Silva is is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner with a substantial background in physiotherapy. After arriving in Vancouver in summer 2012, sthe completed her manual osteopathy training at the National Academy of Osteopathy. Additionally, she is qualified in Manual lymph drainage, Medical Taping as well as the Dorn Method and has considerable experience in TMJ treatments. By completing courses in N.A.P., Craniosacral Therapy and Manual Therapy for temporomandibular disorders,

Silva has successfully been treating and releasing symptoms such as headaches, migraines, tinnitus and dizziness. She believes in an interactive treatment approach, loves to strive for new challenges and knowledge, and especially enjoys treating patients who are goal-oriented and motivated.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a holistic, gentle form of treatment concerning the restoration of health rather than the focus on disease. For optimal rehabilitation, the whole body is to be assessed, treated and psychological factors such as stress, need to be considered and evaluated. By performing structural treatments, mostly of neuromuscular origin, the body's physiology improves and pain decreases. If possible, therapeutic exercises are prescribed to round out the treatment.

Top conditions treated with Manual Osteopathy at Hycroft Chiropractic & Massage:

• Temporomandibular disorders (TMD ), including:

Muscle Pain & Tightness with/without referred pains:

➢ Headaches & Migraines

➢ Earaches & Tooth aches

• Joint Hypomobility

• Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Tinnitus

• Dizziness

Further conditions treated with Manual Osteopathy:

• Primary and Secondary Lymphedema, Lipedema

• Thoracic outlet syndrome

• Sporting injuries

• Sprains and Strains

• Frozen shoulder

• Carpel tunnel syndrome

• Plantar fascitis

• Hallux valgus

• Sciatica

Research on acupuncture for back pain

How acupuncture works for back pain

• Increases local blood flow to the area
• Releases endorphins, which is a natural way your body relieves pain to feel good
• Activates the body's natural healing mechanism to repair connective tissue
• Helps the body to shed toxins (which can contribute to a sluggish recovery) and therefore resets the natural healing process
• Reduces inflammation, which can be the key to unblocking back pain

Acupuncture treatment for back pain

• How relaxed and good they feel
• Improved energy levels
• Improved sleep quality

The P-Word, Posture, it's one of the most common interests & concerns our patients have. How to have "Perfect Posture", "Better Posture", "Postural Correction", what "Postural Exercises" are best?

All patients at our clinic start off with a Chiropractic Postural & Spinal Evaluation. This begins with a careful evaluation as to what's looking good & what needs improvement. Everyone holds their stress in their bodies differently. Unique recommendations are made on an individual basis but the following is a summary of 5-Way to Improve Posture.

5-Ways to Improve Posture

1. Awareness - knowing good vs bad postural habits & positions is half the battle. How is your posture while sitting, standing, sleeping? What type of asymmetrical stress are you placing on your spine through postural & activity? Think about it, be aware of it & change it whenever possible.
   
2. Rest & Relaxation - it's truly difficult to hold yourself upright when your mind & body are exhausted. How much sleep are you getting, are you well rested? If not consider that your body isn't functioning to it's full capacity & your posture will suffer!
   
3. Muscular Strength, Tone, Tension & Elasticity - the muscles that surround the spine are their to support the spine. Weak or overly tense/tight muscles do a poor job holding us in good posture. For this reason we encourage living a healthy active life that includes regular physical exercise, stretching and soft tissue techniques such as massage therapy, yoga and chiropractic.
   
4. Spinal Alignment, Mobility & Chiropractic - the blocks that make up the spine (the vertebrae) need to have a particular alignment and movement pattern in order to function property & to have best posture. Stress accumulates in & around the spine leading to stiffness, eventually the pinched nerve and a series of pain & discomfort, not to mention less than ideal posture. Chiropractic treatment is aimed at improving posture by improving function, at each vertebral segment. This is an often the most neglected aspect to Perfect Posture.
   
5. Foot Arch Alignment, Shock Absorption & Custom Orthotics - if your feet are flat (pronated) and your movement patterns & weight distribution are off, consider having your feet taken care of with a pair of custom made orthotic inserts.

Have your questions about "Perfect Posture" in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Sciatica (or sciatic neuritis) is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition to pain, which is sometimes severe, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or tingling and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back pain and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. This point is important, because treatment for sciatica or sciatic symptoms will often be different, depending upon the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Call 604-733-7744, we can help!

