepare you for winter activity.

·     Dress for the elements by wearing insulated lightweight clothing with multiple layers.  This will allow you to add or subtract layers as needed.  Attire that is waterproof can help keep you dry and reduce the risk of heat loss.  Insulated gloves, footwear, and headgear can also help keep you warm.  Shoes and boots with solid treads and soles can help minimize the risk of awkward twisting, slips and falls.

·  Protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen regularly.  Your eyes should also be protected with UV blocking sunglasses.

·  Use safe snow shoveling techniques.  Get professional training and advice while learning the skills of a particular activity such as skiing or snowboarding to help minimize the chance of injury.

·    Equipment considerations may include using an ergonomic snow shovel, having sporting equipment properly fitted for your body type, or wearing a helmet during activities.

·     Preparation is critical.  For example, be aware of changes in weather forecasts that can influence safety.  Intermittent thaws and subsequent freezing can give way to ice build-up under foot increasing the risk of back twisting, slips and falls.  Coarse sand or ice salt can help give your walkways and driveways more traction.  Planning for physical activity is also important.  For instance, adequate nutrition and hydration before, during, and after activity can optimize energy levels and improve overall physical functioning.  This will help reduce fatigue and chance of injury.

Recognizing some of the common injuries that occur during the winter months and knowing which precautions to take can ensure that you enjoy physical activities safely in cold weather.  For additional information on health and wellness, visit www.nhwc.ca.

This article is a basic summary for educational purposes only.  It is not intended, and should not be considered, as a replacement for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a duly licensed health practitioner.

How To Make Exercise A Regular Habit

By Dr. John A. Papa, DC, FCCPOR(C)

Regular exercise has long been identified as an essential element of good health.  Despite this fact, many struggle to make exercise a regular habit.  Below are some helpful tips that can help individuals stick with an exercise program.

Make Exercise Convenient:  Incorporating regular exercise into a busy life necessitates some planning and sacrifice so it becomes a priority.  This may require scheduling exercise into everyday routines and/or making regular exercise as convenient as possible, thereby increasing the likelihood that it remains a priority.  Exercise does not need to be time consuming.  Regular bouts of exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day can have a positive impact on health.

Make Exercise Safe:  An exercise that may be considered safe for one individual may not be safe for another due to age, physical limitations, and other health concerns.  If you are not sure where to start, consult with a knowledgeable health care provider who can assist in choosing activities that are appropriate for you.  If you have been inactive for a period of time, gradually ease into activity and take it slow.

Make Exercise Fun:  Individuals should choose a range of exercise activities that they enjoy.  Performing these activities with a workout buddy, friend, or family member also results in the exercise being more satisfying.  Those individuals who choose fitness and recreational activities they enjoy are more likely to be consistent with those activities.  Having another individual to share this with also increases the likelihood that you will continue with the exercise activity.

Make Exercise Feel Good:  Not only does exercise make you physically stronger; it also has the benefits of releasing excess tension, building self-esteem, and stimulating the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals called endorphins.  Although there may be some initial physical discomfort when beginning a new exercise program, this may be your body’s normal response when starting a new activity and should not last more than one to two weeks.  If discomfort or pain persists beyond this point, seek advice from an experienced individual to make sure the exercise you are performing is appropriate and being done correctly.

Make Exercise Practical:  Individuals beginning an exercise program need to have realistic expectations about the amount of time they can invest, the activities they will enjoy engaging in, and the physical and psychological benefits they expect to experience.

Regular exercise leads to tremendous health benefits that can be initiated by individuals of any age or shape.  For more information on health, wellness, and exercise, visit  www.nhwc.ca.

This article is a basic summary for educational purposes only.  It is not intended, and should not be considered, as a replacement for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a duly licensed health practitioner.

Notice of Upcoming Holiday Hours

Tues Dec 24 - Open until 12 pm

Wed Dec 25 - Closed
Thurs Dec 26 - Closed
Fri Dec 27 - Open
Sat Dec 38 - Open by massage appointment only

Mon Dec 30 - Open
Tues Dec 31 - Open until 12 pm
Wed Jan 1 - Closed

We will be back to regular hours on Thurs Jan 2nd.

