Help is close to home on the road to recoverySpecial FeatureHeath and WellnessBy Chris OcchiuzziFinding products or services to aid in rehabilitationand recovery from surgery or injury is easier than ever inMuskoka. From outfitting one’s home with necessaryequipment to laser therapy and everything in between,Muskoka has it all.ProActive Rehab & Sport Injury Centre in Huntsvilleoffers a wide range of services to get people back on trackwith their health. A thorough assessment is conductedwith any new patient to find out what type of treatmentis required, according to Leslie Tempest, owner/operatorof ProActive Rehab. From there she will re<strong>com</strong>mend thebest course of treatment, which could include acupuncture,laser treatments, ultrasound or aquatherapy.“We can do massage therapy, which would providehands-on soft tissue release and stretch as well as circulatorystimulation and stress reduction,” says Tempest. “Aswell as cranial-sacral therapy, which is a hands-on interventionaimed at normalizing energy flow within thebody to facilitate normal and effective healing.”In <strong>Bracebridge</strong>, Somaura Health and Wellness is tryingsomething a little different, according to AmyOpavsky, co-owner and registered massage and lasertherapist.“We opened about a year and a half ago and it wasmainly to expand my business as a massage therapist toinclude laser therapy as well,” says Opavsky, who says thelaser and massage <strong>com</strong>bined therapy has proven to be asuccess.“We were one of the first to bring rehabilitation laserAmy Opavsky, co-owner of Somaura Health and Wellness, gives a patient a massage treatment.therapy together with massage therapy in the Muskokaarea. And from there we grew. Now, we even have aholistic nutritionist on staff.”The laser used in therapy is low intensity, safe and doesnot damage the tissue. It is designed to regenerate newhealthy tissue at a cellular level.“It works great on tendinitis and repetitive straininjuries,” says Opavsky. “And chronic pain, low backPhotograph: Sandy LockhartWellpath Clinic is a family wellness center that is dedicated to helping youimprove and maintain the quality of your health. Our Doctors use a naturalapproach to wellness that is safe and effective in treating the root cause of illness.Dr. Kathryn Nobrega-Porter specializes in prevention and providing the knowledgeto help you and your family to live an optimally healthy life.We feature a variety of weekly healthy living seminars, yoga classes,as well as healthy lifestyle products. Local and seasonal clients are wel<strong>com</strong>e.Muskoka - 705.765.6060105 Maple StreetPort Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0Toronto - 416.972.0770170 Bloor Street West Suite 1106Toronto, Ontario M5S 1T9www.wellpathclinic.<strong>com</strong>6 July 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.<strong>com</strong>
pain – pretty much everything.”Muskoka’s various health and wellness services don’tjust address rehabilitation and recovery from injuriesand illness, but also prevention. A little prevention goesa long way to preventing future trips to rehabilitationcentres or even hospitals.“Generally people arrive to us with an existing injuryor limiting physical issue,” says Tempest. “The initialgoals usually include improving or resolving this. However,as physiotherapists it is also our mandate to educatepeople on injury and how they can prevent it. So as partof an active treatment program we will spend timeteaching clients what to do to help decrease the chanceof further or re-injury. This gives them more controlover themselves and any pain they may have. We alsolike to try to get the opportunity to educate people oninjury prevention before an injury even happens. It isgenerally easier and more successful to prevent beforethan to fix after so let’s do that if we can.”Richard Porter, founder and general manager of theWellpath Clinic in Port Carling, has made healthy livingthe primary focus of his business. It strives to provide<strong>com</strong>prehensive health and wellness solutions with afocus on prevention of injury and disease, and quality oflife for each person.When injuries do require rehabilitating and healing,Porter says there are a number of treatments to ensureproper recovery.“Injury is a physical trauma that directly impacts thestructure and releases chemicals in the body,” says Porter.