DON’T LET YOUR MOUTHGUARD MAKE YOU SICK!

How your SISU mouthguard is protecting you in ways you never realized.

For the past year, we, as a society, have masked-up, kept our distance, and endlessly washed our hands. Team sports, especially contact sports, introduces a new level of challenge to the mission.

SISU provides a lightweight, thin, comfortable custom fit mouthguard that allows you to keep your guard in your mouth the entire game or practice. No need to remove your guard to talk, breathe or drink constantly. This means that you will transfer fewer germs from your dirty, sweaty hands to your mouth.

You wouldn’t use your toothbrush after it fell on the ground, would you?

A mouthguard is an ultimate habitat for microorganisms to live. The dark and moist environment is where mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms thrive.

“These concerns are similar to using an infected toothbrush repeatedly or using silverware that has not been cleaned properly,” says AGD spokesperson Bruce Burton, DMD, MAGD, ABGD. “Although a mouthguard is recommended to prevent permanent damage to the mouth and teeth, we know it also has the potential to be a reservoir for bacteria…”.

Protect yourself from harmful germs and infections:

• Custom-fit mouthguard – Your mouthguard is less likely to contract bacteria and other germs if it stays in your mouth the entire game. Unlike conventional mouthguards, SISU guards have been scientifically tested and proven to carry no bacteria for this very reason. The perforations allow for better flow of saliva and prevent bacteria from pooling in the mouthguard.
• Sharing is NOT caring – It’s a no-brainer to the adults, but it may not be as obvious for kids. When kids have the same color, it can be easy for them to confuse.
• Brush your teeth before putting on your mouthguard – Carry a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in your gym back to do a quick clean-up in the locker room.
• Use a case – Packed with sweaty shorts and dirty cleats, your gym bag is the worst place to store a loose mouthguard. · Clean your guard – Follow these easy steps for a squeaky clean mouth guard.
• Carry a backup – Always carry a backup mouthguard in case your primary guard gets dirty or damaged.
• Replace your mouthguard – Like with a toothbrush, bacteria can build up over time. Mouthguards should be replaced every season.

Don’t let your guard make you sick. SISU mouthguards protect your teeth and features to support a healthy you.

The post DON’T LET YOUR MOUTHGUARD MAKE YOU SICK! appeared first on In Play! magazine.

Ontario Fitness Facilities And COVID-19 Protocols

By Kim Dunwoody

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, fitness facilities in Windsor have experienced two long term blanket closures.

The initial closure lasted five months, spanning from March to August 2020, and the second began on December 14, 2020 and continues throughout January 2021, with no re-openings on the horizon.

In Ontario, as of January 7, 2021 there have been over 205,000 reported cases of COVID-19, with over 4,800 resulting in death (roughly 2.3%).

Almost a year into this pandemic, it has been proven that the presence of lifestyle-related chronic disease strongly predicts mortality from COVID-19 infections. More simply put, those who are dying from these infections have underlying health issues related to their lifestyle choices.

Healthy individuals, with average or better health biomarkers (resting heart rate, blood pressure, body fat percentage, etc.) are not experiencing deaths from COVID-19.

Ontario fitness facilities play a vital role in the maintenance of preventative health, both mental and physical, in their communities, and have a direct role in the improvement of these health biomarkers. 

In an overview of 50 Windsor CrossFit gym members between the ages of 17 to 68, the average resting heart rate was 53.9bpm. This hits the 90th percentile for the Canadian national average, which is 69bpm. As stated previously, a lower resting heart rate is a strong defence against mortality from COVID-19 infections.

I firmly believe that a collaboration between government officials, policy makers, public health representatives and fitness facility leaders would result in the best-case defense of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With clear indications that gyms play a pivotal role in preventative health care, this seems the most logical solution for a well-rounded approach to the prevention of COVID-19.

I implore that groups influencing the COVID-19 protocol development and decision making take another look at the current standings and reconsider their decision to keep fitness facilities closed during this time.

Ontario fitness facilities have been proven a safe and secure area, with minimal transmissions of COVID-19. Although contact tracing currently has some limitations, recent data released by Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table states that gyms account for less than 5% of all outbreaks in “hot spots” — an outbreak being defined as two or more cases.

Locally, facilities have done an exceptional job of keeping their gym members safe.

