Second Toronto COVID-19 Lockdown: BFCC is Open

On Friday, November 20th 2020, Premier Ford announced that Toronto and Peel would enter a second lockdown on Monday, November 23rd 2020, in response to the pandemic and rising COVID-19 cases.  Medical services as provided by Chiropractors (along with Medical Doctors, Dentists, Acupuncturists and Massage Therapists) have been ruled as essential.

As such, our office will remain open and observing normal clinic hours to serve the health care needs of our existing and growing BFCC community; we have noticed the negative effects this pandemic has had on our practice members' health – now more than ever, we remain committed to serving you with the provinces’ support.

We continue to practice the procedures initiated at the onset of COVID-19 and post-quarantine (physical distancing in the office, front desk plexi-barrier, digital paperless e-statements and cashless transactions, paced appointments, mandatory PPE / mask use and hand sanitizing, routine cleaning equipment and high touch surfaces and overall resetting of the office after each patient) to keep our BFCC community safe, healthy & well.

Now, more than ever, we ask that patients please be on time for their appointment to ensure adequate timing and distancing requirements and sanitizing measures in the office are followed. Prior to your appointment—please also review our measures and cancellation policy to ensure you’re following the guidelines and expectations of our clinic and of you as a patient.

Much thought and preparation has gone into creating a safe, comfortable, and functional service environment for the delivery of your chiropractic care. We ask for your renewed partnership, patience, and cooperation as we do our best for our BFCC community through this next wave, this season, and beyond.

Thank you for your support as we have evolved and maintained our systems to accommodate everyone, we appreciate your efforts to help us serve you and our BFCC community; we look forward to seeing you soon, as scheduled, to help keep your mental wealth and overall health care on track.

Kindly reach out through our site, by phone or email with your scheduling needs or any questions you may have; we are all in this together – and we’re here to support you.

Dr. Gorchynski and the Bayview Finch Chiropractic Clinic team

Remote Working Tips for 'Back to School' Back Pain

More people than ever are working from home, and while answering emails from your bed and taking conference calls on the couch may be tempting (along with checking your mobile phone, or navigating other home-life concerns and distractions), those behaviours could be causing unnecessary pain — and foster poor remote working and studying habits, too.

Taking the time to set up a proper workstation can help ease those aches in your neck and back along with boost your self-esteem overall, but many may not be sure where to begin. With the return of the September school year and annual fall renewal with our commitment to work, too — Toronto chiropractor Dr. Gorchynski of BFCC volunteers a brief list of do’s and dont’s for all those going ‘back to work’ and remote studying to encourage all those wanting to improve their remote game for a successful and injury-free year ahead.

Perhaps underwhelming as a top tip — Dr. Gorchynski emphasizes sitting at a table or desk over anywhere else, noting that this is often overlooked when people are given the chance to work from home. While it’s alluring to work from a comfortable chair, couch, or bed — it’s important to minimize the time you spend on your couch, and stay out of bed, not only for sedentary mobility reasons, but also for productivity; we are less likely to perform at our best when we don’t upkeep the habits that keep us doing so.

Standing while working is the best thing to do for our health, but a great set up can be costly if you’re temporarily remote and don’t have the funds to invest. If that option isn’t available, sitting with your feet firmly on the floor, and making sure your arms are supported on a table or chair armrests not only is good for your body, but uplifting and empowering for your emotions and mindset, too!

Aim to set your workstation up in an ergonomic manner that facilitates the correct sitting (or standing) posture:

• Your monitor should be at eye level and slightly tilted;

• Forearms, thighs and feet should be parallel to the floor;

• Wrists should bend as little as possible;

• Your chair should have a backrest and armrests, with an adjustable height.

• Bonus: Consider getting a pair of compression socks which help clear lymphatic congestion and to eliminate leg heaviness, and a gel mat to provide a cushion for feet / shins / knees easing overall lower body fatigue during lengthy sitting or standing while working.

Posture is key, and incorporating easy at-home stretches for your neck, torso, spine, forearms, and eyes into your daily routine; ensure that you do take these routine breaks for movement (instead of just setting an alert or reminder for them, and them pressing snooze!) more than you would in the office or classroom, as remote work does tend to make us more sedentary.

Beyond this, aim to watch caffeine consumption (it can get away from the best of us when working at home) and salty, fried, or sugary snacking — instead incorporating measured breaks in your day for water, healthy foods, a short walk(s), and deep breathing; each can make all the difference to your continued remote working, studying, and overall wellbeing and success.

Looking for tailored at-home work or school pain management tips? Book your chiropractic appointment with BFCC today to speak directly with Dr. Gorchynski about your personal needs and to receive his tailored natural healthcare support and best remote-working practices.

Chiropractic Care: Gone to the Dogs… and Cats

In Canada and the United States, it could be said that chiropractic care has gone to the dogs; however, that wouldn’t be quite accurate.  In fact, it’s gone to the cats, as well as other family pets, too!

