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Dr. Shawn Thistle
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Well Now - Integrated Therapy & Training
A New Approach to Health and Fitness
By Dr. Shawn Thistle
Chiropractic For Life; Well Now Inc.
July 2005
We live in a sedentary society, where most people are forced to remain in static positions at work for hours each day. Furthermore, as life becomes more hectic, stress can compound this lifestyle and cause many to forget to take care of their two most important assets – their body and mind.
Musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction can arise from a number of sources, resulting in pain, stiffness, stress, headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, appetite disruption – the list is endless. So too is the list of available treatment options for these symptoms – from supplements and prescription drugs, manual medicine, physical therapy, and massage, to a seemingly endless list of exercise gadgets or “quick fix” schemes. How can the average person decipher this information to decide what is best for them? What is the most effective approach to treating pain and dysfunction?
There are many treatment modalities that have demonstrated benefit in treating pain in general, and in specific body locations, such as the low back. The problem with most research is that they study only one treatment modality at a time as it is easier to determine its effectiveness. Clinical practice and current literature are now leaning toward a combination of these modalities to achieve optimal results.
It has been firmly established in the scientific literature that exercise provides a myriad of health benefits. These include disease prevention and management, stress reduction, and improved physical capability to name a few. Unfortunately, the symptoms of inactivity are the very symptoms that prevent people from becoming active – a vicious cycle ensues resulting in chronic disease, obesity, and in many cases, pain.
What if there was a treatment approach that incorporated the best scientific and clinical evidence for the treatment of pain and dysfunction with advanced and scientific exercise techniques? This would provide all of the tools necessary to relieve pain and dysfunction, and strengthen the body to prevent future problems. This is exactly the purpose of a revolutionary approach to healthcare and fitness called Integrated Therapy and Training (ITT), developed at SHAPE Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto.
ITT combines the most effective, evidence-based treatment modalities and exercise techniques to create a personalized treatment plan just for you. This unique, individualized approach is on the cutting edge of physical medicine and personal fitness. Utilizing a comprehensive, total body approach, the objective of the initial assessment under the ITT system is to determine the exact pattern of structural and functional problems that are responsible for causing pain, or limiting physical performance. Next, a specific combination of manual therapy, soft tissue therapy, medical acupuncture, massage techniques, home stretches and exercises are prescribed to reduce pain and dysfunction thus preparing the body for more advanced conditioning.
The second and most important phase of this approach is the seamless transition from therapy to training. This is usually accomplished via one-on-one sessions with a conditioning specialist directly and actively overseen by a regulated healthcare professional in order to assure proper technique and progression. The primary goals of this stage are to activate, stabilize and strengthen the entire body to prevent recurrence. The integration of such complex treatment modalities with exercise is best done by a team of health professionals specifically trained for this purpose, particularly one with a solid foundation in human mechanics and exercise sciences.
For those who are frustrated with pain and are looking to become more active, a combination of evidence-based treatment and supervised exercise may be the key to optimizing your health and wellbeing.
Copyright Well Now Inc.
By Dr. Shawn Thistle
Chiropractic For Life; Well Now Inc.
July 2005
We live in a sedentary society, where most people are forced to remain in static positions at work for hours each day. Furthermore, as life becomes more hectic, stress can compound this lifestyle and cause many to forget to take care of their two most important assets – their body and mind.
Musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction can arise from a number of sources, resulting in pain, stiffness, stress, headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, appetite disruption – the list is endless. So too is the list of available treatment options for these symptoms – from supplements and prescription drugs, manual medicine, physical therapy, and massage, to a seemingly endless list of exercise gadgets or “quick fix” schemes. How can the average person decipher this information to decide what is best for them? What is the most effective approach to treating pain and dysfunction?
There are many treatment modalities that have demonstrated benefit in treating pain in general, and in specific body locations, such as the low back. The problem with most research is that they study only one treatment modality at a time as it is easier to determine its effectiveness. Clinical practice and current literature are now leaning toward a combination of these modalities to achieve optimal results.
It has been firmly established in the scientific literature that exercise provides a myriad of health benefits. These include disease prevention and management, stress reduction, and improved physical capability to name a few. Unfortunately, the symptoms of inactivity are the very symptoms that prevent people from becoming active – a vicious cycle ensues resulting in chronic disease, obesity, and in many cases, pain.
What if there was a treatment approach that incorporated the best scientific and clinical evidence for the treatment of pain and dysfunction with advanced and scientific exercise techniques? This would provide all of the tools necessary to relieve pain and dysfunction, and strengthen the body to prevent future problems. This is exactly the purpose of a revolutionary approach to healthcare and fitness called Integrated Therapy and Training (ITT), developed at SHAPE Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto.