Happy holidays from all of us at the New Hamburg Wellness Centre!

Results of the 2019 Record Readers Choice Awards

WE WON!!

We sincerely thank you for your votes and support in the 2019 Record Readers Choice Awards.

New Hamburg Wellness Centre was awarded the following:

• Best Chiropractic Clinic - PLATINUM
• Best Naturopathic Clinic - PLATINUM
• Best Alternative Medicine Clinic - GOLD
• Best Acupuncture - GOLD
• Best Osteopath Clinic - DIAMOND

We are extremely proud and honoured to have received your nominations and votes for the last SIX years in a row!

Come visit us at 417 Waterloo Street, Unit 2 

New Hamburg

New patients are always welcome!

www.nhwc.ca

519-662-4441

Please Vote!

Dear Valued Client,

The New Hamburg Wellness Centre has been nominated as a top 10 finalist in this year's Record Readers' Choice Awards in the following 5 categories:

     1.      Favourite Chiropractic Clinic

     2.      Favourite Massage Therapy Clinic

     3.      Favourite Alternative Medicine Clinic

     4.      Favourite Physiotherapy Clinic

     5.      Favourite Osteopathy Clinic

We are asking for your support to help us get to a winning position.

All you need to do is:

• Visit www.therecord.com/readerschoice/  Select 'Sign in' in top right corner.

1.       SIGN IN with your Torstar account if you have one - enter email and password

OR

2.       CREATE ACCOUNT if you do not have an account

• Enter all the necessary information
• Select 'Create account'
• The screen will say 'Thanks for registering'
• Click on 'Keep reading' at the bottom

• Once you have registered, go to www.therecord.com/readerschoice/ and select
   + Health / Wellness / Fitness / Beauty and select each of the above 5 categories and vote for New Hamburg Wellness Centre.

For those with multiple e-mail addresses, you can register with each address and vote again!

Voting is open from now until Saturday September 28th.

Please share this with your contacts.

We appreciate your support!

Thank-you in advance.

Services Offered

The New Hamburg Wellness Centre is a multidisciplinary clinic offering chiropractic care, registered massage therapy, physiotherapy, medical acupuncture, osteopathy, naturopathic medicine, custom orthotic therapy, nursing foot care, and clinical social work and counselling.

Our focus is to provide exceptional clinical services with consistency and honesty to assist individuals in achieving optimal health and wellness.

SERVICES OFFERED AT NEW HAMBURG WELLNESS CENTRE:

Chiropractic Care

A large majority of patients who seek chiropractic care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system (joints, muscles, tendons, nerves and bones).  Our chiropractors provide diagnosis, treatment and management of these complaints. 

Our New Hamburg Chiropractors utilize an integrated approach to treatment that is tailored to each specific individual. Listed below is a sampling of chiropractic techniques employed in our office.

• Chiropractic Adjustments
• Medical Acupuncture
• Laser Therapy
• Shockwave Therapy
• Electrotherapy
• Rehabilitative Exercise Prescription
• Concussion Management
• Graston Soft Tissue Therapy
• Active Release Therapy (ART)
• Custom Orthotic Therapy

For more information on Chiropractic Care, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/nhwc_chiropractic.html

Registered Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is the hands-on treatment of the soft tissues in the body including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. It is an effective treatment approach that helps alleviate soft tissue discomfort that may arise from injury, muscular and joint overuse, repetitive strain, and chronic pain.

Our New Hamburg Registered Massage Therapists also have training to provide specialized services such as Hot Stone Massage, Pregnancy, Labour, and Infant Massage, Lymph Drainage Techniques, Trigger Point Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release, and Hydrotherapy.  See the practitioner profiles for details.

For more information on Registered Massage Therapy, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_massage.html

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists are skilled in prevention, assessment and management of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems.

Physiotherapy utilizes various treatment techniques including manual therapy and rehabilitative exercise prescription to help you become more functional in your daily activities.

