Eat Move Think

Cottage season is here. For many of us, that means trading the congested city for a cabin in the woods — and outdoor activities like paddleboarding, pickleball, wakeboarding, kayaking, golf or tennis. And whether you’re an expert or just getting started, preventing injury can be crucial to a successful summer vacation. That’s where functional movement training comes in. Join Medcan Interim Fitness Manager Simon Lim and Fitness Team Lead Stephanie Tzemis as they discuss the most common cottage sports, then walk you through specific functional movements designed to reduce injury, and promote mobility, stability and flexibility.

Find both video and audio versions of the podcast at the episode webpage:

https://medcan.com/podcast/cottage-sports-injury-prevention/

LINKS

Looking for more tips on how to reduce injury and promote strength? Consult with a Medcan fitness trainer today.

The internet is full of sport-specific workouts. Here are some of them:

• Pickleball workout
• Paddleboarding workout
• Tennis workout
• Improve your strength for golf
• Wakeboarding/wakesurfing workout

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 Beginning

00:12 Preparing for a summer full of fun

01:47 What are functional movements and how can they prevent injury?

02:43 The four pillars of healthy joints: flexibility, mobility, stability, and strength

04:37 Cottage sports can be dangerous because we’re not used to doing these movements every day.

06:29 Are people more likely to get injured from cottage activities?

07:55 Functional movements: The basics

09:18 Poor posture can actually increase injury severity

11:50 When is the most optimal time to do some functional movements, and how often should I do them?

13:38 Who could benefit the most from functional movements?

15:53 Pickleball & Tennis: The best functional movements to prevent injury

17:41 Golf: The best functional movements to prevent injury

19:05 Paddleboarding: The best functional movements to prevent injury

21:24 Swimming: The best functional movements to prevent injury

22:02 Kayaking: The best functional movements to prevent injury

22:48 Do I need to do functional movements if I’m just going for a leisurely swim?

24:18 Is there a full-body warmup we can do that targets every muscle group?

25:00 Three most important takeaways from this episode about functional movement.

Within Canada’s 20 million person labour market, 5 million people are working women over the age of 40. According to a recent report from the Menopause Society, an estimated 1 in 10 women will leave the workforce due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause—that’s around 500,000 women who will stop working because of their symptoms this year.

As the Clinical Director of Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is working to change these statistics. In Part One of our Women’s Health Special Series, she’s joined by her former client, Norma Pasquale. After having faced debilitating perimenopause symptoms, Norma’s life changed after treating her symptoms with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hear her story, and learn how you can advocate for your health and get the best care and resources for your unique needs.

It’s estimated that this year, on average, 76 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. In Canada, prostate cancer makes up 22% of all cancer diagnoses in men. However unlike many cancers, prostate cancer is a condition that you can live and even thrive with.

Here, Dr. Peter Nord and Dr. Rajiv Singal hear from two Medcan clients who were diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer here at Medcan. Hear about their experiences, how you can prevent prostate cancer, and why a diagnosis does not have to hold you back from living a long and happy life.

LINKS

• Visit our Men’s Health webpage to learn more about your prostate cancer risk and stay up to date on your screening.
• See more prostate cancer statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society
• Read some of the latest research on prostate cancer prevention and management:
• ”...higher intake of plant foods after prostate cancer diagnosis was associated with lower risk of cancer progression,” from this 2024 study in JAMA Network Open

KEY MOMENTS

00:57 How common is prostate cancer?

03:44 Your risk goes up with age

4:58 It might not affect your quality of life at all

6:54 Men don’t always advocate for their health

7:55 Meet two Medcan clients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer

9:19 What is PSA?

11:59 Prostate cancer screening: MRI, PSA ratio and biopsy

14:08 Experience and risk of getting a biopsy

16:22 The Gleason Score, and stages of prostate cancer

20:50 Is it cancer or BPH? (benign prostatic hyperplasia) How to know

23:47 Does testosterone increase your risk of prostate cancer?

