What is Massage Therapy?   Massage therapy offers many benefits for recovery.  This type of treatment involves the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body.  These tissues include:  Muscles Tendons Connective tissues Ligaments What is the purpose of massage therapy? The purpose of massage therapy is to help improve the physical condition of the body.  This is achieved through by improving: Tissue flexibility Joint movement Circulation Stress Are there different types of massage therapy? Swedish Massage Most common type of massage therapy It involves soft, long and kneading strokes of the muscles This type of treatment may also include joint movement and stretches The focus of Swedish massage is the relaxation of the muscles Deep tissue Massage This type of massage aims to get into deeper layers of the soft tissues It uses deeper pressure and may be more painful than a Swedish massage but can be helpful…

What is arthritis? The medical and rehabilitation world uses the term ‘arthritis’ all the time.  However, what exactly does it mean to have this condition?  Simply put, arthritis refers to painful joints or joint disease.  However, this is a very simplistic definition of the term.  More specifically, there are over 100 different types of this condition.  Arthritis affects millions of people around the world, including men and women and people of all ages and ethnicities.  Additionally, because it affects the joints of the body, it is a leading cause of disability and affects a lot of the most basic day to day tasks.  Individuals who have severe forms of the disease have a significant loss in their quality of life. What are some important statistics? A good resource for information on arthritis is the Arthritis Society website.  According to their website, about 6 million people across Canada have arthritis.  That…

What is a Total Hip Replacement?   A Total Hip Replacement (THR) is a type of surgery where a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial hip joint.  Doctors can use metal, ceramic or plastic replacement parts for the surgery. When is a Total Hip Replacement necessary? A Total Hip Replacement surgery is done when there is so much damage in the hip joint.  These joint changes cause severe pain and interference with daily living.  The damage in the hip may be as a result of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis.  Total hip replacement is recommended when: Walking, going up stairs, and bending to get in and out of chairs is difficult Pain is moderate to severe even while resting and disrupts sleep Joint degeneration has caused stiffness that severely affects the range of motion and function of the hip Conservative treatments such as medication, physiotherapy or using…

Accident rehabilitation refers to the treatment that is provided to treat the injuries from a car accident.  A motor vehicle accident (MVA) can be a scary experience.  There is so much stress that happens during the whole process, including dealing with the insurance company and damages to the car.  However, the most important aspect of getting into a motor vehicle accident is your health.  More specifically, a car accident can result in a whole host of different injuries.  Ensuring that you are safe and getting the care that you need to recover is so important. What are the common factors that influence a motor vehicle accident? A motor vehicle accident can result in a whole host of different injuries depending on the nature of the accident.  There are a number of different factors that can influence the impact of an accident on your body.  For example: Speed of the vehicles…

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones of the body.  It involves processes where the body is losing too much bone or is making too little bone.  Additionally, it can also be a combination of both.  As a result, the affected bones become weakened.  Physiotherapy for osteoporosis is an important treatment tool to prevent fractures and improve a person’s quality of life. How can osteoporosis impact a person’s life? Normal and healthy bones can withstand a lot of stressors.  However, osteoporotic bones, on the other hand, may break with just minor incidents.  For example, a person with osteoporosis may fracture a bone from a simple fall or a minor bump.  Furthermore, in very severe cases, just a sneeze may be enough to cause fractures to a bone. The term osteoporosis means “porous bone”, which refers to the look of the bone under a microscope.  Normal or…