For more information on Physiotherapy, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_physiotherapy.html

Medical Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a 2000-year-old Chinese treatment in which fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists many different conditions that can legitimately be treated by acupuncture. There are many successful applications of acupuncture for acute and chronic muscle and joint pain. 

For more information on Medical Acupuncture, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_acupuncture.html

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a natural and gentle hands-on therapy that treats the individual as an integrated whole. Its aim is to restore balance and function not only to the joints and to the spine, but also to organs and neurological tissues. These hands-on techniques are performed after years of professional training and clinical practice.

Osteopathy treats many types of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, and is also good for general maintenance of the body. Treatment techniques may involve elements of soft tissue work, joint mobilizations, cranial sacral therapy, muscle energy, and fascial release. All techniques are relaxing and not painful, making the treatment experience safe and enjoyable.

For more information on Osteopathy, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_osteopathy.html

Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy involves the application of specific wavelengths of laser light to induce a therapeutic effect within the body. The K-Laser has been shown to decrease pain, reduce swelling/inflammation and enhance tissue repair. It does this by increasing microcirculation, allowing more red blood cells with oxygen to reach injured tissues to help with healing. It will also increase venous and lymphatic drainage from the injured region. At the cellular level, it stimulates enzymes which will improve the rate at which energy is made in the cell. More energy in the cell means a quicker healing process.

For more information on Laser Therapy, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_lasertherapy.html

Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics correct faulty foot mechanics by normalizing motion and offering shock absorption. Orthotics are mechanical aids that fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole - and they have the advantage of having been custom-made from precise imprints of your feet.

The most effective orthotics are custom-designed devices specifically crafted to meet the needs of the particular individual. Mechanical dysfunction in our feet has the ability to put undue stress on other parts of the body, predisposing us to wear and tear and injury. Prevention and correction is key!  Many people have experienced the benefits of custom orthotics. Let us help you to stay active, mobile, and healthy. If you think custom orthotics may be of benefit to you, book your Advanced Computer Gait and Orthotic Analysis today.

For more information on Custom Orthotics, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_orthotic.html

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Doctors assist patients of all ages in disease prevention and improving overall health through stimulating the natural healing power of the body.

Here is  a list of Common Conditions Treated by Naturopathic Doctors:

• Fatigue
• Skin conditions
• Seasonal allergies
• Digestive problems
• Cardiovascular issues
• Respiratory conditions
• Immune system issues
• Detoxification and Weight loss protocols
• Women's, Men's and Children's health issues

For more information on Naturopathic Medicine, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_naturopathic.html

Nursing Foot Care

Foot Care Nurses typically deal with the nails and skin of the foot.  In addition to these basic services, an Advanced Foot Care Nurse (AFCN) is also qualified to perform specialized treatments for high-risk clients including those individuals with arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes.

Nursing Foot Care services may include:

·       Treatment of ingrown toenails

·       Treatment of thick, hard and fungal nails

·   Reduction and/or removal of heavy calluses and painful corns

·   Helpful teaching techniques to promote prevention of specific foot issues

Many foot problems are avoidable with proper preventative care and maintenance. Regular foot care treatments offer the potential for improved mobility, reduced pain, and a higher quality of life. It is most

For more information on Nursing Foot Care, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_footcare.html

Clinical Social Work & Counselling

Our Clinical Social Work and Counselling services provide a variety of areas of expertise to help individuals and families with matters such as child and adult mental health, depression, anxiety, addictions, domestic violence, child abuse, custody and access disputes, Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) rehabilitation and chronic pain just to name a few. Recovery is a subjective experience, and depending on the circumstance, a combination of interventions and modalities that best suit the specific needs of an individual can be used during treatment sessions.

In addition to offering clinical counselling and therapy, this service also provides general social work supports that may include but are not limited to connecting individuals and their families to the most appropriate resources in the community, making referrals for their family members to different/other service providers, as well as general navigation of the social system (for example Ontario Housing, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability, court services just to name a few).

For more information on Clinical Social Work & Counselling, visit: https://www.nhwc.ca/so_counselling.html