NTORehab - NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre

NTO Rehab Offers Genuine Care In Your Wellbeing

Welcome to the NTO Rehab and Wellness Centre in the Heart of North York, located on Willowdale and Sheppard close to the Yonge/Sheppard TTC subway station.

At the NTO Wellness & Rehab Centre, our staff and therapists have several years experience in providing professional client services and rehabilitation services in preventive healthcare & illness in Canada. We specialize in providing professional services to patients that require extended healthcare (EHP), as well as to patients whom may have sustained injuries from motor vehicle accident (MVA) and work related injuries (WSIB).

Meet Some of Our Staff…

1. Genuine Care in your Well-being

Our front desk staff and specialists are really friendly and helpful. The specialist allows you to tell them more than one issue; they are attentive, understanding and caring to improving your health.

2. Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Rehab Specialists

Our services are available to anyone who has experienced minor to catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle collision; Insurance companies, Lawyers/legal representatives, and Health care professionals often refer to our services.

3. Certified Professionals and Accredited Therapists

All of our therapists and staff are accredited and certified with the overriding professional associations.

4. Flexible and Extended Opening Hours

NTO Wellness & Rehab Centre is open on weekends and open late for your convenience on most weekdays so that you can drop in for a treatment on your way back from work.

5. Centrally Located at the Heart of North York in the Greater Toronto Area

North Toronto Wellness & Rehab Centre is located at the heart of North York on Willowdale just one block east of Yonge-Sheppard station. It is accessible by bus, TTC, car and on foot for your convenience. There is complimentary parking available on site for your added convenience.

Simplifying Premium Health Care & MVA Claims

Whether your insurance plan coverage is with Manulife Financial, Great West Life, Standard Life or Sun Life Financial – it is important to know what you are entitled to when it comes to your benefits.

NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre welcomes premium health insured clients and would encourage you to maximize the benefits offered to you from your employer.

Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can accommodate your premium health coverage and tailor a treatment plan that works best for you so that you can find the time to use your benefits.

As a corporate employee you have access to premium health insurance for some of those paramedical professional services that would otherwise be extremely expensive.

Having an extended health benefit plan with a company like Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial or Desjardins enables the average person to be able to afford these proactive and paramedical health services.

The process for having electronic funds transfer set up directly to the insurance company or even claiming funds back right after the treatment of these proactive and medical services is pretty straight forward as long as you ensure that the paramedical service you are about to receive or received is covered.

What is covered and at what percentage is covered can be found in your corporate benefits handbook – so be sure to review this handbook before you book that appointment with NTO Wellness and Rehab if you plan on claiming back using your premium or extended health coverage plan with any of the companies listed above.

LET US HELP YOU IN DEALING WITH YOUR MVA CLAIM

Now in the case of the insurance plan you may have with your Auto Insurance Company for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), personal injury as a result of an accident leading to short disability, the process becomes a little bit trickier. Between the MVA claims officer, adjustor and your need for medical help, not to mention the pain and discomfort you may be facing due to the motor vehicle accident (MVA) – we understand that this can be extremely stressful, difficult and frustrating.

NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre can assist you with this otherwise stressful and emotional taxing process so that you may still receive the rehab and recovery treatment your body needs as you need it from NTO Wellness & Rehab, as our Frontdesk Staff bring over 5 years of experience in effectively dealing with MVA cases.

In Ontario, according to The Insurance Act, cost for medical rehabilitation care due to car accident will be covered by insurance company either through Auto Insurance or Extended Health Care Insurance if applicable. At NTO Wellness & Rehab Centre, our experienced administration team will assist patients and offer services in direct billing and handling complicated paper work through insurance company.

Completion of insurance forms:

OCF 1
OCF 3
OCF 18
OCF 23, 24

NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre is also in partnership with group of specialists offer additional services for car accident victims:

Home Site Assessment
Job Site Assessment
Psychological Assessment and Driver re-integration
Functional Capacity Evaluation
Work Conditioning/Hardening Programs

Proper Lifting Technique in Your Daily Life

Christine Mo, PT ,RMT has had many clients seeking Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy come in to the NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre with the very common lower back pain, muscle strain or ache that has been triggered from some of the most common day-to-day activities in our daily lives. In some cases she has had clients come in to see her who have injured their back from working out, weight-lifting, doing dance aerobics and a variety of physical intense sports.

Whether it is lifting the grocery bags out of the trunk of your car, lifting heavy boxes when moving houses or picking up your 2 year old child when walking in the park – it is important to know the right technique for lifting in order to prevent back injury or muscle strain. Christine has put together a video that focuses on the proper lifting technique so that you can prevent injury when going about your daily errands and activities.

