Alex Kus Osteopathy
160 Dundurn Street South L8M2W5 Hamilton, ON, Canada

With the provincial lockdown ending and Hamilton entering the red zone, I will be re-opening and seeing patients again, starting this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rest assured, I will continue to rigorously follow all mandated safety protocols and keep the well-being of our community and my patients as my highest priority. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon and continuing to help you attain your best health.... Alex

Most of us have heard that you should aim to take 10,000 steps a day or exercise for a few hours a week in order to maintain physical fitness and well-being. While the research doesn't always agree on the specific length of time or amounts that are required, what can be agreed upon is that some regular activity is beneficial for your health. Whether it is walking as much as you can, working out, or just doing physical jobs and hobbies, they all contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Movement is an expression of your body's health. Don't let those nagging aches and pains or lingering old injuries get in the way of your overall health. Osteopathy can help your body gain and maintain healthy movement patterns, allowing you to be as active as you need to be for your lifestyle.

Can you feel it in your bones? This past Sunday was Saint Crispin's Day and the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, where the English army, led by Henry V and composed of mainly longbow wielding archers, defeated a French army that outnumbered them more than 2 to 1. You may have seen this depicted in Netflix's The King, or in Shakespeare's play, Henry V. In the second photo you can see an reconstructed skeleton of an English archer. These men practiced archery every day, ...taking hundreds of shots with a bow that required 120-180lbs of force to pull back. This consistent stress forced the archers' bones, ligaments, and joints to significantly change to accommodate. What we do most, affects us most. We may not be growing extra thick bones in our arms by doing our jobs and enjoying our hobbies, but they impose demands on our bodies that create adaptation. However, these adaptations are not necessarily the best for long term health, so it is important to make sure our bodies maintain the ability to move effectively and comfortably in a wide range of patterns.

Do you live in a haunted house? In osteopathy we often compare the body to a house. The principles that govern a sound structure apply to both and the systems within each are surprisingly similar. We have the foundation and external structure as the bones, wiring as the nerves, plumbing and pipes as the digestive tract, hallways as the blood vessels, and rooms as the organs. Much like a house, over time the body develops some, what we think of as unavoidable, creaks, squeaks,... and pipes that groan. It's easy to let your imagination run wild and come up with scary and supernatural causes for all the drafts, sounds, and flickering lights in your house, but they are usually the case of a structural issue that once addressed, fixes the issue. Osteopathic manual therapy addresses structural imbalances in your body's movement potential and quality. In this way, those "random" pains or flexibility issues that are "just part of getting older" can be dealt with systematically to improve your quality of life. Think of your osteopathic manual therapist like a structural engineer and a contractor for your house; you don't need to call the Ghostbusters to help your body, although we could all probably use more Bill Murray in our lives.

With the change in season there is a change in activities. That makes it a perfect time to come in for a treatment to make sure everything is moving as it should.

I hope you have all been well and keeping safe during these past few months. I am happy to announce that Hamilton will be entering Phase 2 next week and as such I will be reopening the clinic, starting with one day a week on Thursdays. I have implemented some new clinic policies in order to keep both myself and everyone else as safe as possible. If you feel comfortable booking an appointment, please contact me directly at [email protected]. Stay well.

Due to the latest developments with respect to COVID-19 the clinic will be closed until April, at which time the situation will be reevaluated. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay well.

***An important message to all patients*** My office will continue to be open for the time being. However, I will be implementing strict measures for your health and safety in response to COVID-19. Please follow the guidelines below to ensure a safe environment for all involved. ... -If you feel sick or unwell please re-book or cancel your appointment. Also please only reschedule for at least 10 days after you are feeling well again. -If you have been travelling or out of the country recently, or exposed to someone who has been infected by the virus, please respect the government self-quarantine recommendation of 14 days. - Please use the washroom to wash your hands upon arrival at the clinic. I will be disinfecting door handles and other exposed surfaces several times a day in order to provide a safe office space for your well being. On my end: The treatment table will be thoroughly disinfected after each treatment as per usual, and I will be washing my hands between each patient in order to avoid any potential transmission of disease from one person to the next. Please note that I myself may have to cancel several days of treatment to comply with government recommendations should I fall ill with or be exposed to someone with COVID-19. We all have loved ones who are vulnerable. It is important we work together to minimize the risk that our hospitals become overburdened. My at risk patients and I are very much appreciative of your help and understanding during this time. Thank you.