ITT combines the most effective, evidence-based treatment modalities and exercise techniques to create a personalized treatment plan just for you. This unique, individualized approach is on the cutting edge of physical medicine and personal fitness. Utilizing a comprehensive, total body approach, the objective of the initial assessment under the ITT system is to determine the exact pattern of structural and functional problems that are responsible for causing pain, or limiting physical performance. Next, a specific combination of manual therapy, soft tissue therapy, medical acupuncture, massage techniques, home stretches and exercises are prescribed to reduce pain and dysfunction thus preparing the body for more advanced conditioning.
The second and most important phase of this approach is the seamless transition from therapy to training. This is usually accomplished via one-on-one sessions with a conditioning specialist directly and actively overseen by a regulated healthcare professional in order to assure proper technique and progression. The primary goals of this stage are to activate, stabilize and strengthen the entire body to prevent recurrence. The integration of such complex treatment modalities with exercise is best done by a team of health professionals specifically trained for this purpose, particularly one with a solid foundation in human mechanics and exercise sciences.
For those who are frustrated with pain and are looking to become more active, a combination of evidence-based treatment and supervised exercise may be the key to optimizing your health and wellbeing.
Copyright Well Now Inc.
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Testimonials
"It was by chance I met with Dr. Thistle. I reside in Los Angeles, CA and while visiting family in Toronto, I complained of upper-back and shoulder pain which had been ongoing for three months. My father suggested I go to a chiropractor. I was not enthusiastic. Subsequently, my father took it upon himself to find a chiropractor. Luckily, his online search led to Dr. Thistle, whom I met 24 hours later. He provided immediate relief. Although you can't undo months, weeks or years of issues with one visit and a few adjustments, it is clear to me that my visit with Dr. Thistle was the springboard I needed to get on the right track. Further, I have been pain free since. Dr. Thistle also went out of his way to help find a doctor in Los Angeles. I highly recommend Dr. Thistle to anyone in need of chiropractic care.
Erik B. - Los Angeles"
Erik B. - Los Angeles"
"Through many years of sports and competitive dance, I've had numerous injuries which became chronic. For years I visited many physiotherapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists, but it wasn’t until I was treated at SHAPE that I recognized the remarkable difference. In fact, its almost unbelievable how accurately they can make a diagnosis, and then perform the right treatment for the right injury. Bottom line is they provide results quickly. I can’t tell you how thankful I am to be out of some of the pain I was experiencing for years. If there’s such a thing as a miracle worker – these guys (Shawn and Sender) are it!. The fact that they follow up the next day with a phone call or an email asking how I am doing, speaks volumes for the service!
Heather F."
Heather F."
"I felt I had conquered the world! I placed 17th in my age group out of 90 competitors at the Sarasota International Marathon 2008. A week before, I had to halt my training and was terrified I would not be able to compete. I could barely manage to walk, let alone make it through training runs because my knee pain was so excruciating! I contacted SHAPE, and Shawn came to my rescue! He was able to quickly discover the area bothering me, explain why I was feeling the pain and how to avoid it in future. Without Shawn and his outstanding ability to alleviate pain through ART®, I may not have made it through my warm up on race day! He was genuinely concerned and determined to do whatever possible to make sure I could compete. He is my new HERO!
Jess H."
Jess H."
"I have been very impressed with all of the services I have utilized at SHAPE. The focus on client experience is clearly evident and I am happy to say that I am in much better physical condition overall since starting at SHAPE – greatly reduced back and neck pain since working with Shawn and definitely increased strength and cardio fitness from working with Tuan and Eric as well!"
Matthew M.
Matthew M.
"We are tournament champs! We were ranked #1 out of 40 teams and held our ground - undefeated 7:0. Despite the rain, it was awesome. I played a fair amount of points and felt 100%! Jumping, cutting, diving, and bending low were a breeze - nothing compared to Eric and Gregg's workouts! Tonight I have a game and the legs are feeling excellent. Good job Dr. Thistle - I think I was fixed after the first week! Thanks for making me bionic again!
Mica W."
Mica W."
"I just want to thank you for the treatments I have been getting from you.. The last one has changed my life. Sounds dramatic, I know, but I have finally been able to experience pain-free living for the first time in a long time, so thank you, thank you, thank you."
Phil M.
Phil M.
"I went airborne down a flight of stairs, badly bruising my left thigh and tailbone! It was quite sore and very uncomfortable. Dr. Thistle listened attentively, assessed my injuries and helped loosen and relax my tense glute and lower back muscles. I went in feeling as though I'd been hit by an SUV and walked out feeling limber and hopeful. I seldom entrust my body to chiropractors as I'm usually cautious of having more damage done to me. This is certainly not the case with Dr. Thistle. To ensure I was feeling better after my first treatment, he sent a quick note to check up on me. Hats off to the Dr. Thistles of the world, who put their heart into their work.
Rosa L."
Rosa L."