“We support each phase of the healing process (acute,sub-acute and chronic) through targeted therapeuticstrategies. A <strong>com</strong>bination of topical applications, nutritionand supplementation support and physical treatments,such as acupuncture and mobilization, are usedto assist the healing mechanisms and provide effectivesolutions for each phase of the rehab process.“When the time is appropriate, movement classes,such as NIA – non-impact aerobics – yoga, stretchingand strength training classes, are provided through WellpathClinic that can help individuals stay active andmoving without a high risk of injury. Together, ourapproach at Wellpath Clinic provides a safe and effectiveapproach to injury recovery, prevention and long-termwellness care.”Sometimes people recovering from injury or surgerymay require equipment such as wheelchairs or exerciseballs to facilitate the healing process. Stores such asHeather’s Home Healthcare in <strong>Bracebridge</strong> can providealmost any product needed for the purpose of gettingbetter or even living with an injury or disability.“We have tubing and exercise fans; foam rollers fordoing exercises; hand exercisers,” says Heather Mahon,owner/operator of Heather’s Home Healthcare. “Wehave peddle exercisers, which are just the peddles of abike which you can sit on a chair and do it or you canput it on a table to exercise your shoulders. We even havegrab bars for hopping in and out of tubs or off toilets.There’s an active ankle brace, which gives mobility ifsomeone has torn ligaments. Abdominal binders for hernias,hernia belts for males with lower hernias.”For those needing extra care, a full-service home maybe the option. Located in <strong>Bracebridge</strong>, Carolyn’s ComfortHomes Inc. offer custom homes for 24-hour convalescentand palliative care.“Throughout the stages of my life I have always beeninvolved with helping seniors in one capacity or another,”says Carole Fallon, owner/operator of Carolyn’sComfort Homes Inc. “I fondly remember helping oneparticular senior in the last stages of his life. In the endhe died in his own home with no one around him. It wasquite sad. At the present time I am helping another seniormaintain stability in a long-term care facility. I hadan extra house, which I thought would suit the needs forour seniors and convalescent, palliative care people intheir time of need. It was my relationship with my seniorfriends that gave me this idea.”Included in these units are a home care bed with a sixfunctionelectric hand control, wheelchair accessibleslide-in bathtub with heat and jet massage, leather liftchair with heat and massage, an on-site nurse’s quarters,on-site laundry facilities, and a heat recovery ventilationsystem, which provides fresh air throughout the home.“Carolyn’s Comfort Homes is still in its infancy. As itgrows and matures, so too will the service to <strong>Bracebridge</strong>and Muskoka,” says Fallon. “As you know, with hospitalcutbacks and closures, the need for convalescing and palliativecare grows. Cutbacks and closures create an economicloss to <strong>Bracebridge</strong> and Muskoka. Carolyn’sComfort Homes will offer doctors, nurses, personal supportworkers the opportunity to utilize their skills in amuch needed way.”Should you require services or products for rehabilitationor recovery, the options in Muskoka are plentiful,meaning one less thing to worry about on the road torecovery.andMedical SupplyMuskoka Mobility2 BRIGHT NEW SHOWROOMSFOR YOUR SHOPPING PLEASURE• Sales • Service• Rentals • New & Used950 Muskoka Rd. S., 687-4796GRAVENHURST230 Manitoba St., 645-2177BRACEBRIDGE (Beside Walk-In Clinic)www.muskokamobility.<strong>com</strong>Low Intensity Laser TherapyRegistered Massage TherapyRegistered Holistic NutritionDetoxification TherapiesLooking beyondHealth CareInstitutionsOur <strong>com</strong>passion and dedication toserve the spirit, mind and body ofthose suffering from an illness ordisability, surrounds every detail ofour home. We are <strong>com</strong>mitted topreserving the dignity and qualityof life of our guests.1-705-706-HOME (4663)For More Info Visit Our Websitewww.carolyns<strong>com</strong>forthomes.cacarole@carolyns<strong>com</strong>forthomes.caChronic Pain & Acute Injury TherapyNutrition to Improve Healing and RecoveryPost Surgical TherapyCervical & Lumbar Pillows that workStop Smoking and Weight Management645-60039 Ann Street, Ste. B, <strong>Bracebridge</strong> Professional Hands you canCarolyn’s Comfort Homes Inc.www.whatsupmuskoka.<strong>com</strong> July 2010 7
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