Karen’s Posts | Physiotherapy in Squamish Massage Therapy IMS Acupuncture

Nov 16 2010

in search of Happy Feet

Written by physiotherapist Karen Ogilvie

What are those things between your toes?? Are you getting a pedicure while you’re at work?? I get some strange looks – the bare feet is enough, but now my feet look like wide paws with bright blue spacers between them! As silly as they may look, I love my yoga toes, or Joy-a-Toes as they are officially named.

I’ve never been too keen on shoes. You can ask my mom; no matter how hard she tried, as soon as I was out of her sight, my shoes would be off! And why? I just thought it felt better. But now there is growing research to support being barefoot, or at least in wider, less supported shoes; and I think yoga toes just take it one step further.

Cramming our feet into shoes all day changes the position of the bones and muscles throughout our feet, which causes abnormal lines of tension in our feet (and throughout our body), inefficient lines for our muscles to work from, and potentially permanent abnormalities in our feet (flattened arches and bunions to name a few). Taking it a little further, being inside a shoe, our feet get less stimulation, meaning that our nervous system can become a little out of touch with our feet. And if our brain is not well connected to our feet, it lessens our ability to make quick or subtle changes when we’re walking on uneven or unstable ground. Now we’re at risk of an injury! A fall. Or an ankle sprain. Who knows what we could do?

Oct 26 2010

Easing the tension of TFL

by Sue in Karen's Posts, Rehab Exercises

TFL: Tensor Fascia Lata

by Karen Ogilvie PT

This has become my new favorite stretch! Not only is it one I have to do often, but its also one that I am frequently demonstrating, explaining, drawing, reviewing, and REVIEWING with clients! It’s a tough one for the stickman to illustrate! So hopefully this picture, taken on a sunny, Fall hike in Bralorne, will save us all a little confusion.

Tensor Fascia Lata is one of those muscles that I work on with people frequently; it loves to get short and tight. TFL also likes to take over jobs that are not its own, putting other muscles out of work. Because of its attachments to the IT band, TFL is often a culprit in knee pain, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), and even meniscus injuries. It also contributes to hip, pelvic, and low back dysfunction. For such a small muscle, it can really wreak havoc on your body!