Season's Greetings!

 

December 2021 LBD PCN Newsletter

 Our December newsletter is out! Read about:

- Edmonton Zone Health Education

- How to access our providers

- Team-Based Care Program

- Prescription To Get Active

- Alberta Seniors’ Centre Without Walls Program

Read the newsletter here: December 2021 LBD PCN Newsletter

November is Falls Prevention Month

Could a fall change your lifestyle?

Every year, many older adults fall. After a fall, many people are unable to live the way they want. They may lose their independence or live in fear of falling again. Falls are not a natural part of getting older. Here are some at-home exercises that will help:

Falls Prevention Workout 1 Seated

Falls Prevention Workout 2

Stand Up To Falls Week 1

Stand Up To Falls Week 2

Stand Up To Falls Week 3

Stand Up To Falls Week 4

Stand Up To Falls Supplementary Exercises

For more support, please visit www.findingbalancealberta.ca or ask your family doctor for a referral to see the Exercise Specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network. 

National Kinesiology Week

 

The Exercise Specialist (kinesiologist) at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network can help you with cardiorespiratory health, cognitive capacities including mental health, ergonomics, functional abilities, weight gain and obesity, and safe return to sport. To access their services, ask your family doctor for a referral. 

https://lbdpcn.com/programs-2/team-based-care-program/

November is Falls Prevention Month

In Canada, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults.

According to Fall Prevention Month statistics, over one-third of older adults will be admitted to long-term care after being hospitalized for a fall. Falls in older adults account for $2 billion in annual direct healthcare costs.

Every year, 1 in 3 Alberta seniors will fall.

Take action to reduce your risk.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. The older we get, the greater the risk of falling becomes. Our bodies naturally change with age, and these changes affect the way we feel, move, and behave. 

• Older adults with muscle weakness are 4-5 times more likely to fall.
• Try to do 30 minutes or more of physical activity at least 5 days each week.
• Walking, dancing, Tai Chi, and cross-country skiing are a few great ways to be active.
  

A fall can have a devastating and lasting impact on an individual resulting in injury, chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Even without an injury, a fall can cause a loss of confidence and a reduction in activities for older adults.

• Older adults with low vision are 2.5 times more likely to fall.
  
• A comprehensive eye exam will test your vision and look for issues like glaucoma and cataracts.
  
• Alberta Health Care covers the cost of eye exams for adults 65 and older.
  

Some medications can also put you at risk of a fall.

• Seniors taking more than 3 - 4 medications are at a higher risk of falls.
  
• Some prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements can increase your risk of falling.
  

These actions can help you prevent a fall and stay independent:

• Learn more about how to lower your fall risk to prevent yourself from falling or falling again.
• Talk with a physiotherapist to get the best walking aid for your needs.
• Exercise to improve your strength and balance.
• Talk with a physiotherapist or our PCN Exercise Specialist about exercise to improve your balance.
• Talk to your health care provider if you are worried about falling, especially if it stops you from being active.
• Do 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week strengthening your muscles can reduce your risk of falling - our PCN Exercise Specialist can provide guidance and exercise routines.
• Keep active to improve strength and balance. 
• Talk with your doctor or health care provider about managing the need to rush to the toilet. Rushing could increase your risk of a fall. 
• Talk to your podiatrist or doctor if you have numbness in your feet; numbness can cause a fall.
• Review your medications, vitamins, and supplements with your pharmacist or doctor yearly or if your prescription changes or new medications are added. 
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about medication side effects or causes of light-headedness. Sometimes an adjustment of dosage or type of medication can help.
• Are you sad or have concerns about anxiety or depression? Talk to your health care provider or doctor about how you are feeling.
• Visit an eye doctor yearly to check your eye health. Poor vision or a change in vision can increase the risk of a fall.
• Wear proper shoes, especially outside. Take extra care when walking on snow or ice-covered sidewalks or parking lots. Learn the "Penguin Walk".

Take this online assessment quiz to see if you are at risk of a fall.

Health care providers can print paper copies of this quiz, here.