Some open-minded, pioneering veterinarians have come to realize what chiropractors have long known – the body can heal itself if it’s well-tuned from the inside out.  Consequently, a few vets are utilizing this ancient method of adjusting the body’s joints to help pets recover from problems and live longer lives.  And loving pet owners are clamoring to help their special buddies through complementary and alternative medicine.

It’s not that much of a stretch.  Many people are seeking out alternatives to traditional western medical techniques for themselves nowadays.  They’ve had such good experiences themselves thanks to experts like Dr. Stan Gorchynsky at Bayview Finch Chiropractic, Ontario, they want to share their good health with their loving (and lovable) pets.

Plenty of well-known physicians are referring their patients to acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors and chiropractors (like Dr. Gorchynsky) because they know that complementary medicine has been proven to work.  Add to that the reality that people are more and more connected to their pets (and therefore willing to try anything to help their pooches or kittens feel their best), and chiropractic care for pets isn’t such a crazy thought as it might first appear.

Of course, you might not be quite ready to send Fido or Fluffy to a chiropractor.  That’s fine.  But it’s important to recognize that chiropractic care (whether for humans or pets) isn’t “junk science”.  In fact, chiropractic techniques have been honed for millennia, and they’re still being tweaked to this day.  However, they are still all based on the notion that manual or instrumental adjustments made upon a body will be beneficial.  One methodology, known as the Koren Specific Technique, is being used at Bayview Finch to provide patients with exceptional relief.

The next time you’re feeling out-of-sorts, or you’ve had it “up to here” with all the pain killers that just don’t seem to be doing much more than emptying your wallet, try chiropractic at Bayview Finch with Dr. Gorchynski.  If you do, chances are good that you’ll soon be filling much sprier… maybe so much that you’d be willing to take your best canine pal on an extra-long jaunt!

How Spinal Conditions Cause Various Leg Pains

Most often leg pain or foot pain is not caused by a problem in the leg or foot, but rather by a condition in the lower back or another part of the spine. Diagnosis of leg pain and other lower extremity symptoms should focus not only on the legs and hips, but should also include examination of the low back as well as the whole spine.

In fact, with many low back problems, there may be little or no low back pain. Instead, there may be leg pain, foot pain, and/or lower extremity numbness or weakness. Compression or pressure on any of the nerve roots in the low back can cause pain, numbness or weakness along the different nerves as they travel down through the leg and into the foot. Because the sciatic nerve is commonly affected, leg pain and related symptoms are often generally referred to as sciatica, or as a radiculopathy.

Not all leg pain derived from low back problems presents the same way. Leg pain caused by a low back problem is often accompanied by additional symptoms, such as leg numbness or tingling (a slight tingling sensation to complete numbness), weakness or heaviness (having to drag the lower leg and foot or being unable to move the leg as quickly and easily), burning (radiating, electric or shooting pain that literally feels like a jolt), constant pain (usually buttock pain but occasionally radiates past the buttock into the leg ), positional leg pain (leg pain that dramatically worsens in intensity when sitting, standing or walking), or foot pain, and the type of leg/foot pain experienced may vary widely from patient to patient.

Such leg pain as described may have a number of causes, which makes it necessary for an examination by a Chiropractor, who is a spinal health expert, to determine the actual source. The most common causes of such pain are: lumbar disc herniation (nerve pressure caused by a damaged disc); lumbar spinal stenosis (occurs when the spinal nerve roots are compressed or choked, usually by enlarged facet joints located in the back of the spinal column); lumbar spondylolysthesis (where a vertebra in the spine slips forward over the next, lower vertebra); and two other conditions, piriformis syndrome (tightening of the buttock muscle pressuring the sciatic nerve) and sacroiliac syndrome (the large joints where the pelvic and sacrum meet) can also cause leg pain and sciatica-type symptoms.

As there are many spinal conditions that may cause leg pain, foot pain, and other lower extremity symptoms, it is important to have an accurate anatomic diagnosis for the basis of a specific pain syndrome for successful treatment to be possible. Dr. Gorchynski, a Toronto-based chiropractor is able to determine a diagnosis and provide treatment for your condition in his chiropractic clinic, or refer you to an appropriate health resource.

For more information and/or to book your initial health assessment contact us at 416-224-2225 or click here to book your appointment online.

Parents Taking More Kids to the Chiropractor

A recent article in Reuters Health news suggested that more parents are taking their children to the chiropractor, and are very happy they have done so.

It is well known that many adults during the past decade have been choosing a number of "alternative therapies" but a new study shows that many are also choosing a similar approach for their children.

Nearly one-quarter of parents surveyed used some type of alternative approach for their child, such as chiropractic care. More than 80 percent of the parents surveyed were somewhat or very satisfied with their child's most recent experience with the alternative approach and 90 percent said they would be willing to use an alternative approach again for their child's health care in the future.

The survey suggested that parents brought their children in most for conditions such as respiratory illnesses, strains and sprains, allergies, digestive problems and ear infections. Twelve percent of parents also were choosing an alternative approach for their kids as a method of disease prevention.