“Today is a bad day for backs.”

2 Comments July 19, 2016 drworobec

“Just so you know, today is a bad day for backs.”

That was the text that one of our reception team sent to me last Friday morning. Three new patients had called in that morning, a much higher number than most Fridays through the Summer months, and all three had a primary complaint of back pain.

That part is not atypical; back pain is far and above the most common condition that I treat in my practice, despite us being a full-body, sports-based clinic. The stats don’t lie, and in fact, up to 85% of working people can expect to experience lower back pain in their lifetime. Couple that with the word “spine” in our clinic name, and it makes sense that a lot of low back pain walks into our office.

And guess what? We are really good at treating low back pain. Really good. We can make a big difference in a short period of time, and while I don’t have a randomized controlled trial on my patient’s improvement levels to present to you, I can say that our success rate is very high. We are good at what we do, and a large part of what we do is treat low back pain.

I will go a step further and tell you that what patients do outside of my office (things like following rehabilitation exercises and modifying activities appropriately) are far more important than what they do inside my office, on my treatment table. The hands-on, manual therapy part is a small piece of the puzzle in a lower back complaint. My most effective roles become those of educator (why does my back hurt?), ergonomist (what positions should I modify/avoid?), and personal trainer (what movements should I do to feel better?). My ultimate goal with a lower back pain patient is to avoid a reoccurrent episode down the road; the cycle of lower back pain is all too common. Again, education, ergonomics, and personal training come into play.

The point? Lower back pain is very common, NOT normal, and very treatable.

Happy Tuesday all.

Worobec Beach

Leave a comment April 26, 2016 drworobec

Did you know that it was Burlington Green’s Community Clean Up Green Up Day this past weekend? I’m asking because I was only made aware of this wonderful event a couple of years ago. It’s now an annual tradition for our family, and one that I treasure for so many reasons.

Every year around Earth Day, the valuable Burlington Green committee sets up an online registry whereby residents can choose an area of the city to focus their cleanup efforts, or join a larger group effort, of which many neighbourhoods plan in advance. The City even provides cleanup supplies and disposes of waste items collected. There is a celebratory BBQ afterwards and a compilation of cleanup pictures distributed at a later date.

Last year, we chose to clean up the ravine that was directly behind our house. In a matter of a couple of hours, we had pulled four drum-liner garbage bags of waste from the ravine and its stream. I was amazed at what a clear impact we made in such a short time and impressed with the impression it made on my kids. This year, in a new house and new surroundings, we decided to choose a place near and dear to our hearts; we chose “Worobec beach.” Now, you will not find the name Worobec Beach on any official maps, but we’ve found a small secluded stretch of the Lake Ontario shoreline only a 10-minute bike ride from home, and made it our namesake. It’s our little treasure in the city, our happy place.

We spent about an hour at Worobec Beach, wearing rubber boots and work gloves, combing through things that had washed up onshore and things that had blown in from the park or the road. We picked in between the boulders that lined the shoreline, and the trees that give Worobec Beach its secluded privacy. Although not as garbage-riddled as last year’s ravine cleanup, we did manage to fill one garbage bag right to the brim, mostly with plastic bottle tops, straws, and empty beer bottles.

We made a difference. My kids saw the obvious implications of their hard work. They learned about their environment, contributing to their community, and the value of working together. All while basking in the sunshine and their parent’s pride.

I encourage you to sign yourself up for Burlington Green’s Eco-News so that you don’t miss this valuable event next year.

Burlington’s Best:

Leave a comment February 2, 2016 drworobec

I’m in the midst of reading Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” She’s the COO of Facebook, and a fantastic writer. I’ve been reading late many nights this past week, soaking in her wisdom and nodding my head in agreement with ideas that I didn’t even know I had.

She talks a lot about women being afraid of their accomplishments and wary of their power, of “Imposter Syndrome” and self-doubt. She talks about women and men being treated differently in their work, praised differently, promoted differently, viewed differently.

There are many of you out there who read my words, week in and week out. I am so thankful for you, as it gives a voice to my writing, and lets me express opinions and ideas that I believe so strongly in.

In light of, and because of all that, I’m asking you to vote for me. Vote for us.

At Burlington Sports & Spine Clinic, we’ve been nominated as: