Physiotherapy Blog

Getting help from your back pain can feel very scary. Namely, words like x-rays, MRIs, surgery, disc bulges degeneration, and nerve impingement are extremely common when going to the doctor. It’s easy to get the wrong idea and feel like your issue can’t be solved, or is permanent. In Physiotherapy, we see people with imaging everyday, who have no clue what any of it means. In fact, it often makes them feel worse, and more scared to move. Today we want to clear up the misconceptions with disc bulges and what a realistic treatment program actually looks like. What is…

So you’ve been diagnosed with scoliosis, what comes next? The diagnosis of scoliosis by itself does not give us much information. For example, there are many individuals living with varying degrees of scoliosis that experience little no issues, or some who happily manage their condition with the right exercises. Today, we’ll take you through a comprehensive guide on what scoliosis is, how physiotherapy helps, and what to expect. What is scoliosis? The official definition of scoliosis by is a curvature greater than 10 degrees when viewed on an x-ray. In plain speech, scoliosis occurs when there is an abnormal curve…

Custom Knee Braces are a helpful tool in many knee injuries and degenerative conditions. If you’ve been dealing with knee pain, then you know how frustrating and life altering it can be. You want to play sports, you want to take the stairs, you need to go get groceries, but all of these things are difficult because of your knees. In this blog, we’ll discuss who benefits from custom knee braces and how they differ from off the shelf braces (pre-made). What is unique about a custom knee brace? Unlike a standard brace which is made to predetermined measurements, a…

For most people, the concept of pelvic health is entirely focused on women’s health. We want to change that mindset. Just like everyone has core muscles, everyone has pelvic floor muscles as well. No matter who you are, dysfunction in these muscles can affect your bladder, bowel, and sexual function, or cause pain with daily movements. Today, we want to discuss pelvic physiotherapy for men, the issues that are exclusive to them, and raise awareness about men’s pelvic health. What is pelvic health physiotherapy? Pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialty that specifically focuses on the pelvic floor, including the associated…

Soccer is a demanding sport. The quick sprints, sudden pivots, and powerful kicks that make the game exciting also put a lot of stress on your body. As the weather starts to warm up in the GTA, we know more of you will be getting outside and returning to the field. As a result, we always expect to see more injuries during this time, especially for our soccer players. Here’s what you need to know about soccer injury rehab, and how to stay off the sidelines this spring and summer. Why do injuries happen at the start of the season?…

Are you tired of dealing with stubborn joint or tendon pain that just will not go away? If you have been diligently doing your exercises and resting, but that nagging ache in your heel or elbow is still keeping you from your favorite activities, then shockwave therapy might help break the cycle. What is shockwave therapy? First things first, do not let the name scare you! Shockwave therapy does not involve electric shocks which is a common concern that we hear. Instead, it uses high-energy acoustic waves (sound waves) to affect the tissues. During a session, your physiotherapist applies a…

Pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialization that focuses exclusively on the pelvic floor. This includes conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse and more! Treatment of the pelvic floor muscles and structures is both like, and unlike the other areas of the body. For example, just like any other muscle, they can be strong or weak, lengthened or tight, hypermobile or hypomobile. On the other hand, treatment of the pelvic area may require some unique techniques and unique tools during treatment. One of these tools is called a pessary. What are pessaries used for? A pessary is a medical device typically used to help manage pelvic floor dysfunction, particularly in conditions like pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and stress incontinence. It’s a device that is inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs and help alleviate symptoms. Oftentimes, it is the missing piece for many individuals managing…

Many people use the terms warm-up and stretching interchangeably when preparing for exercise. However, they are not the same thing and serve different purposes in preparing the body for movement.  Understanding the difference between warming up and stretching can help improve performance, reduce injury risk, and make exercise more effective. The National Strength and Conditioning is dedicated to the research and science of athletic performance, check them out for more detailed information! What is a warm-up? A warm-up is a period of low-intensity activity performed before exercise or sport that prepares the body for more demanding movement. The goal of a warm-up is to gradually increase: Heart rate…

A “bucket handle” tear is a serious type of meniscus injury occurring in the knee. Unfortunately, these typically require surgery. Let’s explore why. What is a meniscus? The meniscus (singular) or menisci (plural) are a pair of C-shaped cartilage structure which sits in our knee joints, between our femur and tibia bones.  There lies two menisci in each knee, the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) meniscus. The main function of the menisci is to absorb shock, making them an essential protector for our knees. For example, whether it’s a sport or just walking our menisci are helping to safely disperse…

Whiplash injuries are one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy following motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, or sudden trauma. While many people associate whiplash only with car accidents, the condition can occur anytime the neck experiences a rapid forward and backward movement. However, the vast amount of whiplash injuries do occur from MVAs, so it is helpful to know the procedure ahead of time. What is whiplash? Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden acceleration–deceleration force that rapidly moves the head forward and backward, similar to the cracking of a whip. This rapid motion places stress on multiple…