Learn a little bit about labour and what it could look and feel like. I’ve also included a few hot tips on how your partner can best support you, and what the babe’s body goes through as well. So looking forward to all those 2025 births to come! Some tips for partners during labor? Sacral rocking: lay on your side, have someone put a hand on your lower back bone, your sacrum and rock you back and forth for 5 minutes.Belly lift: during contractions, have someone stand behind you putting ...

If you're pregnant, thinking about being pregnant, or have been pregnant, learn how manual osteopathy can help support you, and make a huge difference toward a comfortable existence. Contact Nicole Settimi, DOMP, RMT www.onebodywellness.ca nicole@onebodywellness.ca Follow us on instagram @one.body.wellness for more health and wellness information and start a conversation with Nicole! If you have a specific health concern you’d like me to address on my podcast, or you’d like to be...

The vagus nerve is arguably the most important nerve in our entire body. And the nerve that holds the most power over our digestive system, our heart, our breath and our thoughts. In this episode, I explain some of the functions of the vagus nerve, why it's important we support vagal tone and what you can do at home to help your nervous system function. This episode is a brief rundown of the vagus nerve - there is so much more information that I could have provided in this episode, which ...

I've put out a bonus episode on the three major viruses (RSV, covid, flu) circulating this season. I briefly describe what to look for in your child, should they be showing symptoms of an illness, and when to seek medical attention. This episode does not take the place of medical advice. Use your strong intuition if you feel something is off, and get your babe in front of a medical professional. Where to find Nicole Settimi: www.onebodywellness.ca @one.body.wellness nicole@on...

Symptoms of whiplash after a motor vehicle accident can be complicated. There are a few things you may want to know about your symptoms, or lack of symptoms, directly after an accident. Don't hesitate to receive care after an injury or accident. Healthcare providers can help make a world of difference in your recovery. Don't forget! Just because there was no damage to your car, doesn’t mean there is no damage to you. How your car absorbs shock and force is not an indication of how you...

Have you ever had a shoulder that just wouldn’t move? There could be a number of reasons why! But today I’m talking about ‘Frozen Shoulder.’ Adhesive capsulitis is very often described as frozen shoulder. It shows up clinically when someone has pain in their shoulder that gets worse over time. The reason frozen shoulder is term you may have heard before is because it takes a long time for someone to recover from this and normally they are unable to move their arm. Adhesive capsulitis is where...

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition affecting 4 million Canadians. We’ve all become hyper aware of the acute respiratory conditions that could affect our bodies during this global pandemic. Those dealing with chronic pulmonary conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, are acutely aware of the impacts that not being able to breathe well, can have on the human body. Nicole condenses information about asthma, from the manual osteopathic lense, in this quick dose episode. ...

Very often misdiagnosed, and misguided, this condition is specifically due to an overuse and repetitive strain style injury in the wrist, and specifically affecting the median nerve through the carpal tunnel. The main cause of carpal tunnel syndrome or median nerve compression, is repetitive motions over a long period of time. People who work at a desk, on a computer, people who work with electronics, in a factory doing repetitive movements even massage therapists. As well, when stress is ass...

The Chinese Body Clock is used by practitioners as an assessment tool to see where disease or dysfunction might be present. The basis of this clock is that it reflects the times at which each of our organs is functioning at its peak, so that we might be able to understand more about how to support our bodies, but also how to recognize patterns of dysfunction. It helps us understand how we can optimize our day to support our organs, rest when we need to and recover well. Listen to understand...

Nicole gives a quick dose of anatomy, technique and treatment when it comes to craniosacral therapy and how everything is once again, completely interconnected. Health Topic: Cranial Osteopathy Tips from an Osteopathic Perspective: From an osteopathic perspective, every cranium is very unique. Trauma, lifestyle, physiology, pathology and genetics all play important roles in the asymmetries that impact the cranial and cranial rhythm. Any dysfunction or variation in our sacral region will...