Learn more at https://www.fallpreventionmonth.ca/

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes and the Effectiveness of Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is very beneficial to those living with diabetes. The short-term benefits of increasing physical activity are: 

• Lowers your blood glucose within one hour.
• Increases your energy and strength during the day
• Decreases stress, anxiety and fatigue
• Improves relaxation and sleep
• Improves overall well being    

The long-term benefits if activity is sustained: 

•  Improved blood glucose (sugar) control
•  Helps with maintaining weight management when healthy eating is involved.
•  Lowered blood pressure
•  Stronger bones and muscles
•  Lower risk of diabetes complications such as eye, heart, and kidney disease
•  Improved quality of life

One of the most effective aerobic activities with the lowest dropout rate is walking. It can be as simple as going for a brisk walk in your neighbourhood. Here is a sample walking program for your use.                                                                                                

Both aerobic and resistance exercises are important when it comes to decreasing the risk of developing or advancing Type 2 Diabetes as both help to improve the body’s insulin sensitivity. 

Make sure to interrupt sitting at least every 30 minutes by getting up and walking, standing or stretching.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a very effective form of exercise at a higher intensity for shorter durations, as an option for those who are able to tolerate it. 

Tracking your activity/steps throughout the day is another way of monitoring the amount of time you are active and for some, it is a strategy for reducing sitting time by staying accountable.

Canadian Diabetes Association information: 

www.diabetes.ca

• Low physical fitness is as strong a risk factor for mortality as smoking.
• Higher levels of physical activity and fitness level is one of the strongest predictors of all-cause mortality in people with diabetes.
• Physical activity can be as powerful as glucose-lowering medication… with fewer side effects.
• Regular physical activity, in conjunction with healthy eating and weight control, can reduce type 2 diabetes incidence by 60 percent.

     If you require help with getting started on an exercise or physical activity plan, ask your family doctor for a referral to the Exercise Specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.

Nurse Practitioner Week

 November 7-13 is Nurse Practitioner Week!

It's Nurse Practitioner Week! Our PCN has two amazing Nurse Practitioners to celebrate - Marilyn, who provides care to the patients at Calmar Medical Clinic, and Michelle, who runs both the Warburg Nurse Practitioner Clinic and Thorsby Nurse Practitioner Clinic. Thank you both for all you do for the PCN, your patients, and the communities you serve!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

November is Diabetes Awareness Month! 

Did you know that 1 in 3 Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes? So many lives are touched by this chronic disease, yet so few Canadians know they are at risk for developing diabetes. 

What is Diabetes?

It’s a chronic disease where the body cannot make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps to control blood sugars. A high amount of sugar in the blood can damage organs, blood vessels, and nerves over a long period.  

Are you at risk?

Not much is known about definite risk factors for Type 1 Diabetes, but there are quite a few risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Some we can have some control over, but some we cannot. 

Here’s a list of risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes:

• Have a parent, brother, or sister living with diabetes.

• Member of a high-risk group (Indigenous, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian, African descent)

• Have given birth to a baby weighing more than 4kg or 9lb

• Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)

• Prediabetes diagnosis

• Have high blood pressure

• Have high cholesterol  or high blood fats

• Have extra weight around the abdomen, overweight

• Have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis

• Have acanthosis nigricans diagnosis

• Have obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis

• Have diagnosed psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, depression

Ask your doctor to test if you have diabetes if you are over 40 years old or if you have several risk factors after taking this risk test: https://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/en/canrisk

Don’t have a doctor?  Find one here: www.albertafindadoctor.ca

Fight the Risk

Here are some healthy habit ideas that can help lower your risk of diabetes:

• Eat a high fibre breakfast every day

• Eat 1 cup of vegetables at each of your meals

• Eat 2-3 servings of fruit each day (1 serving =0.5 cups or tennis ball size piece of fruit)  

• Go for a 10-15 minute walk at lunch every day

• Try deep breathing or visualization technique to manage your stress or check out other stress management techniques at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/tests-treatments/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=rlxsk&

Your Team

You have a team of Registered Dietitians, an Exercise Specialist, Registered Nurses, Behavioural Health Consultants and Mental Health Therapists that can support your health journey through the Team-Based Care program at the PCN.  You can access this team for support by asking for a referral from your family doctor.  

