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About Dr. Felicia Spano, DC
Dr. Felicia Spano is chiropractor who was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. She is proud to provide chiropractic & acupuncture services to her community. She uses an evidence-informed and personalized approach to assess and diagnose your injuries. She employs a variety of treatment techniques uniquely tailored to help you move and feel your best.
![RESISTANCE or STRENGTH training 🏋️♂️ involves the performance of physical exercises which are designed to improve strength or endurance. It is typically associated with lifting weights but, can also involve your body weight👤, resistance bands, or weight machines at the gym.
There are multiple BENEFITS of resistance training which include:
🦴Improved muscle strength, muscle tone, and bone mineral density
💪Weight management and increased muscle-to-fat ratio
🫀Prevention or control of various chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, back pain, depression, and obesity.
🤕Decreased risk of injury
🥰Increased self-esteem
🤩And more! (1)
It is recommended to complete 2 days a week of resistance exercise involving all major muscle groups. Consult your doctor, chiropractor, physiotherapist, or certified personal trainer to find out more information on how to safely resistance train.
-Fel🏋🏻♀️
Reference:
1. Resistance training – Health Benefits - Better Health Channel [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jul 12]. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/resistance-training-health-benefits](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/217127058_2621750344793798_3077263745096456591_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=_cgj88xxoWoQ7kNvwFvbkQC&_nc_oc=Adn8KksPWjLmYGUpiPfXKxEpUaMK7HAvjOzi29DYyARQBiBvfGakIarlz6f0ePZXHm0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_AfuC1zWSt_I2So4OHyeDJVS8bMMxwsQEFIwWOaOhrD6PNw&oe=69902321)
![AEROBIC EXERCISE is a type of cardiovascular training where there is continuous movement of large muscle groups to strengthen your heart🫀 and lungs 🫁. When you do aerobic exercise, your muscles demand more oxygen-rich blood which makes your heart beat faster!
The BENEFITS of aerobic exercise are endless: weight loss, lowers blood pressure, builds stronger bones, improves muscle strength, and also helps you avoid serious health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers (1).
Some ways you can do AEROBIC activity are:
🚶♀️Brisk walking
🏃♀️Running
🚴Cycling
🏊♂️Swimming
⛷Cross-country skiing
Which is your favourite way to get your cardio in?
Lately I have been walking or running outside but, I do love biking as well! Here’s a throwback of me biking in Central Park in NYC🗽🍎.
-Fel 🚴🏻♀️
Reference:
1. Aerobic Exercise - OrthoInfo - AAOS [Internet]. [cited 2021 Jul 5]. Available from: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/staying-healthy/aerobic-exercise/](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/210232939_853699988887041_2004801622280463659_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Gn1gjd3ofLMQ7kNvwGi_LFo&_nc_oc=AdmWEFu6WCwUHSu72CIXsSKFndIT_92btCmPInUc6URwM-upX9YDqdwE6MW3YMYp_5g&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_AfusbMAL3fTd0jpsaGCNiW5uQstDs4UA-ulTkvKwrtxoRw&oe=69901F1E)
![The PIRIFORMIS is a deep gluteal muscle, swipe along to learn it’s anatomy👍🏼! Thanks to @3D4Medical for the photo.
There is a clinical condition called PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME which occurs in 0.3-6% of all patients with low back pain. It occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes entrapped and this causes pain in the buttock region that can “shoot” down the back of the leg. This is more commonly known as sciatica or sciatic-like pain. It can be caused by trauma to the hip or buttock area🤕, hypertrophy of piriformis (usually in athletes who have high training volumes) 💪, sitting for prolonged periods of time 🪑, or anatomic anomalies. If you are experiencing any low back, buttock, or leg pain I recommend consulting your healthcare provider or seeing a chiropractor for a proper examination of your symptoms.
-Fel 🫀
References:
1. Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
2. Hicks BL, Lam JC, Varacallo M. Piriformis Syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 [cited 2021 Jun 29]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448172/](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/209141188_901615447054924_7574824963607001777_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=d4TVc5DOofoQ7kNvwEygZzc&_nc_oc=Adkk4nRvHivf06qX3yboDcg5NeiW9Dv7D357Xtauz3h3moDtV7SKjNBdCLQ1546YXBQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_AfupuGc2dAMl4MLuDMXrcUzFFg96ITDCcBB7Gu-SqWXBhQ&oe=6990189B)
![When most people think of chiropractors, they immediately think of adjustments (also known as spinal manipulative therapy or SMT)! 🦴
SMT is a controlled and highly-skilled act applied to a joint in the body. A high-velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) thrust is a short, quick movement which is applied to the affected joint to restore full range of motion, relieve pain, and decrease muscle tightness in an affected area. A chiropractor will apply a specified force to a joint, at or near its end range of motion, which will cause an audible “crack”💨 (1). This is also called a joint cavitation (more to come on this soon)!
How else loves being adjusted? 😍
-Fel 👐🏻
Reference:
1. Spinal Manipulation [Internet]. Physiopedia. [cited 2021Apr5]. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Spinal_Manipulation](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/169267830_483191766057379_9065890243701514030_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=KENqrcEwZh0Q7kNvwEIHfHg&_nc_oc=AdnT6mQXf3Yi_rSqHBMt1zinqRoNOvSt-jvoAKKQTaFkeysbked2yzAhwVF3KYZjKfM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_AfsLkAv3csSk4qPLOIy3bMjKx-3QDGFi_Ff4nzJIOcMG0w&oe=69902A4B)
![What does a first year chiropractic education look like?
A Doctor of Chiropractic degree at CMCC is 4 years long. I am currently in 1st year, where we are building our foundation of knowledge in basic sciences and pathology for clinical skills and decision making. Even in the COVID-19 pandemic, we are gaining hands-on experience in chiropractic skills, diagnosis and symptomatology, orthopaedics, and diagnostic imaging (1). I am so grateful for this education and cannot wait for all the knowledge and skills I still have to learn.
During 1st year at CMCC, we take 14 (yes 14!) courses at a time. Chiropractors have an extensive understanding of the human body and we use this knowledge and our skill set to provide the best patient care possible. Swipe to see the courses 1st year CMCC students take.
-Fel📚
Reference:
1. Doctor of Chiropractic Program. Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College; [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.cmcc.ca/academic-programs/doctor-of-chiropractic-program](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/167213399_814314539172204_5251749259940464469_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Q3TMugydxVMQ7kNvwEBw8wT&_nc_oc=Adk3i973ca3c9SVt5v1IoTAnaJfo8IjQlRjGRWDvOgbo0iVVTQfgHzZNLYYw37QD0vk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_Afuu4rCu6joYtniC2olSSsj0Qi8Lr2-CTKeNjGRK4fpimA&oe=698FFD8D)
![What is a chiropractor?👐🏻
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) or a chiropractor is a musculoskeletal (MSK) and nervous system expert💪🧠. DCs are primary contact health care professionals who have a complex understanding of the human body (1).
In Canada, chiropractors have a minimum of 7-8 YEARS of post-secondary education😳. They are trained in how to evaluate, diagnose, deliver a treatment plan, and when necessary co-manage and refer patients to other health care professionals (2). Our chiropractic education includes more than 4200 hours of specialized training. This includes 1250 hours in MSK patient care, 450 hours of hands-on learning in spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), 1350 hours of clinical internships, 360 hours in radiology, and additional courses!
Chiropractors use the best evidence and research, in combination with clinical expertise to determine the best treatment to relieve pain, prevent future injury, and restore mobility in their patients. The scope of chiropractic care is WIDE and DCs are able to treat many conditions such as, back pain, neck pain, strains and sprains, and work, sports, or motor vehicle accident injuries. Many other individuals without injuries can also benefit from chiropractic care such as children, pregnant individuals, and athletes.
Chiropractors use a variety of treatment options which are dependent on the needs of the patient and preferences. Some of these therapies include: (2)
✔️SMT (a.k.a. an adjustment)
✔️Soft tissue therapy
✔️Electronic modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound or laser therapy
✔️Customized therapeutic exercise programs
✔️Advice and education
✔️Self management tools and techniques
-Fel 💛
References:
1. Is Chiropractic for you? Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College; [cited 2021Mar22]. Available from: https://www.cmcc.ca/admissions/is-chiropractic-for-you
2. What is Chiropractic Care? [Internet]. Ontario Chiropractic Association. 2021 [cited 2021Mar22]. Available from: https://chiropractic.on.ca/chiropractic-care/about-chiropractic-care/what-is-chiropractic-care/](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/162258994_1011130539663751_6435862003043543166_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=d1hPxRDpZt4Q7kNvwEiCnoL&_nc_oc=Admm9VuC5vkUQ8qUrzNHWWE-PX1OslshDyG9pAVBzLOP26rE6ae8MPTe5yWbekpyR_g&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=lpDnbpAmteRTa2l0HvZAdA&oh=00_AfuLo5qBtBTf71RWj98O1Q5GwwjNLP2cOHdbPaOsJMo4_A&oe=699014C3)
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