Panel of health experts convenes to offer advice for ‘typical’ readers… whoever they are

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/03/2016 (3841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I picture someone reading this article, I invariably see my parents.

Mom on the couch, thumbing through the print issue or scrolling down articles on her iPad in between Scrabble turns, Dad in the den, searching through travel and vacation articles, hopefully doing his back exercises and then posting this column on Facebook (maybe after actually reading it).

Aside from that, it’s difficult to visualize the “who” reading this and therefore the “why” it’s being written. While many magazines and other periodicals have a narrower scope and consequently a more specific target audience, the Saturday Winnipeg Free Press (and even more specifically the 49.8 section), tosses a wide variety of subjects into the journalism blender, hoping to reach and entice a wide variety of readers. For a locally distributed publication, it makes sense.

But who reads this column? How can we make subject matter applicable and evidence-based when that material must apply to every individual between the ages of 20 and 100 who either has a computer or an extra $2.75 to spend on a Saturday morning? Or anyone who goes through a McDonald’s and snags the free copy?

So instead of choosing a topic — flattened out to accommodate all readers — we have chosen a target audience, a new “typical” reader every week, for whom to provide pertinent health and fitness information. Accrued through various resources — from dietitians to doctors; personal trainers to therapists — this information may range from diet and exercise advice to sleep and injury-prevention tips. Medications, health risks, and mental well-being are also areas for which we would like to provide guidance.

While every patient’s file is moderately different, therapists, doctors and dietitians still see countless “typical” cases that often present with similar risk factors and require similar treatment and direction.

Each new week, the information may fit you — or it may fit your son or daughter, your spouse, co-worker, or mail carrier; we urge you to think of someone you know who may benefit from each case study and share it with that person. We can all think of someone who fits the mould of an overworked mid-40s parent, or retired assembly-line worker with a bad ticker and a hip replacement.

Your Health-Care Panel:

While the front page may say “Winnipeg” Free Press, the rural prairie fields that lie beyond the Perimeter are home to many incredible health-care providers. The Boundary Trails area boasts a beautiful hospital and allied medical centres, filled with beautiful minds (and an MRI) ready to provide you with the most relevant and current medical treatment and information. Meet a few of them:

Aimee Cadieux —

RD, CDE

Tracey Zacharias —

RD:

Amiee and Tracey make up the two-headed dietetic monster at Agassiz Medical Centre. Since joining the Agassiz Medical Centre team in 2007, Aimee has worked with many programs, community groups, and does as many presentations as possible, especially as a certified diabetes educator. While she is on maternity leave, Tracey Zacharias has stepped in and has been eagerly counselling local patients on numerous subjects such as focused nutrition and heart-healthy eating.

Stacey Dawson —

CEP, CSCS:

Stacey is one of only two certified exercise physiologists in the Pembina Valley region; she owns and operates Metamorphosis Fitness in Morden. She believes the training focus for any individual — from elite athlete to Volvo-driving soccer mom — should be on function. If a client achieves her functional goals, her physique will follow.

Dr. Kevin Earl —

MD, CCFP:

As a young doctor in a small town, Earl leads by example. Like the many other fanatical triathlete doctors in the region, if he’s not running, biking or swimming, he’s clowning around with his family and promoting an active lifestyle. Originally from Morden, he returned in 2010 and has been practising family and emergency medicine, obstetrics and hospital-based practice at Boundary Trails Hospital and Agassiz Medical Centre.

Me:

Sorry, I still get an opinion.

For next several months, beginning March 26, this team of health professionals will weigh in on each case study and provide you with general guidelines to apply to your life, or to take to that special someone who reminds you of the person depicted and who may need a bit of guidance when considering their ultimate health and fitness goals. So please, share this information, because sharing is caring.

Tim Shantz is a certified athletic therapist and personal trainer. You can reach him at tim@mordenphysiotherapy.ca.