Soccer Injury Prevention

By Dr. Keith Barry 

As summer finally arrives so too does the soccer season. Soccer is now the most popular sport amongst Canadian children. With the sharp twists and turns of soccer comes an increased risk of lower extremity injuries. Young girls in particular have a significantly increased risk of ACL injuries. 

An ACL tear is a season-ending, potentially surgical knee, that can lead to permanent knee damage. Several exercise programs have been developed to help prevent ACL injuries and I encourage all young athletes (not just soccer) to take part in one. 

A physiotherapist can assist with such a program. FIFA 11+ is an exercise/warm-up program designed to help prevent soccer injuries. This is applicable to all soccer players but is particularly important for adolescent females given their elevated risk. The program can be found here: FIFA 11+ – FIFA Medical Platform (fifamedicalnetwork.com)

Reference: Pimlott, N and Carson, J.  Canadian Family Physician. Vol 60. May 2014. Page 404

Rethinking the Annual Physical Exam - by Dr. Keith Barry

In years past, having patients come in for an "Annual Physical" was commonplace in any family medicine practice.  As evidence has evolved, we have realized that the time and cost of this practice can be better used elsewhere. The actual physical examination component of a yearly visit has never been shown to be of utility. What is more debatable, is the need for routine testing or screening. 

Screening is the practice of looking for disease in people without any symptoms. The idea is to find a disease or a modifiable risk factor for disease early on, where early intervention can prevent complications or offer an easier cure. Many screening tests are current recommended in Canada. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• pap smears
• mammograms
• FIT testing (fecal immunochemical test)
• bone density
• PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
• cholesterol testing
• diabetes screening

You may be surprised to learn that for even these commonly recommended tests, the evidence of benefit is often questionable and almost no one needs them yearly.  In this video, Dr. Mike Evans discusses some of these tests along with some others which are generally not recommended. The key with screening is making it individualized, based on your specific history, risk factors and values. This is why it is important to have a good relationship with your family doctor. 

Although an "Annual Physical" may not be necessary, you should touch base regularly with your family physician, who knows you and your health history, to discuss and decide which test's you may benefit from.  How often this discussion or "preventative health exam" should occur needs to be individualized. You can use the same opportunity to work on improving your lifestyle, which is usually much more beneficial to health than any test. 

I see a common practice still occurring in some physician offices, where a receptionist gives a patient a lab requisition as soon as they book for a physical. This is bad medicine. Which tests to do needs to be a discussion between you and your physician. A single list of tests for every patient is not appropriate. This is an unnecessary cost to the system; but more importantly will lead to unnecessary testing, false positives and harm. More information about various screening tests and their indications can be found at choosingwisely.ca. 

Below is information from Towards Optimized Practice about a change in the way we think about Cholesterol/Cardiovascular risk reduction.  No one needs their cholesterol checked every year! (click on image to download/enlarge.)

Mental Health Week May 3-9

 Angry? Glad? Frustrated? Sad? It’s all good. This #MentalHealthWeek is all about how we feel. Get ready to #GetReal:

www.mentalhealthweek.ca

 

Support for Caregivers

By Dr. Keith Barry 

When a patient is faced with a serious illness or disability 80%-90% of their care is proved by family and friends.

Being a caregiver to a loved one, though immensely valuable, is not easy and can have a significant impact on the caregiver's mental and physical health.

Support for caregivers in Alberta is available through the Alberta Caregivers Association.

The Alberta Caregivers Association can be contacted at 780.453.5088 in the Edmonton area, or toll-free 1.877.453.5088. Information is available at www.albertacaregivers.org.

 

Diet for Depression

Posted by Dr. Keith Barry March 26, 2017 on Diet for Depression

A recent study, published in BMC Medicine, has shown that diet counselling and modification can help 1 in 4 patients with Major Depression improve and achieve remission.

What dietary advice did they give?

1. Increase diet quality with the consumption of 12 key food groups

• Whole Grains 5-8 servings per day
• Vegetables 6 servings per day
• Fruit 3 servings per day
• Low fat/unsweetened dairy 2-3 servings per day
• Legumes 3-4 servings per week
• Raw and unsalted nuts 1 serving per day
• Fish at least 2 servings per week
• Lean red meat 3-4 serving per week
• Chicken 2-3 servings per week
• Eggs up to 6 per week
• Olive oil 3 tablespoons per day

1. Things to REDUCE

• Sweets
• Refined cereals
• Fried food
• Processed meats
• Sugary beverages

1. Eliminate alcohol except for red wine with meals (maximum 2 standard-size drinks per day)

The patients in this study modified their diet with quite intensive support and counselling from a dietitian.  This makes it difficult to say if self-imposed changes to the diet will provide the same benefit, but it can’t hurt.  They also found improvement on anxiety scores however this was not the primary outcome they were looking at.

There is other evidence that supports a link between a “healthy” diet and mental health.  This, however, was a randomized controlled trial so can actually establish that the dietary intervention caused the improvement seen (within the limitations of the study.)

Reference: Jacka et al. A randomized controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial.) BMC Medicine (2017) 15:23

The LBD PCN March newsletter is out!

 Our March newsletter is out! Topics include:

- Free patient education

- New programs

- Resources

- COVID-19 support

Read it here:

Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network March 2021 Newsletter

Heart Disease Risk Reduction

Heart Disease Risk Reduction

by Dr. Keith Barry

Alberta Health has developed an online tool to help you calculate your “heart age". This represents your risk of future heart disease and cardiovascular events. It is accompanied by information on how you can reduce your risk.

The Heart Disease Risk Calculator can be found at:  https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Heart-Disease-Risk-Calculator.aspx

Further information on reducing your vascular risk can be found at: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/scns/page10585.aspx

The tool does ask for your blood pressure. You can check your own blood pressure at most pharmacies or buy a home monitor. We recommend everyone check their blood pressure on a regular basis (i.e. yearly however the optimal frequency is currently unclear.) If your blood pressure is elevated persistently, write down the readings and bring them in to see your family physician for review. It is helpful to have a few different readings from a few different days as our blood pressure can fluctuate quite a bit; you cannot make much out of one single reading.  When you check your blood pressure, you should have been at rest for 5 minutes prior and should not have had any caffeine or nicotine recently. More information on measuring your blood pressure can be found at the Canadian Hypertension Education Program.

The tool also asks for your cholesterol. Not everyone needs their cholesterol checked and no one needs it checked yearly. If you are on cholesterol medication (Statin) you do not need your cholesterol checked ever again (the benefit is the same regardless of cholesterol levels or reduction.) This is often a test that is done too frequently and can drive healthcare costs. Most people should have their cholesterol checked starting at age 40 and then every 3-5 years thereafter. If you have certain risk factors (i.e obesity, diabetes, smoking, family history or many others) your cholesterol and cardiovascular risk should be assessed earlier. You can see your physician to determine if you should have your cholesterol checked or have had it checked in the past.  

Do you have hip and/or knee pain? GLA:D Canada may be for you!

 Do you have hip and/or knee pain?

GLA:D Canada is an 8-week education and exercise program for those with stiff and/or painful knees and/or hips or those with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis and was developed from the GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark) program. Research shows participants report less pain, reduced use of pain killers, fewer individuals on sick leave, and being more physically active.

If you think you would benefit from this program, ask your PCN doctor for a referral!

From daily pain to daily gain – how accessing the right care changed a life

From daily pain to daily gain – how accessing the right care changed a life

 

Lynn had been dealing with discomfort in her legs and feet for several years and, like many, chalked it up to the joys of ageing. She became used to not sleeping because of the pain running down her legs and feet at night and feeling miserable all day from the pain. As the intensity of the pain grew, it affected every aspect of her life. She stopped doing activities she once enjoyed because the pain was too much. It wasn’t an excuse for not exercising; it was a definite reason not to remain physically active. Like many, she felt like rest would help, when in fact, it did the opposite. “The more I did nothing, the worse the pain was,” remembers Lynn. She was quick to add that doing nothing was the worse thing she could have done.

