It was a good weekend.

Leave a comment November 24, 2015 drworobec

I love school. I love sharp pencils and blank notebooks just waiting to be written on. I used to love the promise of September, of a new school year with new projects and new challenges. I have eight years of post-secondary education under my belt, and I would happily go back for more if I thought my busy life could juggle it. But that’s not in the cards for me in the foreseeable future, so for now, continuing education seminars are the “school” that meets that need.

I attended one such seminar this past weekend. It was the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences annual conference. Quite the title, no? I’ve been to this conference before, and I love it every year. This year’s theme was “Train Smarter,” and we listened to wonderful presenters like Mark Rippetoe, Christian Thibaudeau, and Dr. Andreo Spina talk about training, performance, and movement. Two days of bliss, where I could sit with my sharpened pencil and my new notebook and soak up new ways of thinking and new forms of inspiration

But you know what was the best part? You guessed it, it was the people. It was being called “Ash” and saying “remember when?”, seeing classmates I haven’t seen in years and spending time with like-minded colleagues. It was a sense of belonging in a very male-dominated field and a shared interest in all things sport and athlete and treatment and research. I love my job and my patients and my hands-on practice, and it is events like these that keep me motivated to continually improve, to learn more, to question more, to master more, to progress more.

It was a good weekend.

A Moving Story about Moving Bowels

Leave a comment December 23, 2014 drworobec

December 23rd.

You might be thinking that I’m going to post a blog about Christmas. And in years past, you’d be right (‘Merry Christmas‘, ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas‘). But I received some great news yesterday and I’m going to write about that. I’ll even call it a Christmas miracle, in keeping with the festive spirit.

constipation

This is a story about my newest 3-year-old patient, let’s call him M. M is a happy, feisty, curious little boy who brings a storm of energy with him wherever he goes. On his first visit, M’s mom explained to me that he had an anal fissure at 18 months of age, making subsequent bowel movements very painful. As is often the case with young children, M then became scared to move his bowels, and has suffered with extreme constipation ever since. M’s mother has tried everything; from medication to diet changes to supplements and more, with no success. Little M has been battling severe constipation, impacted stool, and obvious discomfort for nearly two years. She brought M to see me as a last resort.

A wonderful whirlwind of movement and inquisition, M built towers, rode on the hydraulic table, and played with the desk bell and the hand weights, all while being assessed and treated. Interesting, fun, and quick- that’s my m.o. when I work with children.

I saw M again yesterday, two visits later. Guess what? He had three large bowel movements over the weekend. Three! None in the more than 18 months prior, and he had three this weekend.

Now, if you’re a parent reading this, you will understand that talking about bowel movements is perfectly normal conversation. In fact, if you’re a parent of young children, I challenge you to not talk about bowel movements for the next 24 hours. Seemingly impossible. And for me, as a mother, a blogger, and a chiropractor who works with children, not talking about M’s bowel movements is most definitely impossible.

I’m an evidence-based practitioner. I love research, I love science, I love proof. But I love powerful outcomes like this the most.

PS- M’s mom admitted to me that her husband didn’t initially believe in taking M to a chiropractor. I’m so glad she convinced him.

One Year Later

2 Comments April 29, 2014 drworobec

I was struggling for a blog topic this week. Call it writer’s block, call it a busy weekend, call it lack of creativity…… but I was stumped. In an effort to find some inspiration, I started to look back at what I was writing about last Spring and I came across ‘Challenge and Change‘. One year ago, I was preparing to move my primary practice to Burlington Sports & Spine, leaving the five years of safety and comfort of my previous clinic. Now, one year later, I look back on this decision as a pivotal point in my career- one that has brought me new friendships, professional growth, and a whole lotta happiness. THANK YOU, my patients and my friends, for believing in me and in what I do, and for following me to a new adventure.

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*** April 2013 ***

It’s time for me to spread my wings, embrace change, and leap into a brand new chapter in my professional life. As of Monday, May 13th, I will be relocating my practice just two blocks away, to the Burlington Sports & Spine Clinic (BSSC)!

On February 4th, 2008, I opened the doors of my current practice,
Active Sport & Health Centre, with this in mind:

Less than a year later my son was born, and this happened…

On September 15th, 2010, l sold ownership of the clinic but remained working there part-time as an Independent Contractor. And now, after five and a half years at Active, another baby, and many happy memories later, it is time for me to move on.

I want to thank you for your support, and I invite you to come with me on this journey.

Here are the details:

BSSC is in the Cora’s plaza on Fairview Street, right beside the Service Ontario office, at 3455 Fairview St. For the next 10 days, however, you can still find me practicing at Active.
BSSC offers state-of-the-art treatment and rehab equipment, along with a great support crew, including Registered Massage Therapy, physiotherapy, and a full reception team.
I have also expanded my hours:
- MONDAY 3:30-8:00pm
- WEDNESDAY 3:30-8:00pm
- FRIDAY 3:30-7:00pm
- SATURDAY 10:30am-1:30pm
  - Tuesdays 4:00-7:00pm at The Athlete’s Choice inside Crossfit Altitude.
- Call 289-351-0301 to book your appointment, or visit us online at www.burlingtonsportsandspine.com.