Vancouver Chiropractic & Massage Therapy services are provided by Dr. Michael Horowtiz & Associates. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

Have your questions about Treatment for Sciatica Pain in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Scoliosis (from Greek: skolíōsis meaning "crooked") is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side, shaped like an "s", and may also be rotated.

It is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. On an x-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with a typical scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line. It is typically classified as congenital (caused by vertebral anomalies present at birth), idiopathic (sub-classified as infantile, juvenile, adolescent, or adult according to when onset occurred) or as neuromuscular, having developed as a secondary symptom of another condition, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy or due to physical trauma.

Scoliosis may be “fixed” as a result of muscle and/or bone deformity or “mobile” as a result of unequal muscle contraction.

MILD - under 15 degree angle

MODERATE - 15 to 30 degree angle

Have you asked yourself these questions about Scoliosis?

• Do I have a pain caused by scoliosis?
• What conservative scoliosis treatments are available?
• Do I require scoliosis surgery or a scolisis brace?
• What are scoliosis causes and do I need a scoliosis brace?
  

Call 604-733-7744, we can help!

Have your questions about Scoliosis Treatment in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Hycroft’s newest (RMT) Registered Massage Therapist is Demis Cabrele, a graduate of the West Coast College of Massage Therapy 3000-hour RMT program.

Demis believes that massage therapy facilitates the body’s natural healing process. Incorporating modalities such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage and stretching, Demis is able to create a treatment plan for each client that promotes balance through restored function. He is committed to helping his clients move towards a pain free lifestyle.

Patient education is an important component of Demis’ treatments; he believes that with knowledge patients will be better equipped to go through the healing process.

Demis will be available at Hycroft Chiropractic & Massage on Mondays & Wednesdays.

Have your questions about Chiropractic & Massage Therapy in Vancouver answered by calling 604-733-7744 or by filling out the form below:

Stretch of the Day:

• The Cat-Stretch Stretch! Cats & Dogs do this stretch all the time. They must know something. This stretch has two components. 1) kneel on all 4’s with your hands shoulder width apart and close to your knees. Now tilt your pelvis to your belly by contracting your abdominal muscles and lower spine reaching for the sky. Hold for 15-seconds. 2) still in the kneeling position place your hands further from your body this time. Now tilt your pelvis to the sky and your spine to the ground. Hold for 15-seconds. These stretches focus on relaxing the muscles that surround and support the back and pelvis.

Want more information on stretching & how to keep your spine flexible & healthy? Call us at 604-733-7744! 

Visit us online at www.vancouverchiropractic.net, www.massage-therapy-vancouver.com, or www.vancouverorthotics.ca.

Pinched Nerve - describes a type of  injury to a nerve or set of nerves. The injury may result from compression, constriction, or stretching. Symptoms include numbness, "pins and needles" or burning sensations, and pain radiating outward from the injured area. One of the most common examples of a single compressed nerve is the feeling of having a foot or hand "fall asleep." Otherwise, pain or discomfort itself is a very good indicator.

Pinched Nerves often result from faulty spinal mechanics due to the accumulation of stress & tension to the spine. This is best treated by proper assessment by a chiropractor & hands-on treatment which gets to the source of the problem and allow for most rapid healing. Call 604-733-7744 for relief!

A nerve can be 'pinched' at various points along its route, each nerve having its own characteristic 'weak points'. The most common areas of pinching is at the exit of the nerves from the spine ( the foramina). They are pinched, compressed and pulled at these points.

Hycroft Chiropractic & Massage Therapy services are provided by Dr. Michael Horowitz & Associates. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

Call 604-733-7744, we can help!

Have your questions about treatment for Pinched Nerves in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Swedish Massage is a relaxing and flowing massage that focuses on the superficial muscles, helping to increase the flow of oxygen in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. The five basic strokes of a Swedish massage are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. All strokes must travel towards the heart, this supports the movement of fluid back to general circulation. Swedish massage is helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, stress and improving poor circulation, flexibility and range of motion. The term "Swedish" massage is not really known in the country of Sweden, where it is called "classic massage".

For more information about Swedish Massage Therapy in Vancouver contact our office at 604-733-7744. We have a team of RMT's, Registered Massage Therapists, 6-days a week, evening & weekend appointments available too.

