A Final End-of-year Note

What's New @ Move Therapeutics?

One entry per day available for each participant. Not interested in sharing on social media? No worries! Keep track with a "check", an "x", or a sticker on your calendar and submit your completed calendar to us by email (office@movetherapeutics.ca) no later than January 6th. The winner will be contacted the same week. Click below to download your calendar!

✨ What Awaits You:

• Guided Nature Walk with Emily: Breathe in the crisp winter air as you reconnect with nature and let it inspire your own capacity for rest and resilience. 
• Yoga Nidra & Journaling with Dana: Experience deep rest and renewal through this guided meditation practice, and be supported in the transition from the practice with gentle, reflective prompts designed to inspire clarity and gratitude.
• Self-Reflexology Workshop with Jess L.: Learn techniques from Jessica L. to soothe your body and mind with gentle pressure on points of the hand/foot.
• Mala Bracelet-Making with Jess P.: Craft your own meaningful mala bracelet, a keepsake to carry your retreat intentions forward.

🎁 Gift It! To register now, click here!

Delight your loved ones with the ultimate experience of self-care. Gift certificates available for the retreat—because memories are the most meaningful present of all. Contact us for gift certificates.

Unwind, restore, and embrace the magic of midwinter with us. Your journey to hygge begins here. 🧘‍♀️✨

Fun Fact of the Month!

Quick Tips:

Neck Pain

Neck pain is something many of us have experienced – whether it's from sitting at a desk for too long, sleeping in an awkward position, or even stress. Fortunately, there are simple tips and exercises you can do daily to help prevent or alleviate discomfort. Remember, these tips are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns, or if the pain persists or radiates down your arm, be sure to consult with a healthcare professional. The exercises and stretches below can help manage neck pain by improving flexibility, reducing muscle tension, and supporting better posture.

Exercise #1: Neck Tilt. Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Slowly tilt your head to one side, bringing your ear towards your shoulder. Use your hand to gently press down on the opposite side of your head for a deeper stretch, and hold this position for 15-30 seconds. Slowly return your head to the neutral position. Repeat on the other side. Perform 2-3 times on each side. This stretch helps to release tension in the neck and upper shoulder muscles, improving flexibility and reducing pain.

Exercise #2: Chin Tucks. Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Gently tuck your chin towards your chest while keeping your eyes level and head in a neutral position. Hold the tuck for about 5 seconds. Slowly release and return to the starting position. Perform 10-15 repetitions, 2-3 times per day. Chin tucks strengthen the neck muscles and improve posture by targeting the deep neck flexors, which can help alleviate and prevent neck pain.

Exercise #3: Upper Trapezius Stretch. Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed. Place one hand behind your back to stabilize your shoulder. With your other hand, gently pull your head towards the opposite shoulder. Hold this position for 15-30 seconds. Slowly release and return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Perform 2-3 times on each side. This stretch targets the upper trapezius muscles, which are often tight in people with neck pain, helping to relieve tension and improve neck mobility.

Women's Health:

Optimize your Cesarean Birth Recovery

After undergoing common musculoskeletal surgeries, such as a hip or knee replacement, post-operative rehabilitation is essential to regain strength and function. It's highly recommended that individuals consult a physiotherapist following surgery to receive guidance and support in order to recover as safely and as quickly as possible. While physiotherapy following joint replacements is quite common, physiotherapy following cesarean sections is not as widely known by the general population.

A cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery where many layers of abdominal tissue are incised for the purpose of delivering a baby. Cesarean sections can either be planned or may be an emergency in some cases to ensure the health of the birthing person and the baby. Regardless of whether a cesarean is planned or unplanned, a physiotherapist can greatly assist an individual's recovery in the post-operative/postpartum period. Physiotherapy treatment will typically include reducing scar tissue tightness or discomfort, improving abdominal wall flexibility, restoring core strength, and providing guidance on a graduated return to fitness, physical activity, sport, and leisure.

Many clients have asked if pelvic floor physiotherapy is necessary if they have had a cesarean section and the answer is absolutely yes. There is a common misconception that pelvic floor physiotherapy is only suitable for those who have had a vaginal delivery. This misconception stems from the myth that a cesarean section does not affect the pelvic floor muscles as the baby has not passed through the vaginal canal. However, during pregnancy, the pelvic floor sustains stress and strain (secondary to the weight of the baby) that may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. This can include, but is not limited to, urinary or bowel incontinence, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, pain with intercourse, pain with menstruation, and more. It must be acknowledged that pelvic health physiotherapy can address these issues that are prevalent among birthing persons to improve their symptoms, function and quality of life - regardless of their method of delivery.

It is important to note that consulting a pelvic floor physiotherapist during pregnancy can help one to physically and mentally prepare for labor and delivery. Being well prepared for a vaginal delivery, or a cesarean section delivery, or both, can be immensely helpful to ease stress during labor. Performing pelvic floor, core and breathing exercises during pregnancy has also been shown to optimize recovery during the postpartum period, regardless of whether an individual has had a vaginal or cesarean birth.

Jane App:

Family Profiles & Managing Family Members

For a step-by-step guide, or more details, click here! 

Here are a couple commonly asked questions:

"Can I use a shared email for all the related profiles?

Yes - however the recommendation here would be to have unique usernames (i.e. bob.belcher or linda.belcher) for each of the related profiles. This way Jane knows which profile you're logging into and a great way to avoid getting stuck in a loop of logging into the wrong profile. A staff member from the clinic you attend can send a Password Reset email to each of the related profiles so they can set their usernames

Alternatively, if you or a family member can login to the My Account Portal){:target="_blank"}, you can click on Username / Password within the left sidebar menu and update the username [there]…"

"What Permissions can be Shared with your Family Member?

You can grant different permissions to your family members:

1) Allow family members to bill you for their appointments. This also means that the family member or related profile can use any of your saved credit cards to pay for their sessions. This applies to credit cards you save to your account in the future.

2) Share a copy of your receipts, statements, and financial emails.

3) Share a copy of your email notifications and reminders.

4) Manage your online bookings and view past appointments as well as fill out and view completed intake forms.

5) Publish your appointments for your family member's calendar subscriptions."

Research Corner:

Impact of postpartum physical activity
on maternal depression and anxiety