As a proactive measure for injury prevention, Christine would like to demonstrate a stretching exercise that you can do to improve your posture when going about your daily activities.

The severity of the lower back injury and/or muscle strain is determined based on the level of impact and intensity that was incurred when the muscle strain happened – a sudden sneeze could be all it takes to jolt your lower back in the wrong manner, or lifting a heavy box from a bad angle and not squared in front could cause some serious damage to your soft tissue and lower back muscles.

In most cases the soft tissue, ligaments and muscle may have been impacted resulting in the need for manual therapy, soft tissue manipulation, myofascial release – this is where NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre can assist in your rehabilitation and recovery process. However it is important to note that in some cases a lower back strain could be so severe that you are unable to walk immediately following the injury, in this case, you may have fractured a bone, herniated a disc or damaged your spine requiring an X-ray to confirm the fracture or disfunction – please seek emergency assistance from your medical practitioner or go to the nearest ER to prevent further injury.

The All Too Common Ankle Sprain

Leo Wan, Physiotherapist has had many clients come in to the NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre with the all too common sprained ankle, especially over the summer and fall seasons where people have been getting outside and active outdoors more frequently. He has put together a couple of videos that explain Ankle Sprains, the types, symptoms and remedial treatments that can be performed as part of your own home self treatments in order to help you recover and rehabilitate appropriately for your body.

A sprained ankle is a very common injury that can effect anyone when performing simple day-to-day activities like walking to the grocery store, running to catch a bus as well as playing physical sports such as soccer, tennis and/or basketball.

All it takes is a person to casually walk on the sidewalk and suddenly hit some uneven ground without looking resulting in what has been commonly termed “an ankle roll”. Or in another scenario when doing intense and physical active sports a momentarily lapse of concentration on foot placement after a jump or speed burst could prove costly and result in a sprained ankle injury.

The severity of the ankle roll, strain or sprain is determined based on the intensity of the roll resulting in the imbalance, the angle of the roll, as well as the force/impact or speed in which one rolled the ankle.

In most cases the soft tissue, ligaments and muscle may have been impacted resulting in the need for manual therapy and physiotherapy in the recovery process – this is where NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre can assist in your rehabilitation and recovery process. However it is important to note that in some cases an ankle roll could be so severe that you are unable to walk on it immediately after the incident, in this case, you may have fractured a bone and require an X-ray to confirm the bone fracture or break – please seek emergency assistance from your medical practitioner or go to the nearest ER to prevent further injury.

True or false? Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar

A lot of people will be surprised to learn that the above statement is FALSE!

According to Joanne Pun, Registered Dietitian at NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre, most people don’t know that brown sugar is made by simply adding molasses (a type of syrup) to white sugar to give it that nice, golden brown colour. Molasses does not contain any important nutrients for our body therefore brown sugar is not actually healthier for us. Consumers have been taught that usually brown coloured foods such as whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice etc is healthier.

However, in this case of brown sugar vs white sugar, brown sugar is not the healthier choice.

The only difference between white sugar and brown sugar is the taste. Brown sugar has a slightly richer taste that some people prefer . In terms of nutrition, brown and white sugar are the same.

What about honey? Honey contains very small amounts of some vitamins and minerals such as zinc, selenium and B vitamins but it is in such small amounts that it can be considered negligible.

Keep in mind that honey is still sugar. Our bodies will react to it in a very similar way as white/brown sugar.

When we have too much sugar in our body, it will be stored as excess fat and lead to problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart problems. Honey also has slightly more calories – approximately 20 calories per teaspoon compared to 16 calories per teaspoon of white/brown sugar.

Bottom line: white sugar, brown sugar and honey are all nutritionally very similar. When eaten in excess, it can cause obesity, diabetes and heart problems. The only difference between white sugar, brown sugar and honey is a matter of taste and personal preference.

Still have questions? Speak to our Registered Dietitian on your next visit to NTO Wellness and Rehab.

Should I take a vitamin or mineral supplement?

Joanne Pun, Registered Dietitian at NTO Wellness and Rehab provides her professional advice on whether to take a vitamin or mineral supplement.

When you take a walk down the supplement aisle at your local pharmacy, you may wonder whether you are getting the nutrients you need after seeing rows of supplements available. The simple answer is: if you are eating a well-balanced diet that includes all four food groups (vegetables & fruit, whole grains, milk & alternatives, meat & alternatives), you probably do not need any additional supplementation.