In an overview of 10 “box style” gyms and studios in Windsor, zero COVID-19 transmissions occurred in the 18 to 20 weeks of operation allowed between the months of August and December 2020.

These 10 gyms accumulated 78,163 total visits throughout that time frame, with zero transmissions of COVID-19 reported. The extensive safety protocols set in place were effective in reducing transmission of the disease, and would continue to be effective today if they were allowed to be implemented once more. 

The social distancing protocols put in place to protect people from COVID-19, and to limit stress on our healthcare system have created a different issue entirely. Isolation from the pandemic policies have had severe effects on the mental health of our community.

According to the Government of Canada website, physical fitness is a key component, and often the primary prescription,  in the management of mental health: “Physical activity/exercise is regarded as an important self-management strategy for individuals with mental illness . . . It is essential that health professionals recommend physical activity/exercise to their patients, discuss barriers and support their engagement.”

(Louise Pelletier) Leamington/Tecumseh-based Social Worker, Katelynn Thibert, (BSW, MSW, RSW), can speak to this even more clearly: “As a Social Worker I utilize evidence-based practice to guide my services. The research is clear; exercise and fitness is a proven intervention in mental health care, supported in whole with positive support and a healthy lifestyle. Fitness facilities offer legitimate services to members to manage their holistic physical and mental health through community, accountability, and exercise.”

The COVID-19 pandemic will be at large for the foreseeable future. Even with the implementation of different vaccines, it will be a timely task to secure the immunity of the population. It is the responsibility of policy makers to consider the impact and sustainability of their protocols, especially in the event that there is long-term disruption to daily life.

With Ontario fitness facilities being a safe place to operate, and playing such a heavy hand in preventative health (both physical and mental), it is logical to combine forces and create an improved, well-rounded approach to COVID-19 prevention.

Pete Shaw, Co-Owner, CrossFit NCR wraps up my commentary with the following: “Physical fitness, mental health, nutrition, stress levels and social wellbeing are all major components of regular gym operations and are all underlying factors of healthy individuals. Healthy individuals fight off COVID-19 and other illnesses much easier than those who are ill. It is with this logic that we ask for help in supporting a collaboration between government, public health and leaders in the fitness industry in order to keep our communities healthy, and our businesses open.”

The content in this article was supplied by Kim Dunwoody, Co-Owner and Head Coach of Windsor CrossFit. Kim is currently in the process of starting an initiative with policy makers and members of parliament to work together in the fight against COVID-19. When local gyms work TOGETHER with policy makers and politicians, it could help people survive if they contract COVID-19. Kim has sent out a letter to local Windsor-Essex MPs, doctors and policy makers to help her industry and local residents.

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PERFORMANCE WELLNESS CENTRE GRAND OPENING EVENT

On Sunday, September 8, 2019 Performance Wellness Centre held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 2451 Dougall Avenue Unit D, Windsor ( DORWIN PLAZA). Owners Frank & Louanne Nacci and their children, Samantha, Gavin and Serena, staff and newly signed up members were all there to celebrate.

The brand new 23,000 square foot facility located in the heart of Windsor features: a private women’s only area, flexible memberships, affordable personal training packages, all day classes, child watch, massage, saunas, tanning, a lounge area, shake bar, coffee shop, 2500 square foot boot camp challenge class area, and so much more to come.

Haley Randell ( Strong Woman Record Holder), and Derrick Randell (3 x Canadian Powerlifting Champion) were performing their powerlifting and deadlifting skills outisde in the parking lot for the crowd to see, while PWC brought their bootcamps outside too. If you can believe there was even more muscle brought to this event, The Windsor Exotic Car Club ! You could get behind the wheel of one of the worlds finest cars and have your photo taken in it. All proceeds generated are being donated to the Sick Kids Foundation.

Performance Wellness Centres mission is to provide a non-judgemental, educational, friendly, and inviting, functional, and innovative experience of uncompromising quality that meets the health and fitness needs of your entire family. The Nacci Family and their entire staff aim to ensure you perform well.  For more information please visit their website.

Photos by Della Jones

[See image gallery at inplaymagazine.com]

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Ontario Protecting Athletes Through Concussion Safety

Hit. Stop. Sit. Video Kicks Off Rowan’s Law Awareness Campaign

Ontario says it is making sport safer for competitive amateur athletes, children and youth and raising awareness about concussion safety.

Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, joined by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Eric Lindros, Hockey Hall of Famer and concussion advocate, officially launched the Rowan’s Law awareness campaign with a concussion safety video that has been playing in cinemas across Ontario. The province-wide campaign puts concussion safety information in front of Ontarians who need it most.

“With the spirit and story of Rowan Stringer’s preventable passing, the Ontario government is protecting amateur athletes by raising awareness about concussion safety. Reducing the risk of concussions is always the goal. But concussions happen. Knowing what to do if a concussion happens — whether you’re an athlete, a student, a parent, a coach, an official or an educator — saves lives.” – Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

Through video, print, and social media, the Rowan’s Law awareness campaign will change the conversation about how concussions are handled. The goal is to encourage coaches, parents and players to stop celebrating the “warriors” who jump back in the game too soon after a concussion — and instead recognize the serious brain injuries that concussions represent and the time required to treat them.

“Having experienced firsthand the effects of concussion, I am so proud to lend my voice to raising awareness about concussion safety,” said Lindros. “Rowan’s Law is using the slogan Hit.Stop.Sit. for this campaign to encourage kids to stop and sit it out when they get hit in a game. No one should play through a potential concussion.”

Minister MacLeod sponsored Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) in the Legislative Assembly, where it passed with unanimous support in March 2018.

Concussions can have serious consequences — from brain trauma to fatalities. We learned this with Rowan Stringer’s death,” said MacLeod. “I’m proud of Ontario’s leadership in ushering in Canada’s first concussion legislation and continue my call for other provinces and territories to do the same. It could save lives.”

QUICK FACTS

• Rowan’s Law was named after Rowan Stringer, a 17-year-old Ottawa rugby player, who died in spring 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (catastrophic swelling of the brain).
• Starting July 1, 2019, athletes, parents, coaches and officials will be required to review the concussion awareness resources and their sport organization’s concussion code of conduct.
• The highest rates of concussion in Ontario are found among children and youth under the age of 18.
• Concussions represent more than one in five Ontario student injuries treated by a doctor or nurse.
• Ontario students who report a head injury are more than twice as likely to report very high emotional distress and less success in academics.

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Luke Willson and ETS Windsor invite Parkinson’s Boxers to Train at New Facility

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month and in recognition of this, the newly established Elite Training Systems (ETS Windsor) is opening its doors to local individuals who are fighting back against their Parkinson’s diagnosis as members of Rock Steady Boxing Windsor-Essex.

Rock Steady Boxing is a local boxing program normally run out of Border City Boxing Club, but this Thursday, April 11th at 4pm, Rock Steady boxers are invited to train with newly-signed NFL Oakland Raiders #82 and LaSalle native, Luke Willson, in the state-of-the-art elite training facility in Kennedy Collegiate’s former pool area (245 Tecumseh Road East).

A few weeks ago, Luke Willson joined the Rock Steady boxers at the Border City Boxing Club for some training, and now he is excited to offer them a chance to train with him. “At ETS, we are ability builders – we train for speed, strength, power, agility, and flexibility. We want athletes to perform at their highest level”, says Willson. “It’s a special honour to invite the Rock Steady family to ETS. I’ve seen how hard they push themselves when they train.”

Border City Boxing Club owner and Rock Steady Boxing Coach Josh Canty is thrilled to give his Rock Steady boxers a chance to train at ETS Windsor because “it is a chance to engage in rigorous exercise, the only proven way to improve Parkinson’s symptoms.” Various studies in the 1980s and 1990s supported the notion that rigorous exercise, emphasizing gross motor movement, balance, core strength, and rhythm, could favorably impact range of motion, flexibility, posture, gait, and activities of daily living. More recent studies, most notably at Cleveland Clinic, focus on the concept of intense “forced” exercise, and have begun to suggest that certain kinds of exercise may be neuro-protective, i.e., actually slowing disease progression.

Rock Steady Boxers attest, and academic institutions, such as University of Indianapolis and Butler University, are reporting and documenting the improved quality of life among our boxers. Discovery of a cure may be many years away but in the last seven years, there is evidence that progress is made in all stages of the disease by those participating in the RSB program.

An estimated 1 in 500 people in Canada are living with Parkinson’s (up to 6000 individuals in Windsor-Essex), and Rock Steady Boxing is the only of its kind in the Windsor-Essex area.

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