Dennis Newhook RMT, CYT
Most people know that RMT stands for Registered Massage Therapist. However, few people understand what being "registered" really entails. The title of RMT is protected by legislation overseen by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). The CMTO is committed to protecting the public by maintaining high standards of practice for Massage Therapy throughout the province. Anyone carrying the title of RMT must be an active member of the CMTO, having proved their compentency by meeting educational requirements, passing registration exams, and through continuous education and peer assessment. Massage practitioners who do not carry the title of RMT are NOT regulated professionals. Though they may offer quality service, there is no governing body in place to oversee their practice or to protect the public should problems arise. Like all regulatory health colleges, the CMTO's primary goal is to ensure public safety by monitoring its members. If you have a concern regarding the quality of care you've received from any regulated healthcare professional, you are encouraged to contact the College for that profession. A complete list of regulated health professions and their governing Colleges can be found at the Federation of Health Regulatory Colleges of Ontario's Website: www.regulatedhealthprofessions.on.ca.
Currently there are 21 regulated health professions in Ontario. Advising the Ministry of Health as to which health professions should become regulated is the Health Professionals Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC). The Council works closely with public concerns regarding health services and conducts research to determine if currently unregulated health practices should become regulated by the government. Visit them at their website: www.hprac.org. The list of regulated professions in Ontario is slowly growing. Because of HPRAC the list will soon include Kinesiology, Naturopathy, Psychotherapy, Homeopathy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Within Ontario we have rights AND options as healthcare consumers. Becoming informed is the first step to becoming empowered. The choices you make not only affect your own health, but the health of your loved ones and the whole community. Finally, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides many great resources and links for healthcare consumers. Check them out at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Sound of Movement
Karen Baker BSc, DC
There are a lot of preconceived ideas about chiropractic adjustment - and, many people are afraid of the “cracking” sound that often accompanies a classic manual manipulation. Rest assured, the crack you hear is NOT bones breaking, but is a result of gas bubbles being released from the fluid in your joints - this sound actually has a name: cavitation.
An analogy I often use to describe what’s happening is that of a soda bottle. You may have noticed that when you open a bottle of pop, bubbles seem to form out of nowhere. The carbonation process has infused CO2 into the liquid; kept under pressure, it will stay there. When the volume of the container holding the liquid increases (or the cap is opened), those CO2 molecules (which would rather be in gas form) now have somewhere to go, and come out of solution forming gas bubbles. If you open the bottle slowly, the bubbles form slowly, fizzing to the surface of the liquid; if opened quickly, they “pop” out of solution all at once.
This is very similar to what happens in our joints when we stretch them. Our joints are filled with nutrient rich liquid called synovial fluid. There is nitrogen gas dissolved within this fluid. Unlike a pop bottle, our joints are flexible structures enclosed by a soft capsule that can stretch. As our joints move the volume of the space changes allowing these nitrogen molecules to move into and out of solution on a regular basis. If the joint moves slowly, these bubbles will form slowly and no noticeable noise will follow. But if stretched quickly enough the gas bubbles will pop out of solution making a cracking sound.
This being said, you should never agree to a procedure that you are not comfortable with. If you are afraid, there are other ways to get the joints moving that don’t require a crack. So talk to your chiropractor about different treatment methods that will meet you at your comfort level.
There are a lot of preconceived ideas about chiropractic adjustment - and, many people are afraid of the “cracking” sound that often accompanies a classic manual manipulation. Rest assured, the crack you hear is NOT bones breaking, but is a result of gas bubbles being released from the fluid in your joints - this sound actually has a name: cavitation.
An analogy I often use to describe what’s happening is that of a soda bottle. You may have noticed that when you open a bottle of pop, bubbles seem to form out of nowhere. The carbonation process has infused CO2 into the liquid; kept under pressure, it will stay there. When the volume of the container holding the liquid increases (or the cap is opened), those CO2 molecules (which would rather be in gas form) now have somewhere to go, and come out of solution forming gas bubbles. If you open the bottle slowly, the bubbles form slowly, fizzing to the surface of the liquid; if opened quickly, they “pop” out of solution all at once.
This is very similar to what happens in our joints when we stretch them. Our joints are filled with nutrient rich liquid called synovial fluid. There is nitrogen gas dissolved within this fluid. Unlike a pop bottle, our joints are flexible structures enclosed by a soft capsule that can stretch. As our joints move the volume of the space changes allowing these nitrogen molecules to move into and out of solution on a regular basis. If the joint moves slowly, these bubbles will form slowly and no noticeable noise will follow. But if stretched quickly enough the gas bubbles will pop out of solution making a cracking sound.
This being said, you should never agree to a procedure that you are not comfortable with. If you are afraid, there are other ways to get the joints moving that don’t require a crack. So talk to your chiropractor about different treatment methods that will meet you at your comfort level.
Nikie B’s Oatmeal Cookies …with a twist
Nikie Brossard
If you are a cookie lover, but want to be more health conscious, try this healthier version of an old favorite…
Ingredients:
* 1 cup spelt flour
* 1 cup hazelnut butter
* ¼ cup of maple syrup
* 1 tbsp of Stevia *
* 2 cups of oatmeal
* chocolate or carob chips as desired
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350o F.
2. Mix ingredients.
3. Grease cookie sheet with butter (Organic is best, avoid processed products such as margarine or Pam).
4. Make 1 tbsp balls of dough and place on cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 15-20min to desired tenderness.
* for more information about STEVIA go to: www.stevia.com
If you are a cookie lover, but want to be more health conscious, try this healthier version of an old favorite…
Ingredients:
* 1 cup spelt flour
* 1 cup hazelnut butter
* ¼ cup of maple syrup
* 1 tbsp of Stevia *
* 2 cups of oatmeal
* chocolate or carob chips as desired
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350o F.
2. Mix ingredients.
3. Grease cookie sheet with butter (Organic is best, avoid processed products such as margarine or Pam).
4. Make 1 tbsp balls of dough and place on cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 15-20min to desired tenderness.
* for more information about STEVIA go to: www.stevia.com
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