25:02 Your PSA trend matters more than your current levels

26:24 A regular GP may not have caught this Medcan client’s cancer

27:55 Treatment options: radiation vs surgery

30:55 The importance of being proactive about your health and recovery

31:34 One man’s post-surgery 10,000 step streak

34:36 Surgery results and recovery

36:52 Lifestyle choices that can prevent an enlarged prostate

37:36 Tips from two of Dr. Singal’s patients

Does sunscreen cause cancer? That’s just one of the many skincare myths circulating this summer on social media. As a dermatologist at Refine by Medcan, Dr. Jennifer Tran gets a lot of questions about what’s trending on the various platforms. So in this episode, Dr. Tran provides her take on what’s based in scientific evidence — and what is completely suspect. Featuring such topics as snail mucin, pimple patches, benzoyl peroxide and benzene, glass skin, red LED lights, whether kids should be buying expensive skincare products and whether a flax seed facemask can function as a more cost-effective alternative to neuromodulators.

For both audio and video of this show visit the official episode page at: https://medcan.com/podcast/social-media-skincare-myths-205/

LINKS

Arrange an appointment with Refine by Medcan at one of its convenient locations today.

Follow double-board certified dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Tran on Instagram @drjenntran.

A positive account from a woman who incorporated snail mucin into her routine. And here’s an article that provides more detail on how snail mucin is extracted.

More about the K-beauty trend, glass skin.

A good article examining how pimple patches work.

The academic article describing the link between benzoyl peroxide and benzene. Another article, by CNN, notes that the study was in part based on a test that stored the skincare treatment at 158 degrees Fahrenheit for 17 hours.

Why 10-year-olds are buying expensive skincare routines, from the National Post.

An academic study examines the efficacy of red LED light therapy.

This article features another derm weighing in on the the “flax seed as neuromodulator” trend.

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 Introduction

01:19 Dr. Tran introduces herself and the topics she will cover, including pimple patches, sunscreen, benzoyl peroxide, "glass skin", expensive skincare for children, red light LED masks, snail mucin, and flaxseed as an alternative to Botox.

03:34 Dr. Tran provides her verdict on pimple patches.

05:15 Dr. Tran addresses the myth that sunscreen causes cancer, stating that there is overwhelming evidence that sunscreen protects against skin cancer, and recommends mineral sunscreens as a safe alternative to chemical sunscreens.

06:32 Dr. Tran discusses the "glass skin" trend, explaining that it requires a combination of skincare products and in-office procedures to achieve the desired luminous, glowing skin.

08:16 Dr. Tran expresses concern about the trend of younger people, including children, being targeted with expensive skincare products, stating that this can be harmful to their self-esteem and body image.

11:06 Dr. Tran discusses red light LED masks, stating that they can provide some benefits, but are very expensive, and that in-office procedures may be more effective.

12:54 Dr. Tran addresses the trend of using snail mucin and flaxseed as skincare ingredients, explaining the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.

14:41 Dr. Tran concludes by advising listeners to be cautious of skincare trends on social media and to consult with a dermatologist before trying new products or remedies.

Medcan’s Director of Clinical Innovation, Allison Hazell, is joined by Dr. Julia Alleyne, a Medcan family physician with a focused practice in sport and exercise medicine. Drawing from her extensive medical experience with numerous international sporting events including the Olympics and the Invictus Games, Dr. Alleyne shares insights, stories, and guidance to help inspire us all on our own wellbeing and recovery journeys.

Episode Highlights:

• Fear of Reinjury: Understanding why fear can slow recovery—and how to overcome it.
• The Power of Visualization: How seeing yourself succeed can boot confidence and improve performance.
• Lessons from Elite Athletes: What any of us can learn from Olympians and Invictus Games competitors.
• Active Rest & Rehab Strategies: Why staying mentally and physically engaged leads to better healing.
• Integrating Wellness in Recovery: The role of support systems, motivation, and mindset

Key Takeaways:

• Rehabilitation is not just physical—it’s mental, too
• Visualization is key for confidence and recovery
• Overcoming fear is essential to getting back on track
• Adaptive sports help athletes—and everyday people—find new purpose

Looking for extra support in injury prevention, rehabilitation, or wellness? Visit www.medcan.com for more resources.