Today I am using this space to talk about the relationship between our jaw and our hips. How could these structures possibly be connected and why is that even important? Health Topic: The Link Between the TMJ and our hip bones Tips from an Osteopathic Perspective: Be conscious of clenching your jaw, choose to do self massage techniques in your temporal regions, deep hip stretches and cat/cow postures can help. Be conscious of posture while seated, and use a pillow in between legs at night.&nb...

Health Topic: Seasonal Allergies What is it?: Irritation and immune responses from environmental factors such as trees, grass and weeds. Symptoms: Congestion, runny nose, loss of smell, itchy eyes and sneezing. Causes and Risk Factors: Trees, grass and weeds, specifically pollen. Tips from an Osteopathic Perspective: Ways to help support lymph and liver function today? Dry skin brushing, tongue scraping, deep belly breathing, even crocodile breath, inversions, so getting those legs up agains...

Health Topic: Lyme disease What is it?: A bacterial infection caused by black-legged ticks Symptoms: Symptoms can be varied and complex and include physical and cognitive issues Causes and Risk Factors: Black legged tick Diagnosis and Treatment: Antibiotics and treating symptoms Tips from an Osteopathic Perspective: As a manual osteopath, I am going to help address somatic dysfunctions, including cognitive function and the nervous system. I would constantly be asking questio...

Health Topic: Endometriosis What is it?: Endometrial glands and cells appear outside of the uterine cavity, where they are supposed to live and stay. The most common locations for these ectopic (meaning an abnormal place or position) groupings are in the ovaries, the area between the uterus and the rectum and the uterosacral ligament. Symptoms: While an important proportion of women with this condition may be asymptomatic, patients with endometriosis often manifest severe dysmenorrhea, ...

Dysmenorrhea is a common condition associated with painful cramping in the uterus. 75% of people who menstruate experience painful periods. There are two types- Primary Dysmenorrhea is a condition where periods are painful but not linked to other gynecological concerns, and normally start right at the beginning of menses. Secondary Dysmenorrhea is the presence of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or another reproductive health issue and would have me considering a differential diagno...

With so many people working from home, the increase in screen and phone time and our disturbances in sleep, I’ve been receiving inquiries on differential diagnoses for headaches. Many headaches can be hard to diagnose and treat. Manual osteopaths perform a full neurological exam and closely examine the neck as well. We use a pain guide that can help differentiate certain headaches, create an effective treatment for our patients and notice red flags and the need to seek medical attention...

Grieving is a stressful psychological and physical event. Feeling grief causes inflammation in the body, which can increase blood pressure and put us at risks for blood clots. When we experience grief, we are more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infection. From an osteopathic perspective, it is no surprise that we are currently experiencing a pandemic that is centered around, and weakens, our lungs and blood vessels. This is exactly where grief lies in our bodies. Le...

May is mental health awareness month, and awareness around mental wellness has never been more important. Although I do not have the training in treating psychological disorders, I do see physical manifestations of mental (brain) illness and I’m using this episode to talk about my clinical experience of the effects that brain illness has on our physical bodies. I also share a unique story about a patient living with multiple personality disorder. Health Topic: Brain Illness and the Body...

Chronic pain is very complex and difficult to treat. From a healthcare provider perspective, finding nonaddictive pain relief for our patients can be a challenge. Opioid use in Canada is at an all time high and the rate of overdose is disheartening and tragic. From someone who has benefited from the short term effects of an opioid and felt the longterm negative impacts, I was determined to find an alternative to managing the chronic pain I feel daily in my leg and ankle from a traumatic...

Health Topic: Plantar Fasciitis What is it?: The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue, a continuation of the calf muscles, that helps to form the arch of your foot and supports you while you walk. Symptoms: You may experience stabbing pain in the sole of your foot, or around your heel, first thing in the morning. You may feel worse after exercising or get aggravated from standing too long. Causes and Risk Factors: Running and bouncing activities can impact the...