Registered Massage Therapy Services in Vancouver

Deep Tissue Massage

RMT Massage Therapists at Hycroft Chiropractic & Massage offer a variety of styles of massage techniques including "Deep Tissue Massage".

Deep Tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to become sore or even bruised over the next few days, though there should be no pain to the client during a session if the therapist is doing the work correctly.

Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical (anatomical), functional (physiological), and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.

Deep Tissue Massage helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation. It helps reduce inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendonitis. It is generally integrated with other massage techniques. This techniques affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. These techniques require advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology. The muscles must be relaxed in order to perform deep-tissue massage, otherwise tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature.

To schedule a visit with one of our Registered Massage Therapists in Vancouver (RMT Massage Therapy) please call 604-733-7744. 6-Days a Week, Evenings & Weekend Appointments Available.

If you've been in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and are filing an icbc claim in British Columbia you are entitled to the best healthcare available to treat the aches & pains you are experiencing. This holds true even months & sometimes years after the motor vehicle accident.

Whiplash, Neck Pain, Headaches, Back Pain, Shoulder, Rib, Arm & Leg Pain, General Aches, Chronic Recurrent Pain & Discomfort, Morning Stiffness. And the list goes on.

These are common complaints experienced after a motor vehicle accident. A visit to your family MD or if necessary the hospital is the first step. Make sure to contact ICBC & let them know ASAP what has happened. This activites your ICBC claim & creates the opportunity to proceed with treatment.

In British Columbia, some Chiropractors & ICBC have entered into an agreement to provide necessary treatment to achieve pre-injury status at no cost to the patient. Dr. Michael Horowitz is one of those practitioners who can help you achieve these results. Please contact our office for more information.

Have your questions about Chiropractic & Massage Treatment in relation to an ICBC Claim answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz by calling 604-733-7744 or emailing info@vancouverchiropractic.net

Welcome to The Stretch of the Day Series, brought to you by Hycroft Chiropractic & Massage in Vancouver & Dr. Michael Horowitz. Each session is intended to provide you a Stretch of the Day, one of Dr. Michael’s favourite stretches, helping you release stress & tension from the most commonly stored spots in the body.

Stretches of the Neck & Shoulders

• The Headache Buster!
  

• The Pits & The Rolls!
  

• The Shrugs & The Rolls!

Stretches of the Chest & Arms

• The Prayer Stretch (or modified sun-salutation)!
• The Sumo Stretch!

• The Arm/Shoulder (x3) Stretch!

• The Upper Trapezius Stretch!
• The Itchy Back Stretch
  

• The Triceps & Lats Stretch!
  

• The Chest-Wall Stretch!
  

• The Chest-Door-Frame Stretch!

• The Tennis Ball Trick!

• The Forearm Flexor/Extensor Stretch!

 Stretches of the Back & Torso

• The Cat-Stretch!
• The Morning Salutation Stretch!
  

• The Pelvis-Tilt (Keigle Exercises) Stretch!
  

• The Child’s-Pose Stretch!

• The Cobra (Mackenize) Stretch! Disc Injury

• The Scarecrow Stretch!
  

• The Grasshopper (The Squatting Frog)!
  

• The Standing Back Extensor Stretch!

Stretches of the Lower Limbs

• The Torso-Twist (3) Stretch! 

• The Figure-Four (Piriformis) Stretch!

• The Hamstring Stretch!
  

• The Seated Frog Stretch!
  

• The Hip Flexor (Ilio-Psoas) Stretch!
  

• The Quadriceps Stretch!
  

• The Pigeon Stretch Piriformis Stretch!

• The Seated Torso Twist Stretch!

• The Rock-n-Roll Stretch!

• The Happy Baby Pose Stretch!

• The IT Band Stretch!
  

• The Calf (Gastrocnemius/Soleus) Stretch!
  

Great Exercises for the Body

• Push-Ups!
  

• Sit-Ups! Crunches!
• Birpies!
  

• The Plank!
  

• Squats!
• Aerobic Activities!
  

• Skipping Rope!

• Swimming!

• Hiking!

• Walking, Jogging & Running!

• Bicycling!

• Rollerblading!

Want more information on stretching & exercices?

More info on how to keep your spine flexible & healthy?

Call us at 604-733-7744! 

