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Author Archive for: jentwistle

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Solutions for A Sore Neck

Sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, reading a book, working on a laptop or tablet, texting, daily commuting… these are all activities that can lead to pain and soreness in the neck and shoulders.

The Institute of Work and Health reported that neck pain related to work is one of the most common complaints of working aged adults and in 2006 it was reported that injuries to the upper extremity account for 30% of lost-time claims in Ontario.

The following handout provides you with some simple and cost effective solutions to reduce neck pain while at work.

NECK PAIN -- ergo doc one pager

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The Dirt on the Dirty Dozen

There is much debate over whether to buy organic or non-organic fruits and vegetables.  Eating only organic is definitely a more expensive option, however, many feel it is worth the cost.  If you are looking to go organic, how do you know where to start?  The following infographic from Juicing with G provides a deeper look into pesticides in food and explains the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, said to be the foods with most and least pesticides respectively.

We want to hear from you.  What are your thoughts on organic vs. non-organic?

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Inspired

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”

Pablo Picasso

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What Is OT?

A common question I am asked is “what is occupational therapy?”

Most people think occupational therapy is about getting people back to work following an injury, or designing functional work spaces and workstations because of the word “occupation” in the term.  While this is an important part of what occupational therapists do, their scope is actually much broader.

Here are some other examples of areas where an occupational therapist can help:

– Dressing and grooming

– Bathing and showering

– Making and eating meals

– Being social

– Returning to work, school, or volunteering activities

– Engaging in leisure activities

The following video from our OT-V series provides an indepth look at what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can help people with physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities.

We hope our video provides you with a great explanation and answers the frequently asked question:  “What IS OT?”

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Time to Power Down and Get Your Kids Moving!

Living in the digital age is starting to take a toll on the health of Canadian children.  In Canada’s most recent participation report card on physical activity for children and youth we received a D-.  Not a grade most parents would be happy with if it was on a child’s school report card.  The question is, how can we improve this grade?  To start, we need to tame the technology habit and get kids playing again.

We love the recent campaign from Participaction that includes commercials with a powerful message, like the one shown here, to encourage parents to “Make Room for Play.”

Check out highlights of the report from Participaction and take a moment to tell us how you think we can improve our grade and the health of Canada’s children.

Participaction: Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

 

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Inspired

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find, you get what you need.”
The Rolling Stones, You Can’t Always Get What You Want

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Absenteeism and Presenteeism Are Costing Your Organization—It’s Time to Take Action!

Absenteeism and Presenteeism in the workplace are hurting the bottom line of individual organizations.  In fact, a 2013 study by The Conference Board of Canada shows that absenteeism alone is costing the Canadian economy $16.6 billion each year.  Despite this, a recent study done by Morneau Sheppell shows that while the majority of employers are concerned about absenteeism they do not give much thought to the issue of presenteeism, as it is harder to quantify.  Both may be hurting your bottom line.

So our question to you is:  what is your organization doing to combat this billion dollar problem?

See more on the study here:

Morneau Shepell releases study on the reasons and predictors of workplace absenteeism and presenteeism

For more on workplace health and wellness visit our Healthy Workplace page.