Your Definitive Team

Dr. Woods has been practicing since 2002 after graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto. Following graduation, he practiced in Australia in a very busy practice gaining valuable hands on experience which he found incredibly beneficial in addition to the skills learned through chiropractic college. He has since practiced in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Edmonton, before settling permanently in Peterborough. “Peterborough is such an amazing city, with fantastic people and an unbelievable quality of life,” says Dr. Woods. With an upbringing surrounded by sports, Dr. Woods has a great interest in treating athletes of any level, from weekend warriors to professionals. With the use of Active Release Technique (ART) treatment of soft tissue injuries (muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, fascia, etc.), Dr. Woods has been able to effectively treat athletes of many levels to return to activities faster or perform at maximal efficiency. “I have had the great pleasure of working with so many athletes from all different levels,” says Dr. Woods, “from shinny hockey players to NHL players, from weekly runners and cyclists to Iron Man triathlon competitors. From people just trying to get out walking to high level competitive gymnasts. Working with athletes is truly a passion for me, as I love getting them to a higher level of performance, or treating injuries to allow them to compete.” High level athletes can benefit from treatment by not only alleviating injuries, but by allowing them to perform personal bests, which can mean the difference from finishing to finishing on the podium. “Once you get to high level athletics, the majority of competitors are very close in skill level, so any increase in performance can have a huge impact on the outcome.” Dr. Woods also works very closely with young athletes in Peterborough, since performance is desired but also to make sure that any injuries at a young age can be treated properly to stop the progression of injuries as they mature. Many adults can look back at what they did as a child/youth and relate what they are feeling now. From a shoulder or knee injury that was not treated, to feeling the area now as they are working or being with family. Dr. Woods is invested in treating these young athletes to try to minimize the later effects of injuries, especially the ones that would have gone untreated, as well as, of course, having them perform to their ability. His athletic background can also be seen while working with any of his patients, making sure that they are performing stretches, strengthening/stabilizing exercises properly and regularly to maximize the effects of his treatments and to speed recovery. He has also had additional training in nutrition to be able to aid his patients with decision making when it comes to meal plans and supplements. Although sports are a big part of his life and practice, Dr. Woods also greatly enjoys working with patients from all walks of life. Some of the most enjoyment he gets is from having someone return and report that due to treatment they can lift their grandchild again. “The affect of pain on your life is greater than you think, it really does effect everything you do. Alleviating pain allows you to be a better spouse, partner, friend, parent, grand parent, employee, etc.” says Dr. Woods, “It is so fantastic when a patient returns, and they can say that they have been able to do something that was limited by their pain or injury. It is most likely the best part of practicing for me.” From working with nearly 100 year olds to treating 5 day old babies, he enjoys working with each and every patient. Dr. Woods is full body certified, including nerve entrapements, in Active Release Technique (ART), a gold standard soft tissue treatment technique. In order to stay certified in ART, Dr. Woods is restested and recertified every year to maintain the high level of skill demanded of ART practitioners. “Of all the courses and training I have done since graduating, I can honestly say that ART certification is the one thing that has most benefited my patients. Being able to treat the surrounding soft tissues through ART, as well as, using chiropractic adjustments to treat the joints has greatly decreased the recovery time of my patients,” comments Dr. Woods. “It has also allowed me to more efficiently treat soft tissue injuries such as: ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendon injuries, overuse injuries, nerve entrapments (carpal tunnel, sciatica, etc.), as compared to practicing before I completed my ART training. I treated for a number of years before using ART, and I can certainly see in my patients a decrease in healing time, and an increase in the number of injuries I can treat.” Dr. Woods completed his acupuncture certification in 2011, from McMaster University, and has been using it as a stand alone treatment or in conjunction with other forms of treatment. He has been amazed at the effects that acupuncture can have, even if the results can not always be explained by our western medicine minds. “Acupuncture has been used for around 2500 years, although now with much safer methods (disposable, sterile, surgical grade single use needles, compared with bamboo or bone initially), while most of the methods used in North America are much younger. It has been interesting to see the effects of these treatments, which can not always be explained by my education at CMCC or university.” Dr. Woods is settled in Peterborough permanently. “After practicing across the country as well as in Australia, I truly love it here. The healthy lifestyle that the area promotes, as well as the amazing people, make this the place that I want to spend my life and share experiences with my family,” Dr. Woods says. He has an amazing wife, a daughter and twin boys to share the excitement that the area has to offer. They enjoy being outside whenever possible waterskiing, downhill skiing, running, biking, hiking, swimming, etc.. Dr. Woods also enjoys the strong hockey community to continue his passion for the game, and any other athletic endeavor that may come up. He is very proud of the team at Definitive Chiropractic and Wellness Centre. “I have surrounded myself with practitioners who are driven by their desire to help patients. Whether that be a personal best at an athletic competition, being able to walk or pick up their kids without pain, or perform a good job at work, we are all focussed on the goal of the patient to maximize their life. I love going to work each day not only because of the amazing patients that I have the privilege to treat, but also due to the amazing staff and practitioners at the clinic!”

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Having studied various approaches to health and healing, Bart’s treatments are both art and science and are informed by a broad base of knowledge about health and the human body.

Earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Physics in 1999 has helped Bart establish a foundation in conventional science. Subsequent studies in disciplines of holistic health and manual therapy – which recognize and promote the body’s ability to self-regulate and heal – have broadened his perspective and strengthened his view of the body as a holistic, integrated system.  Having practiced as a massage therapist since 2004 has given Bart the time and experience to develop a skill set and an approach to treatment that is unique and effective for a wide range of people and health conditions.

Bart does not see health as a static state of being, but as the ability to efficiently return to transitory states of balance, and being able to adapt to stressors. From the point of view of the mechanics of tissues, healthy functioning of the body requires sufficient flexibility, mobility, elasticity and resilience of the muscles, connective tissue, joints, ligaments, bones, organs, nerve tissues, and blood vessels. Restrictions in any tissue can cause mechanical irritation, inflammation, pain, and compromise the functioning of the respective tissues, organs and systems.  Restoring proper mechanical qualities to the tissues leads to more optimal functioning of the body and a body better able to maintain its own equilibrium. To achieve this in his practice, Bart uses a number of techniques, from more common Swedish massage techniques to other manual therapy techniques, depending on the needs of the patient.

Some examples of manual therapy techniques include Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation and various kinds of joint mobilization. These are techniques that were developed by osteopaths and came out of the profession of osteopathy. Today, they are practiced by various health professionals, including osteopaths, massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors and others. Several of these techniques are relatively light and subtle and can often work deeper into the restrictions of the body because the body does not react and resist the input of the practitioner, but rather cooperates with what the practitioner offers. Deeper, longer-lasting effects can result.

In addition to looking at how restrictions can cause local symptoms of pain and discomfort, Bart views the body as a whole, integrated system. A restriction in one part of the body often causes the body to compensate in another. Thus, pain and other symptoms can show up in secondary sites within the body. In his treatments, Bart uses various approaches to assess the root cause of the problem and treats the primary site. When the primary restrictions are treated, it is possible for the secondary symptoms to resolve or be addressed in a way that produces lasting results. This approach allows for a more complete resolution of patients’ complaints.

Click here to book with Bart Prinsen, RMT