Visit us online at www.vancouverchiropractic.net, www.massage-therapy-vancouver.com, or www.vancouverorthotics.ca.

1. Regular Physical Exercise is like brushing
2. Requent Stretching is like flossing
3. Chiropractic Spinal Check-Ups is like visiting your dentist

• How do we avoid chronically poor posture?
• How do we avoid recurring pain/discomfort/stiffness/achiness?
• How do we prevent the development of DJD (degernarative joint disease) aka ARTHRITIS or DDD (degenerative disc disease)?

Have your questions about Spinal Hygiene in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

A variety of elbow pain type symptoms present to our office 

here in Vancouver each week. Chiropractors are often known as spine focused practitioners however soft tissue injuries of various extremety joints such as the elbow are within the domain of our treatment ability.

• was the injury due to direct trauma? Is there a great deal of swelling & inflammation?
  
• was the injury due to a repetitive injury such as computer keyboard & mouse work? Are the symptoms especially bad during the work day?
• are the symptoms related to a sports injury, lifting or moving heavy objects?
• A tendonitis? A bursitis? Tennis Elbow? Lateral Epicondylitis? Medial Epicondylitis? Muscle spasm? Etc
  

Elbow pain can be treated in Vancouver with chiropractic & massage services. Relief of in Vancouver by calling 604-733-7744 for information.

Have your questions about Elbow Pain &Treatment in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

• was the injury due to direct trauma? Is there a great deal of swelling & inflammation?
  
• was the injury due to a repetitive injury such as computer keyboard & mouse work? Are the symptoms especially bad during the work day?
• are the symptoms related to a sports injury, lifting or moving heavy objects?

Wrist & Hand pain can be treated in Vancouver with chiropractic & massage services. Relief of in Vancouver by calling 604-733-7744 for information.

Have your questions about Wrist & Hand Pain Treatment in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz by calling 604-733-7744 or filling out the form below:

• Was there a direct trauma to the rib cage (car accident, sports injury, fall, etc)? Is there difficulty breathing &/or blood in your spit? Consider a rib fracture as a possibility & visit your medical doctor or local hospital for varificaiton.
• Is the pain radiating from the back/spine, between your shoulder blades &/or caused from some for of repetitive lifting or twisting (ie golf, racquet sports, etc) - consider you may have created a spinal or rib mis-alignment which is best assessed & treated by your local chiropractor.
• Does the pain occur between the ribs on the side or front in the muscular region? Consider you may have an "intercoastal spams" or tension in the muscles between the ribs. This is effectively treated with massage & chiropractic maneouvers.
• Do your symptoms occur while having a flu, a chronic cough, after a bout of sneezing or any other cold or sickness?
• Is there a rash the accompanies the rib cage irriation?

Rib Pain is one of the most common symptoms that present to our office. They are treated naturally with the help of Chiropractic & Vancouver Massage Therapy services. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

Have your questions about Migraine Treatment in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz by calling 604-733-7744 or filling out the form below:

The temporomandibular joint is the joint of the jaw and is frequently referred to as TMJ. There are two TMJs, one on either side, working in unison. The name is derived from the two bones which form the joint: the upper temporal bone which is part of the cranium (skull), and the lower jaw bone called the mandible.

TMJ pain is often associated with neck pain &/or headaches. These problems often result due to accumulated stress & tension in the muscles & joints of the spine. This is ther perfect place for chiropractic & massage services to help reduce and release these stress-areas. Call 604-733-7744 for relief!

Have your questions about TMJ (TemporMandibular Joint Syndrome) in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Pain or dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint is commonly referred to as "TMJ", when in fact, TMJ is really the name of the joint, and Temporomandibular joint disorder (or dysfunction) is abbreviated TMD. This term is used to refer to a group of problems involving the TMJs and the muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and other tissues associated with them. Some practitioners might include the neck, the back and even the whole body in describing problems with the TMJs.

Vancouver Chiropractic & Vancouver Massage Therapy services are provided by Dr. Michael Horowtiz & Associates. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

The unique feature of the TMJs is the articular disc. The disc is composed of fibrocartilagenous tissue (like the firm and flexible elastic cartilage of the ear) which is positioned between the two bones that form the joint. The TMJs are one of the only synovial joints in the human body with an articular disc, another being the sternoclavicular joint. The disc divides each joint into two. The lower joint compartment formed by the mandible and the articular disc is involved in rotational movement (opening and closing movements). The upper joint compartment formed by the articular disk and the temporal bone is involved in translational movements (sliding the lower jaw forward or side to side). The part of the mandible which mates to the under-surface of the disc is the condyle and the part of the temporal bone which mates to the upper surface of the disk is the glenoid (or mandibular) fossa.