Lynn lived with this hardship much longer than she needed to. She didn’t want to sit around any longer, watching the pain take over her life. Hoping for relief, she went to a massage therapist. The massage therapist suggested a chiropractor instead. Lynn found herself at the chiropractor’s office three times a week and felt even sorer after each visit. X-rays showed arthritis had set in. She tried the fixes she knew about first, but massage and chiro were not helping. Lynn eventually talked to her family doctor, who recognized the type of support Lynn needed and recommended she see Adrien, the exercise specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network (PCN).

Even though the doctor’s referral was sent to the PCN when COVID-19 first appeared in Alberta, and we faced our first period of business shutdowns and self-quarantine, Lynn was able to see the PCN exercise specialist right away and in-person at the PCN office. Lynn was put through a complete exam of her back, hips, posture, and gait analysis, given coordination and balance tests, as well as manual muscle testing for her lower body. Adrien determined that Lynn’s symptoms were valid, and she was suffering a high level of pain, considering the severity of her symptoms. Following the assessment, Adrien provided Lynn with specific exercises known as the McGill Big 3 for core strengthening and online workout videos, specifically certain ones Adrien has posted on the LBD PCN YouTube channel.

Adrien provided Lynn with the tools she needed to start on the path back to health. Adrien prescribed exercise, and, in Lynn’s words, even though she doesn’t like being told what to do sometimes, she took Adrien’s advice and got to work. Lynn committed to exercising every day, and after only about 6 weeks, she is thrilled to say that the constant pain is gone. If she tweaks something or moves too quickly the wrong way, she can feel it still there, but the daily pain is no longer. Lynn only had to see Adrien at the PCN twice; that’s all it took for Lynn to understand what she needed to do.

Both Lynn and Adrien are happy with her progress and agree that she doesn’t need to continue coming to the PCN, “I’m done with him,” Lynn laughs, referring to Adrien and his expert advice and support. She was prepared with the knowledge and tools Adrien provided, including teaching Lynn to be accountable to herself. “Sometimes things go sideways in life, and we need someone to tell us what to do to get back on track,” Adrien assured Lynn that if she ever needs help again, the PCN door is always open.

Lynn is grateful that her family doctor referred her to see Adrien at the PCN and thrilled he could help her out of a life of pain and misery. “Adrien gave me the tools and a plan for managing my pain. My gains are achieved through exercise and sticking to it. I am grateful for his inspiration and knowledge and will take them forward with me as I continue to grow stronger.”

If you would like to access the Exercise Specialist’s services at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network, please talk to your family doctor, and ask for a referral.

Consistancy in exercise is key - but how do we get there?

Motivation Monday! Today our Exercise Specialist provides pointers and tips on how to succeed with your healthy living and activity goals by building momentum. Consistency is key! Click the image below to check it out.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to receive Adrien's updates!

Out with RICE, in with PEACE & LOVE: An updated guide to soft tissue injury recovery & rehab

Out with RICE, in with PEACE & LOVE: An updated guide to soft tissue injury recovery & rehab 

 For the last few decades, a common basic recovery method for most basic soft tissue injuries like an ankle sprain for example was RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation. On the surface this acronym makes sense overall and has been used from anyone from athletes, therapists, to standard population to help recover from injuries. The idea of resting an injury is sound, icing the area reduces pain and swelling which people often associate with recovery (this will be discussed/debated further later), compression to reduce swelling, and elevation to allow gravity to help pull fluids out of the area. 

As a clinician myself, I have noticed that most patients have heard of RICE even if they do not know what the acronym means as it is very engrained in the injury/rehab community. Looking at how I treat patients, how I see other clinicians treating patients, and what I notice people recover from the best includes some parts of RICE, but often is greatly lacking overall. 

Recently I was reviewing my colleague’s treatment philosophies and I started to notice the acronym PEACE & LOVE.  After further research I noticed this acronym has been showing up more and more in the rehab community, completely replaces RICE and aligned perfectly with my view of injury recovery for patients. 