However, there are a few groups of people that may benefit from taking a supplement. Vegetarians may need to consider an iron or vitamin B12 supplement if their diet is not well-planned. Older adults may also benefit from including a calcium, iron or vitamin B12 supplement as the absorption of some of these vitamins and minerals decreases as we age. It is also recommended by Health Canada that anyone over the age of 50 include a vitamin D supplement of 400IU (international units) daily as vitamin D is needed for optimal bone health and is not commonly found in food. People that are very picky eaters and avoid many different foods, may benefit from a daily multivitamin Also, if your family doctor has done blood work on you and determined you are deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral, it may be recommended for you to consider taking certain supplements.

Many people who exercise consider taking protein supplementation such as protein powder. Our body has a maximum limit on how much protein we absorb. Any extra protein supplementation is filtered through the kidney and passed in urine. Excessive protein can also cause strain and damage on the kidneys. Most people have enough protein in their diet already therefore it is much healthier and safer to include food sources of protein such as a cup of milk or yogurt after a workout instead of relying on protein powder.

Bottom line: Vitamin/mineral supplements are usually not needed for most people. Excess supplementation can actually cause harm on our body such as damage to the kidneys or increase the risks of some cancers. A diet that includes all food groups and various colourful vegetables and fruits everyday ensures adequate vitamins and minerals.

If you are concerned your diet is lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, book an appointment to speak to our Registered Dietitian on your next visit to NTO Wellness and Rehab.

What kind of oil should I use in cooking?

Joanne Pun, Registered Dietitian at NTO Wellness and Rehab provides her professional advice on what kind of oil you should use for cooking.

There are many different types of cooking oils popular on the market – coconut, vegetable, olive, avocado, just to name a few. So, which oil is best? When we are choosing which type of oil to use, we mainly have to look at 2 factors.

Factor #1: proportion of unsaturated/saturated fat.

Saturated fat is known as the “bad fat” – it raises your LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (type of fat in your blood). When we have too much LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in our blood, it can cause blockages in our hearts and brains, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Unsaturated fat, is a healthier fat because it helps lower “bad cholesterol”.

All cooking oils have varying proportions of unsaturated/saturated fat. Oils that have a high proportion of saturated fat (bad fat) include butter, lard, coconut and palm oil. Try to choose ones with a higher proportion of unsaturated fat (healthy fats). Some popular oils include – avocado, sunflower, canola, grapeseed, olive and vegetable.

Factor #2: smoke point

Smoke point is the temperature that causes the oil to smoke, making toxic fumes and cancer-causing agents. Different oils have different smoking points based on their chemical structure. This means that some oils are more suitable for cooking at higher temperatures (e.g. searing, browning) compared to others.

When using for:

– searing/browning, choose: avocado, sunflower, almond

– baking/stir-frying, choose: canola, grapeseed, extra-virgin olive

– light sautéing, choose: corn, sesame

– dressing/dips/marinades, choose: flaxseed, olive

Keep in mind that oil is still fat and can cause weight gain when eaten in excess. Therefore, even if an oil is a good source of unsaturated (healthy) fat, it should be used in moderation. Having too many different types of oils in your kitchen is not recommended. When oils are in your cupboard for a long time, they can be ruined by heat, light and air. It is best to just choose 1-2 different types.

I heard coconut oil is good for me. Is this true? In recent years, coconut oil has gained tremendous popularity from claims of improving health such as helping to burn fat, prevent infections and lowering risk of Alzheimer’s. However, these claims are based on very small clinical studies which means the benefits may not apply to everyone. Coconut oil is made of almost 90% saturated fat. It has been extensively studied and proven that a diet lower in saturated (bad) fat and higher in unsaturated (good) fat is best for heart health. Therefore, it is not recommended at this time to include large amounts of coconut oil in our diet.

If you have further questions about what oil to cook with, book an appointment to speak to our Registered Dietitian on your next visit to NTO Wellness and Rehab.

NTO Rehab Knows MVA & WSIB Cases

With North Toronto Wellness & Rehab Centre (NTO Rehab) offering multidisciplinary health and medical professional services puts us in a great position to provide a team approach to your particular rehabilitation program. When it comes to your MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) or WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board) rehabilitation program it is critical that you have the right team of doctors and therapists at hand to assess your situation so that the best service and treatment plan can be custom-made to your body.

What NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre offers you as a MVA Rehabilitation Program?

A team of Chiropractor, Physiotherapist, Massage Therapist, Acupuncturist and Athletic therapist can offer comprehensive & customized treatment plan for individuals who suffer from car accident. When the patient is presented at the clinic, a comprehensive initial assessment and complete physical examination will be conducted by either the chiropractic doctor or physiotherapist, then we co-ordinate treatment with our doctors and therapists.