Lower Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Migraines, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Slipped Disc, Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Whiplash, Rib Pain, Elbow Pain, Wrist & Hand Pain, Shoulder Pain, TMJ Pain, SI Joint Pain, IlioTibial Band Pain, Vancouver Chiropractic

Have your questions about TMJ (TemporMandibular Joint Syndrome) in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

The sacroiliac joint or SI joint is the joint between the sacrum, at the base of the spine and the ilium of the pelvis, which are joined by ligaments. It is a strong, weightbearing synovial joint with irregular elevations and depressions that produce interlocking of the two bones. The human body has two sacroiliac joints: a left and a right joint that often match individually but are highly variable from person to person.

SI (Sacro Iliac) Joint Pain often result from faulty spinal (pelvic) mechanics due to the accumulation of stress & tension to the spine (pelvis). This is best treated by proper assessment by a chiropractor & hands-on treatment which gets to the source of the problem and allow for most rapid healing. Call 604-733-7744 for relief!

Pain may be caused by sacroiliitis, or an inflammation of the sacroiliac joint(s) or SI joint, a potential cause of low back pain. With sacroiliitis, the individual may experience pain in the low back, buttocks and thighs, and may also have other symptoms of a rheumatic condition such as inflammation in the eyes or psoriasis. Another related condition of the sacroiliac joint is called sacroiliac joint dysfunction (also termed SI joint dysfunction). While SI joint dysfunction may cause low back and sometimes leg pain from inflammation of the sacroiliac joint, some believe that sacroiliac joint dysfunction (also called syndrome) differs from sacroiliitis. The origin of the dysfunction is thought to be a problem with the normal movement of the sacroiliac joints (too much or too little movement in the joint) while sacroilitis (literally inflammation of the sacroiliac joint or SI joint) is usually caused by one of the connective tissue diseases (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis).

Lower Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Migraines, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Slipped Disc, Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Whiplash, Rib Pain, Elbow Pain, Wrist & Hand Pain, Shoulder Pain, TMJ Pain, SI Joint Pain, IlioTibial Band Pain, Vancouver Chiropractic

Vancouver Chiropractic & Vancouver Massage Therapy services are provided by Dr. Michael Horowtiz & Associates. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

Have your questions about SI Joint Pain (Sacro Iliac Joint Pain) in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below:

Pinched Nerve - the term pinched nerve describes one type of damage or injury to a nerve or set of nerves. The injury may result from compression, constriction, or stretching. Symptoms include numbness, "pins and needles" or burning sensations, and pain radiating outward from the injured area. One of the most common examples of a single compressed nerve is the feeling of having a foot or hand "fall asleep."

Pinched Nerves often result from faulty spinal mechanics due to the accumulation of stress & tension to the spine. This is best treated by proper assessment by a chiropractor & hands-on treatment which gets to the source of the problem and allow for most rapid healing. Call 604-733-7744 for relief!

Pinched nerves can sometimes lead to other conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. The extent of such injuries may vary from minor, temporary damage to a more permanent condition. Early diagnosis is important to prevent further damage or complications. Pinched nerve is a common cause of on-the-job injury.

A nerve can be 'pinched' at various points along its route, each nerve having its own characteristic 'weak points'. The most common areas of pinching is at the exit of the nerves from the spine ( the foramina). They are pinched, compressed and pulled at these points.

Vancouver Chiropractic & Vancouver Massage Therapy services are provided by Dr. Michael Horowtiz & Associates. Our mission is to serve you better with a hands on approach to wellness & healing. Call us at 604-733-7744 so we can help!

Lower Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Migraines, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Slipped Disc, Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Whiplash, Rib Pain, Elbow Pain, Wrist & Hand Pain, Shoulder Pain, TMJ Pain, SI Joint Pain, IlioTibial Band Pain, Vancouver Chiropractic

Have your questions about treatment for the Pinched Nerve in Vancouver answered by Dr. Michael Horowitz, by filling out the form below: