Back Spasms: Causes, Symptoms & Prevention Awareness What are back spasms?Back spasms are sudden, involuntary tightening of muscles in the back, often causing pain and stiffness. They can occur during or after physical activity — including running — and may relate to muscle fatigue, strength imbalances, or previous injury. Canadian workplace & first aid relevanceBack […]
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Foot Drop: Causes, Symptoms & Mobility Awareness What is foot drop?Foot drop refers to difficulty lifting the front part of the foot while walking. This can cause the toes to drag during gait and lead to changes in walking patterns. Foot drop results from weakness or impaired function of muscles below the knee, usually related
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Valgus Knee Braces & Medial Osteoarthritis: Function, Types & Awareness What is a valgus knee brace?A valgus knee brace (also called an “unloader brace”) is designed to shift some of the pressure away from the inner (medial) compartment of the knee. This may help reduce discomfort in people with medial osteoarthritis, where gradual wear-and-tear affects
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Inflamed Elbow Joint: Causes, Symptoms & First Aid Awareness What is an inflamed elbow joint?Elbow inflammation can involve the joint itself or nearby soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, bursae, and muscles. Common examples include bursitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and tendinitis. Inflammation may lead to discomfort, reduced range of motion, and swelling around the
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Stomach Acid & Digestive Comfort: Causes, Symptoms & Awareness What is stomach acid?Stomach acid plays an important role in digestion, helping break down food and support nutrient absorption. Concerns arise when stomach acid becomes excessive or moves upward into the esophagus (commonly experienced as heartburn or indigestion). This may lead to appetite changes, sleep disruption,
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Gastritis: Symptoms, Causes & Awareness What is gastritis?Gastritis refers to inflammation of the stomach lining. It can occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or gradually over time (chronic gastritis). Many factors can contribute, including infection, irritation from medications, immune-related conditions, or injury to the stomach lining. First aid & workplace relevance (Canada)Digestive complaints can affect comfort, concentration,
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Tomatoes, Food Safety & Botulism Awareness Food safety concerns with tomatoesFresh tomatoes are safe to eat for most people, but—like many fresh fruits and vegetables—they can become contaminated with pathogens such as E. coli or Salmonella during farming, handling, or preparation. Historical outbreaks originally linked to tomatoes have later been traced to other produce, highlighting
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Nicotine Patches: How They Work, Side Effects & Safety Awareness What are nicotine patches?Nicotine patches are a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), along with gum and lozenges. They are worn on the skin and release controlled amounts of nicotine to help reduce cravings when a person is trying to quit smoking or using tobacco
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Radiating Knee Pain: Causes, Symptoms & First Aid Awareness What is radiating knee pain?The knee is the largest synovial joint in the human body, made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and other moving structures. While knee pain often stays local, radiating knee pain spreads to surrounding areas such as the thigh, calf, or even
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Hamstring Hyperextension: Symptoms, Causes, and First Aid Awareness What is hamstring hyperextension?The hamstrings are a group of three muscles located at the back of the thigh — the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Together, they help bend the knee and extend the hip. When these muscles are stretched beyond their normal range, the result can
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