Each treatment plan is carefully designed by combining several treatments to assist patients in returning to a full and productive pre-injury condition as soon as possible.

These treatments can include one or more of the following therapy techniques such as:

Massage Therapy can be a great relief of muscle aches caused by motor vehicle accidents.
Passive joint mobilization can reduce pain through gentle, repetitive movements of the joints in the neck region.
Strengthening and conditioning programs designed to make sure that patients will remain active after their accident, to prevent pain due to stiffness.
Medical Acupuncture can help to reduce the symptoms that are associated with motor vehicle accidents.
Electrical modalities such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Interferential Current (IFC) and Ultrasound helps patients return to their normal daily activities by decreasing pain and tissue inflammation.
Education: most importantly, our specialists will not only treat patient, but also raise awareness for the patient and educate them with respect to the nature of injury and soft tissue healing process. This allows the patient to fully participate in the rehabilitation process.

What NTO Wellness & Rehab Centre offers you as a WSIB Rehabilitation Program?

At NTO Wellness & Rehab Centre, our dedicated health team will work closely with the WSIB and offer services focus on:

Pain relief
Strengthen & Flexibility
Improve Functional Abilities
Provide Ergonomic Advice
Coordinate Your Return To Work

In many cases, being assessed by a physiotherapist and beginning treatment as soon as possible after an injury speeds return to work and increases the likelihood of full recovery.

Athletic Therapy advice from NTO Rehab

Recognizing Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries

At NTO Wellness and Rehab our very own Registered Massage Therapist and Certified Athletic Therapist, Christine Mo would like to share some advice on recognizing acute musculoskeletal injuries in your daily lives, whether you are an athlete planning to run a marathon this weekend or somebody that has difficulty performing day-to-day tasks such as walking to the bus stop and/or lifting heavy groceries.

Christine Mo -HBSc, CAT(C), RMT, ATC, CSCS, CPT

Musculoskeletal injuries are any damage done to the muscles, bones, joints, tendons and other soft tissue. They can be anything ranging from a “Charley Horse” in the calf to a broken bone in the arm. Acute musculoskeletal injuries usually happen following sudden onset of accidents, for example, a slip and fall, a car accident, a hard blow in hockey or a wrongful landing from a jump.

In acute injuries, symptoms of inflammation are often present. Pain, obviously, is one of the most recognizable one. If the pain is so severe that you cannot move or bear weight, do not force the movement. You might have suffered a broken bone or a severe sprain or strain. In this case, stay where you are, and wait for help from a trained emergency care professional.

If you are able to move, bear weight and even walk, it usually means the injury you sustained is not worth a trip to the hospital. However, it does not mean there is no need for care. Although rare, some serious injuries can be hidden, and can only be found out after a thorough assessment by trained healthcare professionals.

Furthermore, trained healthcare professionals are able to provide appropriate treatment to your injury so it heals faster without any compensatory complications.

If you suspect that you may be experiencing musculoskeletal pain of any kind in your day-to-day activity, please do not hesitate to let one of the healthcare professionals or front desk staff know at NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre.

In my next blog I will be introducing the different types of professionals you can see for an acute musculoskeletal injury and the self treatment can be done while you’re looking for your therapist.

Chiropractic & Tension Headaches @ NTO Rehab

At NTO Wellness and Rehab our very own Chiropractor, Dr. James A. Haase would like to share some advice on how chiropractic services are effective in reducing and eliminating tension headaches so that you can finally be pain-free in your day-to-day living.

Looking for a headache remedy?

A headache may arise from muscular tension, vascular changes, sinus congestion, eyestrain and many other underlying causes. They can start over the eyes, in the back of the head, on the sides
or top of the head, or feel centred behind the eyes.

The amount of pain associated with a headache many range from a mild ache to a throbbing, nauseating, relentless pain.

Chiropractic and Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are caused by muscular tension and contraction involving the muscles of the shoulders, neck and head. Often this tension is a result of emotional stress, postural
stress, though injuries can also be the catalyst. It’s normal for muscles to contract when we are threatened irritated or angry.

Over time, though, if work or home life creates a constant source of stress, the muscular tension can become chronic. This, in turn, leads to uneven stresses on the skeletal structure of the body, and changes in normal posture and movement to compensate.

These misalignments lead to tension that is more muscular and contraction, which eventually results in headache pain.

The next time you are in the North York neighbourhood, be sure to drop by our NTO Wellness and Rehab Centre so that our resident Chiropractor can help relieve that tension headache once and for all.