PEACE & LOVE stands for:  

Protection 

Elevation  

Avoid anti-inflammatories 

Compression 

Education 

Load 

Optimism 

Vascularization 

Exercise 

I will break these down and share my thoughts on this protocol for injury management in general. I have also made a video going over this on the Leduc Beaumont Devon YouTube channel that can be reviewed, here.

 

Protection: Protection is indicated during the initial onset of injury to reduce potential risk of further injuries occurring in the immediate future. This can include casts, tensor wraps, avoiding contact, etc. Protecting an affected area in the initial stages of recovery for something like a sprained ankle is extremely important. 

Elevation: This one aligns with the RICE concept. Elevating an injured area immediately post-accident/injury will allow gravity to help pull fluids out of the area, reduce swelling, and potentially slightly help with pain management. 

Avoid anti-inflammatories: As with any medication we always recommend discussing with your physician, and anti-inflammatories have their place for some people with certain conditions. Though these medications do help to reduce inflammation (in some situations) and may reduce pain, (also in some situations) there is a growing body of research indicating that they delay and or slow down tissue healing; current research is showing that icing an injury may have a similar effect on healing by slowing it down. Fun fact! There is a substantial amount of research which shows that anti-inflammatory medications stop muscle hypertrophy (growth) post work out via the inhibition of the mTor (mechanistic target of rapamycin) pathway. 

Compression: Another recommendation taken from RICE, compressing an injured area like a sprained ankle immediately post injury can help to reduce swelling, thus slightly helping with pain management, also providing some protection and rigidity to the area immediately post injury. 

Education: Educations is a very important and valuable tool for anyone recovering from an injury. If you have an injury, seeking assistance and education from a qualified health professional to help you understand what has happened, how to treat it, and what to expect, is incredibly important. This provides buy-in from the patient; when a patient is committed to their recovery the likelihood of a positive outcome is significantly higher. 

Load: Now we have moved onto the second word of the acronym (LOVE) and now we start to discuss the methods of recovery after the initial few days or week(s) following the event and the injury has stabilized. Using a sprained ankle for an example - initially you will use a crutch or something similar so there is no load (weight, pressure) on the joint. Once the joint is just able to weight bear, even to a small extent, or perform basic exercises, it is very important to begin loading the joint as soon as the tissues can handle it with limited symptoms. The sooner you are able to load the area, the sooner the tissues in the area are able to be worked and develop. Often the worst part of an injury itself isn't the recovery process, it’s the weakness due to atrophy of not using the joint or area as soon as possible. In a personal view, I think that there is strong support that the sooner you are able to safely load the joint, the better likelihood of a positive recovery. Once again this is to be handled with a health care professional. 

Optimism: Being injured is difficult physically and mentally. But there is strong support showing that individuals with positive outlooks on their injures, their recovery process, and their goal orientation, have significantly better recovery outcomes, both short and long term. 

Vascularization: This is incredibly important at this stage of recovery due to increasing the blood flow into the area to help bring healing factors and increase recovery rates. One major reason certain joints do not recover faster is due to them having poor blood supply. Helping to keep more blood flowing in and out of the joint via using the joint in movements or exercises helps to pump and flush the joint. This will increase blood flow that brings in healing factors and then you flush out certain metabolites to aid in recovery. 

Exercise: The final letter is E for exercise, which is all encompassing of this stage in recovery. This includes the initial early stages of basic rehab, to more functional movements, and progressing back to full functionality. Exercise needs to include load, progressions, and variation, and are the cornerstones to all recovery from injury and ties the whole acronym together. 

PEACE & LOVE. This acronym is far more in-depth and specific then the old RICE concept, is progressive in nature, and can follow you through the recovery process for the injury. For example, during the initial onset of injury, focus on the PEACE aspect of the acronym. As you progress in recovery, the LOVE aspect becomes the primary focus. Overall, I think this is a positive step to help people understand injury recovery and rehabilitation. Obviously, this will not cover all injuries in every situation, but as a general rule, and for a great deal of musculoskeletal injuries, this acronym can be helpful, and I hope it becomes a common vernacular in society and replaces RICE soon. PEACE & LOVE > RICE. 

Adrien DeGroot is the Exercise Specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network. See how he, and other members of the Team-Based Care Program, can help you in your health journey.