Keep on running
Walk-in clinic for exercise enthusiasts
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 17, 2013
INUVIK
Runners and walkers headed to the Inuvik Regional Hospital's rehabilitation department in steady numbers over the last few weeks, but for a good reason.
Elise Decarie-Jean practices an exercise designed to help strengthen her hips under the watchful eye of the physiotherapist team at the Inuvik Regional Hospital Oct. 4. She was one of the people attending a walk-in clinic for runners and walkers. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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The department has begun offering walk-in clinics for anyone interested in running or walking. As well, it's been offering clinics on knee injuries and how to avoid them.
It's a preemptive strategy for the department, Patrick March said.
Promoting health and wellness
"The idea is to promote health and wellness generally," he said Oct. 4 at the latest clinic. "We want to 'pre-hab,' or give people tips to prevent running injuries, or any kind of injuries, before they happen.
"Injuries are always easier to rehab the quicker you catch them," March added. "And it's even better when we can prevent them. So the basic idea is to inform people of what the physio department is here to do and make people more comfortable with exercise."
The first clinic was held three weeks ago, and attracted good numbers of people, March said. Last week's clinic was quieter, but still successful.
The therapy team does a short interview with people attending the clinic, asking for their concerns and checking on existing injuries or conditions. The participants are then asked to do a short treadmill test, either walking or running, which is recorded on video from several angles.
"You usually don't see yourself run, and how you think you are running is oftentimes not an accurate representation. I think it's a good tool for people, and then (we gave them) a specific exercise program based on areas where they can improve."
Elise Decarie-Jean was one of the participants, who was treated to individual sessions with the therapists.
"It's very helpful," she said with a laugh. "Now I know how to run."
That might sound like a strange statement at first glance, but even common, every-day activities like running and walking are rife with mechanical problems people aren't aware of, March said.
Caroline Alain, another therapist, said "most people want to improve their running form."
"We try to give them tips on that to prevent injuries," she said. "Or if they have pain or injuries, they want to know how to get rid of it."
People also often are looking for tips on selecting running shoes, or even to discuss breathing techniques.
Typical injuries
Typical injuries involve knee pain, low back pain and hip pain, along with foot pain, March and Alain said.
"There are different things we can suggest to make it easier," he said. "It's a huge spectrum."
Running is a popular activity in Inuvik, they said, although you might not know it during the winter months.
Up until about two years ago, there was a formal running club in town, but it's since folded.
"There are more runners than you think," Alain said. "Actually, there's lots of them."
The rehabilitation department is also selling Nordic walking poles and traction aids (boot cleats) for people to use in the winter in a bid to help encourage more activity. Both the poles and cleats are being sold at cost, Alain and March said, and are proving to be fairly popular.
